Rules and the interview schedule

The sister moved to the front of the room as the rest of the white clad sisters and brothers filed from the hall. In all there may have been as many as two hundred initiates left standing by the time everyone else had left the room.

"My name is Sister Bernadette. For those of you who do not know me, I am the Provost of the convent. It is my responsibility to see that the rules, regulations and traditions of this convent are upheld." Despite her diminutive size, maybe just over one and a half meters in height and not even forty kilos Winlay had no doubt that Sister Bernadette was truly capable of maintaining order in the convent. Her voice filled the great dining hall and none of the other initiates were talking while she spoke.

"Some of you still believe that the rules of the convent are suggestions." She paused and her eyes swept over the assembled initiates before continuing. "Some of you feel that you are entitled to act as you see fit." Several heads turned to Brother Jerome, but if either he or Sister Bernadette noticed they chose to ignore the looks.

"Earlier this afternoon it was reported that an initiate was spotted climbing into the convent carrying a burlap sack." Winlay immediately shot Mika a look trying to gage her response. Mika looked as innocent as a saint, but Winlay still remembered her casual look as she assured her after the midday meal that she never got caught. “Let me remind all of you that leaving the convent grounds without permission is a serious offense, and smuggling in contraband **** and **** will have very grave consequences when the initiate is caught.” The small sister’s fierce eyes swept the assembled initiates and then she dismissed all but the latest group of initiates.

Most of the initiates in the great hall finished eating and headed to the door, some more eager than others to escape Sister Bernadette's gaze. After the last of the senior initiates had filed from the room, Winlay looked around at the same group that had assembled earlier in the Holy Palace. Sister Bernadette's thin lips twisted in what may have been a smile before she continued.

“I hope you all had a pleasant afternoon,” Sister Bernadette said in a slightly softened tone. “The Holy Palace has sent a schedule for you to report to your interviews with High Priest Beldan.” Sister Bernadette held a scroll high over her head. "The schedule will be posted outside the dining hall doors; be sure to check when your appointment is and be ready to impress his Holiness with your devotion to the holy Church of Xelta.”

All around Winlay new initiates were speculating about possible assignments but Sister Bernadette’s sharp voice cut through the muted murmurings. “This may be the only chance that any of you will have to speak to the High Priest for a long time. Do not underestimate the honor that his Holiness is bestowing upon each of you.” No sooner did Sister Bernadette finish speaking then she presented the assembly with the ‘X’ of Xelta and she moved swiftly to the great wooden doors reaching them long before the initiates could get there.

Winlay wasn't as exited to see when she would be meeting with the High Priest as she thought. She found she had no desire to push her way through the mob of initiates all crowding to get through the doors to where the interview schedule was to be posted. Winlay placed her hand on Mika’s forearm noting as she did the strength of her arm under the smooth skin. Winlay too had strong arms from her daily chores on her parent's farm, but despite the slenderness of Mika’s wrists Winlay got the sense that her friend had strength in her arms that far surpassed her own.

“Wait here Mika, our interview times won’t be changed by our pushing through that mob.” Mika smiled at Winlay and impulsively threw her arms around Winlay and gave her a sudden hug.

“I am so glad I met you Winlay!” Mika whispered into her ear “I hope that we will both be assigned to tasks here in Telnon so we can still room together.” Winlay returned Mika’s embrace with a hug of her own and whispered back.

“Me too.” The two young women sat side by side under the huge bay windows watching ships leaving the harbor on the turning tide. Small round fishing boats, long sleek ships with two or three masts and triangular sails, heavy merchantmen with large square sails were all moving out to sea. Larger than all the rest, one of the empire’s massive galleons also was taking advantage of the evening tide as it eased its way from the harbor. The galleon’s decks were lined with shiny brass cannon and Winlay could see a second row of heavy guns through the open gates on the side of the huge behemoth.

It took nearly thirty minutes for the heavy warship to navigate through the harbor mouth. The smaller ships glided gracefully past the warship and were well out to sea by the time the ocean wind filled the galleon’s sails and lifted the Green Dragon pendant on its mainmast proudly for all to see.

“Are you ready to see when we meet with the High Priest?” Mika asked at last and Winlay smiled at her nervously.

“That’s what we are here for isn’t it?” Winlay meant the words to be rhetorical but as soon as she asked the question she wondered if her purpose in the Church really had anything to do with meeting with the High Priest. Perhaps her conversation with Sister Margaret bothered Winlay more than she wanted to admit.

The outer hall was no longer filled with initiates and the girls were able to walk directly to the posted lists.

"There you are Winlay" Mika pointed at the next day's schedule, "The last of the morning schedule."

"And you're here, the day after in the afternoon." Winlay repaid the favor showing Mika her time slot on the next sheet. The two girls looked over the schedule for the next minute or two, Winlay noticed that Jerome was scheduled for the morning of the first day as well, 'I guess he is too important to keep waiting' the cynical thought crossed her mind before she could stop herself.

"I don't know about you Mika, but I've had enough excitement for one day. I'm going to spend the rest of the evening in our room." Winlay felt oddly relieved when Mika smiled and nodded in agreement.