It was around 7 a.m. when an emissary, accompanied by two soldiers, arrived at the front gate of the inner circle in Calistoga. "I bring a warning from Barons Floutt and Ine about a murderer who fled, and we have evidence that he came to this city," the emissary announced.
The soldiers guarding the gate immediately adopted serious expressions. It wasn't uncommon for a deranged individual to commit murder, but they were almost always caught. The real troublemakers were those who managed to escape.
"Understood. Come, you'll meet the commander." They led the emissary directly to the barracks, entering a small room where a burly man sat behind a table. "Sir, a messenger from Barons Floutt and Ine has arrived. What are your orders?"
The commander set aside the parchments in front of him and looked up. "Send him in." The emissary stepped forward and stood before the commander. "This must be important if both Barons sent word. Speak."
"Yes, sir. There's a murderer on the run, and we have evidence that he came to Calistoga," the emissary began.
"Describe him and tell me what he's done. Did he kill someone of importance?" the commander asked.
"He is convicted of the following crimes: murder, high treason, heresy, witchcraft, defense of false gods, and a few other things. Witnesses describe him as a tall young man with black hair, dressed in high-quality black and white clothing. He was last seen riding a horse, accompanied by another man on a donkey."
"This sounds like one of the dangerous ones. Thank you for the message. I'll alert every soldier in the city and ensure that we find him. Let's hope he hasn't already left," the commander replied.
After dismissing the emissary, he gathered the soldiers in the barracks to inform them of the fugitive. Then, he headed to the nearby church. The clerics are often the best at finding these criminals. They blend in easily with the crowd and can gather information from the residents, he thought as he made his way through the inner circle.
Arriving at the small church, he saw a cleric cleaning the altar. "Good morning, cleric. Where is the High Priest?" the commander asked.
Rafael paused his cleaning and looked up. "The High Priest is currently at the mansion, speaking with Baron Frederic. If you like, I can inform him that you were looking for him when he returns."
"Will he take long?" the commander asked, irritation clear in his voice.
"He didn't say when he'd be back, but I don't think it will be anytime soon," Rafael replied.
Tch, the commander clicked his tongue in annoyance. "When you see him, tell him I have urgent matters to discuss." Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away.
What could have happened for him to be in such a hurry? If I'm not mistaken, he's the commander of the troops, Rafael thought as he resumed his task.
Rafael's day had started with him putting on his freshly cleaned underwear, eating a fruit, and drinking clean water for breakfast. Now that he was a cleric and the High Priest's apprentice, he had to follow the daily routine of one.
Would it be strange if I introduced new inventions so soon? Hmmm… I don't know… I think even Julius would start to find it suspicious, so I better wait until after I become a priest. Yes! I don't know how the ceremony of raising my status works, but I can definitely use that to "receive another divine message," just like when I was baptized.
After cleaning the church, Rafael headed to the back of the mansion and entered through a wooden door. He walked down a corridor before finding the room Julius had mentioned. Opening the door, he entered a room where several clerics were busy.
So this is where they make copies of books, he observed. The room was somewhat spacious, with round tables for group work, smaller ones for individual reading or copying, shelves lined with books along the walls, and doors leading to the bedrooms.
"Good morning, brother, and welcome. You must be the new apprentice under the High Priest's guidance, right?" A man in a simple brown robe, like all the other clerics, stood up from his table where he had been reading a thin book and approached Rafael.
"Hello, brother. Yes, my name is Robert," Rafael replied, noticing the others in the room glancing at him.
"Brother Robert, welcome. This is one of the most important rooms in our church. Here, we make copies of books, parchments, messages, and other documents. As you can see over there," he gestured to the shelves at the far end of the room, "we have shelves filled with knowledge, and it's our job to copy and maintain it."
"I'm still learning how to read and write, so I won't be able to help just yet. Sorry about that," Rafael said.
And I won't need to even after I learn because, in just a week, the printing press will be ready to use, he thought, pleased that he wouldn't have to waste time copying texts.
"No problem, focus on your learning. So, have you come here just to visit?" the cleric asked.
"Actually, yes. After this, I'm going to see the other churches in the city. May He be at your side. Goodbye," Rafael said, then left the room and exited the inner circle through the gate.
There weren't many people passing by at that moment. "Excuse me, sir, could you tell me the nearest church from here?" he asked one of the soldiers guarding the gate.
The soldiers frowned, puzzled that a cleric wouldn't know that. How could anyone from this city not know it?
"What's your name?" one soldier asked.
"Cleric Robert, the High Priest's apprentice," Rafael replied, adding his position as a plus to distinguish himself from just another cleric. It wasn't even necessary, as the soldiers had already been informed by their comrades that there was a new cleric named Robert who had permission to enter the inner circle.
"Right. The nearest church is in that direction; just walk straight."
"Thank you," Rafael said, walking away under the soldiers' watchful eyes. Only someone from outside wouldn't know the layout and locations of the main places in Calistoga…