Errant was a peculiar looking city, the town proper arranged in a shape that resembled nothing as much as an amoeba. The irregular line of business dissipated into farmlands on all sides. The nucleus of the single-celled being was a two-story glass building with “City Hall” stenciled on the front.
Tatiana pulled her robes on over her clothes, passing the red ones to Amber. “You gonna tell me what we're doing?” Amber pulled the robes over her head.
“I’m going to try to convince the mayor to make this a city of refuge,” Tatiana tied her orange sash around her waist and opened the door. They entered into a waiting area with vinyl chairs and a potted palm. At the far end, a receptionist sat behind Plexiglas. Tatiana approached the desk, “We would like to see the mayor.”
“Names?” The man peered at them over the top of his readers.
“Tatiana Ellipse, priest of the Order of the Ellipse,” she set The Enchiridion on the counter for effect, “This is my servant Amber Kant, and my associate Carl Marshall of the Devils.”
“Have a seat,” the man responded.
They sat in a row, Carl picking up a magazine and Amber flipping through a informational pamphlet. “Hey Carl,” Tatiana flipped open the Enchiridion, “you ever heard of The Wizard of Oz?”
“We’re not in Egregia anymore,Tati,” Carl cracked a grin.
“I feel like we’re in that part of the book where they meet the Wizard, but something’s gone horribly wrong.”
“What?” Carl closed the magazine and placed it on the seat next to him.
“Cowardly Lion,” she pointed at him, “Tin Man,” she pointed at Amber, “Scarecrow,” she pointed at herself. “We lost Dorothy and Toto.”
“Are you saying my brother is like a naive farm girl with her head in the clouds?” Carl’s mouth twitched belying the seriousness of his expression.
“I’m saying this was his mission,” Tatiana pulled her notepad out of her sash, “Mina said he’d written something about starting a city of refuge.”
Before she could finish her thought, the receptionist opened the inner door. “Holiness,” he gestured for her to follow him, “the mayor will see you now.”
The door opened to a maze of cubicles, and they passed through the center of them to reach the elevator. The receptionist rode the elevator with them, escorting them to the office marked, “Mayor.” He tapped on the door, waiting until the mayor called, “Come in.”
The mayor looked how Tatiana would imagine a pirate, scraggly long grey hair, chest length beard, and an artificial eye. “Have a seat, have a seat,” he waved his beefy hand at the two visitor chairs, “I’m Mayor Gunderson. What can I do for the Order?”
“I’m not here on behalf of the Order,” Tatiana sat on half the chair, motioning for Amber to squeeze in next to her, “Really, I’m here on behalf of the cursed.”
“Very good,” the mayor grinned, “I thought a priest with a witch for a servant might have something interesting to say.”
“Mr. Mayor, I have heard that Errant tolerates the cursed within its boundaries, but do you protect them?”
“That, Holiness, would be against Citadel law,” the mayor crossed his arms across his chest.
“Well, yes,” Tatiana sucked in her lip, dismayed.
“Guess you don't have any real power then, huh?” grumbled Carl.
“Of course I have power,” the mayor sat up.
“So you could do what she says? Protect the cursed?” Carl put his hands behind his head and crossed his ankle over his knee.
“Yeah, if I wanted to.”
“You know, never mind,” Tatiana stood up, “I thought that Errant would want to be the first city of refuge, but I was wrong. I’m sure there's another more progressive city that wo-”
“Now wait a minute, Holiness,” the mayor interrupted, “I didn't say we wouldn't be the first city, I just said I needed to think about it. Come back tomorrow and talk to me again.”
“Thank you, Mr. Mayor,” Tatiana nodded her goodbyes, following Carl out of the office. They waited by the elevator in silence.
As the doors shuddered open, Tatiana stepped back to allow a man to exit. He stood in place, a shocked expression on his face. The doors closed themselves and she tapped the elevator button, “Alister!” The doors jerked back open. She hadn't recognized him at first, without his robes. “What is that?” she pointed at his shirt. It looked like tactical gear, thick and slightly reflective. It covered him from his neck to the base of his fingers, zipping up the center.
“It’s an assistive device,” as he signed a robotic voice translated for him. He stepped out of the elevator and joined them in the hall.
Tatiana scratched her head, “I don't know what question to ask first.”
“We can talk later. Right now I’m supposed to advise the mayor.”
“Advise the mayor?!”
“I said I’d explain later,” Alister touched her shoulder gently, “There’s a hotel across the street. Go book a room and I’ll meet you there later.”
Amber punched the elevator button. It was still on the top floor, and the doors slid open. “Come on Holiness,” Amber steered her into the car, “Let’s do what Bill says.”
Carl stepped in next to them and they descended. “My brain hurts,” she said to him.
“Yeah, well I’m terrified,” he responded.
“You are?” Tatiana looked at Carl’s face. His eyes were a steady, soft red, his lips tipped up in a small smile.
“The Wizard of Oz, Tati,” he reminded her, “You said I was the Lion.”
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