The old woman continues to speak…

"As I entered the small village of Jansen Field accompanied by the town guard, I never expected that such an insignificant spot, not even important enough to warrant a mark on a map, would change the course of my life. I had been sent on that journey by my Elders in order to learn of the world, and how to deal with it. Well, suffice to say, I was dealing. What I was dealing with, though, had changed a bit from the outset. At first, I had merely dealt with religious quarrels and questions posed to make me doubt my faith. More recently, I was dealing with poor living quarters, flea-ridden beds, if a bed at all, and a large amount of complete religious ignorance and indifference. And a very stubborn donkey..."

Jansen Field itself hardly needed a second look. A few old buildings, muddy streets, dirt smeared ragamuffin children, scruffy adults...quaint, but not extraordinary. Simply one more stop along the priestess’ route through Jengal.

Mir and Ka were up on the tower at the keep, going through their daily lessons. Ka was trying to coax Mir into reading a passage in a book when Mir noticed something going on down below. Glad of the distraction, Mir dropped the book and ran to the edge of the tower.

The something was not quite a commotion, but there was something of interest going on. The something was a traveler, leading a very stubborn donkey. She stood in the street, pulling at his bridle, calling him names that would make a sailor blush. The donkey held his ground, feet splayed apart and neck stretched, eyes closed, and braying like he was dying. The bridge guards that had been escorting the traveler to the Lewsmon estate had stopped and were joking with her, but were making no attempt to help.

The stranger wore shiny armor with an emblem on her tunic that was red and orange and looked a bit like the sun. Mir began trying to talk Ka out of studying as soon as she saw the newcomer. It didn’t take too much effort, and Ka gave in, knowing there was no way that they were going to be able to finish studying with Mir in that mood. Ka, however, couldn’t brush off the feeling of guilt that washed over her. She knew better than to neglect her lessons. But both girls were running downstairs and out the front door before Ka had a decent argument in her head for staying on the tower and studying.

As the traveler drew closer, Ka thought that she recognized the sun emblem on the stranger’s tunic, but she didn’t have time to figure out where she had seen it, before she and Mir were discovered. The two girls had pressed their way though the edge of the crowd with the rest of the children their age when Mir’s father met them. His thick black beard bristled, and he asked them why they were not studying. There was no way to talk around the fact that they should have been up on the tower with their books. Luckily, the traveler came close enough to them that Lord Lewsmon had to be ‘the Lord’ instead of ‘the father.’

"Why are you here?" asked Lord Lewsmon.

"I am here to see the town priest, my Lord," replied the traveler. "I am from Fastid—a priestess of Stephnos under Mihhalel, here to…to convert the heathens."

Lord Lewsmon smiled enigmatically at the mention of ‘heathens.’

"I know what that means," whispered Mir to Ka, with a grin. Ka giggled in disbelief.

"You’d think it was a lot funnier if you really understood," she said. Mir glared at her.

"I am Bale Lewsmon, Lord of Jansen Field keep, and I wish to extend my hospitality to you during your stay. The old chapel tends to get rather drafty, and perhaps," Lord Lewsmon’s eyes twinkled, "I can convince you that we aren’t the heathens we may seem."

Sister Brethinn’s eyes had widened at the mention of Mir’s father’s name. Bale Lewsmon was a man from bard’s tales—the Dragonslayer. The priestess nodded mutely in thanks, and Mir and Ka rushed up to offer to show her to her room. This she was happy to accept. Kalrany seemed to have an affinity for Niville, the priestess’s mule.

Ka looked back at the priestess as she led the little donkey to the stables. She thought that the priestess looked happier to be rid of the donkey than at the thought of a warm bed. She thought that was too bad, as the donkey nuzzled her. She thought he was quite nice. The young girl fed the donkey a carrot and he nuzzled her hand again.

She can have that stubborn ass, thought the priestess with narrowed eyes as she watched the donkey depart. I think he hates me on general principles

Miriamele and her friend …a tutor of sorts, though no studying ever seemed to take place when they were together that Sister Brethinn could tell...one Kalrany Jasterfel, bombarded the priestess with questions all the way to her room. Naturally, she told them of the greatness of Stephnos and a little of home. They seemed greatly interested in Fastid, but not Stephnos. Mir knew little or nothing and Ka remembered only a very little of both from her reading, but she wasn’t sure exactly what was true. Most of what she had read turned out, as she talked with the priestess, to be just stories.