Sleep did not come right away that night, but after I got my thoughts to quiet down, I was blissfully rewarded with dreamless slumber, a rarity I never forgot to be thankful for.
“Emergency meeting,” I announced at breakfast after I startled everyone by waking first.
“Who’s sus?” Nora asked as she plopped down on the ground next to me.
“Dolus is sus…” I looked at everyone else, noting their general confusion. “I mean, suspicious. But there are other things to talk about, too. First, I think we need to establish some ground rules as a group.”
The others looked at each other and nodded tentatively. Aleph’s face, however, appeared quite dark.
“I’m… sorry. For not exactly being approachable lately. I thought I was improving, but I realize I must work on my communication skills… I should start by saying I’m still uncomfortable being in charge, but… anyway. I want to ensure everyone feels like they can speak up directly about potential hazards to me and the rest of the group.”
Vernie kept her gaze on the ground, and I didn’t call her out specifically.
“Sometimes…” I continued awkwardly. “I just get mad or irritated and don’t always listen. So. I’d like to introduce… Stop the line.”
“Stop the line?” Tetora asked, his ears pinned down in bewilderment.
“Think of it as a catchphrase that gets my attention, no matter what,” I explained, somewhat embarrassed. “If you say those words, it means I have to stop and respond to your concerns before continuing what I was doing. I’ve been getting a little too caught up in some big feelings I’m having, and, well, this is a way to get around that.”
The group exchanged several glances with each other but nodded slowly.
“I get to use it too, though, so it’s a two-way street.” I took a deep breath. “So, can we agree that those words should be reserved for discussing something that affects our immediate safety?”
They murmured their general agreement.
“So, I’m going to do it first.” I folded my hands together to hide my nervousness, even while willing myself not to scratch my wrists openly. “Stop the line. We need to talk about this Prelate Dolus. It’s important.”
Aleph went rigid with rage. “I have heard of Father Dolus. Do not tell me he is in the area!” Vernie hadn’t even told Aleph, either? Uh oh… This just might not be about me, then.
“I haven’t been in Turri proper for years,” Vernie confessed with a quiver. “But the reports I’ve been getting say he’s been making a name for himself operating out of Kopria itself.”
“We should have gone to Fort Turri instead!” Aleph bellowed, causing me to jump. “Why did we listen to you?!”
Vernie inhaled sharply, her face paling. “I’m dead if I go there! And anyone else associated with me! It’s not like I lied about it! I just… didn’t want to get left behind…”
Aleph’s face contorted in anger. “You should have told us this sooner! You’re always downplaying the trouble you cause! What was it this time? What did you do?”
Vernie sat up. “First of all, I didn’t do anything wrong! Helping ex-slaves across the border is not wrong! I’m not ashamed of what I did, and I won’t let you make me feel bad about my life choices like you always do!”
“If you had done it legally, there would not have been a problem!”
“How do you legally help a slave, not be a slave?” Nora asked pointedly.
I groaned out loud. This wasn’t what I wanted to focus on. “Enough! Slavery is bad. Helping people is good. Also, Fort Turri is not an option now. We need to focus on getting Tetora healed up, which means figuring out how to engage this Dolus character.”
“He’s a skinflint,” Vernie mumbled. “Charges for everything, pays for nothing.”
“He doesn’t see hybrids as anything more than tools,” Aleph snorted again, refusing to look at Vernie.
“So, how do we get him to help us?” I asked with genuine concern, hoping someone would have a sneaky solution to the sticky problem. However, nothing new came from the discussion that followed. We could ask nicely, which was my lame contribution; we could bribe him, try intimidation, or engage in a whole confrontation.
“Alright,” I finally said, as the situation threatened to degenerate into a shouting match. “This is how it’s going to go. I’ll talk to him first. No one else. I’ll try appealing to his… standup character as a priest, then bribery… and then… um…”
They all froze just to stare at me. I swallowed hard. “Just… if I have to… I’ll do it, okay? But promise me you guys will stay out of it!”
“We should be assisting—” Tetora started.
“No! I can just imagine the headlines now! Dark mage wanted felon, and two hybrids attack innocent priest!” I shouted in exasperation.
“Stop the line,” Tetora said firmly. “We work as a team, Rae. We do this together for all of our safety. This time, we’re not leaving it all on you.” This time? What was he talking about?
“...I won’t convince you otherwise, will I?” I sighed.
“No. Captain or not, you are still my student, so you’ll just have to accept my instructions.” Tetora grinned weakly for a moment before turning to Aleph. “Apologize now,” he commanded. “You’ve put it off for way too long already.”
Aleph’s ears hung low as he looked at Vernie uncomfortably. “...Sorry. I have made it hard for you to approach me because I have judged your actions while not understanding the whole story many, many times now. Please forgive me, Vernie.”
“I should have told you why I wanted to avoid that place…” Verne admitted. “I thought one man would be a lot easier to deal with than the whole Blue order.”
“Your rationale does make sense, in hindsight…” Aleph scratched his cheek.
Vernie glanced at him briefly before throwing herself into his side. She sobbed loudly in apology as they hugged, making me feel both relieved and anxious for the day to come.
***
Kopria’s planner… must have been a dark servant dedicated to chaos, engaged in activities that left them habitually high or intoxicated, or, what was most probable, never existed in the first place. The church was built into and around the front gate, though the main doors leading into its genuine interior were bolted shut. The stone square under the grand entrance seemed to be inlaid with silver runes, much like a holy circle of blessed protection. It was pretty, of course, but otherwise useless since neither Nora nor I could sense any magic from it. I wasn’t exactly an expert, but I felt like I had started being able to see and feel things that others couldn’t. In any case, we concluded that the placebo effect worked wonders here.
A stone plaque in front of the central archway leading into a courtyard read ‘Let Faith Defend and Guide Us.’ It was troubling to see such a blatant disregard for fundamental safety and security measures. Even Disney World had a better reproduction gatehouse! Not to mention, it had front gate attendants and security guards readily available. Why bother to have a walled town with no functional gate?
After trying every door we could find, we only gave up on getting inside the church.
“What now?” I asked. “I don’t think it will help our case if we try to break in…”
“It’s a little late,” Aleph glanced at the sky apprehensively. “We may wish to see if we can find some lodging until tomorrow.”
“That would mean fewer coins to bargain with, though…” I mumbled.
“A daytime discussion would still be better,” Vernie agreed, pointing at the walls. “Those are spyholes. I know I haven’t been here in a long while, but they’re new since my last visit.” Do churches need spyholes?
We continued to walk through the church’s courtyard, which led to the residential district. The homes here mainly were of wooden construction, poorly shaped with uneven plaster in various levels of disrepair. More complex buildings also seemed to be scattered randomly about, with their overhanging second floors invading each other’s space to provide shaded, crooked alleys ripe for waylaying. Several of these structures also served as sudden endings to wide streets. We had to go around in jug-handle fashion more than once. But where were the inns? Why have tourists trample through your front lawn just for some respite?
Even weirder were the residents’ reactions. I had been worried about how I would act while in town as a well-to-do hybrid slave owner, but I never even got the chance to audition. As soon as anyone even glanced our way, they ran. Some shuttered windows, while others slammed doors.
“Do we still smell bad?” I wondered aloud as I turned back to Tetora.
“No, Master,” he said with uncharacteristic softness, his gaze fixated on the ground. “Not any worse than that garbage pile over there, anyway,” he whispered.
It was awkward and unnerving to be called Master while depopulating an entire neighborhood. I kept a steady grip on my staff as we entered the eastern part of town.
As we rounded yet another corner, we startled an older woman who was hawking her second-hand wares in an impressive voice. She took one terrified look at us, lifted the stationary end of her two-wheeled cart, and tore off with incredible speed. As she rounded a corner, something furry fell from her cart.
Nora walked over and picked it up with a startled gasp. It was a puffy hat made from a Skreethi pelt, its long tail hanging off the back as decoration. The fur was still spotted, denoting that it was from an adolescent.
“I’ll just… make sure to give it a proper burial…” Nora said quietly as she put it in her rucksack carefully.
Eventually, we found the Blue Lion Inn, a two-story, rough-hewn, rectangular building with a dilapidated barn jutting off one of its sides. The inn’s exterior was coated in a garish mural depicting a beast that only the most drunken of patrons would even consider being a blue lion, feasting on a large hock of ham. Posted out front was a crude sign with an entire row of open locks hanging on bent nails.
The Blue Lion Inn is for human patrons only!
All beastmen must be properly collared and immediately secured in a locked barn stall where they must remain until checkout. Anyone not complying with these rules will be immediately reported to the town watch.
No meals or blankets will be provided to beastmen.
No exceptions!
“What the hell?!” I finally exploded aloud.
“It’s even worse here than I thought it would be…” Aleph murmured, covering his mouth.
“We’ll just go elsewhere!” I declared before anyone could speak, storming forward. Elsewhere, however, it was the same. All the inns had converted other nearby buildings into shabby seconds where hybrids were forced to remain caged. Trying to talk to anyone about the rule seemed futile as well because even here, anyone looking at our party immediately ran off, seemingly stricken with terror.
“Let’s just get out of this turd of a town and return to the church in the morning…” Nora sneered as her fists shook in irritation. “Before I become an arcane arsonist again…”
We had already missed our marks and would never have the chance to talk to the prelate in private. We retreated to the church’s courtyard, where a mob of furious residents awaited us, wielding the customary lit torches, pitchforks, and shovels. However, a few brandished some tatty brooms as well. At the front stood a tall, stern-faced man with eyes full of fervor. His pristine white and gold robes rippled audibly in the evening breeze for a moment as he stepped towards us.
“You dared to bring a traitorous tiger into our peaceful village?!” the mitred man shouted, raising his bejeweled right hand. “May Euphridia forgive you for your wickedness, for we, the righteous, shall not!”
Euphridia
Sleep did not come right away that night, but after I got my thoughts to quiet down, I was blissfully rewarded with dreamless slumber, a rarity I never forgot to be thankful for.
“Emergency meeting,” I announced at breakfast after I startled everyone by waking first.
“Who’s sus?” Nora asked as she plopped down on the ground next to me.
“Dolus is sus…” I looked at everyone else, noting their general confusion. “I mean, suspicious. But there are other things to talk about, too. First, I think we need to establish some ground rules as a group.”
The others looked at each other and nodded tentatively. Aleph’s face, however, appeared quite dark.
“I’m… sorry. For not exactly being approachable lately. I thought I was improving, but I realize I must work on my communication skills… I should start by saying I’m still uncomfortable being in charge, but… anyway. I want to ensure everyone feels like they can speak up directly about potential hazards to me and the rest of the group.”
Vernie kept her gaze on the ground, and I didn’t call her out specifically.
“Sometimes…” I continued awkwardly. “I just get mad or irritated and don’t always listen. So. I’d like to introduce… Stop the line.”
“Stop the line?” Tetora asked, his ears pinned down in bewilderment.
“Think of it as a catchphrase that gets my attention, no matter what,” I explained, somewhat embarrassed. “If you say those words, it means I have to stop and respond to your concerns before continuing what I was doing. I’ve been getting a little too caught up in some big feelings I’m having, and, well, this is a way to get around that.”
The group exchanged several glances with each other but nodded slowly.
“I get to use it too, though, so it’s a two-way street.” I took a deep breath. “So, can we agree that those words should be reserved for discussing something that affects our immediate safety?”
They murmured their general agreement.
“So, I’m going to do it first.” I folded my hands together to hide my nervousness, even while willing myself not to scratch my wrists openly. “Stop the line. We need to talk about this Prelate Dolus. It’s important.”
Aleph went rigid with rage. “I have heard of Father Dolus. Do not tell me he is in the area!” Vernie hadn’t even told Aleph, either? Uh oh… This just might not be about me, then.
“I haven’t been in Turri proper for years,” Vernie confessed with a quiver. “But the reports I’ve been getting say he’s been making a name for himself operating out of Kopria itself.”
“We should have gone to Fort Turri instead!” Aleph bellowed, causing me to jump. “Why did we listen to you?!”
Vernie inhaled sharply, her face paling. “I’m dead if I go there! And anyone else associated with me! It’s not like I lied about it! I just… didn’t want to get left behind…”
Aleph’s face contorted in anger. “You should have told us this sooner! You’re always downplaying the trouble you cause! What was it this time? What did you do?”
Vernie sat up. “First of all, I didn’t do anything wrong! Helping ex-slaves across the border is not wrong! I’m not ashamed of what I did, and I won’t let you make me feel bad about my life choices like you always do!”
“If you had done it legally, there would not have been a problem!”
“How do you legally help a slave, not be a slave?” Nora asked pointedly.
I groaned out loud. This wasn’t what I wanted to focus on. “Enough! Slavery is bad. Helping people is good. Also, Fort Turri is not an option now. We need to focus on getting Tetora healed up, which means figuring out how to engage this Dolus character.”
“He’s a skinflint,” Vernie mumbled. “Charges for everything, pays for nothing.”
“He doesn’t see hybrids as anything more than tools,” Aleph snorted again, refusing to look at Vernie.
“So, how do we get him to help us?” I asked with genuine concern, hoping someone would have a sneaky solution to the sticky problem. However, nothing new came from the discussion that followed. We could ask nicely, which was my lame contribution; we could bribe him, try intimidation, or engage in a whole confrontation.
“Alright,” I finally said, as the situation threatened to degenerate into a shouting match. “This is how it’s going to go. I’ll talk to him first. No one else. I’ll try appealing to his… standup character as a priest, then bribery… and then… um…”
They all froze just to stare at me. I swallowed hard. “Just… if I have to… I’ll do it, okay? But promise me you guys will stay out of it!”
“We should be assisting—” Tetora started.
“No! I can just imagine the headlines now! Dark mage wanted felon, and two hybrids attack innocent priest!” I shouted in exasperation.
“Stop the line,” Tetora said firmly. “We work as a team, Rae. We do this together for all of our safety. This time, we’re not leaving it all on you.” This time? What was he talking about?
“...I won’t convince you otherwise, will I?” I sighed.
“No. Captain or not, you are still my student, so you’ll just have to accept my instructions.” Tetora grinned weakly for a moment before turning to Aleph. “Apologize now,” he commanded. “You’ve put it off for way too long already.”
Aleph’s ears hung low as he looked at Vernie uncomfortably. “...Sorry. I have made it hard for you to approach me because I have judged your actions while not understanding the whole story many, many times now. Please forgive me, Vernie.”
“I should have told you why I wanted to avoid that place…” Verne admitted. “I thought one man would be a lot easier to deal with than the whole Blue order.”
“Your rationale does make sense, in hindsight…” Aleph scratched his cheek.
Vernie glanced at him briefly before throwing herself into his side. She sobbed loudly in apology as they hugged, making me feel both relieved and anxious for the day to come.
***
Kopria’s planner… must have been a dark servant dedicated to chaos, engaged in activities that left them habitually high or intoxicated, or, what was most probable, never existed in the first place. The church was built into and around the front gate, though the main doors leading into its genuine interior were bolted shut. The stone square under the grand entrance seemed to be inlaid with silver runes, much like a holy circle of blessed protection. It was pretty, of course, but otherwise useless since neither Nora nor I could sense any magic from it. I wasn’t exactly an expert, but I felt like I had started being able to see and feel things that others couldn’t. In any case, we concluded that the placebo effect worked wonders here.
A stone plaque in front of the central archway leading into a courtyard read ‘Let Faith Defend and Guide Us.’ It was troubling to see such a blatant disregard for fundamental safety and security measures. Even Disney World had a better reproduction gatehouse! Not to mention, it had front gate attendants and security guards readily available. Why bother to have a walled town with no functional gate?
After trying every door we could find, we only gave up on getting inside the church.
“What now?” I asked. “I don’t think it will help our case if we try to break in…”
“It’s a little late,” Aleph glanced at the sky apprehensively. “We may wish to see if we can find some lodging until tomorrow.”
“That would mean fewer coins to bargain with, though…” I mumbled.
“A daytime discussion would still be better,” Vernie agreed, pointing at the walls. “Those are spyholes. I know I haven’t been here in a long while, but they’re new since my last visit.” Do churches need spyholes?
We continued to walk through the church’s courtyard, which led to the residential district. The homes here mainly were of wooden construction, poorly shaped with uneven plaster in various levels of disrepair. More complex buildings also seemed to be scattered randomly about, with their overhanging second floors invading each other’s space to provide shaded, crooked alleys ripe for waylaying. Several of these structures also served as sudden endings to wide streets. We had to go around in jug-handle fashion more than once. But where were the inns? Why have tourists trample through your front lawn just for some respite?
Even weirder were the residents’ reactions. I had been worried about how I would act while in town as a well-to-do hybrid slave owner, but I never even got the chance to audition. As soon as anyone even glanced our way, they ran. Some shuttered windows, while others slammed doors.
“Do we still smell bad?” I wondered aloud as I turned back to Tetora.
“No, Master,” he said with uncharacteristic softness, his gaze fixated on the ground. “Not any worse than that garbage pile over there, anyway,” he whispered.
It was awkward and unnerving to be called Master while depopulating an entire neighborhood. I kept a steady grip on my staff as we entered the eastern part of town.
As we rounded yet another corner, we startled an older woman who was hawking her second-hand wares in an impressive voice. She took one terrified look at us, lifted the stationary end of her two-wheeled cart, and tore off with incredible speed. As she rounded a corner, something furry fell from her cart.
Nora walked over and picked it up with a startled gasp. It was a puffy hat made from a Skreethi pelt, its long tail hanging off the back as decoration. The fur was still spotted, denoting that it was from an adolescent.
“I’ll just… make sure to give it a proper burial…” Nora said quietly as she put it in her rucksack carefully.
Eventually, we found the Blue Lion Inn, a two-story, rough-hewn, rectangular building with a dilapidated barn jutting off one of its sides. The inn’s exterior was coated in a garish mural depicting a beast that only the most drunken of patrons would even consider being a blue lion, feasting on a large hock of ham. Posted out front was a crude sign with an entire row of open locks hanging on bent nails.
The Blue Lion Inn is for human patrons only!
All beastmen must be properly collared and immediately secured in a locked barn stall where they must remain until checkout. Anyone not complying with these rules will be immediately reported to the town watch.
No meals or blankets will be provided to beastmen.
No exceptions!
“What the hell?!” I finally exploded aloud.
“It’s even worse here than I thought it would be…” Aleph murmured, covering his mouth.
“We’ll just go elsewhere!” I declared before anyone could speak, storming forward. Elsewhere, however, it was the same. All the inns had converted other nearby buildings into shabby seconds where hybrids were forced to remain caged. Trying to talk to anyone about the rule seemed futile as well because even here, anyone looking at our party immediately ran off, seemingly stricken with terror.
“Let’s just get out of this turd of a town and return to the church in the morning…” Nora sneered as her fists shook in irritation. “Before I become an arcane arsonist again…”
We had already missed our marks and would never have the chance to talk to the prelate in private. We retreated to the church’s courtyard, where a mob of furious residents awaited us, wielding the customary lit torches, pitchforks, and shovels. However, a few brandished some tatty brooms as well. At the front stood a tall, stern-faced man with eyes full of fervor. His pristine white and gold robes rippled audibly in the evening breeze for a moment as he stepped towards us.
“You dared to bring a traitorous tiger into our peaceful village?!” the mitred man shouted, raising his bejeweled right hand. “May Euphridia forgive you for your wickedness, for we, the righteous, shall not!”
Euphridia
