A special invitation

"The High Priest is holding a party in celebration of this class of initiates and has selected some of you to represent your class at tonight's gathering." Winlay's eyes met Mika's with a look of apprehension as the diminutive Sister's words sank in. She could not even explain why she was praying fervently that her name would not be called as the sister read through the names.

"Brother Jerome of Lansing," that was no surprise reasoned Winlay as Sister Bernadette continued the list "Sister Rachel of Westmostland, Sister Janice of Twinpeaks, Sister Meryl of Norwich, Brother Harold of Gunther, Sister Yesmine of Claw Isle, Sister Mika of Drewton, Brother Denton of ..." Winlay wasn't even paying attention. Mika was going to attend the High Priest's gathering in the Holy Palace, it should be a great honor, and yet Winlay saw a calculating coldness in her friend's eyes. "...ster Winlay of New Canterbury and Brother Franklin of Quince." Only when Mika's fingers tightened around Winlay's did it occur to her that her name had been among the list.

"Go back to your rooms and wash and change. You will all assemble in twenty minutes time by the main gates, and escort will accompany you to the Holy Palace." Winlay was acutely conscious of the attention she and Mika were receiving from the other initiates seated around them. As the small group gathered together and made their way from the hall Winlay couldn't help but notice that the seven sisters selected were some of the most attractive young women she had ever seen, compared to them she wondered if she had anything to fear from the High Priest even if the rumors were true.

Not all of them, Winlay conceded as she saw everyone assembled; Sister Rachel and Sister Helena were pleasant enough, but in all honesty not well figured and Helena had small eyes that were half hidden by a pair of gold-framed eye glasses. Both she and Sister Rachel knew Jerome and most of his friends and none of them seemed at all surprised or concerned to be chosen to attend on the High Priest. However Sister Yesmine's golden skin and lilting accent had already attracted the attention of most of the men in the group, both Sister Meryl and Sister Janice was as slender and graceful as a fairy-tale angels, and the last young novice in the chosen group had striking red hair, green eyes that sparkled with excitement and even masked by the plain robes of an initiate, a body that was hard to ignore. Winlay knew that both she and Mika were considered desirable young women, but all four of these women were far prettier than her and even, Winlay had to admit in all honesty, more tempting than her curly-haired companion Sister Mika.

Mika was laughing with the other's as they left the hall and Winlay was beginning to question her reservations. After all, even though Mika had shared with Winlay her doubts about the High Priest, she didn't seemed troubled by being selected to attend the party. It was only when she saw Mika collide head-on with a broad-shouldered Templar and fall in a tangled heap at his feet that Winlay knew that her friend was not as relaxed as she pretended. Not once since she had met Mika had she ever seen her so much as stumble, yet because of this she completely lost her footing and lay sprawling at the feet of the gracious armored knight. The Templar was clearly amused by the initiate's embarrassment and knelt down to make sure she was all-right, the two muttered apologies and after an awkward moment the armored warrior helped Mika to her feet. Perhaps humbled by the embarrassing fall, Mika allowed Winlay to lead her back to their room to change.

"Do you think it will be alright?" Winlay asked Mika nervously.

"It will be fine, Winlay." Mika assured her with a quick hug "Just don't let yourself wander away from the crowd." Winlay felt a little better, after all what could happen at a party with all those people were around? If anything it was probably going to be painfully dull.

"I'm going to wash up." She took one step for the door before she noticed Mika sitting down on her bed. "Aren't you coming?"

"I'll be there in just a minute, that way we won't be tripping over each other."