Temple Captain

2. The Antonine

Summer 1097 SR

Located in the heart of Reichendorf, the Antonine was a city unto itself, surrounded by fortified stone walls the colour of dull steel. A single massive gate was guarded by Temple Knights of Saint Cunar, resplendent in their grey-and-white tabards overtop their gleaming plate armour.

Unlike the guards of Reichendorf, these sentinels took great interest in the approach of the two sister knights as they halted before the gate, waiting as one of the Cunars drew closer.

"Your names?" he demanded.

"I am Sister Charlaine deShandria, and this is Sister Danica Meer. We"ve been ordered here by our superiors."

"Have you any proof of this?"

"I do, in the form of written orders. Would you like to see them?"

He nodded, waiting as she fished through her satchel and then handed the document to him. The guard scanned the contents before eyeing them suspiciously.

"It says here you were summoned by the Primus himself."

"That is correct," said Charlaine. "We"ve recently come from Ilea, where we fought alongside the Holy Fleet."

"The fleet put out to sea?"

"It did, and won a great victory over the Halvarians."

"Praise to the Saints," replied the guard. He turned to his companion, who stood nearer to the closed gate. "All right, you can let them in."

"Tell me," said Charlaine, "is the gate always closed?"

"It is now and has been for the last three weeks. We"ve had some trouble with the locals, you see. Nothing we can"t handle, but there"s a desire to avoid further bloodshed, hence the precautions."

The gate began opening, the chains clanking as the winch turned.

"You"ve come a long way," the guard added. "I expect you"re eager to make your commandery."

"Indeed."

He turned to face the gate. "Once the doors open, you"re going to ride straight through and take the first road on your right. That"ll take you past the Mathewite commandery and through the gardens. Once you see the fountain, you"ll need to turn left. Your commandery is just a few hundred paces beyond."

"Thank you," said Charlaine.

The squealing chains halted. "You can ride through now. May the Saints watch over you."

"And you."

They urged their horses forward through the gatehouse. The doors protested once more as the great mechanism closed behind them. Danica waited until they were well out of earshot before speaking.

"Did he say what I thought he said?" she asked.

"You mean about the bloodshed? I"m afraid so."

"What in the name of the Saints could explain that?"

"I don"t know," said Charlaine, "but the farther into the Antonine we go, the more uncomfortable I"m becoming."

They rode past a group of Cunars practicing their melee skills, then turned to the right. The commandery of the Temple Knights of Saint Mathew watched over them as they continued on their path.

"Quite the building," noted Danica. "I wonder if our own is as ornate?"

"It won"t be long before your question is answered."

"Strange, isn"t it?"

"What is?"

"You"d think the Order of Saint Mathew would have a less decorative exterior. They take a vow of poverty, don"t they?"

"You know they do," said Charlaine, "but that"s an individual vow, not the order as a whole. You"re right, though. It is a little unexpected."

The fresh scent of flowers drifted towards them, eliciting a smile of appreciation.

"That must be the gardens," noted Charlaine.

"They"re beautiful."

"Yes, and well looked after. Someone has gone to great trouble to maintain them."

"They"re immense," said Danica. "I wonder how far back they go?"

"We can find out later. I don"t know about you, but I"m sore from being in the saddle."

"Me too, and hungry as well. I hope we haven"t missed mealtime."

The road formed a circle around a fountain in the middle of their route.

"This must be our turn," said Charlaine. Off to the left they went, past a large green field where a number of sister knights trotted back and forth.

"Looks like riding practice," said Danica. "Some things never change."

"I must admit, it seems strange to see such training on an individual level. Captain Giselle always had us practice in groups."

"Not everyone is as dedicated as her."

"No, I guess not," said Charlaine. "I only hope our next assignment gives us someone who knows her business."

"I"m sure it will," said Danica. "They wouldn"t bring us all the way here just to send us back to the middle of nowhere, would they? I was hoping to go to one of the big cities in the north."

"That"s where you"re from, isn"t it?"

"More or less. I"m actually from Andover, but there are lots of other Petty Kingdoms that border the Great Northern Sea. What about you? Have any preferences over where you"d like to go?"

Charlaine smiled. "I"m content to serve wherever needed. If that happens to be in the north, then so be it."

"Maybe the Primus would be open to suggestions?"

"He"s not the one who determines our assignments. That"s the duty of the Grand Mistress."

"I suppose that means we need to get on her good side."

"Why? Were you thinking of arguing with her?"

"No, of course not," said Danica. She was about to say more, when she noticed her companion"s look of mischief. "Ha ha. Very funny."

"In all seriousness," continued Charlaine, "our new assignments were probably decided on months ago."

"That makes sense. I only wish I knew what they were. We don"t even know if we"re going to the same place. What if they break us up?"

"Then we"ll deal with it. You and I will always be great friends, Danica, regardless of any distance that may separate us." She could sense her comrade"s mood darkening. "In any event, you"re likely worrying over nothing. We made a great team at Alantra. Surely the Church wouldn"t want to break that up?"

The raven-haired knight forced a smile. "No, I suppose not."

"Oh look," said Charlaine. "There"s the commandery."

Before them stood an immense structure, with huge columns lining its front.

"Saint"s alive," said Danica. "I never expected it to be so enormous."

"They say there are five entire companies stationed here." Charlaine pointed to their right. "Look over there. You can see the entrance to the stables."

"We should probably head in that direction, don"t you think?"

"I suppose we should," agreed Charlaine.

They trotted off the road and across the grass. Other riders took note of their presence but made no move to intercept or welcome them. Soon, they entered the massive stables, a large room occupying fully a third of the commandery.

An older sister noted their entrance and walked over to them. "New arrivals?"

"Yes," said Charlaine. "We"ve just come in from Ilea."

"Stable your mounts in the back two stalls on the left. You can visit them as often as you like during your stay, but my people will be responsible for looking after their care and feeding. Any questions?"

"I do have one," said Charlaine. "Who should we report to?"

"That would be the watch commander. Once you see to your horses, there"s a door nearby leading into the commandery. Just beyond that is the duty office. You"ll find her there."

Charlaine was about to thank her, but the woman turned unexpectedly, yelling at one of her stable hands.

"Looks like it"s this way," said Danica.

Finding the stalls was easy enough, and then a stable hand came to take over the job of brushing down and feeding the horses, freeing up the two Temple Knights.

The watch commander proved to be a sour-faced individual, who appeared to be put out by having to deal with two new arrivals. All attempts to engage her in conversation failed, but at least she did her duty and assigned Charlaine and Danica rooms on the upper floor. Then came the time-consuming process of actually finding them.

"This place is an absolute maze," complained Danica.

"Oh, come now. It"s no worse than the Temple of Saint Agnes in Rizela. That place had a terrible layout."

They rounded a corner, almost colliding with another sister knight.

"I"m sorry," said Danica. "I didn"t see you there."

"The fault was entirely mine," replied the sister. "I"m afraid I wasn"t watching where I was going. I"m Sister Selena. You?"

"I"m Danica, and this is Charlaine. We just arrived from Ilea."

"Ilea? Why does that sound familiar? Wasn"t there a big sea battle down there recently?"

"Yes," said Charlaine, "the Battle of Alantra. We were there."

"You must tell me about it sometime. Are you here for long?"

"I"m not sure. We were summoned by the Primus. Other than that, we know very little."

"Well, if he summoned you, you"ll be here awhile yet. Nothing ever moves quickly in the Antonine."

"Are you stationed here?" asked Danica.

"No, they sent me here for training. I was told I"m in line for a captaincy, and you know what that means."

"Leadership classes," said Charlaine. "Have they started yet?"

"Not for another few days, I"m afraid. They"re waiting on the arrival of some others. Still, it gives me time to enjoy the inner city."

"Inner city?" asked Danica.

"Yes. That"s what they call the Antonine."

"I suppose it makes sense. It is inside Reichendorf."

"I should let you get to your rooms. I"ll see you around?"

"By all means," said Charlaine.

Sister Selena continued down the hallway, leaving them alone.

"There"s my room"—Danica pointed—"and yours is across the hall." She stepped forward, opening the door to reveal a single room with a bed, table, and a small basin. "This reminds me of the cells back in Rizela. Do you remember?"

"Of course, how could I not? It"s definitely a far cry from our shared accommodation back at the outpost."

"What shall we do now?"

"I don"t know about you, but I"d love a good wash."

"Excellent idea." Danica disappeared into her room but left the door open. Her voice soon drifted out to the hall. "I have a pitcher of water, you?"

"The same. Give me a hand to get out of this armour, then I"ll return the favour."

They stepped into the dining hall to be met by dozens of voices echoing off the walls. It was a two-storey affair, with high windows that let in a reasonable amount of light. Along the front stood a long table with iron pots full of stew and plates with bread and cheese. A trio of sister knights stood by to lend whatever assistance was necessary but simply ended up looking bored. Charlaine and Danica picked up some platters and made their way down the line.

"This stew smells delicious," said Danica, helping herself to a wooden bowl into which she ladled some food, then laughed as her stomach gurgled.

"You must be hungry," said Charlaine.

"What can I say? This certainly beats Sister Helena"s porridge." She fell silent, a tear rolling down her cheek.

"She died doing what she loved," Charlaine reminded her.

Danica nodded, unable to speak as she wiped her eyes, then set down the bowl. "I know. It"s just hard to believe she"s no longer with us. It"s the same with the others. I keep thinking they"re going to walk through a door someday, and we"ll all laugh about things."

Charlaine placed her hand on her comrade"s shoulder. "I know, but we must cherish the happy memories we have, not dwell on the sadness." She stared into Danica"s eyes, seeing them settle once more into determination.

"You"re right, of course. Look at me, blubbering away like a complete idiot."

"It"s not idiocy to mourn family. They will always be here with us, in our hearts. Now, pick up your food, and let"s get a seat before everything gets cold, shall we?"

Just as Charlaine dipped her spoon into the stew, a shadow fell across her bowl. Looking up, a middle-aged woman stood, staring down at her."

"Are you Sister Charlaine?" the newcomer asked.

"I am," she replied. "And you?"

"Temple Captain Nicola. I was sent to fetch you."

"Now?"

The captain grinned. "Unless you"d like to explain to the Grand Mistress why she had to wait?"

Charlaine cast a quick glance at her bowl. "No, of course not." She pushed it towards Danica. "Here, you have it." She stood, straightening her cassock. "Lead on, Captain."

The Grand Mistress was housed on the top floor, her windows to the west, as was the tradition. It was said that this was to face the Holy City of Herani, but here in the middle of the Continent, that was more to the south than west. Still, tradition was tradition.

Outside her office stood two sisters of the order, their armour gleaming, their tabards clean and crisp. Charlaine wondered if they had ever seen battle, then chided herself for her churlish thoughts. Members of the order were sisters, regardless of whether or not they had fought in service to their Saint.

Captain Nicola knocked on the door, then opened it slightly, peering within. "Sister Charlaine is here, Your Grace."

"Bring her in," came the reply.

With a wave of her hand, the captain bid Charlaine to enter before taking up a position by the door, closing it behind her but remaining to witness the exchange.

"Sister Charlaine," began the Grand Mistress. "So good of you to come."

Charlaine was unsure of how to respond. After all, it wasn"t as if she could refuse the summons.

"You wished to see me, Your Grace?"

"I"ve read several accounts of your experiences down in Ilea, and I"m impressed. Captain Giselle talks highly of you, as does Holy Mother Claudia. There"s even a letter here from Father General Marius singing your praises. I must admit this is the first time I"ve received correspondence from an admiral."

"I only did what was necessary," said Charlaine.

"You did much more than that. In the short time you were in Ilea, you demonstrated great leadership. It only seems fitting I make you a Temple Captain."

"Temple Captain? Are you sure? I"ve only had the one assignment so far."

"You earned it," said the Grand Mistress. "We need more sisters like you, Charlaine. You and your kind are the future of our order."

"I am humbled."

"As well you should be, considering your vows. The official ceremony won"t be until the end of the week, but from this moment hence, you will carry out the duties and responsibilities of your new rank. Have you any questions?"

"Might I ask if Sister Danica will be given a similar reward for her service?"

The Grand Mistress"s eyes flicked to Captain Nicola for the briefest moment before returning to Charlaine. "It"s admirable you should show such concern for a fellow sister. There is no position of captain available to her at this time. However, there"s another option I"ve been considering. Tell me, would you consent to have her under your command?"

"Of course," said Charlaine. "I would be honoured."

"Good, then it"s settled." The Grand Mistress dipped her quill and began writing. Charlaine waited for an explanation, but none was forthcoming. The silence dragged on, and then the Grand Mistress passed the note to Captain Nicola. Her gaze returned once more to her newest captain.

"I shall be sending you north… eventually, but in the meantime, you must complete your training as a captain. There"s a leadership course beginning shortly. Both you and Sister Danica are to attend."

"Yes, Your Grace."

"I"ll have more news for you concerning your next assignment at the conclusion of your training. Now, you"ve taken up too much of my time already. You"d best be on your way."

Charlaine bowed. "Of course, Your Grace."

She turned, leaving the room with a feeling of euphoria.

Captain Nicola entered the hallway after her, closing the door quietly. "Congratulations, Captain."

Charlaine grinned. "I don"t know what to say."

"The usual response is "thank you", but failing that, a simple handshake is sufficient." Nicola held out her hand.

Charlaine shook it. "Thank you. I certainly didn"t expect this. After all, I"ve only been a knight for a couple of years."

"I have a feeling this won"t be the last we see of you. Keep up the good work, and may the blessings of Saint Agnes go with you."

"And with you."

Charlaine returned to the dining hall, where Danica was finishing up her meal.

"How did it go?" asked the raven-haired knight.

"She promoted me to captain."

"Congratulations! Any word on a new assignment?"

"Some vague mention of the north, but other than that, no. Oh, and you"re going with me."

Danica smiled. "That"s excellent news indeed. If we had some decent wine, I"d suggest we toast it."

"Wait. There"s one other thing."

"Yes? Go on, I"m listening."

"You and I are both to take those leadership classes."

Danica frowned.

"Something wrong?" asked Charlaine

"I"m not so good in a learning environment."

"Don"t be absurd. You learned a lot just by being in Ilea."

"That was different. There, I was amongst fellow sisters. I don"t have difficulty learning day to day, but put me under the tutelage of a teacher, and I"m lost."

"How would you even know that? Ever been tutored before?"

"No, I"m merely a simple country girl, raised by the sea."

"So what you"re saying is you"re intimidated by the thought of being told what to do?"

"I suppose so."

"That," said Charlaine, "is just plain silly. You spent all your time down south following orders. If that isn"t the very definition of being told what to do, I don"t know what is."

"You"re right. Sorry, I just feel so out of place here."

"So do I, Danica, so do I."