Three Andrastians

Posted on 17 Nov 2021 @ 8:16pm by Townsfolk The Scholar & Rogue Elinowy Ursulas

1,063 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Summerday La Fête
Location: Jader Chantry Courtyard
Timeline: Cloudreach 25th – after Summerday opening ceremony

OOC: After Post "Pole Dancing"

The first day of the Summerday Festival always held such promise, thought Giselle as she mingled with the members of the Jader community. She had kept her invocation short, after all, mortals must satisfy the needs of the flesh before they could concentrate on spiritual needs. The joy of the holiday was complimented by the energy of the dancers and the smells of baked treats and roasting meat. The Maker would be pleased.

Isouda had tried to talk Giselle into allowing her to give the invocation, and now hovered nearby. Giselle was discreetly trailed by three templar guards, and though she appreciated their good intentions, she felt their protection was unnecessary. Giselle always sought the good in every member of her flock - rich or poor, longtime Jader residents or passers-through, human, elf and dwarf, all were the Maker's children. She greeted and blessed everyone she saw in equal measure, until her gaze fell upon the tall flame-haired visiting sister who had created such a stir among the Jader Chantry.

As the milling crowd engaged in their revelry, the Revered Mother approached Elinowy. She smiled warmly and reached out to take the young sister's hands in hers. "Welcome to Jader, my dear. I've heard a great deal about you, sister Elinowy. Now that I see you in person, I think we may have met before?"

The festival was moving along well, everyone was enjoying themselves and the roasting meats. Elinowy saw Mother Giselle's outstretched hands and quickly grabbed them and pulled the older woman's hands over her own heart. "Blessings to you Revered Mother. May you sing the Maker's praise all your days. Indeed we met several years ago at a conclave outside ValRoyeaux. You had just finished giving an exegesis on the universality of the Canticle of Exultations and our shared answer to the maker in Andraste's response. It was most inspiring. I was representing my Chantry in Bete Noire. We had tea and spent the evening speculating on how to increase outreach to the communities within our influence. It was a blessed event." the flame haired sister stated with genuine affection.

From a short distance away, Elder Isouda schooled her features into her usual fake smile, internally seething at the way Giselle lavished time and attention on that upstart sister.

"Oh! But of course," exclaimed Giselle warmly, still clasping Elinowy's hands fondly. Then her warm smile changed to curious concern. "You have traveled far from the Bete Noire Chantry, Sister Elinowy, and I have heard tales of the brave Chantry sister with red hair, liberator of the enslaved, inspiration to the downtrodden, and favored by the people and the Maker. I am unsurprised to find you are one in the same."

Elinowy bowed her head. "I am merely a devoted servant of the Maker. The heroism attributed to me is due to the others of my party. I merely sang the words of light in places of great darkness. Nothing any other sister would not do." she stated humbly.

From behind Giselle's back, Isouda scowled at Elinowy. That flame-haired upstart was well on her way to undermining Isouda's plans to take Giselle's place. There was no way she was going allow this heartfelt reunion to go on. Isouda stepped forward. "Revered Mother, I'm afraid I must remind you that many other members of your flock await your blessings."

Giselle nodded serenely. "Of course, duty awaits. My dear Elinowy, it would please me if you would soon join me for tea."

Elinowy smiled. "Of course Mother Giselle, it would be my honor to join you. Thank you. Blessing on your duties today, the festival is lovely."

"Andraste's blessings on you, child." For a moment, Giselle hesitated as though she might say something else, but she looked at Isouda and gave Elinowy a farewell nod before turning her attention to a pair of finely-dressed nobles.

As the Revered Mother took her leave, Elinowy turned to Elder Isouda. "How may I further serve the Chantry today? I am happy to give blessings to the people, but do you have everything in hand that you need for the day?"

Isouda just managed to contain her frown of annoyance. "How thoughtful of you to offer, but I can assure you that today's celebration has been carefully planned." She paused to consider how best to make use of Elinowy whilst keeping her away from Giselle, though she would prefer to either discredit the upstart sister or eliminate Elinowy altogether.

"As you may know, the fourth day of the Summerday festival is Blessing Day. Being new to Jader, you may not be aware that the Chantry flock here includes a number of outlying settlements and farms. Many of the Jader sisters must travel far to perform blessings, and those remaining in Jader are quite overtaxed, looking after the Chantry's flock in the city." Isouda tapped her chin, as though thinking it over, then adopted fake beneficent smile. "Your ample good cheer and musical blessings are needed in the alienage tomorrow. If you aren't too fatigued. I understand you've been keeping house for two men."

Elinowy caught the jab from the Elder throwing her mind off her dislike of being assigned to the Alienage. Giving Isouda a broad smile she replied. "Thank you, I have been tasked with the instruction of their young children in exchange for room and board. The Maker will certainly bless their generosity, it is a great kindness as my oath to the Grand Cleric has deprived me of keeping fellowship with you here at the Chantry. I have so missed the support of others in my order since I have been in Jader. The Maker will put everything right in the end. I will look forward to bringing the Chant of Light to the darkness of the Alienage tomorrow." She managed to keep a straight face that might make one believe she meant it.

Isouda barely contained her frown at the mention of the Grand Cleric. Indeed, a sister whom Mother Giselle was so clearly fond of, with personal connections to his Grace, was a danger to her plans. "Thank you, Sister. I am sure the elves will appreciate your ministry. Today, do enjoy the festival." Isouda nodded her head in dismissal, then turned to rejoin the templars following Giselle at a less than subtle distance.

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