"How fortunate!" Jay exclaimed, hovering at Jamie's side. "The lady Vivi accepted easily—now I’m free- I mean, we’re free!"
"Yes, though something tells me she didn't want this marriage anyway. So it's great for everyone," Jamie replied as he walked toward his chamber.
Upon arriving, he found two soldiers standing guard outside his door alongside Tom, the captain of the guard.
"I told you I'd be rewarded," Jamie said, shaking a pouch that jingled with gold coins.
"You're mad, young lord! You'll lose your honor and your family if you leave like this," Tom retorted.
Jamie moved between the soldiers, who eyed him carefully. "I'll just gather my belongings, and you won't have to worry about me any longer."
He didn't have many possessions to begin with—it would be quick. Just a few clothes and a book he had left on his desk. As he emerged from his room, Jamie added, "Tom, do you really think I'd still have a family by staying here? It's more likely I'd end up poisoned."
While inside, he had taken the opportunity to wash his face, removing the traces of blood.
"Who knows? Maybe one of your men might even strangle me," Jamie remarked, gesturing toward one of the soldiers standing guard.
Near the soldier, shimmering letters floated in the air
| The soldier stands there waiting, watching every trait.
| One slip, his hands around your neck, will seal your fate.
"Never! They are loyal to me, young lord," Tom defended his men.
However, Jamie could see beyond the masks each of them wore. Alexandra's words had swayed and poisoned both soldiers.
"Perhaps. In any case, it's time for me to aim higher and take flight," Jamie said, slinging a bundle over his shoulder as he headed toward the castle's exit.
"B-but what will you do?" Tom asked, a note of concern in his voice.
"Collect a debt," Jamie replied.
--
The cold in the main square was biting, a relentless chill that seeped through layers of clothing and gnawed at the bones. Night had draped the city in darkness, and with snow still descending from the heavens, movement became arduous for anyone brave enough to venture outside.
Yet Jamie had nowhere else to go. He needed to collect a debt.
"Did you plan this when you first approached the bishop?" Jay asked, floating beside him. The spectral cat peered at Jamie, trying to fathom his thoughts. Although they shared memories, Jay still struggled to understand much about this other world—or even the language spoken here—which rendered parts of those memories entirely useless to him.
"In part, yes," Jamie replied, his breath forming wisps in the frigid air. "Knowing how the city operates and how you lacked your father's trust, it was clear we wouldn't be able to thrive here. Securing safe passage to another place, especially with one of the most powerful churches, seemed the best option—even if we did not use it."
As they reached the square, the colossal temple loomed before them, its grand doors firmly shut. However, a smaller side door, tucked away along the temple's shadowed flank, was easy enough to find.
Without hesitation, Jamie began pounding on the temple door, the sound echoing through the silent streets. He made enough noise that townsfolk stirred from their sleep, peeking from shuttered windows to see who dared disturb the night.
After several long minutes, the door creaked open, revealing a weary-looking cleric holding a flickering candle.
"Who goes there?!" the cleric demanded, his voice thick with irritation. "We are closed."
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"I've come to see the bishop," Jamie stated plainly.
"He's already asleep. Come back tomorrow," the cleric retorted, moving to shut the door.
"That's not possible. I'm part of the bishop's traveling party; I can't remain outside until tomorrow," Jamie insisted, stepping forward to prevent the door from closing.
He could have sought refuge in a tavern for the night, but he feared that once the bishop heard he'd been expelled from Frostwatch, he might decide to leave the city at first light, leaving Jamie behind.
The cleric squinted, lifting his candle to better examine the young man before him. "All who are part of the bishop's entourage are already within the temple," he said, confusion creasing his brow. As his gaze settled on Jamie's face, recognition flickered in his eyes. With a slight gasp, he realized who stood before him—the young noble of Frostwatch himself.
Without waiting for the cleric to grant him passage, Jamie placed a firm hand on the heavy wooden door and pushed his way inside. "Yes, yes. But now I am part of it as well," he declared, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Th-that's impossible!" the cleric stammered, his eyes wide with shock. "The young lord cannot be part of the bishop's entourage. You have a home—a noble house. You cannot simply wander off into the world!"
"Then call for the bishop. He will explain it to you," Jamie replied calmly, striding confidently into the heart of the temple.
Inside, the temple was a sanctuary of warmth and light, a stark contrast to the icy cold of the night outside. The grand hall stretched before him, lined with towering columns and illuminated by the soft glow of countless candles. The air was fragrant with incense, and the quiet sounded like a held breath.
No one else was in the main hall at this late hour, but near the dormitories, he could hear the soft murmurs and rustlings of clerics asleep in their chambers. Jamie made his way toward the center of the temple, his footsteps echoing softly on the polished stone floor.
The cleric, uncertain and flustered, hurried off to fetch the bishop. Moments later, the bishop emerged, his robes hastily thrown over his nightclothes, a mixture of annoyance and concern etched on his face. He found Jamie sprawled atop a piece of leather that he had fashioned into a makeshift bed.
"What are you doing here?!" the bishop exclaimed, his voice reverberating through the silent hall.
"Preparing to sleep," Jamie replied unabashedly, meeting the bishop's gaze without a hint of shame.
"B-but why?" the bishop stuttered, clearly taken aback by the young man's audacity.
"I have just become part of your entourage," Jamie explained matter-of-factly. "At least until we reach Hafenstadt."
The bishop's eyes widened, and Jamie could see the man begin to sweat. He had made a promise—worse yet, within the sacred walls of the temple. Breaking such a vow could bring about dire repercussions, perhaps even diminish his standing in the Church or weaken his divine abilities. Jamie was counting on it; he surmised that the oaths binding a bishop were as strict, if not stricter, than those of any cleric.
"But what about your family, James? I cannot take you with me. The Frostwatch family will surely oppose the temple if I do this. Please, think carefully," the bishop implored, frustration giving way to genuine concern.
"There's no need to worry," Jamie assured him. "I've been expelled from the Frostwatch. Oh, and you can call me Jamie from now on."
The bishop blinked, absorbing this new information. "Expelled? This is serious, my boy. Are you certain this is the path you wish to take?"
Jamie nodded. "Quite certain. My place is no longer here. I believe accompanying you is the best course for both of us."
The bishop found himself at a loss for words. Seeing that the young man would not relent, he shrugged in resignation and muttered a silent prayer to Aetheron. With a weary sigh, he turned and left Jamie alone in the vast hall of the temple.
As the bishop's footsteps faded into the silence, Jamie was left with his thoughts amid the sacred stillness. The temple's grandeur surrounded him—the soaring arches, the intricate stained-glass windows depicting ancient legends, and the soft glow of candles. Weariness began to weigh heavily upon him. The exhaustion from the day's events tugged at his eyelids, pulling him irresistibly toward the realm of dreams. He could feel the fatigue seep into his very bones as he surrendered to sleep's gentle embrace.
But his respite was short-lived. It seemed he'd barely closed his eyes when a sharp nudge jolted him awake. Blinking groggily, Jamie looked up to see a young cleric prodding his shoulder rather unceremoniously.
"The bishop asked me to inform you that the entourage will be departing Frostwatch in an hour. If you have anything to prepare, you'd best do it now," the cleric said tersely.
Before Jamie could respond, the cleric had already turned away, disappearing down the dimly lit corridor. "They still treat me like a leper," Jamie thought bitterly, noticing the clerics' unwillingness to engage with him any more than necessary.
Beside him, Jay—the spectral cat—stretched luxuriously, shaking off the remnants of slumber. His luminous eyes regarded Jamie with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Do we need to prepare anything else?" Jay asked, his tail flicking lazily.
"Not for the journey," Jamie replied, rolling up his makeshift bed and securing it among his belongings. "But we will need something for once we reach Hafenstadt."
"And what's that?" Jay inquired, hopping onto a nearby bench to better look at his companion.
"After all, what's a bard without a musical instrument?" Jamie said with a sly grin.