"Ah." Solomon smiled slightly. "Most of the Temple's more detailed beliefs are privileged information. There is a great deal of secrecy involved in its workings; I won't deny that. At its most basic, however, the Temple believes in recognising, acknowledging and utilising the power death holds over us."
Granted, that recognition, acknowledgement and use were all steps toward their ultimate goal. But that ultimate goal fell under Temple secrets.
"We don't murder for the sake of power," he said. "Enough death exists in the world for us to use without adding to it. Of course, the magical state of affairs at any given time is only relative stable. We'll kill to defend ourselves." He smiled grimly, nodding in the direction of the palace. "This isn't the first war I've experienced."
Solomon returned his attention to Hayley, watching her face. The Temple wasn't a pretty place a great deal of the time, and he rarely saw a point in hiding that. A person who needed that hidden before they were interested was a convert the Temple couldn't trust.
"Most of the time the Temple's activities are channelled inward," he explained. "It's primarily concerned with its own affairs, which, frankly, is something of a pity. I've said for a long time we must be concerned with events outside our walls." He smiled. "Aside from the obvious fact that I need allies here, I've long felt the Temple has become too mired in its politics and not enough in its faith. An institution's cause and its rules are not, sad to say, mutually inclusive. I prefer to live by example, even if it means breaking those rules."
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Granted, that recognition, acknowledgement and use were all steps toward their ultimate goal. But that ultimate goal fell under Temple secrets.
"We don't murder for the sake of power," he said. "Enough death exists in the world for us to use without adding to it. Of course, the magical state of affairs at any given time is only relative stable. We'll kill to defend ourselves." He smiled grimly, nodding in the direction of the palace. "This isn't the first war I've experienced."
Solomon returned his attention to Hayley, watching her face. The Temple wasn't a pretty place a great deal of the time, and he rarely saw a point in hiding that. A person who needed that hidden before they were interested was a convert the Temple couldn't trust.
"Most of the time the Temple's activities are channelled inward," he explained. "It's primarily concerned with its own affairs, which, frankly, is something of a pity. I've said for a long time we must be concerned with events outside our walls." He smiled. "Aside from the obvious fact that I need allies here, I've long felt the Temple has become too mired in its politics and not enough in its faith. An institution's cause and its rules are not, sad to say, mutually inclusive. I prefer to live by example, even if it means breaking those rules."