Tales of the Jewel

"You don't have to." Rufus replies bluntly. "You forbid the outward practice and relaying of the old faith. When you find any practicioners, you end them. Brutally and publicly." He clears his throat.

"And then, you raise the orphans you make through that in the new faith. Continue that for a few generations, and you get close to what you want."

"So the exact opposite of letting people keep their customs, then. Letting them keep the ones you don't care about..."

She sighed. Popped another chunk of feta onto a piece of flatbread.

"It sounds like the sort of offer made with a smile on your face, and a large stick in your hands. I mean... do you know anything about the ways of the Gallim before the conquest?"

Rufus is quiet for minute. A full minute, each second feeling like an agony. "Yes." He finally replies. "They allow the same rituals and festivals, so long as they now praise Conquest, Devotion, Justice and Fidelity. For most, it's a minor inconvenience to what they gained"

"So they really just care about what names are mouthed at various rituals? I think your empire likely finds its control a bit... looser than it actually imagines... But only the four gods? Tell me, Rufus, was it Conquest, Devotion, Justice or Fidelity you were calling on a few minutes ago? Because I don't recall hearing those names."

"Well, I didn't include Deceit and the Merciless Sea..."

Rufus trails off and his voice is hard when he continues to speak. "Yodotai are not permitted to honor any other gods than then ten. And all of Gallim are Yodotai now. Any of the old priests they find are crucified for their treason and sometimes their families for good measure. Those family that slip away have their old names forgotten for their safety, and get raised in an orphanage"

He stops and doesn't continue speaking

"And end up crying out the names of forbidden gods in a Ra'Shari caravan near the Jewel of the Desert."

"Have you considered the idea that you're so good in bed that you make men speak in tongues?" Rufus asks playfully, but shakes his heads as he speaks the words. "I mean, we can keep seeing if we could verify it"

He tries to put his arms around Kezia. "And what secrets are you hiding?"

"Well, if I went about telling them, they'd hardly be secrets, would they?"

She leaned back against him.

"Besides. Aren't they more fun to uncover on your own?"

"I guess I better stick around for a while to figure a few out." He rests his hands on her bare skin.

"You really don't mind the endless flirting? I mean, I am rather enjoying our banter, but I don't think I get that lucky"

"Ah, Rufus, I find it entirely charming, but I've only known you for two days..."

She placed her hands over his.

"Well, really more like one, given how late it was yesterday. Point is."