Henrietta could do nothing but stare at the massive force of airships that Reconquista was going to use to launch their invasion. There was no way the Tristainian army would be able to beat it back, let alone what appeared to be a militia with only a single mage. "Louise is going to die, isn't she?"
"The Apocalypse? Die? Not likely, her magic is more powerful than one you call Brimir." The five people that were being guarded by the small force of soldiers all gasped at the heretical statement.
"When the Pope hears of this the full force of the Inquisition shall be brought down upon you heretics!" One of the soldiers snorted at the Cardinal's statement.
"Yeah, probably... Until he realizes that even if all the mages in Halkegina worked together, you wouldn't have a hope of defeating the Apocalypse, let alone all the other members of the order..." The other soldiers all laughed before Karin spoke up.
"I believe you have to much faith in my daughter, she can't even cast dot level spells for any of the four elements." The one that Louise had assigned to escort them, who seemed to be a Capitan of some sort, laughed.
"You're forgetting the fifth." He looked at the five and jerked his head toward the ships. "She's stronger than your Founder Brimir, watch."
Before the Cardinal could let out another cry of 'Heresy!' one of the largest airships just... Fell apart. The soldiers of Reconquista slowly fell to the ground, each quickly being overcome by soldiers. Then another ship fell, and another and another, until only the flagship, the Lexington, remained. "The other soldiers and I aren't here to fight. The Order sent us here to take prisoners."
Henrietta stared at the remains of the massive fleet and piece of wood and metal slammed into the earth, unable to comprehend how Louise had become so powerful. "What are you going to do with them? The prisoners I mean."
The captain shrugged his shoulders. "Execute some of them to send a message. If their wealthy, we'll sell them back to their families, if their strong we'll make them do hard labor."
One of Henrietta's companions, Agnes the only commoner of the group, let loose a growl. "So you'll make them slaves?"
The man barely acknowledged her. "Kind of. It's really more like a forced contract. We'll force them to work for five years, then when their time is up, the Treasurer will pay each of them three gold pieces for each day they worked. Once they're free they can use that gold to go home, or start a new life. Unless they become bandits, they're not our problem anymore."
"The Treasurer?" Henrietta looked at the man... It sounded like a rumor she had heard the maids in the castle talking about. "You mean the rumored money lender?" The rumor revolved around a nameless noble that would loan people money with a deadline to pay it back, or else they would face harsh consequences, such as losing a finger or being dragged off and beaten to near death in the middle of the night.
The man gave her a glance. "I don't know about all that. All I know is that he's a mage and the Order trusts him with money. He pays the prisoners on the first of the new year without fail and then he leaves."
Karin frowned. "That's the third time you mentioned this 'Order' what is it?"
"They're the people that the Queen here is going to allow to have power in Tristain." There was a sputtering noise from behind them. "And the decision isn't up to you, birdie. So cut the chatter before I cut it out." The small crowd went silent.
Mazarin was terrified, having been surrounded by Heretics was bad enough, but now one had openly threatened him. Still, God was on his side. "You dare threaten a man of God?"
"Brimir was a man, not a god." Louise's voice sounded from behind the group, and they all turned to see her carrying Cromwell over her shoulder. She then unceremoniously tossed the man on the ground. "If he was a God his wife wouldn't have been able to kill him." She turned to Henrietta. "You and yours can do whatever you want with him." She kicked Cromwell's unconscious body. "As for the rest of you..." All of the foreign soldiers snapped to attention. "Let's go join the others in town, I've got an announcement to make at the victory feast." The soldiers nodded and headed towards the town. Just as Louise began to follow them she stopped and turned to the Tristainians. "You and your soldiers can join if you want, we've got enough, been buying caravans out of their products for months... And don't worry about paying us, the Wardes fortune is enough to get us back double what we paid for the supplies... Now if you'll excuse me I need to say my prayers of thanks to the gods for brining me victory in battle."
"Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Valliere. You will abandon this- This cult! And come home with me so we can have the church absolve you of your sins."
Her eyes glanced toward her mother. "No Karin, I won't be going home like a good little girl." She paused. "Well maybe, I'll go to see Cattleya. Yes, I know she's still alive. The Order knows lots of things." Her eyes turned toward Agnes. "We even know who ordered D'Angleterre to be burned to the ground." With that Louise turned and walked off leaving a confused, terrified and enraged group of five behind... But not before kicking Cromwell in the head once again as he began to stir.
Once she got far enough away, she stopped and reached into a her helmet, pulling out a pair of rings. "Hmph. At least I got the Order one of the known Pieces of Albion... Shame that they told me I have to return Andvari's Ring to the water spirit." She shrugged and put them back in the helmet. "Eh' I'll find the Music Box when we invade Albion."