Chapter 123

"This is excellent tea," Tobias said, relaxing in a chair set opposite the Father's desk.

They had both washed quickly; Riley was drying and cooling, happy for the relief from the hot stones and sickening filth of the sewer.

"Well, it should be; they grow it here, after all," Father Thelfrith took a sip from his own cup, closing his eyes to savor the taste.

"Anything for your companion?" He asked, motioning to Riley, who was sprawled out, lying against a wall, propped on her side.

"A bowl of water would be lovely; it's hot," she replied to Tobias, keeping her thoughts from the priest.

"You can talk to him; we're not exactly hiding here," Tobias projected back towards her before saying, "Some water, if you have it, and if it's not too much trouble, some tenganut?"

"I don't want to scare the old man; he looks half dead as it is," she replied.

"I can see to the water for now and perhaps fruit later if she's in no danger. Such a strange beast she is," the Father commented.

"Oh, she is at that," Tobias chuckled at his private joke.

"Hey!" Riley complained.

He disappeared out a door, calling out from the hall, "I'll be but a minute; I drew up a fresh bucket of water at lunch!"

"Are you certain we're safe here?" Riley's eyes danced around the office, identifying the exits.

"I hope so, but we have to trust someone. He seems harmless," Tobias replied.

"Don't let that blind you; I seem harmless too," Riley cautioned.

"You mean you aren't?" Tobias challenged.

"Oh, har har," the hare huffed and set her head down dejectedly on her front paws just as the priest returned and set down a bowl of cool water before her.

"Thank you," Riley said.

Thelfrith shot back and gripped his pendant. "By the Thirteen, she talks!"

"Some say too much. I think just enough," Riley replied.

"Allow me to introduce my partner, Ranger Riley," Tobias chimed in, hiding his annoyance as Riley projected to just him.

"It was your idea."

Tobias only glowered.

"Well, you are both full of surprises. A pleasure to meet you, Riley," the priest dipped his head in a respectful nod, which pushed Riley to sit up and nod in return.

"Nice to meet you as well. Would you do me the trouble of telling us where we are?" she asked.

He blinked confusedly a few times before sputtering, "Why, you're on Calaria. The Kingdom of Gravin, city of Delos."

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"We came through the portal by chance; the skip we followed closed behind us. It was this or remain in a pocket realm, so we decided to take a chance," Tobias explained quickly.

Thelfrith moved behind his desk and sat down, taking another sip from his tea. "So you were hunting a monster then?"

"After a fashion, we were tasked to investigate a series of murders, and that led us to our current situation. I can't say too much about it. You understand," Tobias deflected.

"And that somehow led you here; pocket realms that connect multiple locations are rare, as you know. Normally, it's tied to ancient, non-human magics. Fae and Elven, mostly," Thelfrith observed.

"I actually confess to knowing very little in the way of portal magics; alchemy is more my academic specialty," Tobias demurred.

"Oh, God…" Riley complained.

"Well, for whatever reason, portal-capable humans are a marked rarity, but it's not so with the other races. While humans often exhibit great affinity for particular veins of magic, like my ability to heal, or your ability to..." He paused, his eyebrows furrowing, grasping for information he did not have. "To do whatever magic you do. Other races are, generally, less powerful but multidisciplinary, with a few exceptional standouts."

Tobias sat up in his chair. "That is interesting. Is this a hobby of yours?"

"My son, I've been a priest in a foreign land, trying to bring the light of the Thirteen Gods to these Dracovani savages for the last twenty years. You pick some things up," he laughed and took another long sip from his tea.

"Imperial asshat," Riley muttered to herself and Tobias in judgment.

"Twenty years is a long time to live among people you don't respect," Tobias said, playing the diplomat.

"Oh, I respect them fine; there are many good people among them, but they can only go so far with their backward ways. That's why we're here, humans, I mean. We point the way to the wholeness of the truth, bearing the noble burden for the other races that would otherwise suffer in ignorance. It's why we're the ultimate inheritors of Calaria. We were given the burden and the joy of the knowledge and thus are favored with the power the Thirteen grant us," the old man said, falling to full lecture.

Riley flattened her ears as her eyes narrowed in barely restrained disgust.

"I see," Tobias said, his voice chilling.

"On to business," he snapped, his voice freezing out any friendly concern, "can you help me with my predicament? Perhaps connect me to local resources or fellow rangers, even a trading delegation?"

"Tobias... I... I can't even... Asshat!" Riley wrestled down her mouth, grateful she couldn't be heard in that moment.

Father Thelfrith looked down towards Riley and then back up towards Tobias.

"There is an embassy in Varang. It's about five days journey on foot. I do have a communication crystal that will reach there in case of emergencies," Thelfrith rubbed at his nonexistent beard in consternation.

"So no consulate or local group that you know of?" Tobias pressed.

The old man threw up his hands. "Alas, Delos is a minor port city; all of the action is at Varang further up the coast."

"Then I think I'm going to be needing that com crystal and a little bit of privacy if you don't mind, Father," Tobias asked, putting effort into making his tone official.

Straightening up in his chair, the old priest practically leapt out of it.

"Why of course, you can use my office, and I'll grant you all the privacy you require. Beyond that, you're welcome to stay with me in the rectory. It will be good to have the company," he said wistfully.

"Thank you. I wish I could explain more, but it is official business," Tobias deferred.

"I'm almost eighty years old, son, I know Ranger business is serious. I'll be but a minute," at that, he left, scurrying out.

"I don't like him. I don't like him at all," Riley complained as soon as the man was gone.

"We need him for the moment. Do you remember the contact procedures Sabine had us memorize?" Tobias challenged.

"Distracting me with a pop quiz isn't going to help my mood; that's more your thing," Riley sighed.

The priest came in a moment later, set down a com crystal, and left as Riley hopped over towards the desk.

"Give it here," she demanded.

Tobias rolled his eyes and held it out for her, letting her "chopstick it" between her paws. It glowed to life a moment later.

"Rowan, Greenbriar, Shipwreck, Safe Harbor, Castaway, Forest Fire."

The crystal pulsed as Riley projected through it, and Tobias smiled at her with pride.

"Passphrase." The reply was terse.

"By the light of...uh... Arctos and the power of Galdor do we walk the path in Midnight and high sun," she recited.

"Standby..." Five minutes of tense silence passed like an agony until another voice broke in over the line just as the crystal changed from an amber inner light to purple.

"Greenbriar, Rowan, Secure... This is Birch, On station. What's the situation, report?"