Across Westeros, every town, except in the North, has a sept dedicated to the Faith of the Seven, and Eagle's Nest was no exception. Though the local population wasn't entirely comprised of Seven's followers—due, perhaps, to the "overlooked" guidance of the lord—Priest Ivan held fast in his belief that he would soon see the Seven's light shine over Eagle's Rest, reaching every soul and spreading the holy message.
Now, he stood before the recently completed sept, warmly greeting each worshipper who arrived for prayer. As he welcomed them, a middle-aged man with a flustered look caught Iwan's attention. This man was Gonga, a former wildling who, having joined the lord's service early on and proving to be shrewd, had swiftly earned a position of trust under Lord Caesar. Gonga had even been given responsibility for managing a vineyard estate.
"Lord Gonga, have you come to worship?" Ivan asked with a smile, approaching him. He remembered that Gonga worshipped a mountain god, and bringing him into the Faith would likely encourage other wildlings to convert.
"Brother Ivan…" Gonga's expression shifted, caught between unease and a hint of pride at the formal greeting, but then, recalling why he'd come, his gaze turned anxious as he asked, "I heard that the Seven are merciful and that if you pray sincerely, they'll forgive any sin. Is that true?"
"Yes, Lord Gonga," Ivan replied, his smile gentle. "The Father judges all sin, and the Mother forgives all who seek absolution. Would you like to make a prayer of atonement?"
"Yes! A prayer of atonement!" Gonga fidgeted nervously. "But… I'm not really a follower of the Seven…"
"Anyone willing to turn to the Seven is welcome as a follower."
"Truly? Then… then I want to serve the Seven! As long as they can forgive me."
"You've made a brave choice." Ivan drew a seven-pointed star over his heart. "Come with me. You'll need to confess your sins before the Seven and pray with true repentance."
"Yes, yes!" Gonga eagerly nodded.
Following Ivan into the sept, Gonga hesitated as they passed the main hall where a crowd of worshippers waited. "Brother Iwan, am I keeping you from leading prayers?" he whispered.
"It's no trouble. I'll help you first," Ivan assured him warmly. Though, in the eyes of the Seven, all were equal, Iwan knew that some followers were "more equal" than others.
"Thank you, Brother!"
Gonga followed Ivan into a side room used for confessions. The small chamber held a simple altar made of white stone, on which rested a clear crystal.
Ivan's expression grew solemn as he instructed, "Gonga, kneel before the Seven."
Gonga hurriedly knelt before the altar.
"I'll ask, and you will answer. Before the Seven, there can be no lies," Ivan's voice was deep and distant, as though coming from the heavens.
"Yes, yes," Gonga nodded eagerly, trembling as if touched by divine presence.
"Gonga, what is your sin?"
"I… I killed someone."
"Who did you kill?"
"Tiffy, a worker at the vineyard I manage."
"Why did you kill her?"
"It wasn't intentional! She was disobedient, always slacking off, and I had no choice but to discipline her with the whip. But… but I hit her harder than I meant to…"
Ivan frowned, his silence stretching for several moments.
Feeling his unease growing, Gonga raised his head, his gaze pleading. "Afterward, I was tormented by guilt. I swear, I didn't mean to kill her! That's why I came—to pray and seek mercy from the Mother!"
"Sinner!" Ivan's voice thundered like rolling thunder, freezing Gonga in place, his face pale as he began to tremble. "Your sins are such that your soul is bound for hell, to burn eternally!"
Gonga broke into sobs, clutching Ivan's legs in desperation. "Merciful Mother, save me! I didn't mean to! Brother Iwan, you said the Seven would forgive any sin! I beg you, please!"
"The Seven are merciful," Ivan's tone softened. "But they only forgive those with sincere hearts. Gonga, are you sincere?"
"I'm sincere! I swear it!" Gonga clung tightly to Iwan's legs as if they were his last lifeline.
"Then how will you show your sincerity?" asked Iwan.
Gonga pulled a small pouch from his robes, pressing it into Ivan's hands. "This is all I have! I offer it to the Seven, in hopes they will forgive me!"
Ivan accepted the pouch without a glance, setting it aside, then urged, "Pray, sinner Gonga. With all your heart, pray to the Seven! Let the merciful Mother see your repentance, and she shall redeem your soul."
With new hope, Gonga knelt before the altar, loudly reciting his prayer. Ivan held up the crystal, catching a beam of light from a small window and casting a rainbow of colors across Gonga's face.
"Yes, you are truly repentant," Ivan nodded. "The Seven have granted your soul salvation."
Overcome with relief, Gonga wept, basking in the rainbow hues as if he'd been reborn.
"Thank you, merciful Seven!" he cried with heartfelt gratitude. "From today onward, I'll be a faithful servant of the Seven!"
Ivan, back to his kind demeanor, helped Gonga to his feet. "You are forgiven, Lord Gonga."
Overwhelmed, Gonga thanked him profusely, vowing to spread the faith of the Seven throughout the land.
Ivan, smiling ever more kindly, accompanied him to the sept's entrance. But as they stepped outside, they were met by Bruce, the sheriff, who stood waiting, his expression somber.
"Gonga!" the sheriff called. "There's been a report accusing you of killing Tiffy. Come with me."
Gonga went rigid, his gaze shifting desperately toward Iwan.
Ivan stepped forward, his tone pleasant as he said, "Sheriff Bruce, Lord Gonga has just confessed his sin before the Seven, and the Mother has granted him absolution."
Bruce shook his head, his voice firm. "My apologies, Brother Iwan, but Gonga broke the law of Eagle's Nest. The Seven's forgiveness won't save him from justice."
Ivan raised a brow and asked calmly, "Which law has Lord Gonga violated?"
"Murder. The sentence is hanging."
Ivan's gentle smile didn't waver. "Sheriff, it seems you may have misunderstood. Lord Gonga didn't commit murder—he accidentally killed Tiffy while disciplining her. That doesn't qualify as murder."
Bruce hesitated, caught off guard.
"Yes, that's right!" Gonga chimed in eagerly. "I was only disciplining her for neglecting her work when it happened by mistake. Even the Seven have forgiven me, so how can you punish me?"
"Nonsense!" a young woman stepped forward, her eyes blazing as she pointed at Gonga. "My sister never disobeyed. You tried to force yourself on her, and when she resisted, you beat her to death!"
"You lie!" Gonga snarled. "Where's your proof?"
"My sister told me! She said you harassed her and even asked her to marry you, even though you already have a wife!"
"Lies! Nothing but lies!"
Ivan turned to the young woman. "Miss, you said your name is Tima? And Tiffy was your sister?"
"Yes."
Ivan nodded, then addressed Bruce. "Sheriff, a single witness may act out of grief and could be seeking vengeance, even at the cost of truth."
"I swear by the mountain god!" Tima exclaimed passionately.
"Then I'll swear by the Seven!" Gonga retorted defiantly.
Ivan looked back at Bruce. "Whom do you believe, Sheriff?"
Bruce frowned, feeling his duty conflicted by his loyalty to the Faith and the gathered crowd of Seven's followers, who clearly expected justice for a fellow believer. Torn, Bruce called for his superior, Sir Todd Flowers, who oversaw the estate's defenses.
Yet Sir Todd, also a follower of the Seven, hesitated, unsure of the right decision. He, in turn, sought the estate's steward, Gavin.
But Gavin, a native of the Riverlands and a devoted follower of the Seven, shared their uncertainty…
Ivan's serene smile took on a saintly quality, embodying the Father's justice. "Gentlemen, since you cannot reach a verdict, why not let the Seven decide? I propose forming a Holy Tribunal of the Seven to judge this matter."
Gavin glanced at the defiant Gonga and the grieving Tima, remaining silent. He understood that this was more than a murder case; it was a struggle for judicial authority on Eagle's Nest.
Regardless of whether the Holy Tribunal declared Gonga's act an accident or premeditated murder, the Faith would gain a foothold in the estate's legal matters.
From then on, every offender would run to the sept, undermining the lord's authority. But Gavin dared not openly oppose the Faith, fearful of unsettling the growing faithful.
After some hesitation, Gavin finally spoke. "We'll wait for the lord himself to settle this."
Brother Ivan's face fell. "But Lord Caesar is away in Dorne—he might not return soon."
"No, I received a message." Gavin replied, watching Iwan carefully.
"A letter came saying the lord is on his way back with the troops"
Ivan is stunned.
(End of Chapter)