The castle was abuzz with activity as we left it. Knights and others moving about, some with messages piled up in their arms, others, I think, just trying to look busy. It was the return of the proper ruler, after all, as Melromarc was a Matriarchy. That and I could see a few of them were holding various messages that had Malty's name on them, apparently they were going over ALL her admitted crimes to try and make those things right, and give what justice they could to those harmed by the red headed witch with a capital B.
We were soon on the much less busy streets of the city. The Queen had returned…but business was still moving. If the end of the world being prevented only gave a single night to celebrate, the Queen coming back after only a few months away wasn't going to allow for more than a half hearted parade with some onlookers, before everyone had to get back to work doing what they did.
We found it easy to get lost amongst the crowd, despite my height, and the odd clothing we wore, with me still in the silver undersuit of my former ranger outfit, something I'd need to change when we got back to Sanctuary, as I missed my skill cost decrease bonuses. Ray was still in her gold tabard, of course, but she seemed to draw fewer eyes, perhaps because she'd been in and out for the last few days with the whole 'kidnapped Princess and Hero' fiasco ongoing.
Several, I noticed, side-eyed Lucia though, as she wore her old outfit, the black smock, beneath the white and red trimmed robes, having discarded her other outfit, as it 'clashed' according to her, in terms of skills, and caused some kind of friction for her. I think most were staring because she was wearing her hat though, with her hood down, which seemed to be causing a wave of relief, if I was reading the expressions right.
We soon found ourselves before the church, which was quite a bit more active than the streets, as men and women in robes of varying colors and designs rushed to and fro from the building. Some were people I could only guess were a step below the Pope in terms of position, given their fine robes and the like. Others wore what appeared to be peasant garb, but (Insight) told me they were amongst the strongest.
Balmus was, by his position and age, still stronger, being mid fifties in terms of Levels, and he was the one directing everyone, having quick conversations with people who looked like, from the outside, that they should be giving the orders to him, if their outfits were anything to go by. But Balmus and those in the simpler attire were in charge, and made that known a time or two, before he spotted us.
He quickly made excuses, not loudly exclaiming about my arrival as I had expected. Instead, he quickly slipped towards us, and then ushered us towards a hall in the cathedral I'd never been in before. A few minutes of silently following him up some stairs, we found ourselves, Balmus, Lucia, Ray, and myself, in a room that looked like it had been recently stripped of everything, leaving bare walls of plain stone to greet us, with the only sign of the chamber being special being the doors and winds, which spoke of a class the bare stones did not.
The man was soon moving in the closet nearby, and, as he grabbed a few stools, I noticed a tingle in the air, and used my abilities to look at the walls, finding that a fairly high level spell had been cast to keep this place private. Not a bad idea, actually, and I nodded at him in recognition as he set the stools down for myself and the others to sit on, as he took the only chair in the room, and faced us, grinning like an old grandfather greeting his grandchildren after some months.
We exchanged a few pleasantries, as he asked after my 'adventures' with the Shield Hero while I'd been gone, not digging for info exactly, but obviously interested in how things had happened in detail that he'd heard about, as his own information was limited due to his own life getting quite busy. I told him almost all of it, seeing little reason to hold back, and thanked him for seeing Lucia fully equipped with not only the Replica Weapon, but the Robe she wore now.
"Of course, Bow Hero. It was the pleasure of the Church to gift one of your party with the best our order had to offer," he said, and then pulled on his robe so we could clearly see the stitched symbol all along the front. Namely the one with the crossbow replacing the longbow, and the Shield backing the three up. It was, with a hint of pride, that I noted that my weapon, small as it actually was, was bigger than the others in the rendition, but I let it pass.
"And you have done as I asked and begun to…I suppose the word would be 'reincorporate' the Shield into your teachings," I said, to which he beamed proudly.
"Your words resonated with me, and the actions of the Heroes, Shield included, helping to root out corrupt nobles that have been a thorn in the side of this nation have not gone without notice in the halls of the Church," he said with a smile.
"Which means it was time to pull the Church away from them, and thanks to having some warning it was coming with our involvement at the time, you did so most expertly," said Ray, and Balmus, for all that the insult might have brought rage out of a lesser man, he just threw back his head and laughed for a moment.
"You do hit the nail on the head. So many nobles wish for the backing of the Church in their endeavors, and we are happy to provide when we might benefit ourselves from the arrangement," he admitted bluntly.
"However, I would like it noted that even we would have balked at what we now know Rabier was doing, not to mention that man who was making 'gifts' for Faubrey's King that Lady Ivyred was rescued from," he explained, and I got the impression he was very sincere about it.
"Because that sort of thing would create too great a risk for too little profit, correct?" I asked, and he nodded with a smile.
"It is so nice to see that one of the Heroes understands," he responded, and I chose not to press that farther right at the moment. He was evil, but he was a known quantity of evil, so he was useful, in his own way.
"Moving on, you mentioned something to do with Sanctuary. I've gotten some information, so I can guess part of it, but not the whole thing," I said, and he nodded.
"Why don't you tell me what you've guessed, and I can fill in the rest as best I might?" he offered, so I leaned forward in my seat, the stool creaking a bit underneath me, as I closed my eyes, and then began.
"Your murder of Lord Seaetto, with the direct assistance of the former First Princess, is being covered up. Too many people would see his death as a direct stab at the political direction of the country, and despite that not being the primary motive, I would hazard a guess you considered it a bonus when he died," I said.
"I wouldn't call it a bonus. Like I am to you, a useful tool with a mortality you can predict, he was to me. He was as easy to use for my ends, as I am making myself to you, save his loyalty to the Queen blinded him to the real harm he was doing by preventing the summoning of the Heroes. I will say, in all honesty, had there been another way, I would have taken it, simply because his successor, both for his Domain and his position in Court, are both unknowns to me," he admitted, and surprisingly, he spoke with sincerity, and the surprise must have been evident on my face, as he chuckled at me.
"It is the truth. I will never call myself a moral man, I have sinned with the best of them, but one does not get to my position without knowing that sinners are actually harder to predict than a good man, even if those who sin are easier to control. It takes a balance of them to make a court function, and thus. I myself backed Lord Seaetto's reforms as best I could, while keeping him from going too far with them," he said, and again, I found myself believing him.
"Alright, regardless of that, I can guess that, while the King wants this whole thing buried as deep as it can go, he still can't trust you in his kingdom. So he's letting you go, but he can't exactly banish you without someone questioning it. However, a new Demesne has opened a Cathedral, long thought lost forever, and you're to take command of it, to ensure that it does not fall again," I say, not really a hard guess, but Balmus, smiling, nods.
"The King is not strong enough to move the mountain that is the Church, but the Queen? She is beloved by many, and her words carry that kind of weight. Many would rally to her side against us, no matter our strength," he said with a chuckle.
"But doing that would weaken the nation, one facing international pressure, on top of the Waves. Bad times all around. Worse for you, if all you want is luxury. So you agreed to a compromise. They fund your lifestyle for the rest of your days, and don't interfere in the Church, and you'll keep the Church from tearing the nation apart," I say, and he actually shakes his head.
"My Lord Bowman, you must know that I support you in all things. This compromise is not for the rest of my days, but for yours, and your children's children. I would see your family, if not made Royal as past Heroes, then at least given as good a position as I might," he explained, and I…well, I felt humbled a bit, but knowing him, that was the point. It was his concession to me, to 'earn his keep' at my side, that I would see him as a worthy ally, bringing in the Royal Family's support, even after he passed.
"And it's not like your influence is lessened, just because you no longer wear the mantle of Pope. We saw that downstairs. They'll follow your word, even now," opined Ray, and Balmus shrugged.
"Truth to tell, once I have left my position here, as Keeper of the Hourglass, I will likely face some opposition, but all those beneath me are as aware as I of how the game is played. They will not 'rock the boat' as it were, and will pull their base away from my own, but are not likely to do more than that," he said to her, before turning to me.
"They will, however, continue the altered doctrine. The Four Heroes Faith will continue to replace the Three Heroes Church. That they would not dare reverse, or risk the very split my willingly leaving is supposed to prevent. The ire of not only my own faction but the Royal Family's as well would be…quite formidable," he said, a bit more darkly than all the rest. No one liked a traitor, after all. Not even a vile man like him.
"So, you get a cushy job in a growing city, where you can help shape the minds and souls of those coming and going. The Royal Family gets to simply say what happened was a 'tragic accident' and avoid political upheaval, and I get a city that is basically a city-state completely independent of their politics, but paid for by their nation, to keep me quiet about the whole thing," I said, summing it all up.
"Precisely, Lord Bowman," he said with a smile and a nod.
"A comfortable arrangement then. There are some details I would guess the Royal Family is currently unaware of, but you are. For instance, how some people within the city recently gained the power of Levels?" I asked, and that actually took him back a moment, as he processed it, and then went right back to the warm smile.
"I will admit, it is doubtful their lines of communication with Sanctuary are as strong as mine, and I have been keeping a tight lid on that tidbit, as it only came to light a day or so ago. We had no way of knowing what caused it, though given your statement, might I assume it was yourself?" he asked with a chuckle that was just this side of dark, as he genuinely hadn't known it was me behind the Level ability of the people, but now that he did…well you could almost hear the gears turning in his head.
"I am, and you, Ben, the Guild's Representative, and I will all need to get together to discuss that at length," I said, and he nodded enthusiastically.
"Of course, Lord Bowman, I would not dream of acting on this issue without your approval," he said, sounding like he meant it.
"Good, tonight, when you are finished packing, I'll bring you there myself, so we can get this over with," I said, rising, and Balmus rose with me.
"Then might I say, 'soonest started is soonest ended'? My effects, personal or otherwise, are meager…I know you'll find that hard to believe but I'm not actually taking TOO much of the Church's property with me, much as this room might say otherwise. If you are ready, I can be in a few moments, with a few words to some who will bring a few bits and bobs later on," he told me, and I was shocked to hear it, but then just nodded, the four of us leaving the room after he'd put the stools away and lowered the barrier.
Outside there was…a rather large crowd, mostly older men and women, all now trying to look like they HADN'T been trying to spy on us. The former Pope shooed them away, identifying them as Cardinals, all with the potential to take his seat. He said it with amusement, actually, and then shuffled off down the corridor, calling names out. A few minutes later, he came out of the Church, a smile on his face as he stood near us, and I took the four of us to Sanctuary, to sort some things out.