The Safe-house

Mika ran as fast as she could. Not upwards towards the old Convent and her new friend, but down to the harbor-district and the pre-assigned safe house. The sprint to the safe house took even less time than Mika hoped; even with having to dodge through the hustle and hubbub of the crowded streets. Luckily for her, several times in the short trip she was aided by city guardsmen who roughly cleared pedestrians from her path and greatly speeded her travel time.

The decision to disguise her as a Herald was a brilliant stroke of planning on the part of the Chevalier Masters. The sight of a Church messenger running through the city was hardly unusual, furthermore the city guardsmen were trained to do everything in their power to facilitate the progress of these messengers.

With the help of these guardsmen, Mika reached her destination in fewer than five minutes. Once she was well away from the Holy Cathedral she paused in a alleyway long enough to change her robes back to those of a humble initiate. After a few more blocks through some of the rougher part of Telnon, she arrived at a brightly painted house with gilded windows and intricate statuary carved into the walls. Two huge men wearing exotic silk pants and black leather boots guarded the double doors with ebony-shafted pole arms that gleamed in the sunlight.

Mika tried to look confident as she climbed the broad steps to the main door flanked by the two bare-chested giants. As she approached one of the enormous doors opened and a pretty blonde woman only a few years older than Mika invited her into the vaulted vestibule with somber courtesy.

“I have a message for Sarah from her Aunt Beatrice.” Mika repeated the memorized words carefully wondering if the coded message would mean anything to the lovely young woman who had met her at the door.

“I'll have to check with Madam, to see if it is allowed.” Replied the elegant blonde, "Would you care to wait in the privacy of the gardens?" Without even waiting for an answer, she led Mika into a sunlit garden. Mika was left alone among the beautiful flower beds and fruit-laden citrus trees. From this side of the high garden wall none of the squalid smells or harsh sounds of the street marred the tranquility of the surroundings. The grass under feet was soft and cool and laughter drifted from the open upper windows of the house, it was like stepping into a fairy-tale.

In fewer than three minutes, a grey-haired lady in a stunning blue and green wrap approached her from the paved terrace adjacent to the three story building. To Mika's relief as she approached Mika saw the distinctive taper-lizard pin on her lapel that identified her as a friend of the Chevaliers.

“Welcome to the Hook Line and Sinker, Sister.” The woman smiled gently “I had hoped that you wouldn't need my services, but be assured, you are welcome.” Mika was unsure how much this woman knew about her mission, but she listened politely as the woman continued.

“My name is Wanda Breaudine, and I'll be your hostess for the next few days at least, perhaps longer. Yes dear?” Wanda asked as she saw Mika had something she wanted.

“Thank you Lady Breaudine,” Mika spoke in hurried but hushed tones “I'll tell you everything I can when we are safe, but I need to send word to the convent as quickly as possible.” She was breaking several rules of secrecy, but she needed to warn Adam and Winlay that she had failed. “Do you know anyone in the convent that we can trust?”

“I think so, my child. Come inside and I'll send a runner with a message.” She paused looking over Mika before she nodded her head in a decisive bob of her head. “Wait here for just a second, and try not to fret, we'll take care of whatever needs to be done.”

Mika nodded obediently and stood quietly as her mysterious hostess slipped through one of the many doors leading to the house and returned almost immediately with a luxurious robe of embroidered silk.

“I have to change you out of these initiate's robes, Sister.” The woman said not unkindly, “These Church Greys would certainly attract attention in an establishment like mine.” Mika understand almost nothing of what was happening, but the lady seemed so assured and relaxed that she let her slide the robes over her head, remove the binding cloths from her breasts and quickly cover her nearly naked body with a beautifully embroidered red and gold robe. “That's much better, my dear. You'll blend in perfectly.”