The young woman ran through the streets, the inquisitors not far behind Angie. For eight days now, she’d never paused long to rest, for ever the pursuit was not far behind her. She’d have fled Amaryth long ago but for the fact that she knew nothing of the land surrounding the city, let alone how to survive on her own out there. Rarely did a hiding place work for more than an hour or two. It was almost as if the inquisitors could sense her location somehow, no matter how well she hid.

It was only through the aid of the city’s canines that she had managed to avoid capture so long, for whenever she hid, she asked canines around her to stand watch and warn her when the inquisitors approached. It wasn’t much of a watch, but it had served well enough so far. Each day, she went to a different part of the city, hoping to find a safe place, but always failing. Slowly she was starting to lose all hope.

Angie’s hope spiked to new heights when she heard the rumors spoken of about this “embassy” owned by the mysterious Kalesians. Nobody knew much about that foreign people from beyond the impassable Karak claw mountains. Half she’d heard was probably false, the other half embellished beyond sense. The one thing that had interested her was how it was said they protected evokers, how they did not bow to the whims of the Order of Idris. It was for that reason alone that she sought to find that embassy (whatever that word meant).

~|~

“My Lady.”

Alessia heard the voice of her personal servant through the haze of sleep. It was expectant, but she did not wish to rise yet. Her body ached all over from travel - she had arrived only last night and the journey from Kalesia’s capital to Amaryth was neither short nor forgiving, especially for the first major journey she had made. Etiquette demanded she not childishly pull the thin sheets - present only for the sake of modesty, for more thick covers would’ve been stiflingly hot in this overly warm land - further over herself in protest, but she still feigned sleep a while longer.

“[i]My Lady.[/i]”

More insistent this time. Her servant would not be so bold as to mother her, but it was as much the servants duty to ensure their charges were where they needed to be when they were needed as it was the Nobles to command the servants. The moment she stirred, the servant turned back to the door to leave the room while Alessia dressed. She had heard that in some places of the world, royalty and nobility were so pampered that they did not even have to put their own clothes on. How servants could be so disrespected was beyond Alessia’s comprehension. Nobles may be respected more, but only because they worked harder to achieve their position. Servants were every bit as important as the Nobles that commanded them.

As she dressed, favouring cool clothing that left little to the imagination (though hid enough that she might not appear a harlot) above the waist, her servant began to list her itinerary through the door. It was strange, she had found that her days were being planned more and more by others ever since she had acquired the relic. She did not know if she was pleased at the simplification of life or annoyed to lose control she was so used to having - time would tell. The first few events of the day seemed to be meetings with the current diplomatic staff to update her on the vagaries of the current Othean politics - a dull but necessary chore that would likely be rushed to allow for more time at the next event - the festival opening. Though not the most skilled diplomat in residence, Alessia was nobility, and that afforded her additional privilege that the diplomats could not gain so easily on their own. Othean officials were [i]obligated[/i] to follow Alessia’s requests to a certain extent, for, in the eyes of the Othean rulership, Alessia’s opinion would count far more in Kalesia than the diplomats.

She exited the room stiffly, satisfied with her appearance, just as her servant was finishing listing the days events. She had only listened to some of them, quite sure that she would be led where she was needed anyway. “Thank you Lydia.” Alessia said genuinely to her servant, a women slightly shorter than herself but much more heavily set. Lydia was both a servant and a bodyguard, not that the Otheans were notified of the second role. Though she had armor and a sword, Lydia would not be wearing those until Imperial plans moved much further along, and she hardly needed them anyway, not against common rabble and thugs. “If you would be so kind as to accompany me to the courtyard? I would see this city in the light before I am locked in a room with nothing but diplomats for company.” Though phrased as a question, it was of course a command. Alessia [i]did[/i] have the right to command this entire operation however she wished, not she would, for a multitude of reasons. Her servant smirked at the tone she used to refer to the diplomats, picking up on all that went unsaid for the sake of politeness and etiquette, though she wasted no time leading the way to the courtyard.

~|~

It was not long after dawn when Angie had to flee her latest hiding place, the reeking alley behind a tanner’s shop. One of the local residents’ hounds had come running down the alley, barking the warning that a cadre of inquisitors was approaching. Considering how little time had passed since she found that spot to hide in, that meant she’d gotten a grand total of two hours sleep. 

Crawling out from under the pile of rubbish, Angie started running the opposite direction from the Inquisitors. Thankfully the alley wasn’t a dead end. She didn’t really know what way to go, so she kept running the direction she thought might be eastwards. Her clothes were filthy from a week of sleeping wherever she could find cover, but were still mostly whole. She had no doubt that she herself reeked.

It was only by chance that she ran straight at the Kalesian Embassy. She didn’t read too well, but her mother had taught her the basics so that she could help her father in his bakery. When she got to the gate, she started banging on it with her fist, hoping that someone would open, despite the early hour.

~|~

A commotion began at the gate as Alessia stepped outside. The guards, resplendent in polished breastplates and mail, were already moving, though they looked as though they did not know entirely whether they should open the gate or push the desperate woman on the other side of it away with spears. It took hardly a moment for Alessia to assess the situation. The woman looked common in all respects but one. Her eyes were an unnaturally bright shade of yellow. That could only mean one thing. She was an Evoker. Likely now come to the Embassy to seek refuge, given the state she was in. As if to illustrate the point beyond all doubt, a group of men bearing the seal of the Order of Idris rounded a corner down the street and began sprinting towards them at first sight of the woman at the gate.

Alessia wasted no time in acting. “Guards.” She said with the authority of one used to commanding, projecting her voice over the commotion. “Bring that woman inside the gate.” To their credit, the Guards were quick to obey, one of them swinging half of the gate open while the other ushered the woman through the opening. As this happened, Alessia made her way towards the gate, preparing to confront the Idris Inquisitors that were pursuing her. She hardly noticed it, but Lydia shadowed her every step, ready to leap to her ladies’ defense should this be a ruse.

~|~

When the door opened after what felt like an eternity of banging, Angie breathed a sigh of relief, for in the background she could see the inquisitors approaching, even as the hounds told her of others approaching from other directions. “Thank you! Thank you! The inquisitors have been hunting me for days now!” 

~|~

Just as he thought they’d caught the elusive evoker they’d been pursuing for days, Stevan Vlahovic, inquisitor of the Order of Idris, saw her being pulled inside the so-called [i]embassy[/i] of the Kalesian Empire. “heathen scum.” he muttered, fuming over how they frequently interfered where they had no right to do so. His troops, a cadre of junior inquisitors, followed closely at his heels, even as he knew other inquisitors were converging from other directions.

He did not hesitate a second when he saw the Kalesians taking up position outside the gates of the embassy. He marched straight up, stopping right before the gates. “In the name of the Order of Idris, you will hand over the criminal fugitive that just entered this compound. Immediately.”

~|~

Alessia shot the girl a reassuring smile as thanks flowed like a river. She would deal with her after she turned the Inquisitors away. Putting her best official smile on, she stood a short distance from the gate and addressed the Inquisitors, hiding her amusement at the looks they had on their faces from defeat being snatched from the jaws of triumph. “Criminal?” She said, exaggerating surprise. “And what, may I ask, are her crimes?”

The inquisitor looked at the Kalesian Ambassador. Though the guards stood interposed between him and her, he could still easily see her. “She is an abomination against nature. An evoker. The worst scum of all! Idris himself decreed that no evoker should be let live!” The religious fervor in his voice was crystal-clear as he spoke. “Turn her over this instant!”

Part of Alessia felt a great deal of revulsion for this man and his beliefs, especially as he was unknowingly calling her those things as well, though she was far too composed to show it. When she replied, it was with a hint of mock seriousness, just to make sure her point was felt “I am afraid that simply being an evoker is not considered a crime in Kalesia… If you can provide the embassy with a list of this womans other crimes we [i]may[/i] be able to arrange extradition to the Othean state. With all the correct documentation of course.” Alessia maintained her best diplomatic smile the whole time, despite her desire to laugh at the increasingly crimson face on the other side of the gate.

“Extradite? She’s on Othean Soil! And that means she belongs to me. Turn her over [b]now![/b]” He shouted at the woman, fuming at her infuriating use of diplomatic language. He could not believe she would dare to oppose him. He was an inquisitor of Idris!

“I am afraid you are incorrect.” Alessia began. “Your order holds no authority in the Kalesian Empire, and per the terms of our treaty with Othea, this Embassy is Sovereign Kalesian land. While on Kalesian soil -” she made a point of using the same word as the man had. “- She will be protected as any visitor to the Empire is, so long as she follows our laws. I am afraid formal extradition is the only option.” Alessia looked as though she was finishing, but just before the man could speak again she continued “Unless you intend to cross the border and take her, despite her being granted asylum. An act of war.”

“Gah!” he growled between his firmly closed teeth. He knew he’d been outmaneuvered this time. “You’ve not heard the last of this! Mark my words! She will be mine!” He turned about, marching off, his lackeys following at his heels. He knew just what to do. The Order had long had virtually free reign under the King Hrodlaf. It should be small matter to get a royal decree demanding that the heathens turn over the prisoner.

~|~

Alessia’s smile grew triumphant as the man turned away, spouting typical revenge blather. He did not seem a subtle man, though that did not mean he was not dangerous. The power held by the Order of Idris in this land was great, that she had learned before departing her homeland, and she doubted it had changed much in the time it took her to make the trip. She liked to believe that the oppression of Idris in the west was one of the reasons that the Empire was finally moving as it was, but that was speculation for another time. Right now, she had a young evoker to save. turning to the young woman, resisting the urge to wrinkle her nose at the smell, she asked kindly “What is your name? I am Alessia.”

Angie had been terrified the whole time the Kalesian and that inquisitor argued, even if she had been indescribably thankful that someone actually took [i]her[/i] side. It took her a while to figure out what the Kalesian said, for though the language was the same, the accent was quite strong. It was through listening to the Inquisitor she got the gist of the discussion, which made her smile a little. “Ev’ryone calls me Angie.” she whispered shyly.

“Angie.” Alessia spoke the name, it sounded very… common. When she continued, she tried to speak slowly and clearly to overcome what the girl evidently thought to be a strong accent. “Well Angie, let us not linger in the courtyard. You are safe here.” She motioned to the Guards to keep the gates shut and go back to their duty before turning to head back inside the building, looking expectantly at the girl to follow. On the way she called Lydia close and quickly spoke to her “Please prepare a bath and some fresh clothes post haste for our guest.” Once inside she turned to the girl again and spoke, once again slowly and clearly. “My servants are preparing a bath, while they do, can I ask you some questions?”

Angie’s eyes lit up at the mention of a bath. With her sense of smell, she knew just how much she reeked. That offer made her opinion of this Alessia rise even higher up. Smiling widely, she nodded at the woman.

“You are an Evoker.” Alessia began, as tenderly as she could. There was no denying it with the way her eyes looked. “May I ask how long you have been this way?” At this point the girl really had only one choice if she wished to survive the Idris fanatics, but it still helped Alessia to know how much the girl knew. The less, the better, for she would be more accepting of Kalesian ways.

The statement shocked Angie a bit, but she couldn’t deny it. It was not as if there was any way to hide it. Nor, if she’d understood the earlier words correctly, was there any need to do so. She was more than a little thankful to the Kalesian for her speaking slowly and carefully. It made understanding her so much easier. “A few months, I think. ‘twas back in spring.” As they spoke, she followed the Kalesian deeper into the compound.

Not long… That was good. “What are you good at?” Perhaps an unusual question so early in conversation for some, but in the Empire a person was defined by their role in society. Knowing someones skills was important to a Kalesian.

“Well…” she murmured. “I trained under my da as a baker. I can read a little. And of course i can smell, see and hear better’n most.” She thought for a bit more. “Oh, and that hound over there really likes the gate guards. They keep giving him sausages.” The hound in question raised its head and smiled at her, his tail wagging at the attention he got.

Alessia laughed at the last comment, enjoying the humour of the situation even as she calculated. Though she had not really intended for it to be a description of the relics abilities, it did save her asking the question later. “Alright Angie, thank you for answering my questions. This is Lydia-” She pointed at her servant. “When you are finished, and feel free to take as long as you wish, she will bring you back to me and we will speak of the future.” With that she turned and walked down the corridor towards one of the meeting rooms. Her discussion with the diplomats was likely to be far more interesting than she had predicted.

Angie smiled and nodded, then followed the servant into the bathing chamber. She quickly got out of her clothes, leaving them in a pile on the floor. The only thing she took with her from there was her relic. This she also took into the bathwater, laying it on the bottom of the tub as she took her time washing. By the time she finished, the water had taken on a dark gray color, but she felt worlds cleaner. Getting out of the water, she found that the servant, Lydia, had left a small pile of clothes on a bench along one wall, along with a large, thick towel. She dried herself thoroughly and put in the clothes, though it took her a good while to figure out some of the fittings. Though her family had not been poor, the weave of these clothes was much, much richer than any she had ever before worn. The color was a dark green, not unlike forest foliage, and it fitted her reasonably well, which came as a bit of a surprise, considering she’d been there less than an hour. Her relic she concealed beneath the clothes.

Only once that was all done did she go out of the chamber to figure out what else Alessia might want of her. Staying here would be perfect, she thought. Safe from the Inquisitors, safe from harm.