In Loki's Honor

Barbara took her impressive diamond staff out of storage. She asked.

Still in their jaguar forms, Lily roared and Apricot joined the [Dragon Slayer]. Kasumi, her {Saintess Magic} tank still not full even after a few months, ran up to join us. Arista got a gilded harp out of her storage ring. That one was new. I wonder if she enchanted it herself. It reminded me that while all the Aspects were powerful, the later models had a ton of stuff piled up even though they lost the {Unique} traits my previous incarnations had. Lily and Apricot, for example, couldn't even cast spells.

I slid around Barbara's body underneath her robes and formed a glove over her left hand. Then I summoned the currently Hafling-sized [Unicorn King's Spear] to me. If a show of force was the Count's game, we would oblige.

Joined by a squad of halfling [Guards], our small band of fierce ladies and mimic walked up the hill next to the one the good Count stood. Barbara was in the front, with Arista to her right and Kasumi on the left, the [Saintess] flanked by the two jaguars. Still to this day the black jaguar was considered a holy beast by the church.

Arista offered.

Barbara replied. Arista smiled and nodded.

Kasumi and I replied at the same time.

Arista advised.

Both parties stared down at each other in silence for a while. I could sense Barbara was playing the different scenarios in her head, trying to pick the right words.

"I thank your Excellency for troubling yourself to come here just to deliver facetious news," She stated, then raised her voice. "Excommunicated? I am the [Matriarch's Champion]. I wield the [Unicorn King's Spear]. Beside me stand the [Saintess] and two of her divine beasts. I wonder, your Excellency, on whose side do you think the Goddess' favor lies? With her chosen ones, or with those sniveling corrupt [Priests]."

The aforementioned sniveling ecclesiastics didn't like her defiant speech at all. Count Crawcolt, however, wore an amused smirk. He took his time letting Barbara's words sink before he replied.

"It is as you say, Baroness. I came here just to deliver the dire news myself, and greet my good neighbor," He said with a [Diplomat's] voice that didn't allow his true motives to be read.

"What does your Excellency make of them?"

The seasoned nobleman narrowed his eyes slightly as he slowly let his anger seep into his well-trained facade. "With the evidence before my eyes, I must admit your claim holds some verisimilitude." Count Crawcolt then swiveled his head to stare at the priests riding beside him for a strategically-placed pregnant pause before he addressed them. "Well? My favor is paid, how do you want to proceed from here?"

"You must help us secure the [Saintess] and break the hold these heretics have over her!" The lead [Priest] clamored.

Kasumi grinned and waved, her tails slowly swaying like a predator ready to pounce.

Crawcolt pulled the reins of his mount, making the horse back a couple steps and turn to face the [Priest]. "She doesn't seem to be there against her will. This is a church matter, I won't help you any further."

The [Knights] escorting the group of priests took that as their cue to move away from their former wards. The rebutting clergyman couldn't do anything but fume.

"You know," Kasumi moved forward, with firm and heavy steps as she addressed the man, "Were the Goddess here right now, she'd strip you of your Status for usurping her authority!"

Barbara nodded and clenched her left hand that was wearing me. The church wasn't all bad but it wasn't the best ever. Without guidance and, more importantly, punishment for transgressions, it slowly became the corrupt and ambiguous institution we had before us.

"You are being mind-controlled by those heretic [Wizards]!" The [Priest] claimed, then appealed to the Count. "Your Excellency, surely you can see this!"

The Count was happy to let us grind our wits and arguments against one another. It only benefited him that the [Priests] were forcing us to show our cards. Though civilization had advanced since the Cataclysm, this was still a world ruled by power. No matter how many [Knights] he brought fighting someone of a higher tier would only achieve a Pyrrhic victory. Things would change if we had to restrain ourselves to avoid causing collateral damage, or even do so while getting an overwhelming and quick victory to stop the enemy from causing collateral damage.

We knew the Count had troops outside Clovehaven's borders. The elites he brought with him could be considered a personal escort though it was exaggerated in quantity. A fight here needed to start and end before these troops could wreak havoc on the valley. A stray {Siege Fireball} could even cause loss of life from kilometers of distance. The Count might be banking on this and his reputation to get out unharmed.

"Let us put it to the test then," Kasumi challenged. "I propose a Divine Ordeal."

Crawcolt leaned forward on his horse, exaggerating his interest, "And what ordeal would that be?"

Kasumi walked down her hill, flanked by prowling jaguars, Lily and Apricot. "This is simple, your Excellency. In the olden days, the [Pope] of our faith donned not only the robes the Goddess bestowed upon her but also another piece of legendary raiment. One that embodied her vision of how the lands and people under her blessing should operate and relate to each other. Back in the day, every priest would proudly wear 'the Green' to show they were measured and approved," she explained.

The lead [Priest] started to look worried while the others made puzzled expressions, trying to figure out what she was talking about. It was obvious to us and even to Barbara. What green raiment could one wear over one's robes to show they believed in the Goddess's vision?

"I beg your pardon, your Holiness," Count Crawcolt said respectfully, "but what is this raiment you speak of?" He was obviously still doing his game of forcing us to take turns.

"In fair Windemere, ages past, nobody was forced to but many openly subjected themselves to this Ordeal most Divine," Kasumi was delighted to explain. She tapped her storage ring and pulled a piece of silk green cloth with golden trim. It was a rectangle with a hole for one's head in the middle, and straps to bind it around the waist. She quickly put it over hers and the straps tied themselves up. "This raiment is nothing less than the legendary Tabard of Windemere."

I found this curious passage in mom's book. A defeated nobleman claimed that "a piece of cloth could not decide the fate of a nation". What I took from that and mom's thoughts at the time was that the nobleman couldn't see past the obvious. The Tabard was not a piece of cloth. It was a manifesto, the symbol of a way of life. Of the values which Windemere upheld for centuries until the petty Brood-bitch destroyed it. Windemere never forced anyone to "don the Tabard". Those who did it with open hearts and hopeful dreams.

Kasumi produced more Subordinate Tabards. She must've collected them during her century of isolation in the Auvani Cathedral. "I double dog dare you to put these on, to show your true faith."

I glanced to the side and saw Arista already wearing one.

Barbara asked, eager to join the bandwagon.

she bemoaned though she understood what was at stake. Should the Count decide to invade, we might need Mom to smoothly sail out of the conflict.

she agreed, a bit miffed.

Kasumi approached the head [Priest] and talked to him in hushed tones. She brandished the Tabard in her hand several times, while the priest, judging by his expression, rejected it every time. She then scoffed and turned around, making her way back. None of the [Priests] dared do anything to stop her.

"Clovehaven," the Count broke the silence, "I would like to request a meeting so we can discuss trade, mutual defense, and other local issues."

Coming from above, his request was almost a demand. Arista advised Barbara to dismiss him without being too rude.

"You and your... companions," Barbara abused the dramatic pause, "caught me without previous warning amidst the construction of my residence, your Excellency. I would be delighted to have you as a guest but I need to prepare first. Perhaps in a month? I'll make sure my [Guards] know to let a messenger wearing your colors and on official business enter and leave Clovehaven unimpeded."

I asked in the group telepathic conversation. None of the girls remembered seeing him. We knew from our research into the local situation that Count Crawcolt was aligned with Himmel's faction so his absence was strange.

"I'll be looking forward to it," he decided not to push things any further and signaled to his knights to prepare to depart. "But allow me to invite you and your entourage for tea at my estate in a week."

That was huge. If we compare power levels on the board right now, it was huge in our favor. Our victory conditions weren't just to kill all enemies and we would have political implications if we started hostilities right now but he inviting us into his estate, where the collateral damage would be on him, was a big step. Arista's hunch was correct. Crawcolt was repaying a favor to the local church and now that faction had lost a ton of prestige. I bet most of the knights he brought were from subordinate houses that could be used as witnesses.

Even though we belonged to rival factions, he stood to gain a lot if he could earn favor from a party of fourth-tiers. On the other hand, we couldn't leave Clovehaven undefended. After a brief brainstorming session between everyone, Barbara replied.

"We accept your kind invitation, your Excellency. A week from now, we'll be at your estate for tea. I hope we can then talk about those treaties you mention."

"Yes, we would like that very much. Clovehaven, by your leave."

He pulled his horse around and spurred it into a gallop. The knights parted for their lord, then all followed him, leaving the [Priests] behind. It was a clear signal that they were on their own.

"Begone, worms!" Kasumi roared. "And know that in the day of your reckoning, the Goddess won't be merciful on your transgressions!"

They didn't need another cue. The priests took their horses into the dust cloud created by the troop of [Knights] as if that would shield them from divine eyes.