Chapter 7, A Grand City

(Apprentice Trisha)

Trisha couldn't believe her eyes. In the distance, a wall towered into the sky. She swiveled her head. As far as she could see was the wall towering over the trees.

" What on Laurentia? That wall is crazy. How long did it take to make?" asked Trisha.

" It is the outer wall of the capitol, the pride of our kingdom." said The High Priest puffing out his chest.

"I bet there is a lot of money to earn behind that wall." said Greg grinning.

"If you ask me, I think the wall was a massive waste of money. Sure it looks nice, but the length of the wall makes it near impossible to guard the whole thing." said The High Priest.

" Has anyone ever broken through the wall, to get in the city?" asked Trisha.

" The capitol mostly burned to the ground around four hundred years ago. The wall took minor damage. All that needed replaced was the faulty gates." replied The High Priest.

"Sounds like the wall wasn't a waste of gold after all, it sounds like someone made crappy gates." said Greg.

" I would have to agree about the terrible gates, they do not compare to the wall. Its good for keeping out smugglers, and the runes engraved into the wall are unmatched." said The High Priest.

Trisha's brown mare snorted, hooves clattering, shaking its head as they approached the shadow of the wall.

Massive wood gates banded in steel lay open, revealing a bustling city. Trisha dismounted, lining up to enter the city. Guards in dark blue uniforms with light blue tufts of hair on their helms stood on each side of the gate at attention. Multiple people in drab but matching uniforms searched the people entering the city. Trishas heart skipped a beat.

"What are they searching for?" asked Trisha quietly.

" They are searching for smugglers." said The High Priest, grinning.

" Wait, does that detect smugglers?" asked Trisha, her eyes bulging.

" No, of course not, its just what we tell everyone." replied The High Priest, waving away her question.

A woman in a robe of crimson held an amulet to each of the citizens before they could enter. Trisha recognised the emblem on the robe. It was the symbol of the inquisitors. The golden scepter and flowers on a green field. Each time the woman touched a citizen, the amulet shown blue. before she waved them through.

" Will we get an amulet like that when we pass the initiation?" asked Trisha excitedly.

" No, you are joining the secret branch of the church." said The High Priest.

" What is it called? I have never heard of a secret branch of the secret branch of the church." said Trisha, excitement rising in her chest. The High Priest scowled.

" If you already knew about it, then it would be trouble indeed. It is a secret, after all. Watch your tongue in public, I will share what information I can when we are in private." said The High Priest scathingly. Trisha flushed, glancing around at all the civilians, eyeing them as they passed.

" Yes, sir." said Trisha.

" And don't be formal. Our purpose is to go unnoticed. Acting like soldiers garners too much attention." Said The High Priest.

"How should we be addressing you? Referring to you as the High Priest will give us away." stated Eliya, calm and collected.

Trisha glanced from Eliya to the silent High Priest. Eliya was right, Trisha was getting sick of referring to him by his title. The High Priest Shook his head, the man's shoulder-length brown hair waving at the motion. His gesture revealed grey at the temples, just behind the man's ears.

" Call me Noah in public, when we reach the church address me as lord Noah." said The High Priest.

Halting in front of the gate, Noah presented a medallion to the guards. They waved the group through, checking none of them. How odd, Trisha thought. They walked down the main street towards the inner city. Trisha gaped at their surroundings. So many people. The sheer amount of noise drowned out her senses, as hundreds of people moved along the merchant quarter. A citizen stood on almost every corner yelling the latest news.

The path packed with carts, horses and people going about their evening. A thought nagged at her. Where was all the trash? And why did the city smell so clean?

Trisha took in the many smells, sweat, perfume, freshly baked bread and dung. Her lips turned up. Ahh the smell of the city again.

" Where does the sewage go?" asked Trisha, admiring the relatively clean streets.

" We have underground sewage tunnels." said Noah grinning at her.

" That is incredible. To think the city does not smell like a sour latrine." said Greg.

"What are those wooden bins for?" asked Eliya.

" For trash, it is illegal to litter." said Noah.

" What? you are saying I can get a fine for tossing something on the ground?" asked Greg, horror on his face.

Trisha gasped. They passed into a richer neighborhood. the mansions were nice but the focus of her attention was the truly awe-inspiring church. There was no doubt in her mind that this was the famous cathedral of the capitol. It towered over all the surrounding buildings, covering over ten blocks and towering ten stories into the sky.

The building had three towers, each a banner to the respective deity. Their coat of arms showing to the world their majesty. A stone wall blocked off site of the base. In front of them a gate lay closed, with four soldiers out front. Lit by torches, the gate loomed over them as they approached the alert guards.

" This is the Church training facility, were all hopeful students come to try their luck at joining." said High Priest.

" Its massive. How many people try to join the church?" asked Eliya.

" We receive, about ten hopefuls a month. Some try again, there is a rule that you only get to try the exam once a month. Only five percent of those who enter actually pass." Said The Priest Shrugging.

"Only Five Percent? Are you saying some times no one passes?" asked Trisha, her heart racing.

" Yes, that is exactly what I'm saying." said Lord Noah calmly.

"What a waste, gold embroidery on those banners. Oh, these guards look well payed, how do I join them?" mumbled Greg, staring up at the building.

"Halt, what business do you have in the church?" shouted one of the four soldiers in front of the gate. Trishas heart skipped a beat as the woman slammed the butt of her spear on the hard stone.

" Good evening, sergeant." said The High Priest.

" Lord Noah? Sorry sir, I did not recognise you in the dark." said the guard.

"Open the gate." Shouted the Guard.

The guards stood to the side as Trisha led her mare between the gates.

" Sergent, could you send a runner to warn the bishop of my arrival?" asked Lord Noah.

" No sir, we are under orders from her ladyship to not leave our posts." said the guard, shuffling uncomfortably.

" Really? Not even for me?" asked Lord Noah, holding his hand over his heart as though hurt.

" She said something else, didn't she, Sergent?" asked Lord Noah.

" Well, she left a message to give all nobles trying to order us around." replied The Sergent.

" Well, go on, stop stalling, what is it?" asked Noah. Trisha smirked as the High priest appeared to be forcing himself not to laugh.

"She said to tell Lord Noah he should find a suitable haystack to sleep in for the foreseeable future. Ten-year anniversaries only come once." said the guard wincing.

Trisha chuckled to herself. Oh, ten years? Ten-year anniversary of what? She turned see to the pale face of Lord Noah. The guard was backing away and looking like she wanted to be anywhere but here.

"Ten-year anniversary of what?" asked Greg, grinning.

"Do any of you know what might make a good apology gift to an enraged grand master mage?" asked Lord Noah, fidgeting with his reins.

" A grand master mage? The bishop is a Grand master?" asked Trisha, excitement welling in her chest.

" And yes, she is one of the very few who have reached that status. I only know of five in the kingdom." said Lord Noah.

"Your on your own. If you 're in trouble with someone that powerful, I'm going to be on her side." said Greg.

" Get her something nice." said Eliya.

" A splendid idea, I will tell her you are here to audition as her apprentice." said Noah, grinning at them menacingly.

"is it that bad to be her apprentice?" asked Trisha, her hair standing on her neck.

" Noone has succeeded yet, she scares them all away." said Lord Noah stone faced. Trisha swallowed hard. It couldn't be that bad, could it?

They entered the large, open courtyard in front of the church. Inside the walls there were extensive buildings on either side lining the insides of the walls. That must be where they were going to stay? Trisha thought. Two boys ran over to them, bowing. While Trisha caught the movement of another in the stable livery disappearing into the church.

" My lord, please let us take your horses." said the taller of the two boys.

Patting her brown mare on the neck, Trisha allowed the smaller boy to take her horse. Before following the group to the large double doors of the chapel. The doors swung inwards, and they snuck inside. How odd. The High Priest actually raised his hand, signalling them to be quiet as they stole through the church like thieves.

Trisha crept through the shadows of the interior as they headed for the rear of the church.

"And where are you going?" asked a stern, feminine voice. Trisha heard the High Priest audibly gulp.

Trisha, startled, turned towards the voice. Stepping from behind a pillar was a tall, athletic woman dressed in an embroidered white robe. Three symbols adorned her chest.

" My lady Bishop. How nice to run into you this fine evening." said Lord Noah, fidgeting. Trisha bowed her head in greeting, not wanting to draw the woman's ire.

"Noah, who did you bring?" asked the Bishop.

" I brought you a gift, two potential apprentices." said Lord Noah. The Bishop sighed, rubbing a palm down her face.

" An apprentice? For me, do you think one of them has what it takes to be my apprentice?" asked The Bishop, her gaze boring into Trisha and then Eliya.

Trisha swallowed, sweating profusely all Trisha wanted was the woman to move on. The woman's gaze felt like she was boring into Trisha's thoughts.

" What do you mean? Mi my lady Bishop, I mean your Ladyship." asked Trisha, stammering.

"Noah has been forgetting a lot of things lately. So maybe he forgot to mention the trial my potential apprentices need to go through." Said The Bishop, flicking a scowl towards the blushing Noah.