Mystic Ink - Ch. 63 Unpleasant Meetings (Patreon)

The Church’s teachings were divided into eight Testaments.  Each was a thick book that contained many parables whose teachings were meant to help people live as well as they could and grow beyond that.  Cass had never owned one of them until now, and was thankful for the opportunity Maurice had given her to read through one of them.  Especially since it was such a beautiful book- Cass could barely touch it for fear of harming such a beautiful work of art.

But instead of diving into the book immediately, Cass felt there was something she needed first.  The Testament’s were only a part of the doctrine, also important was the Exegesis of the Saints- a book that accompanies each Testament analysing the parables therein and deepening the understanding of the teachings of each.  For the first time in Tyine, Cass had the opportunity, and the resources, to go shopping.  Few people would understand her true rank, but her high quality clothes and golden collar made it clear that she was the slave of someone rich and powerful- and so she was allowed to walk the streets in the higher quality shopping areas uncontested.

Cass had never been here before, the guards were more numerous and far less tolerant towards dregs here and you either avoided the area or got your limbs broken.  However, that edge seemed to have moved back a bit- the guards still protected the streets, but they were not enough to prevent the dregs from slipping into the back alleys.

Before, Cass would have not understood why this was occurring, but her lessons had opened her eyes.  Not that the answer was complex, it was just not something that she had the spare time to think about when she was on the streets, nor the knowledge to make the conclusion.  The suppression of the southern rebels was not going as well as planned and men had been relocated from guard duty to the army to help hasten victory.

Still, Cass had no reason to care, she simply made note of it and went on her way.

Is what she would have prefered, unfortunately she appeared to be an easy target for the resident of one particular alley she passed.  They had left the shadows and made an attempt to steal her coin purse- whereupon they would likely do their best to disappear, counting on the fact that the guards would not likely do much on behalf of a slave.  However, despite her nice dress and collar, Cass was one of the worst targets  thief could have.

And one broken hand later, the would be thief learned this.  The guards were already coming over, and the man made an admirable attempt to scuttle away, but Cass simply stepped on the man’s back and forced him to the ground.  He turned his face towards Cass and was begging her forgiveness, and Cass felt that she recognized the man from somewhere- but she could not think about from where…

The guards had reached her, and the door to the shop she had been going to opened.  This was far more attention than Cass had wanted, and so she simply was going to explain to the guards what had happened and be on her way, but-

“I think it is better to show the man a little mercy, don’t you think a broken hand is an acceptable punishment for his sins?”  The man who had left the store said gently, and the guards started at the personage before them.

“Lord Bishop!”  The guards not holding the man bowed lightly and Cass had a bad premonition as she turned towards the man who had interfered.  Upon seeing him, her mind blanked and then her thoughts went into a rush.

It was him.  This bastard, it may have been years later, but Cass would never forget this man.  She should kill him, she should kill him right here and now- but after what he had done to Heather, killing him was not enough.  He had to die slowly, and he had to know why when he died.

He was just as obese and gaudily dressed as before- the only thing more disgusting than his looks were what hid beneath it.

“Every man can fall, and it is our duty to help them find a better path.”  The Bishop held his hand out and helped the thief up, “Tell me, what is your name child?”

“Auron, Your Grace.”  The thief, gritting his teeth against the pain.  What a weakling, as if that was real pain- a broken hand was hardly worth noting.

“Auron?”  The Bishop seemed surprised and looked closely at the thief’s face, “Were you not one of the managers of an orphanage?  Yes, I remember- my son, what has brought you to this place in society?”

Auron- the one who ran her orphanage, and sold the kids to the highest bidder.  Another man who it was a struggle not to gut right here on the street.  Too meet these two together, Cass did not know what the chances were but she absolutely burned with hatred.  No, she should be on her way, she was not far from the shop anyways.

“I shall leave him to your judgement, my Lords.”  Cass inclined her head, and moved to walk on- but was stopped by the Bishop’s hand on her arm.  It took every last bit of her self control not to rip his arm off, she felt defiled just by him touching her.

“Ah, please wait dear girl.”  He still had not let go of her arm, to the point Cass had to pull away rudely or tear the man’s head off.

“Your pardon, Bishop.”  Cass did her best to keep her anger from her voice and lied, “but I have orders from my Master, and I can not tarry here.”

“Your master will understand if you tell them that Bishop Clement told you to wait, though your desire to serve your master is admirable.”  Bishop Clement smiled, “It is important for you to wait and receive this man’s apology- I may have stepped in on his behalf, but he owes you this much at least.”

Cass’s eyes widened in rage and the Bishop took a step back in shock and his guards reached their hands towards their swords.

“There is no way I would ever accept an apology from this worm,” Cass hissed.  “I do not know how this coincidence has occurred, but I know what this man has done- his life would not be enough of an apology, but I will leave him to you, your Grace.”

“Oh?”  Bishop Clement seemed surprised, “then please, come with me and let me know- I will make certain he atones for his sins and lives a better life.  Prison and death are not the way to create a good society, how can those things pay back for sins and crimes?  They cannot- with work and the teachings of the Church, a man can become a productive member of society and pay for his sins.”

Cass was struggling to keep herself from killing him.  She would never be able to provide evidence for her accusations, and despite her standing as Hall’s Hand, she was still a slave.  Even a noble would need powerful evidence to go against a Bishop, and at Cass’s level she could do nothing.

“Your pardon, but as I said- I am unable to do as you ask.”  Cass said after a brief silence, “however, I will give you this warning- if you pardon that man, you will end up regretting it.”

“I see,” Bishop Clement murmured.  “Then I shall not keep you any longer, let blessings be upon you and walk in the good light.”

“And let the light follow you, your Grace.”  Cass replied with a bow, finishing the Church’s traditional goodbye and entering the store.  Out of sight for a moment, she braced herself against the wall and took a deep breath.  Too meet those two men- at the same time…  How bad could her luck be?

She would just purchase the book and head back to the castle and pray she never crossed paths with them ever again.  However, considering her terrible luck, Cass felt that it was unlikely.