“….No!” Liaena was quick to defend herself as she gazed into the now-empty bedroom. Not only was there no sign of Bella at all, there was also no sound of angry complaints that could only come from an abandoned, shrunken priestess. Beside her, Kathlin made an audible tsking noise. “Well…she’ll be safe, anyway. I definitely had her when we got back to the Cathedral”

“It never rains, if it could pour” Thea murmured to herself, still studying the newspaper as she turned the page. Apparently, the White Hands heroic defence of Stormwind warranted the entire three front pages. 

The paladin standing beside her was observing the entire shambles before him with mingled shock, nerves and anger. The distant sound of Serphia and her elves apparently ransacking the pantry was strongly threatening to push his emotions further into the latter as he turned to Thea. “….these elves should be removed, Priestess. The Bishop would wish for it”

“Under normal circumstances, I would agree with you, Damon” Thea said softly as she folded the paper carefully between her hands, before giving the Paladin an apologetic look. “However, these times are not normal, and the Bishop needs to know that. The elves should stay, for now”

“……”

Damon shuffled his feet, looking deeply unhappy with the entire situation as he continued to give Rithrynn a suspicious stare. Thea meanwhile turned to Liaena, who was pulling pillows off the bed to check under them, although with a lacklustre demeanor that strongly implied that she didn’t expect any shrunken priestesses to come of it. “Apprentice Rune, go and arrange for that elven leader to meet with me as soon as possible. We can arrange for lodgings for her and her crew”

“...”

Liaena opened her mouth swiftly to protest as she swung around, saw the look in Thea’s eyes, thought better of it and paused for a moment in thought – before turning to Rithrynn. “Rithrynn, go and tell Serphia the humans want to hear of her magnificent exploits. And there’s wine”