12.23.2132 - Interview in Church

[Dray]

"A long time eh? Sorry to hear that. Could be worse though, you could have an annoying rich mother who is one of those affluent people," he said with a roll of his eyes. "My father is so much better a person, down to earth and a little less holier than thou[/i]."

Although the words rung true to what Temmit would normally want to hear from a future recruit, something about his whole story was off, and he couldn't put his finger on it.

"There any groups of kids in the orphanage that like to get together and get into mischief?" he then asked.

[Johan]

Alarms rang in Temmit’s mind at that question. Smokey’s too. “Tell him nothing.” Smokey whispered. Temmit had begun to feel that Marcus was nothing more than blindly lucky, but that question made him revisit his theory that he was trying to find gifted kids for the government.

Temmit laughed at the question though. "Mischief?" He asked. "No, not really. For the most part, we’re all trying to stay out of trouble. Master Shanteel can be very stern with those of us who get into mischief.”

“You might consider letting him follow this trail for a while.” Smokey suggested. “You can learn a lot from the questions that people ask.” Temmit realized that Smokey was quite correct about that. He wondered what other sorts of things that Marcus might want to know.

[Dray]

"Ah." he said off-hand. "Never met Shanteel."

"Can be a real tyrant eh?"

He then added. "I would think a lot of kids would want to band together and terrorize someone like that."

Pausing again for a moment in consideration he then said, "After all, what could a government employee of the orphanage do if an office was ransacked. Punish every last child in the orphanage?"

Marcus smiled at him, his eyebrow raised in question.

'He's talking very carefully.'Smokey examined.

[Johan]

Temmit put on his 'I'm considering that thought' face and smiled a bit. "I suppose the idea has merit." He said slyly, hoping that his face conveyed his openness to the thought.

"What are you doing?" Smokey asked.

"Trying to see if he's just fishing, or whether he has a gang of his own."

"But no, we don't do that. Is that how things are handled in Southaven?"

[Dray]

"Pfft, in Southaven folks don't put-up with too much government interference. Even the mighty Outer-Rim Defense knows when to look the other way when some political-type has overstepped his bounds and needs a beating," the volume of Marcus' voice lowered as he spoke, and he looked at the doors as if they may have burst open at any time.

He continued in more of a tone just above a whisper, and stepped a bit closer to Temmit so he could hear him over the fountain.

"My mother says there are resistance groups developing in various places about the kingdom," Marcus smile evaporated and his stare became a challenge. “She says it is has always been an annoyance to the Church, which only seeks to protect mankind’s final sovereignty.”

Marcus took another step closer to Temmit, and his gaze was unwavering.

’He’s watching your reaction,’ Smokey warned.

"And I just thought that perhaps the most sensible place one could develop such a resistance in the very capital would be in its orphanage. After all, with its walls teaming with children whose parents were victims of the war, one would think it would be brimming with the disillusioned.”

The statement walked a fine-line between casual conversation and investigation of conspiracy, and it didn’t convey what side he would be on. In the tenth of a tick between his last word and Temmit’s controlled reaction, Temmit did realize one thing.

This was no ordinary 13-year old.

[Johan]

Temmit blinked in uncomprehension. "Resistance?" He asked, matching Marcus's tones. "All over the Kingdom? Resisting what?"

[Dray]

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.

[Dray]

Pic of Fresenius.

[Johan]

Temmit turned and faced Fresenius in proper fashion, as Shanteel had routinely described and demanded.

"Temmit Janalinus, Age 15, Scribe's House Your Grace." He then bowed low, observing to the best of his ability the social proprieties that Shanteel demanded from all students.

[Dray]

Fresenius seemed to accept the etiquette well. He then nodded at Marcus and then turned back to Temmit.

“What business do you have at the Church of Kaine today boy?” he asked firmly.

[Johan]

"I recieved an order to report here on this day, My Grace." Temmit responded quickly. "Based upon your exchange with your Acolyte, I would suggest that Miss Keepsake is in need of assistance in one of her Scribe classes." He blanked his face for a quick moment. "I can think of no other reason to have been summoned, My Grace."

"If I had fingers, they'd be crossed right now."

[Dray]

For a moment no one moved as they all waited for Fresenius to respond. River, stood poised like a stone with his arms crossed and his head slightly bowed. The intimidating Judge behind him stood at attention and didn’t appear to be looking at anyone.

Fresenius expression didn’t change, but Temmit easily sensed the priest thought him beneath his concern.

“My daughter should be tending to her religious study on Restday, the academic work of the school will have to wait,” he explained to Temmit.

“Acolyte,” Fresenius said over his shoulder and River raised his head in attention. “Escort Janalinus to the entrance and see him on his way. Then retrieve Emmanuelle and escort her to my office.”

“Yes, my Grace,” River replied without question.

“Good day Temmit Janalinus,” he stated, dismissing him.

[Johan]

"To you as well, My Grace." Temmit bowed deeply again, in proper respect. He then turned to River expectantly.

"You lucky son of a bitch. Very smooth. I've taught you well." Smokey faked sobs of affection and pride.

[Dray]

River lead Temmit to the beautiful pine doors and they exited the room. After the doors closed behind them, they quickly hurried their steps down the corridor. A few paces away, they both sighed in relief, as they reached the stairwell that lead down to Emma’s apartment.

River whispered “I can retrieve Emma and escort you to the door at the same time, Renee should probably retreat as well. Sound like a plan?” he asked Temmit.

[Johan]

"As you wish, sir." Temmit said formally. He then leaned in and whispered, "I wouldn't be too surprised to find that these walls have ears." He stared into River's eyes meaningfully.