“Please, child.”
Allegra poured the old lady a glass of deep red wine, and then topped up her own glass. Allegra sipped from her crystal goblet, careful not to gulp down the comfort afforded within the intoxicating liquid.
Cardinal Giso flashed a chastising smirk at Allegra. Giso was a proud, open abolitionist, but he was also a pragmatist to his core. “My dear Contessa, I am sure you will bring your own unique approach to the current situation at hand. Lord Almighty knows you couldn’t do worse than some of your predecessors. The rationale for why the conclave chose a slave owner to broker a peace treaty will always elude me.”
That was when Cardinal Reinhold, silent until now, said in his deep voice, “Politics.”
With that one word, the four cardinals at the table began bickering. Allegra stayed out of it, opting very wisely to munch on caraway seed cake. She sat at a table with one anti-mage, one pro-mage, and two who only cared about compromise, politics, and ambition. There were several other members of the inner circle that weren’t here for this meeting, but Allegra felt they were a decent representation of what she was about to face within the conclave’s chamber walls once she presented her position.
She would have to put forward a compromising set of proposals for the cardinals to approve. She had to impress a majority of the two hundred and thirty-seven cardinals. Not all of them would be present for the voting, which was why it was delayed for days.
The doors flung open as the voices within were becoming heated. Francois entered in a flurry of robes and servants. “Forgive me for my tardiness. Ambassador Alencherry is a talker. I was convinced she would never shut up.”
“She does like to prattle,” Allegra said absently, the first words out of her mouth in several minutes.
Cardinal Vanida rapped his tea spoon against the table, drawing everyone’s attention. “You are speaking of Cumberland’s Ambassador to the Cathedral. Mind your tongue, young woman.”
Allegra drew her shoulders back. She could see that Rupert was about to correct the Cardinal, but she spoke first. “I do believe you have forgotten your station, Your Grace. I am the Contessa of Marsina and the Cathedral’s Arbiter of Justice until I retire or am removed from the position. You will accord me the respect due my rank.”
She had played this game with Vanida since she was a child and she was not going to let some upstart butcher’s son shame her in public ever again.
“Of course, Your Ladyship,” the Cardinal said, sarcasm lacing his words. “Whatever you say, Your Ladyship.”
Allegra glared at him for a moment longer before flicking her gaze to Francois. “Shall we get started? I have much work to do.”
“Yes, indeed, Your Ladyship,” Francois said with a twinkle in his eye. “Whatever your command.”
Allegra glared at him. He was enjoying putting her in here with these fools. Allegra did not get along with cardinals. Everyone knew it, including the damned cardinals.
Francois took his seat at the round table. One of the servants poured his wine, while another fussed about bringing additional sweets and nibbles from the sideboard over to the table. Once the nutritional needs of the Holy Father were addressed, the servants bowed and left as wordlessly as they’d entered.
Francois began the meeting when the double doors clicked shut. “Her Ladyship’s time with us is short and there are a number of items we must prepare before she leaves for the country. First…”
“I do not agree with her conducting Cathedral affairs at Borro Abbey,” Cardinal Vanida said.
Cardinal Reinhold nodded his agreement. “Borro Abbey is far too isolated for the Arbiter to host meaningful negotiations. Her Ladyship should remain here, at the Cathedral. Surely, we can find suitable lodgings for her, as I understand her current ones are subpar for a woman of her position.”
“I wish to return to Borro,” Allegra said cautiously.
“All previous arbiters have conducted their business here,” Giso said.
“All of the previous Arbiters have failed,” Allegra stated. “I take this position very seriously, Your Graces. It is my belief that proximity to the Cathedral and, therefore, the seat of religious power, had given many of the nobles a false sense of security and boldness. By forcing them to meet at Borro Abbey, they will be without their blocks of power. Everyone will be on equal footing there.”
“Surely you do not think a prince is on even footing with a slave?” Vanida asked.
“They will be when they are seated at my negotiations table,” Allegra said.
Vanida’s eyes widened. “You don’t mean you will have actual witches…at the peace talks?”
Allegra thought it was a joke at first, so she laughed. Her mirth died away when she realized she was the only one laughing. Giso’s face was etched with a smirk and Francois kept a cool, neutral demeanor, but the others were scandalized and made no attempt to hide it in their expressions or voices.
“You cannot invite outlaws to the peace talks!” Vanida exclaimed. “I will not support anyone who would consort with those who should be imprisoned.”
“Ah, yes, Vanida! Let’s lock up all of those pesky mages since they are the cause of all that we complain of,” Giso said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Devonshire raised a withered hand. “Gentlemen, this is an old argument that will not be solved today.”
“It could be,” Allegra said. “Do you not all hold the power to end the rebellions today?”
“That is an argument for another day,” Francois said.
“Agreed,” Devonshire said.
“Then, what exactly is my purpose in this role? Your Graces, forgive me, but what exactly did you think I was planning to do with this position?”
Her words were met with silence, which came as no great surprise to her. She knew what the position of Arbiter of Justice was for: it was the equalizing voice between nations and city states, to ensure all followed the will of the Lord Almighty. No one nation could act out of step against the Cathedral without being severely punished, true, but it also meant there was a neutral party to settle disputes.
Allegra held a different interpretation of the position, one which she guessed Francois had figured out over the last few days. In a cautious voice, he said, “The historical purpose of the Arbiter of Justice is to bring order and ensure lasting peace, so that all of the Almighty’s people can live in peace to bring glory to His name.”
“Exactly,” Allegra said with a wolfish smile.
“Then what is our disagreement?” Giso asked.
“To ensure lasting peace, I must bring together various representative from all of the Almighty’s people.”
Vanida sneered. “How would giving witches recognition solve anything? They’ll conjure demons as soon as we turn our backs.”
“Mages,” Allegra corrected him coolly. “The correct and preferred term is mages.”
Vanida waved her hand. “That doesn’t matter. What matters is…”
“Actually, Your Grace, it does matter. It is a small token of respect that those of us in power can show.”
Devonshire frowned in Allegra’s direction. With a soft voice, she said, “My dear child, it is just a word. What does it matter in the face of these issues?”
“If it is just a word, then you will have no objection to me calling Cardinal Vanida His Horseface at the conclave’s assembly tomorrow. After all, it is just a word and what truly matters is the rebellion.”
The room fell into silence once more. Vanida’s face contorted as he formed his venom to spew, so Allegra took the opportunity to continue. “I will be inviting several prominent members of the abolition movement to spend the winter at Borro Abbey. I have already taken the liberty of informing the Bishop of Borro that accommodations will need to be made.”
Devonshire tsked. “I remain unconvinced that this is a wise course of action, child.”
Giso, however, was laughing. “The anti-block is going to ha
ve a stroke tomorrow.”
Vanida, as usual, scowled. “Your Ladyship, you would be wise to heed our advice.”
“You mean your advice,” Giso said with a snort. “Lord Almighty, Vanida, she’s a mage! She’s never going to listen to a slave owner like you.”
“This slave owner follows the word of the Lord Almighty.”
“As does this abolitionist,” Giso said, pounding his chest with his finger.
Allegra ate two slices of lemon caraway cake and had another glass of wine before the argument finally turned back to her.
“Don’t you have anything to add, Your Ladyship?” Vanida demanded.
She finished her wine. “The lemon cake is excellent.”
Giso snorted.
“This is not funny!” Vanida shouted.
“Your Grace, check your tone,” Francois said. Turning to Allegra, he asked, “Tell me, Contessa, how would you respond to, let’s say, Queen Portia calling in her militia to quash a mage riot and dozens of children are killed in the process.”
Two years ago, this would have been a useless hypothetical question. Times were changing. “I believe my first action would be to demand the Cathedral issue a firm reprimand and then I would personally travel there to defuse the situation.”
“How would you defuse this situation?” Cardinal Devonshire asked. Her question appeared innocent, but Allegra knew she was auditioning for the old cardinal’s support.
“Precise action would depend upon the particulars, of course, but I would travel to meet with the Queen and beg her to meet with local mage representatives to come to a compromise to end the bloodshed.”
The old woman still had no emotion on her face. “What if you fail at this compromise? Let us suppose this triggers another riot. What would you do then?”
Allegra searched her soul. Six months ago, she would have pulled the covers over her head and closed her heart against the screams of her own kind. She feared risk, yet the time for personal peril had finally arrived.
“Then I would follow in the footsteps of the late Arbiter Paladin. I’d go into the streets with the mob and use my stance to humiliate both her majesty and the Cathedral into action.” At their shocked expressions, she continued. “Arbiter Paladin lost his life in a riot over bread for peasants. The situation now is even graver than what he faced. And, if I recall my history lessons, the Holy Father at the time excommunicated the Prince, and then the forces of the Most Holy invaded.”
Francois snorted.
“Your Radiance, this is no laughing matter. This witch—”
Devonshire interrupted Vanida. “Mage.”
“What?”
“She wishes to be called a mage, Vanida. Treat her with the respect her position demands.”
When Vanida scoffed at the old woman, Francois said in a very casual tone, “I know several remote monasteries in need of a new abbot.”
The meeting turned frosty after that. Vanida kept his opinions to mere disapproving grunts, and the others mostly glared at each other. Allegra answered questions politely, if tersely, and basically nothing was solved other than confirming that the cardinals truly did loathe each other as much as rumor implied.
When the meeting ending, Francois lingered to speak to Allegra. “That was invigorating.”
Allegra snorted. She collapsed on the chaise longue and put her feet up. “I hate Vanida so much.”
Francois took up the chair opposite her. “I thought he was going to bleed from the ears when I told him about your appointment.”
“Will he cause trouble for you?”
“Undoubtedly. I look forward to it.”
“Power suits you, Rupert.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” His smile faded. “You are playing a dangerous game inviting mages to the table.”
“I plan to invite elementals.”
Rupert choked on his wine, spilling some on his white vestments. “Are you insane?”
“You knew full well that I would bring elementals into the discussion. There is no room for peace until we move past this superstitious nonsense and embrace that we have all been created equal.”
“Allegra…”
“Am I not equal to you in the eyes of your god?”
“Yes, of course, but…”
“There is no but. Either I am, or I am not.”
“It is not that simple.”
“Yes, it truly is. We are equal, or we are not.”
“You’re going to start the war we’re all trying to avoid.”
“We are already at war. You just can’t see it for all of your gold filigree and fine silks.”
Chapter 10
Your Ladyship,
I have investigated the disappearance of Mrs. Ansley, as per your directive. I regret to report there is no record of her transfer to any facility, nor can we find a record of imprisonment or a statement of death. In fact, we have found no trace of her.
There was a report of a woman seen fleeing the area in tattered clothing, but the description and circumstances do not match Mrs. Ansley. Nevertheless, I have sent two Cathedral guards to investigate this other woman in case she requires assistance or knows of Mrs. Ansley.
I regret that our efforts were not more fruitful. We have alerted local constabulary to the situation. However, I do not expect much assistance considering that they are under the shadow of both the Magistrate and the Duke.
I shall make a more detailed, formal report in person when you are out of session with the cardinals. Send a servant to the barracks for myself and Dodd at your convenience.
Lieutenant Lex
Holy Father’s Own Consorts
Cold crept through Allegra as she stared down at the letter. Here in her gown, ready to approach the cardinals in all their splendor, and this was when she got this news. If there was indeed an Almighty, he must certainly be laughing at her arrogance now.
She could still stick to the plan. Walk in there, say her piece, and quietly use her authority to find Mrs. Ansley’s whereabouts. Asking forgiveness was certainly easier than asking permission in these circumstances.
Pressure pushed on her throat, making it difficult to breathe. She could feel the noose tightening around her throat, even now. It would come. They would hang her in some back alley, string her up as the mage who got away. One day, her luck would run out. They would accuse her. There would be no trial. No chance to dissemble.
No, she would be drugged and stripped down to her underclothes. They would grab her hair and drag her half-naked through the streets. They would assault and violate her dignity, and then they would murder her like the barbarians they truly are in their hearts.
Allegra closed her eyes in a vain hope to push aside the fear that boiled in her gut. It hadn’t happened yet. For now, she could take this position and use it to not only protect herself, but protect those who had no such protection. She must think of her own kind first.
“Your Ladyship? It’s time.”
Allegra looked up at her new maid servant. She was a lean girl, about sixteen years of age. Her olive skin was free of all blemishes, and Allegra found herself smiling about it every time the young thing came into her room. At her age, Allegra was a mass of painfully swollen bumps. Kia had perfectly smooth skin that sixteen-year-old Allegra would have been impossibly jealous over.
“Thank you, Kia,” Allegra said, smiling.
Kia gave a bob of her head and curtsied. She turned over her shoulder and said, “Your Ladyship? Good luck.”
“Thank you, Kia.”
The Chambers of the Holy Court of Orsini lived up to its name. Allegra had never been inside the heavily-guarded room before; now she knew why. She was led down the corridor with its polished marble tiles and priceless artifacts on full display. The walls were covered in various paintings, all depicting the sacrifices of the Guardians.
Tasmin with her sword drawn leading the charge into a massive demon portal, thousands of horsemen
behind her, determined to plunge into the abyss and stop the chaos from the other side.
Lonstein with his children screaming for him not to go as he wrestled with a demon, being dragged into the pit to save his children.
Kasta leading the others of his country, a wall against the demons who spilled out of the abyss. An entire generation sacrificing themselves to save the one that came before and after.
The myths and the paintings gave her chills. She didn’t believe the stories, but they were powerful parts of the world. The entire notion of duty and honor was a reflection of the Guardians, who gave their lives to stand against evil. When she was a little girl, she wanted to be Tasmin, leading the charge into battle against an implacable foe, giving her life in sacrifice to the greater good.
However, Allegra soon learned she was not that brave. Oh, she could mouth off on occasion, but she was not brave enough to step in front of the elemental mages and shout stop. No, she continued to live her life while her kind suffered and died at the hands of weak, frightened men.
The endless lectures of the previous night replayed over and over in her mind. Pero and Rupert argued over the best approach for her today in the conclave. Pero wanted her to accuse the cardinals of not being true representatives of the faith and that she planned to act in accordance to the truest meaning of the faith.
Rupert said she was best to outline simple measures she wanted to take, ones that were nothing more than mildly controversial, but that could have a temporary effect on the riots and rebellions. That stirring up the cardinals was not in her best interest, that they were far more powerful than she and that her newfound power, no matter how vast, was at their discretion and theirs alone. She worked for the them, and not the other way around.
She’d even asked Captain Rainier his thoughts. He said the cardinals had several voting blocks, but mostly she had to convince the progressives. Many wanted to do the right thing, but were scared to do so for various reasons, not including their desire to move into more powerful positions within the Cathedral. He’d said, in the end, there was no right way to handle them today, for they were all so very different.
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