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[color=moccasin]It was rainy in Harmoln. The sky was grey and Edyta Laska sat on a bench beneath a colonnade, watching men and women in clerical vestments bustle about the cathedral courtyard. In the near distance, a bell tolled, announcing the change from Oraff to Eshiran. The young rezaindian closed her eyes, leaned back, and rested her head on the cool stone, listening to the city's other churches take up the chorus. [color=6ecff6][i]Mother Oraff, we thank you. Mother Eshiran, we welcome you.[/i][/color] There was a stray thought at the end, though. [color=f26522][i]How you and Father Eshiran [b]feasted[/b] upon the people of Mandelein.[/i][/color] She quickly disavowed it, but it had happened. The rezaindian kept her eyes shut as the bells faded, their minute of impact over. Instead, she listened to the quiet voices under the colonnades and the patter of feet and raindrops across courtyards and rooftops. She let the scent of the rain carry her away. She was tired - the sort of weariness that sets within your bones and becomes near-impossible to root out without a few nights of uninterrupted good sleep in a row. 

Then, two sets of the many footsteps that had passed her by... did [i]not[/i]. They stopped right in front of her and bright green-blue eyes opened. 

[color=0072bc]"Sister Mercy."[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"Your Eminence."[/color] She rose to her feet, curtsying before him. Bishop Ambrose of Harmoln - a fellow rezaindian as it so happened - stood before her, a brother of the white order over his shoulder with a board and parchment. 

[color=0072bc]"Walk with me, child."[/color] He smiled tightly and motioned for her to follow. The monk followed silently and something uneasy took root in Edyta's stomach. His footsteps were too practiced. His eyes too watchful. She knew him for what he was. 

The bishop clasped his hands at the small of his back, slowing up to wait for her, and she followed, beside but slightly behind, hands clasped demurely in front of her. [color=0072bc]"So, I have heard that things in Mandelein did not go quite as we had hoped."[/color]

[color=00aeef]"No, your eminence. Eshiran forgive me."[/color]

He glanced down at her sternly and she found herself reduced in his eyes. [color=0072bc]"You had best hope so."[/color] He shook his head. [color=0072bc]"Not only does the threat remain unchecked, one of our own people has turned to blasphemy and remains free to pour his filth into the ears of others. Hundreds are dead, and -"[/color]

The reached a door and the monk who had been trailing them had managed to slip to the side and ahead before Edyta had so much as noticed. He opened the door quietly and bowed his head. She remembered to incline hers in return.

[color=0072bc]"- I would ask you to follow me, sister."[/color] It was a trap and she knew it. To enter there was a trap. [color=f26522][i]Might we speak out here, father, where the air is fresh?[/i][/color] She thought it but she did not say it. Instead, she merely nodded in submission and followed. [color=6ecff6]"As you wish, your eminence."[/color]

The Black Rezaindian seized her from behind and she had to tamp down on her reflex to avoid killing him. There was a Stresian Philosopher in the small, dark room, and he pricked her with a spade. The drops of blood collected were emptied into a glass tube and examined for a moment. Then, the stresian shook his head. [color=c4df9b]"She's uncontaminated."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"I am sorry for the deception, sister, but we had to be certain."[/color]

At the age of seventeen, Edyta Laska was starting to understand that the people above her were not necessarily, [i]automatically[/i] more competent than she was. She bowed her head once more. [color=00aeef]"Of course, your eminence. I'd have done the same."[/color] She waited for him to dismiss the other two and substantially address the matter at hand, but he did neither.

[color=c4df9b]"Your... report mentioned a demonic item,"[/color] the stresian interjected.

The lone woman's eyes darted about. They remained in this small room by torchlight. She nodded. [color=6ecff6]"Yes, father. There was a girl named Dorothea Hohnstein von Albesatz-Danzau - a Feskan. She's a student at the school. There is this headpiece - like a tiara - that she wears and she never takes it off."[/color] She regarded them each in turn as she spoke. [color=f26522]"I sensed a dark energy to it - usually muted, but occasionally a great deal."[/color] She shook her head. [color=6ecff6]"An opportunity did not arise for me to take it."[/color]

[color=c4df9b]"We thank you for bringing this to our attention, sister."[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"It is my pleasure, father."[/color]

His smile of thanks was intended to have warmth.

[color=0072bc]"Then this must be your next task, my child."[/color] It was Bishop Ambrose. He did not smile. [color=0072bc]"The gods are perfect. Us humans, less so. I will correspond with your superiors in the City of the Bells. I am certain that Lady Eshiran will absolve you should you find success."[/color]

She [i]had[/i] failed. Edyta swallowed. She had failed Eshiran in both aspects. Those who deserved death had not met with it. Many who did not had fallen. [color=6ecff6][i]I am sorry. Lord Eshiran, forgive me. Lady Eshiran, forgive me! I shall not be weak. I shall act as a better instrument of your will. This, I promise.[/i][/color] She swore it, then, before the gods and their representatives, making the sign of the Pentad. There remained one question, however. [color=6ecff6]"Forgive my ignorance, your eminence,"[/color] she began, [color=6ecff6]"but... success in what?"[/color]

The bishop nodded towards the [s]White[/s] Black rezaindian who was taking his notes before turning back to face her. [color=0072bc]"My child: yours is a very special task indeed."[/color] He reached out for her hands and took them. She did not resist. [color=0072bc]"You must, one way or another, separate Dorothea from that crown."[/color] He squeezed gently and she nodded, gazing up into his cool grey eyes by torchlight. [color=0072bc]"Her family is influential, so you are to avoid harming her if it is a simple matter."[/color] His grip tightened. [color=0072bc]"But if it is not, you may use all and any means at your disposal."[/color]

Sister Laska nodded. [color=6ecff6]"As you command, your eminence."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"I do not command, young one."[/color] He smiled at her now, and she averted her eyes from his steadfast gaze for a moment, casting about the room. [color=0072bc]"It is the will of the Gods themselves, and you and I are but instruments."[/color] 

[color=6ecff6]"Always, your eminence."[/color]

He looked her up and down for a moment. [color=0072bc]"So very blessed by Ipte are you."[/color] He shook his head. [color=0072bc]"A pity it was not a young man you were to deal with."[/color] Finally, he released her hands, and she found them cramped and sweaty. [color=0072bc]"Nevermind. You will succeed just the same, because you must."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"I understand."[/color] She bowed her head.

[color=0072bc]"Excellent, my child."[/color] Once more, his eyes fell upon her and hers rose to meet them. He managed a quick smile, with his lips. [color=0072bc]"Now, I imagine you've had quite the journey here."[/color]

[color=c4df9b]"Your eminence, if I may?"[/color] There was an interruption. It was the Stresian. 

[color=0072bc]"Certainly, Father Behringer."[/color] The priest bowed his head in thanks and turned matter-of-factly towards the nun. [color=c4df9b]"Sister, we have reason to believe that the vault of the late Graf Kapperstel may contain an item of great importance to the church and to your order in particular."[/color] The three men exchanged glances. Then, the stresian continued. [color=c4df9b]"This may or may not be the case, but rumours persist of a sword of unusual qualities possessed by the family."[/color]

Edyta pentacted herself. [color=00aeef][i]Lord Eshiran![/i][/color] It was the sacred sword, artifact of Eshiran-Zept himself, placed among men so that they might know the gods! Her heart leapt before the anxiety could take over. [color=00aeef][i]Thank you, Eshiran, thank you Dami and Shune![/i][/color] If they had truly chosen her for such a task, they had blessed her - but a humble servant - greatly. 

[color=0072bc]"Some believe it is the sword of our Lord Eschiran himself,"[/color] the bishop confirmed. [color=0072bc]"Though I doubt there is any truth to the rumour, we request that you look into it and provide your superiors in Ersand'Enise with some certainty."[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"And if it should turn out to be the genuine article?"[/color]

[color=c4df9b]"Well, my sister in the Pentad, I imagine it is not such a stretch of the imagination to understand just how dangerous such a thing might prove in the wrong hands."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"In those of a demon,"[/color] Bishop Ambrose clarified, and Edyta found herself irked for a moment. She wasn't sure why.

[color=00aeef]"I shall always act in the church's interest, my lords."[/color] They were all noble. She could sense it in the way that they talked - in how they carried themselves. [color=c4df9b]"As we would we all, sister."[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"But... pray tell,"[/color] she began, [color=6ecff6]"How will I recognize such a sacred article?"[/color] She shook her head. [color=f26522]"Imperfect as they are at interpreting Lady Ipte's will, the many artists who have depicted it have done so in a variety of ways."[/color]

Bishop Ambrose scowled, perhaps in thought, but Father Behringer smiled. [color=c4df9b]"This is, of course, an issue."[/color] He regarded her thoughtfully and she felt her cheeks warm under the attention. She had rarely been studious - capable at best in academic matters as opposed to brilliant according to her instructors. [color=c4df9b]"But they were not misled, I tell you."[/color] He smiled at his own cleverness. [color=c4df9b]"For this form takes many forms, from a great many peoples around the world."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"So it is simple,"[/color] concluded the bishop, eager to have the final word. [color=0072bc]"If she often seems to wield a different sword - and few women are so inclined to such a weapon anyhow - and wields it with great power, then you will have reasonable grounds to act, and you are [i]heartily[/i] encouraged to do so."[/color]

Edyta bowed low to the ground. [color=6ecff6]"I thank you and the gods alike for your wisdom and your trust."[/color] She rose. [color=6ecff6]"I will not let you down."[/color][/color] 

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