“Father. Marshall! WAIT! I haven’t told you everything yet!” Liaena cried as she chased after the unrelenting Marshall. Storming through the corridors they occasionally passed drunk Night Elves, some of whom looked curious enough to start meandering after them. The result was that the pair were starting to attract a most unwelcome audience as Liaena dodged around the old man to block a doorway he was about to pass through, holding up her hands in a placatory gesture. 

“It’s a really, really bad idea to just run in there, okay? I get that you’re angry, I am too. But look…”

“Lady Rune? As you requested”

Arriving as always at the most appropriate moment, Frederick materialised beside them to politely present Alficious’s diary to Liaena. Liaena grabbed it quickly to find the pages with Alficious’ investigation of the White Hand, and hold it out to Marshall. “This is what a Lord learned about the White Hand, and he died for it. If – if these people or Sherpa realise that we are onto them, it’ll put Kitty in so much danger…”

Snatching the book off of her, Marshall flipped through it before arriving at the relevant pages. Scanning it, his eyes narrowed into angry slits at Liaena. “Stupid girl. You think that I would be rash enough to face this foe alone? Do you take me for a fool, brat!?”

“Uh…no” Liaena said doubtfully, tracking the book obsessively with her eyes. “Okay, good—“

“Which is why I’m reporting this to the Cathedral immediately”

“WHAT. Uh…Marshall” Liaena glanced desperately over her shoulder at the Night Elves that were starting to drift closer. “That-that might not be such the best idea. Remember, they did entrust this task to[i] you[/i]—“

“I have the humility to know when something is beyond me, girl”

Marshall’s eyebrows had again furrowed into a deep line between his eyes as he glowered at the girl. “Who else would I ask to aid this cause of ours? Those wicked, shrieking, faithless harpies?” 

“…..”

“Well…”

Losing interest, Marshall strode forward to push right past Liaena to start bulldozering down the corridor again, book in hand. Chasing after, Liaena found herself having to run at his side if only to maintain the conversation. “I don’t like them either Father, but they do have their uses. If we are going to sneak into this place…”

“The Light Of The World does not [b]sneak[/b]”

“They do if their enemies are completely legitimate businessmen!” Liaena hissed furiously back. 

“If the Light says they are not, then they are [b]not[/b]. The king himself will know of this affront! This heresy!”

“…The King. [b]Really[/b].” 

Still trying her best to keep up, Liaena gave Marshall a do-you-have-any-idea-what-you-sound-like look, before rolling her eyes at him. “This is [i]urgent[/i], Father. You want to wait six months until you get audience with him? …”

“He attends Mass tomorrow morning, brat. Which [i]you[/i] would know if you ever paid deference”

“….”

Stalling in the corridor, Liaena watched Marshall stomp away from her, eyes wide. The entire ruckus had attracted quite a few Night Elves but the girl made no attempt to cool the situation, or follow the priest, instead thinking hard. 

“Lady Rune?” Frederick enquired politely, having caught up to stand to attention next to the silent girl. “Shall I request Lady Dei intercept him at the gate?”

“Uh…No” Liaena said distantly after a long pause. Still tracking the old man with her eyes, she started to move forward again to follow him, before flapping a hand at Frederick. “Could you arrange a carriage instead? Thanks”