The certainty that those two had dispelled the crisis in Paniel was beyond question.
Since the heroes had arrived, courtesy protocol dictated they be received with full honors.
Striding briskly across the inner courtyard, four people advanced to greet them: Pope Senedict, Cardinal Bezalrius, Cardinal Dekal, and Saint Muriel.
“Your Excellency the Duke! Your Excellency the Marchioness! At last, you have come to aid the Theocracy. ‘Order and Strict Goodness,’ thank you for your blessing. May Your grace descend upon us.”
Cardinal Dekal, usually reserved, could not conceal his elation and raised his voice.
In response, the Gongwang of Hispenril and Marchioness Reckandro nodded gravely and spoke a few brief words:
“It seems we arrived neither too late nor too soon.”
“I was worried about the dire state of the streets, but it’s a relief to find you all safe.”
Then Cardinal Bezalrius stepped forward:
“Saint Muriel, here present, was the one who deployed the ‘Construction of Sacred Ground’ artifact. Thanks to that, we’ve been able to hold out while preserving more than half of…