Marcus squinted at Temmit and gave a crooked smile.
Suddenly, there was the commotion of voices behind the double-entry doors and both boys looked away from each other as the doors opened.
An old man in a handsome single-breasted, white silk cassock and cassock vest stepped through them. He was immediately followed by River and an incredibly large guard in a masterful full suit of gold-etched plate mail armor. The guard's massive closed helm with it's metallic horns was very menacing.
"I meant no disrespect High Priest Fresenius," River was stating to the old man's back.
In the few times that Temmit viewed the man at long distance he had not been impressed with the man's charisma. Granted that view was justifiable tainted with the many stories Emma told him of her abused childhood.
Still, up close, the man was intimidating. The trims of his Cassocks at both the breast and the sleeves were lined with embroidered patterns of gold. His Klobuk (priest hat) made him look a foot taller and was also finely made, with its epanokamelavkion (hood) making his narrow shoulders look wider. The entire ensemble spoke to the man's wealth, and therefore his power in the church and the government.
(OOC: To all reading this thread, High Priest Fresenius looks like the priest/villian from the movie "LadyHawke". Very small pic in the next post.)The man behind him was an obvious Judge from the Elite House Guard of Kaine. Temmit had never been so close to one, but other friends in the guild had, none of the encounters a pleasant one.
(OOC: The guards of the House Guard of Kaine look like the ones in the pic below (click to enlarge it), the Judges are similar, but the etching in the armor is gold.)"Understood acolyte," said Fresenius in condescending baritone voice. Temmit noted a feint accent and couldn't place it. The people of the outer-towns all had different ones, but Fresenius didn't match any of them.
(OOG: In an attempt to sound superior to everyone, Fresenius long ago changed his voice and accent to sound different. Think of his accent as being distinctly British. hehe)Fresenius then turned on River and spoke to him more directly. Temmit noted that Fresenius hadn't looked at either Marcus or himself next to the fountain, even though he stood a mere 6 paces away. "But my daughter is not to receive
guests from the school on Restday, is that understood?"
River bowed and said, "Yes, my Grace," even as Fresenius turned back to Temmit and Marcus.
"Well, one of you doesn't belong here," he said to them as he looked back and forth at each of them.
'He doesn't know which one of you is Marcus,' Smokey exclaimed.
'Interesting, quick, introduce yourself as Mar...'"Marcus Faithborn..." said Marcus with a bow and then quickly added almost as an afterthought, "...my Grace."
'Damnit! That would have been fun.