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He sh priest "Suicide by divine manifestation Very dramatic"

"Shall I call off the rest of the petitions, Your Grace?" Llari annoyed by the outburst

"Sure, why not," Lightsong said, waving a hand "They really need a lesson in theology They should already knohat a useless god I a that they are foolish enough to do so"

"Yes, Your Grace," Llariet ht He, more than any, should know that I’ turned, walking away as Llarimar went back into the petition roo pushed his way through red-hued roo his way to a stairwell and cli up to the second story This floor was open on all sides, really nothing e covered patio He walked to the far side--the one opposite the line of people

The breeze was strong here He felt it plucking at his robes, bringing with it scents that had traveled hundreds ofaround pal the Court of Gods He stood there for a long ti out over the city, toward the sea beyond He had no desire, despite what he sometimes said, to leave his coles; he was a man of parties

But so else Blushweaver’s words still weighed upon hi You’re a god to these people

He was Whether he wanted to be or not That was the frustrating part He’d tried his best to be useless and vain And still they came

We could use your confidenceyou’re a better

Why did it seem that the more he demonstrated himself to be an idiot, the more convinced people became that he had some kind of hidden depths? By implication, they called him a liar in the same breath that they complimented his presumed inner virtue Did no one understand that a ued fool was a hero in disguise

His life sense alerted hi before footsteps did The priest walked up to join Lightsong alongside the wall Llariod, was about a foot too high for the priest

"They’re gone," Llari said "I do believe that we’ve acco today I’ve fled from my responsibilities, screa Undoubtedly, this will convince everyone that I’m even more noble and honorable than they previously assumed Tomorrow, there will be twice as many petitions, and I shall continue my inexorable o mad," Llarimar said softly "It’s i said "I just have to concentrate long enough You see, the great thing about madness is that it’s all in your head"

Llarimar shook his head "I see you’ve been restored to your normal hu but normal" They stood silently for a fewno chastiseood little priest

That h priest"

"Yes, Your Grace"

Lightsong sighed "You really need to pay attention to the lines I’ pithy there"

"I apologize, Your Grace"

"Just try harder next ti, correct?"

"I’ve studied my share, Your Grace"

"Well then, what is the point--religiously--of having gods that can only heal one person, then die? It seems counterproductive to me Easy way to depopulate your pantheon"

Llari out over the city "It’s coods--they’re s and knowledge After all, only one who has died can have anything useful to say about the other side"

"True, I suppose"

"The thing is, Your Grace, Returned aren’tthem extra time to bless us But they’re really only supposed to re as it takes the said "That seeed "Returned havegoals Objectives which are their own You knew of yours before you decided to co across the Iridescent Wave leaves the h, and you’ll remember what you ca you to remember"

"So I’ve co, but feeling e his own theology But, well, that was the sort of thing priests were for

"Not necessarily, Your Grace," Llarimar said "You may have come back to save one person But, more likely, there is information about the future or the afterlife that you felt you needed to share Or perhaps soreat event in which you felt you needed to participate Reave you the power to Return in the first place What you are to do ht relate to that, sorowing unfocused "You saw so On the other side, the future is visible, like a scroll that stretches into the eternal har about the future--worried you Rather than re at peace, you took the opportunity that your brave death afforded you, and you Returned to the world Determined to fix a problem, share information, or otherwise help those who continued to live