The Nine Bishops

Mika was running out of time. She hadn’t meant to wait until the last minute, but she had just returned from completing a contract on which she’d collaborated with Pudge. The man was slow and always had to eat at the most inconvenient times. A contract that should have taken only three days quickly turned into five.

It was her second contract with Pudge, but the first where she had to spend more than one day with him. She immediately regretted taking it. It was only third-class, not ordinarily a big deal, issued by the mayor of Gabel, a town of about a thousand people just outside Monsoon.

The town had been raided by a small group of bandits, who had stolen most of the residents’ livestock and grain stocks. The mayor’s budget was spread thin so. The town couldn’t afford to reimburse the residents; because of the shortages, local prices skyrocketed, and merchants from Monsoon were exploiting the situation by charging high prices. The mayor’s contract asked for one of two things: monetary relief or arrest of the bandits.

The SCA deemed it a third-class contract—unless the bandits were arrested, in which case it would be escalated to second class. Mika saw this contract as an opportunity to find good favor in Gabel. The reward was free accommodation and food for life, which was a good enough deal for her.

She asked Pudge to help her, since he could simply duplicate crops to provide some relief to the citizens—though his magic was limited in scope. Mika learned he could only duplicate something a few times. And he refused to duplicate living things—a subject he refused to talk about with anyone.

As soon as Pudge heard food was involved in the job, he readily accepted. They got to the village quickly and spoke to the mayor, from whom Mika learned everything she could about the suspected whereabouts of the bandits. She decided to search for them for a couple of days before returning to the village and having Pudge duplicate their food supply.

The trouble was, every few hours Pudge would ask Mika what they would be doing for food. It annoyed her so much she just stopped talking to him outright. She would use her magic to catch him a wild rabbit and throw it to him whenever he asked. Pudge knew how to survive in the wild, but he was lazy and never tried to find his own food. He also refused to move while eating, so the trip involved constant stops.

After two days in the wilderness, Mika and Pudge tracked down the bandit camp, which seemed to be home to twelve low-level mages. Mika and Pudge captured them easily enough; she froze their legs in place, while Pudge duplicated the trees around the camp so they were completely boxed in. Then it was just a matter of contacting the local authorities to have them arrested.

The next day, the town threw a festival to celebrate the duo’s return, plying them with food and drink. At some point, Pudge disappeared, and Mika found him the following morning, passed out in a stable. Mika couldn’t budge him out of a deep slumber and waited all day for him to wake up.

When he finally did, it took longer to return to Monsoon than Mika had anticipated. Now she was berating herself for taking this contract just a few days before the end of the Selection of Sixteen. As they entered the city, the sun was already beginning to set. She had just an hour before the Selection was to close.

She had decided months ago that she was ready, but she had managed to keep her plans secret. The only others who knew were Zaya, who was still against the whole idea, and Tink, who trusted her decision.

Mika asked Pudge to turn in the contract on their behalves and started running towards the central square as soon as he was out of sight.

Against a darkening sky, she could see the stars coming to life that signaled which Bishops’ nominees had already dropped their medallions: Bishop Tempest, Bishop Wild, Bishop Soot, Bishop Static, Bishop Mistress, and Bishop Steel.

With just an hour left, Mika doubted that anyone else would have waited so long. She was in this position only due to her own negligence. But then, Lancel had said he’d wait to the last day, also. If he stayed true to his word, he would drop his medallion tonight. That is, if he’d managed to hold on to it.

Mika had heard that dozens of mages had tried to seize Lancel’s medallion and failed. More remarkable still was that no one knew exactly what Lancel’s magic was. Despite his prominence, his strain was largely a mystery. All anyone knew for certain was that he was truly powerful, since he had completed so many first-class contracts, a feat that would take a remarkable mage.

The last emblem to appear in the sky was from a medallion dropped two months ago: Bishop Soot’s. There had been much speculation about it; the medallion had apparently changed hands many times. The mage who originally received it had mistakenly revealed his identity and was dead now. But no one seemed certain who was the last to receive it.

As Mika ran toward the central square, she reflected on the fact that there were only two possible Bishop candidates left, since she held the Joker’s medallion: those of Bishop Flame or Bishop Frost. She badly wanted to be the Flame. After every medallion had dropped, her wish had become more likely. Now the chance was fifty percent.

Mika, running full tilt, felt her heart rate soar. She came to a halt just outside the invisible barrier, her chest pounding. She had never tried to go through it, aware that it was impossible without a medallion or guild token. Bojo Jack was the one exception: he received temporary privileges to enter so that he could lead the opening ceremony.

Mika looked around to see if anyone was watching, but the few people walking by just ignored her.

She took a deep breath and one step—and was through the barrier.

It had happened easily, as though nothing at all impeded her. But she was surprised to find herself in a familiar place. It was exactly like her dreams! Empty and white. The sounds of the city disappeared. For a moment, Mika thought she was dreaming again, but she quickly realized she was entirely conscious. In this reality, unlike her dreams, her father did not appear. Forward, in the white distance, stood a fountain.

Mika looked back again and noticed a faint boundary line on the ground that seemed to mark where the border between the white space and the city. She tried stepping back across the line and instantly found herself back in colorful, bustling Monsoon, in the same spot where she’d been standing seconds before. She turned back through the barrier, and was back in the silent white space.

Awed by this magic, Mika slowly walked towards the fountain, the sound of her footsteps echoing in the nothingness. She had no idea if anyone could see her from outside of the barrier, but it didn’t matter. She was fully committed now.

When she reached the fountain, she looked down into it and saw crystal-clear water. At the bottom lay all the Bishop medallions and guild tokens that had been dropped earlier. It reminded her of all the wishing fountains she’d seen where people had thrown in coins hoping to see a single wish come true. All these medallions and tokens had the same wish associated with them: to be the next Bishop.

Mika hesitated. That wasn’t her wish. Or at least, not the real wish. Becoming a Bishop was just a means to an end for her. If she dropped her medallion into the water, she would wish for something entirely different. Her wish was to change the way things were in Seemos.

Reflecting on her image in the water, Mika thought back to all that had happened since she arrived Home. First, she’d achieved her longtime dream of entering the War Eagles. Sam and Bella’s mentoring had come to fruition. Mika thought again of her beloved Sam, as she did every day, and fingered the stone around her neck. Despite all the time that had flown by, she carried hope that he was still alive, however unlikely that might be.

In Zaya and Tink, she had made two incredibly good friends. She had formed a new family with her guild—a dysfunctional family, to be sure, but a family nonetheless. She had become close to all its members, including Doc, Roxanne, Pudge, and even Manard. Master Beng still acted as though he was her deranged father, but Mika knew he had her best interests in mind.

She had also completed sixty-six contracts: fourteen fourth-class, fourteen third-class, seven second-class, and one first-class contract. From the time she got lost in an ancient tomb with Zaya looking for a long-lost artifact to the time she sabotaged a rogue guild’s human trafficking network, Mika had accomplished a lot. Mika had done contracts by herself, with Zaya, Roxanne, Doc, Pudge, and Manard, and sometimes two or more of them together.

Once, Doc and Mika sailed north to track down a sea beast. Another time, Mika was captured by a serial killer and Manard saved her. One marginal contract involved Mika and Roxanne participating in a modelling shoot. All the official contracts had stories most ordinary folk wouldn’t believe, but Mika found the life of guild mages was often exactly that: unbelievable.

But none were as fulfilling as the fifth-class contracts she’d completed: thirty of them, and every one of them in secret.

She’d taken a few that required escorting Filth across the Low Road. Others involved fixing Filth housing or, if that couldn’t be done, quietly raising a few silver to get a family into proper living conditions. Few had any reward associated with them, and none involved any public recognition.

The truth was that fame and financial rewards didn’t matter to Mika. She was one of the Filth, no matter what the necklace she wore displayed to the world.

Mika’s wish was for a world in which mages and Filth saw each other as equals. She’d seen the worst of her divided society when she worked on the fifth-class contracts, but also the subtle ways in which Filth were shunned and marginalized—even in her closest relationships.

Despite Zaya’s constant drop-in visits to talk with Tink, for example, they never spent time together in public. There were secret conversations and hidden laughs, but Zaya knew better than to do anything beyond that. She had a reputation as a mage, and no matter how much they enjoyed each other’s company, the two could never openly be friends.

Mika had noticed that, no matter how much their friendship had grown, Tink never told Mika any more about his history. And she never asked, realizing there was always going to be some level of mistrust between them. Nor did Tink ask Mika any more about her past, despite her passing revelation that she understood more about the Filth experience than he imagined. His silence made Mika uncomfortable with bringing up the topic again.

The way things were hurt Mika’s heart. If mages and Filth could see themselves as equals, life would be better for everyone, she was certain.

So that’s my ultimate wish, she thought, pondering the medallions in the fountain.

If I become a Bishop, I’m one step closer to the king. If I’m one step closer to the king, I can change things. I can rid Seemos of this king and make things right.

Mika pulled the Joker’s medallion out of her pocket. After carrying it for so long, it would feel unnatural to not have it anymore. Clutching the medallion in front of her, she held it over the fountain. Once she let go, there would be no turning back.

With her vision clear in her head, she released the medallion. It struck the crystal-clear water without a splash and slowly sank to the bottom.

When it hit, Mika felt a warm sensation on the palm of her right hand. She turned her hand over and saw a message there: Return to the fountain by dawn tomorrow. Failure to do so will mean disqualification.

The instant she’d read it, the message disappeared.

Mika had just turned to leave when she heard footsteps behind her. She spun back in surprise to see Lancel some distance away, walking toward the fountain.

“Well, well, well. I’m surprised to see someone else here. I guess it’s to be expected, since there was one more nominee left,” he said.

Mika went into a defensive stance. She hadn’t seen Lancel since the opening ceremonies and would have avoided bumping into him if she had. She’d worried about what he would do if he learned she had a Bishop’s medallion.

“Relax, I’m not going to hurt you. That’s what the tournament is for, anyway,” he said casually. “I’m just here to drop my medallion as I said I would.”

Mika, still guarded, backed away from the fountain to let him by. When he got to it, he confidently tossed it into the water. Apparently, he felt the warm sensation on his hand, too. Mika watched him read the message on his palm, to be sure he didn’t make any sudden moves. Then he looked up at Mika and studied her face, a flicker of recognition crossing his own.

“You are the girl my grandfather allowed to enter the guild,” he said, evidently upset. “Why you?” he muttered under his breath.

Mika, who wasn’t sure why he was reacting as he was, stood silently to see what he would do next. Then a familiar voice spoke from a distance, drawing shocked looks from both. It made no sense that someone else would be here.

“So, the rumors are true,” Master Beng said, walking up to the fountain. He was the last person Mika was expecting, and from the look on Lancel’s face, the last he’d expected, too.

“I don’t know what you are doing here, grandfather, but you are too late,” Lancel said forcefully, his voice thick with emotion.

Mika didn’t know exactly what Lancel was referring to, but she assumed it was about dropping the medallion. After her initial conversation with Tink, she hadn’t dared ask any more questions about Master Beng’s relationship with his grandson. All she knew was that Master Beng had forbidden Lancel from joining the War Eagles because of his desire to be a Bishop. Ironically, he remained on the path to becoming one.

“It’s not too late,” he said, walking closer.

“Of course it’s too late. I’ve already dropped the medallion, you fool. Now no one can oppose my dream. Only the Bishop has any chance of stopping me,” Lancel said, now in a barely controlled rage.

Master Beng walked straight up to the fountain. He pulled something from his pocket and threw it into the water. Mika caught a quick glimpse of it and could hardly believe her eyes. Master Beng had just entered the tournament by dropping the War Eagles’ token.

“I still can,” Master Beng said, quietly turning around. He had made no acknowledgement of Mika. It was as though she hadn’t been there at all.

Entering the tournament contradicted everything Master Beng stood for. When she’d asked about the token once, he’d responded that it indeed existed, but he would not let anyone have it.

“No War Eagle will ever be a Bishop as long as I am master,” he’d told her, without explanation. After that conversation, Mika decided she would never discuss with Master Beng that she possessed a medallion, though she was certain Manard had told him that day in the kitchen when she showed it to Tink.

She would have thought being present there would at least have drawn a reprimand, but Master Beng hadn’t even glanced at her. He seemed focused on one thing: keeping Lancel from becoming a Bishop.

Lancel was speechless. Fuming, he watched the old man walk away, through the barrier and out of view.

“That man thinks he can stop me?” he said angrily, more to himself than to Mika. “I’ll kill him if I have to.”

He turned to Mika. “I’ll kill you, too.”

And with that he stormed off, leaving her alone.

Just like that, the Selection of Sixteen was over. All the possible contestants had dropped their medallions and tokens.

The encounter with Master Beng left Mika deeply uneasy. It had all happened so quickly that she had no idea what his motives were. She desperately wanted to find him and ask him about everything, yet she worried that he would be angry at her for keeping her own intentions a secret.

Mika quickly left the white void as she formulated a plan in her next steps. She wanted to tell Zaya she had done it—she had dropped the medallion. After that, she would go to the guild house, tell Tink, and then tell the others everything. Once that was done, she would speak with Master Beng, she decided, hoping she could muster the confidence to do it.

When she came through the barrier, she saw a large crowd had gathered outside. But instead of staring at Mika as she emerged, they all had their eyes fixed on the sky above her.

Mika looked up, too, and saw the stars. Every contestant had been selected. Every guild’s crest appeared in the sky, including the screaming eagle, the symbol of the War Eagles. Every Bishop’s emblem was in the sky as well, but one. Since she’d entered, the Joker’s emblem—a jester holding a playing card—had appeared, and next to it the emblem of the Bishop whose medallion Lancel had dropped: a torch giving out brilliant fire. That could mean only one thing.

Suddenly, all the stars began to converge into an exhilarating light show. The sixteen emblems in the sky spun into one. The display was so mesmerizing, Mika almost forgot the huge crowd that surrounded her. Now everyone was staring at the one emblem left in the sky: a single snowflake. Mika might have stood there forever gazing at it, if someone in the crowd hadn’t pulled her into the sea of wondering eyes.