A5G

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

Mirielle loathe the idea of taking a seat on the same table as the local tyrant, but she's left with little choice with Carmen taking the lead. At least she could still refuse to partake in the tainted bounties offered by her host, undoubtedly procured with illicit means.

She let Carmen do the speaking, inwardly reciting scriptures after scriptures to keep herself in control lest she flipped out and run through the brigand then and there. Words barely get through to her in this state, likely for the best considering how much the outpost commander tested her nerve just by existing.

This lasted until a decorated shield was presented before them, ornately functional in similar vein to her own spear. The Order's color adorning it and the traces of battle use made it a highly likely armament of the illustrious paladin. It did not bode well that it was separated from the owner in some manner, but that didn't necessarily mean Sir Thomas was dead.

All in all, Mirielle found herself in an odd state of detached calm. A rare reversal compared to Carmen's current outrage. Even when it rapidly escalated into impending violence, she only shrugged as she stood from her seat.

Was it because it's well within her expectation for a fight to start, one way or another? Or perhaps she's glad to return to familiar ground. At the end of the day, the once-inquisitor preferred direct action to words.

"I see where that - what's his name, Yakult? - got his blind confidence. Did they forgot to pass the message? The Order of the Golden Sun does not recognize your authority over this land." Stepping to the side to interpose herself between the watchtower and Amaris, Mirielle took a deep breath as divine power roiled in great waves within her veins. "We are not trapped in here with you, blackguard. You are trapped in here with us."

With a flex of her willpower the divine energy flared, forming the glowing suit of golden light over her being. Protection aside, with her party members focusing on the commander, they'll be mostly spared the debilitating effect of staring at a sudden bright glow in the middle of the night. Hopefully enough to debilitate the marksmen long enough for someone to take them out. With a flourish her spear lashed out, going from resting to threateningly pointing at the approaching soldiers.

It had been a while since she wielded the spear against an actual adversary. It's almost... nostalgic.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

Mirielle said nothing even as Carmen addressed the first grunt, and still no word escaped her at the snide comments. She did, however, glowered the entire time. They may dress up as soldiers, but the lack of professionalism revealed their true nature as well-equipped brigands. If an annoyingly perceptive one.

"Easy now, dont bite him." She reminded, completely serious as they strolled past the wooden gate. She saw the camp for what it was, a place that could probably be called fortified if one had never seen actual fortifications before. Only two watchtowers to begin with, not even enough to properly cover all directions. Lack of platforms for the defenders to get atop the walls, the construct will hinder them more than any dedicated assault force and turning it into a deathtrap for themselves. Not to mention how sloppy the men were, half of them didnt even keep up the soldiery appearance. It all worked in her favor for once, but her judgment over their potential enemies had reached rock bottom.

Or at least it was rock bottom, but then the redstripes started to dig themselves deeper.

The earldoman, who looked just as destitute as the peasant hunter from earlier, was allegedly punished for sabotage. Now Mirielle wasn't unfamiliar with the concept, but the way it's carried... unilateral decision with zero investigation. On top of that she had strong suspicion that the deal was closer to a racketeering scheme rather than anything.

Her hand clenched around the shaft of the spear resting on her shoulder, outrage barely held in. Carmen and the noblewoman will be the spokeperson here, not her. But this oppression will be addressed sooner or later.

"If the worst is to come, get behind me." Mirielle casually whispered at the penitent, inching around as if she's interested in the lashing to get between the (perceived) least durable member of their little quartet and the marksmen.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

"Carmen!?" Mirielle exclaimed in disbelief at the insane proposal of going into the heart of hostile territory. No matter how skilled, a blade to the right place will end him all the same. The same applied to most of everyone present, whoever went will risk their life. Even if they razed the entire place after, it'll be little consolation to the ones already slain.

Her thoughts went to the recently disappeared Ludvig. Of all people, he'd be the most suitable for the job... unfortunate that he deserted. Mirielle could scant imagine anyone or anything taking him away against his will without any of the merry little band noticing after all.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself and putting the unstable man out of mind. No use thinking about what could've been. Their cards were dealt, now it's time to make the best use out of it.

"I believe I am most suitable for the escort." She raised, glancing at the rest of the party. "The two of us have fought side by side before, we know best how to cover one another. And I'm quite hard to put into the grave, I stand the best chance of surviving until the rest of the team can intervene should things go south."

Her glances darted from one person to another, though whether she's looking for support or daring them to object was unclear.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

"Getting through isn't the problem. Keeping the horses alive would be." Mirielle stated from atop her saddle, spear resting over her right shoulder. "Perhaps we should wait for nightfall? Going around the camp, or simply charging past the blockade is an option then. But riding in the darkness for any prolonged period is just as risky as letting the marksmen take shot at us."

Piercing yellow gaze fell on her party members, expecting someone to know some unique solution to their predicament. In worst case they'll need to fight it through... not that attractive of a choice either. Mirielle doubted that anyone important was stationed in this small outpost, there's little to gain from escalating the conflict.

"We could always back up a bit, find someone from the village. They must know if there's alternate paths." She said with a shrug. That'll entail backtracking, costing more time, without any assurance of the potential gain. The soldiers were stationed here for a reason, would be pointless if they're so easily bypassed.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

Mirielle stared woodenly at Ludvig's outstretched hand for a moment before it clicked, and in just about any other situations would've be rather excited to ask about more. But for the moment she quietly removed her right glove and handed it over, before carefully unclasping the gauntlet on the other side.

"Ah, yeah. Do your thing, please. Thanks." Her glance on the mage lasted a few seconds before it returned to the bodies, her boot tapping on the ground as nervous energy welled up. Burial will take some time, but well... it's the least they could do for the victims.

*****

Ah, Carmen's lantern. She wasn't sure if it could play back that far, but seemed that the last moment of the clerics was still within his reach. A grim sort of anticipation rose, ready to see the blackhearts responsible for the massacre.

And through the replay, her mood was replaced by a near-comical flabbergastion before it reignited the cold fury within.

She was wrong. These were beyond cruel men. They were monsters in human skin, with a gaping pit where their heart should be.

"I'm going to kill them."

The statement was disconcertingly light, like someone talking about taking a short nap. Mirielle turned around, by some confidence following after Ludvig until she reached where the horses were tied. With religious slowness the ex-inquisitor unclasped her sword, storing it in her luggage before retrieving a long pole tightly wrapped in leather.

Step by step the leather wrap came undone, revealing a masterfully crafted spear gleaming under the sun. Metal braces ran across the length of an ironwood shaft, culminating into a wide bladehead and a pair of wings on one side while rounded metal butt rested on the other end as both a counterbalance and a blunt instrument both.

Scriptures covered every surface but the spearhead, etched on the metal and carved into the shaft. Mirielle caressed the surface as she recited in low voice, eyes closed as her aura momentarily flared.

"...show courage in righteousness, to bear pain in the suffering of others. Pray that we forget not the mercy for the downtrodden, and grant us the strength to prevail over the wicked-"

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

"...bone structure?" Mirielle parrotted with thinly veiled skepticism. Great, this one's unreliable. Oh well, it's probably a bit too much of an ask for the girl. "Good job. We... should move on."

Her investigation result on the corpse was... less than satisfactory. The soot felt unusual somehow, but not in any manner she can articulate. And then there'd Ludvig being touchy all of sudden, earning him a glare as she flinched. Clicking her tongue in annoyance, Mirielle cut her finagling short and stood back up. This wasn't working, a specialist was needed and she doubt there's one in a few hundred miles.

"I am not suggesting us to engage in mindless slaughter, lady de Valmont." Replied the ex-inquisitor, a bit offended that the noble would even imply such. "Merely pointing at the best course of further investigation. If you hadn't notice, this site is a dead end."

Not like they have tried too hard to look, but two weeks of bad weather had its way to wash away potential evidences. The local peasant was at the end of his usefulness too, likely not having much more beyond bits of rumors. Probably no time to gossip when he had to constantly worry about his next meal.

"Very well, you have been most helpful. A word of advice, you should take your family into hiding. Those soldiers looked like the vindictive sort, best to be prudent. Take care, good man."

Frustration welled up and subsequently bottled in. This really wasn't her day, to think that the witch's words resonated the most with her. Despite her own words earlier, Mirielle couldn't help but worry. How long will the trail of corpses be, by the time they're finished with the mission?

May the Creator have mercy on their souls.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

"It is retribution, not vengeance." Mirielle curtly answered, huffing as she tenderly pulled the corpses to lay them side by side. Up close the signs of abuse were so much worse even through weeks of rot, and the stench enough to knock out regular people. To her part, she only wrinkled her nose and continued on the grim task.

"You got shot just a few minutes ago, mister Ludvig, and powered through despite. Do not sell yourself short." She placed the last body, one hand halfway rising to wipe her brows before realizing the presence of sodden pulp of corpse-fluid smeared all over the gloves. Clicking her tongue, Mirielle settled for clasping her hands together and out of the way. Might as well check the bodies, cant get any filthier than this. "I will not demand you to join me regardless, but be aware that you are already involved for travelling in this group. I doubt whoever came after Sir Thomas' entourage will make any distinction between you and I."

Kneeling down yet again, she took a closer look at the bodies. Muttered a small prayer for forgiveness before touching at the facial orifices. It's already clear that they've been left out here for quite some time, they should've long since cooled. What caused the smoke to continue waft out?

They're near-completely blind right now. Any clues may be indispensable for the coming days, for Mirielle sensed bloody conflicts in the horizon.

"Spread out, seek more information!" She hollered to the rest of the group. This macabre display was a warning. To who or for what purpose, hopefully it'll come clear. "You there, peasant. Explain who those soldiers are, and who they're fighting so desperately."

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

"Hells and damnation, I agree with you-" Mirielle hissed through gritted teeth, slowly turning to the penitent. "...Amaris. Anyone capable of such cruelty are better off dead, you do not need to rub it in."

The dull thuds of objects hitting the ground rang in the background, interspaced with the metallic scrape of Carmen's saber. Amaris was before her, dangerously available as a target to lash out to. Mirielle closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and counting to ten. By the time she reopened her eyes, her slipping self-control had reasserted and all the anger bottled within.

Ready to burst when, and only when, she met the devils responsible over the deaths.

"I- I apologize. I should not take this out on you." She coughed awkwardly, averting her eyes and shuffling away to help Carmen with the remaining corpses. "Yes, you have a good point. Even if they're not directly involved they must know something, this spot is too close to their outpost for them to be completely unrelated... little Lin, is there anyone you recognize among these folks?"

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

Ludvig left, whether scared off by Amaris or did so on his own whim, but not before dropping one last infuriating remark. Mirielle could only let out an offended "Huh?!" before he's too far off for normal conversation, leaving her to fume by her lonesome.

"Ignore him." She turned to glare at the penitent on her side. "You definitely did not."

*****

After a short ride away, they finally reached the spot the peasant led them to. The stench hits Mirielle long before it came to view, and although that was enough for her mood to drop into the lowest today the actual sight of it was enough to drive her into unbridled rage.

"This... Sacrilege!" She yelled, almost spooking her own horse. The ex-inquisitor was quick to dismount, even Amaris temporarily forgotten as she briskly closed the distance to the macabre site. The ground already long since cooled, yet none of it seemed to match the chill that gripped her chest.

They were too late, and the congregation paid the price.

"...may the Creator safeguard your souls, in the journey beyond to His hallowed halls." She stopped before the closest corpse, kneeling into a prayer. Save for the initial outburst, Mirielle's outward reaction was rather muted as opposed to their team captain though it said nothing of the cold fury blazing within. "Rest now, brothers and sisters. This injustice will be righted. On this I swear."

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

It didnt take long for a newcomer to join the little bubble that inadvertently formed between the ex-inquisitor and the penitent, Ludvig showing a frankly impressive feat of acrobatic by treating moving horse like it was flat ground. Apparently he'd been paying attention to their conversation, or at least enough that he could chip in.

With a rather concerning opinion. Why did it sounds like it was backed by experience?

"That... doesnt sounds feasible." She subconsciously glanced at Amaris, as if to gauge the latter's reaction. "Just like cancer, mister Ludvig, excising evil must be done thoroughly. Otherwise the scattered remnant will simply break apart and rebuild in different places." She ignored the jab about cursed robes. No one gets punished for fighting evil. At least, that's how it should be... bah, she shouldn't be doubting her Order in the first place. "Besides, evil contaminates. Those who light great pyres of blood come to love its warmth, and no other heat can chase away the chill. If the leader is guilty as a source of evil then the followers too are guilty of perpetuating it. When it comes the time for judgment, neither must be spared lest the smaller evil eventually grow into a greater one."

If there's any irony in her statement, Mirielle was seeing none of it.