Tavis yawned as the walls of Mordholm came into view. They had ridden hard through the dark hours of the morning and finally reached the outskirts of the city an hour after dawn. Thus far, they had seen nothing that was out of the ordinary or suggested there had been any trouble.
Ayawa had Gedris remove her armor and change into one of her dresses, a simple tan dress with a green line around the skirt. Ayawa brushed out Gedris's short hair leaving it upbraided. She then braided her own into the simple long rope she commonly wore. She reluctantly put on a dress as well, and they made their way to the city gates on foot. The city was large enough that it was likely to have a temple to Astikar in it, but Gedris assured them the grandest temple in the city was to Ulustrah.
The guards at the gate looked more tired than Tavis felt and paid them almost no attention when they walked through leading their horses. They sighed with relief when Gedris told them she knew exactly how to get to the temple and led the way. The streets were already busy with farmers bringing goods into the markets, and many a door was open as a woman swept out a house into the streets.
Tavis tipped his hat low as he watched the people around them. It was a risk coming into such a large city. If anybody had their descriptions, and knew of the bounty, trouble could escalate quickly. Ayawa hid her knives in her outfit but forbade Gedris to carry hers. She didn't want Gedris fighting if at all possible, and to her credit, Gedris didn't argue.
As they passed through the streets, they began to see one building rise above all others. It had blue domes on white spires with long spikes at the tips. It was more a complex than a temple, and it went up in several steps each one built higher on the one below it. The outer walls were easily twelve feet tall and crowned with bronze spikes. The temple gates were made of bronze bars crafted to resemble vines.
He could see into the courtyard beyond and marveled at the fountain of green marble at its center. All around it grew red flowers planted so densely that the green of their stems could hardly be seen. The rest of the yard was tiled in green and white tiles, and all along the inner walls were planters full of lush growth.
However, he couldn't get much more of a view as twelve angry looking women guarded the gate.
“Go away,” one of the women said as they approached. “The temple is closed to strangers.” She was the tallest of the bunch with dark shoulder-length hair tied back in a tail.
Ayawa glanced at Gedris, and the woman stepped forward in her dress.
“I am Gedris, a priestess of Ulustrah from Oakhill. We need to speak to the priestess in charge here.”
“Governess Alayses is in charge here. I assume your temple was attacked,” the woman said with a fixed stare in her eyes.
Gedris nodded. “These two rescued me and have helped me avoid the patrols. We need to speak to Governess Alayse right away.”
The woman looked over Tavis and Ayawa and then back to Gedris and let out a huff.
“And who are these two?” the tall woman asked.
Gedris looked at Ayawa for guidance, and Ayawa nodded back.
“This is lord Tavis and Lady Ayawa. They rescued me and aided our temple in Eastgate. They are friends of our Lady Ulustrah."
The tall woman's eyes twitched at the names, but she regained her composure quickly and then turned to the women standing guard.
“Open the gate,” she said firmly and then glanced over her shoulder at them. “Follow me.”
They were led into the courtyard inside, and Tavis finally got a good look at the temple. It went up in steps that were all white pillars and ornate stonework. Everywhere were tall pots in bright colors overflowing with growth and flowers.
“Leave the horses here,” the woman said indicating a post they could tie the animals too just inside the wall.
They did as they were instructed and resumed following her as she crossed the yard, passing the fountain.
“The Emerald mirror is on the third level in the gardens,” Gedris said as they followed the woman across the yard.
Tavis looked up to the third level and could make out some taller plants over the edge but could see nothing beyond.
“I thought you needed the plants to overhang the bowls?”
Gedris nodded with a smile. “There is a ring of stone that floats in the air above the bowl. It is full of plants whose roots hang down over the bowl.”
“It floats?” he asked.
Gedris glanced at him. “We have no idea how. It stands perfectly still in the air about twice a mans height over the bowl. The underside is stone, but it's full of cracks. The plant's roots hang through, and water constantly drips down. The bowls waters glow with a faint light, but you can only really see it at night.”
“More magic,” Tavis said. “Your order is full of surprises.”
Gedris went to nod when the woman leading them stopped right outside a double doorway into the temple. There were twelve more women on guard here, standing at attention like well-trained soldiers.
“Glinda, go and tell Alayse that a priestess named Gedris has arrived with a lord Tavis and Lady Ayawa to deliver a warning,” the woman said to one of them.
A shorter woman with blond hair snapped to attention and with a slight bow ran inside the doors.
Tavis watched her run off and then looked over the eleven who remained. They all wore full armor and carried metal shields instead of wooden ones. Every single one of them carried a sword at their waist, and quite a few had additional daggers, and a few had javelins. Every one of these women looked like they were born and raised in their armor and found it's weight comfortable.
“Who are these women?” he asked Gedris as they waited.
“This is the second company of Ulustrah's military, led by Governess commander Alayse. They are not normally stationed here though. The temple has its own guards.”
“We were sent to reinforce the temple guards. Prime Arlin wants the temple held at all costs,” the tall woman said indicating she had overheard them.
Tavis decided to speak to her directly since she was listening in.
“This is a priestess of your order, is she not welcome in a temple to her Goddess?”
The woman scowled at him and took a few steps forward.
“She is welcome inside. It's you and the red-skinned woman I question,” the tall gatekeeper said.
“These people rescued me,” Gedris said. “They are friends.”
The woman turned on Gedris and looked her square in the face. “Why are you out of your armor?”
Gedris stood as firm and defiantly as she could and met the woman's stare. “I didn't know how safe it was to enter the city. I didn't want to draw attention to ourselves buy alerting the guard I was a priestess of Ulustrah.”
“So you are afraid to show your faith?” the woman asked.
“I am not afraid!” Gedris spat. “But the warning we have to deliver is too important to risk a petty battle in the streets!”
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The woman made a “humpf” and stepped back to the doors. “What could possibly threaten the temple?”
“I will ask her that myself,” a woman with golden hair that fell about her shoulders in curls said as she stepped out the doorway.
The woman strode out in armor much like the others, but she had a golden sword with vines twined over it on her shoulder plate. The other women all snapped to attention as she passed the gate, but she dismissed them with a wave of her hand.
“So you are Tavis and Ayawa,” Alayse said as she looked them over. “You were with Gersius when he led the assassins to Eastgate.”
Tavis lost his smile and turned his head just enough to meet Ayawa’s eyes.
“We don’t know anything about that,” Ayawa said. “Last we knew Eastgate was going to be searched by priests of Astikar.”
Alayse nodded. “Yes, you led them to our temple, and they came to soil our holy place with their filth. They didn't find Gersius, and they threatened war if they found out we were hiding him.”
“How did assassins become involved?” Tavis asked.
Alayse switched her gaze to him and glared at him with a frown. “A man who hides his face is often a man who has secrets to keep.”
“I have plenty of secrets to keep,” Tavis said. “But I am no enemy of Ulustrah, and we are wasting time.”
“I have many questions for you two, and you’re going to answer them,” Alayse said.
“We came here to warn you!” Ayawa scolded, but Alayse lifted her head to glare down her nose at her.
“Why is the order of Astikar hunting Gersius?” Alayse asked.
“We don't know,” Tavis said, growing annoyed. “They tried to kill him, and when he survived, they betrayed and ambushed him.”
“For no reason?” Alayse asked. “I find that hard to believe.”
“You can see our bloody aura’s,” Tavis said. “All we know is the Father Abbot himself is behind it all, but none of us knows why. He has tried to kill Gersius four times now that we know of.”
“Why, though? What was Gersius doing that provoked this response?”
Tavis groaned with frustration. They weren’t here to answer questions they needed to deliver the warning.
“He was trying to end the war with the Doan by finding a dragon to fulfill the prophecy of the dragon knight,” Tavis said. “He thought he was going to save lives, not start a second war.”
Alayse took a moment to ponder that thought.
“Did he find a dragon?”
“Yes,” Tavis said in a tense voice.
“So that explains the reports that a dragon attacked Whiteford,” she said with a nod. “Bring them in and put them in the secure rooms. I want to question them more after the morning service,” she said to the tall woman.
“You don’t have time for that!” Tavis shouted. “We saw something just a few miles outside the city that leads us to believe your temple is about to be attacked in force.”
Alayse and the gathered women all looked at him with stern eyes, but none of them said anything.
“The war is about to come to your doorstep, and you want to wait until after prayers?” Gedris asked.
Alayse laughed and swept an arm out to draw attention to the women at the gate. “I have more women on guard at my gates then the temple of Astikar has men in its entire temple.”
“Do you have a hundred more inside?” Ayawa asked.
Alayse turned to regard Ayawa with a calculating expression. “Why would I need a hundred more?”
Gedris sighed and stepped up. “Please, look at his aura and let him tell you what he saw. It is impossible to believe otherwise. Then if you want you can waste time asking questions.”
Alayse tossed her head and looked straight at Tavis. “Fine, what did you see that is a threat to our temple?”
Tavis tipped his hat up so she could see his eyes and recounted the story of the dragon and the bandersooks. He explained how similar tactics had been used to ambush Gersius. He told them he believed there were as many as sixty bandersooks and thirty men moving toward the city. He admitted they couldn't be sure they were going to attack the temple, but what other target could there be?”
Alayse studied his aura the whole time, and her frown grew deeper with every word. Behind her women gasped as the details came out and they began to shuffle nervously in their armor.
“Do you have any more questions?” Ayawa asked sarcastically.
Alayse looked at Ayawa like she wanted to strike her but whirled around instead.
“Order the women out front to get inside the gates! I want the inner doors shut and the temple guard on the walls! Rouse every last woman who can lift a stick and assemble them in the yard!”
The women moved, and Alayse whirled around on them.
“This is Gersius’s fault!”
“Gersius was only trying to end the war!” Ayawa snapped back. “The Father Abbot did this.”
“Why did he have to come to our temple?”
“Priestess Thayle wanted to hide him there until he recovered from his wounds,” Tavis said.
Alayse nodded her head as if that had explained everything.
“And where is my wayward lover?” Alayse asked.
Tavis leaned back at the remark and smiled. “She is with Gersius seeking a new path to end the war.”
Alayse smiled slightly. “And what of the mystery woman that none are allowed to talk about?”
“Does she mean Lilly?” Gedris asked.
“Quiet!” Ayawa snapped.
“Are you really going to ask more questions now?” Tavis said with a shake of his head.
“Lilly,” Alayse said utterly ignoring him. “I assume this is the woman Thayle married to Gersius.”
It was futile to ignore her, but Tavis wasn't sure how to answer that question. If prime Arlin had meant for her to know she would have known. That she was so interested in what had transpired in the west wing of the temple made him nervous. Still, he couldn't lie to her, so he provided as little information as possible.
“She did,” he replied. “They are very happy together.”
Alayse sniffed. “A tall woman with dark hair. I hear she made a mess in the city. Her actions are probably what brought the priests of Astikar on us.”
“I doubt that,” Ayawa said. “We came west and ran into several groups of men moving toward Eastgate just a day or two away. To be that far along already they must have known we were there days earlier.”
Alayse regarded Ayawa with a cold expression. “You two have bounties on your head. You especially,” she said, pointing to Ayawa. “They seem to think you know where Gersius will strike next. The rumor is your eyes always precede his arm.”
Ayawa folded her arms over her chest and met the woman's stair. “Do you intend to collect the bounties?”
Alayse laughed. “It is a substantial price, but I have other loyalties.”
Ayawa didn’t relax at all and Alayse turned to Gedris. “Get your armor and weapon and assemble with the others.”
Gedris went wide-eyed and turned to Ayawa.
“She stays with us,” Ayawa said firmly.
“She is a priestess of Ulustrah,” Alayse said flatly. “You brought her here, I will take possession of her now.”
“She stays with us,” Ayawa said again. “She has made a vow of service to me, and I intend to see her vow through.”
Alayse's eyes narrowed, and she glanced at Gedris with an accusing look.
“I promised myself to her,” Gedris said. “I can’t break my vow. The Goddess would see that as a dishonor.”
Alayse went to grab Gedris, but Tavis stepped between them.
“Surely you don't mean to force a woman to break a vow against her will?” He wasn't sure what he was doing. Part of him wanted to be rid of her, but Ayawa had chosen to train and care for the woman, and he knew she would fight to keep her.
“Was the vow made against her will?” Alayse growled. “How did you force her to make such a promise?”
“They didn't force me!” Gedris protested. “I wanted to stay with them, and I wanted her to train me. She didn't believe I was willing to do what it took, so I made the vow to prove myself.”
Alayse looked angry as Gedris took a step back from her.
“You can see her aura, you know she is telling the truth,” Tavis said.
“You tell me a large force with raving monsters is about to attack my gates!” Alayse spat. “I need every woman I can arm!”
“One country priestess isn’t going to cost you this battle,” Ayawa said. “She scarcely knows how to fight.”
Alayse went to say something when bells sounded out. They all looked out into the city to see dark clouds of smoke rising.
“Is that the gate we came in?” Tavis asked.
“They are here,” Ayawa said in a cold voice. “They must have rushed the gate. They will be here in minutes.”
“Governess!” a woman from the outer gates called.
Tavis turned to see there was a second set of sturdy wooden doors inside the gate that they were holding open waiting to see if they were leaving or not. Now that the bells were ringing, the women were growing nervous, holding them open while Alayse argued.
“We have to move now, or we will be caught up in this,” Ayawa said.
“Please!” Gedris begged. “I have to go with them!”
Alayse huffed and turned about walking away from them. “Good luck, tell Gersius I look forward to meeting him.”
Tavis grabbed Gedris by the arm and pulled her across the yard to her horse.
“Get in the saddle!” he shouted as the sounds of screams could be heard echoing down the street. They were followed by wolf-like howls that could only be bandersooks.
They mounted and fled through the gates away from the sounds of war.
“Hopefully being warned will turn the tide of this battle,” Tavis yelled as they thundered down a street passing people who were fleeing. He clutched his hat to his head and glanced over his shoulder back at the temple. He saw women lining the walls with shields raised ready to meet the oncoming doom. In his heart, he hoped there really were a hundred more inside.