“So, what is this Franz Xavier guy all about?’ asked James, as he and his mare plodded along the road to Badendorf, next to Saturin and her horse.

  “There is a tale’” answered the Animal magic mage. “Prelate Xavier was once a bigwig high up in the Cathedral of Theodor in Badendorf. Literally, Luthar’s right hand man. But Xave found life in the city too soft and believed that the Grand Theogonist spent too much time sucking up to the Kaiser. He packed up and moved to the boonies to fight some real demons!”

  “His Altar Coach seemed incredibly powerful back there. I don’t want to think about what would have happened if he hadn’t shown up. The demons seemed invincible until those green rays from the Altar took them out,” recounted James.

  “Yes, he banished them clear back to the realm of Chaos,” explained Saturin. “Mind you, it might have been nice to have seen him show up a half hour earlier. He could have saved most of those soldiers. The Prelate is known to be somewhat unpredictable. He dances to his own drum, as it were. Don’t go thinking that Franz Xavier is capable of bailing us out of future scrapes. He wields enormous power but it only works against beings of pure Chaos. demons mostly. Against a band of brigands or a pack of Orcs he’d just be another battlefield target. We’d be bailing him out. I am shocked that he agreed to accompany us. I’m thinking that the Prelate likes you James.”

  “Does the Altar Coach work by magic?’ asked James. He was feeling the need for some of the characteristics of this world to be explained to him. “Is Prelate Franz Xavier some sort of magician?”

  “Not exactly,” answered Saturin, chuckling lightly. “Magicians and Clerics don’t usually get along, and claim to have very different approaches to the supernatural. Magicians seek power in the study of the natural world. Light, crystals, darkness, animals, plants, metals and the heavens all form the inspirations for those practicing the art of sorcery. There are other forms as well. With clerical practitioners there is only one path that is permissible: Theodor. Our Empire’s founder journeyed to the lands of the Empire from Britannia, the Land of Roses. He even brought our language with him. He unified the tribes of our continent, founded our federation, and introduced our way of life. Old Theodor was a big time evangelist and believed Chaos to be the ultimate enemy. He also believed that the construction of cities, bridges, ports, roads, schools, factories and all that, should be the common goal of everyone in the Empire. Theodor wasn’t much of a naturalist. Neither are his worshippers. So clerical ‘magic’ is much more practical in its nature, and solely designed to put Chaos into its place. The Church of Theodor is one of black and white, where no intermediate areas of grey are recognised. You’d be best to watch your tongue whenever a Prelate is near. I know that I do.”

  “Respectfully, I haven’t exactly observed you being careful as to what you are saying, Saturin,” replied James with a grin.

  “Well, maybe not around you, Jimmy boy, but with those guys,” she said, as she reached out her right arm towards the trundling Altar Carriage, “It is best to limit what you say. Prelates are known for misinterpreting words and phrases. The last thing you want in life is for the Church of Theodor to examine the way you conduct yourself. Nobody wants to be labelled a ‘heretic’.”

  “I knew a religious practitioner here the last time I was summoned to your land,” replied James. “Celeste.”

  “Ah! A Sister of Theodor,” recognised Saturin. “I know her well! I saw you with Celeste outside the College of Astromancy. She’s okay. Better than most. The thing is this. Here in this world there are many different approaches to life. And within those different approaches; let us use my College of Animal Wizardry as an example; there are factional differences. Most members of my order are the very opposite of religiosity. We spend our time as far away from civilization as possible. But there are exceptions, and I am one of them. I am just as happy in the city as the country. There are even a few practitioners of Animal magic that only thrive in the city and immerse themselves in the service of politicians and rulers. We are delivering this Chimera to the most powerful of these Animalia Lords. They run the Royal Imperial Zoo. Kaiser Willhelm’s private pets! He needs another one apparently,” explained Saturin cynically.

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  “Most members of my order despise the whole idea of a ‘zoo,’” stated Saturin definitively. “Do you have zoos in your world, James?”

  “Yes, many of them,” answered James, suddenly remembering visits he made to zoos as a child.

  “Well, here in the Empire we have just one, and it's a doozy!”

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  The Royal Cage Cart and its escorts reached the city of Helm on the evening of the next day. The citizenry of Helm greeted the Chimera with a level of enthusiasm similar to that of Bellsburg, but on a larger scale. Fortunately, the fact that Helm is the capital city of Mittelland meant that overnight facilities were available for the entire traveling company at the soldier barracks on the west end of the city. James felt safe for the night, and well rested in the morning after a comfortable sleep on a decent mattress.

  The next morning the convoy set off westward towards the city of Stalsburg, which was familiar to James from his first adventure to this Alternate Earth. Upon arrival, Empress Viktoria once again welcomed James and his newfound companions to her industrial city. The welcome was more of a celebration than the previous visit. It was as if the Mountain Chimera in the Royal Cage cart was a trophy of war from a distant land. A lavish dinner was held in honor of the capture of the beast and praise heaped upon those responsible for its capture. The Empress also seemed pleased to see James but was largely unaware of the greater purpose of their quest, so James respectfully socialized with Viktoria but did not mention the plan to travel to Islandia. She seemed far less friendly to Bearclaw Irontooth than she had been with Oakleaf Gilderwood, treating him almost as if she feared him. Another difference from the first visit was the absence of Sir Gunther Hartmann. “He is on campaign in the Northlands,” was her only explanation. Prelate Franz Xavier declined his invitation to the celebratory dinner and instead led a private prayer group in the Stalsburg Castle’s Chapel. Elana, now fully recovered in body, if not in spirit, attended the event but turned in early.

  The pleasantries exchanged, Captain Kendrich led his soldiers out of the city’s west gate, leaving the smoke stacks of Stalsburg behind. The Royal Cage Cart, Bearclaw, Elana, James and Saturin followed along behind, all on horseback. Prelate Franz Xavier chose to separate himself from the convoy and instead traveled east back towards his adoptive home church in Bellsburg.

  ____________________________________________________________________

  Badendorf loomed. James’s familiarity with this portion of the journey was significant. He remembered most everything and eagerly anticipated his return to the magnificent capital city of the Empire. Truth be told, James would love to be given a week on his own in the city to explore when and where his fancies took him. That remarkable Konigsplaza market would be the first place he would go, if he could.

  The Royal Cage Cart arrived at the South Gate of the city and James marvelled at the rich red and blue uniforms of the soldiers who greeted his entourage. But this time, in addition to the well equipped soldiery, two figures who were clearly mages of the order of Animalia also manned the gates.

  Lord Bearclaw Irontooth dismounted and approached the two mages clad in furs and tan colored robes. Yellow gemstones were scattered through their garments and also decorated their bone staffs. The two obviously respected Lord Irontooth, or perhaps more accurately seemed to fear him. Though out of earshot of James, it was obvious a heated discussion was taking place with much animation on the part of Bearclaw Irontooth. For an instant James almost thought he saw Bearclaw’s head replace itself with a bear head but then he regained his human features. Or maybe James had imagined that. Bearclaw Irontooth let out an ungodly, “RRROAR!” and returned towards Captain Kendrich, James, Elana and Saturin.

  “Lord Lionheart and Lord Bisonhorn will take control of the Chimera. Upon orders of the Kaiser they will escort our beast to the Royal Imperial Zoo. It seems that the Kaiser does not trust us to manage the beast within the walls of his beloved capital,’ explained Lord Irontooth with disgust evident in his voice.

  The parade entered the South Gate and quickly turned onto a route unfamiliar to James, which led, not to the city center, but towards a somewhat less developed section of the city. Small ponds, limited growing of crops and well maintained stands of deciduous trees surrounded a fenced collection of steel barred cages. In front of the facility a group of soldiers, zoo employees and members of the Badendorf citizenry awaited the arrival of the beast from the Grey Mountains. A large metal gate was swung wide open to allow the entry of the Royal Cage Cart into the Imperial Zoo grounds. The crowds cheered as the two Animal Magic Lords guided the Mountain Chimera into the facility.

  James and his companions dismounted and animal tenders took hold of the reins of their tired mounts, leading the horses to a barn where they could be watered and fed. James, Elana, Saturin and Lord Irontooth were invited to enter the zoo facility through the front visitors entrance, accompanied by a guide. Captain Kendrich led his soldiers off to the military barracks.

  James was going to visit the Royal Imperial Zoo.