Chapter 3

Fires and Stories

They rode down the hill and entered the city through huge bronze gates, onto a sweeping broad boulevard, with huge elegant and expensive houses on either side. It was one of those times when you wished you had more eyes, there was so much to take in. The streets teemed with people, many of whom looked like workmen in plain and dirty clothes, the majority of people however were dressed in black.

"Did someone die?" Michelle asked curiously. "Cos black seems to be the popular colour at the mo."

"Churchmen all wear black." Bevier answered.

"Is everyone here a Churchman then." Sam asked

"No not really, one commands a bit more respect if he's associated with the church" Kalten replied.

"Well that's a little boring, there needs to be more colour." Michelle said matter of factly.

The Knights led the girl's through the city towards the centre, where they stopped outside of a bleak looking building with high walls and formidable gates. Pandion Knights guarded the gate and Sparhawk went through some kind of a ritual that gained them entry. They dismounted in the courtyard, handed their horses to some young men and followed the knights through the building. They were shown to rooms, given baths and fed before seeking their beds.

The following morning they met in a study like room in the south part of the building.

"Ok ladies, we are going to take you to the Basilica were you will meet the Archprelate and the Kings and Queen of Eosia, things will be explained to you a little better, like what is happening and so on." Sparhawk informed them. "But first why don't you stay here and rest while I go and brief the Archprelate and Rulers."

With that the knights left the girls alone.

"What do you think?" Mia asked no one in particular

"I'm not sure, I think they're telling the truth, I don't see why they would lie to us" Claire mused.

"You wouldn't, you always think the best of people, I for one don't like it, something is happening here and I have a feeling we aren't going to like it." A rather sceptical Gemma said.

"I think that maybe we should hear them out, I mean it wont hurt, I think they need our help," Sophia declared.

"Well its not like we can go anywhere anyway." Gemma retorted

"I'm not so sure bout that." Mia meaningfully looked at SJ.

"Could you get out of here?" Michelle asked the redhead

"I think I probably could, especially if you make a diversion I could." Sarah-Jane thoughtfully replied. "Well what do you think should I go and have a looksie," she asked Mia

"Lets go and check it out and see if its possible, Shell you come along as well we might need your diversion." Mia responded,

With that the three girls left the study. They made their way to the wall where they climbed to the top and made a pretence of looking out over the city.

"I'm not sure 'bout the gate, don't think I'll be able to get passed those guards." SJ whispered to her friends. "I don't think they're going to let me out personally."

"The walls aren't really all that high, maybe a rope will do." Mia asked the two girls.

"Are you made" Michelle asked their leader a little shocked "the wall is patrolled not to mention the street is wide open, we'll be seen for sure."

"A fire" SJ said mysteriously

"Where" the others said simultaneously

"No-where yet, what I meant was a fire might distract the guards long enough for me to slip out" SJ explained

"I think that might work, and I'm going too." Michelle exclaimed excitedly.

"What do you mean your going too?" Mia asked the young girl

"Actually I think it might be a good idea Mia" SJ said before the arguments started "She may just come in handy to have around."

It took a little while for them to convince Mia that Michelle was going to, actually they argued about all the way down to the stables eventually Mia gave in.

"Now you to be careful this is a strange world, we don't know that much about it so watch your backs." Mia ordered the girls "Now go and get in place."

The plan was for Michelle and SJ to make their way towards the gate and conceal themselves without attracting anyone's attention. Mia was to wait for the signal, when she heard the whistle it meant the girls were ready, she was then to knock over the lantern in the stables, make a big fuss and attempt to get everyone's attention. Hopefully the fire won't get to out of hand but would be enough to get everyone's attention so the girls could slip through the gate unseen.

Ten minutes later, the Knights in the courtyard had effectively put out a troublesome fire and a very embarrassed looking Mia could be seen apologising repeatedly, and there was no sign of the two runaways.

"That was a little nerve racking wasn't it, I wasn't totally convinced that was going to work but it did, I'm impressed." A relived Michelle told her friend.

"I know how you feel, I wasn't to sure myself. But it did work out rather well didn't it." The little red-head said rather proudly

"You mean you weren't sure that was going to work!" Michelle said looking a little shocked.

"No I didn't know it was going to work, but there is only one way to find out." SJ said a little defensively "Why don't we go and find somewhere to get a bite to eat."

"We've just had breakfast."

"I know, but how do you expect to find anything out if you don't go to where the talking and gossiping happens." SJ explained in a strained voice, as a rich looking man in fine clothes walked into them.

"And what do you expect us to pay with, huh." Michelle retorted

"I expect this will do." SJ said holding out a heavy pouch

"Where'd you get that?"

"That rather kind gentleman that bumped into seems to have misplaced it." SJ said with a rather wicked grin. "Shall we get on, I would rather like to find something out before we get caught."

With that the girls walked down the street in search of an inn, some food and a littlie gossip.

"What happened?"

"Where have you been?"

"Where are the other two?"

Greeted Mia from all directions as she was escorted into the room where the others were. So Mia went through the task of filling the girls in.

"So they made it out ok" Sophia enquired "They will be ok wont they?"

"They will be fine, Sarah-Jane is good at these things, and Michelle can look after herself, the problem we have is making sure the Knights don't notice to soon, we need to give them a chance to get some information." Mia told the others "lets not draw attention to the fact they are missing."

It was an hour later when Sparhawk returned and he immediately noticed that two of the girls were missing.

"Where are they?" he said in a deadly quiet voice

"Where are who?" Sam bravely replied

"You know who I mean, so where are they?"

"I'm not quite sure, one minute they were here, the next they were gone." Kelsey cheerfully replied. "Strange that don't you think?"

Sparhawk went to the door where a couple of young men were stationed and said something to them that the girls couldn't make out.

"Where's Sarah Jane when you need her." Kelse whispered to no one in particular.

Even for this time of the day there were a lot of people in the bar, most of which had already had a few. SJ surveyed the room as the two girls entered, it was a nice enough little place, cosy and well kept. There was a long bar down on side of the room with a door each end of it leading of into the building. The room had a large fireplace and many tables, half of which were taken by what seemingly looked like workmen.

"I suppose this is as good of a place to start." She said to her friend. "Lets go find a seat."

They walked on into the room past the fireplace and found a seat in the far corner. SJ sat with her back to the wall she could see the whole room form her position, and more importantly the door was in full view.

"What would you like dearies?" a kind looking serving girl asked respectfully

"I don't know, what you got in the way o' some food?" SJ said in a rather countrified accent.

"We got a bit o' beef left if ya' want some, if not some bread and cheese" the girl seemed more relaxed after hearing the country accent.

"I think I fancy me'self some bread and cheese ta' and me friend as well" SJ told the girl "Oh and dearie maybe bit of ale to wash it down"

"Don't over do it" Michelle cautioned her friend.

"I'm just playing the part, watch and learn my young friend, I'm going to teach you a couple of tricks first of which 'gaining trust'."

The ale came over almost immediately and it didn't really taste all that bad, well SJ didn't mind it too much, Shell wasn't to keen on it. The food took just a little longer but not all that much longer. Soon the girls were tucking into their food, SJ took the opportunity to examine the money she lifted of the rich man in the street, it was strange looking, but had a similar appearance to her native coins. After a while some workmen entered the inn and sat at the table next to them.

"I'm a tellin' you, sumfin' is definitely going on, I mean look at it t' armies are all on alert and t' Knights are out in force, sumfin' funny is happening." One of the men was telling the other two.

"I agree with Pek, there is something afoot, just the other day someone was telling me that there are people out recruiting to fight against the church"

"Fighting against t' Church, what good will that do t' Knights will grind anyone stupid enough to do that into the ground"

"Aye that they wu'd nasty lot them, wudn't want to get on the wrong side of 'em that's for sure." SJ interrupted

"Aye that be right little lady, don't want to be doing that alright." Pek agreed

"I 'ope you don't nay mind me asking, but you wud'nt mind fillin' me 'n' me friend in on t' news, we don't hear much out in t' country, I'll buy ya' a drink for your trouble." SJ asked sweetly.

"Well know little lady where do we start." Pek said all business like "There be a lot of trouble happenin' down in Arcium, rebels be settin' fire to crops n' all."

"No, why they doin' that?" Michelle got involved

"They be sayin its to oppose the Church and Crown." He continued. "Sayin that we shudn't be worshipin' our god cos' he's not real, he bin made up by t' Church to get money n' t' likes, I fink it's a silly notion, but a 'hole lotta people are backin' them."

"People do that, wen there's a profit but wen they get tired of it they just go back to wot they were doin' before." SJ observed.

"Aye I bin thinking that me'self little lady."

"Have you herd' 'bout the killins'" the other man said

"What killings?" Michelle curiously asked

"There be some rumours of high rankin' Churchmen being killed thru' out Eosia, some say its being dun' by magic."

"I don't kno' 'bout that but there definitely bin some strange things goin' on, like t' un-known folks seen in t' country, the rumours of creatures terror'risin country folk, that kinda' thin'" The third man added "There be sumfin' happenin', mark my words, n' all the Kings n' Queens be 'ere tells y'that."

"Well now we be best gettin' off back t' work, thanks for the ale little lady, really 'preciate it" With that the three men bid them goodbye and left.

"My god how'd you do that?" Shell asked her friend

"Do what?"

"All of it, I mean its almost as if you were from around here, as if this is everyday to you."

"It easy, all you have to do is listen and observe your surroundings, I'll teach you when I get time." SJ informed the young girl "It's a little sketchy but I think it pretty much covered everything, that's if what they were saying was the truth"

"It seemed a little far fetched to me, rather dramatic don't you think?"

"That's one of the things i'm going to teach you how to listen."

"I was listening, I heard it all" Shell replied a little defensively

"You weren't listening properly, the stories may be a little far fetched but the under lying problem is there is civil unrest here."

"How did you come by that?"

"Not know we'll discuss it when we get back" SJ said while looking intently towards the door where a young man in plain clothes had entered and was making enquires at the bar. "Lets not tell people about this, what I mean is lets not mention my other less savoury skills at the mo'" SJ cautioned Shell, as the bar tender pointed the young man in their direction.

"You mean like your pick pocketing skills or the fact that you can swindle and con people."

"There are something's that are best kept secret" SJ whispered "And if you want to learn them you'll keep quiet."

A young man was approaching their table from the bar, he had a smile on his face almost like he had found a prize or something similar.

"Well finally, what took you so long" SJ said to the young man in a rather bored voice "I at least thought that you of all people would have been able to find us a little sooner Talen."

"You knew I would find you I take it." He replied, he was no longer smiling so brightly.

"Well I wasn't exactly hiding, how else were we going to get back to the chapter house"

"You do know that Sparhawk is furious" Talne smirked "You really managed to irritate him by slipping away right from under his nose. How did you do that by the way?"

"Oh I don't think I'm going to tell you that girls need their secrets after all" SJ mysteriously told the curios young man "What do you say we get on back."

"How did you find us?" Shell asked the young man

"I have some contacts, I just asked them if they had seen you and if they wouldn't mind helping me look for you, luckily I was directed to that inn."

It took no time at all for them to reach the bleak chapter house

"Is Sparhawk really mad at us" Michelle asked a little apprehensively

"Oh yes, he nearly tore the Chapter house apart looking for you, I don't think he believed it possible that you left, I think he underestimated you."

"This means he's not going to let us out of his sights know don't it"

"Afraid so"

They were led straight to the study were a rather stern looking Sparhawk awaited them, it was rather clear he was not pleased.

"I know you're angry so I'm not going to make any excuses, we just wanted to see the city, I don't do to well being locked up."

Sparhawk however was not going to let it pass easily. He never yelled, he kept his voice very level almost ominous, he however insisted that they all be put under guard and were not under any circumstances leave the chapter house again unless he has given his permission.

"Oh and I suppose you think that is going to make a difference" SJ retorted her anger rising slightly

"Oh I think so, if not chains will do the trick"

"I'll like to see that, I aint seen any chains yet that she cant get out of." Mia defended her friend

"It isn't safe out there that's all Sparhawk is saying" Bevier interjected trying to avert an argument.

Things didn't particularly go well from there, the girls felt they were being kept prisoner, the knights felt as though it was their duty to keep them safe. It resulted in a rather spectacular show of dramatics from either side. SJ and Mia however saw none of it at the first sign of trouble they slipped out and headed towards the wall. SJ then began to fill Mia in on what she had heard.

"It seems a little far fetched I know, but they were quite convinced, and the others around believed them to." SJ concluded

"I think there are a few things our gracious hosts need to explain to us." Mia mused

"I don't think they will just yet I think they're waiting for us to meet with these rulers of there's. I think the biggest problem we have is how they expect us to do anything about the civil unrest they are having"

"I don't know what to do, the meeting is going to happen tomorrow, Sparhawk informs me, lets wait and see what happens in the morning before we act. I think we best get back before we get into even more trouble."

With that they returned to the study where it appeared that no-one had seemed to miss them as the discussion was still in full swing and appeared to be spiralling out of control know with both side claiming that the other has deeply offended them. Eventually things came to an end neither side willing to give in but had ran out of things to accuse the other of and so the meeting ended in a rather huffy tone.

The girls all gathered in Mia room where they were briefed on what had happened that day.

"What are we going to do" Gem demanded, obviously still a little touchy from the argument with the knights.

"Nothing at the minute, lets see what tomorrow brings, we may have a little more information then to work on." Mia informed the others "Lets get some rest now I have a feeling tomorrows going to be a long day."