Ruyo thought of Brotherhood, the village west of her where it seemed people might be plotting against her. "I was told they don't kill people just for having magic."

Baris the hunter said, "I was born there... but I told you that before. The Witch Hunters are for strange threats, like that man we fought together. Usually they're sent out after an ordinary bandit, or some wild tale of a beast that turns out to just be a bear or wolves. Sometimes it's a true magical monster. And sometimes, the target's a man trying to wield dark powers." He shuddered. "Someone using blood as a power source, or dealing with spirits. Your Nusina isn't evil, I know, but I can see why you'd be on their list."

Brotherhood itself didn't seem dangerous. It was mostly just a farming community carved out of the forest and hills, but with a temple of dark stone and a humorless elite of monks tending it. Ruyo had traded with that place before, never caring much about their odd beliefs.

Ruyo said, "I'm going to go there with as many of this group as will follow. We'll knock and let them know Averell values me and will look poorly on anyone that attacks me. At least that's my plan."

Baris looked panicked. "You do not want to do that. There'd be a fight."

"Why not? I'm expecting one already."

"First of all, all magic is dampened there. I don't know if that includes yours. Second, that's exactly what they're afraid of: mighty mages charging in and forcing them to serve evil powers."

Ruyo threw up her hands. "Then what am I supposed to do? Wait for them to murder me?"

Nusina had approached, and splashed for attention. She turned visible. "Your followers are getting restless out there. It wasn't a great idea for them to send this whole gaggle at once."

Ruyo paced. "Well, I'm not the goddess of secrets. Let's have it out in the open!" She stomped out to the grass and put on her best smile.

She called out. "Everyone! Thank you all so much for coming to see me. It's been interesting. But I now have a problem. I've gotten word that some people from Brotherhood think I'm an evil witch and mean to kill me. You may notice I'm not asking you to sacrifice your blood to any demons."

The group murmured. Baris looked shamed, standing next to her and muttering, "I was hoping we could settle this quietly."

Anemos the noble wizard said, "What will you do about it?"

Ruyo smiled grimly. "That depends on what you are willing to do. My default plan is to go there and give them a piece of my mind. But since you ladies and gentlemen are here, I was thinking some of you could go calm them down. We could come to some understanding that doesn't end with any killing this time. You'd be more welcome there than me right now."

Anemos said, "You want us to play messenger for you? Which: as private citizens, or as representatives of Averell?"

"Both," Ruyo said. She conjured a glowing water-ball to play with. "Any of you who wants to do this kind of thing can learn. You know I have some moderately valuable goods to hand out on request. And I've heard you experts talk about how useful I can be for the city-state. If I get murdered that's a pretty big loss to you, isn't it? Why not ask them to lay off?"

Anemos smiled. "Well, ma'am. We might be willing to pressure them on behalf of a trusted ally. One with the full support of the Steadfast Church and the Council."

"And there's the catch," thought Ruyo.

Nusina commented to her, "It was coming anyway."

"I'm willing to speak with your clergy when I'm next in town. Your Council too." More than willing, really, to hear from a low-level priest who wasn't in on the political game.

"How about tomorrow? You'll be safer from assassins there too."

Nusina said, "Careful, milady."

She thought about how to answer. Without revealing the full extent of her weakness she said, "There was a hint of them trying to harm my home, and I won't have that. Also, I'm not eager to leave a threat behind me as I travel. You know something about what it'd be like to have hostile outsiders squatting in your home and making demands, right?"

"Low blow," said Darius the elder sage.

"I've been wondering about that. In fact --"

Anemos spoke sharply. "Ruyo! Please hold your tongue. May we speak in private?" He nodded toward the cave.

Ruyo felt like she was getting somewhere with him. She walked in with him.

When the door was closed and locked, the nobleman still looked tense. "Is your spirit with you?"

Nusina floated nearby, hidden from him. Ruyo said, "Yes."

"Then I ask both of you to keep your mouths shut about that situation. And I hope you realize I'm saying this to a supposed goddess."

"It's public rumor that something happened, just not what. Some kind of demand being made of you by your Khyberian 'allies'."

"Word spread that quickly?" said Anemos. He fumed, and faint wind stirred the cave. "We'll need to explain ourselves to the public before long, then. Ruyo, do you want to be a citizen of Averell?"

"My main loyalty is to Starshore, sir, but I don't see any need for conflict."

"You have a priestess stirring up trouble already."

Ruyo sighed. "What did she do?"

"Getting people to tromp into the Vissios' garden to pray, and telling them your 'gifts' shouldn't be used for slavery. Are you trying to start a revolt? What do you want?"

"Peace, sir. Although I'd like to see slavery ended, priestess Tulia is the one who's actively pushing the idea. I've told her to keep her activism limited, or lose my support." Ruyo explained the exact wording she'd authorized.

"Damn. All these problems at once! Look, ma'am... If you were to become our citizen, and especially a publicly proclaimed figure of our Church, it would make a difference."

"I'm not sure I can do that. I need people to pray to me, or none of this works." She waved around the cave.

"That's something we would have to work out. Would you be willing to have that discussion?"

Ruyo gestured to Anemos to ask him to wait. She turned to Nusina. "I want to."

Nusina said, "Be part of their religion? I hardly even know what they believe, other than that they tolerate slavery."

They had talked about the Steadfast faith, a little. Ruyo had explained their teachings about honest labor as a path to enlightenment and a better next life. As a casual adherent Ruyo didn't know the detailed reasoning.

"I imagine their priests aren't all thrilled about suddenly having a goddess for the first time, so there'll be some argument on their end. And a point we can't budge on. But it's worth discussing whether we're compatible."

"If you say so, milady."

"That's your 'This is a bad idea' tone, isn't it?"

"You're the one in charge."

"That's how it worked out. But if you really have concerns I don't want to drag you into the plan. So what's on your mind, droplet?"

Nusina floated around, making herself visible and casting a moving glow. She said aloud, "Like Ruyo says, we can't operate unless people are praying. I feel like we're getting caught up in something bigger than our plan. We want to hand out magic, start making machines, and build up a little home that gradually makes the world better. Sir, Anemos, you obviously have your own problems going on. We're going to get dragged into them, aren't we?"

Anemos bowed his head. "Yes. Yes you are, if we work together. Some things are happening at the highest levels that I'm not authorized to talk about. I can say that life is likely to get worse for everyone in the whole region, including eventually Starshore, if we don't establish Ruyo as at least a figurehead. Someone we can wave around as a sign of our might and righteousness."

Ruyo said, "You won't get that if Brotherhood offs me."

"I know. If I lean on them, can you promise to head for Averell afterward and discuss matters with our leadership?"

"That's about all I..." She paused, and asked Nusina. "I'm prepared to agree. I don't think we can avoid being tangled in the concerns of the people around us. That's the whole point of trying to help, isn't it? Especially when..." She trailed off and added silently, "When we're committed to working in a specific location for now."

Nusina burbled and answered with the same discretion. "All right. Just please don't get talked into endorsing anything evil."

"I'll certainly look into it in more detail." She said to Anemos, "We can't promise to accept everything you're preaching, not yet. I'm not enough of a theologian to be confident I even know what your doctrine is. But we can go listen sincerely. Is that enough?"

"It will have to be," the nobleman said. "Very well."