The fact that Thea showed bravado to the Templar guards meant the mage still had some fight in her. Good. She’d need a little spunk to brave what was coming next. Like it or not, she’s just stepped into a lion’s den and the trials were only just beginning. Kaitlyn wished the relationships between the Templars and Mages were better but she knew they weren’t. The mages saw the Templars as jailers instead of peacekeepers as the Nevarran Accordhad tried to establish them to be. The Templars, in turn, saw the mages as loose cannons, powder kegs ready and willing to go off should the need ever arise. Some things never changed.

[b]”Yes,”[/b] Kaitlyn said to the guard who’d just addressed them. [b]”This is Thea…”[/b] she paused trying to remember if the mage had ever given her surname. Kaitlyn couldn’t remember. [b]”…of the Dallish. Please let First Enchanter Corynn known we’ve arrived. We’ll be waiting in the antechamber.”[/b]

Without further ado, Kaitlyn pushed passed them and headed through the open, giant white doors which were tall enough and wide enough to let a dragon fit through comfortably. Looking back briefly she made sure Thea was following close behind her.

[b]”I’d rather not leave you just yet.”[/b] said in response to Thea’s voice concerns.

 Inside millions of tiny balls of mage fire hung suspended in the air like stars, filling the darkness high into the steepled ceiling. Like the outside, the antechamber walls were carved white rock that shown despite its age. Kaitlyn took a seat on one of the many white wood benches. It was age worn but still beautiful. Sitting down felt like a God send. The walk tired her out more than she wanted to admit but there were plenty of things to take care of. 

[b]”My arm’s waited this long. It can wait a little longer. I won’t leave you alone. It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s that I don’t trust some of them.”[/b] She didn’t have to specify who [i]them[/i] was. Kaitlyn had done a tour in a Circle and she didn’t care to repeat the experience. Any Templar who was half decent was either on the battle field fighting darkspawn or, like Kaitlyn, helping to protect refugees and villages. Mind you, Kaitlyn wasn’t about to admit she’d brought Thea to a place where Kaitlyn felt the soldiers fell into three categories: those too dumb, those too old, or those who didn’t play well with others. [b]”It’s as I’ve said before. You’re a lot older than everyone expected. Every Templar here has probably already labeled you as an apostate or perhaps even a maleficar. No. I’ll stay by your side at least until the First Enchanter Collects you. She should be here any moment.”[/b]