"Federan, Sirlay has issued you a challenge. What say you to this?"
"I have no interest in Sirlay's challenges. Just like you, he is full of traps and tricks, and I know better than to subject myself to those."
"Will you not just read it? I believe it might help us find peace between one another."
"Peace by luring me to your side? No, I do not believe I want this," I scoffed. But I was curious and, deep within me, I had some desire to have some peace. "But if you insist upon it, you shall recount it to me."
"Very well, then. I shall." Yakko cleared his throat. "In his piece The Miracles, Maddith describes the Miracle of the Noble Laborer. Have you heard of the Noble Laborer?"
I shook my head.
"But you do acknowledge Maddith, do you not? And you recognize that his miracles are true and accurate?"
"Yes, Ma't has praised Maddith and I take his miracles as truth."
"Then of course you know that every Beautav must experience a personal miracle before being accepted into the faith. And you know that the most common miracle is that of a Beautav birth, by which all those who are born Beautavs are instantly welcomed permitted as such."
"Yes, of course. And 'The Miracles' describes many of the other miracles a convert might experience."
"Good. Now I shall tell you of Maddith's belief in the Noble Laborer. Maddith describes that belief in Beautavism is the natural way of things. He gives the example of the Lylyans, who lived deep in the Great Hap Mountains and were not exposed to any religion for hundreds of years. The Lylyans were a hearty people who, though intelligent enough, never learned to practice any faith. Then, suddenly, both faiths converged upon them, and they had to choose whether they would adopt Beautavism or Istism. And, because the Lylyans had remained in their natural state, and had never been exposed to any bias, every last one of them chose Beautavism."
"It sounds true, and I believe every word of it. But what is the challenge?"
"Patience, Federan. Maddith called these uncorrupted men the Noble Laborers. He believed that, if ever this scenario could be replicated, the results would be identical. Of course, finding the next Noble Laborer has proven impossible; the remaining tribesmen have either already been corrupted by one faith or the other, or else are so hostile to all outsiders that they refuse to hear any religion at all."
"Then, while an important story that strengthens my faith, the Miracle of the Noble Laborer is moot, for it cannot happen again."
"Exactly as Maddith has described it it cannot happen again," Yakko agreed. "But that is because Maddith died in 1068. He passed before the Church had reached the extent of its current total corruption, before the Lords Occult had matured into a truly heretical body. Maddith did not foresee the current crisis, and therefore thought that the Miracle of the Noble Laborer was mere history as soon as he recorded it.
"But, in fact, the Miracle of the Noble Laborer has returned to prominence at Grontinion. Yes, there remains no man who has not been exposed to any religion. But how many are there who are ignorant of the Reform? Think, Federan: there are thousands of men who know nothing of this. Think of all of the Noble Laborers who go about their daily business, believing in God and following the Beautav laws, but giving nary a thought to the Anotus or the Lords Occult? Perhaps you and I might find a Noble Laborer right here in Ilepya. Do you think?"
I shrugged. "I suppose it is so. But how will we know if a man has been corrupted or not? And who's to say you won't find a man and corrupt him before you introduce him to me?"
"You and I can agree upon a test. Sirlay has recommended this challenge, and he says that you will recognize the Noble Laborer by his belief in God, his self-identification as a Beautav and his knowledge of a Moon Ritual. Yet he will not be able to name the Seven Lords, does not attend sermons but once a year and does not know a single piece of religious literature by name. He should demonstrate that he is intelligent by being able to sign his own name and reading a few basic words, but by virtue of his being a laborer, he will not be very concerned with letters, for these have little to do with his life."
"Very well. I accept your challenge." I knew I did not have a choice, because the challenge seemed so simple and honorable. If either side had an advantage, it was mine, because the Noble Laborer will have been surrounded his entire life with Orthodoxy. But the truth was that I did not want to take part in this. I hated the risk that something I so believed to be true might be lose. And then what would I do? Besides, Yakko was sure to find a way to outsmart me and the Noble Laborer both, which meant I might already be guaranteed to lose.
Feeling introspective, I grabbed Sirlay's letter and retreated quietly to my chamber. For once, discussing a letter from Sirlay did not result in argument and insult. Instead, I was left with questions, and curiosity, and desire to know more. I wanted to know more about the Noble Laborer and the natural state. I sat down upon my bed. I wanted to read Sirlay's letter.
For the first time in many years, I read what Sirlay had written me, from start to finish.
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