Patchwork Universe

The Cardinal · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2004 7:50 pm Post subject:

The service lasted for only an hour and when the Cardinal rose from his chair to precede the other senior clergy out of the chapel, he returned at one to his rooms.

By now his servitors would have already have made preparations for the journey ahead but there were a few small items that the Cardinal wished to make sure of himself. These he packed between layers of crimson silk in his writing box.

By the time his preparations were complete a young acolyte had knocked at the door softly and the Cardinal instructed the boy to carry the box for him. Following behind, he passed down the steps to the main body of the church and out into the street.

Outside, a red litter stood, polished and gleaming in the sunlight. Four powerfully built servants stood at the pole ends, ready to lift it and a small group of priests waited nearby, two leading pack mules which held the baggage they would require. The acolyte placed the Cardinal's writing box in the litter and the priest himself stepped forward, turning to look at the Dean who was waiting for instruction.
"Take care of the church and the brethren during my absence," he instructed. "May God be with you."
Lifting a hand he blessed the Dean and the other clergy who had appeared outside to watch him depart. Then he took his place in the litter.

The four litter-bearers bent and lifted the conveyance smoothly to their shoulders. They were of an equal height, something the Cardinal appreciated. Drawing back the red curtains he watched the procession of priests move forward, beginning with a young boy swinging a censer. The moved out to the sound of a chant and the Cardinal lay back on his cushions, satisfied.

Smight might like to charge about with a troop of armed men but the Cardinal had always found the greatest strength in apparent weakness. There were few lands that did not understand the meaning of a chanting procession of priests and those that did not generally let them pass in peace anyway. Only in the Red Fort had the Cardinal ever met with hostility and there he did not travel in this guise.

As he was carried out of the golden city towards the east, the Cardinal wondered what land lay ahead of him.

[ooc: The Cardinal and his priests will now leave this forum and move to the Temple of the Birds 'The Fall of a Sparrow']