Urberer’s moved with haste to the main gate; his stride smooth, measured, and solid. His staff was no longer held languidly at his side, but tightly and laid upon his right shoulder. His movements efficient and eyes on the gate, he made great time.

Nearing the gate Urberer’s eyes flit to the four gate guards. He only took note of their attire; noticing the purple capes they wore, signs of nobility and disregarding the rest of their features. He came upon them so fast they started to draw their weapons.

“Hey commoner, stop!” One of the guards said, moving in close, starting to draw the rapier that hang lung on his left hip.

Urberer simply quickened his pace, invading the man’s space. Urberer jutted his free hand out, blocking the mans draw and causing the sword to re-sheath with a clink. The guards eyes narrow and panic starts to set in.

“Don’t worry. It’s just me. Just Urberer the monk! I’m completely harmless,” Urberer said in a loud voice for all to hear but his eyes never leaving those of the guard he was entangled with. By combination of his positioning and the dimension of his robes, he was able to block the view of his martial trick from the other guards.

The guard did not look down either. His initial efforts to move his hand had failed and now he was stuck. Without missing a beat the guard responded “And you are late, Urberer”.

“I’m sure you can forgive it just this once? You know, keep it between us two?” Urberer eyes dart down to their subtle martial conflict, and then back up at the man. The man, however, doesn’t release the hold on his hilt.

“Oh come on, I don’t have time for this. The high priest is going to have my head if I’m much later. And the chores. Oh, gosh, the immeasurable amounts of chores.” Urberer thought to himself.

From Urberer’s peripherals he could see the other guards starting to close in. He didn’t pay much attention to their statements but kept his focus on the guard in front of him. In a whisper, he says “come on bud. A little lemon in the water is better than salt in the wound.”

The guard's eyes break contact to glance at the other incoming guards. He still doesn’t budge his hand.

“You and I both know they’ll never let you live this down. Lemon or salt. You choose.”

The guard mutters a “damn it” and then releases his hand from the hilt of his blade. Just in time Urberer brings his hand to the man’s stomach and utters a chant, ending it with the statement “heal”! A flash of green and white light covers the guard's stomach.

The other guards show up. Their weapon are still sheathed but their eyes questioning. The circled around Urberer and the other guard.

“Well, that should heal that indigestion sir! We can’t have you wonderful guards in pain. Did you guy even know he’s been here suffering in quiet?” Urberer says.

“What’s that? He’s suffering?” Says one of the guards.

“Exactly! I could see from yards away. He must have been in pain for hours.”

“Oh a little stomach ache?” Teased one of the guards.

The main guard that Urberer had entangled with sighs and then goes along with it. “The caviar and qual eggs I had this morning didn’t sit well with candied roasted truffle I had for dessert. It felt like I had fire in my throat and stomach”.

The rest of the guards groan. One of them pipes up and says “that happened to my uncle once. He was a guest at a Viscounts summer residence. He spent two days in bed and had to be treated by the Viscounts main healer.”

The other guards nod in understanding. One of them said “Who’d know you’d live up to that noble blood of yours. Working through pain. It’d make you’re forefathers proud, Roderick”.

Roderick gave a brief shrug. “Yeah…. I guess.”

“And I’m so sorry sir to run here so fast. I just saw you in pain. And I was running late, and I just got ahead of myself. Please, can you forgive a simple monk such as myself. Puh-lease”.

Roderick brings a hand to his head and closes his eyes. He exhales slowly. “A noble recognizes good deeds in their people and honors them. I’ll let your sleight of rushing over here go this time. Just don’t do it again.”

“Oh, I promise!” Urberer says.

Roderick indicates to another guard. “Go and flag the guards at the commoner vestibule that way they know to just let him in. After such a good deed, I don’t want him any later than he is.”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Good boy. Good boy. Every noble knows how to play the power game. And he’s playing it well. Urberer thinks to himself.

“Oh you are so kind sir! I’ll make sure to say prayers for you. And you can come see me at the confessionals at any time. I’m still the most reliable, confidential, and reasonably tithed confessionaire around.”

And now for the finishing touches of this little game of ours.

“And good sirs. You do such great work. I ask that you insure someone grants him rest leave. The divine heal will only last for so long. He still needs proper rest. At least a day off.”

The guards all nod in agreement. Roderick looks at Urberer. It is an expression that only they would get. The expression of two players in a game, where one had come in woefully unprepared and the other had the good graces to let them save face and win. Urberer simply smiled.

And always leave everyone feeling like they won if you can. But even better, make it seem like the other guy still got a slightly better deal. They’ll always deal with you then.

“Thank you sirs!” Urberer makes way past the gateway, into the courtyard, and to the vestibules.

***

“Right this way,” stated the guards as they ushered Urberer through the double doors at the Southside entrance of the Grand Temple.

“Thank you, thank you” Urberer said, as he rushed in.

It’s good that I did run into that Roderick fellow. It would have taken me a bit longer to get through here, but at this rate I should be able to make it in without anyone noticing. Just walk in mooring prayer. No one will know.

Urberer entered into the small holding passage; allowing his eyes to adjust to the darker climate. The entry was laid first with several feet of coarse stone. He grated his feet against them, removing any muck that was there while taking in the rest of the room.

Commoners Way they call this, huh? I don’t know many commoners that have chandeliers, incenses, and two inch thick carpets, and gem encrusted weapons. Urberer thought to himself.

He took in the room which was a contrast to the buildings exterior. Overhead where chandeliers made from steel inlaid with gold. On either side of the walls were steel and gold inlaid incense holders. The left walls held paintings of the religion’s great people, the nation’s forefathers, and different tenants of the faith. On the right wall were hooks and shelves that held all kinds of light weapons such as short swords, rapiers, daggers and a few short spears. These weapons were imposing not in the viouscouenss of damage they could cause but in their beautiful craftsmanship. Each weapon had intricate gems, designs, and family names engraved into them. Every piece a custom item meant for display and never for service.

Urberer couldn’t help but take am moment to admire them while cleaning off his feet. “Beautiful. Beautiful but useless.”

“Urberer, you’re late,” says a middle age, balding blonde man.

Urberer hadn’t paid attention to the other clergy men that were in the room. They stood past the rough hewn stones on either side of the wall. The ground returned to simple cobblestone before being covered by carpet. The carpet was thick, a deep purple color with green floral designs. This carpet ran the rest of the room until the end of that hall where it mat up with a matching set of closed drapes. The clergy had not moved from their stations. Next to each man was a polished wooden table that had a matching leather cushioned chair.

“Oh, I’m only late if the old man knows it, Caper.”

“Urberer, he always knows,” Caper says and promptly roles.

The other clergy man didn’t say anything. He shrugged, which was hard to see given how his robe hide his frail frame. He was older than the other clergyman and what hair he once had on his head was exchanged for bushier, snow-white eyebrows and goatee.

“Oh don’t be like that Caper. And here, I got you both something from low-town.”

Urberer moves to Caper. He pulls a small flask out of his robe and passes it to Caper. Caper’s eyes grow wide.

“Is this the juice?”

“Shhh. Keep it down.” Urberer looks around and then says. “Just dilute it. If you don’t, there will be no divine blessing to save you from that headache. Trust me.”

Caper nods quietly.

“And ….,” the old man says in a tired voice, his eyes looking expectant.

“Oh, you know I’d never forget an ol’ salty sea dog such as yourself Vinchen”. Urberer reaches into his robe, again, and pulls out small book.

“Brand new?”

“Yes. Penned by Delok De Tierra himself. It took some work getting it. But you deserve it.”

Vinchen extends a shaking hand, grabs ahold of the paper and then snatches his hand back. He then places book in a drawer underneath the table. He gives a simple nod.

Urberer starts to say something but then hears bits and pieces of inspired voices singing. Urberer begins to mumble along “love and duty, shine bright, in the light da-daa- daaaa.”

“See, I told you you were late. And I meant late for you. They’re almost done the fifth song. You’ve already missed the sermon. You only got this and a few of the closing prayers.”

“Damn. I am late. He’s so going to know.”

“I told him you had been helping a noble who had the flu”.

“Caper. I knew I always liked you. No matter what Vinchen says.”

Vinchen smirks.

“Well, that will help. Did you guys happen to save me a seat, somewhere, anywhere?”

“No Urberer, I wasn’t able to. I got stuck with calming a minor dispute between two nobles over who had an authentic Te De Lux cap. Do you know hard it is to not cause a scene when going back and forth between two different rose, whispering complaints and demands until they felt even.”

“Nope. Nor do I want to. But what I do want, and need is a way in so that the old man doesn’t have my head.”

The older points at the curtain on the left side.

“Old man Vinchen. Did I ever tell you, that you were my hero?” Urberer says. He then goes into his robe, somehow again, and grabs a small vial. Vinchen stops him. Vinchen simply shakes his head and then nods back at the desk.

“Another De Tierra? You’re putting me in a bind.”

“I can sit there myself if you’d like,” Vinchen says.

“No, no. I know a good offer when I see it. Just remind me never to play cards with you ol Vinny. You’d take my robes, sandals, and small clothes.”

“Damn right” Vinchen says.

I love this guy. Why wasn’t he my uncle?

“You better get going. They’re almost done the singing.”

“Thanks guys.”

Urberer gently pulls back the drape.