The massive gates of the Grand Ember Creed Cathedral creaked open, welcoming a procession of opulent carriages that rolled in under the muted light of the late morning sun.
The coaches, ornate and regal, gleamed with gold trims and crimson panels—originally the property of the branch itself.
Now, they returned from their task of escorting highly dignified guests who had, quite inexplicably, stumbled into the city on foot.
The horses, bred from holy stables and adorned with ceremonial armor, moved with solemn precision.
Priests and acolytes alike had been dispatched in droves to retrieve these mysterious visitors, whose arrival had stirred speculation in every corner of the church grounds.
It had been a long journey for the pope, made longer by the demands of discretion. And yet, it was a price well worth paying.
Most noble houses had not even begun to guess the true identities of the exotic guests for whom the church had prepared so meticulously.
