“I don’t,” I said. I still felt wrong asking for charity, but it wasn’t like I was in a position to turn it down. I dropped the argument and took in the sights of the city as we headed for the church. Two more slightly shorter spires came into view on either side of the central one as we got closer. After leaving behind the busy square, we reached a wide stone bridge that spanned the river. It was solid and sturdy, but like the castle at the heart of the city it lacked any artistic flair. I’d kind of been looking forward to seeing more impressive things while I was in Earris, but when it came to bridges I supposed sturdy was probably better.

“We’re not actually lying to them,” Ferrith said. “Just… enhancing the truth. The difference is subtle, but important when it comes to priests and paladins. Never lie to them directly. If they ask you a question you know they won’t like the answer to, you’re better off saying nothing than lying.”

“Why’s that?” I asked.

“They have magic that can detect direct lies and they consider it a great sin. While you’re with them it’s important you avoid it. Remember you’re asking them for a favor. A destitute beggar is one thing; a destitute lying beggar is someone they’ll probably throw back out in the street.”

“Good to know,” I said. We soon reached the far end of the bridge and I noticed an immediate decline in the quality and upkeep of the buildings around us. There was still a small cluster of well-kept buildings around the church, but beyond that there were no more two-story structures. Now it was mostly squat, dirty hovels, with equally-dirty people milling about. I was finally starting to fit in with my bare feet, which wasn’t the comfort I’d hoped for.

The church was surrounded in a waist-high wall of stone, the building pointed like a triangle with three towering spires shooting up from the center. If I’d never seen a skyscraper before I probably would have been impressed by how tall the church’s spire was… but I had, so I wasn’t. The more interesting thing to me was that the building appeared to be constructed of polished white marble, which had to be a massive effort to keep as clean as it was. A smaller, plain stone building was attached off to the side of the church itself but within the perimeter wall. A dozen or so soldiers in brilliantly-polished steel plate mail were assembled in the yard running drills with massive seven-foot long swords similar to the one Ferrith carried on his back. A three-pointed starburst was emblazoned on the chest of their armor in gold, which was the same emblem mounted above the double doors of the church—also in gold. It was easy to see the connection.

“Oh,” I said, “I didn’t realize the church had their own soldiers.”

“Paladins,” Ferrith explained, “but they’re toothless as long as you stay off church property. Outside of Marketh territory all they can do is hold citizens they witness violating local law and turn them over to the proper authorities. Just be sure to do what you’re told while you’re visiting and they should leave you alone.”

“Right,” I said, “so where exactly are you dropping me off?” To say I dreaded the only person I knew in this strange world leaving me alone would be a massive understatement. The idea that he might just be planning to get rid of me for good had crossed my mind a number of times. If he decided to do that, I was only too keenly aware of how little leverage I had to stop him.

“Here seems fine,” Ferrith said, coming to a halt in the middle of the road. “You can see the church from here. Just walk in like I told you to. I’m going to go sell these bones, then check in with Clarice about what she wants to do with you. When I’m done, I’ll wait for you by the end of the bridge. If you get there before I get back, just wait for me.”

“O… kay…” I said without an ounce of confidence. “I just walk in the front door?” I asked.

“Yes. Go already. I told you, you don’t want any of the priests or paladins seeing us talking. It’ll just make things more difficult for us both.”

“You mean like that one?” I asked, pointing back the way we’d come. I’d only just noticed one of those shiny church soldiers coming down the road our way. He’d just crossed the bridge from the center of town and was maybe twenty paces distant.

Ferrith’s eyes went wide with fear. He spun around; one hand reached up for his chest in the way he usually did when he wanted to summon an ogre. That seemed like something he’d probably get in trouble for doing in town, but I didn’t say anything. He was an adult capable of making his own mistakes. Fortunately for Ferrith—or unfortunately, depending on your perspective—he didn’t get a chance. When the armored paladin coming up behind us saw Ferrith turn around, a pair of enormous angelic wings made of glowing golden light appeared on his back and he launched forward across the intervening distance. He tackled Ferrith to the ground in a tangle of bright steel and blue scales, his wings fading on impact. I tried to shout out a warning, but I wasn’t fast enough and was powerless to stop what was happening. In the end, all I managed to do was stumble back awkwardly and watch the paladin clap the only friend I had in this world in irons. If not for the heavy pack on his back I thought Ferrith might have stood a chance, but with it the paladin was able to kick him off balance and grab both his arms before he could recover. It was over in seconds.

“This is illegal!” Ferrith howled. “I haven’t broken any laws!”

The paladin spoke loudly and firmly over Ferrith’s protestations for the assembled witnesses. I couldn’t understand the words he was saying, but he sounded confident. He then hauled Ferrith onto his feet effortlessly, his canvas pack dropping to the ground in the process. He turned his helm my way and said something that seemed to be directed at me. I couldn’t get a read on the guy; he was covered in armor from head-to-toe with only a small dark slit to see through. I had to crane my head back to look at him. At a guess I’d say he was at least seven feet tall. Not quite ogre-sized, but still impressive, though that appeared to only be slightly above-average for a rissian.

Instead of answering the question I didn’t understand I looked at Ferrith. His helmet was askew, arms stuck behind his back. “Are you being arrested right now?” I asked him.

“Illegally!” Ferrith insisted. “This cursed bastard just has a vendetta against me! Go ahead! Take me to your commander! He’ll just tell you to release me, like last time! I didn’t step foot on your stupid church property.”

The paladin said something back in a rumbling voice.

“No!” Ferrith shouted back. “That’s not how self-defense works in Kalador. I didn’t actually summon an ogre, did I?”

More guttural speech from the paladin.

“This again?” Ferrith asked him. “I’m not answering that. If you want my statements on the matter you can read the report filed with the Haemir Watch. They closed that case months ago.”

The paladin spoke more words I couldn’t understand. It was a lengthy speech this time, and a few of the nearby peasants decided to throw in jeers of what I could only assume was support.

Ferrith responded. “You can quote Markethian Law at me all day. Still doesn’t change the fact that we’re in Kalador, and Kalador already cleared me of any wrongdoing. Our job is dangerous. Sometimes people die. He knew the risks when he signed up. If he wanted to stay safe he should have asked his daddy to land him a cushy job with the Ministers.”

That last comment earned Ferrith a heavy smack on the back of the head. It sounded like it must’ve hurt, even through his helmet. The paladin spoke again, but this time he started to push Ferrith forward in the direction of the church’s gated property. It wasn’t exactly easy to follow the conversation while only being able to understand one side, but I was starting to suspect that Ferrith was in some way involved in a murder investigation. It wasn’t hard for me to put the pieces together that Ferrith’s fear of getting arrested was probably the real reason for his reluctance to take me to the church himself. Ferrith stumbled toward the church as the paladin forced him onward. I gathered up the dropped canvas pack and followed after him like a lost puppy. It was heavier than it looked, so I was forced to drag it behind me.

“I’ve done nothing wrong!” Ferrith shouted to anyone that would listen. “This man is illegally detaining me! I didn’t step foot on church land! You all saw it!”

“Hey, umm… what should I do?” I asked Ferrith. I was struggling to keep up as I dragged the bag after me, but didn’t want to just abandon Ferrith’s belongings to the mercy of the strangers gathered outside the church. “Should I take this back to Grog and wait for you?” I wasn’t sure I could make it that far, but I was willing to try if it meant Ferrith would owe me a favor.

The paladin grunted something, pointing back at me.

“I don’t understand you,” I told him. “Ferrith, tell him I can’t understand him.”

“Who? That guy?” Ferrith said to the paladin, looking back my way. “He’s just some kid that started following me because I’m the only one that can understand his language. We’re not friends.”