“ENOUGH GARDINAL.” The bishop finally snapped, raising his voice and stepping between the two men and the girl. Kriss and Gardinal stood firm as they could against the man. Despite the pair’s impressive musculature and apparent desperation to get to Celeste, Vallerian couldn’t help but feel they looked small, like children, against the imposing figure of Shelezan.

“Your Grace.” Gardinal began through tense, short breaths. “I have to…”

“Please…” Celeste’s voice sliced through the air sharper than any blade could. A shocked silence spread over them all as she shuffled in Derenath’s arms, all eyes turning to her. “I just… I just want to go home.” She cried, tears streaming down her face as she clung limply to her carrier.

Looking at her, so pathetic, so weak, Vallerian felt a pang of guilt. Fingering the vial in his pocket, Vallerian gritted his teeth. You stole that child’s blood. He cursed himself out.

The bishop glared at them harshly enough to silence the king before turning back to Celeste, softening his features for her. Well as soft as Shelezan could ever be.

“It shall be so, and long overdue at that.” The bishop’s words were obviously aimed at Gardinal, and as he motioned for Derenath to begin their return to the temple. The bishop followed, leaving the rest of them in silence. Vallerian watched as they began to stride off.

“Your Grace.” One of the Faith Militia holding Kriss asked. “What are we to do with the boy?”

The bishop sneered, but didn’t even deign the boy worth looking at. “Clap him in irons and place him with the rest of the cultists. I will not have him disturbing Her Radiance any longer.”

Sighing, Vallerian saw the overwrought boy and he knew he had to do something. He was under his employment after all. A lord had a duty his agents.

As Vallerian slowly sauntered after them, Kriss tossed a faith militia guard nearly five feet while struggling to avoid chains. The boy really was stronger than he had any right to be. It was all for naught in the end, as three men managed to pull the boy to the ground.

“Father Shelezan.” Vallerian called out, and for a count at least the bishop turned and raised an eyebrow.

“What do you want now Vallerian?” The bishop droned, not bothering to feign any interest in Vallerian’s concerns.

“The boy, Your Grace.” Vallerian answered, looking down and meeting Kriss’s sorry gaze. “He is my servant, and I apologize for his impudence. But as he is in my service, I do believe it is my right, nay, my duty to enact the Father’s justice upon him. I will punish him thoroughly, I assure you.” Vallerian lied.

The bishop raised an eyebrow, then nodded. “See that it is done then.”

Without so much as another word, Kriss was shoved roughly into the mud, and the bishop, Militia, Derenath, and Celeste with them all departed.

That left Gardinal, Kriss, and himself, standing among the bustling work of dozens of Faith Militia and Golden Hammers. Gardinal stepped over and helped Kriss up from the ground, the short man’s shoulders slumped heavily from his sentencing.

“So what do we do now?” Kriss asked, eyes leaping between Vallerian and Gardinal. “How are we going to get her back?”

“We don’t.” Gardinal grunted.

“What?” Kriss stared at them both incredulously.

“You don’t get it boy, do you?” Gardinal growled, his patience worn thin at the day’s events. “That was the bishop Shelezan. Nobody stands up to him, nobody. Not even His Majesty the king could stop him from getting what he wanted.” Gardinal shook his head, then looked up at the sky, heavy clouds rolling in. “It’s over. Go home.” Gardinal turned away and walked a few paces before stopping. The man obviously didn’t know what to do with himself with the girl gone. Kriss seemed no better off. Did the boy even have a home?

“You’re just going to let him take her away?” Kriss asked, a tightness to his voice.

“I’m… I’m sorry.” Vallerian finally spoke up and found himself shocked that he meant it. The poor boy had finally found his way back to her, the girl he loved, after so many years. Then she was gone again. Vallerian had always had a soft spot for love stories. It almost made him think of…

No.

Kriss stepped towards Gardinal. “Gardinal I’m sure if we just…”

“It’s for the best lad.” Gardinal choked out, his voice quivering slightly as he refused to look at them. “It’s time we all move on. She always was too good for the likes of us anyway.” With a heavy sigh, Gardinal walked away, his characteristic march reduced to a pitiable trudge.

Kriss just stood there, looking around lost and confused. As though the boy’s life had all been torn away from him in an instant. Kriss looked at Vallerian, his face contorted in pain, then set his jaw and took a knee before him. “I’m ready for my punishment my lord.”

Vallerian shook his head in incredulity. He was certainly an earnest one. “Come on Kriss, let’s go get a drink. I know a place just dirty enough right inside the walls.”

Kriss blinked up at him in surprise. “M… my lord? What about my punishment? You promised the bishop.”

“Trust me, this place I’m taking you to is your punishment.” Vallerian chuckled, then reached out a hand and pulled the boy up. “Your new job is as my drinking friend. So come, attend your duty.” Vallerian patted Kriss on the back and began moving towards the closest gate.

“I’m not a citizen my lord. They won’t allow me in.” Kriss protested, chasing up beside him.

“And I’m a count. Do you really think some outer gate guard is going to stop me from bringing in a servant?” Vallerian flipped the boy a coin, only realizing it was gold as it fell into his hand. “Now let’s get going, I do not want to miss the pretty serving girl.”

Then they began their walk to the closest outer gate, Vallerian briefly wondering where in the Pantheon’s name Charlotte was. The day had been a disaster but tapping the blood vial once more in his pocket, Vallerian knew one thing: It had been a necessary disaster.