Meanwhile, just a floor below the Hall of Glory ...Archbishop Saunière slowly walked down the stairs leading to the underground complex of the church, feeling the usual uneasiness whenever he brought himself down to this rather deserted section. Before he was granted his title, his predecessors used this basement as a detention facility for criminals or members of congregations that broke the sacred order.
It was a practice that had long been obsolete in Helvetia, partly because the Republic banned it, and also because Saunière himself believed that dealing out severe corporeal punishment was not the domain of men, but rather God himself.
"Oh, wait until you see this one specimen." The archbishop remembered Cardinal Seroz's laughter when he transferred a chained prisoner into his threshold. Likely his punishment From The Order for granting mercy toward members of the congregation who at some point had gone astray.
The chamber before him was secured by a heavy wooden door. This was the only enclosed room that remained after his disciples had renovated the rest of the basement and turned it into an indoor gymnasium for them to train, usually used as a resting room for those who had exhausted themselves after hours of hard workouts.
But today, the chamber was guarded by one of his most reliable disciples, who stood there, bored out by the uneventfulness of his duty. He immediately straightened himself upon seeing Saunière.
"At ease, my child." Saunière said patiently. If it was up to him, he would think this was unnecessary, but Cardinal assured him that this prisoner must not be left alone, especially since this was a new habitat for her. So he obeyed, but he did not lock the door.
"I will take care of this. I assume you did not enter the room and nothing has happened?"
"No, Father. She's been all quiet."
"Good. You may go upstairs and rest."
The disciple, despite his previously bored disposition, now sounded concerned.
"Father, sir, If what I've heard is true, then let me accompany you."
"It is unnecessary," Archbishop assured, not looking back at his disciple who grew even more appalled when the Archbishop turned the knob and opened the heavy door without a key. "If she is as dangerous as they say, you'd have seen it sooner. Now go, I will speak to our friend. Fewer people mean less nervousness, don't you agree?"
After dismissing his disciple and making sure that he had climbed upstairs, Saunière let the door open as he entered the chamber.
Sitting in that room was a woman with a pale complexion and white hair styled with distinctive trim on the bangs. She was robed in a wardrobe that at first glance, seemed like an ordinary nun headscarf but looked like it was pelted by thin blades made of black iron, reminding Saunière of the dramatized paintings of the old saints but disfigured and sinister.
His red eyes stared at him with lividness, but the archbishop only smiled. "Sorry, It was rude for me to talk behind your back. Have you eaten yet?"
There was a trayful of food at the small table by the corner of the room, it was not different from what the church has served in the Glory Hall (minus the wine of course), but it had been left untouched.
"I am sorry, it is not my intention to treat you like a prisoner. I wish we could welcome you like how men of God would receive a guest in His house."
***
Being transferred from place to place wasn't exactly something new for Amaris. During at least 7 years, she had been taken around under chains to serve as the Order's hunting hound, in hopes of reducing a sentence she didn't deserve, given to hide the incompetence of the Westernant authority and the corruption of all involved with that slaver settlement. Her 'condemnation'? A mere façade to preserve the status-quo and avoid scandals.
After all, she was more than sure that should the slavers be Sarkaz people, the inquisitors would readily mark them as heretics and burn them alive for their sins...
But unlike most inquisitors, the man who met Amaris was much different. Unlike the fanatic zealots that often took the mantle of inquisitors, the Archbishop was a calm, placid and measured man... One of the few that treated her as a person instead of a dangerous, chained animal, something which shattered the image she had from him.
But despite his apparent kindness, Amaris had the feeling there was more behind the man. The very idea that someone as calm and kind as him was able to control the bloodthirsty, trigger-happy zealots under the Order's command was... difficult to believe. It was precisely due to these thoughts that Amaris found it hard to fully trust the Archbishop.
The food they offered her just before meeting with him was a truly delectable dish, different from the bland bread and dried meat she was given by most of her other 'handlers'. Truth be told, Amaris herself was incredibly tempted to eat it even now, with the dish being lukewarm at best, after being put aside by her due to her distrust regarding the entire situation. After all, it was almost unheard of any prisoners meeting the Archbishop face to face... Much less one as dangerous as Amaris.
"Good Evening, Archbishop Saunière. It's been a while time since I heard someone referring to me as a 'guest' instead of a witch." Amaris said finally, carefully analyzing the man as he entered the secure room.
***
"A guest." Corrected Saunière, shaking his head in a seemingly superficial dismay. "Whoever comes and seeks shelter in this church doesn't matter as long as they don't spell danger to my congregation, and you, Amaris, have behaved like a good guest would. I don't know if that's because of your situation or purely from your heart, but is only fair if we repay that in full."
"is that so?" asked the woman. "One of the guards told me that I should give praise and thank the Hero Lydus for this delectable dish. While I'm not a pious woman, I wish not to squander yours—and His—gifts and good will, but hope you don't mind if I wish to eat something a bit warmer. Who knows when I'll have the chance of indulging on such luxury again, after all..."
Amaris said, expertly dodging away from partaking from that particular dish and opting for... 'fresher' ones, less likely to have been tampered with.
It was a small detail, but it was enough for Saunière to realize that she was still a bit cautious about trusting him and the order... Even after nine years.
"Thank Lord Creator, not Lydus, for he was just a messenger of good commandments. That being said, you don't need my permission to relish what has been provided. It is the same victuals we provided for our honorable guests, nothing less and nothing more. Should you want more or a warmer option, we can go upstairs. But there is something I need to talk to you first. An important matter."
There was a moment of silence, the kind of haunting silence of one party not yet agreeing with the other's proposal. However, it would soon be apparent, that there was no disagreement, just the other party still lagging on the part of their conversation that she found amusing.
***
Amaris couldn't help but let out an amused smirk and a chuckle as she heard Saunière's words mentioning that she didn't spell danger to his church. From the day she was caught to that very moment they found themselves face to face, Amaris refused to harm any innocent and yet he was one of the few people who actually seemed to truly believe her.
"I can understand why everyone from the Order speaks of you with such admiration and reverence. Either you are almost a living saint or an incredibly cunning person... For my own good, I hope it's the former one." Amaris said with an amused chuckle, as she shifted on her seat, taking a more comfortable position as she leaned forward, paying attention at what Saunière had to say.
"Curious how your Creator seems to be much gentler, kinder and more generous than the ones the Inquisitors seem to speak of..." Amaris said, with an amused expression, carefully observing the Archbishop's reaction to that small provocation.
***
Sauniere decided to let the remark slide and replied with a weak smile.
"Their intention is good," he said. "But some of us have their ways of expressing such intention, I am saying this without agreeing to some of the Inquisitor's extreme methods, mind you, but also not condemning them, for the opinion of one man should not be taken as the ultimate truth. Maybe there is a wisdom I have yet to see from their harsh proceedings, that some see as disproportionate. I am sure you are no stranger to harsh and disproportionate retribution, am I wrong?"
***
Upon hearing Saunière's reply after she mentioned the inquisitors, and a cue to 'that' accident Amaris expression immediately darkened, as she looked at him in silence for a moment.
For a brief moment, it almost seemed like the Archbishop's reply had enraged Amaris, that was before her expression immediately lightened as she let out a smile and a very amused laugh.
"A cunning man indeed. Much to my dismay. It seems I was right in being careful about you. Risking sounding like an inquisitor myself, it might have been harsh, but not undeserved. What happened in that settlement wasn't murder. It was reckoning. With that said, I still think I am better than most inquisitors at judging who are truly guilty or not before acting."
***
The Archbishop let out an exasperated sigh and shook his head, his tone was still patient.
"While it is true that there are some inquisitors who act outside of their boundaries, like in your accident, most of them act based on rules and code of conduct. Power is a heady thing, Amaris. When you think of yourself as the judge, jury, and executioner, be careful you might already walk in the same path as the people you despise."
"Sometimes we are forced to take on this role, Archbishop. No matter how heavy it might be..." Amaris replied, with a serious expression when Saunière mentioned the risk she was taking to walk the same path of those she despised.
"Especially when those who should have done something instead would prefer avert their eyes and ignore the suffering of others for their own gain." she finished, with a dark expression.
Smiling, Saunière hoped that Amaris would remember what he just said. Considering what this woman had gone through for the past 7 years, he understood her bitterness and arguing would be the last thing they needed.
So he gave her a moment, to let the words sink deeper before he directed their focus back on the matter at hand.
***
"Let us not dwell on the past." I would not say this conversation is entirely about the disappearance of Paladin Thomas, but in your case, it is more about you, and why you are here.
Without giving Amaris a chance to speak, he continued. "There are... some people who wish for ill fate to befall us. Those people wish you would take advantage of my leniency and harm me and my congregation so they would have the excuse to have you executed and remove me from my position. I must confess at first I had that fear, but then I prayed to God, for his protection, and for Him to not disappoint my faith for I believe every soul was created good. It seems my prayer was not in vain.
And that brings us to this conversation. You can see that I don't have that restraining device with me, I left it in my office, because I trust you. Because I believe you would make this decision not out of selfishness. The decision to make you what you are now was not right, but as a part of The Order, and more importantly, as a servant of God, how wretched I am to set you free without proof of virtue, or with a possibility of recapture by the inquisitors."
***
In silence, Amaris quietly and carefully heard his words. While there was indeed a new mission she was designated to, it wasn't in fact, the main point of that serious —and rather secretive— conversation.
Even a man as powerful and cunning as the Archbishop had enemies, enemies who not only wanted to get rid of him, to see him fail but were willing to use Amaris as a pawn for their own goals. Considering the fact that there were signals that corrupt authorities were likely involved in the slaver settlement nine years ago, it wasn't that surprising that there were also some bad apples inside the very order.
Nevertheless, Amaris was still impressed by how much the Archbishop was willing to trust, both his plan and Amaris herself. Not only he decided to meet her face to face, but without the signet ring that was used to activate the Robes of Penitence. Even if Amaris assumed that there was some other way to activate the robes or that there was someone else observing their conversation, ready to activate her robes, there was still a very real threat to the Archbishop, should she decide to do something... Of course, she would likely end being executed on spot, but still...
"In seven years of completing missions for the Order, I have never harmed innocent people... Even when your inquisitors would. I am many things, Archbishop Saunière, but I am not guilty of half the things most people accuse me of." Amaris said with a serious tone.
"I know not about the enemies you face inside the Order or about what are they capable of doing just to get rid of you, but I can at least assure you that you were correct in putting your faith in me." Amaris said. For a brief moment, an almost imperceptible smile crossed Amaris' face as she said that, almost as if she was a bit thankful for the trust he had on her.
Sauniere said nothing, seemingly knowing that his words were not needed. Her assurance had satisfied him enough, and now it was her turn to bargain her price.
"I assume you plan in having me participate in this mission, right? Should it have a positive outcome, you would be showing your competence as the Archbishop, gaining leverage against those who want to see your downfall inside the Order and consolidating your position. In the other hand, I would earn my freedom and proving that most charges against me are either incorrect or simply false. Should this, in turn, reveal the truth about the corruption that allowed the slave trade to flourish in the border settlement that was destroyed by me nine years ago, besides being a very desirable outcome for me, would also make it harder for whoever your enemies are, to openly make any moves against you without drawing suspicion to themselves... Am I correct?" Amaris said after thinking for a moment in the words the Archbishop had just said.
"In the end, having this mission end in a success would be incredibly helpful for both of us." Amaris concluded after considering the benefits and drawbacks of accepting the Archbishop's proposal
***
"I want you to participate in this mission," he said, with mirth that somewhat mocks her theorem. "I promise no specified outcome should the mission go well, but your freedom. Your guardianship has been transferred to me, and naturally, it is my call now to assign you a task as I see fit. This will be your last duty, and your obligation toward the Order will be no more. You need not worry about my predicament, dear Amaris, but the aftermath..."
"Meaning?"
"My influence in The Order might be significant but limited nonetheless. Clearing your name would be a tall order and I am sorry for that."
The archbishop did not fail to notice the expression in Amaris' pale visage. But she should have seen that coming. Both of them knew what the order was capable of, and although The Order almost never dishonored a contract, the possibility of someone of higher rank than him vetoing his decision and re-apprehend Amaris was never out of the table.
But he wasn't a man without a plan.
"But please hear me out for a moment. I have a friend in The Council. Someone who may be interested in your story and can grant you protection should things go south. After this fellowship departed, an envoy would be sent to her office to inform her of your plight. I hope this friend will fare better in that regard, and that would be enough as an apology."
Another silence ensued. Amaris spent some moments to rethink the situation and the offer. Their pros and cons. While she was a bit frustrated with the Archbishop's words and how it would be hard to clear her name, having his, and the order's support would be very helpful.
"Regarding your proposal... Having your and your friend's word that you will support me when the time comes is more than enough. Should things go as I plan, the corruption behind the incident on the slaver settlement will be brought to light and when it does, the repercussion it would cause will be enough to turn the situation in both our favors in a way it would become incredibly difficult for anyone to do anything against us regarding these matters without drawing suspicion to themselves..." Amaris said with a cunning grin.
"As long as you keep your word, I will keep mine. This opportunity will show itself to be quite vaulable for both of us." she finished, evidently satisfied with the outcome of their talk.
"Thanks to the creator!" He grinned, then walked aside and extended his hand to invite the Sarkaz to leave the room first. "Now go ahead and meet the rest of the group. I am sure they will be happy to see you and the food... is much warmer there."
"I will. You have my thanks, Archbishop. I must admit, our little conversation did make me quite famished." Amaris replied, delicately nodding before she stood up and left the room first.
***
The introduction was brief. Archbishop Saunière casually returned to The Hall and announced that they had one more person helping the cause before letting Amaris do the introduction herself.
He then approached Inquisitor Friston, placing the tray he was carrying on that table and then whispering something as the man carefully watched the newcomer with a mix of confounded and amused expressions, as if mentally asking the Archbishop; "Are you sure this is a good idea?"
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