Chapter 20

When she spotted the local cathedral, she turned her horse towards it immediately, pointing it out to a quietly shy Katja. The Church of the Golden Lady, the Lily of Spring was easily the most ostentatious building amongst the blunt, utilitarian and colorless facilities around it. While the stores and inns and warehouses and craftsmen’s shops were wood, the church itself was worked stone, with ornately carved symbols and statues, delicate and graceful arches and spires, ornamented with gold and built with six wings radiating around a central spire in the fleur-de-lys design. The grounds of the temple was a well-tended lawn set behind a low granite wall, as if to hide the shockingly green grass from the rest of the developing city.

The established protocol was to dismount at the wall, at which point the acolytes would take the horse to the stables, take the supplicants’ requests, and escort the person inside. All manner of horse and carriage were forbidden on Church grounds. Katarina instead brazenly rode through the gate of the church grounds and across the lawns. When she reached the church she finally dismounted with Katja and stretched briefly. Gloved fists on hips, she eyed the building critically.

It was in the newer style, with broad roofs, with steeples at the six corners and a larger spire in the center. She didn’t necessarily have an opinion on architecture, but having grown up in the massive gothic cathedrals of Darnell, she was more comfortable with their buildings than this style.

A young man in simple gray robes marked with three green stripes came out of the church and down the steps. He had an uncomplicated peasant’s face with short brown hair, bulbous nose, and a muttonchop beard; the stripes on his robe ranked him as a senior acolyte. "Well? What is it? Who might you be?" He demanded peremptorily. His eyes flicked up and down and seemed to zero in on her chest for a moment. His voice was thin and reedy, with an arrogant tilt to it.

Katarina raised an eyebrow, flicked her long braid over her shoulder, and raised her holy symbol up, smiling. "I’m a Witch Hunter in service to the Golden Lady." She replied with a hint of challenge in her voice. Technically, she outranked him. Everyone outranked him, except for lower acolytes.

She indicated the reins of her horse. "Take her to the stables and have her brushed down; I’ll be cloistered with your pastor for the next few hours." She commanded nonchalantly.

"Horses are not permitted on soil consecrated to the Church." He reminded her angrily, and she shrugged dismissively. "Well then you’d better get her to the stables before she decides to drop some nuggets." Katarina replied encouragingly.

The acolyte ostentatiously eyed her up and down again, arms folded, but she shouldered her way past him dismissively and went up the steps after taking Katja’s hand.

The inside was well-lit from tall narrow stained-glass windows and a double row of massive chandeliers that held ponderous candles. The floor was covered in maroon carpeting, long green banners with the Lily of Spring hung above the lectern, while alternating banners of the Defender and the Teacher hung from the balconies along the sides of the nave.

Up at the lectern, there was an older man with thinning gray hair and a massive handlebar moustache that was equally threaded through with gray. He was speaking to a pair of women dressed in choir robes as Katarina approached. Katarina couldn’t tell his rank, whether he was a pastor or a bishop, with his back to her.

"-and remember, make sure to have the rest of the choir ready with the new songs by the end of this week." he admonished, and the two women nodded, and one of them glanced at her. Her eyes immediately widened in shock, her jaw dropping open.

"Excuse me, Revered Father, there’s a woman, and she’s armed." She whispered loudly.

The other girl looked equally horrified, clutched at her cohort’s sleeve for a moment and added to her partner, "She’s wearing trousers, Merry. Trousers."

The older man turned, and regarded her critically, a frown of disapproval on his face. Katarina marked him as a senior pastor from his robes as his eyes dipped to the heavy saber on her hip briefly.

"There are no weapons permitted in the Church of the Golden Lady." He declared imperiously. "You will disarm immediately, and then we will discuss your abhorrent dress."

Katarina tugged her coat to the side, revealing her thigh holster. She drew her heavy gun with a smile, and proffered it to him, butt first. "You’re certainly welcome to take them from me.", she offered, her grin turning predatory.

His eyebrows rose in surprise and he immediately raised his hands in a warding gesture and even took a hurried step backward, drawing a startled glance from the two women he’d been speaking with. The only force that carried firearms were the Witch Hunters, and only they had the right and freedom to carry them at all times. This gun was well-crafted, decorated in intricate scrollwork and etched with holy symbols.

"No, no, that won’t be necessary, Lady." He urged hastily. "Still, though- you’re a Witch Hunter?" he asked, incredulous. Her brows drew together. "This city has likely hundreds of mages in its employ from the Church, and you’re surprised when a hunter appears?" she asked quizzically, holstering her gun, spreading her hands and moving towards him.

He shook his head, raising his hands defensively again. "No, no. This is the first time I’ve seen a woman hunter. It’s just, it’s rare. I think the last woman Witch Hunter I saw was... oh, about five years ago." He hurriedly replied.

She nodded at that, smiling. "Actually, that was probably me."

He thumbed his chin and nodded. "Yes. I only saw you from a distance, though I recognize the hat, now that I think about it." he remarked pointedly.

Katarina glanced up and took off her hat, pulling her braid over her shoulder again.

"And who’s this?" He asked, stooping a little, hands on knees as he spotted Katja.

Katarina took a moment to reflect, and recalling Saint Andrianna's lessons from her youth, smiled craftily and spoke obliquely.

"Nobody sees anything truly; but only through the flaws of their own minds. That is the way we see each other in life: Vanity, fear, desire, competition-- all such distortions within our own minds-- condition our vision of those in relation to us. Add to those distortions to our own minds the corresponding distortions in the minds of others, and you see how cloudy the glass must become through which we look at each other."

He smiled diplomatically at her and clasped his hands together. "I’m afraid I don’t follow." He replied with a guarded look.

"I mean, I found her less than a mile from the Church. An Unsanctioned mage-child, someone who has had their magical awakening weeks ago." She replied comfortably. "I discovered her less than an hour after arriving in the city and I’ve brought her here for Sanctioning." She added drily. After a moment of silence, she added, "You should probably send for someone to see to it?" She prodded encouragingly.

"The nave isn’t suitable for this sort of dialogue." He encouraged smoothly. "And you should probably be speaking with the Bishop. Let’s continue this conversation in his offices in the administrative wing." He gestured, and Katarina tilted her head in acknowledgement.

The pastor turned away, and waved dismissively at the two choir girls, who eyed Katarina and each other with wide-eyed curiosity.

The two choir girls eyed his deferential behavior with some apprehension, and Katarina picked up on it quickly, having seen it before. Who was this ostentatiously outrageous woman, and how could she command an invested pastor of Church? They likely wondered.

Katarina accompanied him to the administrative wing, which really was a long, slightly curved nave with rows of desks interspersed with bookshelves. A young man wearing the robes and carrying the mark of the Sanctioned on his cheek discreetly whisked Katja away. A couple of clerks and acolytes scuttled about with heaving stacks of papers. Towards the back of the administrative wing there was a large office, walled off with wood and glass. Katarina’s nose wrinkled in disgust at this ostentatious display of wealth. Glass was extremely rare and prized.

The bishop of Aston was an older pudgy man with two chins and loose cheeks. He was fully dressed in the robes and accoutrements of his station, the stole, maniple, sash, symbol, and chains. His mitre was close at hand, on the large desk.

"You must be the Lady Katarina." He greeted a surprisingly smooth baritone as she was ushered in by the pastor, who exchanged a few whispered words with the bishop.

Inside the office and ensconced behind closed doors, Katarina eyed the room dispassionately as she tossed her hat, coat, and saddlebags indifferently one of the low sofas. One side of the room was walled in bookshelves, which looked to be bound in leather and gilded with gold text. A massive bean-shaped desk bigger than any bed Katarina had slept in divided the room neatly. The wood was heavily carved and edged in gold.

"You know me?" Katarina asked, stripping off her gloves and tucking them in her gunbelt. He gave her a mushy, syrupy smile. "But of course! Of course!" He encouraged. "Who doesn’t know of the famous Katarina!" He boomed expansively.

"Great, then you must know I don’t fuck around." She replied curtly, flicking her braid over her shoulder. "I’ve got a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it." she replied with a sardonic glance. "So if we can get started, I’d appreciate it."

"Well, if this is going to be that sort of a meeting, then I’ll have to officially confirm your Writ and Warrant." He said with a dour expression, and Katarina nodded and passed it over.

"It’s out of date. I’ve been in the woods east of here for..." She shrugged. "A while." She pulled out several bundles. "I have proofs for five witches, and I brought a little girl, Katja in for Sanctioning." She remarked, laying them out.

She set a bulging sack down; metallic objects clinked inside. "Here’s a sack of magical items that need to be cleansed. You should see to that, too."

He gave her a benign grin. "As soon as your status is confirmed with Darnell, I’ll be sure to take care of that." he advised. "But while we wait; have you heard of the ruins at the top of the cliffs to the north of Aston?" He asked, and she shrugged noncommittally. After a strained moment, he clasped his hands together. "I’ve no idea why this interview is being handled by me and not our Chaplain of the Sword, but it is what it is." He mused as an aside, and Katarina raised her eyebrow.

If she’d been aware of the fact that there was a Chaplain of the Sword, she could have easily bypassed the Bishop entirely. She mentally kicked herself for her impetuousness.

"As you might know, we use construction mages to move stone and earth as we build out the harbor." he began. "We’ve discovered a maze of underground passages beneath those ruins. We don’t have enough church forces available to properly investigate."

"Any ‘adventurers’?" She asked, and the Bishop shook his head. "Mercenaries?" She asked, and he gave a wry twist to his mouth. "One, of a sort." he offered. "Before we continue, I should tell you about your options." he offered.

"A Witch Hunter from Toledo arrived the other day. He has business in Darnell and will be leaving shortly. He has with him a force capable of taking care of this sort of thing, but he refuses to commit his forces to the efforts without orders from a Cardinal Bishop of the Sword." He remarked, the frustration evident in his voice. "I thought that since you were a Justicar Witch Hunter, you might be able to persuade him as his superior."

Katarina, already surprised by the announcement of a Witch Hunter from Toledo, raised her eyebrows higher at the casual announcement of ‘Justicar’.

"Justicar?" She replied wonderingly. "Me?" She trailed off, shocked at the declaration. "I had wondered if I would ever meet a Justicar Witch Hunter, and it turns out that the first one I meet since the passing of my master turns out to be none other than myself." She observed fatalistically. "Well, the rank and title of Justicar won’t make my gun shoot straighter or my prey any easier to hunt." She finally stated with a shrug, waving her hand dismissively.

Katarina was a senior Witch Hunter, an extreme rarity. Most Witch Hunters met their ends quickly despite extensive training and unparalleled equipment through accident, injury, or death at the hands of their prey. A seasoned and experienced Witch Hunter was supposed to be raised to the rank of ‘Justicar’, although no Witch Hunter in recent history had achieved that accolade.

Katarina paused thoughtfully. "How do you know this?" She asked, and the bishop sprayed laughter uproariously, hands on his belly. "We got a letter from Darnell advising us to be on the lookout for you." he replied, and handed the letter to her. "They suspected you might check in here after they got wind of you in Higgenfal. There’s a request here; you’re recommended to travel to Darnell and present yourself to the Grand Cathedral for a more ... formal investiture of rank and a renewal of your Writ and Warrant. It’s suggested that you dispatch straightaway for Darnell."

"Certainly not." She replied at once with a dismissive shrug and a shake of her head. "Instead, send my request for my next assignment, as well as my tally for those." She added, gesturing to the bundles on the desk. The Bishop nodded.

A frown settled on her face as elements came together in her head. "Wait, if you knew I was coming, why did you ask to confirm my Writ and Warrant?" She asked, confused.

"Well, you’re the one who came in here hoping to browbeat me into doing what you wanted." He replied comfortably. "Darnell will respond presently, confirming your status. I’ll follow up with a request for disbursement for these bounties."

Katarina let out a sigh and the bishop smiled. "Care to start over?" He offered gently.

"You mentioned a mercenary?" She asked, and he let out a sigh.

"We caught a... Yamato woman trying to stow away on a boat bound for their lands." He replied, and Katarina’s eyes lit up. "We’ve offered the job to her as payment."

"That Yamato girl, what’s her name?" Katarina asked curiously. "I might know her."

A light appeared at the end of the hallway; the sound of footsteps approaching echoed hollowly. Sasaki paid them no mind. If they came to gawk at her, then so be it. If they came to execute her, well, she’d decide when the time came.

The footsteps stopped at her cell, and a familiar voice called out.

"Look at you, all trussed up with no place to go." Katarina remarked cheerily, unlocking the door and stepping into her cell.

A storm of emotions cascaded through Sasaki at Katarina’s voice. Guilt and shame, embarrassment and humiliation, and a frustrated sadness. She hadn’t wanted Katarina of all people to see her like this. This was not the reunion she desired. The hot anger born of irritation flared in her heart. Sasaki turned her face away.

"I don’t want you to see me like this." She muttered, and Katarina laughed easily.

"I can’t, it’s too dark." Katarina mock-complained. "But I don’t have to, I can smell you. Trust me, no matter how you look, that’s way worse." She replied casually. "Let’s get you your bath and your sword."

"Sword first." Sasaki replied as Katarina opened the smaller woman’s manacles.

"Trust me, you need the bath first." Katarina replied.

"What do you want, Witch Hunter?" Sasaki asked with wearied patience.

"I need you." Katarina replied simply. "There are things that need doing and there’s nobody else." She explained, and gestured to the door.

"I refuse. I don’t care if you’re doing this out of some misguided loyalty or friendship or whatever, but I got myself into this mess myself." She argued angrily, and sat down on the bench and folded her arms defiantly. "I’m not going anywhere."

Katarina stared down at the smaller woman with a cool look tinged with anger, and pulled her scrollcase out of her belt and shoved it in the Yamato woman’s face.

"On my authority as a Witch Hunter in service to the Golden Lady, I am hereby appropriating you into my service." Sasaski looked up at Katarina, shock and anger warring on her face. Katarina continued relentlessly, however: "As of now you are under my authority and will follow my orders without question or reservation until I see fit to release you." Katarina stated formally.

It took a long moment for Sasaki to find her voice. "You-" She started, but Katarina cut her off brusquely.

"Without question or reservation, I said." She emphasized dangerously. "Now, march. You’re going to get a bath and clean clothes, in that order." She wordlessly pointed back the way she had come.

"This was certainly not what I had in mind when I thought I would have the honor of meeting you, Lady Katarina." A woman was saying as Katarina marched Sasaki into the bathing room. "I had hoped for a more... formal introduction. This is most irregular."

Katarina nodded wordlessly. "I understand, and given the circumstances I’m sorry, too." She replied distractedly. The woman smiled at this and eyed Sasaki.

"She definitely needs a bath." the woman remarked. The girl was of a height with Sasaki, which was to say, nearly a foot shorter than Katarina herself. Unlike Sasaki, however, she had the colorless white hair and red eyes of an albino.

"Her clothes?" Katarina asked as Sasaki stepped into the tub with a hiss. "The ones she came with."

The other woman, who was also Yamato, nodded. "They were cleaned and brushed when we took them from her." She replied simply. "The robe she has now will be returned to the jail." She reported simply.

As Sasaki washed, Katarina faced the other woman. "I’m sorry, we weren’t properly introduced before. You know my name, I’m Katarina. I’m afraid I don’t know yours."

The woman nodded. "My name is Hasegawa Araya. I was born in Darnell to the Lady Cardinal Hasegawa Yuriko fifty-two years ago, and sent here twenty years ago to help oversee the proper establishment of this city." She replied with a respectful bow. "It’s a sincere pleasure to meet someone of your character, experience, and stature." She acknowledged, and Katarina nodded blandly.

"Where’s Sasaki’s sword?" she asked, and Araya nodded. "It should be brought here shortly." she replied comfortably.

Katarina focused her attention on Araya, keeping an eye on Sasaki as she washed in Araya’s bathing room. Sasaki had been uncommonly reticent and hostile since Katarina saw her in the cell, and Katarina couldn’t pin down why.

"The Bishop has said that you’re a Diviner." Katarina began, and Araya smiled, her red eyes glowing like lambent coals in the dim light of the room.

"Yes, that’s right." She replied comfortably.

"Any insights into the tunnels I’m going into with Sourpuss?" She asked with an offhand gesture at Sasaki. Araya giggled briefly, raising a sleeved hand to cover her mouth.

"I cannot give you too much insight, Katarina." She remarked with a shake of her head. "I will advise you to watch your head, however." She offered ambiguously.

Katarina threw up her hands and rolled her eyes ostentatiously at this.

Araya seemed to be on the verge of speaking, clamped her lips shut, opened them, closed them, and then sighed.

"If you come back, I will give you a proper divination, Lady Katarina." She finally added. Katarina nodded at this, and peeked inside the bath.

"How you doing in there?" She called, and Sasaki glared at her. "I’m clean." She replied curtly.

Katarina sighed at her hostility, but nodded. "Good. Get dressed, and let’s head out."