“We do not worry about the Blood Demon’s safety. We worry for the safety of those that ran afoul of her. To be honest, it is already a miracle that the first year of her travels passed without any major incidents as it is.” - Halmout Mansoor, Prime Minister of Al-Shan Empire, when asked about the Blood Demon.

Cal calmly wrapped up her left forearm in a makeshift splint while the Ezram Foreign Minister profusely stammered apologies and other platitudes at her. She did not strictly need a splint to fix broken bones, so to speak, but it helps them heal better, and she does not foresee any need for much fighting in the near future if all went as planned anyway.

At least it was nice that the cultists were stupid enough to have kept many of their more damning belongings in a place they probably thought was a safe lair for them. Between all the items the guards found hidden in the temple and the testimonies of some of the survivors and other prisoners they found, they had basically made the grand temple their own backyard, and had little qualms about keeping their affiliation to the Sons of Theodinaz a secret when safely inside its gates.

There was so much evidence that the grand temple was a lair of cultists - who were by the nation’s definition no better than a bunch of bandits and terrorists - that not even the people from the judicial ministry that came along with Fargo could get a word in when Cal gave the simple excuse that she happened to visit to offer a prayer and were attacked by human supremacist maniacs, and thus retaliated. A blatant lie since she was the one who started the fight in the first place, but it was her words against the words of dead men and known terrorists.

Either way, the Ezramites now had to deal with the fact that they had one grand temple in a state of heavy damage, three dead high-ranking officials of the kingdom - one of their precious five Archmagus included -, an understandably offended high ranking foreign dignitary from a nation they could not afford to make enemies with, doubly so under their current conditions, and further complicated by the discovery of how high-ranking members of their government’s echelon was in cahoots with cultists.

Their most immediate problem, however, was the foreign dignitary in question, who was also the cause of all the other problems at the same time. To attempt to detain her by force was not even an option, for once appraised of the situation, Archmagus Wenzel - The only other combat-oriented Archmagus in the kingdom - made it very clear that the country did not pay him enough to commit suicide for them. Since he was a Light-affinity mage, Cal fully understood where the man came from, since that’s probably the worst possible matchup one can have if forced to fight a Blood mage like her.

The fact that the cultists had an archmagus of their own - the Crone was one of the Earth affinity - was a fact that troubled the officials quite a bit. That said cultist Archmagus assaulted and injured a foreign dignitary in their lands was even more troublesome - another reason Cal took some hits she could have evaded on purpose, to put on a bit of a show of being “injured” for the officials -, as such an incident would demand a proper explanation lest it devolve into a feud between nations.

“If you have nothing new to ask or say, minister, I would like to retreat to my abode. It has been a long night.” Cal stated sternly at the cowed ministers.

“You are free to do so, Grand Marshall!” Said Fargo almost eagerly - eager to be spared from her unnerving stare, that is -, while the officials from the judicial ministry behind him exchanged looks of resignation with each other. “Would there be anything else we can be of service for?”

“Some of the things the rescued bard said, one Mr. Zauz I believe by name, had my curiosity piqued.” She added. “If you could have him delivered for me to question later in the evening it would be appreciated.”

“Certainly! Rest assured that we shall have him at your perusal this very evening!”

*************************************

Fargo made good on his word and had Ergan Zauz - after a proper bath and shave and a change into better clothes - delivered to the inn Cal stayed at that very evening. He arrived right when Cal was in the middle of her Dinner, a relatively simple fare of well-roasted boar meat seasoned simply with salt and pepper to allow the flavor of the meat to come to the fore, and his eyes boggled somewhat at the portion on her table. Cal had already eaten half of the whole boar clean, as her magic does grant her accelerated healing, but with the price of high consumption of energy, and for Blood-affinity mages to gorge themselves on foods and drinks after being injured were a commonplace sight.

“Have a seat, and help yourself to some boar.” Cal invited with a gesture as she munched on one of the boar’s legs. “There’s plenty to go anyway.”

“My thanks for your generosity, milady.” Said Ergan as he performed a courtly bow before he seated himself across her, and carefully brought one of the boar’s ribs to his own plate. “And my deepest gratitude for the aid you rendered even at such woeful cost to yourself.”

“Eh, ‘Tis just a flesh wound.” Cal stated nonchalantly. “Made some of them look worse than they were myself to sell the story better. They’ll be gone without a trace in a month or so tops.”

They ate in silence for a while more before Ergan finally broached the silence that permeated the private dining room - because Cal would not like to be disturbed or spied upon for the conversation to come next. “If I may ask, why have you asked specifically for my presence, milady?”

“You are likely a Champion.” Cal stated bluntly. “I heard news of the Deity of Wind appointing a Champion nearly a year ago, and that timing matches with your so-called strange dream, and the only way news would spread so far and wide with such timing would be if the gods personally conveyed a message to their clergy.”

Ergan just nodded nervously, uncertain what to say.

“I assume by now you already realized how that would complicate your life, yes?” Cal asked while she drained a mug of ale in one go. “Many would want to make use of your status, to have your name endorse their cause, and some would not be so scrupulous to seek your approval first before they do so.”

“I have learned that firsthand, yes.” Ergan nodded, now in a somber mood. “I imagine you broached this topic because you wish to offer a solution to this issue?” He asked, wary that Cal might force him to work for her instead.

“In a manner of speaking, yes. What I’ve seen so far of the Ezramite nobility had been… disappointing to say the least. Far too many inbred fools born to old money and power and unwilling to see young blood rise up to prominence.” Cal commented harshly. “I honestly doubt this country has a bright future, or much of a future left, for that matter.”

“What would you suggest then, milady?”

“Flee the land and search for greener pastures.” Cal said bluntly. “I won’t dictate to you where you should go, as that’s your own decision to make. Normally I’d have suggested Levain, but since the east is where the cultists have the strongest support I find it doubtful you’d be able to go that way unmolested.”

“Shameful to admit, but likely the case, milady.” Ergan admitted. “So where would you suggest I head to?”

“If you like, I can write you a letter of recommendation to a friend of mine at Paradise.” Cal offered. “You can stay there for a while, or head basically anywhere else in the world from there, since they have teleportation gates to nearly every corner of the world.”

“Would they allow a penniless bard like me to use their teleportation gates?” He asked doubtfully.

“Explain your situation to them, and with some support from my friend there you should be fine.” Said Cal. “I assume you don’t mind that path then?”

“It would be foolish for me to reject such a generous offer. You shall forever have my gratitude, milady, whatever it may be worth.”

“At least it’ll be a tale for me to tell others when drinking.” Shrugged Cal. “Unless you have important things you need to grab, I would recommend you stay here tonight, I’ll book you another room. It’ll be safer.”

“Nothing I’d risk going out alone for, thank you for the kindness.”

*****************************************

To get Ergan repatriated into her “custody” did not take as much judicial wrangling as Cal expected, as the Ezramite ministers just seemed happy if they could get rid of two of their problems at the same time. Cal had penned a letter for Ergan to carry with him the night before - and would the boy get a shock when he found out that the letter was addressed to none other than the Silver Maiden herself -, and had ensured that the Bard would go through the route she traversed on her way to Barzum, since it would likely be the safest route at the moment.

She also gave him a letter to pass on to Guilbert, and escorted him part of the way to his territories, as a precaution in case some leftover cultists had the bright idea to send an assassin behind them. She stayed at the crossroads where they separated for another two days to guard against that possibility before she continued her journey towards the south herself.