Chapter 8, playing a game

Three days after her initial meeting with Lord Byron. The tall and somewhat lanky Anita approached Trisha. The young woman's spectacles were slightly covered in an icy fog that must have restricted her vision. Trisha pulled her cloak tight around herself, covering her light silken blouse. She wished it covered her chest more, but the seamstress had cut every single blouse she owned open at the top. Trisha shivered, the cold was a small price to pay for the advantage. She would use whatever weapon she could. If men and women were distracted by her bust, then she would wear the blouses.

In fact, several days prior, she had used her feminine wiles to convince a young man to get her a meeting with his father. Sure, Trisha had flashed her Blue medallion to convince him, but that was besides the point. The mans eyes had strayed several times to her chest and back to the blue medallion of the inquisition. All she had needed to do was hint that he could join the meeting and the young man agreed whole heartedly. Trisha scheduled a meeting with lord Tanes for two days later, in the evening, right when the Bishop would have free time for a certain game.

Trisha shook her head. She hoped everything went according to plan. Today, however, she was regretting this choice of thin blouse. Trishas hair whipped around her, the wind stinging her face as cold air washed over her.

" You look lovely this evening, lady Anita." said Trisha, as the young woman stopped on the steps in front of the cathedral doors. Anita's blond hair swirled around her face in a mesmerising cadence.

" Thank you, lady Trisha. You look beautiful as well." said Anita.

" Are you looking for Eliya? I can find her for you, if you want." said Trisha. Anita's face flushed, and she glanced away hurriedly.

" I am actually here on house business. My dad and I have finished all the initial plans to present the contract to the Bishop." said Anita, straightening her back.

" Of course. Will you lead the way? I don't think I can find my way back to your estate." said Trisha gesturing with her right hand towards the gate.

" I can do that. Please follow me?" said Anita. They crossed the courtyard and left through the front gate. Trisha waved at Harry and the other gate guards as they passed. As usual, the captain gave her a gristle'd smile and a wave.

" How long have you known Eliya?" asked Anita.

" Eliya and Greg." said Anita, hurriedly, her shoulders tensing slightly as she took long strides forwards. Trisha cocked her head at Anita's odd line of questioning.

" I have known Eliya for years now. She is my best friend in the world. There is nobody who I trust more." said Trisha seriously.

" Oh, so are you and her a, um, partner?" asked Anita hesitantly.

" We are squad mates, yes, if that is what you are asking? We have been doing various jobs together since we were ten." said Trisha. Anita's shoulders fell, but she smiled back at Trisha as though unaffected. Trisha cocked her head. The way Anita had said partner? Trisha froze. Oh, that kind of partner. Trisha's face flushed, burning with a heat that rose up her neck to her cheeks.

Of course, she had just been teasing Eliya about it, but she hadn't known Anita would return her friend's sentiments.

" Not in that way. She is a sister to me."said Trisha, laughing nervously.

" You two are related? But you don't look alike at all." said Anita hesitantly.

" Well, I dont know if I have real siblings. But Eliya has been with me for over six years now. And she is the best sister I could have asked for. She is extremely loyal, calm, and collected in a fight. Not to mention she is one of the most intelligent and analytical people I have met. Eliya is someone who I'm confident will never turn her back on me no matter the trouble I'm in."said Trisha, thinking of all the times Eliya had her back.

They strode along the path, Anita seeming a little too flustered to keep the conversation going. Trisha didn't really want to keep the awkward conversation going, but Anita eventually gained the courage to ask another question.

"Is she courting anyone? Like that guard, Greg."asked Anita in a soft voice.

" Nope. She is single."said Trisha, studying the cobblestone path. Her breath steamed in front of her, and she followed the mist, glancing at the cloudy sky.

" How do you know that? She could be seeing Greg without you knowing it." said Anita logically. Trisha knew for a fact that Eliya wouldn't court a man. Her best friend had told her one night of her particular orientation.

" Trust me, she isn't courting Greg."said Trisha confidently. They walked for several more minutes, in which Trisha could swear Anita's face was as bright as a tomato. It would have been hilarious if the young woman wasn't clearly so nervous about the topic. With the long, drawn out silence, Trisha decided to have a little fun.

" I can tell Eliya of your interest if you like?" said Trisha as they approached the somewhat familiar gate to the Wesser estate.

" No, please don't." stammered Anita, waving her hands frantically.

" Why not? It would make it easier for you."said Trisha.

" Because she is a commoner and I'm the daughter of a noble. Even if I fancy her, my parents won't accept me courting a commoner." said Anita slouching her shoulders in defeat.

" Then why were you just asking me if she is single?" asked Trisha, furrowing her brows at Anita.

" Well, I can hope. She is so nice, smart and cute. I guess I just wanted to know if there was the option." Said Anita, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

" And what if that commoner is a mage? Mage status is higher up the ladder than commoners. Sometimes, a high-ranking mage can have as much or more influence than a low ranking noble." said Trisha.

Anita shifted nervously in front of the gate to her father's estate.

" You haven't told him yet, have you?" asked Trisha's understanding dawning. Anita shook her head nervously, staring at the cobbled path.

" My father is always talking about me finding a nice young man from a noble house. He says that if I marry the son of a baron or if I'm extremely lucky a count, then our houses' influence and power will grow immensely." said Anita, anger and defeat in her tone.

" But you don't want that, do you?" asked Trisha cautiously.

" No, and I dont know how to tell my father or mother. They have worked so hard to raise our families' prestige. It wouldn't be a problem, but I'm their only child. If I don't marry and have an heir, then our house could fall from nobility."said Anita.

" Couldn't your mother just have another child?" asked Trisha.

" No, she can't. When I was born, there were some complications. For seventeen years now, mother hasn't been able to have another child. I know they have been trying because they told me they really want more children."said Anita.

" I'm sorry to hear that."said Trisha.

Anita smiled sadly and rested her hand on the cold steel of the gate. With a groan of steel, the gate swung inwards.

Trisha followed Anita inside, feeling touched that the older woman shared something like that with her.

Anita led Trisha inside the shop instead of the mansion. Trisha closed the door behind her and turned to see the shop. A large machine attached to a conveyor belt spread across most of the room. They spread several other steel contraptions in the room in a pattern that Trisha didn't understand. On the right wall was a partitioned section of the workshop. Trisha could see Lord Byron through the glass, leaning over a table.

Anita led the way through the maze of rune etched contraptions until they reached the research room of the workshop. There were metal presses and conveyor belts with lines of small runes in small, complex patterns. Byron glanced up as Anita opened the door. Byron wore smoke stained overalls with his sleeves rolled up. The scent of oil and the faded smell of burning metal filled Trishas nose as she took in a deep breath of the unfiltered air.

" Good evening, lady Trisha. Would you like to look at the plans for the mana rail?" asked Byron.

Byron raised one of the five large pages on the tabletop.

After nearly an hour, in which Byron and Anita talked. Trisha was now far more confident about presenting their idea to the Bishop. She carried a leather satchel with the folded papers for the contract. With some excitement and a farewell, Trisha returned to the church grounds. The icy wind ruffled her shoulder length hair, blowing the curly strands into her eyes. She blew a lock of windswept hair to the side. Maybe Eliya would have time to cut her hair again?

Trishas heart raced as Harry waved her inside, and she approached the cathedral doors. The guards with gold medallions didn't even acknowledge her presence as she entered. Trisha followed the spiralling corridors until she found the stairs to the Bishop's office. By now she had realized if she found the guards inside the cathedral she didn't need to look far to find the Bishop's office. As always, the same sentry guarded the entrance to the bishop's staircase. His usual twinkle at her presence filling the man's eyes. The mans eyes tracked to her satchel, and back to her face curiously.

Trisha paused in front of him, cocking her head to the side as the man stared her dead in the eyes. She widened her eyes, straining to keep them open. The gold ranking church guard didn't appear to waver, his eyes remaining wide open. Trishas eyes watered as the staring contest continued. After nearly thirty seconds, she blinked. Trisha stuck her tongue out at the guard childishly and then strode past him towards the stairs leading to the bishop's study. She grinned, holding back a laugh. At least there was someone in this cathedral who she could relax around.

Oddly enough, Trisha could swear she never entered through the same doorway. But that made little sense, as she walked up the same stairs each time.

Trisha trudged up the stairs and knocked on the door at the top. If her plan didn't work, she would be forced to wear another one of those horrible talismans. She breathed deeply, her earlier mirth at the expense of the guard leaving. Now she needed to focus.

" Come in Trisha." Said the Bishop. Trisha swallowed. How did she always know when it was Trisha?

Trisha entered and, like usual, the Bishop was sitting behind a table full of papers. Trisha watched the woman take one, read it, and then write something before placing the parchment in a new stack on her other side.

" What can I do for you tonight? Are you back for more training? Our game isn't for several more hours." Asked the bishop, her inflection bordering on teasing. Trishas heart skipped a beat as the bishop set a smooth steel box on the table next to her. The box practically radiated mana. The power tickling Trishas senses. Runes etched the surface, sealing the steel case closed.

" Sadly, no malady. I am her to present a contract proposition on behalf of lord Byron Wesser and his daughter Anita Wesser." Said Trisha, clasping the leather satchel in front of her to hide her trembling hands. Trisha forced her eyes from the steel case on the Bishop's desk and swallowed hard.

The Bishop's eyebrows rose, and she placed her quill back into the inkpot next to the steel box. For such a high status woman, it was rather odd to be using a quill and ink when rune pens were available.

" Well, are you going to present it to me?" asked the Bishop reclining in her chair.

Trisha swallowed. She nodded, hoping the Bishop didn't notice her fumble the latch. Trisha, having prepared for this, placed the first of the five pages in front of the Bishop.

" This is a plan to revolutionize transportation of goods as we know it. I'm here to present to you something called a mana rail. For example, with this mana rail, we will be able to transport goods ferried down the Sauren river at over ten times the speed and one hundred times the weight. Once a track is built from the capitol to the major river port of Quimby, we can transport both people and goods at a rapid pace." Said Trisha.

Trisha showed the next page. This depicted a man driving a mana rail pulling three rail carts full of lumber. The mana rail comprised four sets of steel wheels with a thin carriage with a wedge of metal at the front. Links of chain attached each of the three carts to the back.

" Fascinating, and does this mana rail actually work?" Asked the Bishop.

" Yes, I doubt lord Byron is foolish enough to ask for a personal presentation if it didn't work yet." Said Trisha.

The Bishop sat back in her chair clasping her hands in front of her. She examined all five of the pages thoroughly.

" The idea has widespread impact. Both economically and for the military. It can take weeks to transport new troops to the front. And it can take longer to bring back the wounded and dead. With this we could really bring some hurt to the enemy, and transport necessary supplies faster to the front." Said the Bishop.

"What if we present the idea to Pentir as well? We could transport troops where they are needed, even if that is in another kingdom."said Trisha. The Bishop read the page doubtfully but didn't disagree.

" The sheer scope of this project is impressive, but I want to test Lord Byron's mana rail before I present it to the king of Penter.. It's like the project to make improved roads all over again. That took us nearly one hundred years. This project could take decades to complete in each city of the kingdom." said the Bishop. The Bishop glanced from Trisha to the plans on her desk. Trishas heart raced, but she met the woman's steely eyes. If Trisha wanted this woman in front of her to respect her, then she would need to show confidants and a steely determination.

" For the test, Lord Byron suggests a rail line from Quimby to the capitol." said Trisha.

" I agree, and approve of your initiative. But this will not be my project. This is your project." said the Bishop, pushing the papers aside.

" What? I dont know the first thing about setting up a large scare project like this." said Trisha.

" I disagree. Rumours of a young church inquisitor approaching Tony Tanes and flashing a badge have been floating in certain circles." said the Bishop, her lips turning up slightly.

" Well, I know of their house because of the academy. And the rebel son Tony is easy to find." said Trisha, flushing at the Bishops response.

"Dont worry too much. For now, the church will support a contract for the mana Rail from the capitol to Quimby. But I will not hold your hand in the negotiations. You will need to meet with and split up the contract to the various noble houses in the capital. I will give you a list of houses that you can meet with. As you have already met with one, then some of the work is already done." Said the Bishop.

" I scheduled a meeting with lord Tanes today if you agreed to the contract." said Trisha, swallowing hard. She watched the Bishop's face closely, unsure what the woman was thinking. The Bishop sat in silence for several long seconds, before a grin split her face.

" Well done. Return the papers to lord Byron and iron out the contract. You will need to decide how many houses you want to sponsor the contract." Said the Bishop. The compliment made Trisha reel mentally. Out of all the things she had expected, it wasn't a compliment.

" Thank you, my lady." said Trisha bowing her head. She turned to leave. Her boots thudded softly on polished wooden floors. Trishas heart thudded wildly in her chest.

"Trisha."

She paused in the doorway, swallowing hard.

" Yes, my lady?"

" You won the game today. But next time I won't make it so easy. Oh, and Trisha, don't forget that the queen is holding court in four days. I expect you to attend. Several high-ranking nobles will be attending. It will be ample opportunity for you to get signatures for your contract." said the Bishop.

Trishas head spun as she left the room. Her heart raced wildly as she descended the stairs. Once at the bottom, she leaned against an inner support pillar and gasped for breath. Her hands shook as she let out a small laugh.

She had done it! She had outmaneuvered the Bishop and avoided playing the game. It was so simple. Why play when she knew she would lose? Her only chance for winning had been to not play at all.