Chapter 193: A Prayer Before Abduction
Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you.
Zane did something like that as well.
His face was towards the church that prayed to the sun and when the shadows of rejection fell on him...
TUNG!
The Flame tower rang.
The last prayer of the day would happen and nothing can stop Zane from entering the church anymore.
He eyed the Enforcers in front of him.
"Now you will let me pass." Zane said.
The Enforcers frowned.
"We would have let you go inside anyway, sir."
"What?" Zane twitched. "I swear I heard you refusing before the bell rang."
When Zane stated that he was here to meet Horum, one Enforcer was really about to say that Zane can’t meet but he wasn’t able to finish his words as the bell had rung.
"About that, well I was about to say you can’t meet priest Horum." The Enforcer said.
"Why?" Zane asked, making sure he looked offended by the Enforcer’s words.
And to make it more believable, someone else helped.
"Do you even know who he is? You are making a mistake."
It was Xavier. He glared at the Enforcers.
Zane was simply glad the Ashbearer didn’t overact this time.
"He is the man capable enough to destroy your entire bloodline. He breathes fire. He is a beast!"
I spoke too soon.
Xavier got carried away and elevated Zane as some kind of dragon or a blood hungry racoon.
Zane turned his head around, glaring at Xavier.
Did I act too much again?
Xavier realized his mistake very soon and shut his mouth.
Zane focused on the Enforcers again and both of them were looking at each other.
This is not good.
Zane didn’t have a great feeling about this.
Both guards turned their heads at Zane once more.
"If we may ask, who are you, sir?"
Here it is.
The Enforcers asked Zane’s identity.
Everything was going smooth but Xavier’s words made the Enforcers ask about Zane.
They got curious after hearing the praises of Zane from Xavier’s mouth. Anyone would be.
Zane glanced once more at Xavier and the Ashbearer mouthed sorry without any voice.
Zane shook his head.
He had to handle this now.
He stood straight and looked right in the eyes of the Enforcers.
"I am from the Simmers family, and I am looking for that filth Zane Atlas on the orders of sir Leon Brozers."
"Oh. So that’s why he said you can breathe fire. Makes sense."
Huh? Wait. People from the Simmers family really breathe fire? They will do it on me if they find out I am using their name.
Zane wanted to ask the Enforcer more about this breathing fire but if he did it would expose his lie that he wasn’t from the Simmers family.
So he chose the best course of action.
"Forget that. Explain yourself. There are people lining up."
Change of topic.
The bell had rung a few seconds ago but the people were afraid to walk past Zane.
The door of the church had been opened as well.
But since all of them were afraid of rich people, they decided to wait for Zane to finish his work.
"Yes, sir. As I was saying you can’t meet the Flamekeeper Horum not because you aren’t allowed. You can’t meet him because he isn’t here. He took a leave for a few days. That’s why you can’t meet him."
So he ran away.
Zane let out a tired sigh.
He already knew that.
"What a pain. I was hoping to get some information from him about that filth. Guess I have to look somewhere else. But only after praying."
The Enforcers smiled.
"You are so religious. I hope to learn from you."
"It’s nothing. First Flame keeps us safe after all." Zane said, acting pretty well like a rich Scepter while being poor in real life.
And part of his confidence came from the clothes and the people acting towards him after wearing them.
Moreover, he also had a mask on so no one could see him and he could be anyone he wanted.
But talking about masks...
"Forgive me for asking but why are you wearing a mask?" One Enforcer asked.
Tesla flinched but Zane showed nothing closer to fear and nervousness.
"Come closer." He said.
The Enforcers leaned.
Zane did the same and in their ears, he whispered:
"That filthy bastard Zane Atlas has seen our faces. If he saw us and happened to be here, he would run away. So it’s better if we keep our faces hidden."
He leaned back and before the Enforcers could answer, Zane turned his head around.
Wow.
Zane was taken aback by the crowd behind him.
It was as if the whole city was waiting for Zane to finish his talk.
People after people. Heads after heads.
Such crowds are risky.
Zane might get recognized by someone.
"Tell them to go inside." He ordered the Enforcers.
The Enforcers obliged as well.
The guards waved their hands at them and as if they were waiting for the signal, all of them went inside with haste steps.
Some even went running.
Zane observed them and realized the reason for their speed.
Most of them were Commoners and a few were gutterborns, only a handful of rich people were there and they weren’t in any hurry to go inside.
Soon, everyone was finally inside and only Zane and his team was left along with the two Enforcers.
"Shall we?" The Enforcers asked.
Zane nodded.
He said nothing and went inside the church.
The others followed.
The Enforcers entered as well and closed the doors.
Zane walked and he almost stopped before the partition made for the gutterborns.
His body hesitated to cross it but since even a little hesitation would put him to risk, he crossed the partition.
Xavier and the others followed and all of them went straight for the spot where the rich people were meant to sit.
But before choosing the seat, he glanced at Hena.
He asked with his eyes about which seat to choose as he didn’t know where Scepters were supposed to sit.
But Hena knew so she gestured to the area.
Zane nodded and sat behind the seats meant for the Halocrats.
He couldn’t enjoy the comfort of the seat as he was here for information. Not for actual prayers.
He also saw some of his own people that were under his legion. They were sitting in the gutterborns section.
"How will we find out about Horum now?" Xavier asked, whispering to Zane.
Zane stayed silent but eventually, he spoke:
"After the prayer ends..."
Zane turned to Xavier.
"We will kidnap the priest."
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