“Perhaps, butthe Beatles could sing. You wouldn’t want to hear me break out into song.” Liamchuckled. “Believe me.”
“Perhaps we’llleave the singing to Fallen Crown then,” Larson said with a nod, referencingthe most famous band ever to have all Cauld Ane members.
Liam smiled.“Our family have always been big fans.”
“So, in youropinion, the last half-decade has been full of love and acceptance?” Larsonasked.
“Not entirely,of course. Article 358 requires, that every Cauld Ane traveling or residing withinthe US must register or face immediate imprisonment.”
“A concessionmade by your father, the King, during the peace negotiations,” Trask said.
“A deeplytroubling concession, my father is hoping will soon be lifted. Plus, there arestill far too many employers who use genetic screening as a part of theirhiring practices. These, and other highly prejudicial practices against theCauld Ane must end. For every human who’s found room in their heart for theCauld Ane, there may be another who fears or even hates us.” Liam once againlocked eyes with Gavin Trask.
“You’re speakingof the Hand of the Cross?” Chuck asked.
“They wouldcertainly be chief among those who’ve made their negative feelings towards usknown publicly regarding our kind.”
“Perhaps this isa good time to bring you into the conversation, Mr. Trask,” Larson said.
“Thank you,Chuck. It’s a pleasure to be on the show again,” Trask said.
“Was HisHighness correct in his assumption that your organization fears and hates theCauld Ane?”
“First of all,it should be made known that I will refer to Liam Gunnach by name only, as theHand of the Cross does not recognize his title or royal lineage.”
Liam smiled,clearly unfazed by Trask’s opening diatribe.
Until about eighteenyears ago, Gavin Trask was the pastor of a fairly successful strip mall, megachurch in the making, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He and his new wife, VivianHartwell, were the faces of the Hand of the Cross. Gavin stirring up the men bypreying on their fears and masculine insecurities, while Vivian coached uptheir wives on how to be properly submissive to their husbands and churchleadership. Together, they created a platform of fear and hate on which theybuilt their new ministry empire, and the Cauld Ane race was at the center oftheir crosshairs. Soon Trask had raised an army of followers. One that wasbecoming more dangerous by the minute.
Larsoncontinued, “Mr. Trask, you’ve been quite vocal and candid about your feelingsabout the Cauld Ane in the past. I wonder if your position has changed at all,given the many scientific and technological breakthroughs mankind has clearlybenefitted from since the first New Era Day.”
“My position isthe same as it’s always been. The Cauld Ane are descendants of Satan himself.They are a cursed people who practice pagan rituals and witchcraft. What yourefer to as ‘advances in technology’ I call sorcery. Unnatural acts meant tofool the world and distract them from God’s true path. The Cauld Ane are unholyabominations who need to be eradicated from the face of the earth.”
Chuck raised aneyebrow. “You’re saying openly that the Hand of the Cross supports genocide?”
“Not genocide.”Trask ran his fingers over the desk. “A holy cleansing, ordained by God. Justas he commanded the Israelites to destroy every living Canaanite in the OldTestament.”
“I’m sorry tointerrupt,” Dr. Groth said. “But I must say, as a man of God myself, thatneither I, nor the Coalition of Life, support Mr. Trask’s opinions regardingthe Cauld Ane people.”
Trask turned toDr. Groth. “How can you call it an opinion when God’s Word so clearly warns usagainst those who practice magic and how to deal with their kind?”
“First of all,”Dr. Groth said. “I’d recommend that you not assume which passages of the Biblewere written with you in mind. Christians may use the Bible as our guide, butit was written for ancient peoples, living in what we now call the Middle East.Secondly, I’d remind you of Saint John’s words on Jesus. ‘He is thepropitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of thewholeworld.’”
“I’ll remind youof Revelation 21:18. ‘Those who practice magic arts, the idolaters, and allliars. They will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is theseconddeath.’ Can’t you see, Dr. Groth? God is calling us to deliver the firstdeath of these admitted magicians. Then He will deliver them to their seconddeath.” Trask turned to face my brother as he spoke.
“Do you have aresponse for Mr. Trask?” Larson asked my brother.
“Only that Iwish to counter his religious based hate speech with words of love andadmiration to all who occupy our shared, fragile planet. The Cauld Ane areraised to believe that all souls are good and can only become evil if wechooseto walk the paths of hate and anger. I too have read the words of Jesus, ashave many of our people. In fact, most ancient Viking civilizations convertedto Christianity over the centuries. We have no quarrel with Christians, theHand of the Cross, or Mr. Trask himself. However, I feel I must publicly warnMr. Trask that he will not intimidate the Royal Family, nor will we stand stillshould he ever strike out against us or any Cauld Ane. King Kade Gunnach’sprotection extends to the edges of the world.”
“Further proofof Cauld Ane intimidation tactics,” Trask said.
“My peoplearen’t the ones standing outside this building holding signs and shoutinghateful slogans.”
“My producer isgiving me the signal that it’s time for us to take a quick break. Please staytuned as we continue with our conversation with Prince Liam Gunnach. When wereturn, we’ll discuss Blue Fang, and how the so-called Cauld Ane miracle drughas changed all our lives.”
“And, cut!”
Once theall-clear was given, Liam and I locked eyes while someone in the makeup departmentadded a little more powder to Chuck Larson’s face and handed him a bottle ofwater.
