By Order of the Queen

I don’t know why Missol brought me with her into the audience chamber

"Is there anything else I should know about before you bring the Paladin in?" Bishop Aldebardo asked, rubbing his temples.

"I fear that is all." Castellan Missol said, still covered in purple ichor and smelling faintly disgusting.

"First things first, I suppose." The Bishop sighed, murmuring a spell that cleansed Missol of all filth, and left her cleaner than when we had first met. "Go ahead, bring in the Paladin."

The Bishop’s audience chamber was classically medieval or renaissance in design. A high vaulted hall for a room that could comfortably handle twenty or so people, handsomely decorated in lush furs and tapestries to show off the lord’s wealth and prestige, and illuminated by high stained glass windows that continued to depict mythological events that I remained sadly ignorant of. At the far end was the Bishop and his high throne on an elevated platform, before him were several well furnished and comfortable seats, and at the other end was a magnificent entrance. Our affair was small, consisting only of the Bishop himself, Castellan Missol de Nevadre, and myself, Squire Loiel Krieger. I still did not understand what I was doing here, and made no effort to ask why or how.

At his command, Missol went to open the door and usher in the still filthy Paladin, "I present Segnora Taresa de Costanza, Paladin."

"I greet the illustrious Bishop Aldebardo de Mahuleon, Grand Master of the Stone Solari and lord of the Trazmos valley." Paladin Taresa removed her poofy hat and bowed low, waiting until the Bishop gave a sign for her to rise. He took his time giving that sign. "Now, what business have you brought me that is so urgent that you come here unannounced and covered in slime?”

"Your Illustriousness, forgive my rudeness, but time is of the essence. The demons once again plague us from the north. Wizards and scholars agree that a new demon king has arisen and directs them to resist our reconquest of the lost lands."

"And the Monarch, Queen Urraca, seeks to form a new Forlorn Hope to slay this new demon king." Castellan Missol said as she took her place by the bishop's side. "As the last remaining Forlorn Hope, she wishes that I lead this new formation, is that correct?"

"I am afraid so." The paladin said, again bowing, "We understand that it is unseemly to ask so much of you once more, but the situation is dire."

"Yes, dire enough to send 20,000 refugees here, only for them to be killed by demons that have never been seen this far south." The Bishop said, fingers rhythmically tapping on his armrest. "We have already sent many of our brothers and sisters to fight, and our fortress remains dangerously understaffed. If something were to try to escape, we may not be capable of stopping it. The monarch asks for too much."

"Still, the monarch urges her to reconsider. With such a hero with us, our efforts may be redoubled, and the matter settled in months instead of years!" Paladin Taresa said, "After war's end, the monarch promises to compensate you however you wish. The sad truth is that right now few resources can be spared and all efforts have been directed to the northern front. There is little we can offer you immediately."

"Don't tell me, you were planning on using the relief supplies promised to us as a bartering chip?" Castellan Missol said, "And now that is lost, you can only beg? Was that the only real card you had to play?"

"No, never, my lady!" The paladin said, recoiling in shame, "We have other offers and guarantees that could be given."

"You already know my demand. I made it last year, when you came to this place and we gave up what we could." Castellan Missol said, "Declare the Trazmos valley an autonomous region, and you will have my sword."

"My lady, that is too much! And I do not have the authority to make such a concession." Paladin Taresa said, "Is there something else we can promise? A loan of warriors to reinforce your garrison? Or perhaps monetary compensation, or even the award of a title and land?"

"You already tried to make me a Count once. Be lucky that I took a mere barony and tied myself to this kingdom at all."

"That is enough." Bishop Aldebardo said, raising a hand, "You have your answer. The only deal we will accept is the establishment of the Valley of Trazmos as an autonomous region, and a fifty year exemption from taxes or other military obligations."

"Your Illustriousness, that is a far higher price than what you established last year." Paladin Taresa said, wholly defeated in body and soul.

"The Castellan is not aware of her value, I am." The bishop said, his voice taking on an icy tone, "And her value has gone up, and it will continue to exponentially rise in accordance with your rising need."

"I understand. If you would, please allow me to deliver your demands to the capital for review." Paladin Taresa bowed. "I will leave at first light."

"Let it be so. Missol, ensure that the messenger is completely furnished and rested for their journey tomorrow." The Bishop said, making a gesture towards Taresa that I interpreted as a blessing. "If need be, have brother Michel expend a miracle or two to ensure that their steed is fit for travel as well."

"They will also need an escort until they leave our lands. They've already been attacked once, I have reason to believe that they will be attacked again." Missol said, to which the Bishop nodded.

Castellan Missol ushered Paladin Taresa out of the chamber, leaving me with the bishop, who asked "Do you know why I had you present for this meeting, Loiel?"

"No." I lied. She had me present to witness what kind of people ruled the outside world. I figured it was also another effort to build trust in me, by allowing me to participate in their highest matters.

"An appropriate lie. You are an intelligent child, able to keep your cards close to your heart." The Bishop said, resting his chin on his knuckle. "I wanted you to see what sort of fools we had to contend with."

"True, she did seem to be ill suited for diplomacy."

"Now imagine an entire kingdom run by fools like that? People who think that they deserve to rule and they deserve your obedience solely by virtue of whatever gift God gave them at birth." The Bishop said, not bothering to hide the anger in his tone, "And the current monarch, Queen Elvira, is the epitome of that selfishness and incompetence. She bleeds the kingdom dry, of both resources and people!"

"But isn't this an existential threat? I do not think it is wise to play these sorts of games when an enemy knocks at the door."

"Again, too wise and too intelligent. But it is precisely because it is an existential threat that we have this kind of leverage. After the first war the nobility and the monarchy effectively banished Missol to the outskirts of the kingdom for not wishing to play their games. In a night, she had gone from expendable Forlorn Hope to a symbol of triumph they did not want to embrace. Now that they have need of her once more, they offer us a pittance."

"If not now, then never again, I suppose."

"Yes, and they will eventually cave."

"But what if by then it is too late? What if the kingdom is already doomed? You said it yourself, their incompetence cannot be underestimated."

"That is a risk we must take. Consumed by a devil from beyond the stars, or destined to a slow extinction by the greed of our leaders, both are an inevitable end."

"Why then does any god do nothing?"

"They are doing something. The True God is acting through us. Why else would God have sent someone such as you to us?"

"Then God has made a mistake."

"It would not be the first time." He laughed, a real, belly aching laugh.

The thing is, I did not think that Paladin Teresa was much of a fool. Even though she was covered in demonic ichor, and wore pungent perfumes and oils, I could detect the scent of blood. She probably had another mission that went beyond merely delivering a message.

I could use that.