The prison

Winlay noticed a small building not far from where the girls had landed. At first she thought it was a small storage shed, but it was positioned so that it would be hidden from the eyes of the initiates by the Templar building.

Mika had sat down, panting heavily. "That is the prison. They keep captured heretics and criminals there and **** them for information. The "Jesus Freaks" those two had talked about could be in there still. But in what condition is another matter entirely."

Winlay turned to her friend, seeing a grim look on the normally jovial girl's face.

"How do you know all of this Mika? And where did you learn to do... That?!" Winlay was waving her hand up at the building, still unsure just what had happened leading up to them being on the ground away from their would be rapists.

Mika shook her had as she got to her feet. "It isn't safe here, but I promise I will explain everything later."

Mika brushed some dirt from her exposed thigh before walking over and taking Winlay into a soft embrace. "I'm sorry I got you dragged into this. Thank you for trusting me. I promise I'll get you out of this safely somehow. Just trust me a little longer."

Winlay nodded silently, tears coming to her eyes. But just as she thought Mika was going to end their embrace, her friend brought her face closer to Winlay.

"M-Mika what are you doing?"

Instead of answering, Mika shoved her mouth forward and gave Winlay a gentle, yet forceful kiss. Winlay was caught offgaurd and at first just stood there in shock before starting to squirm away from her friend. She stumbled out of her friend's arms and landed with a soft thud on the ground. When she looked up, Mika was smiling at her, her usual joyful composure seeming to have returned.

"Sorry, I just couldn't let the moment pass."

"What did you do that for? Mika are you... you know?"

Her friend laughed and held out a hand to help Winlay up. "Another thing I'll need to explain I guess. First we need to get out of here."

Winlay took the hand just as someone stepped out of some nearby bushes.

"Yes you do need to get out of here. That was a pretty daring escape ladies, but I don't think those two will give up. Now it will be a matter of pride to them."

Winlay and Mika turned in suprise to see a Templar standing only a few feet away, holding a bundle of cloth under one arm. Winlay realized she had seen this man earlier. It was the man named Adam, but now he was alone, his two companions nowhere in sight. Mika sighed in relief.

"About time you showed up. I don't think this is going to work now. Those two will be too much trouble."

Adam nodded "I agree. For now, go back to your dormitory. You two will need to get out of Telnon so I'll come to collect you tonight. I know a ship you can use to get out of here. We'll be meeting a contact of mine, a man named Glenn Anglar."

Mika nodded. "Thanks Adam. I'm sorry I couldn't pull this off."

Adam tossed her the bundle he had been carrying. It was the robe that Mika had thrown off the roof. "Don't worry. A Chevalier's duty is to protect the innocent. You have done well Mika. Not what we had hoped, but what was right. You will not be faulted for that.

Winlay was listing to all of this, but she had no idea what was going on. "Can someone please explain to me what you two are talking about? What's going on and what's a Chevalier?"

Mika looked at Adam before lowing her gaze. "Well... The truth is..."