Purgatory's Shore (Artillerymen # 1)

by Taylor Anderson

“Just as bad,” Reverend Harkin went on, “they’ve integrated many . . . pagan practices into their faith. Human sacrifice is one. Ostensibly, it serves as an example of the ‘purification’ they must endure—and the victim is consoled with the assurance his or her soul will fly straight to their ‘heavenly underworld’—but it’s primarily a means of delighting and gaining the favor of their god for various reasons.” He glanced at Orno. “I understand it occurs quite frequently.” Reverend Harkin sat up straighter, proud belly straining against his waistcoat, but his expression was wreathed in gloom. “In any event, to answer your question, Colonel De Russy, Blood Priests are members of a newer, more aggressive sect of messengers and harbingers of that way of thinking now gaining power over”—he snorted—“their more ‘moderate’ bretheren. That power struggle within their ‘church’ makes little difference to us or our friends, however, since ‘moderate’ in this case seems only a question of relative enthusiasm for the effusion of blood rather than any meaningful doctrinal dispute.” He drew on his pipe and blew a frustrated gust of smoke. “One wouldn’t imagine such a depraved faith would attract many followers, but the Dominion has grown vast and powerful as much through the fear of conquest as the actual fact of it because those who resist . . .” He shook his head, perhaps still unbelieving.