Chapter 18: A New Sheep in the Fold

Emily watched Greta force a laugh. "What are you talking about silly? His eyes are right there."

"No, no they are not right there," Bernice pushed back, fear making her angry. "I know you see what I see, so do not play dumb."

Greta took Bernice's hand, and walked her over to the Outsider, who had a very wary look on his face.

"Here, feel," Greta placed her Sister's hand on the Outsider's face. "Does it feel like he has no eyes?"

Bernice yanked her hand away, much to the Outsider's very visible relief. She rounded on Greta.

"What the fuck are you trying to hide?"

Greta cracked like an egg. "The Empress knows about Elanor. She's met her twice and we went dancing together."

Well, Greta cracked in a way Emily was not expecting, much to her relief.

"What?" Bernice breathed, her whole body emanating confusion.

"The Empress asked me how we were able to take on the witches, and I just wasn't thinking so I summoned Elanor, and well, the two hit it off very nicely and we went dancing together for the Empress' birthday, and I know I should have told the chapel-"

Bernice cut off Greta's blathering with a hand over her mouth. "I believe every word you are saying now, but that does not explain why the fuck this 'Owen' person has the fucking Void where his fucking eyes are supposed to be!" Each curse was punctuated with the Sister shaking her baton in the Outsider's direction.

Greta carefully removed Bernice's hand from her mouth. "What if I told you that Owen is actually the Outsider?" she said with a squeak and a too large smile.

Emily could not stop herself from putting her face into her palm with a loud smack.

Bernice started laughing. "You cannot be serious."

The Outsider opened his mouth, but Emily grabbed his hand and projected her thoughts

"Don't you dare say anything."

When everyone failed to respond to Bernice's query her face turned from incredulous to astonished.

"Really, that's the Outsider?"

"Yep," replied Greta with a grimace.

"What the fuck is he doing here giving birds to the Empress?" Bernice asked, looking more bewildered than anything else. Emily would take that above zealous religious rage any day.

"I don't know about the 'giving birds' part," admitted Greta. "But he's here because we exploded the Void."

"Exploded the Void?!" Bernice's voice got shrill.

"Yeah, that was an accident," Greta had quite the look on her face, and appeared to be trying to melt into the floor.

"I don't care if that is an accident, who is 'we'?!" Bernice was turning red and gesturing violently with her hands. Emily decided to try and cut in.

"Sister Bernice," the Sister whirled to her, looking close to hyperventilating. "Take a breath, have a seat. You too, Greta."

Bernice looked quite embarrassed, and started to take long, calming breaths as she walked back to the chair. Greta took her seat just after that, and Emily waited for Bernice to center herself.

The little bird on her shoulder warbled a tune, bringing a small smile to her face. It was easily the sweetest present anyone has given her.

"Are you ready?" she asked. Bernice nodded, an even look on her face.

"The 'we' is me and Greta," Emily said. "I had discovered a way to defeat Delilah by using her own magic against her by adding a corrupted rune to her throne. Greta was with me and helped make the rune. It worked by defeating Delilah, but it also trapped the Outsider here."

Bernice inhaled deeply and held up her hands, pointer fingers aloft.

"So Greta, my Sister Greta, imbued with the same magic as me, helped you corrupt that rune?"

Emily was somewhat bemused by her doubt. "Yes, she added an ingredient."

"There is literally no way she could have done that without blowing us all to smithereens," Bernice declared with absolute certainty.

"Wait, really?" Greta sounded as surprised as Emily herself was.

"Did you not listen to what Elanor said?" Bernice cried, her voice raising an octave.

"Yes, not to touch bonecharms or runes," Greta snapped back.

Bernice heaved a sigh and began to rub her temples. "Greta, she also warned us not to participate in making them."

Greta winced. "Ooooh."

"You carry within yourselves my energy, and you are able to do many things with it," quoted Bernice. "You must never allow this energy to mix with the magic of the Void, for the result will level Dunwall."

"If that is the case," the Outsider said softly. "Would that not mean that your mere touch is potent with magic? Should there not have been an explosion when you touched my face?"

Bernice looked surprised. "That is a good point. I do not know myself where the line is, but I do know we were warned not to go anywhere near runes and bonecharms, or have anything to do with them."

Emily sighed, feeling rising irritation with the direction the whole meeting with the Sisters had taken. "In any case, Dunwall was not leveled, and Greta is not in any danger of making cursed runes again so the point is moot. Now, the new Overseer will ask about how you defeated the witches, yes?"

The two women nodded, looking somewhat abashed at her sharp tone.

"Is your chapel planning on answering him truthfully?"

Bernice licked her lips nervously, and nodded. "We were sent here to get your backing in case he decided he wanted our chapel to be… to be purged."

Emily wanted to pinch the bridge of her nose, but resolved to maintain at least some of her façade of royal detachment. It would have been nice if they thought to introduce that fact early on.

"I do not have the power to openly defy the Abbey if you are all branded heretics," Emily stated, sorrow bleeding into her words. "Especially since I have associated heavily with your chapel, I will be under suspicion as well."

Greta nodded with disappointed understanding, but Bernice looked indignant.

"So that's it? You'll leave us to be burned?" she cried.

Emily found herself looking up at the Outsider. "Is there any way I can help them?" she asked.

"Protecting heretics will not be a good look for you, Empress," he replied smoothly.

"Well neither is bedding the Outsider, but that is where we are right now, isn't it?" snarled Bernice.

"Bernice!" hissed Greta, horrified.

Emily's mouth fell open. She honestly had nothing to say that would permanently refute those words. Technically she was not bedding the Outsider, but that was not because she had no intent to bed him. She felt his hand take hers, and she squeezed it gratefully.

"Just ask Elanor to protect you," the Outsider said.

The Sisters heads jerked up to look at him, flabbergasted expressions on their faces.

"Elanor is a being of goodwill," he continued, his voice even. "I doubt she would leave you to such terrible fates if she knew what you were facing. Just ask her, and she will help."

Greta slapped her forehead. "We are such fucking morons," she groaned. "It is such an obvious answer to our problems."

"Yes," the Outsider said smugly. "It is."

Emily rolled her eyes.

Bernice also had her head in her hands. "All we have to prove is that Elanor is the antithesis to void magic… it's so easy…"

Emily could not help but smile as she watched the two Sisters kick themselves. "Thank you for informing me about the appointment of Pavel Chopin. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"I believe we are all set, Empress," Greta replied politely with an embarrassed cough. Bernice nodded in agreement.

"Empress, I also promise to keep your secret," she promised, her face pointed at the Outsider. "You seem to have a firm enough grip on his cock that he won't cause trouble."

Emily sputtered, and would have been deeply offended if it was not for the Sister's sincerity. The Outsider's face was carefully blank.

"Why on earth would you say that?!" cried Greta, horrified.

"My great-auntie would say that to my uncle's gal whenever she approved of them," Bernice replied, sounding confused. "It's a nice thing to say."

"That is not a nice thing to say, especially to the Empress!" Greta scolded, before turning to Emily. "I am so sorry that was said. Bernice does mean that she will not say anything about the Outsider being here."

Bernice nodded solemnly "I have absolute faith you will keep him from causing harm to the Empire."

Emily coughed awkwardly and stood. The two Sisters stood as well, looking at her expectantly.

"Thank you for your visit," she dismissed. Greta and Bernice bowed and left the room, the two whispering feverishly.

Emily turned to the Outsider and took both of his hands, an apologetic smile on her face.

"I am so sorry that you had to hear that," she said. He smiled warmly at her, and gently squeezed her hands.

"I have heard worse," he replied.

The little bird on her shoulder peeped: "What the fuck!"

Emily could not help but laugh at the well-timed interjection. The Outsider also chuckled at the little bird.

"Thank you very much for this little sweetheart," she reached up to gently pet the bird, and it leaning into her touch. "Does it have a name?"

The Outsider looked thoughtful. "If I was to name her, I would call her Eulalia."

"Eulalia!" the bird whistled. Emily laughed again.

"Eulalia it is."