Just as Eric was about to do something, a guard on the castle tower shouted down to him, "My lord, are you dissatisfied with this lord’s plight?"
"What?" Eric was taken aback.
"We would like to ask, are you dissatisfied with Lord Belem’s situation and do you intend to rescue him?" the guard shouted again.
"Eric, say yes! Say yes! Tell them you’re dissatisfied!" Belem shouted, writhing.
"Er... I suppose I am." Although he had no idea what was going on, Eric went along with Belem’s demand.
"Very good, my lord. In that case, I will now ask you a few questions."
"Are you a subordinate of this man, Lord Robert Belem? And will you swear to God that what you say is true?" The guard gagged Belem, preventing him from speaking further.
"I swear to God, I am not, and what I say is true." Eric found this odd.
"Are you unaware of his evil deeds and infamous reputation?"
"I believe I am quite familiar with them." Eric tapped his own head.
"At this moment, are you hesitant or resolute?"
"Resolute. So, can you let him down now?" Eric asked again.
"My apologies, my lord. As per the regulations, I must say a few more words to you. I ask for your understanding in advance, for these words are not my own. Are you ready?"
"I suppose I am." Eric’s head suddenly began to throb.
The guard on the tower produced a sheet of parchment from his robes and began to read:
"Sexual immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of rage, factions, dissensions, heresies, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things of that nature. I warned you before, and I warn you again, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)
Know that the Son of Man is to come in the glory of His Father with His angels. And every man ought to become an angel."
After finishing his recitation, the guard looked to Eric and asked again, "Do you have any response to this?"
"Allow me to think." Eric stroked his chin and began to ponder.
’He was about to have to turn black into white again. He was deeply reluctant to do such a thing.’
"A base and sinful body is more suited to explaining sacred matters than a noble and holy one. Belem is sinful, yet he is still worthy of living. The existence of sinners serves as a warning to the devout, prompting them to stay away from sin and to detest it.
It is only through the most twisted things that one can see God. If God deemed sin unnecessary and something to be completely destroyed, He would not have created it in the first place.
Everyone knows that God is the creator of all. Though we believe He does not advocate for sin, sin is nonetheless needed in this world. People can perceive God’s true will through sin."
Eric’s scalp prickled with unease.
’May Thomas Aquinas forgive me.’
"Is that sufficient?" Eric looked toward the guard again. The man was holding a quill and writing something down.
"Um, my lord, would you be able to repeat that? Just the last sentence from before. I didn’t hear it clearly. My Latin is not very good," the guard shouted to Eric.
Eric repeated himself.
Eric hoped he would never have to speak such words that turned black into white for the rest of his life.
Once the guard finished writing, he worked the rope suspending Belem and slowly lowered him from the tower.
He came to a stop right beside Eric.
Eric drew his longsword and cut Belem’s bonds.
"All unrighteousness is sin. To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. O faithless one, may your sinful soul rot within your body! May you and your companion be cast forever into Hell!
May your souls be damned, for you conspire to protect each other in this earthly world!" the guard shouted at Eric, once again reading from the parchment.
Then, the guard added, "My lord, these are not my words. This is all the will of the Marchioness."
Eric didn’t respond this time, but Belem’s temper flared. He immediately started screaming, "Aren’t you something else! ’May your souls be damned?’ Who the hell are you! If you have the guts to come to Normandy, I guarantee you won’t like what’s coming to you! Ptooey!
Do you know who my buddy is? The greatest Theologian in the Norman Kingdom! Even Lanfrank can’t win a debate against him.
Seriously, pal, who do you think you are? What gives you the right to debate my brother? You need some backing to throw your weight around, you little nobody."
However, after ranting for a good while, Belem realized Eric wasn’t matching his energy in the slightest. Belem nudged him.
"Brother, brother, say something! The guy’s insulting us to our faces. Give him a little taste of the ’Normandy shock.’ What kind of pissant dares to pick a fight with the likes of us?" Belem adjusted his cuffs with a serious expression, looking ready for a brawl.
The next thing he knew, a heavy blow struck his head, knocking him straight to the ground.
"Hey, whose side are you on?!" A large lump instantly swelled up on Belem’s head as he shouted at Eric.
"You don’t actually think I believed what I said, do you? Let me remind you, we are approaching the millennium of the Lord’s incarnation. If you truly wish to be damned, then suit yourself," Eric said coldly.
"S-so... what you said... was all a lie?" Belem grew uneasy.