Motionless, Simon stood at the bottom of the steps of the Temple of the Six. He peered at the refined stonework and intricate decorations which adorned the large double doors. Yet he couldn’t take the first step to ascend to its embrace.
Dammit.
Simon scolded himself. He knew the revered Sister Isadora had welcomed him to this place. There should be no doubt. He knew that this was the holy Temple of the Six. There should be no hesitation. He knew that even as chaotic and unfair as the world may be – here there was justice and purpose. There should be no fear.
Yet there was.
Simon struggled to make sense of the flood of emotions that drowned out the sense and reason of his mind. The thoughts filled his head relentlessly like a new melody of a bard that failed to fade from the mind after leaving a tavern.
Resolving himself as unfit for the grace of Sister Isadora he turned from the temple – a command his body willingly obeyed. No sooner had he turned his back towards the temple did the grand doors bellow under their weight as they were opened.
Like an angel of the Gods, Sister Isadora stood on the top step. The light from the Temple poured around her, illuminating her as a celestial messenger.
“Simon Bernfall.” She descended the steps, each step as graceful as the next.
“Rightful heir to the Bernfall legacy. Lord of the White Keep and Warden of the Caves.” She stood on the final step of the temple, making her eye to eye with Simon.
“Yes?” He stammered the only word he could vocalize. Her lips curled into a sweet smile.
“For you.” She handed him a sealed envelope before ascending to the temple once more.
“Oh, and Simon? We here in the Temple of the Six are waiting for you. We are ready for you when you are ready for us… Don’t make us wait long?” The Temple’s doors sealed shut once more with her plea narrowly escaping.
Simon’s mind was blank as he turned the letter over in his hand:
Simon Bernfall of House Bernfall
Lord of the White Keep
Warden of the Caves
Inside the envelope, Simon found a single chess piece – a pawn – along with a hand-written letter. The contents of which were written in a language or method that made absolutely no sense the Simon
Simon Bernfall knew he was being played, by the author of this letter, the Temple of the Six, or some other unknown power – he did not know – But now he had a path to his birthright and a companion who seemed to be quite good with discerning secret messages.