Finding a Healer at the Cathedral - 2B (Mirrored)

Chapter 2 – Putting the Team Together (continued)

Kaylen hadn’t been in the Cathedral very often in his youth. And he was just as impressed by it as he entered with Tyrell now. As the largest temple in the city, one could find a shrine to nearly every god or goddess in the heavens there. The two of them made the sign of the heavens before the altar of the crown near the entrance before the guild master led them toward a priest nearby wearing the fanciest robes of anyone in the main chamber.

Tyrell greeted the high priest with the sign of the heavens as they approached, “Your excellence. This is Adept Gallowglass. He is forming a new adventuring party and wants a dedicated healer for his final pick.”

The priest nodded to the three of them in greeting. “It is always good to see you, Master Norrison. We do happen to have two healers in residence who have expressed a desire to join such a team. If you’ll wait here, I will find out if they are available.” Kaylen made the sign of the heavens when the high priest nodded to him, then waited as he departed past rows of little shrines towards the door to the living quarters.

The two of them waited in silence for several minutes before the doors opened once again, and the high priest returned, followed by a single priestess in pale blue robes and a white wimple. She was quite tall, and slender, with a sharp face, and her pale skin and paler wardrobe gave her an almost ghostly appearance.

“This is Sister Alanthea.” The high priest began. “A disciple of Mortanius. Alanthea, this is Guild Master Tyrell Norrison of the Adventurer’s Guild, his associate Marius Dantes, and Adept Kaylen Gallowglass, a mage recruiting for an adventuring party.”

Alanthea bowed to them as a group then straightened. She looked briefly to Master Norrison before turning her vivid blue eyes on Kaylen, appraising him silently.

“Gods smile on you, sister.” Tyrell gave a slight bow then turned to Kaylen.

“Gods smile on you, sister.” Kaylen repeated Tyrel’s greeting, all while trying to get a sense for what this priestess was thinking. Could he trust someone who worshipped the god of ****? He wondered. Not that he necessarily knew a lot about Mortanius or his followers.

The high priest continued with the introduction, oblivious to Kaylen’s musings. “The good sister here is the only priest currently available for the position you wish to fill. All others are either already in parties, no longer in residence, or have withdrawn their interest in such a position.”

Well, Kaylen supposed if the options were so limited, he couldn’t afford to be too choosy. But that didn’t make him any less unsettled by the priestess in front of him, whom Kaylen would have thought an albino if her eyes weren’t a vivid blue, and who was very nearly as tall as he was while likely weighing not much more than half his mass.

“So you’re a skilled healer?” He asked, since the girl wasn’t offering anything to him without prompting.

“Yes.” She replied simply in a surprisingly low tenor voice.

Kaylen schooled the frown from his face, hoping for a bit more information, “Do you use primarily healing magic, medicinal skill, or a fairly even combination of the two?”

She cocked her head to one side, regarding him, “You want a detailed explanation, perhaps a demonstration?” She seemed to be catching on.

“That would be helpful, yes.” Kaylen agreed.

“Do you have any other candidates?” She retorted.

Kaylen blinked, and glanced at Tyrell who shrugged. “That’s not the point.”

“Why waste time interviewing me if you don’t have any other options?”

“I need to at least make certain you will be a good fit for the team.” He responded. “If you would clash with the existing team, it might be better to go without a healer for now. We could potentially fill the position later. We will no doubt be traveling, I’m sure. You may be the only candidate available in this city, or in the Cathedral rather. But that doesn’t mean I might not be able to find someone better suited if you’re not a good fit.”

“Ah.” She seemed surprised, nodding as he spoke then adding. “Very well. I would employ primarily healing and defensive magics to stave off injury and **** for your team in battle. But I am also quite skilled with medicine, anatomy, and surgery which I could utilize to keep you healthy out of battle while preserving my magical energies. I can also fight, having trained with swords for many years. I have a collection of knives and small swords, as well as two sickles and a kopesh. I would require you to outfit me with armor, perhaps mail I could wear beneath my robes similar to what you seem to be wearing. I have no money of my own, and so would be relying on you until we receive some amount of income, at which point I could pay you back if that is your wish. Is that sufficient information for you to make your choice?”

Kaylen heard the guild master chuckle at his reaction while he took a moment to process everything she’d said. “All of that sounds promising. So yes, that should be sufficient. Though, I will say I have some concerns about your abrasiveness.”

She blinked, and did not answer immediately.

“Nothing to say to that?”

“I am sorry you have concerns. I promise I am not intentionally abrasive. I am uncertain what else I could say to reassure you.”

Kaylen sighed, “Well, I suppose time will tell if there will be a clash of personalities. If nothing else, you do seem to be genuine, and perhaps my concerns will be alleviated once you’ve had more time to socialize with us and acclimatize to the new situation. Am I correct in guessing you tend to keep to yourself more often than not?”

She blinked again, and opened her mouth, then paused, before finally continuing, “You have surprised me, but yes. How did you surmise that?”

“I guess I’m good at reading people.” He suggested, though that wasn’t really something he’d considered one of his strong suits, but he almost certainly had more experience at in than this woman did.

He offered a smile and stepped forward to extend his hand to the priestess. “Let me welcome you to my team. I’m looking forward to working with you.”

She glanced at the high priest while he spoke, but then quickly turned back to him to take his offered hand. She matched the intensity of his grip and then answered his smile with one of her own. “Thank you very much, Master Gallowglass.” She said after a moment.

Kaylen was startled, and almost choked, “I’m not a master, just an Adept.” He explained. “You can call me Adept Gallowglass, or just Kaylen is fine as well.”

Something about the way he answered seemed to awaken something in her, for she tilted her head slightly, and her smile widened, “I don’t know, I could get used to calling you Master. Are you sure you don’t prefer that?”

“Don’t torment the man, Sister.” The high priest cut in. “You should respect his wishes in this matter.” Then he turned back to Kaylen and Tyrell, “I must warn you, that Sister Alanthea has shown a certain amount of irreverence during her time with us. She has been reprimanded more than once, I’m not at liberty to share all the details, but I can say that she was once caught researching arcane magic on her own which is against the precepts of our order. However, that experience might serve her well fighting alongside a mage such as yourself.”

“I am trying to get along. I felt a certain amount of banter might be appropriate, and would ease tensions.” Alanthea retorted.

“It is fine. I’m sure she won’t be the only member of my team with a somewhat relaxed attitude. But I really would feel more comfortable with my proper title.” Kaylen said.

“Very well. I will resist the temptation to call you Master too frequently in public.” She acquiesced.

“Don’t make me regret choosing you.” Kaylen added.

“No, I won’t. You won’t regret choosing me, I promise!” She was instantly contrite.

It seemed they’d both found a few of each other’s buttons.

They were silent for a moment, then Alanthea spoke up once more, “So uh, do you wish to leave right away? I have a bag packed and set aside, I can grab it and my blades, and change into travel clothes.”

“Yes, that would be good. I haven’t selected our first mission yet, but I’d like to get on the road as soon as is possible.” Kaylen nodded.

“Well it looks like you don’t need me anymore. I should probably return to my duties.” The high priest told them. “Gods go with you, Tyrell, Kaylen, Marius, Alanthea.” He gave a slight bow to each of them in turn.

“Gods go with you.” The three of them replied in near unison.

A moment after the high priest left, Alanthea told them, “I’ll be right back.” And turned to go to her rooms. A few minutes later she returned wearing sturdier robes in a medium shade of blue and a grey travel cloak. She had a pack over her shoulder, a satchel of metallic objects, probably the knives she’d mentioned, over the other shoulder. In addition, she’d donned a pair of belts around her waist, from which hung three short swords, two sickles, and a kopesh. The ensemble made her look less a waifish priestess, and more a rugged adventurer, albeit a rather clean one, at least for the moment.

“Shall we get you that first mission then?” Master Norrison suggested.

“Yes, that would be good.” Kaylen agreed. “I’m excited to get started.”