While Daiteka was perhaps the most uncivilized and dangerous of the inhabited islands, its sole true city, Estroma, was a fairly popular place to visit. As a result, many businesses and individuals offered services to travelers unfamiliar with the city. Levi had employed one such gentleman, Herbert Adney, to guide them, initially to the First Temple of Virtue and now to the Second Step Initiative Administration Complex.
As Herbert had approached a confused Levi, the rest of the guides that lingered around the port quickly went back to scanning for potential customers. While Seth’s dad had chosen not to question Herbert’s name and attire—a very well made green tunic with a preponderance of pockets—Seth wasted no time asking about his having a noble name.
“Is it common for nobles to act as guides?” He asked as they made their way out of the port and into the city proper.
“No, not particularly,” the slightly plump middle aged man replied. “But while I am a part of the Adney family, I’m only a distant cousin. I have few noble duties, so I enjoy showing interesting people around the fine city that my dear family was so integral to founding and maintaining.”
“It is quite impressive,” Seth agreed, looking around at the lush garden they were walking through.
Herbert had led them through quite a few of Estroma’s posh or upscale areas. Seth had seen parts of the city that looked less elaborate or even run-down when he had a good view from the docks, but those must not have been around their destination. He had a thought, and interrupted Herbert’s rambling monologue about the history of why mangrove, oak, and walnut were the only approved woods for building in Estroma.
“You said you show interesting people around.” Seth said, “Why us then? Because we’re Priests?”
“Indeed!” Herbert replied cheerfully while waving to someone he seemed to recognize in the garden they were passing through. “I find that the men and women of the cloth are always of a fascinating sort.”
“Not to mention the benefits of having a good relationship with the people that can put your arm back on if something unfortunate happens,” Levi commented, to which the noble nodded sagely.
Another garden and an upscale market later, Herbert glanced at Seth during a pause in his explanations. “If you don’t mind my asking, young man,” he said, “Why does your robe have red around the edges? I don’t believe I’ve seen that on a Priest before.”
“I’m a Joint Priest.” Seth explained, straightening his posture. “I’m part of the Church of Sin as well as Virtue.”
“I see!” Herbert said, intrigued. “Would that happen to have anything to do with the dour Sin Priest who headed up the river a couple months ago?”
Levi chuckled. “You really must spend quite a bit of time at the docks. I don’t suppose you have a memory improvement ability?”
“Sadly not,” Herbert replied. “But my feet don’t get sore from walking, which I think is a fine ability for my purposes.
They finally came to a stop in front of a large building with a very distinctive shape.
“A shoe?” Seth said incredulously.
“Bless you.” Herbert responded with a twinkle in his eyes.
Levi and Seth looked at him for a second before they both rolled their eyes.
“I love leading people past this building just to make that joke,” Herbert said, chuckling. “In this case, it is actually your destination. The Second Step Initiative Administration Complex, built by my family years ago at the direction of King Thomas himself.”
“He wanted a giant purple shoe?” Levi asked, sharing Seth’s incredulity.
“Quite specifically, yes.” Herbert explained. “The design is akin to the style of footwear he prefers. It represents him planting his foot on another island to establish his authority, apparently.”
The three of them looked up at the purple pointy edifice of the building.
“Far be it from me to question royal fashion,” Levi said finally. “Seth, we should head in to make our report. Thank you for your guidance, Mister Adney.”
“Of course.” Herbert shook his hand agreeably. “And you’ll be heading back to the First Temple again after?”
“Yes, but I believe I know the direction.” Levi replied, and Herbert nodded.
Levi led Seth through a wide leather door on the heel of the shoe. The room beyond was fairly cramped given the size of the building, with several reed doors leading off of it and a scribe sitting behind a small desk at the back. While his dad spoke with the scribe, Seth awkwardly stood back and looked around.
The wooden walls, floor, and ceiling were all painted slightly varying shades of purple. The floor was also emblazoned with the crest of the Cruwar Kingdom, an angular panther with a bleeding hand in its mouth, in a gray-black that was very hard to make out against the purple.
As Seth was examining the three reed doors that seemed out of place with their cheap appearance, the scribe bustled through one of them, leaving the pair alone.
“This is an…interesting building.” Seth remarked, gesturing around vaguely.
Levi nodded absently.
“So, did you give him everything?” Seth asked.
“No, just the documentation necessary to speak with someone higher up the ladder.” Levi replied. “Even when I do hand over the reports, you’ll probably have to give a verbal recount.”
Seth wasn’t thrilled about explaining what had happened to strangers, but he nodded.
Several minutes later, the scribe returned huffing and puffing. He handed each of them a round gray badge with an “L” on it, and demonstrated how to clip it to their robes.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“The head administration team on the top floor are expecting you.” The scribe said. “Please follow me.”
The scribe led them through the same door he had just come from and down a short purple hallway. Instead of a stairway leading up to the next floor, they found themselves looking up a stone ladder built into the wall.
“The ladder goes all the way up to the fourth floor.” The scribe explained. “That’s the smallest floor and the one they’re waiting for you on.”
Levi and Seth looked up the long ladder then back at the scribe, who gave them a weak smile, still breathing heavily. By the time they reached the top, Seth could feel himself beginning to sweat even with the Loss essence clothes under his robe keeping him cool. The slightly too tight shoes didn’t make the climb easier either. Levi leaned against the wall of the small purple landing and wiped his forehead.
“How many times a day do you think that scribe has to climb up here?” He mused, flexing his cramped fingers. “It would explain why his arm muscles are so pronounced even through his robe.”
“Who knows. Too many.” Seth said. “At least we don’t have to worry about getting winded.”
Levi nodded and turned to the only door in the room, which was made of the same leather as the entrance to the building.
____________________________________________
Ten minutes earlier, Caren, Acting Head Administrator of the Second Step Initiative, had wished that something more interesting than expense reports would cross her desk today. Now she cursed that foolish thought as she waited in the oval main meeting room on the top floor of the shoe with Ernest and Nora.
A critical priority message hand delivered by one of the priests stationed in Lith meant two things were now in her future: late nights and many more meetings. The trio straightened up and looked toward the leather door at the other end of the room as they heard two people clamber up the ladder. There was a pause as the priest attempted to knock unsuccessfully on the soft door, then gave up and opened it.
Caren was surprised to see that both the men were wearing yellow robes, briefly concerned that Lith had been left without any priests. But no, the second man was young, likely a promoted acolyte. Her office hadn’t received any notice yet from the Church of Virtue, but that wasn’t unusual.
She gestured for the pair to sit opposite her at the table and said formally, “Good afternoon, my name is Caren, the Acting Head Administrator. These are Deputy Administrators Ernest and Nora.”
The older priest nodded and replied, “Thank you. I am Healer Levi, Priest of the Temple of Virtue in Lith. And this is my son…”
Levi gestured to the other priest for a moment before the young man took the hint.
“Right,” He said quickly. “I am Healer Seth, Joint Journeyman Priest of the Temples of Sin and Virtue.”
Caren raised her eyebrows. A joint priest? She wasn’t familiar, so she jotted down a note to inquire about the significance of the title later.
“So,” She said, looking up again. “What do you have for us?”
Levi slid some papers in a sheaf across the table in a fluid motion, and Caren quickly flipped through them. The main report itself was very brief.
On the seventh Finday of Serotin, 750 FEC
Joint Journeyman Healer Seth Son of Levi was attacked by an Ain Fen between the South gate of Lith and the base of the Telid mountains. One guard killed, body not recovered. Healer severely wounded, soldier severely wounded. Ain Fen briefly pursued, retreated before encountering other patrols. Joint Journeyman Healer Seth sent with report to deliver an account of events in person.
Healer Joe Son of Clark, Head Priest of the Temple of Virtue in Lith
Passing the succinct page to Ernest, Caren took a deep breath and looked at the younger priest, Seth. He seemed nervous, but less so than she would have expected. Hopefully he could deliver his account quickly so that the real nightmare could begin.
Once Ernest and Nora finished reading, the three exchanged grim looks. If not for the late Serotin heat, they would have been pale. As it was, the trio were now sweating for two reasons.
“So, Seth,” Caren said finally. “What do you have to report?”
____________________________________________
After explaining most of what happened in the jungle clearing, Seth sat back in the fairly comfortable leather chair. The three administrators were completely silent, each focused on the notes they were taking. Seth quietly let out a breath along with some of the tension that had been building up in his chest as he spoke.
After a minute or two, the middle woman whose name he had immediately forgotten looked up.
Glancing between him and Levi she asked, “Is there anything else?”
The pair shook their heads, and the three administrators quietly conferred for a moment before the middle woman and left man stood.
“We need to begin addressing this at once.” The middle woman said firmly. “Nora will handle your compensation. Thank you, young man.”
“Have a good afternoon.” The man added as he followed her out the door.
The remaining administrator, Nora, began to rise as well while Seth and Levi looked at one another uncertainly.
“Compensation?” Levi asked as he stood.
“Oh, you weren’t aware?” Nora said, expression lifting. “Well then, I’m glad someone gets some good news today. There is a standing policy to compensate anyone who brings reliable information about unusual Ain activity on the island. That’s likely part of the reason the Head Priest sent you in person, Seth.”
She led the two back into the ladderway and down to the third floor, then left them outside of a room guarded by two reedy soldiers. Seth spent the several minutes they waited there trying to figure out which one of the guards was producing a very strong tone to his auditory ability.
When Nora returned, she was carrying a brown case the size of an actual shoe. She brought them into the room they had been waiting outside of, leading them to a table where she slid the lid off the box to reveal a small vial of water with a bone lid and a leather pouch.
Seth sucked in a breath as Levi stiffened, neither having fully realized what ‘compensation’ would really mean. Water was used to store very, very large amounts of Value since it could supposedly hold an infinite amount. It had to be diluted to draw the Value back out, which must be what the pouch was for.
“Seth, when I remove the cap and prepare to add the powder, you should have your finger ready above the vial.” Nora said as she took both items out of the box. “Otherwise the sensory disorientation could be an issue.”
Seth nodded and held his hand out as she unscrewed the lid and untied the pouch. When both were ready, she tipped the bag of reddish powder into the water at the bottom of the vial. After a moment, everyone’s senses were assaulted.
Everything seemed to glow and shudder as a bone-rattling chorus intoned its lament and soft flames with a metallic tang flickered around Seth’s hand. Nora pushed his frozen arm down to touch the sludge and absorb the Value while blinking rapidly.
“I’m sorry.” He said as everything snapped back to normal and an intense buzzing filled his hand and slowly spread out.
“Perfectly understandable.” Nora said as her left eye refocused on him.
She put the vial and pouch back in the box, handed it to the guard who wasn’t throwing up, and led Levi and Seth out of the room.
“He has an ability that makes him extremely sensitive to stable Value essence.” Nora explained, seeing Levi’s concerned look at the second guard. “Inconvenient, but it has its uses.”
When they reached the ladderway, she bid them good day and went back up to the fourth floor. Seth and Levi struggled their way back down three floors of ladder, nodded to the scribe in the entryway, and left the strange building.
“Dad, that was…”
“I know, let’s not talk about it here.” Levi cut Seth off and glanced around.
When he jumped slightly, Seth turned his head to see Herbert standing right behind him.
“Did your meeting go well?” The well dressed man asked politely, leaning forward.
Levi sighed.