Weiss sang softly to herself as she swept the steps down to the Summer spirit gate. Once she had sung for audiences of thousands, enjoyed wealth and privilege few would ever enjoy. Now she sang only for herself, for the joy of singing, and she had a broom and temple steps to sweep.
She looked up as a blonde woman came running through the gate, collapsing at her feet. "Sanc-sanctuary," the woman gasped, clutching at Weiss's robes. "I claim sanctuary."
Weiss drew a deep breath. No matter how much she wanted to help the woman, there were the proper forms to be observed. "Do you walk the path of the Maidens?"
The woman nodded, reaching into her shirt and pulling out a pendant that proclaimed her a celebrant of Summer, and Weiss nodded, satisfied. Before she could reach into her pocket, two archons followed the woman through the gate. "There you are! You're coming with us now."
With quick steps Weiss interposed herself between the archons and the blonde woman, holding her broom in front of her as if it were a sword. "She has claimed sanctuary within these temple grounds. Thus your authority over her ended when she crossed that gate."
The taller of the two archons sneered. "You're just a junior priestess. Who's anyone going to believe, you or us? Give her over and nobody gets hurt."
"Except her." Weiss blew a stray hair out of her face in annoyance. "And I think you will find that some junior priestesses are more equal than others."
The shorter of the pair was a little quicker on the uptake than his companion. "Hey, aren't you Weiss Schnee, the prelate's daughter? So this is where you fetched up, traitor!"
"There is no shame in following the calling of one's heart." She reached into the pocket of her robes and pulled out her scroll even as the blonde woman rolled on her back, still gasping for breath. "Ozpin, I have a woman by the Summer gate claiming sanctuary. There are two thugs wearing archon's uniforms trying to drag her off. Yes, they can hear me, and no, I don't care. Fine. I will be polite." Weiss gave a minimal nod of greeting to the pair of archons. "He will be here shortly. I would offer you tea, but I don't want to wander off just now. There might be a misunderstanding, and we wouldn't want that, would we?"
Unfortunately, the prelate arrived before Ozpin did. "Weiss." The contempt in his voice made the single syllable of her name a curse. "So this is where you've been hiding."
"Prelate. How honored we are that you bless our humble temple with your holy presence once again." Weiss knew damn well that the last time the local prelate of the Church of the Sword had visited the temple grounds, he'd threatened to burn it to the ground and turn it into a graveyard, or possibly a golf course. Ozpin's response had been simple: "You can try."
By now, several visitors to the temple were watching, and Wiess had to remind herself to remain calm. The Atlas constitution enshrined religious tolerance, but it was a principle more often honored in theory than in fact. If the Church of the Sword and its more... fervent adherents had their way, every temple to the Maidens would be wiped from the face of Remnant.
Finally, Ozpin arrived, ever-present coffee cup in hand. He slurped as he walked up, making Weiss roll her eyes. She swore he'd never put it down if he didn't need both hands for ceremonies. Ozpin glanced at the prelate but pointedly ignored him, kneeling by the still unnamed blonde woman. "You're safe now, there's nothing to fear. What's your name, and what drives you to you claim sanctuary within these temple grounds?"
"My name is Yang, Yang Xiao Long, and I've been blessed by the Maiden of Summer. These two" Yang jerked her head toward the pair of archons, "were trying to drag me off to the Witchfinders."
"Serious allegations, indeed. Let's hear their side of things, shall we?" Ozpin rose, smoothing out his robes. "Prelate, what do you have to say to these charges?"
"The Witchfinders are a myth, invented by those who need to feel persecuted." The prelate's eyes turned toward Weiss. "Or those with things to hide."
"Regardless, she's claimed sanctuary here, and I'm going to grant it. You will, of course, honor it."
"She's wanted under church law, for heresy."
"And since she's a celebrant of the maidens who has claimed sanctuary within the temple, you have to prove the heresy. To us, not the Church of the Sword."
The prelate scoffed. "Your little temple can't protect you this time. She destroyed church property and ran away, laughing and taunting us."
"Which is it? Destroying church property or heresy? Or are you trying to claim one deed as both?" Ozpin remarked, taking another slurp of his coffee.
"I don't have time for this. Get her!" The prelate jerked his head, gesturing the archons forward, and Ozpin sighed. "Explain his mistake to him, please, Weiss?"
"First, you're violating our temple grounds. In front of witnesses who are no doubt posting this all over the internet. And your authority ends about twenty feet behind you, so I'm sure the Kingdom Council will have something to say about that. I doubt it will do the 'special relationship' the Church has with the council much good, will it?
"Second, if you were half as observant as you think you are, you'd know why I took up the path of the Maidens." Weiss narrowed her eyes in concentration as she reached inside her soul to unleash that gift the Maidens had bestowed on her. Once she had feared that gift, but now, it was as natural a part of her as her arm.
Two whirlwinds of ice and snow appeared on either side of her, coalescing into a pair of twelve-foot armored warriors, naganitas held at the ready. "Now," Weiss said, her voice echoing with a howling north wind, "do we continue this?"
The prelate took a step back in shock. "Keep the witch for now. We'll be back. She has to leave the temple sometime, and when she does, we'll be waiting." He turned and stormed back out the gate, the pair of archons following behind.
"Thanks. That was pretty cool. Can I learn that trick?" Yang asked as Weiss helped her to her feet.
"Not quite. If Summer has indeed blessed you, and you can endure the training, then yes, you will be able to summon creatures. But yours would be made of living fire, not frost. And that was quite the summoning, Weiss. You've been practicing." Ozpin beamed at his prized pupil."
Weiss blushed, the rush of pink in her cheeks starkly visible under her pale complexion. "Thank you. It's a little tiring, and I can't keep it up for long, but I thought it worth it to send that ass on his way."
"Yeah, I'll say! I've been running from those goons for a day and a half. You really saved my hide. Watch this." Yang held her hands out, shoulder width apart, and a ball of fire appeared in each hand. She started to juggle them, and soon a third and a fourth joined them. "That's about all I can do, and I can't keep it up for long." The fireballs vanished like a candle flame in the wind. "Neat party trick, though, right?"
"Indeed. If I may be so bold, if you're already that strong, perhaps you should consider temple vows yourself. If the Witchfinders are indeed actively pursuing you, it would give you a sound reason to remain on the temple grounds. Weiss, please show her to a guest room. I have phone calls to make."
As the pair walked to the priest's quarters, Yang let out a heavy sigh. "I'm glad that's over."
"I think you'll find that you've only traded one set of problems for another. That's the way life usually is."
"That's for sure. But I think I'm in better company now. Cuter, too," Yang added with a wink.
Weiss blushed. "Before you go too far down that train of thought, I will point out that while we are not required to be celibate, it's preferred that we not... well, that we're married first. And you would have to impress me first."
"Princess, I think you'd be worth the wait." Yang sniffed herself. "After I shower, though. Definitely not a thought I want to entertain before a shower."