Chapter 17: Witch Hunter
The chapel library was abuzz as Greta and her Sisters met once again, gathered in a circle of chairs and couches next to a fireplace. Sister Reilly was sitting beside Sister Mary on the couch; the former knitting a pair of colorful gloves and the latter reading the recently-published novel The Dark Empress. Sister Hope was sitting on the floor with her back against her chair and the low coffee table pulled up right against her chest. She had a typewriter set before her, and typed with a mix of care and anger as she jabbed her pointer fingers at each chosen letter. Sister Eileen was sitting in her chair upside-down; feet dangling over the top of the plush back as she held her book on textile manufacturing aloft. Greta returned from the bookshelves with a small stack of heretic's journals, and plopped down in an empty chair.
"Where is Bernice?" she asked, noting the blind Sister's absence.
"I saw her with Sister Rosewyn just after breakfast," Eileen replied absently.
"Do you think it has to do with the new High Overseer?" Sister Reilly said nervously.
Hope stopped typing and looked up. "Wait, we have a new High Overseer?"
"Yes, he was just chosen yesterday," Sister Mary answered without looking up from her novel.
"Huh," Greta chose a journal off the top of her pile. "I wonder if the Empress knows."
At that moment there were footsteps as Bernice ran over to the group and skidded to a halt just behind the couch, slamming her hands onto its top. Sister Reilly yelped and dropped a stich, and Sister Mary jumped in surprised.
"Pavel Chopin is the new High Overseer," Bernice blurted out, her face serious.
"Ah, the witch hunter!" cried Eileen, not looking up from her book. "Cannot say I'm surprised."
"The fellow that hunted down and killed the Tyvian traitor Zhukov?" Greta asked.
"The very same," Bernice replied gravely.
"I read some of his treatises on countering the effects of bonecharms," Greta said, placing aside the journal she had yet to open. "They were well thought out and clearly spelled out his method. It looked easy to replicate, but I have not got around to trying it out yet."
"He is coming to our chapel to ask us how we defeated the witches, and how we defeated Delilah in particular!" Bernice finished in a raised voice.
A hush fell over the library. Other groups of Sisters were staring at them. Eileen dropped her book on her face upon hearing the news.
"First off, we did not defeat Delilah- Empress Emily did. As for the witches, we can just tell them we were super stealthy," Greta suggested. "To be honest, the witches themselves were not as big as a struggle as those Clockwork soldiers."
Eileen scoffed, and turned herself upright. "Yes, with the gifts Elanor bestowed up us they were certainly easy to find, avoid, and fight. But without it? I seriously doubt we could have gotten far."
"The Abbey does not train for stealth," Hope said loftily. "We march in and crush the opposition. You know that as well as I do. The very first thing he is going to wonder is how fifteen Sisters were able to succeed where forty Overseers failed; not in defeating the witches, but getting in the damn tower itself."
Sister Reilly looked somewhat lost, having abandoned her knitting to try and follow the discussion. Sister Mary merely looked curious.
"What do you mean getting in the tower?" she asked. "From how Sister Delly recounted it, you cleared out the grounds before entering the tower and going to the basement and working your way up. That sounds normal enough to me."
"Sister Delly is technically correct in her report, and if it was just us as the source, I do not think I would be concerned. After all, no one would think that the Oracular Sisters would be using magic," Bernice said while leaning on the couch. "But now that the funerals are done and new Brothers have come to the Abbey, the Overseers have started interviewing the witches that were captured."
Hope leaned back, placing her elbows atop the chair's cushion. "Why would any of the Overseers ask the witches about us? Would they not be more focused on asking what magic they themselves performed?"
"Normally yes," Bernice was now fiddling with a loose string on the couch upholstery. "But Pavel Chopin is trying to determine what worked against them, and that involves asking the witches what we did to defeat them."
Eileen threw her head back and groaned. "So some witchy bitch that Greta and Marzia did not have the balls to kill is going to rat on us."
"Hey!" Greta cried, offended.
"Would it not be best to simply tell Chopin about Elanor?" Sister Reilly suggested quietly.
Bernice heaved a sigh. "That's what Sister Rosewyn is trying to find out. I would rather not die just as things have started to get better."
As if summoned by her name Sister Rosewyn approached them with a stony expression on her face.
"Sister Manderly, Sister Wilder, I want you both to go at once to Dunwall Tower to inform the Empress of our new High Overseer and about Elanor," she commanded. "I have informed the High Oracle of our predicament and she is backing us. I would like us to also have the backing of the Empress if things turn sour."
Greta jumped out of her chair and gathered up the journals. Sister Mary stood up, holding out her hands.
"Give them to me Greta, I will put them back," she offered soothingly.
Greta smiled thankfully at her mentor as she placed the stack in her arms. Bernice was waiting for her impatiently a few feet away.
"Come, they have a railcar waiting for us."
They exited the railcar and walked as fast as they politely could into the tower. Greta shot smiles and brief greetings at familiar guards and servants, while Bernice followed close behind.
"You seem to know a lot of people here," Bernice remarked with admiration.
"I am here just often enough that the staff has gotten to know me," Greta said with a shrug. "All of them are very kind people."
They entered the main hall, and started up the stairs.
"Should we ask someone where the Empress is?" Bernice asked, concerned. "We are arriving very much unannounced."
Greta waved her hand. "I arrive unannounced all the time, it's no bother. Besides, she told me she will be spending most of her day in her office today."
As they rounded the corner Greta spotted a familiar black-clothed figure walking the empty hallway carrying what looked like a covered birdcage.
"Owen?" Greta could not help her surprised greeting.
The Outsider stopped moving and turned towards the Sisters.
"Greta," he greeted, his voice somewhat stilted. "We thought you were to be at the chapel all day."
"Something came up, and we need to talk to the Empress," Greta explained. She glanced at Bernice, whose sightless eyes were aimed right at the Outsider, and her brow was furrowed.
"Sister Bernice, this is Owen, one of the advisors to the Empress. Owen, this is Sister Bernice."
Bernice nodded at him, a suspicious expression on her face. The Outsider nodded back. Whatever was in the covered cage squawked, causing the two Sisters to look at it.
"What is that?" asked Bernice warily.
"A gift for the Empress," the Outsider replied tightly. "Come, she is in her office."
He set off down the hall, and Greta moved to follow him but was stopped by Bernice grabbing her elbow and pulling her in for a whisper.
"Is it just me or does Owen sound like a witch?"
Greta made a noise of uncertainty. "What does a witch sound like?"
"There is the hiss of the Void in their words," Bernice said, before starting to walk. "Something not of this world."
Greta tried not to gulp as a knot of unease settled in her stomach. The silence in the hallway was tense, and they caught up to the Outsider waiting by the office door. He looked at the Sisters expectantly, and Greta took the doorknob and opened the door.
The Outsider stepped into the room first. "Greta and Sister Bernice here to see you, Empress," he announced.
The two followed him in, Bernice looking nervous. Emily had stood up behind her desk, and seemed to have eyes only for the covered cage that was now resting on a table.
"What is that?"
The Outsider stood by the cage, looking almost like a guard. "A gift for you, Empress."
A light blush colored Emily's cheeks and a warm smile soon followed. "You shouldn't have."
Greta's eyes flicked between Emily and the Outsider, noting the mutual affection in their expressions. Bernice seemed to feel the vibe in the room as well.
"I feel like we are intruding on something," she muttered into Greta's ear.
He took the cover off the cage, and both Emily and Greta gasped as they saw the bird inside. It was a multitude of shimmering blues, and no larger than the size of her fist. The bird warbled sweetly, and Greta watched Emily melt.
"I love it so much!" she gushed, approaching the cage. The Outsider looked exceptionally proud of himself.
"What is it?" Bernice whispered.
"A tiny bird about this big," Greta made a fist and put Bernice's hand on it. "It's very blue and very pretty."
"It sounds very pretty," Bernice remarked somewhat wistfully.
Emily crouched down to look at the bird, an expression of wonder on her face.
"Open the cage," the Outsider encouraged. She looked at him, uncertain.
"Is that alright?"
He just gave her a mysterious smile. With a little sigh, Emily opened the cage door.
With surprising speed the little bird exited the cage and perched itself on Emily's outstretched hand. The Empress seemed to hold her breath as the round little thing tilted its head, looking at her.
"Hi," she said softly.
"Hi!" the bird cheeped back.
Emily's jaw dropped, as did Greta's.
"What the fuck?" cried Bernice, clearly forgetting her manners.
"What the fuck!" cheeped the little bird proudly.
Greta tried and failed not to laugh. Bernice blushed.
The Outsider smiled proudly as Emily looked up at him, astonished.
"Where on earth did you find this creature?"
The Outsider crouched down beside her, noticeably close.
"It is a Pandyssian Parrot," he explained, his voice low and warm. "They are clever, vain little things that enjoy the company of royalty. She will never fly far from your side."
The little bird beeped at the Outsider, before flitting over to perch on Emily's shoulder. Greta just stared at the two of them gazing adoringly at each other.
"I have been gone for three days," she murmured. "Only three days…"
Bernice cleared her throat loudly, breaking the spell.
"I apologize for interrupting Empress, but Sister Greta and I come bearing news."
Emily shot up, looking somewhat embarrassed. "No, that is quite alright Sister…?"
"Bernice Wilder, your Majesty."
"Bernice!" an easy smile crossed Emily's face. "You were one of the sisters that helped retake the Tower."
"That I was, Empress," Bernice said with a gruff pride.
"Come, let us sit," Emily invited them over to a corner of the office with three chairs. Greta led Bernice to one, and took the other. Emily sat regally across from the two, while the Outsider stood just behind her, looking all the world like the Royal Protector. The little blue gem of a bird sat quietly on Emily's shoulder.
"A new High Overseer has been chosen," Bernice reported solemnly. "It is Pavel Chopin."
The Outsider stiffened at the revelation, puzzling Greta. What did he know that they did not?
"I am afraid that I am not familiar with Chopin," Emily admitted.
"He's a brilliant witch hunter," Greta explained. "In Tyvia he successfully chased down the fugitive traitor Zhukov, who broke out of Utyrka using dark magic."
"He has a knack for understanding the mechanics of bonecharms," the Outsider added softly. "Recently he invented a more compact version of the Overseer music boxes."
Bernice gave the Outsider yet another suspicious look, but shook it off as she addressed Emily.
"He is coming to Dunwall within the next few days to interview us regarding our success against Delilah's coven, and Delilah herself."
Emily's face fell for a moment, but she immediately placed it behind a mask of mild interest. "A wise move on his part, considering that your chapel was the only part of the Abbey to attack them successfully."
Bernice winced. "We did not do it unaided." Each word sounded like it was being painfully pulled from her mouth
Realization crossed the Outsider's face, but he remained silent. A wary look crossed Emily's face.
"I am not sure I follow…"
Bernice stood up. "Allow use to demonstrate, Empress"
Emily turned her palm up and tilted her head. "Very well, proceed."
With great speed a baton fell from Bernice's sleeve into her hand, and she swung for Greta's head. With a yelp Greta ducked, the baton whooshing over her head.
"Seriously Greta?" Bernice snapped. "Put on your blindfold and show the Empress our gifts."
"We cannot just brawl in the Empress' office," Greta protested.
"It is not a brawl, it is a demonstration!" Bernice replied, exasperated.
Greta looked at Emily, who offered her a reassuring smile. With a sigh, she put her blindfold on.
Emily tried not to jump as Bernice swung as Greta again, only for the Sister to abruptly vanish and appeared on the wall. Bernice jumped up and made a twisting motion with her hand- a strange platform of light appeared and she landed on it. Greta threw an arc mine at her and set it off in air. The shock reached Bernice, but instead of dissolving into ash, her clothes faintly smoked. Greta jumped down from the wall, and Bernice dismissed the little platform. Greta looked rather sheepish, but Bernice, Bernice was staring at the Outsider, her mouth agap and her skin pale.
"Greta," her voice was fearful. "Where are Owen's eyes?"