Becoming Calder (A Sign of Love Novel)(60)

"Yes, Father," I repeated, backing away toward the door. When I was almost there, I turned and walked out quickly, shutting the door behind me, releasing the breath I'd been holding for far too long.
Calder was moving into the main lodge. And all I could feel was dread. Xander's words came back to me. A storm is coming.

**********

The next day at Temple, I walked in with the other council members and sat down in my usual chair. Calder walked behind Hector, Hector's appointed slave. He didn't use the word, but it was obvious that's what it was: a method to humiliate Calder. Anger and defiance battled the fear inside me at what Hector would do to make our lives more unbearable before we could leave. We needed to play it safe, I knew that, and I was well practiced in that role. But seeing Calder degraded by Hector made me want to stand up and declare my love for Calder right in Temple, right in front of everyone. My love for Calder would serve as a mighty sword against Hector. There was nothing he could do to fight that, nothing he could do to enslave that. It was true and untouchable. It was ours.
Hector signaled to Calder and Calder kept his face blank as he kneeled on the floor to the left of the last council member. I bowed my head as Hector took his place at the podium and leaned forward, waiting as the people quieted. The council members bowed their heads and closed their eyes.
As I looked down, something blue caught my eye and I moved my head slightly to look just under my seat, where a lone morning glory sat. I bit my lip not to smile. I moved my eyes over to Calder and saw he was turned slightly toward me and he saw the morning glory, too. He looked a little confused. I watched as he turned toward the audience and looked out to where Xander was standing. Xander winked at him and then bowed his head and closed his eyes, too.
I looked back at Calder and he shot me a very small, covert smile before he, too, bowed his head.
"My people," Hector said, his deep baritone voice commanding attention. He walked out from behind his podium and stood quietly in front of the congregation for a good minute before speaking again. "Today, I am going to talk about disobedience, and then I'm going to perform the water purification of one of my beloved workers, the boy who has served as my cup bearer since he was old enough to follow instruction. Calder Raynes."
My eyes darted to Calder and his face showed a brief moment of surprise before he frowned very slightly. I looked back out to the people, all eyes now on Calder.
Hector turned and paced for a minute, his finger on his lips as if he was deep in thought. Finally he stopped and looked up. "The gods love us, just as I love you. But we must remember that although the gods bring us the gently flowing river, so do they bring us the violent thunderstorm that stirs up the waters of the sea." Hector paused, looking around. "The storm may be violent, the storm may cause wreckage, but ultimately," Hector paused again pivoting on his foot to turn and look at the other side of the room, "ultimately, the point of the storm is to show you where you've gone wrong and to guide you once again to peaceful waters."
The doors to the Temple opened and two younger worker boys carried a large, white tub down the main aisle and set it gently on the floor. Calder had always been part of the ritual of filling the baptismal tub in the past. I didn't recognize the two boys who did it now, although they must have known Calder, as they eyed him with admiration. After several trips with large jugs, the tub was mostly filled.
Hector motioned to Calder to step forward, and Calder did, rising to his full height and walking over to Hector where he stood next to him in front of the tub. Hector was a tall man, but Calder stood just an inch or so taller. Something inside me took satisfaction in that. Perhaps it was the knowledge Calder out-measured Hector not only in inner qualities, but quite literally as well.
"Kneel," Hector said coldly. A shiver went up my spine despite the warm temperature in the Temple.
Calder went down on his knees in front of the tub and bowed his head over the water.
"Beloved gods!" Hector boomed, raising his hands. "Those who believe in your goodness and your never-ending power shall be saved and cleansed of their sins!" He took a hold of the hair at the back of Calder's head. "Calder Raynes, you have been educated in the ways and truths of the gods, and instructed into obedience to them. Through your life, you will avoid evil, acknowledge your faith, and fulfill the promise to always serve the gods, and only the gods. As you are purified by water, so your heart and soul are washed clean of whatever is displeasing to the gods."
Hector pushed roughly on Calder's head and plunged his face into the water and held him there.
"Calder Raynes, do you desire to obtain eternal life in Elysium, serving among the gods?"