Chương 183: Chapter 178 - Blessings

"Please tell me everything is alright?" Alric began. Tarrow just nodded and smiled, "Everything is alright, small scare is all." Alric let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, his shoulders slumping as he bent forward slightly.

"What happened?" Alric asked, taking in a deep breath and straightening up.

"She started bleeding." He began, his hands going up in the universal 'please don't faint' gesture that seemed to work across worlds, "Not much, just a little that she noticed. No need to panic." He straightened up and folded his arms.

"I already cast a healing spell on her. She's not in any pain or anything; she feels fine. Just being careful is all."

"I see," Alric said, glancing at the door as if it might offer a helpful pamphlet.

"I know next to nothing about pregnancy."

"Nor do I." Tarrow said with a scoff, following Alric's gaze to the door, "Mara told me to stop bugging her." Alric nodded at the door.

"That's more reassuring than the spell, no offense." Tarrow chuckled but gestured to the courtyard with his head.

"I say spell, but honestly, it was closer to a miracle than anything." The priest said as the pair walked a small distance away. In the courtyard, Brannick was drilling Alric's personal guard again. They had been grouped up, one holding a shield, protecting another against three attackers. Marks on the floor meant something to them as they thrust and swung at the shield bearer. Brannick shouted at one about not moving his feet.

Tarrow stood under the covered section, observing with the air of a man who had recently discovered posture. He looked less like a scarecrow left out in the rain. The robes were still stained, but now they seemed to be stained with purpose. Something was different about Tarrow, but Alric couldn't put his finger on what it was. Not wanting to stare, turned his attention to the guards. One guard slipped and grabbed onto the shield, making an opening for another.

They laughed as the shield bearer shouted about unfairness before being admonished by Brannick, the rest still chuckling. Alric turned to his memories of Tarrow when they met; he was rougher, more wiry. He seemed to have filled out slightly; he stood straighter, and there was a new air about him.

"How are you doing?" Alric asked, eyeing Tarrow as if expecting him to sprout wings at any moment. There was something different about him, something almost dignified. It was making Alric suspicious.

"Mara is fine, I told you?" Tarrow said, still watching the guards.

"No. I'm asking about you, you said a miracle?" Alric repeated, tilting his head to the side.

"I'm a bit scared for Mara's sake. I felt the spell take effect, and then it just... ramped up. There was nothing wrong with her or the baby, though. I could feel that much," Tarrow said, frowning at nothing in particular, his lips pulled to the side.

"What do you mean it ramped up? Like it was stronger?" Alric asked.

"Yes. Much stronger. I've received blessings from three different gods now," Tarrow explained, glancing at Alric.

"It's news to me too, I only found out when I called out for the spell."

"Uh… congratulations?" Alric said, one eyebrow raised. Tarrow grinned, and for a moment Alric glimpsed the old Tarrow, the one who should not be allowed any alcohol if there was a fighting pit nearby.

"Those are the right words, but I can tell you have no idea," Tarrow said, grin refusing to budge.

"You could tell?" Alric said, matching the grin, or at least attempting to.

"Well, I'll pretend you know nothing then, the Pope himself has four blessings. The high bishop here has three." Tarrow said, his grin turning distinctly smug.

"Does that mean you're important now and leaving?" Alric asked, pretending to watch the guards but actually watching Tarrow out of the corner of his eye, which was the best way to be considered creepy.

"Not on your life," Tarrow said with a chuckle, turning to watch the guards as well.

"So which gods? Or is that too personal?" Alric asked, still watching Tarrow carefully.

"It is not. The first is Valgrath, the god of strength. I may have had a few exploits in that direction." Tarrow said, the smug grin returning.

"So, the god of hitting things very hard?" Alric asked, shifting his weight and trying not to sound too impressed. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Tarrow scoffed, "Courage, endurance, and strength are his domain, so maybe hitting things hard, but don't say that to another priest." Tarrow said, smiling.

"So, hitting things bravely. I stand corrected. Who's the second?" Alric asked, gesturing to nothing at all, pretending this type of conversation happened all the time.

"You seem to take the gods very casually, Alric, the second is Desunysus, the god of revelry," Tarrow said, his chest puffing out slightly.

"Yes, that checks out," Alric said with a nod. Tarrow nodded to that and shrugged.

"The third is the strange one, I am blessed by Minerval, goddess of fertility," Tarrow explained with a slight frown. Alric paused, considering. He knew Minerval had a reputation for contraception, which made this even more confusing. He remembered that Tarrow had vows against that sort of thing; his eyes snapped wide, and he turned to Tarrow completely, "Why do you have that blessing?"

"I have no idea," Tarrow answered quickly, the frown deepening, shaking his head and raising both hands.

"I am the only man I have ever heard of to get a blessing from her. I was going to go to the temple after this to look into it." The priest glanced at the sky briefly before shaking his head at Alric. Alric watched the priest for a moment; he seemed genuine. Alric turned back to the guards.

"That does sound strange. Why do blessings do, by the way?" Alric asked.

"To quote the temple here, when a priest casts a spell, you are 'petitioning' the gods to intervene. More blessings mean more response, so your spells are stronger and often are considered miracles." Tarrow explained with a shrug, "But truthfully, I don't know, no one really does."

"I see, well… good for you," Alric said, and he meant it. Tarrow gave him a small smile, but there was a strong hint of smugness there.

"Thank you," He said with a nod.

"But you've changed somehow." Alric pointed to him as he spoke, his expression turning flat.

"Have I?" Tarrow asked, both his eyebrows climbing.

"You just seem, well... more dignified or something," Alric said, gesturing vaguely at all of Tarrow.

"Not long ago you were worried about being the brewery's sacrifice for bad beer." Tarrow nodded and chuckled, then his mouth twisted as if he'd bitten into something philosophical.

"I think I've found my flock and my purpose. The brewery people are my people, your people are my flock. I am fulfilled. I have purpose, apparently." He glanced at Alric, face flat.

"Strange things keep happening around you." Alric was about to respond when the door to the common room opened; Seren held it. A short woman walked through. By Alric's measure, she was in her early fifties, streaks of grey hair pulled tight into a braid. She walked quickly, carrying a dark leather bag. She glared at Alric and Tarrow. Alric was impressed by the glare; it could have rivaled Stromni on a good day.

"You, Father Tarrow?" She asked, approaching and pointing at the priest.

"That's me. Mara had some bleeding earlier, not much, I already—" Tarrow spoke quickly, tilting a little.

"How much blood is not much?" She asked, her expression flattening further.

"Uh, about a coin on cloth maybe?" Tarrow explained, holding his fingers into a ok gesture to show the size, "I cast a—""Any pain?" She interrupted, "Still bleeding?" Tarrow swallowed, "No and no, I did use a—" The midwife nodded once, "Where is she?" Neither Tarrow nor Alric spoke; they just pointed to the door. Seren jogged past and held the door open for the woman as she marched through; Seren followed. Tarrow let out a long breath. Alric, meanwhile, was quietly impressed. He watched the door.

Alric had a theory that midwives were judged only partly by skill. They were judged mostly by the amount of sass they could wield against men or any nearby authority figures. This one, Alric thought, might be dangerously overqualified.

"You're smiling," Tarrow said, his eyes narrowed.

"I am not. You were saying strange things happen around me?" Alric said, turning back to watch the guards, to hide his grin.

"Have you been tested for divinity?" Tarrow asked, giving Alric the side eye before turning to watch the guards. Alric shook his head. He had a blessing, he recalled. It had done nothing for him that he knew of, and it was already one more than he'd ever wanted. Meeting one god had been quite enough. The last thing he wanted was priests poking at him like he was some newly discovered insect.

"Not interested at all. No, Tarrow, forget it." Alric said, giving Tarrow a flat look.

"That's a bit hurtful, Alric; it's my calling, you know," Tarrow said, glancing at him.

"I thought you said you were the third son of a merchant and your family pushed you that way." Alric pointed to him, raising an eyebrow. Tarrow winced but nodded. He reached up and rubbed his jaw for a while, saying nothing as he stared at the sky.

"Just my thoughts, Tarrow. Take them for what they're worth. I don't think you had issues with the gods. I think you just didn't like the temple. When we met, you complained about the temple a lot. The temple and the gods aren't the same thing." Alric gestured at the guards.

"I don't think it was my strangeness. I think you just got out of the place you hated." Tarrow nodded slowly.

"You are not wrong. You have given me much to think about, Alric." The priest said, his brows knitted. Alric was about to respond when the door to Mara's room opened; both turned to it. The midwife walked out and gave them a flat stare.

"She's fine." She said, reaching down and adjusting her bag, "Baby is fine too. Bleeding happens sometimes, nothing here worries me. You men are such babies and panic over every little thing." She said, clicking her tongue and staring at Tarrow. Alric nodded; Tarrow's shoulders dropped as he took a deep breath. Alric glanced over at Seren, who seemed a bit pale. He gave Seren a questioning glance; Seren glanced at the midwife and shook her head slightly. Alric nodded again.

"She just needs rest, no more miracles. Mara explained what happened." The midwife said with one last glare before turning and leaving. Seren followed after her.

"That one could give Stromni lessons." Alric pointed to the retreating midwife. Tarrow let out a scoff.

"The dwarf? I wouldn't be surprised." He said, watching the midwife leave. Alric turned back to the open door.

"Do you want to go sit with Mara then?" Alric asked. Tarrow shook his head.

"She is annoyed enough at me for one day. You should, though." The priest explained with a shrug.

"Alright, can you send one of the guards to tell Hal that everything is ok?" Alric asked, which got a nod. He took a deep breath, walking to the door.