II.
It was only with some difficulty that Louise was able to explain to Grimaud everything that had happened. The photographer had held to the instructions Louise had left him to stay inside, and had experienced a now somewhat familiar mixture of relief and concern when his visitors had come back inside. All three of them had worked together to get Rosa back comfortably in bed. Then, leaving Rider to watch over her, Louise and Grimaud had gone back downstairs.
"I comprehend very little of that, outside of the deaths, so I suppose my only question is, what do you have to do now?" Grimaud was doing his best to follow along with a subject that was relatively beyond his understanding, while he grappled with the fact that his life was likely also considered forfeit due to his new knowledge. "It sounds like this whole thing is nearly finished, yet you seem concerned."
"That I am," Louise replied. Her fingers were laced together in front of her face as she tried to think about what it was she should do, her faculties all given to mulling everything over now that she had finished catching her host up. "If there was just someone I could ask, someone who had experience with this sort of thing."
"Isn't there though?" Grimaud asked with surprising confidence.
"Pardon?" Louise replied, taken aback by her friend's certainty.
"Didn't you say there was an arbiter of some sort, that priest fellow you mentioned when you first explained all of this to me."
Louise stared blankly at Grimaud for a moment, completely blindsided by the fact that she had forgotten something so obvious.
"Am I wrong? Did I misunderstand?" Grimaud took Louise's silence to mean that he had gotten something wrong and was turning slightly red with embarrassment at his perceived error.
"On the contrary, Monsieur," Louise grabbed the old man's hands and shook them gratefully. "You're a genius." Louise shot up from the seat she had occupied at the dining table and snapped up the jacket she had only very recently deposited on the back of the couch. "I'll be back soon."
After giving her verbal goodbye to Grimaud, Louise pulsed a mental one to her partner. -"Rider, I'm heading out for a bit, keep an eye on Rosa and keep watch on the house."-
-"Is it safe for you to go out alone?"- Rider was none too sure that he liked the idea of the young woman being out on her own considering the circumstances. -"The nature of our current enemy is completely unknown to us, he seems dangerous and unpredictable, to put it lightly."-
-"I don't think he'll make his move, not tonight anyway. There was something in the way he acted towards me."- Louise replied as she stood awkwardly in the alleyway, only just now realizing that she was still parted from her moped. -"Rider, would you be so kind as to lend me some transport? I'll only need it to take me back to my bike which YOU made me leave behind."-
A post horse materialized before Louise without ceremony accompanied by a question from Rider. -"Are you trained in equestrian techniques? I never thought to ask until now."-
-"I was raised by an incredibly wealthy noble mage family."- Louise replied as she effortlessly climbed into the saddle. -"The irony is that, until now, I'd always thought those horse lessons were completely wasted."-
The young mage considered herself incredibly lucky to find her scooter undisturbed and almost as lucky that the ride to the church was completely uneventful. Though she had also, unfortunately, been forced to experience more of the destruction that had, until only recently, enveloped that entire quarter. One thing that struck her now was that, as if sensing that the danger had passed, denizens of the city were starting to brave the ruined streets and try to make sense of everything that had happened while they salvaged what they could of their destroyed homes.
As Louise turned onto the block where the church stood, she was struck by the difference in her surroundings, by how peaceful and intact this small sector was compared to the city that surrounded it. There was a clearly visible line between where the city had been ravaged, and this single block with half a dozen buildings that had been completely spared any and all damage. Louise quickly dispelled any confusion by realizing it was quite likely the church had some manner of magical defenses that would ward off something like the brainwashed Parisians. Her initial confusion aside, she was happy to see at least some small part of the neighborhood was unscathed, as the constant sight of destruction had begun to take a toll.
After parking her bike on the curb, Louise approached the doors of the church. As she got closer, her mind was involuntarily pulled back to the last time she had seen Camille before they were enemies. On the same step where she now was, her sister had sworn, in an almost loving way, to meet her in honorable combat and defeat her. Now Louise was alone, and Camille was somewhere defeated and hurting, likely still cursing her sister as she had been just the night before. Louise wondered after her, and it was only in these reflections that she realized what the death of the Juge might mean for Camille. Louise had robbed her of her pride, and now Ali had robbed her of something else important, and she had been powerless to stop him.
Part of Louise wondered how possible it would be for her to find Camille once the Grail War was all over. Would she have gone home to Gordes? Would she even be allowed? It was likely that she would never want to see her again, unwilling and unable to forgive her for what she had done. And would she really be so wrong to do so?
Louise shook her head and snapped herself out of her wanderings before it went too far. She would be able to consider how to handle her sister later. Right now she needed to focus on the far more pressing concern that lay before her. She pushed the doors open, not sure if knocking was necessary or expected, and entered the dim halls of the church.
The first thing that caught her notice was a somewhat vaguely familiar figure sitting in the pews, whose hooded head turned to look at her upon hearing the doors. Assassin's Master, whom Louise had admittedly almost forgotten about, and who had put a great deal of effort into trying to kill her, was now sitting not two dozen feet from her. The young mage dropped into a defensive stance, magical energy surging through her arm.
"I would ask you not to do that, Madame," a stern and heavy voice called out from the front of the church. "Despite the efforts of villainous mages like you, this church at least is still a place of peace and sanctuary." The Abbe Busoni stepped out into the center aisle as he reprimanded Louise, his hands folded calmly behind his back as he did so. He looked composed and almost relaxed, but there was something in his tone and aspect that implied to Louise that defiance was dangerous.
"I apologize, Monsieur." Louise replied. "It's only that this man is-"
"One of your fellow Masters, and a defeated one at that," the Abbe interrupted as he continued to walk towards Louise and Mordaunt. "And did I not explain that this church was no place for your self-serving combat, that it was neutral ground you foolish mages could come to if you were defeated and sought shelter?"
There was something different in the Abbe's manner compared to what Louise remembered of him. He had certainly not been friendly before, but there had been a level of mutual respect, or at least something resembling professional rapport between them during their first interaction, but now he seemed indignant, almost spiteful.
"Yes, Monsieur, you did," Louise coolly replied.
"And yet here you are, predictably almost, antagonizing a man who has done exactly that the moment you enter my doors." The Abbe Busoni was now standing beside the pew in which Mordaunt was reclining, his presence almost daring Louise to attempt an act of violence. "You mages have done quite enough ever since you arrived. I don't need your foolishness here." The statement was clearly made in reference to what had happened last night.
Louise slowly relaxed her body and lowered her raised arms, all active magic dispersing from her body. "I apologize, Abbe. I did not mean to insult the sanctity of this place."
"I'm sure you didn't," the Abbe almost sneered the words. "Not even the likes of you are so brazen. Now, why have you come here, Madame Saint-Hermine?"
"I have come seeking information, and possibly advice, Abbe Busoni. As the arbiter of the Holy Grail War, I thought you would be best able to help me." Louise allowed the Abbe's valid criticism to wash over and through her. After everything Madame Fenix had perpetrated, the priest was very much in his right to be angry.
The Abbe Busoni stood very still for several seconds, his face stern and thoughtful, as though he were mulling over whether he even felt like hearing Louise out.
"Please," Louise continued, "I'm worried things may get even worse if I don't understand what is happening. Maybe then I'll be able to stop it before even more damage is caused."
"You are asking me to aid you in winning the Grail War, are you not?" The Abbe's incredulity had not subsided.
"I am asking you to help me save lives," Louise replied.
"And what care you, mage, of the lives of others?"
"I can guarantee I likely care more than the creature I'm asking you to help me fight," Louise's one eye burned with white-hot intensity at the defiant priest, "and I can promise I care more than you think."
The Abbe once again silently contemplated Louise, his stern and worn features not moving, no sign of his thoughts visible upon them.
"Let the young lady in." The gruff voice of Mordaunt suddenly cut through the strained silence. "She means me no harm. Seems pretty intent on talking with you."
Louise turned with some surprise to her unexpected ally. The Abbe was equally caught off-guard, but did a much better job of concealing it. Silence reigned for a few seconds longer before Busoni finally spoke. "Ask your questions, mage."