Maxi proudly surveyed the changes before heading toward the kitchen to wash her hands and tidy her tousled hair and clothes. Outside, the coaches and guards were waiting for them. The women bade the clerics goodbye with a promise to return soon before stepping into the carriages.
The noblewoman sitting across from Maxi leaned forward. “When do you intend to visit again?” she asked as soon as the carriage began moving.
Alyssa pondered for a moment, then said with a sigh, “I would say that it won’t be until next week. The clerics at the monastery have requested that we refrain from leaving the basilica for a while.”
“Why? Hasn’t the security inside the city improved?” the other noblewoman asked.
“There are currently a great number of southern merchants in the capital, and the clerics consider the polytheisticSoutherners more dangerous than the refugees,” Idsilla said in her typical scathing tone. “They begrudgingly allow them into our city because we need their money, but the clerics firmly believe them to be troublemakers.”
Maxi frowned. “Th-That is not true. Their wisdom…far exceeds our own. Most of…the art of healing I’ve learned is b-based on their knowledge.”
“It would be best if you abstain from making such comments in front of the clerics,” Alyssa warned. “Levan’s clerics are mostly adherents of the Reformed Church, so they may be relatively tolerant when it comes to magic…but that does not mean they are also accepting of heathens. Defending the pagans could earn you their enmity.”
Maxi felt slightly discouraged. “I-I shall…keep that in mind.”
The carriage slowly traveled from the outskirts of the city onto the wider inner roads. Feeling listless and tired, Maxi stared out the window. A loud trumpet blasted as they turned down the road that led to the square.
The noblewomen, who had been dozing with their heads against the coach wall, jerked awake and looked out the window. The pedestrians scrambled to clear a path, and an armored knight on horseback galloped past them like the wind.
“Do you think it’s a messenger from the battlefield?” one of the women whispered.
“Y-Yes, it appears so,” Maxi replied, her face hardening.
The noblewomen exchanged glances that were filled with both hope and worry.
“It might be news of the army successfully recapturing Eth Lene Castle,” one of the women ventured.
Maxi’s expression grew wary. Could it be news of victorywhen the army had deemed the message urgent enough to be delivered by a knight instead of a carrier pigeon? Maxi’s shoulders tightened as a sense of foreboding sent a chill crawling down her spine.
Idsilla opened the panel above the front seat and urged the coachman to drive faster. “Please, hurry! We must know what the news is as soon as possible!”
The carriage rattled as it shot past the square. Clutching the coin Riftan had given her, Maxi prayed for it to be good news.
When they arrived, the air in the basilica was heavy with tension. The noblewomen grew anxious when they saw clerics busy in grave deliberation.
Despite the agitated atmosphere, the cleric who had come out to meet them spoke calmly. “Welcome back. There will be no evening prayers today, so you may all rest in your rooms.”
The cleric was about to leave when Alyssa stopped him. “We saw a messenger pass by on our way back. Has something happened?”
The cleric looked troubled. He hesitated before saying flatly, “I might as well tell you now. The basilica will no longer be able to look after you. To remain would only mean great discomfort. If any of you wish to return home, we will send word to your families.”
“What on earth do you mean? Please, tell us what’s going on!” Idsilla demanded, looking as though she wanted to strangle the cleric.
The cleric heaved a sigh. “I’m afraid the monsters have turned the tide of battle. They have pushed back our army at the northeastern border to Balto.”
There was a collective gasp.
Alyssa reeled at the news. The cleric rushed to support her as he hastily added, “The situation is not that dire, so please do not worry. Since the army is expecting the war to be a long one, they have sent a message requesting further provisions and support units. The basilica will also be sending many of our clerics, which means it will be more difficult for us to tend to your needs. I suggest that you return to your—”
“Are you telling us to leave because we are a nuisance?” Idsilla snapped. Alarmed by the girl’s impertinence, Alyssa tried to rein her in, but Idsilla did not bat an eyelid. “We’re not here because we wish to be attended to!”
The cleric took a measured breath. “Please,” he finally said, “I suggest that you return to your rooms for now and calmly give it some thought. I will explain the situation to the other ladies.”
When Idsilla opened her mouth again to argue, the cleric scurried out of the basilica as if making an escape. Maxi numbly watched him leave, her wide eyes filled with despair. The pit of her stomach prickled as though she had swallowed a handful of needles. The other noblewomen looked dazed as they sank down onto the pews.
“The cleric said the situation was not dire, so everything must be all right, mustn’t it?” one of the women whispered.
“He might have said it so as not to worry us,” Idsilla countered. “If the situation truly wasn’t grave, they wouldn’t be trying to get rid of us so rudely.”
