Belyos; heart of the Empire, seat of the Imperial Palace and treasured city of Yaltur, jewel of the world. Kanab stood at the rail of the ship and stared at the conglomeration of humanity in amazement.
Kanab had thoroughly enjoyed the journey by sea; the ship was a temple vessel, swift and agile with a bright red sail that would deter all interferences. The crew were selected for their devout nature and treated Kanab with a level of deference he wasn't used to, the captain even insisting that he share his table each evening. He had been apprehensive about travelling by ship, after all, this was his first time, and he'd heard all the stories about shipwrecks and pirates. His fears were unfounded and he even managed to avoid the sea-sickness that Llunn had warned him might happen. His cabin was comfortable, the food excellent and Kanab figured that even if it was a big mistake and it wasn't him that they were wanting in Belyos, this was all worth the experience.
As they got closer to Belyos though, Kanab's underlying nervousness grew. The shipping lane grew ever busier, with ships of all types travelling to and fro. As they rounded the southern tip of the island of the Imperial Province and began moving north towards the city itself, Kanab found his appetite waning, something that Llunn noticed.
"What's wrong?" Llunn had asked, the day before they arrived at Belyos, "You can't be getting seasick now, not after all this time."
"I'll be fine," Kanab had replied, stood at the rail on deck. "I'm just... not good with lots of people and Belyos is... well..."
"A lot of people, I know." Llunn had said, nodding. "Don't think about it as individual people, most of them won't care who you are; you'll just be yet another priest. The city is full of them."
"Cleric," Kanab murmured, but Llunn either didn't hear or didn't care as he'd walked off. Kanab had stared out over the water, the land close enough to pick out small villages and forests as they slowly moved past them and was still standing there as the sun had set and the shift changed around him and Llunn came back to tell him that the evening meal was ready. Kanab had frowned and pointed towards the northern horizon, "Llunn," he asked, "What is that glow?"
Llunn looked and smiled, "That's Belyos." He said, "The light from the city reflecting off the clouds."
At the time, Kanab had scoffed a little, but now, the next morning, seeing the city for himself, he was prepared to believe everything he'd ever heard.
The city covered the entirety of an island that sat in the strait between the mainland and the Imperial Province. Tall walls encircled it completely apart from a gap on the south side where the docks occupied a small bay. Two hills were prominent; the lower Temple Hill held all the important civic buildings and temples, like the tall tower of the Temple of Yaltur, with its burning violet pyre, visible even from here. The other hill, taller and much craggier, held the Imperial Palace, a wonder of towers and battlements, pennants streaming from dozens of flagpoles. The palace was built right on the edge of tall cliffs, the hill sloping down into the city, overlapping walls and fortified buildings all the way. The entrance to the docks passed under the watchful gaze of this tall rise, opening out into a well built-up bay.
A haze hung over the city from the thousands of chimneys and fires and the general smog of clustered humanity and the sea around was a forest of masts; trading ships from every part of the Empire bringing the resources such a place required to function and carrying away the products. The two bridges could be seen from here; the shorter and more defensive Archeld Bridge to the mainland and the much longer Imperial Bridge, a wonder of engineering, that linked the city to the larger island beyond.
As the city grew ever closer, Kanab could make out the individual buildings, some of which seemed far too tall to be even possible and then, before they got to the wide opening of the docks, the smell hit. Kanab had been aware of an odour building for some time, but as they left the main currents of the sea and entered the calmer waters surrounding the city, it was then the full effect could be sensed.
Llunn smiled as Kanab physically recoiled, "Bad, isn't it?" He said, "You never really get used to it, but its worse at the moment as the rains have flushed the sewers out into the sea. The tide will take most of the waste out to sea eventually."
"How do people cope with it?" Kanab said, almost retching. "It's foul!"
"It's not as bad in the city, you'll see." Llunn replied, "But don't fall in the water here." He gestured overboard and Kanab could see the water was littered with detritus of all kinds.
The ship seemed to have some kind of special clearance, and it eased its way into the harbour quickly, past merchant and fishing vessels of varying sizes. A fair bit of abuse was thrown their way by other sailors, and Kanab was a little shocked at the lack of reverence shown to the temple ship.
"Most of these people will have been waiting hours for their berthing," Llunn explained, "There's only so much room and delays are inevitable. Temple ships get priority, besides which we're docking at the naval docks, not the merchant docks. Special dispensation from Lord Horr."
"I didn't even know there were different docks," Kanab said lamely, "But that's nice of him."
Llunn laughed, "There are three main docks; the merchant docks are for any ships with a trading permit, they register their arrival, show their permits and wait for their turn to load or offload. They've got strict timescales to stick to and if they want to stay longer they have to drop anchor further out and use smaller boats. We're headed for the military docks where the Imperial Navy ships berth, as well as Temple vessels and other important ships. Finally, there's all the private docks further in, where the richest people have their own vessels. It's too shallow for a ship this size in there though. There is another dock as well, the smallest, where the Emperors own ships are always on standby to take him wherever he needs to go. Needless to say, we won't ever be going there."
The tall craggy end of the island upon which the Imperial palace sat dominated this side of the wide bay that held the docks. The tall cliff arose only a little distance from the dockside, far higher than Kanab had ever thought, and perched on top was one of the many towers of the palace. The military docks were little more than a thin strip of land, occupied by all the paraphernalia needed to keep an Imperial Navy on the go.
The ship slowed and Kanab and Llunn moved back out of the way as the crew made all the preparations to dock the ship. Eventually the vessel came to a total stop and ropes were thrown to secure the ship and a gangplank set down. A short while later and the horses were brought up from the hold and saddled.
"It's not too far to Temple Hill," Llunn said, pointing over the docks towards the rise that could be clearly seen, "But if it's anything like usual, the streets will be busy. One of the advantages of docking here is that we can avoid the merchants quarter over there." His arm swept over the far side of the docks, encompassing a mass of buildings, "I'll be kind and say it's a place where all kinds of person can be found, but it's not a place to be in your first experience of Belyos, that's for sure."
Kanab nodded and walked the horses to the gate to the naval dockyard, passing by several garrison like buildings and a fair number of troops. Once through the gate they mounted their horses and Kanab noted the streets were fully paved and a lot cleaner than he expected, even if the number of people around was far too high. The buildings were quite grand, built mainly of stone and a number even had their own grounds, with grass and trees behind high walls and fences. There was a distinct presence of guards, both the gold trimmed city guard and the various colours of the assorted nobility.
Llunn nodded at the observation, "This is the upper district, close to the Imperial quarter. The people here are the wealthiest and those with close connections to the centre of power. If you ever get to see Downside, near the Archeld Bridge, it's a totally different matter."
They slowly made their way through the streets, Llunn's temple guard uniform ensuring they were never stopped or questioned, and before long joined a wide thoroughfare, lined with trees and statues. Looking along its length from his vantage point atop his horse, Kanab could see all the way from the massively ornate gate to the Imperial Quarter to the smaller, yet more bulky gate from the upper district into the temple district.
"Are all the districts separated by walls?" He asked Llunn. "It seems to make a lot of bottlenecks."
"It's a big city, with a wide variety of people," Llunn replied, "The walls help keep people in areas more suited to their status. You need a valid permit to travel from one district to the other."
"How many districts are there?" Kanab asked.
"Hmmm, there are the three main ones, Atunhill, Maintown and Downside. Downside is the biggest in population, but it is also the most dangerous and vastly over-populated. Most of the industry comes from that area. It's newest as well, mostly settled after the reestablishment of the Empire. Maintown has all the artisans, traders, that kind of thing. People who aren't nobility, but too wealthy to put up with Downside, and you've seen Atunhill." Llunn gestured ahead, "Then there's the temple district, which has, obviously, the temples, but also the administration for the Empire; taxes, post, roads, all that kind of thing. Finally there's the merchants quarter, down by the docks. If you're not a Belyos resident, that's the only bit of the city you're allowed in."
"So you need permission to get from one bit to another?" Kanab said, a little incredulously. "Seems complicated."
"Not only that, but unless you already live here, you can't even get into the city. It's an attempt to cut back on the population somewhat. Otherwise everyone without a job would come here for the dole, and those already here would flock to Atunhill.”
They arrived at the gates and waited in line to be seen through the gate. Llunn dismounted and showed his papers to the guard on duty who gave it a studied look and waved them through. Once through the gates, the character of the area changed entirely. Gone were the grand residences and parks, the gardens and so on, instead this area was dominated by much bigger buildings, buildings made entirely of stone and with a very utilitarian look about them. The streets were also more crowded and much more varied. Kanab could see people dressed in garb from all parts of the Empire and the symbols of nearly every god. There were even one or two people with the very dark skin of the far northern continent and Kanab was convinced he saw the blonde hair and pale skin of a Sakamorh. They were all moving around from one place to another or waiting in the queues that had built up outside the buildings, all set on some unknown business.
"It's like the whole world comes here." Kanab said to Llunn.
"Just about." Llunn said, agreeing. "This is the beating heart of the Empire, where everything is planned and ordered. Sure, the Emperor rules, but the real power is in the bureaucracy and the clergy."
Kanab looked around, astounded by the wide variety of the buildings, as well as the people. He saw the grand pillars of the Imperial Courthouse, where nobles were brought for justice, he could see the dark entrance to the Halls of the Dead, centre of worship to the Lords of Order and their children, The Keepers, and all the various temples to the Inheritor gods, each one more impressive than the next..
Finally, right at the top of the hill, was the largest building in Belyos outside of the Imperial quarter; the grand temple of Yaltur. Surrounded by a tall white wall, a high archway led into a columned forum dominated by the bulk of the temple proper, a huge white domed building. A tall tower on top stretched into the sky and was topped with the violet flame of Yaltur, said never to have been extinguished since Yaltur founded the first Empire, nearly two thousand years ago. Even the Sakamorh, in their 180 year occupation of the city, and said to be heathen worshipers of dark gods, had not dared to try to put it out.
Despite its prominence in the city, and being devoted to the chief god of the Empire, the entrance to the temple was less crowded than most, just a steady stream of supplicants passing in and out, heading mainly for the large open doors to the temple building. A few, dressed in priestly robes, were moving between the other buildings which made up what was essentially, a small village inside the city. "What are all the different buildings?" Kanab asked as they dismounted to lead their horses in.
"Aside from the temple itself?" Llunn said. He looked around, "Well, we're heading for the guardroom, where others like me live, work and train. There's the dormitories for the priest and clerics, the school of divinity, the High Priest's palace, the library and the Hall of the Primae. There are a few other smaller buildings too, mainly to do with keeping the temple clean and ordered, stores and so on."
"What's the Hall of the Primae?" Kanab asked, "I've heard of the Primae, they were the gods that the Usurpers overthrew, but why do they have a hall here?"
"They still deserve our worship." Llunn pointed out, "They fought alongside the Inheritors against Turbal and his Usurper siblings, even if they left afterwards. Some of our oldest myths involve them; they're powerful gods and it wouldn't be right to ignore them."
"Yes, I know all that," Kanab said, "But why here? Why does the temple to Yaltur house them and they not have their own?"
Llunn laughed, "Because no one else wants to, to put it simply. The general public neither wants nor needs to know all of our theology. So long as they keep up praise to the gods that look over them, they don't need to know all about the Primae. They're best thinking of them as myths and legend. Here, they can have the proper devotions said without risk of ignorant peasants upsetting them."
Kanab mused on the complexities of the Empire's gods as they stabled their horses and started to walk across the wide forum towards what Llunn had pointed out as the High Priest's palace and housed all of the temples administration as well. "Will I meet with the high priest today?" He asked.
"I shall take you to his office, whether or not you see him personally I don’t know," Llunn replied, "My instructions were to bring you here, what happens now is as much a mystery to me as it is to you."
Nodding, Kanab could feel the return of his nervousness that had been suppressed by his wonder at seeing the Imperial City. The High Priest of Yaltur, Lord Horr, had a wide reaching reputation of being not only passionate in his beliefs, but also of not tolerating fools lightly. Kanab had no doubt that if he wasn't the person they thought he was, then he was in for a rough time.
The entrance to the High Priest's palace was through a wide arched doorway and led into a wide atrium with a number of doors leading off. Each door had a sign above it indicating the various departments, but Llunn ignored them all, walking past them to the staircase at the end. Kanab followed the captain up a few flights of stairs and then along a corridor with arched windows along one side, open to the air, allowing a magnificent view over the temple forum. They stopped before a set of double doors and Llunn knocked firmly before opening them inwards.
The large room within was almost circular, but instead had fourteen white-washed walls, equal in size. The centre was dominated by a large round table with twelve seats around it. Aside from the wall which had the doors through which they'd come, and the far wall, each of the walls had a carved frieze upon it which Kanab instantly recognised as the Inheritors. Beyond the table, and up a few steps, the far wall held an alcove that was almost a room in its own right. In this area, seated behind a table were two individuals, a huge bearded man in a purple trimmed robe and a small, elderly man whose robe was trimmed with red and yellow.
"Captain Llunn, you've returned." The large man said, standing up and spreading his arms. "You don't dally, do you?"
"My Lord Horr," Llunn said, smiling and inclining his head in respect, "May I introduce Cleric Kanab, as requested."
Kanab's heart leapt into his mouth and he managed a shaky bow as Horr laughed and walked around the desk and seized Kanab's upper arms in his large hands. "Let's see what all the fuss is about," The high priest said. He turned Kanab right, then left and examined his face intently. "You're a scrawny runt, but that's to be expected from countryside living. I guess you'll do, if that's how things should be." Horr turned to Llunn, "My thanks captain, you've done an excellent job."
"It was my pleasure Lord Horr," Llunn replied. He nodded to the other priest, "Lord Danak, as always a pleasure." The old priest nodded back and Llunn turned to smile at Kanab, "No doubt I'll be seeing you around Kanab, enjoy your stay." Before Kanab could respond, if he even could, given Lord Horr's vice-like grip, the captain turned and walked out of the room, closing the doors behind him.
"Right, Kanab," Horr said, "Sit." He moved Kanab to a chair and all but forced him down, Kanab gratefully letting his legs collapse under him. The high priest moved back around to his own chair. "I know this is all confusing for you," He continued, "You'll have to bear with us."
"It's an honour," Kanab stammered, "And very unexpected."
"You're probably wondering why you've been brought halfway across the Empire, aren't you?" Horr asked, steepling his fingers and looking at Kanab.
"It.. yes, I am." Kanab managed to reply.
"You'll have to trust us on that for a while," Horr said, "You're here for a very important reason, but we won't be telling you what it is."
Kanab nodded, not entirely surprised by that but a little disappointed. "I understand, my lord," He said.
Horr's bushy eyebrows rose, "You do? Then you're either very clever or a liar," he said, laughing. "I'd be sitting there fuming that I'd been dragged away from my comfortable life and into this cesspit of a city. No one in their right mind wants to live in Belyos, it's a chore we must endure." The older priest next to Horr coughed slightly. "Where are my manners?" Horr continued, "Cleric Kanab, I must introduce Archpriest Danak of Zedtur; you will be assisting him in your time here. Whatever he needs you shall be providing."
"It shall be a pleasure," Kanab said, nodding his head respectfully towards the older priest.
"You say that now," Danak said with a dry chuckle, "But I can be a hard taskmaster young Kanab. You might lament your arrival in Belyos before long. Now Lord Horr, please excuse us as I show Kanab to his new home and workplace."
"Of course Danak, thank you for joining me." Horr replied and stood. Kanab stood as well and watched as Danak slowly rose, his limbs shaking.
"Lesson number one, Kanab," Danak said, holding onto the table as he stood, "I'm an old man, and need help standing. Don't just stand there again as I'm trying to get up." Kanab felt his face flush and he reached out to steady the old priest who gave him a measured look, "You're going to take a bit of work, but we'll get you civilised eventually." Danak said. He gave Horr a small wave and, with Kanab, headed out of the room.
The old man had a slow pace and seemed to be content not to say anything else for the moment, so Kanab was able to look at his surroundings as they travelled. They walked back along the corridor and then spent an inordinate amount of time getting down all the stairs, Kanab hoping that visits to the High Priest weren't going to be commonplace. Once downstairs, Danak directed them outside into the sunshine and towards a carriage that had pulled up. "You will be staying in my temple," The old priest explained, "Next to my chambers, ready to provide me with whatever services I require. In addition, you shall be furthering your education with the hope that we can get you ordained before too long."
"Yes my lord," Kanab replied, helping Danak into the carriage.
"Enough of the 'my lord' nonsense." Danak snapped as Kanab climbed into the carriage, sitting opposite. "Call me Archpriest Danak, Archpriest or just 'master' if you want to be all formal. Being a priest and a lord? It's all political nonsense. Horr might go in for all of that, but then he's got to deal with the nobility. Rather him than me."
The carriage set off, leaving the environment of the temple and heading onto the streets. Kanab stared out of the window as much as he felt was polite, but the old priest seemed content to rest his hands on his stomach and doze. The temple of Yaltur was at the top of Temple Hill, but it was only a short distance down the hill and they slowed and turned into the courtyard of a building almost as grand which Kanab could only assume was the temple of Zedtur, one of Yaltur's five siblings.
"Ah, we're here." Danak said, rousing. The carriage door was opened by a robed priest and Kanab helped the older priest out. "Kanab, this is my secretary, Soutra, you'll be liaising with her with regards my daily schedule and other such matters."
Kanab stopped a little surprised that the other priest was a woman in her late thirties, her dark hair cut short but still feminine for that. Women priests were unusual in the countryside, but Kanab knew they were common in more urban areas, particularly in temples to the goddesses. "I, ah, a pleasure, Soutra." He said, trying to cover up his surprise.
"Hmmm, we'll see." Soutra said curtly. "Archpriest Danak, welcome back."
"Thank you Soutra," Danak replied, "Once young Kanab here has escorted me to my chambers, you can take him with you, show him where he'll be staying and where everything is, yes?"
"Yes Archpriest," Soutra said, her eyes giving Kanab a quick appraisal and, if her face was anything to go by, not really liking what she saw.
The archpriests chambers were, to Kanab's relief, on the ground floor and comprised a number of good sized rooms; bedroom, study and so on. The old priest settled into a chair with an evidence sigh of relief. "Now, Kanab, I have servants and so on for the mundane things like food, but you shall be helping me with other errands, do you understand?"
Kanab nodded, "Yes master."
"Good, now go with Soutra, she'll show you around and you can start in your duties first thing after tomorrow I've had breakfast. The rest of today is yours. Off you go." Danak waved his hand, dismissing them and reaching for a bell which summoned a young man wearing a tunic. Soutra nodded to the old priest and led Kanab from the room.
The rest of the morning and most of the afternoon was a bit of a blur to Kanab. Soutra had been precise and unfriendly in her explanations, showing Kanab the small room next to Danak's chambers where he would be sleeping and then the communal refectory where the temple's staff ate three times a day. All the time, she lectured Kanab on the arch priest's typical daily routine which seemed to consist mainly of regular meals, studying and evening prayers in the main temple. Three times a week Danak travelled to the temple of Yaltur; twice to see Lord Horr for unspecified discussions, and once a week to partake in ceremonies in the Hall of the Primae. From Soutra's manner and attitude, he gathered that being selected to go with Danak to these meetings was a great honour and something she clearly didn't think Kanab deserved.
Finally, Soutra escorted Kanab back to his room and left him, reminding him not to be late to attend either the evening prayers, or to the archpriest after breakfast in the morning. She didn't so much as threaten him if he failed in his duties, but Kanab got the impression she wasn't a good person to cross. He sat on his bed and stared at the wall, now feeling rather ambivalent about his position.
