Part 3
"Do I really have to wear the robes all the time?" Elias asked as they approached the Checkpoint at the southern reaches of the Dwarven empire, walking out of the jungle.
"Of course you do!" Vordea insisted, not disguised in the least. "You're my High Priest. Remember, you have my backing. Speak with confidence."
"I've been meaning to ask, where's your gauntlet?" Nalaea asked, pointing at Vordea's exposed hand.
"I left it at an intriguing village with no name. We're stopping there on the way to Port Sulala." Vordea answered, thinking back to the conversation she had in that tavern that day nearly 4 years ago.
As they approached the checkpoint, the soldiers inside took notice, and one came out, beckoning them over.
"Hoy, travellers!" He called. "This way please."
Nodding, Elias led the 4 of them as they came up to the impressively overbuilt checkpoint. Two stories tall, surrounded by nothing but Dwarven desert, and with a huge complement of staff. Elias wondered how much of this was just an employment project for the Empire.
"Welcome to the Empire of Eternal Sand. This ain't Port Sulala so we'll keep it short and sweet." The soldier said. "Are any of you wanted criminals in the Empire?"
"No." Elias answered.
"Good. What is the purpose of your visit?"
"We are travelling to Port Sulala to book passage back to Karand." Elias answered again.
"Last one is a census question. Occupations?" The soldier asked, and quickly regretted asking it.
"Goddess." Vordea answered. The soldier's face paled.
"High Priest." Elias answered.
"Nobleman." Francisco said.
"Royal Elven Ranger." Nalaea finished.
"Really?" The soldier asked after a moment's silence. The four of them nodded, causing him to sigh. "We have to do this the long way then. Get on inside you lot."
The four of them laughed slightly as they followed the border guard inside, knowing this was going to happen. Inside, a customs official was soundly asleep, snoring particularly loudly.
"Pay no mind to old Fultheim." The guard said, gesturing at the snoring official. "Good man, just has sleeping sickness."
"YouVordea's couldgaze curelingered him."on VordeaFultheim whisperedfor toa Eliaslong moment as they walked pastby, thea snoringfact man.
"Whywent shouldunnoticed I?"by Eliasall whisperedsave back,Elias, causingwho Vordeadecided to smile.quiz her about it.
"OwingWhat was that about?" Elias whispered.
"What was what?" Vordea asked evasively.
"You looked upon him wistfully, like he was an old friend." Elias stated, a favour.bit louder now as they entered a private room.
"You're far sharper than you were a few years ago." Vordea answered, andslightly Elias understood.
"Hold." Elias said, causing the guard to stop.annoyed. "I could cure this man."
"Ain't nobody can cure Fultheim." The guard said dismissively.
"I am the High Priest of Change. I alone decide who can be cured." Elias said, deciding to have some fun and put on a show.
Okay now what, Elias asked Vordea telepathically.
Leave that up to me, Vordea answered. Divine spells are a link to your God, namely me.
Elias strode confidently up to Fultheim, and gently tapped him on the shoulder. "Wake up, Sir Fultheim."
Good enough for me, Vordea said, laughing inwardly. Behold the power of a God!
At those thoughts, Fultheim suddenly jerked awake, and looked around, his eyes wide.
"I feel... rested!" He exclaimed.
Elias smiled. "I bid you greetings, Fultheim. I am High Priest Elias Malloit."
"Well I'll be, if it isn't Lady Chaos." Fultheim said, ignoring Elias and regarding Vordea with admiration. He stood and gave her a deep bow, to which Vordea smiled politely. "You found one, then?"
"Indeed I did." Vordea said, smiling. "Elias I'm sorry but thisThat was a bitminor ofGod. a trick. Fultheim isFultheim, the God of Sleep."
Fultheim"Right then you lot, let's get this started." An official said, emerging from another door and sitting down at the desk in the room they had entered.
"Of course." Elias said, taking a seat first.
"Name?"
"Elias Malloit."
"Occupation?"
"High Priest of the Vordean Church."
"I'd ask for confirmation but she's literally right there." He said, gesturing at Vordea and chuckling. "Reason for entry?"
"Travelling to Northern Karand. We plan to journey via the main highways to the Imperial Capital, then on to Port Sulala."
"Expected intentional casualty count?" The official asked, moving right along.
"Zero. I have no control over bandits stupid enough to attack a Goddess and her High Priest, however."
"Catastrophe class Visa for High Priest Malloit approved. We'll have Godsfire Division monitoring your party from beyond the horizon for cleanup duty. Next."
The official stamped a bright red visa and handed it to Elias, who took it with a bow, placing it in his robe pockets before standing up. Vordea went to sit down next, but the official shook his head.
"You'd be wasting both of our time, Madam Goddess. I already know who you are, and I know you can forge our visas anyway. You, the elf."
Nalaea sat down again,at alreadythe yawning.chair next, and peered at the official. His beard was greying, but his eyes felt threatening, almost intimidating. She also felt she knew who she was, but decided to keep it to herself.
"PlayingName?" tricksHe asked, paying her staring no mind.
"Nalaea Herydark."
"Rank?" He asked as he wrote her name on the bothvisa.
"How did you know?" Nalaea asked.
"I know the uniform of us. Go on then, welcome to the EmpireRoyal ofElven EternalRangers, Sand.Miss Herydark. Now, rank?"
With"I'm those words, Fultheim was soundly asleep again, and already snoring. Elias, Nalaea, and Francisco looked around in confusion as Vordea quietly spokenot with the borderRangers guardanymore, but it was Sentinel."
"You're not?" Vordea asked, interrupting.
"There was a time when I would have died for my homeland, but that's long past." Nalaea responded. "Now, all I need is my Goddess."
"My very own rangers..." Vordea said, trailing off. "Nalaea, you've given me a fewwonderful seconds.idea."
"Are weyou beingtwo pranked?done?" The official asked.
"Yes, sorry. What next?"
"That's it. Visa approved on the fuckcondition justyou happened?are accompanied by the High Priest at all times. Here you go. Next, the Lestian."
Nalaea took the plain visa, and rose. As Francisco took a seat, she approached Vordea and whispered in her ear.
"Vordean Rangers." NalaeaShe asked.whispered, and said no more, causing Vordea to smile broadly.