Umbertiel, part 2 (Inquisition)

[Alberich]

Yeeeep! Arguments fought their way from his belly to his throat, and died there. There would be no questioning an order like that from Bishop Cyrus. Why should he make a fuss when someone more approachable gave the orders?

He nodded - "Yes, Father. No one was threatening the ladies anyway, and with Brother Brad as an escort - they'll be all right. No matter what state he's in right now - he was brave when he had to be." Timothy was garrulous by nature anyway, and in speaking of fellow priests and of soldiers too, he liked to make a note of good deeds in higher places, to help the cream rise to the top. He'd have to tell Rose as well.

"But I can see them back, and then put out the right message to the townsfolk." He was well suited to that, and was sure Father Arpad knew so. "And then I'll need to go pack a few things for the journey. And may I know how long a trip I'm packing for, and what my mission is, or at least what I ought to say my mission is?"

Being addressed by a superior, he couldn't look away to see how Brad or Desiree were looking now, but he was aching to. And as the situation calmed down that pesky inner voice was back at him. Okay, her husband thinks we're a bunch of "peasants" and quite beneath him. But does she? Stop that thought.

[OOC: Not meaning to hog the board here or anything; I simply sensed a plot that wanted to be moved along a little.]

[Graybeard]

"How long? Truthfully, I do not know," Father Arpad answered. "The Patriarch's office is supposed to be sending more instructions in the morning. That's one reason why that group's departure is being delayed. I'd recommend packing for at least a week's trip. You can always stop at another temple and clean up, work out a change of outfit. As for the why, same answer. I'm sure they'll be wanting to know more about what happened to the Inquisitor's party, so they'll probably want you to have your ears and eyes open, in case anything shows up."

The older man sighed. "And now, I must get back to the unpleasant duty of preparing Sister Bree's corporeal remains to be consigned back to Our Lord Luminosita. That may be a bit -- sensitive. You wouldn't believe the rumors that are making the rounds about her death. All silly superstitions, of course, but they will require some delicacy. If you will excuse me, please see to the women's needs, then make sure the men are settled in their rooms for 'questioning.' After that, I'd recommend a good night's sleep; you might not be getting many of those for a while." He made the Sign of Luminosita in dismissal, with maybe a little extra conviction in it.

----------

Meanwhile, Brad was coming around ... and Sister Rose was learning something interesting.

[Alberich]

Brother Timothy made a genuflection and returned to the others. He was glad to see that Brad was coming around, and quite puzzled to catch a glimpse of Desiree's tears. What did she have to be sad about? The danger was averted, she was safe, her husband was safe, her friends were safe - well, perhaps she'd explain in time. He doubted it.

To the group as a whole, he explained the situation. "Father Arpad's given his instructions. You fellows under suspicion, Maduin and Eli, have to remain here, and we'll make some priests' quarters available. The public story is that you're being questioned most severely about these accusations, which will lead to the conclusion that you simply must be escorted out of town tomorrow, right when you were going to leave anyway. The reality is that you'll get a good night's sleep in a place without excitable crowds. Do not go out. You're our guests here, we're responsible for your well being, and just right now it's the only way to be responsible.

"Bryce, you're not under any suspicion, but it'd probably look better if you stayed with them, to make it easier to say they're being kept under guard.

"Lillith and Desiree, you can't stay here - we don't have women's quarters upstairs and we can't be starting those other kinds of rumors, young ladies staying overnight with a bunch of priests. But nobody was pointing fingers at you. Brad and I can escort you back to the inn, and make it extra clear you're not to be disturbed. After that, I've got to go home and pack a few things. It seems I've been ordered to travel with you for a while, part of Rose's mission for the Church. If I get time I'll ask around, see who started the rumor about Maduin. Probably just an early drunk.

"Anyone talks to anyone this evening, just remember this is the story: Maduin and Eli are being questioned here at the Church, Father Arpad has the whole situation in hand, and if further inquiries need to be made, that'll be handled by Emerylon." He drew a deep breath, as he didn't like the next part, but it had to be said. "And whatever you think of my countrymen, don't call them 'peasants.' Those superior airs aren't going to go over very well. This way, no one makes trouble tonight, everyone leaves safely in the morning, Umbartiel goes back to its daily business, you, ah, we go about ours, and everyone's satisfied."

Satisfied! Father Arpad's right, I may not have a sound night's sleep again...

"Shall we go?"

[Jack Rothwell]

OOC Conflict! Here we go.../OOC

Eli snorted his distaste at the brother's comment about what he'd said to the villagers.

"Superiors airs?" He shouted. "A bunch of idiot yokels burst into the travern accusing a man who was stopping their town from burning down around their ears of arson. I remind them that they were citizens, not miltia, and you accuse me of acting like a snob?"

He stepped forward with clenched fists, stopping only when the two were a foot apart.

"How about you pull your head out your backside and start viewing things with an objective eye?" He said. "How would YOU feel if you'd gone out your way to help someone and then the next thing you knew they were waving a pitchfork under your nose? Calling you a 'half breed freak'? Would you feel so charitable then, Brother?"

[Graybeard]

[OOC: Not much I can do here, since Rose is still tied up, but ...]

Brad struggled to his feet, looking rather the worse for wear as he watched the "exchange" (that's the polite word) between Eli and Brother Timothy. "Please don't yell," he said plaintively. "My head hurts..."

[Alberich]

[OOC: Yep, it happens.]

Brother Timothy had been planning to have this argument after they left town - for now he limited himself. He refused to respond to the clenched fists with a gesture of his own. Out of town, he'd be handy enough at that if it had to be, but here he had his position to consider. If he won, it looked shabby. If he lost, he looked shabbier. Priests brawling in the sanctuary - no, no, and no again. The only blows struck here were ritual Smitings.

In consideration of Brad's poor aching head, and even more so of who might overhear, he kept his voice low.

"If I were a guest in a distant land," he said, "and a stranger besides, I'd remember that my feelings were not kings of the earth, and how I feel doesn't matter there. And that putting my companions, and my mission, all at risk, because I felt some way, and had to let everyone know how I feel - no, I hope I'd control my tongue better than that. People are what they are. If you're going to come into towns like this, you'd better learn it."

Oh, yes, Tim, you righteous paragon, you, you know all about controlling your feelings, don't you? Yet another doom you can bring upon yourself - to damnation and excommunication, and maybe castration, add humiliation. He stilled his thoughts to continue.

"There are prominent men in this town who've spent their whole lives improving it. They wouldn't be so foolish as to call the other townsfolk 'peasants,' or assume lordly airs, for a few minutes of help. But let's call a truce for the moment and talk this out in the morning after we're away, where there's no dry tinder to set on fire. I imagine it's a long walk where we're going, with plenty of time for it, and plenty of open air."

And maybe after we've both slept on it we'll calm down a little.

[Drusia]

"Father Arpad's given his instructions. You fellows under suspicion, Maduin and Eli, have to remain here, and we'll make some priests' quarters available. The public story is that you're being questioned most severely about these accusations, which will lead to the conclusion that you simply must be escorted out of town tomorrow, right when you were going to leave anyway."

I blink in surprise. Is he... serious? I look for the telltales of a lie, but seen none. And I doubt he knows how to lie effectively. I wouldn't know to look, but my mother saw fit to teach me a few survival skills.

Is this Rose's doing? I can't think of anyone else who'd be able to convince a bunch of smite-happy Luminosians to... well, not smite us.

"Lillith and Desiree, you can't stay here - we don't have women's quarters upstairs and we can't be starting those other kinds of rumors, young ladies staying overnight with a bunch of priests. But nobody was pointing fingers at you. Brad and I can escort you back to the inn, and make it extra clear you're not to be disturbed."

I'm not particularly pleased about that. If we truly are safe here in the temple, then I'm loathe to leave it.

"Superiors airs?" Eli shouted. "A bunch of idiot yokels burst into the travern accusing a man who was stopping their town from burning down around their ears of arson. I remind them that they were citizens, not miltia, and you accuse me of acting like a snob? How would YOU feel if you'd gone out your way to help someone and then the next thing you knew they were waving a pitchfork under your nose? Calling you a 'half breed freak'? Would you feel so charitable then, Brother?"

"There are prominent men in this town who've spent their whole lives improving it. They wouldn't be so foolish as to call the other townsfolk 'peasants,' or assume lordly airs, for a few minutes of help."

"Pretend like everything I say makes sense," I whisper to Lillith, standing.

"Brother," I say, stepping away from Lillith and approaching the two of them, "As Eli said, his words indicated a lack of military traning. Perhaps civilians would have been a better choice of terms, but he was angry, and with good reason." I pull off my hat and brush aside my hair, revealing my ears. "And if he reacted badly to those who would call us half-blood freaks, then consider it a man defending his wife's honor."

I pause, gazing at Brother Timothy coldly.

"If you wish Brad and Lillith to wait at the inn, I cannot gainsay it," I tell him. "However, I can't imagine any priest could deny a wife the right to remain with her husband." I place my hands lightly on Eli's arm, my gaze daring Brother Timothy to speak against it. "If any question it, you can tell them as much."

-- Desiree

OOC: And the tensions continue. ^^ Yay drama!

[Jack Rothwell]

Brother, as Eli said, his words indicated a lack of military traning. Perhaps civilians would have been a better choice of terms, but he was angry, and with good reason. And if he reacted badly to those who would call us half-blood freaks, then consider it a man defending his wife's honor. If you wish Brad and Lillith to wait at the inn, I cannot gainsay it. However, I can't imagine any priest could deny a wife the right to remain with her husband. If any question it, you can tell them as much."

Eli felt the pressure cooker that had replaced his head cooling in the face of Desiree's intervention and her bravely revealing her true nature, but beside that he was loathe to continue his angry tirade in the face of Brother Timothy's more reasonably-toned reply, whether he agreed with the content of it or not. The Priestess on his arm had given him a perfect extrication from the messy situation and the half-elf was determined to make the most of it. He reached up with his free hand and stroked the tresses of Desiree's hair.

"She is my heart." He said simply. "And we have lived with the prejudice of what we are our whole lives." He pulled the hat off his head, showing plainly and exactly what he was. His mouth twisted as he sought to find some middle-ground between himself and Brother Timothy. "I don't expect you to understand what its like to be the permanent outsider, but I do recognise that your intentions are pure." He extended his free hand, ignoring the angry beast rattling the bars of its cage somewhere in the most primitive part of his mind. "I'll agree to your truce, all I ask is that you don't condemn me for being angry in the face of overt racism."

[Alberich]

Brother Tim took the outstretched hand with good grace. The ears didn't matter to him, anyway - fairy tale creatures looked stranger, and he hadn't gone delving into elf lore in his study time. He knew bits of things, here and there, but it was all distant, not enough to fear or resent them. They were heathens of some kind, no doubt, but he'd figured that anyway. And hoped for it? Wanted them to take their marriage lightly? You goat.

"With a free heart," he said. "It's not a matter of being angry - it's a matter of keeping the peace. But later we'll have time to talk about that."

Oh, yes, wasn't I just telling myself that I could feel every evil desire, as long as I didn't do it? Very pretty sophistry. Better for you, Brother Tim, if she does stay here. You know, if you stop wanting to hover around his wife, you could actually make friends with this fellow. That's about the twentieth good reason for staying away from her. If only good reason would always retain its power, when her scent was in the air...

To Desiree, he spoke, "There is only one man who can decide that here, and that's Father Arpad. He commands here." Unless the Bishop suddenly recovers, which, my new friends, you do not want. Whether you know you don't want it or not, you don't... "He's very busy, but I'll ask him if he'll change his mind on that point. Whatever he says, that's how it has to be."

With alacrity, he returned to Father Arpad. With apologies, which the older man cut off, he made known Desiree's petition. He mentioned a thought that had just occurred to him, that with Sister Bree no longer staying here, there had to be some kind of quarters a woman could stay in. To his own surprise, he was hoping the senior priest would agree. From virtuous intentions? Or do you just believe you can't get anywhere if she's miffed? Father Arpad cut him off again, and made known his answer...

(OOC: Well, the drama cools for the moment. Who knows? Maybe this'll bring them closer together.)

[Graybeard]

"You said they were newlyweds, is that correct?" Father Arpad asked Brother Timothy, getting a nod in reply.

He let out a long sigh. "Very well. It would be inhumane for us to separate them under the circumstances. Just make sure they're as far as possible from the novices' cells. We wouldn't want them to get any ideas. It would be nice to use the V.I.P. chambers, but not possible, unfortunately; the investigation has barely started."

Timothy turned to go, but the older priest cleared his throat. "One other thing. Speaking of the investigation, when you take the girl and the other priest back to the inn, fetch me this Sister Rose and her colleague. There are some questions I want to ask them ... in private."