The moment they stepped out of the tent the mother ran towards them.

“Your highness…?” She bit her lips, unable to continue. But there was no need to finish the question.

Lorelei gave her a grim nod and declared in a low, dangerous tone, that gave the surrounding people chills:

“Do not worry, madam. I will bring justice for Danika. No matter who the perpetrator is.”

The binshi woman choked and could only sob quietly. She repeatedly bowed before Lorelei and in her reddened eyes, besides pain and sorrow, there was a dark triumph. Justice would be served! Lorelei ordered one of the knights standing nearby to escort her back to her dwelling and to stand guard so no one could disturb the family. Even now there were more and more curious eyes flocking by and gossips spread like wildfire in the camp. After that, she turned to sir Aiden.

“Captain, is the mother prioress still in the camp?” Her words sounded like steel knives in his ears.

“She should be, your highness.”

“Please, go and invite her here immediately.”

The knight’s shoulders slumped for a second and his face turned ghastly. It was obvious what he was thinking. Seeing his hesitation, Lorelei furrowed her eyebrows.

“Tell me, captain, who rules over Norden? The Church or the duke’s law? Do you believe that his highness, the duke, would let the murder of a child go unnoticed and unpunished, just out of fear?”

“N-no, my lady,” replied the knight and with a bit of surprise realized that he was starting to sweat in front of this frail-looking woman. She was much like a cat, hiding her claws. No, rather a lioness!

With that the discussion was over. The sir Aiden obediently went away and some fifteen minutes later returned, followed by the dignified figure of the old nun. Lorelei welcomed them and greeted the mother prioress with the utmost respect. After exchanging some small words, she invited the old woman inside the tent.

Seeing the small body on the table, the prioress exclaimed and made a sign to gain the protection of the Two Gods, and drive away the bad spirits. She turned to Lorelei and her old eyes were wet.

“Now I understand why you called for me, your highness. I heard rumors about the accident, but this… such a pity! Do not worry, I’ll make sure that this poor soul is sent safely to the Gods’ embrace and the aura of death is purified as soon as possible.”

“This is not why I invited you, mother prioress.” Lorelei felt her throat completely dry. Right now, a part of her mind was screaming that she is about to commit suicide. Still, she had to see this to the end.

Her rebuttal surprised the old woman. Then again, it was indeed a bit strange. The aura around the body was unexpectedly peaceful. Did someone already perform a purification? In that case, why was she summoned? With growing concern, the prioress listened to Lorelei, who re-told the binshi’s story and her own findings. Every sentence made the wrinkles on her forehead become deeper and deeper until the nun finally exploded.

“How dare you imply that the Church is involved in such a heinous act! This is not just blasphemy, it is…”

“Calm your anger, mother prioress.” Lorelei managed to keep her composure despite shaking on the inside. One small misstep and she could doom not only herself but also Noah and all of Norden. “I am not condemning anyone. I am simply looking for the truth. That is why I wanted you here, to see everything for yourself. The Two Gods, in their eternal wisdom and mercy, would never turn their backs on an innocent soul. You know that even better than I do. It is even written in the holy scriptures: ‘You shall protect the weak, the innocent and the needy, guide the lost and provide justice and salvation to the righteous. Those who inflict them harm, be it by word, deed, or indifference, shall forever be damned, and with them their whole kin.’. An innocent child has been tortured, defiled, and murdered, mother prioress. If I do nothing, I am not simply ignoring the laws of Norden, I am defying a heavenly decree!”

Lorelei finished and secretly bit the inside of her cheek. Calm down, calm down! She felt her knees shaking and her heart was racing like a horse in her chest. She realized little too late that the old woman is staring at her with big round eyes. Oh, no! Did she push too hard? Dear saints, help! She needed Noah so much right now. He would know what to do. Right then, the old nun reached out her hand and her bony fingers touched Lorelei’s forehead.

“Blessed be, child!” she whispered. “I was lost, trapped by my own arrogance. You have shown this old fool the Gods’ path. Fear and anger were blinding me when an innocent soul was screaming for solace and retribution. Now tell me, how can I help?”

Lorelei wanted to cry from relief. Instead, she motioned towards the little body.

“First, I want you to verify with your own eyes that what I’ve told you is true.”

“As you wish, my duchess,” nodded the nun and approached the table.

After a few painful minutes, the old woman lifted her head and brushed some tears from her cheek.

“Your words are true, duchess. Dear Gods, the poor little lamb! Who would do such things to a child?!” She sighed, her lips – thin from anger. “But my lady, it is impossible that she was taken as a novice to Widow Island. We haven’t had new initiates in a year. And we only accept them in the weeks of the spring and autumn equinox. This year there weren’t any candidates. Still, the tassel in the child’s hand looks undoubtedly like one of ours.”

Lorelei’s heart sank. This was an unexpected development. She lowered her head in contemplation. Was someone trying to frame the Church? But why? What would they gain? This didn’t make any sense. She collected herself and clenched her fists until the nails bored in the soft parts of her palms.

“The only people who know about this tassel are you, me, and my aid. Mother prioress, I know that it is much to ask, but could you gather all the sisters and ask them to show us their rosaries? This way we will clear them from any suspicion first. Have any of them returned to Widow Island?”

“It shall be done, milady.” The old woman nodded resolutely. “Luckily, all the sisters that have been tasked with the camp are here at the moment.”

“Then what are we waiting for?”

The two women stormed out of the tent, followed by the silent Rish, who secretly brushed the cold sweat from her brow. Dancing on the edge of a deathsman’s sword like that was formidable, yet insane! Her lady was intense and on a whole different level. The duke had been the strongest and most iron-willed person she had known – he could singlehandedly eradicate a group of mountain bandits without breaking a sweat. But now Rish had the peculiar feeling that the duchess, if she just wished, could talk her way through a sea of wild beasts and make them follow her like obedient puppies!

***

The gathered nuns before her looked flustered and threw her not so friendly glances. Still, they cooperated without open complaints. The examination of the rosaries gave no results. All tassels were in place. No rosaries were damaged. Now, what!? Lorelei was desperate. Did they repair or exchange it? If yes, how to prove it? If no, what were they supposed to do now? What were the right steps to take? Lorelei left her gaze drift over the black-and-white group of confused women. Suddenly her head perched and she squinted her eyes. Someone was missing.

“Mother prioress, you said that you will bring all the sisters.”

“And I did, my duchess.” The old woman threw her a glance. “Is something wrong?”

“I don’t see sister Simone in the group.”

“Pardon me, my lady?” The prioress looked honestly surprised.

“Where is sister Simone, the one responsible for taking care of the children?”

“You must be mistaken, your highness.” The old woman coughed. “There is no sister Simone.”

“What?!”

“Every sister from Widow Island, upon entering the convent, relinquishes her mundane name and takes the one of a flower. We do not, and never have had, sister by the name of Simone. Besides, the ones responsible for the children are sisters Aster and Primrose.”

The thoughts in Lorelei’s head spun wildly. She knew what she had seen. It was a woman in the attire of Widow Island. At the shore. Surrounded by children. For a second Lorelei stopped breathing. At that time, she hadn’t thought much about it but… all the children with her had been of mixed blood! All around twelve or thirteen. Mostly beautiful girls… She had been blind!!

“Captain Aiden!” she shouted and spun around. “Take the knights. Comb the camp. We have an intruder dressed as a sister from the Church. And ask around for any missing children. Especially of mixed blood.”

She then turned to the pale nuns.

“You should remain in your tents, mother prioress. I don’t want the sisters to be put in danger of being mistaken for the intruder.”

Finally, Lorelei waved at Rish.

“Send Jessup with a message to Illdemar. Explain everything to sir William and request assistance. This could very well be more dangerous than we thought. The duke’s fears might come true.”

“Y-you don’t mean… Red Hands?”

At these words, everyone in the crowd gasped. Lorelei bit her lips.

“I hope not. I really do.”