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Back to the previous chapter: Harvests
First Draft
The travelers returned to Londoun early on a cool afternoon. A low haze hung over the large city from the thousands of fires that had been lit to fend off the chill of the previous evening. Winds blowing in from the north, across the Vasmar, had brought an unseasonably early taste of the upcoming winter to the quarter million residents of the capitol city of the Kingdom of the Five Crowns.
At Kasey's insistence, the party went straight to the Castle Treasa, the Church Knights' vast compound adjacent to one of the largest cathedrals in Avillonia. They rode across the spacious square in front of the cathedral, passing numerous well-to-do pedestrians on their way to the open gatehouse of the castle.
They passed through the gatehouse, ignoring the sharp points of the inner and outer portcullises and the more dangerous guards, standing at attention in carefully cleaned full plate armor.
Inside the outer bailey of the castle, everyone except Sturm dismounted. Pages ran from the stables to take the reins of the riders' horses -- the one who took Farran's reins from Kasey flinched visibly as he recognized the foul-tempered warhorse.
The two pages who escorted Kasey jumped from their horses. One took both reins while the other insistently led Kasey to the commander's office. Bilbus, Eric, Rishala, and Breanna followed the Church Knight.
Eric turned and noticed Sturm still on his horse. "Are you not going with us?"
"I need to check in with my commander. I'll meet you here later." The Sun Knight reined his horse around and rode out of the castle.
Head Knight Sir Mikall Fletcher was waiting in his office. After a round of introductions, Mikall started briefing Kasey.
"I asked you to come back to Londoun because I need you to escort a diplomatic mission to Caledonia. You've heard about King Seamus's demand that our Order leave the country?"
Kasey nodded.
"What we have not told the public is that he also sent a private letter to Kells demanding that the Church leave Caledonia as well."
Rishala sputtered, "What?!?"
Mikall looked at the storyteller and nodded. "That's what we thought as well. We don't understand how any sane man could expect the Church to simply close down and leave. The people of Caledonia wouldn't stand for it."
Kasey tilted his head slightly. "Why am I going?"
"We are sending a single diplomat to Caelioradh to speak to King Seamus and to ask him to reverse his decrees. The Church doesn't want to provoke the King, so a full contingent of escorts is not acceptable. Still, we don't really know what the political climate is in Caelioradh, so we won't send a diplomat unescorted."
"When will he be here?"
"She will be here this afternoon. She arrives by fast riverboat from Kells. This is the first time she's been sent afield without a senior member of the Diplomatic Service, so we would appreciate it if you could make sure she doesn't get into trouble."
Kasey bowed. "I am an obedient Servant of the Church."
"Thank you Kasey. You will have a stipend to cover any expenses that occur during the trip." Mikall looked at the rest of the audience. "The rest of you are welcome to go along, as well. We can make arrangements to have you listed as minor diplomats. When you return to Londoun, we can compensate you as well."
Eric asked, "How are we getting to Caledonia?"
"We have a ship ready right now at the Church's river docks."
Rishala muttered quietly, "I hope they are more reliable than the last crew we went east with."
Mikall heard the Caledonian. "They are a Church crew."
Kasey glanced towards the open window behind Mikall. "When do we need to return to meet her?"
"I think Nones is a good time. Her boat should be here well before mid-afternoon, and that would give her a chance to freshen before you have to leave for Caledonia."
Kasey saluted. "I will return at Nones, Sir."
Mikall returned the salute. Kasey turned smartly and left the office. His friends followed him out. Bilbus, the last one to leave the office, stopped and turned to Sir Mikall. He genuflected, using a hand movement he had seen the priests and priestesses of his orphanage use. Sir Mikall raised an eyebrow in surprise. Bilbus grinned and winked, then shut the door to the office as he left.
Kasey had remained at the castle while his friends left to run errands. When they returned at mid-afternoon with Sturm, they found Kasey in his full Church armor: well-oiled full plate armor with some brass ornamentation contrasting with the silver-gray of polished steel. It was less decorative than functional, but still could be used for some of the lower Church functions. The noble Church Knights who provided honor guards at high Church functions wore even more ornate armor that had been polished and buffed to a high sheen -- but even that armor was functional.
Bilbus's jaw dropped as he inspected Kasey in his plate armor. "Kasey? And here I thought that all of that talk about 'other armor' was just a ruse. I really had trouble picturing you in plate armor."
Kasey removed his helmet and tucked it under an arm. He grumbled quietly, "I hate this armor."
"Why?"
"It's not as comfortable as the Javik leathers. And it's too much work to get into it." He paushed. "And it still won't stop an orc's arrow."
"You have a point." He glanced past Kasey as a page rushed towards the group standing in the middle of the bailey.
The page stopped in front of Kasey and saluted stiffly. "Sir Bittrand! Sir Mikall has sent for you!"
Kasey returned the salute. "Lead on, Page."
The party followed Kasey and the page back into the commander's office. Sir Mikall stood behind his desk. To one side was a woman, close to Kasey's age, in a sky blue silk dress. Her dark hair had a tinge of red in it, and her hazel eyes glittered as she looked at the motley group crowding into the office.
The page snapped to attention right in front of Mikall's desk and saluted. "Lord Sir Kasey Bittrand of Sulster reporting!"
Kasey almost snickered.
Sir Mikall stared at the page for several seconds. He then addressed the page in a level voice. "Sir Kasey, you seem much smaller than I remember. You also did not dress properly for this meeting."
The page held still, but a bright red flush crept from the neckline of his tunic to cover his neck and face. Unsure what to do, the page simply barked, "Yes, Sir!"
Mikall finally returned the page's salute. "Page, find the Duty Charge of Pages. Tell him that I said you need to review proper etiquette for presenting knights."
The page winced as if struck. "Yes, Sir!" He saluted once more, then turned on his heels and ran from the office.
After the sounds of the young man running had faded from the office, Mikall walked around the desk. He held a hand towards the woman. "This is Priestess Meridaun Byddir. She is an ambassador of the Diplomatic Service."
Kasey saluted the priestess. Bilbus stared at her for a moment, then bowed awkwardly. The rest of the party followed Bilbus's lead.
Kasey lowered his arm. "I am your Servant and your Shield."
Meridaun smiled and stepped forward. "I am so glad to finally meet you, Sir Kasey. I have heard a lot about you!"
Kasey looked confused. "You have?"
"Of course! The Head Mother reviewed some of your recent travels with me before I left Kells. You will have to tell me about some of it!"
"Yes, Mother." Kasey reverted to the formal address.
"Please, Kasey. Call me Meri."
"Okay."
"These are your friends?" She looked at the party. "Sir Mikall told me you would be traveling with us."
Bilbus took a half step forward. "I am Bilbus the Great..." Rishala nudged him sharply. "Errr. Lord Bilbus del Cartach. Perhaps you've heard of me?"
Meridaun looked up at the ceiling for a moment. "No, I haven't heard of either of you." The twinkle in her eye flashed briefly.
Bilbus paused for a moment. "This is Lord Eric Ithell of Armagh." Eric nodded his head in greeting.
Bilbus next looked at Breanna. A glimmer flashed in his eyes. "And this is Eric's fiancee, the Lady Breanna Ceiturin, also of Armagh." Rishala started coughing and doubled over.
Meridaun brightened. "Congratulations, Lady Breanna!"
Kasey followed almost right away, "Congratulations, Eric! Where's her ring?"
Eric looked at Kasey, confused as he tried to digest what Bilbus had said.
Bilbus leaned over and stage whispered, "He didn't get one yet."
Kasey looked at Eric in shock. "Eric, how could you not get her a ring?" He turned to Meridaun. "I'm very sorry, Moth... Meri. May we delay our departure so we can get a ring for the Lady Breanna?"
"Of course, Kasey."
Kasey grabbed Eric by the shoulder. "Come on, Eric. Let's get a ring." He hauled the startled explorer from the office. Bilbus, chuckling to himself, followed.
The three found a jewelry store with little difficulty. Eric picked out a suitable gold ring.
The proprietor of the store nodded. "This is the correct size?"
Eric looked at the ring, scratching his head.
Bilbus sighed loudly and produced a ring. "This is her proper size, good Master."
The jeweler examined the ring, then pulled a ring from his display case. "This ring is the correct size, m'Lord."
Eric caught a glimpse of the ring Bilbus held. "That's Bree's signet ring!"
Bilbus looked at the ring in mock surprise. "Why, yes, it is! Here, Eric, you had better hold onto it. Bree has to be more careful with it. She could lose a thing like this."
Eric snatched Breanna's signet ring from Bilbus as the jeweler pulled a golden ring from the display. Eric looked at it.
Bilbus glanced at Eric's face. "What?"
Eric looked at the ring. "Well it's plain. Bree should have a ring with a stone on it. Maybe a blue stone that would go so well with her hair..." Eric waxed poetically about his ideal ring as the thief rolled his eyes. The jeweler nodded a few times as Eric spoke, mentally taking notes as the young noble spoke.
"M'Lord, I can create such a ring for you, but it will take time. If you would be willing to leave some coin in good faith?"
Eric nodded and fumbled through his coinpurse. He dropped a stack of silver coins on the counter top.
The jeweler started to put the ring he held back into the case. Bilbus caught the man's wrist. "He's going to take that ring as well for now." Bilbus looked at Eric. "You should give her this one now. You can give her the nice ring when it's ready."
Eric nodded and took the ring from the jeweler.
When the three made it back to Castle Treasa, the party and Meridaun were waiting in the outer bailey. Farran stood to one side, glaring menacingly at the pages who rushed across the grounds.
Eric walked up to Breanna, holding the promise ring. As he opened his mouth to speak, Bilbus pressed his foot into the back of Eric's knee, causing the Azirian to drop to the ground in a kneel.
Eric opened his mouth again to speak. "Bree, I ... I, uh, got this for you." He shoved the ring into Breanna's hands.
"Huh? What?" she asked, confused.
Before either could say anything else, Rishala quickly improvised, "To the Ithell and Ceiturin families. May Armagh grow stronger with this alliance of families!"
Breanna finally understood what was happening. She blanched and fell backwards. Sturm caught her, arms looped under her shoulders. As the unconscious healer leaned against him, Sturm freed one hand to fan her.
He looked at Eric, who wore an expression of distress mixed with confusion. "You know, in some cultures, unconsciousness implies consent." He glanced around the compound. Spotting a page who was walking a little too slowly, he called out, "Page!"
The boy jumped and turned. Seeing the large knight holding an unconscious woman, he ran towards them. He snapped to attention in front of Sturm. "Sir!"
"Boy, fetch some water!"
"Sir!" The boy ran away towards a mess hall. He returned with a wooden mug full of water.
Breanna started to wake up. She stood and took the mug from the boy. The page stood nervously.
Sturm scowled at him. "Get a carriage for the ladies!"
"Sir!" Again the boy ran. When he returned ten minutes later, he was leading a pair of horses hitched to a wagon. "Sir, we have no carriages right now. I found a wagon."
Sturm scowled at the boy again. "One more thing. Take this letter," he pulled one out of his doublet, "to the Sun Knight compound in town. Deliver it to the head commander of the compound, and you are free to return to your duties."
The boy frowned slightly. The Sun Knight compound was on the far east side of the city, across the River Llwelyn. "Yes, Sir!" He took the folded and sealed letter and took off at a trot for the gatehouse.
Sturm shouted after him, "It is an urgent letter, boy!"
The page started running for the gatehouse.
Bilbus watched the page running away. "Do you really think he'll run all the way to the Sun Knight's castle?"
Sturm shook his head. "No. He just wants to get out of my sight before I find him anything else to do."
"Huh. Pages are pretty handy. Maybe I can find one to carry my bag to the docks." He spotted another of the young pages. "Page!"
The boy looked at him, but didn't snap to or approach.
Sturm stared at the thief. "You're not a knight, Bilbus."
"So? You're not a Church Knight."
"Doesn't matter. I'm still a knight."
Bilbus turned to look at Eric.
Eric stood where he had been kneeling, a puzzled expression on his face. "... and then Bilbus said ..."
Bilbus interrupted, "Get on the wagon."
"... 'get on the wagon'. No, he didn't." He looked up at Bilbus, as if seeing the thief for the first time.
"No, Eric. Get on the wagon. It's time to go."
Eric climbed onto the wagon, then helped Breanna onto the bench seat as well. The others loaded travel cases into the back of the wagon.
Bilbus offered a hand to Meridaun. "A help up?"
Meridaun smiled. "No, thank you. Let's walk. It'll be much more fun."
The ambassador walked towards the gatehouse briskly. Bilbus followed her. The rest followed suit, with Eric driving the wagon behind the procession.
At the river docks, Meridaun led the procession up the gangplank to an impressive clipper, the Chulainn's Spear. The ship was one of a handful of fast sea-going vessels the Church kept for diplomatic missions and other urgent travels. The clipper represented the height of sailing technology on Oerth, and fully half of the still-uncommon clippers sailing the Vasmar were owned by the Church of Kells. The crew were already prepared to get under way, and the captain started barking orders as his passengers walked up the gangplank.
Sturm looked over his shoulder at a scraping sound behind him. Rishala was trying to drag his travel chest up the plank.
"Do you need help?"
Rishala dropped the chest. The gangplank flexed when the chest hit it. "What does it look like?"
Sturm walked down the plank and lifted the front handle of the chest. Behind the chest, Kasey slung his packs over a shoulder and lifted the handle on the other end of the iron-bound wooden chest. They carried the chest easily up to the main deck, with Sturm in front of them. They set the chest on the deck.
Minutes later, the Chulainn's Spear was under way. The captain steered the bow northward as the crew played out sails on the three masts.
Bilbus stood on the foredeck. Meridaun approached him when she noticed a smoking roll of paper in his mouth.
"What is that, Bilbus?" she asked.
Bilbus turned to face her. "Taback. Want to try some?"
Before she answered, he pulled another piece of paper from one of his belt pouches. He sprinkled some dried plants on it, then rolled it. He held a thumb under the end of it and started to draw upon some Heka. Thinking better of it, he instead used the smoking end of his own taback roll to light the second one. He offered the newly-lit smoking roll to her.
She watched how he drew a breath through his roll, then did the same. Her skin turned gray as she started coughing. "Gods! That is terrible!"
She dropped the roll on the deck. Bilbus picked it up and extinguished the end of it.
"Suit yourself, Meri," he said around his smoking roll.
She looked at the thief for several seconds, sizing him up. Bilbus tried to ignore her as he watched Londoun slipping by on both banks of the wide river.
"You've been traveling with Kasey for a while now, right?"
Leaning against the rail, Bilbus turned to face her. "Yeah."
"You were with him in Hillsdale, when he ran into orcs?"
Bilbus nodded casually.
"What are they like? How big are they? Do they really smell that badly?" She paused. "Why were you in Hillsdale, anyway?"
Bilbus smiled. "Rishala is really a better story teller... Still, what happened was this." He started telling Meridaun about the merchant they had rescued from bandits.
As the sun was setting behind the ship, Rishala and Bilbus leaned against the rail on the back of the foredeck. Breanna sat in front of the forward mast, legs crossed under her skirt.
Rishala glanced at Bilbus. "I take it Eric is teaching her yoga?"
Bilbus nodded, still watching her. "At least he's teaching her something."
"What do you mean?"
Bilbus turned to look at his friend. "Do you remember when Adria and Bree were running around town drunk, the night before we sailed for Portsdale?"
Rishala nodded.
"Do you know what those two did when they went back to Adria's room?"
"Bilbus, that's none of ..."
Bilbus interrupted. "I'll tell you what they did. Nothing!"
Rishala looked sceptical. "Nothing? Did you use clairvoyance on them?"
Bilbus shook his head. "I don't know that one."
Rishala quickly interjected. "I'm not teaching you."
"Whatever. The whole night, they slept. In separate rooms. Didn't even touch one another."
Bilbus turned to look back at the healer. Meridaun had approached her, and the two were talking.
Breanna finished a stretching exercise and stood up.
Meridaun smiled at her. "Where did you learn those exercises?"
Breanna shrugged dismissively. "Eric taught me."
Meridaun nodded to herself. "Oh." Her eyes widened. "Oh! So, when is the date of the wedding?"
Breanna looked at Meridaun, then looked at the ring on her left hand. "Fiance? Date? Wedding? Excuse me, Lady..." Breanna stumbled away, mumbling to herself.
Meridaun noticed Rishala and Bilbus watching. She walked towards them, standing on the main deck below the rail where the two men leaned. "Bilbus, is Breanna always this flighty?"
Bilbus smiled. "The Ithells and the Ceiturins have been feuding for years. They haven't told their parents about the wedding yet. I imagine it's going to cause quite a stir in Armagh."
Meridaun nodded to herself again and started walking away.
Rishala elbowed Bilbus in the rib. He spoke quietly. "Feuding? What are you doing, Bilbus?"
Bilbus smiled. "Relax, Rishala. At the rate those two were going, we would all be in our deathbeds before either of them even broached the subject of weddings."
Meridaun stopped in mid-pace and turned around. "Rishala, Bilbus says you are a story teller?"
Rishala nodded slowly. "Aye, that I am some days."
"Tell me your story."
Bilbus rolled his eyes. "Here we go again with the 'Phaeree trip'."
Meridaun heard him. "Phaeree? You've been to Phaeree?"
Rishala stood up. "That I have, lady. It was five years or more ago."
Bilbus noticed Sturm and Kasey practicing swordplay on the main deck. He quickly walked away as Rishala's voice shifted into his story-telling style.
"It was well-nigh to five ans ago." Rishala used the formal "ans" instead of the vernacular "years". "I had spent the day tending the sheep and daydreaming, as any young shepherd is wont to do. When my reveries had ended, I realized the sheep had wandered from the field.
"I saw one atop a hill, near some brambles that had once tried to be woods. I climbed onto my pony and raced it up the hill to the sheep.
"They had disappeared beyond the hill before I reached its top. I saw them milling near a clearing in the forest that I had never before noticed. When I got closer, I realized there was a stone platform in the center, with low benches around it. There was strange writing -- glyphs of some alien tongue -- in the platform.
"I had leaned over to see the writing better -- I had already forgotten about the sheep -- when this fox raced through the clearing. My pony reared, startled. I fell back, but one of my feet must have been twisted in its stirrup, because I hit my head hard and blacked out.
"I woke to a scream and splashing water. When I sat up, my head hurt like a tonkari had trampled it -- have you ever seen a tonkari?" Meridaun shook her head. "I'll tell you about them later. I looked around. The trees were odd, twisted and short, with branches that looked more like arms and legs. The leaves looked like they had been victims of some sort of explosion in a painter's studio. Every color imagineable, sometimes spattered on the same leaf!
"I followed the screams and water splashing to find a hideous monster. It had the body of a wolf, but it was as big as any two men. It had the head of a giant ape, and the hands and feet of an ape. It held a girl in one hand, using another to cover her mouth. It was trying to drag her into the pink pond they stood in."
"Pink?" Meridaun asked.
"Aye, m'Lady. The lands of Phaeree know different laws of nature than our own lands.
"I had the good fortune to still have my bow with me -- a shepherd without a bow is next to worthless if wolves come along -- but I was so frightened that I couldn't steady it. I loosed an arrow, afeared that I would hit the lass, but I grazed the monster's leg.
"It dropped the girl and came for me. I barely managed to draw another arrow before it reached shore. With a quick prayer to the gods, I freed the second arrow and shut my eyes. The monster stopped yelling. When I looked, the thing was dead, the second arrow sticking from its eye as if I had walked up and put it there.
"The girl ran, and I chased her. It was when she had fallen against a tree with exhaustion that I caught her. She was not a girl. She was a woman, with the curves to match, but she was short. Even beside me, she would stand only to my chest. She had skin that looked of gold, with copper hair.
"As I looked at her, I realized I was surrounded. More of the small people had arrived, bows in hand, to surround me. Before I knew what was happening, one of them loosed an arrow at me. I must have channeled Heka of some sort -- such is not unheard of in Phaeree, you understand. The arrow stopped short of my heart.
"The archer saw this as well. He drew another arrow, one that I knew would not stop. I closed my eyes to wait for my end, thinking back on the twenty and six ans of my life at that time.
"The killing blow never arrived. When I ventured a peek once more, I saw that the woman whom I had saved had thrown herself across the archer's arm. She argued with the man. After some time, she must have convinced him to spare me and keep me prisoner in stead.
"I followed the two, with many other archers behind me, back to their castle. I had time during the walk to realize that both the man and the woman wore dark violet cloth and golden brocade. These were no peasants.
"They held me in a cell for a day and more before visiting me. I was fed well with sweet porridge and the juice of a fruit I have never tasted elsewhere. When at last they decided to visit, they made me put on a necklace. This necklace," he pulled his foxhead medallion from under his tunic.
Meridaun looked at the medallion. "What is it?"
"I found out later during my Phaeree visit. It helps me when dreaming. It makes it easier to for me to control my dreams."
"Dreams?"
"In Phaeree more than here, dreams are a reflection of reality. One may speak with others far distant. One can fashion the reality of the dream, if there is such a thing as 'reality' when dreaming. One can even control another person, if that other does not have the discipline to control himself while dreaming."
Meridaun nodded, fascinated. "How did you get home?"
"Well, after some time visiting with the Fays, I found that they were worried that I would lead an invasion of humans into their land. They had been betrayed by humans many centuries ago. The humans had been servants of the Dark One.
"Once they had been convinced that I was not going to betray them to the Dark One, and that I was not the leading agent of an invasion, they told me where to find a Gate that would take me back to Oerth. It was quite a travel. I eventually made it to Oerth, after finding the Gate."
Rishala paused.
"You must have skipped a lot, Rishala."
The storyteller nodded. "Most people get bored with the details, or they dismiss me right away as telling a tall tale."
Meridaun looked at him. "Please, tell me more. I've never been to Phaeree, but I have met some of its denizens in Kells."
"Aye, there are elves in most large cities. I've heard that there is a husband and wife living in Armagh. I think that is where Breanna learned the Elven tongue."
"So, tell me about Phaeree. I want the details. I don't think it'd be boring."
The Chulainn's Spear sailed into port in the Caledonian capitol of Caelioradh shortly after midday. Caelioradh was much smaller than Londoun, nestled between two large, green hills along the Vasmar, in one of the few spots of the Caledonian coast that wasn't covered with sharp rocks.
The air was cool and damp, and a haze turned the sky to a silvery-blue. The breeze blew in from the sea, blowing the stink of the fishing docks on the west end of Caelioradh's sheltered bay in shore. Even where the Chulainn's Spear docked, far from the fishing docks, the cacophany of the gulls could be heard, a constant screaming undercurrent to the sounds of the city.
Kasey stood on the foredeck of the ship, surveying the city. Although it was visibly smaller than Londoun, it had at least as many castles as the larger city. The most impressive was the Auld Castle, located on a rocky protrusion in the center of the valley, nearly half a mile from the coast.
Meridaun stopped next to the Church Knight. When Kasey realized she had arrived, he turned and nodded towards her. "My Lady."
Meridaun looked up at the knight and smiled before returning her gaze to the city.
"What say we go straight to the castle and grab the dog by the throat?"
Meridaun grinned. "Yes, let's."
"I will collect a carriage for you. It would not be proper for an ambassador to walk to the King's castle."
"Very well, Kasey."
Half of an hour later, the carriage waited near the end of the pier. Farran stood impatiently next to the carriage, side-stepping and tapping his hooves on the worn paving stones. Meridaun, Breanna, Rishala, Sturm, and Eric were on the carriage.
Eric wore plate armor that he had brought with him from Armagh, an exotic creation combining the metalworking techniques of Avillonia with the aesthetic tastes of Karasimi. The suit of armor alone was not particularly unusual, but the helmet and mentonniere were fashioned to form a tiger's head -- the helmet forming the head and upper jaw, the mentonniere, riveted to the breastplate, forming the lower jaw. Eric also wore gauntlets and boots that were fashioned like a tiger's claws. More than a few heads turned to stare at the explorer when he had walked down the dock to board the carriage.
Kasey likewise wore his plate armor. Though far more conventional than Eric's, it still caught attention because of its Knights of Kells ornamentation.
Sturm was less conspicuous. He wore his leather armor, appearing more as a weathered merchant guard than a knight. Only an attentive viewer would notice the sunburst on his sword's crossguard.
As Kasey sat astride his destrier, he noticed Bilbus off to one side, standing idly near some crates. The knight looked at Bilbus with some puzzlement. "Aren't you riding the carriage, Bilbus? There's plenty of room."
Bilbus shook his head. "I want to watch the crowds. I want to see how the people react to a Church envoy arriving in town."
Kasey tilted his head for a moment, then slowly said, "Okay."
Bilbus smiled and leaned against the crates, crossing his arms. "Don't worry, Kase. I'll follow you up to the castle."
Kasey led the carriage towards the Auld Castle. Farran pranced, his steel-shod hooves ringing brightly on the paving stones of the broad avenue leading to the king's castle. The carriage followed behind the warhorse, its large wheels creaking slightly as they slid into the shallow ruts in the road.
Bilbus slinked along through the crowd to one side of the avenue. He was surprised when he realized that few of the people dressed differently than those of Londoun -- the fashions were a little behind the latest Londoun crazes, but there were few people wearing the woolen kilts that Rishala wore on formal occasions. The accents were markedly different than Londoun accents, and the buildings were subtly different, but Bilbus could almost imagine that he was in an unfamiliar section of Londoun.
Halfway to the castle, Bilbus decided it was time to test the attitudes of the city. He grabbed an overripe tomato and trotted well ahead of the procession. As Kasey drew near on Farran, Bilbus hefted the tomato and threw it at Kasey. He also shouted "Church Knights leave!" in as close to a Caledonian accent as he could manage.
Bilbus was briefly relieved when the tomato missed the Church Knight. His relief almost turned to panic when the tomato nearly hit Sturm in the back of the head. The Sun Knight turned to face forward. Spotting Bilbus, Sturm raised a single eyebrow and scowled. Bilbus flashed a quick grin and ducked into the crowd once more.
The people looked at me like I'm insane, he thought as he cut a block away from the avenue and walked quickly along it to get ahead of the procession once more. Either they don't support the new king, or they thought I was a fool for throwing a tomato at a Church Knight. Scratch that. They knew I was a fool, but do they support the king or not?
Bilbus continued along the side street until he reached the entrance to the Auld Castle. There, he waited for a couple of minutes while his companions arrived. As the carriage rolled past him, Bilbus jumped up and into the empty seat.
Sturm still scowled at Bilbus. "Bilbus," Sturm paused. "You almost hit me with the tomato."
Bilbus laughed dismissively. "I wanted to see if the King's subjects supported him."
Meridaun leaned forward slightly. "And?"
"They thought I was insane for throwing a tomato at a Church Knight. No one else grabbed tomatoes, so I don't know if they were scared of the knight, or they didn't support ..." Bilbus's voice trailed off as the carriage passed under the outer portcullis of the gatehouse.
The gatehouse was not a large structure, but it was intimidating nonetheless. A corridor fifteen feet high and twenty wide passed between two squat, stout towers. It was thirty feet from one end to the other. It felt like a short tunnel -- which is what it was. Several castle guards stood watch between the two heavy portcullises that marked the two ends of the gatehouse. The guards simply milled about, watching the pedestrian traffic coming and going with little interest.
When Farran pranced into the passage, however, the guards perked up. Several of them watched the large Church Knight atop the kelpie with disbelief, as if they were watching a spirit walking amongst them. The carriage and its motley collection of passengers gathered as much attention. One of the guards standing near the inner portcullis sprinted across the outer bailey, turning to his left out of sight.
Kasey turned slightly to the left after he exited the gatehouse. Another gatehouse, more stout than the outer gatehouse, admitted people into the middle bailey. This gatehouse was up hill from the outer curtain walls. Kasey rode towards it, keeping Farran's pace slow as he passed around several small merchant stands and a pair of dismantled siege weapons. The buzz of conversation and the crowds of people were almost identical to those of the smaller marketplaces outside the heavy stone walls of the castle. The outer bailey served as a marketplace for the castle as well as a storage place for some of the King's siege weapons.
At the entrance to the Middle Gatehouse, several guards stood in a ragged line. One stepped forward, his right palm raised. In a strong voice, he called out, "Halt! Who seeks passage to the middle bailey?"
Kasey stopped Farran a pace in front of the guard. In a formal intonation, he answered, "The Mother Meridaun Byddir, Emissary from and Ambassador for the Church of Kells; her escort; her attendants."
The guards looked uncertainly at one another. Finally, one of them stood aside. The others quickly did so as well. Kasey rode through the gatehouse to the middle bailey, with the carriage close behind.
The middle bailey had a markedly different feel to it. Where the outer bailey was a walled marketplace, the middle bailey was clearly a military garrison. Two large buildings -- obviously barracks -- were placed on opposing ends of the bailey. The center of it was empty, and few plants grew there. The ground was packed and flattened from years of military drills. Atop one of the barracks buildings -- a flat-topped two story structure -- several guards drilled in padded jackets using wooden practice swords. Next to this building, also near the Middle Gatehouse, was the Gardens Gatehouse. This gatehouse was smaller than the others, and it provided access from the King's Gardens, a section of the outer castle devoted to a botanical garden.
The packed trail from the Middle Gatehouse wound a quarter of the way around the hill, climbing farther upwards to the upper gatehouse. As more people noticed a Church Knight riding in front of a carriage, the noises of the bailey died. On the carriage, Bilbus started cautiously looking around. The hair on the back of his neck bristled as he realized how incredibly exposed he was in the carriage. He could almost feel arrowheads pointed at him from the high battlements along the walls.
"We are too exposed. This could get bad." he muttered to himself.
Meridaun smiled at him. "What's the matter, Lord del Cartach? This is a diplomatic mission. Even the King of Caledonia wouldn't be so brazen as to attack an ambassador from the Church." Bilbus visibly relaxed until her smile faded. "At least, not before he meets with us."
The thief continued slowly looking around, trying to find cover in case he needed to abandon the carriage. He could find no way to get out of the bailey without resorting to ample use of Heka.
The carriage rolled to a halt again just outside the Inner Gatehouse. Again Kasey made the formal introduction. This time, however, the guards did not stand aside.
One of them answered the knight, instead. "Dismount and proceed on foot. Only the King may ride within the inner bailey."
Kasey remained in Farran's saddle until Meridaun approached him on foot. "It is all right, Sir Bittrand. Let us continue." She then turned to the guards. "You will escort us to the Great Hall."
One of the guards nodded and marched forward smartly. When the party had assembled on foot, he turned and marched through the large gatehouse and into the inner bailey.
Compared to the middle and outer baileys, the inner bailey was rich. The buildings were ornate, with bright colors highlighting them. Several gardens of flowering bushes added to the color of the area, and grass grew richly on most of the ground.
Near the center of the bailey was the inner keep, the home of the King of Caledonia and the Royal Family. The inner keep was a stout tower, nearly eighty feet in diameter, that rose four stories above ground, with several below as well. The only access to the inner keep was a drawbridge twenty feet above ground that linked the keep to a building on the north wall of the bailey.
The entrance to the King's Church was on the southwest end of the bailey. The two tall doors were visibly chained shut with a large lock hanging in front of them.
As Meridaun looked at the sealed doors of the church, she spoke quietly. "It looks like the Church really has had a falling-out with King Seamus. I've never heard of anything this extreme."
The guard led the party to another building on the north side of the bailey. He opened a door and let them into a roomy atrium. The guard then slipped through a set of double doors opposite the entrance. Several moments later, he returned.
"King Seamus will see you now."
Bilbus stood still as the rest of the party walked towards the door. Meridaun turned and saw him still standing. "Something the matter, Bilbus?"
"Yeah... We're going to see a king. Just like that. A real king."
"Yes. And?"
"But it's a real king. Not some minor noble."
"Bilbus," Meridaun said as if addressing a child. "Ambassadors do this sort of thing. We meet with kings. Come on." She turned and walked through the open door.
Bilbus shuffled uncertainly after her. Inside the Great Hall were several guards standing along the walls in shiny plate armor with their large, distinctive Caledonian greatswords in front of them, tip of the blade touching wooden blocks on the ground while the drooping crossguards were at chest height. Several other people -- attendants -- were in the Great Hall, scurrying to and fro with important papers or trays or goblets.
Directly opposite the doors the party entered was the dais itself with the King's throne. Raised a pace above the floor level, with four wide steps surrounding it, the dais was large enough for two thrones with room left over. Only one throne occupied the dais, a large and ornately wrought golden chair with gems enough to move it beyond gaudy. Plush Tyrian velvet cushions almost complemented the gold of the arms, legs, and back of the chair.
Seated upon this throne was a man who looked to be near forty years' of age. His hair was dark, with streaks of silver scattered haphazardly in it, and it fell to his shoulders. He wore a crown that almost matched the throne; it was tilted slightly askew. His demeanor was that of a man both bored and tired. He rested his chin on one fist, which in turn was supported by an elbow on the arm of the chair. His clothing, highlighted excessively with thread of gold and a rich purple sash, bespoke his office.
Meridaun approached the king with Kasey a pace to her left and a pace behind her. The rest of the party followed several paces behind Kasey and Meridaun. Several paces short of the dais, Meridaun stopped and curtsied deeply. "Your Majesty."
King Seamus hardly shifted. "You are the ambassador from the Church?" His voice was almost monotonous.
Meridaun stood straight once more. "Yes, Your Majesty. I am Mother Meridaun Byddir of the Church of Kells."
King Seamus sat up, then leaned back against the throne. "Yes, yes, yes. 'Guardian of the People, Keeper of the Books'. I've been to the services as well. What is your business?"
"Your Majesty. I was sent by the Church to ask you about your request that the Knights of Kel..."
"Ambassador, it was no request. It was an order. Now is not the time to discuss it, however. I will clear some time in the morning to discuss it with you. This evening is a feast. You are welcome to attend, if you will." He turned to a man standing at the rear of the dais. "Ezeka, have servants prepare a floor for them in the Apartments of State."
Ezeka bowed. "Yes, my Liege." He turned and left the room through a side door.
The king addressed Meridaun again. "My Lord High Chamberlain, Ezeka, will see to having rooms prepared for the evening."
Meridaun curtsied again. "You are kind, Your Majesty."
Ezeka returned a minute later. He was a lean man, almost gaunt, within deep magenta robes. "If you will follow me?"
Ezeka led them across the inner bailey to a building on the south side of the greens. Inside, he led them to the door on the second floor landing. "You may have this floor tonight. The feast starts at sundown." Ezeka lifted the handle on the door and pushed it open. He then scurried back down the stairs.
The party went through the door. Inside was a lavishly furnished common room. Several doors off of the room led to bed chambers.
Rishala walked into the center of the common room. "I thought Bilbus's apartment was elaborate." He smiled mischievously.
"I haven't robbed as many people as a King."
Sturm looked back at the door, then spoke quietly. "Did you recognize that name?"
Bilbus smirked. "What, 'Bilbus'?"
The Sun Knight scowled. "No. 'Ezeka'. Eric, where is your journal?"
The explorer pulled it from its waterproof travel bag. The Sun Knight took the journal and thumbed through several pages. "Here it is." He ran a finger along a passage that Eric had transcribed.
Eric read the section. "'The local lord was not interested in our offers at last report. We will need a more suitable technique to influence him. Perhaps when Ezeka is through...'" Eric paused. "We found this in the witch's tower. It had something to do with a plot to make my father work with them. Do you think it's the same person?"
Sturm looked at Eric. "Is 'Ezeka' a common name? Not that I am aware of. Besides, we have a new king here who suddenly wants the Church out of his country?"
Bilbus nodded. "It's too close for coincidence."
Eric sat down slowly on one of the thick-cushioned couches. "What do we do?"
Bilbus sat on a different couch facing Eric. "I'm for sneaking out and staying alive."
Rishala nodded. "Mmm-hmmm."
Sturm agreed. "Same here."
Meridaun shook her head. "He wouldn't be that brazen about it. We can't act too suspicious about this Ezeka, or he may do something preemptive."
Bilbus looked at her. "What do you suggest."
"Let's go to the feast..." Meridaun began
"So he can poison us." Bilbus finished.
"Nonsense. If you're so worried, you can stay and guard the room."
"Thanks..." Bilbus said, not meaning it.
"Lord Ithell, will you stay as well?" Meridaun asked. Eric nodded. Meridaun noticed a flash on Breanna's face. "Lady Breanna, you may want to stay as well. The knights and Rishala can escort me to the feast. That will be enough of a showing."
Meridaun startled Bilbus when she returned to the room late that evening. He had started to doze off sitting next to a window in one of the bedrooms, watching the guards moving around on the castle walls. He hadn't even noticed Meridaun, Rishala, and the knights crossing back from the Great Hall.
Meridaun looked into the dark bedroom. "Where are Eric and Breanna?"
"Oh. I forgot about them." Bilbus stood and stretched, then walked back into the common room to stop by one of the other doors. He pulled a lockpick from his jacket and unlocked the door.
"Bilbus, wait," Meridaun said.
"Meri, with those two, it's safe. They aren't doing anything. Except maybe mooning for one another and prating." Bilbus swung the door open. "See?"
Breanna sat on one bed, Eric sat on another. His armor was piled neatly at the foot of the bed, and he wore a silk robe from Karasimi. Both he and Breanna looked at the door in surprise.
Eric stared at Bilbus. "Decided to let us out?"
Bilbus smiled. "No harm done, Eric. You two wanted to talk, I didn't want to hear it."
Meridaun looked at Bilbus. "You locked them in?"
"Yes. It doesn't seem to have hurt either of them."
Meridaun shook her head and walked away.
Sturm called out quietly from another room. "Come here."
Bilbus and Meridaun stepped lightly across the darkened room. Sturm stood next to the window, a pace away from the sill, looking into the bailey. After shifting around, Bilbus spotted what Sturm was watching.
Four men wearing maille armor, with swords strapped to their waists, walked towards the locked church doors. Two of them were carrying sacks slung over their shoulders, the other two carried small wooden casks.
Standing on her toes to peer past Bilbus's shoulder, Meridaun whispered, "That is unusual. Is it a night watch?"
Sturm answered quietly, "Don't know. Odd that they are carrying provisions."
One of the men put a key in the lock on the church. With a quiet clack, the lock opened. The guards unwound the chains and opened one of the doors enough to slip through. The door shut after the last one disappeared into the church.
Bilbus walked past Sturm to the window. "This I have got to see. Get Eric."
Meridaun rushed out of the room as Bilbus pulled out his climbing rope. He fastened the clawed end to the window sill and tossed the rope out the window.
Eric and Meridaun came into the room.
The Azirian looked at Bilbus. "What gives?"
"Some guards just went into the church. I want to check it out. Cover us."
"From where?"
"You have a clear view of the grounds from right here. Get your bow."
Bilbus swung his legs out the window and quickly climbed down the rope. When he reached the ground, he noticed Meridaun climbing after him, a dark cloak thrown over her dress. Sturm was already swinging his legs out the window, and Kasey stood, waiting for the Sun Knight to get clear.
When all four had assembled below the window, Bilbus saw Eric flash a signal from above.
Bilbus looked at the two knights and the priestess. In a hushed voice, he said, "Okay. We do this the Bilbus way."
"What's the Bilbus way?" Meridaun asked. As quiet as the bailey was, she may as well have shouted.
"Quietly!" Bilbus hissed.
The four stayed close to the wall, where the shadows were longer. The Apartments of State were close to the cathedral, no more than twenty paces away. They quickly reached the doors of the cathedral. Bilbus quietly tested the doorway, making sure the hinges were in good repair. The tall door opened with little effort. Bilbus cautiously peered into the dark cathedral, then opened the door enough he could squeeze in.
"They're not holding a service," he whispered.
His companions followed him in. Standing quietly inside the again-closed door, they listened for the guards they were following.
Kasey whispered quietly from one of the back corners of the cathedral. "Over here. I hear them down these stairs." He paused. "In the crypt."
Sturm remained by the door while the other two quietly walked over to the spiral staircase. The stone steps were hard to see in the near-total darkness, but a faint glimmer of light reflected up from somewhere below. Bilbus started down the stairs, stepping excruciatingly slowly as he kept close to the outer wall of the spiral. Meridaun followed him, several steps behind and above. Kasey took the rear until Sturm caught up.
Whispering in a barely-audible breath, Sturm leaned close to Kasey. "I bolted the door. No one is going to sneak up behind us."
Kasey nodded, exaggerating his motions so Sturm could see it in the dark.
"I'm going to stay up here," the Sun Knight whispered again, "in case anyone else approaches."
"Good idea," Kasey whispered. He then continued slowly down the stairs.
The crypts of this cathedral were chaotically arranged. Some areas had been neatly tunneled in a crossing pattern, forming orderly rows and columns of tunnels. Others had been haphazardly dug, creating winding tunnels in the dark. All of the tunnels had large alcoves carved out of them for the sarcophagi of Caledonia's rulers, almost a hundred men and women stretching back to the fall of Camelough.
The distant flicker of torchlight showed Bilbus which way to go. In the dark, he channeled a small amount of Heka into his black adamantine dagger, causing it to glow with a faint phosphorescence. He held the dagger slightly out to his side so Meridaun and Kasey could follow him.
After following one of the straighter corridors for ten paces, the three heard voices approaching. Quickly, Bilbus ducked into a nearby alcove, crouching behind the sarcophagus of a long-dead and long-forgotten king. Meridaun crouched behind the other end of the sarcophagus as Kasey slipped behind a different one.
Four guards walked past the three concealed intruders -- the one in the lead carried a torch -- oblivious to the danger. One of the four grumbled about his losses at the card table that evening, and another one teased the loser.
On the main floor, Sturm heard the approaching rattle of the guards' armor as they climbed the staircase. The Sun Knight quickly unbolted the cathedral door and ducked behind a row of pews. On his belly, he peered under the pews to watch the feet of the guards as they walked from the staircase to the cathedral doors. They opened one of the doors and left. After a few moments, Sturm heard the rattle of the chains being wrapped around the door. A quiet click echoed in the empty cathedral as the guards locked the door shut.
In the crypts, Bilbus peered carefully around the corner of the corridor. About five paces away was a torch-lit room. A square wooden table was placed in the center of the area. Around the table were four seats, each occupied by one of the guards the party had followed into the crypts. The bags were piled against one wall, next to several small kegs. One keg was tapped with a spigot.
As Bilbus watched, one of the guards pulled out a stack of cards and started shuffling. The rest pulled out stacks of bronze coins.
Bilbus pulled back and quietly relayed the layout of the room to Meridaun and Kasey. After a quiet discussion, the three decided that they should rush the guards to take them by surprise for questioning. Bilbus quietly started preparing a casting while he leaned against the corner of the corridor.
Kasey felt someone lightly touch his arm. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Sturm standing in the dim flickering of the distant torchlight behind him, slowly drawing his sword. Kasey nodded and drew his. When Kasey turned forward again, Bilbus was gone.
The Church Knight peeked around the corner. He thought he saw Bilbus creeping along the side of the corridor, but, even backlit, the thief seemed to disappear into the wall. Kasey pulled back and updated Meridaun on the situation. Sturm growled something quietly as they heard noises coming from the guard room.
The metallic ring of a coin being flipped was followed quickly by Bilbus's voice. "Deal me in," he said.
There was a shuffle and a couple of confused shouts.
Kasey and Sturm charged around the corner, rushing towards the guard room. One of the guards lay on the ground, stiff with paralysis. Bilbus had flipped the table, and another of the guards lay pinned underneath it. The thief himself stood on the table, a wild grin on his face, as he kept his blackened sword pointed at the pinned guard's face. The other two guards had jumped back from the table. Sturm and Kasey rushed into the room, one turning left and the other turning right, to stop with swords against the necks of the two uncovered guards. Neither guard had even had a chance to reach for weapons, such was their surprise at the unexpected visitors.
Meridaun walked casually into the torchlight, a grin on her face as she looked at the mess. "Nice work, boys." Her smile faded. "Kasey, let's talk to your friend there."
The Church Knight sheathed his sword and picked up his prisoner, holding him steady with one hand clamped on the shoulder.
Meridaun stood close in front of the guard, fires in her eyes. "What's in the crypt?" she asked coldly.
The guard's eyes flicked to his comrades, still on the ground.
Kasey growled, "Answer the Mother." After a brief pause, he hit the prisoner on the top of the head. The man collapsed, unconscious.
Meridaun levelled a brief glare at the knight, then turned to Bilbus's prisoner.
"You." She said. "What is in the crypt?"
Kasey shuffled over to the guard. "Want me to bonk him?" he asked too hopefully.
She glanced at the enthusiastic knight. "No, Kasey. That's okay."
Meridaun looked back at the guard. "Are you a religious man?"
The guard looked at the two large knights, abject terror on his face. "I ... I am finding it again." He whimpered.
"Good. Who is in the crypt?"
"I ... I don't know. I was never allowed in."
Meridaun looked at the prisoners. "We don't need..." She stopped in midsentence when she felt the oily chill of someone nearby channeling Heka. She glanced at Bilbus, who had started to open the now-unlocked door of the crypt. The thief held no tools or keys.
Meridaun looked back at the four captured guards. "We don't need them raising an alarm once we leave here."
Kasey shook his head. "We can't kill them in a church. Or even below a church." He reminded Meridaun, "Spilling blood on hallowed ground is not permitted."
Meridaun looked vexed. "Are you suggesting we drown them?"
Bilbus walked carefully into the dark crypt. The stench of human waste permeated the air. Holding his still-glowing dagger in front of him, Bilbus noticed movement in the corner.
A man stood and glared regally at Bilbus.
"King?" Bilbus asked. Remembering how Meridaun had addressed King Seamus, he added, "Your Majesty?"
The man nodded.
"We're here to rescue you, king. Come with me, please."
Bilbus walked out of the cell. King Donaidh followed him.
"We found the king," Bilbus said.
Meridaun turned. She curtsied deeply. "Your Majesty, we are glad to see you alive. The Church sent me to investigate your disappearance."
King Donaidh nodded again.
Meridaun continued, "We are trying to decide what to do with your jailers. They have helped in treason against the Crown of Caledonia."
The king finally spoke, a quiet voice. "Then execute them. That is the penalty for treason."
"Your Majesty, I do not think they truly knew who they were keeping here." One of the guards shook his head vigorously. "I think they may be able to help us get you out of the castle." The one shaking his head started nodding.
"How can you trust them? They are Seamus's men."
"Please, Sire. It will be difficult enough to get you to safety before the next watch arrives. We can not simply leave the castle at night while Seamus's men watch the gates."
"We could disguise him as a guard," Bilbus offered.
Meridaun nodded. "Even so, we have to get past the guards at the gates. They may not let him pass if they don't recognize him as one of their own -- or, if they don't recognize him at all."
"Good point," Bilbus allowed.
"However," she continued, "if these guards escort Kasey and I out with another person, the disguised King, we may be able to get into the city. I know where to find a safehouse we can keep him in until we can get him out of the city to safety."
Bilbus looked surprised. "A safehouse? Why would the Church need safehouses?"
Meridaun shook her head slowly. "Thieves are not the only ones who sometimes need to move about without drawing attention, and thieves are not the only ones who sometimes need to disappear for a time." She turned to the knights. "Let's go. Watch our four guests. I would hate for them to have a change of heart."
Meridaun turned to look at Bilbus. He was carefully setting the chairs back around the table, setting cards on the table in front of each chair, and piling some copper and bronze coins in the middle of the table.
"What are you doing?" Meridaun asked.
"This'll confuse the next shift," Bilbus replied as he locked the crypt that had been used to imprison King Donaidh. "It will look like everyone vanished. There's hardly any dust on the floor, so it won't be obvious that anyone else had been through the room."
Meridaun nodded. "Good idea."
Kasey and Sturm set about helping restore the room to a freshly-vacated state. The group then walked back to the stairwell and climbed back to the main floor.
Standing behind the still closed doors of the cathedral, Bilbus channeled Heka at the King. King Donaidh's face and hair changed until he was unrecognizable. Bilbus then directed a flow through the door. The large lock sprung open quietly, followed by the rattle of the chains falling off the door. Bilbus winced and held still, listening for any sounds of guards.
"We should be able to make it to the apartments without drawing too much attention," the thief said.
He opened one of the cathedral doors and slipped out. The others followed him, with Sturm remaining behind for a moment to chain the doors and reset the lock. Through the long shadows of the inner bailey, the people walked briskly back to the Apartments of State.
Back in the second floor common room, Meridaun updated the rest of the party on what they had found. Rishala bowed deeply to the king after Bilbus released the dweomer disguising him.
"Are you hungry, King Donnie?" Rishala asked, using a familiar form of the King's name. King Doniadh had gained the nickname "the Bonnie King Donnie" over the years of his rule.
"Yes, I am," the King replied. "My captors fed me little while they kept me in my crypt."
Rishala rummaged through his travel bag. "I only have some dried meats and travel rolls. There were some fruits here earlier this evening... Ah. There they are." Rishala found the bowl of fruits on a corner table in the common room.
The king took the offered meat and fruit and quickly devoured it.
"Your kingship," Bilbus began awkwardly. "You are welcome to take my bed. I think I will keep watch from the roof until sunrise."
"Very well," the king replied.
Bilbus showed the king to the room Bilbus shared with Eric, then he continued out the window, quickly climbing the side of the building to the roof. On the shallowly-sloped roof, Bilbus laid down to watch the wall guards and the rare traffic in the bailey.
The sky was already turning gray with the approaching dawn. Bilbus had returned to the common room of the apartments a few minutes before. Sturm, keeping watch from his window, spotted four more guards crossing the grounds towards the cathedral. These guards carried no provisions, but were dressed the same -- maille armor with swords.
Sturm walked back to the common room. "The next shift is heading to the church."
Meridaun nodded. "It's time to go. Your Majesty, we will call you 'Adam' while we are trying to get out of this castle." She looked at the four guard/prisoners. "You. We are going now. Remember, if there are any problems getting out of this castle, you will be the first ones to feel steel."
Kasey stood beside the priestess, an inviting, threatening grin on his face as he casually adjusted the bandolier strap holding his large hand-and-a-half sword. One of the guards shivered.
As Kasey and Meridaun escorted King Donaidh and the four guards down the stairs, Sturm followed them. On the ground floor, Sturm said, "I'm going to take a walk around the bailey. The cathedral seems to be unlocked. Maybe I should lock the door?"
Meridaun smiled faintly and nodded. "It will make it harder for them to run back and report that everyone in the crypts has vanished."
"That is what I thought." The Sun Knight walked out the door, heading towards the cathedral. The others waited a moment, then turned the other direction out the door, towards the Inner Gatehouse.
The gatehouse guards looked at the seven people approaching. They recognized the guards and greeted them.
Meridaun stepped forward and announced officiously, "These men are going to take me shopping. I wish to have some sweetbreads before I meet with King Seamus."
The guards stood aside uncertainly. The portcullises had been raised, and the heavy iron-bound doors were open. It was odd that guests of state would leave the castle early in the morning to fetch breakfast, but the guards were not foolish enough to question them.
With similar proclamations at the Middle and Lower Gatehouses, Meridaun, Kasey, and their escorts found themselves on the broad avenue from the castle to the Royal Docks.
Walking casually, Meridaun passed several bakeries before she spotted the one she wanted. She had seen it on the way to the castle the prior afternoon. One of the windows had two sprigs of wolf's bane nailed to the two upper corners of the sill. Traditionally, wolf's bane was placed at the tops of all the windows and doors of a building to ward evil spirits. Placing it only on one window was a signal used by agents of the Church of Kells.
Meridaun walked into the open door of the bakery. The scent of fresh, hot breads was almost overwhelming. Kasey smacked his lips and quickly started looking at the breads already on display. He picked one up and tore a large chunk from it. Steam rushed from the exposed inside of the loaf as Kasey shut his eyes blissfully, chewing on the piece he tore from the loaf.
A lady rushed from the oven room in the back of the store, patches of white flour covering her from waist to head.
She curtsied to Meridaun. "M'Lady?"
Meridaun tilted her head in acknowledgement. "Good morrow. Do you see often the wolves around here?"
"Oh, m'Lady, the wolves never alight here."
Meridaun pulled a medallion from her bodice. The front of the medallion had a six-pointed star in the knotwork style of Kells, identical to the star on the pommel of Kasey's Church Knight dagger.
Kasey noticed the medallion. "That's neat. I thought only the Church Knights were supposed to have the Star."
Meridaun smiled kindly to Kasey. "The Shield of the Church are not the only ones permitted to wear it, Kasey."
Confused, Kasey nodded. "Oh."
The baker ushered everyone into the kitchens. Two other people were working -- one a large man built like Kasey.
The baker glanced at him, then turned to Meridaun. "M'Lady, we are safe here."
Meridaun nodded. "What news do you have of the Shield?"
"The Church Knights have almost completely abandoned their castle. A few remain to see to final preparations for closing the castle." She paused. "Most of them are still in the city. The Sun Knights have a few new knights. The rest have simply disappeared."
Kasey walked over to look at the large man operating the ovens. Standing near him, Kasey was able to see the sword and Church Knight dagger hanging from a stud next to the oven, hidden from casual view.
"How did you get to work the bakery?" Kasey asked.
"I was lucky."
"I always liked kitchen duty. Fresh bread. Fresh meat..." Kasey wiped his mouth.
The other knight handed Kasey a sweetroll he had just taken from the oven. Kasey juggled the roll as he tried to eat it without burning himself.
Meridaun ignored the knight's antics. To the Church agent, she said, "We need to get this man out of town." She indicated King Donaidh, who still wore his disguise.
"Who is he?" the agent asked.
The king removed the hooded cloak. The agent kneeled quickly when she recognized him.
"My liege, I thought you dead!" she said, still kneeling.
"Stand," the king commanded. The agent stood.
Meridaun continued. "He must get out of town quickly. It is important that he not be captured by Seamus's men. I will meet with Seamus today to confront him about the whereabouts of King Donaidh."
The agent looked at the four castle guards. "What of them?"
"They have repented their ways. Get them out with the king. We don't want them accidentally revealing what they have seen."
The agent nodded. "It will be difficult to get His Majesty out of town during the day. Too many people may recognize him. I think it best that he stay here today. After the sun falls, we should be able to get him to safety."
Meridaun nodded. "It may not matter by then, depending on what Seamus does this morning. Send word to the Shield of the Church to stand ready."
"I will."
"We must return to the castle." Meridaun looked at Kasey. "Kasey, gather some sweetbreads for our friends. We should eat before we meet Seamus."
Kasey nodded and started piling more of the hot sweetbreads into a basket. The Church Knight paid for the basket of breads and followed Meridaun out of the shop.
Meridaun and Kasey quickly returned to the castle, the Church Knight laden with the basket of still-steaming sweetbreads. The guards let the two back into the castle, hardly caring that the other five people did not return with them.
Inside the apartments, Kasey distributed the sweetbreads.
Meridaun reported to her comrades. "King Seamus is in the hands of some Church agents. They are going to get him out of the city as soon as tonight. The guards are going with him so they don't have a chance to speak to the wrong people here."
Sturm nodded. "We shouldn't have left them free."
"No matter now. We have enough proof that King Seamus usurped his position. The meeting this morning should prove ... interesting."
Kasey looked around the room. "Should we talk like this right now?"
Meridaun glanced at the Church Knight. "What do you mean?"
"What if there are spies?"
Bilbus glanced at Rishala. The storyteller nodded and sat down. The tingling sensation of someone channeling Heka flashed quickly for Bilbus. Bilbus took a small wash basin and filled it with water. Drawing upon his own Heka, he directed the flows of magickal energy into the basin. Concentrating on where he wanted to look, a view of the stairwell outside their apartment shimmered into being on the surface of the water. The view moved quickly, looking down upon the stairs as Bilbus directed the scrying casting up the stairs and through the third-floor apartments.
Rishala continued to sit, eyes closed, as he, too, magickally searched the building. His technique required no external viewing plane, but it was every bit as thorough.
After ten minutes, Bilbus released the enchantment on the water. He noticed Rishala looking at him.
"I didn't see anything," the thief said.
"Nor I," the story teller added.
"Still," Bilbus began again. "I think we should move everything up a floor, just in case someone comes looking for us. It won't confuse them long, but if they try anything obvious, it will buy us a few moments to get ready."
Meridaun nodded. "That's a good idea. We should move quickly." She glanced outside at the rising sun. "My audience with King Seamus is soon. Kasey? Are you ready to go?"
The Church Knight nodded as he hefted a heavy travel bag with his spare clothes and leather armor.
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Original Draft 13 June 2001
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