Temple Knight

2. Arrival-2

“The outpost came with little in the way of furnishings,” explained Aurelia, “and we"ve had to rely on donations.”

“Yes,” agreed Cordelia, “and donations, in this case, means rickety old chairs that people couldn’t wait to get rid of.”

“Oh, no,” said Charlaine.

“It wasn’t so bad,” noted Erika, “some of them were quite serviceable.”

“And Aurelia has been slowly replacing them with new ones,” added Cordelia. “Now, let’s go and find the others, shall we?”

She led the way through to the chapel, where the room was awash with colours as the sun shone through the ornate stained-glass windows. Inside, two sisters, one with a tangled mass of red hair and the other similarly coloured, but wearing an eyepatch over her left eye, were busy sweeping the floor.

“These are Sisters Rowan and Miranda,” said Cordelia.

Charlaine nodded her head in greeting, but before she could properly meet them, she was led back outside.

“Helena and Bianca will likely be in the stables,” continued her tour guide. They walked across the open courtyard, to where the smell of horses greeted them. Inside the stables, a sister worked, shovelling dung.

“This is Sister Teresa,” said Cordelia. The woman looked up, her blue eyes in stark contrast to her long, ebony hair.

“Where are Bianca and Helena?” asked Cordelia.

“They’re on kitchen duty,” replied Teresa.

“Is that our new member?” asked a voice. The youthful woman stepped from the stall, a brush still in her palm. She transferred it to her left, then wiped her hand on her cassock, before extending it. “I"m Sister Danica,” she said, “I took care of your horse if you remember. She’s been rubbed down, watered, and we’ll soon get some food into her.”

“Thank you,” said Charlaine. She looked at the girl in surprise. “You look young for a Temple Knight?”

“I’m seventeen,” said Danica, defensively, “old enough to serve.”

“I meant no insult, you just surprised me.”

“She is our youngest member,” offered Cordelia.

“I find it strange that the complement here is so young,” said Charlaine. “Are there no older sisters?”

“Normally, there would be,” said Cordelia, “but no one with influence wants to be posted here, so we only get the greenest recruits. Still, it’s not all bad. The area is pretty peaceful, barring the odd sea raider.”

“Sea raider?”

“Yes,” said Cordelia, “we’re on the coast of the Shimmering Sea. Have you not seen it?”

“No, I’m afraid I’ve had little free time since I’ve arrived in the area.”

“Well, we’ll have to see if we can get you down to it tomorrow.”

“Is it very far? I’ve never seen the sea.”

“It’s close enough to walk to,” offered Danica, “but we usually take our horses.”

“Why is that?” asked Charlaine.

“We’re required to keep up on our riding,” explained Cordelia. “It"s the captain"s idea.”

“Anything else I should know about?”

Her guide laughed. “Lots, but let’s not overwhelm you.”

“You mentioned a smithy,” said Charlaine, “could I take a peek?”

“Certainly, but it’s not much to look at. It’s up this way, north of the stables.”

They exited the building and made their way around its perimeter until a small workshop came into view.

“It doesn’t even have proper walls,” noted Cordelia, “only a roof held up by four posts.”

“Likely to fend off the sun,” explained Charlaine. She knelt, looking at the forge. “Seems in decent enough shape, though it could use a good cleaning.” She stared at the pile of charcoal that had, over the years, become nothing but a mass of dirt and ash. “That’ll take some scrubbing,” she announced, then turned her attention to the rest of the work area. “There are hooks here for tools, but I don’t see any. Did you say this used to be a Cunar outpost?”

“I did.”

“Then they likely took their tools with them. I wonder if I could get some new ones in the city?”

“Couldn’t you just make them?” asked Cordelia.

“What would I make them with? I can’t produce them from thin air. I’d also need an anvil… no, this would be far too much work, and that part of my life is over.” She cast her eyes around what was left. “I’m a Temple Knight now, it’s time for me to move on from this.” She turned to her host. “Who’s the local smith?”

“We work with a blacksmith in Rizela, not that he sees much business from us.”

“And he comes out here when needed?”

“Saints, no,” said Cordelia. “We have to go to him. He has a full workshop in the artisans" district.”

“Is he good?”

“He’s not bad, once you get past the surliness.”

“Not exactly a ringing endorsement.”

“Thankfully, we don’t have need of him very often. He maintains our armour, what we have of it.”

“You don’t have full armour?”

“Recruits like you have to leave their training armour behind once they finish. As your first assignment, we’re supposed to equip you.”

“But?”

“But the smith is slow, and many of our order are still waiting.”

“Is there nothing we can do about that?” asked Charlaine.

“We’ve tried, but the captain doesn’t want to ruffle any feathers. I’m afraid it’s hurry up and wait.”

“This smith, is he not being paid?”

“He is,” said Cordelia, “but it’s complicated. The Church pays him a stipend to produce whatever we need.”

“I’m assuming he gets paid whether the work is done or not?”

“Yes, how did you know?”

“Back in Malburg, the guild tried to stop that type of contract, it leads to idleness and ruins the reputation of honest smiths. I’d love to meet this smith of yours.”

Cordelia laughed. “He’s your smith now, too,” she said, “or did you forget you’re one of us now?”

Charlaine looked down at her cassock. “I could hardly forget that with this wardrobe.” Unexpectedly, her stomach growled. “Sorry, I’ve been on the road since sunup, and I’ve had little to eat.”

“Well, that,” said Cordelia, “is something I can easily take care of. Come with me, and we’ll find you some food.”