Chapter 4: A Secret Shared

Greta arrived to the throne room alongside the fifteen sisters who went on the mission to purge the coven from the tower. There was considerable excitement from the Sisters when she met up with them on the upper staircase and told them that Empress Emily was here herself. Greta made no mention of the corrupted rune, only that the Empress had a plan and Delilah would be finished.

Sister Delly shoved the heavy doors of the throne room wide open, and all gasped at the sight of twisted tree trunks and stone statues of petitioners. Greta could discern the Empress sitting on the step before her throne, with the Royal Protector beside her.

"Look!" said Bernice, pointing to the statues. Stone seemed to peel away, and people stumbled back into being. Sister Eileen ran to the aid of a particularly feeble man who looked ready to collapse.

"Empress Emily!" cried one of the petitioners. "You're back!"

The Empress stood, a small smile on her face. "Indeed, I am back. I have defeated Delilah, with the help of allies in Serkonos, and the Oracular Sisters of Dunwall. You may return to your families, much must be done to repair Dunwall."

Each petitioner bowed, and slowly left the throne room. Sister Delly lead them forward, and together the Sisters bowed before the Empress.

"Hail Empress Emily, long may she reign!" Greta said alongside her sisters. They waited to be permitted to stand, and with a wave they did.

"I would like to thank you all for your help with the coven," began the Empress, her tone regal. "I have had the pleasure of fighting alongside Sister Manderly in particular, but I would like to know all your names." She gestured to Sister Delly to start.

"I am Sister Karen Delly, your Majesty."

"I am Sister Eileen Fisher, your Majesty."

"I am Sister Hope Donell, your Majesty."

"I am Sister Bernice Wilder, your Majesty."

Greta zoned out as her Sisters continued their introductions, but her eyes were drawn to the tree trunk that arched over the throne. There were odd circular holes straight through places on the trunk. Greta would have assumed that was the result of the magic, if not for the fact that the corrupted rune she and the Empress made was still very much there. She looked at it and shuddered, hating that she had a part in creating something so vile.

Greta felt a pair of eyes on her, and turned to see the Royal Protector was staring at her. She immediately averted her eyes and straightened her spine. Something about him felt off to her, but she did not feel the need to dwell upon it. Everything about the room was off, from the large empty gilded frame leaning against the wall, to the electric-scorched throne. The whole tower would need a deep cleaning in order to feel habitable again.

A nudge at her elbow brought Greta back to attention. The Empress was addressing all of them.

"You may of course remove the bodies of your dead Brothers, and see to their honorable burials. I will rally what is left of the city watch and imprison the witches left alive and have them tried for their crimes. The dead must be buried before we can move on. I hope to receive any guidance you can offer me."

"Of course, your Majesty," replied Sister Delly humblely. "We have taken the liberty of binding up the living witches, and with your permission shall bring them to Coldridge. I have taken the liberty of sending Sister Cabrini to fetch help from out Sisters and remaining Brothers in the city and beyond to help with the cleanup and healing."

"You certainly have my permission," the Empress answered. "Your decision to send Sister Cabrini to fetch help was well made, and I thank you for the help you and the Abbey sends. I would like to ask a small favor of your chapel."

If any Sister's attention was wandering before it came right back to fully focus on the Empress. What could she ask of the Oracular Sisters, and would it be something they might have to refuse?

"I have found Sister Manderly to be deeply helpful, and would like for her to stay on as a liaison between the Crown and the Abbey."

Greta felt her heart skip a beat. Did the Empress just request for her service?

Sister Delly shot a smile at her, which calmed some of the anxiety in her gut. "I am personally delighted that you have found our Order to be of service, and Sister Manderly is one of our most promising members. She is skilled in both mind and mace. I beg that you allow her free travel from the tower to the chapel, as our libraries may help her answer your questions, and our minds can help hers broaden."

The Empress nodded, looking thoughtful. Then her gaze, and the gaze of all her sisters turned to Greta.

"What say you, Sister Manderly?"

A smile crossed her face before she curtsied before her Empress. "I, Sister Greta Manderly, am honored by your request and humbly offer to serve you best I can."

Her sisters departed, leaving Greta alone with the Empress and Royal Protector. the Empress turned to him and asked:

"Do you mind finding food for us? I know I am quite famished, and I would be surprised if you are too."

He bowed, but looked worried. "Are you sure you are safe?"

A loving, yet teasing smile crossed the Empress' face. "Quite sure. Sister Manderly here is quite skilled with a mace."

Greta felt her cheeks warm at the compliment, and the Royal Protector gave a small smile before leaving.

The Empress turned to her, tall and regal. "Now, how would you preferred to be addressed, Sister Manderly?"

Greta offered a teasing grimace and a smile. "Sister Manderly is too long, I prefer to be called Sister Greta, or just Greta."

The Empress smiled back, a teasing glint in her eye. "Alright just Greta. Alone, you may call me Emily, but if anyone else is in the room, it is your Majesty or Empress."

Greta a surprised and honored by such a gift, and told the Empress, no, Emily, as such.

Her teasing smile faded, and she strode up to the throne, to the rune they made.

"I find myself in need of a confidant," Emily confessed. "And I believe we are both bound together by this rune we made. Know this, Greta; the magic of this rune comes not from the void."

She then tried to remove it, but yanked her hand back suddenly with a yelp. The tips of Emily's fingers were bright red as if she had touched a hot iron. Greta stayed glued to her spot, a sinking feeling in the back of her mind.

"You were muttering something as you added the pigment to the rune," Emily continued, somewhat breathlessly. "What was it?"

Greta combed her mind, but it came up curiously blank. Worry seeped even further into her. "I thought it was the Strictures, but when I try to remember, nothing is there." Greta couldn't keep the fear out of her voice. But something the Empress said jumped out to her.

"Wait, how do you know that this magic isn't from the void?" Greta asked. Emily looked caught off guard and slightly defensive.

"It did not act like the rest of Delilah's magic," she replied, somewhat curt, her eyes narrowed.

Immediately Greta knew that Emily knew far more about Void magic than she would ever admit to anyone, let alone a representative of the Abbey. It did not seem the right time to press that point though, even to let the Empress know her secret was safe with little Greta Manderly.

Greta gave a nod, and brought her thumb to her chin as she got up close and peered at the thing. She could feel heat and power radiating off the rune, and that oddly made her shiver.

"That is very good to know," Greta said. "But it seems as long as we do not touch it, we shall be fine."

Emily did not look at all satisfied with that answer. "That's it?"

Greta shrugged. "I'm not sure what else you want me to do with it. It defeated Delilah right? And it's not causing harm-"

"But it is!" Emily cried, cutting Greta off mid-sentence. Her impassioned look took the Sister by surprise. There was a beat of silence, and Greta reminded herself that she had just offered to serve the Empress the best she could. But her curiosity must first be sated.

"Your Majesty, I promise that I will do everything I can to help you, but I can do little if I do not know to what or whom it is causing harm."

A flicker of nervousness crossed Emily's face, before she suddenly offered her pinky. "You swear you will not breathe a word of what I show you to any living soul?"

Greta immediately hooked the offered pinky with hers. "I swear it."