The mistress of the house, clad in Templar robes, hobbles into the de Bellefeuille parlor, where her sister has thrown herself onto the divan. The younger poodle lies with her face buried in her arms against the roll of the divan, one foot dangling to touch the floor. Her skirt sweeps gracefully down around it: even in distress, Katherine looks startlingly picture-perfect.

The older poodle settles her hands upon her cane and observes her sister with a concerned eye. "All right," she says, her tone easing as she tries to put a bit of warmth in her voice, "I have to admit you're confusing me. What is it? I would think ridding our house of the rumormongers was a victory. And you, First Ones – Katherine I was very proud to hear you stand up to them."

Katherine flattens her ears against her head. Her shoulders tremble slightly, but otherwise she betrays little. After a moment, she lifts her head, and says in a dull, flat voice, "You don't understand anything."

"No, no I really don't," the elder poodle admits with a shake of her head.

She inhales, a half-choking sound. "Where can I even begin? In the name of the First Ones … Elise, how can we have grown up together and still you know so little?"

Her elder sister gives a shrug of her shoulders.

"Elise … that was Lady le Guire and Lady von Kelsie. I don't suppose you even remember who they are?" Katherine asks, wearily.

"I recall von Kelsie as the name of one of the knight candidates, and, ah … ," the older poodle pushes a stray lock from her face as she runs her left hand through her hair. "I'm sorry, I don't remember."

"Yes. Lady von Kelsie's eldest son died in the trials. The von Kelsies are a very old and well-respected family, whatever you may think of Lady von Kelsie's behavior today. Her husband is on a number of advisory boards for the Temple. Lady le Guire – " Katherine pauses, inhaling again and steadying herself before continuing, "Her husband is Captain le Guire. Grant's commanding officer."

Elise tilts her head, asking, "You suppose the good Captain is weak minded enough to change his opinion of a good officer because of his wife's rumormongering?" She lifts a brow.

Katherine grinds her teeth together, flattening her ears against her head again. "Does our reputation mean nothing to you, Elise? Do you care about the de Bellefeuille name at all? Even a little?"

"A wise man told me that we should be prepared to lose everything for what we believe. That fame is fleeting, and, I hope I remember his words right but … it is only Their judgment and our faith that matters. So I say to you let them spread their rumors and be petty. So what? There are more important things." The elder sister lets lifts a hand to forestall any immediate comment as she takes a moment to order her thoughts. She chews on her lip, frowning. At length she offers, "But if you're that concerned, I will not force you to see matters as I do. Do you want them to leave? I can see to it." She breathes a snort. "Would you prefer to handle our affairs as the lady of this house in name and deed as well?"

The other poodle rolls onto her side as Elise speaks, looking at her sister. Different expressions flit over her face, anger flares, then fades, behind her eyes. She shakes her head, then stands and goes to shut the parlor door, with a quiet click. Turning back to Elise, Katherine says, "It's not just petty rumors, Elise. First of all … it's true, or near enough to truth that the difference matters only a little. Just makes it more salacious." She sighs, folding her arms over her chest. "And – Lady le Guire! First Ones guide me, if she is carrying these tidings."

"It is not true," says the Templar adamantly. "Keyni is not his son. He is his nephew. I do not know why they chose to allow this rumor to continue to circulate but whatever the reason it must be worse and therefore a danger to them both. And I do not intend to pry in to their lives to find out what the truth is just to sate council of troublemakers."

Katherine laughs a little. "No, that part's not true. But it is true that she was never married, that she is not properly 'Mrs. Krodos.' That the boy is a bastard." She speaks in a low, calm voice. "The truth isn't much better than the rumor. And what does it say about our morals, that we condone this, Elise? How do I refute the imputations against my honor? Against yours?" She screws her eyes shut, trembling.

Elise's own expression momentarily flares in to one of anger but she quickly stifles it a sets her jaw. "Let me tell you this, Katherine," she begins to explain in a low half-growl, "there are people I protect because it is my duty to do so. And there are people I protect because I respect them. Mage Cyprian has not hesitated to step forward when he is needed. Leisa does her best to survive in very trying circumstances however she can. I do not care that her son is a bastard. He is a good boy, and his mother tries hard. That is enough for me. It is more than I can say for Lady Kelsie or Lady le Guire. If your notion of honor is turning your back on a poor woman simply trying to raise her son so because they are not 'good' enough then I tell you, you can have it. I've had enough of that kind of honor."

"Are you listening to me at all, Elise?" Katherine's voice rises for a moment, then drops to a low growl. "First Ones know I've had enough cause to turn them out, Elise, and more than enough. But I haven't. Dammit, Elise! I stood there and threw out my friends, people who – however misguided you may think they are – were trying to help me. And I threw them out of my house over your precious batlings! I never even – Dammit! And all you can do is prattle on about how much they matter to you! Fine! Make them your family!" She whirls about in a tumult of skirts, flinging the door open again. Just outside, a startled maid yelps and nearly falls into the room at the sudden move. "OUT OF MY WAY!" Katherine barks.

The older poodle turns her head to watch her sister storm off. She keeps watching a while longer, too, until at last she breathes a sigh. "Right. Ah, well then … I … " Her eyes trail across the mostly empty hall until they settle upon the startled maid. The elder de Bellefeuille blinks as if just noticing her. She inclines her head apologetically. "I'll need to see my guests Mrs. Krodos and her son Keyni. Could you fetch them?"

The maid, still stammering out her apologies to the back of the younger de Bellefeuille, gulps at this notice by the elder. She nods hurriedly, and dashes off at speed.

This is already hard. As the maid hurries off to find her guests Elise turns back in to the room and slowly hobbles to a seat. If this is what it takes I'll … I'll endure. We are our causes, I suppose. And if it must be this way than at least let it be right.

Some minutes later, Leisa Krodos and her son enter the room. Keyni looks rather disheveled, despite apparent recent attempts to straighten his clothing and smooth his hair and fur flat. He breaks into a big smile at seeing Elise, his green eyes lighting. He executes a neat bow, with almost the grace of his uncle, and says, "Good afternoon, Lady de Bellefeuille," with exaggerated care given to the solemn greeting. Leisa smiles, and follows suit, curtseying. "Good afternoon, my lady."

"Have a seat," replies the lady. She gestures to chairs with her left hand. "And close the door, please."

Leisa does so. Keyni perches on the edge of his chair, pricking his ears forward attentively, while his mother settles decorously into her chair.

The lady leans forward upon her cane, saying, "I need your opinion on a matter. My sister and I do not see eye to eye on certain affairs and it might be beneficial if the two of you were to take a holiday until the situation blows over. However I do not want you to think that this has anything to do with you." She turns her head to give the boy's mother a meaningful look. "And so I want your opinions. I myself may well be leaving for a time. I intend to pursue knighthood, and I intend to do it with or without support. I intend to make certain sacrifices that I may pursue this path as I believe I must. It puts me in a awkward position and I do not wish to inconvenience you."

Keyni looks at her mother, whose ears swivel backwards. She glances to her son, then says, carefully, "My lady … Lady Katherine spoke with me … ," she hesitates, then goes on, "not long ago, on this subject. She expressed the opinion at the time that it would be best for Keyni and I to remain here." She pauses. "If that has changed, I am sure Keyni and I can find somewhere suitable to go." She tries to speak the last with a note of confidence, but it rings false.

Keyni looks anxious, glancing between his mother and the lady poodle. He has the look of having something to say, but not knowing if the question Elise posed was really meant to include him.

"Quite frankly, Mrs. Krodos, I do not understand why she would tell you that. I do not understand her at all," concedes Elise. "She wishes you to stay. Fine. But if her intention is to martyr herself while at the same time clinging virtues of hollow honor then she is sorely misguided. And I do not know what to make of her save that she is confused. And, well, I have done all that I can for her. I do not know what to do, or say, and I am not willing now to sacrifice what she wants or mold myself to her desires any further. She is a grown woman. She can take care of herself. She, ah … ," the Templar shakes her head and glances briefly at her guests, "I am rambling, forgive me. It is sufficient to say I do not know what she wants of me, or you, and I cannot let that uncertainty sway me at present."

"Therefore," continues the lady with a nod, "I am willing to arrange housing for you within the city. Or wherever you wish. But I must settle this matter now if I am to have any clarity in my pursuit. I cannot devote the time, and I fear at present I cannot allow these matters to sway my resolve."

Keyni's ears flatten against his head. "Couldn't we go back to Babel, Miria?" he says quietly, using a Babel word for "mother." He watches Leisa as he speaks, adding, "I miss Uncle Cyprian."

Pain flickers briefly over Leisa's face at her son's words. "So do I, Keyni." She starts to lift a hand from her lap, then clasps them both firmly together. "If you feel that would be best, my lady," she answers Elise. "Lady Katherine was of a mind that it would be better for us to remain here. But I – we – " For a moment, her mask slips, and behind it Elise sees a terrifying mix of desperation, fear, and worry. Then she schools her expression, and continues. "We are most grateful for the hospitality the de Bellefeuilles have already shown us, and I know we have no means to ever repay it. I … whatever you think best," she concludes, dully.

Elise stares at the woman for a moment and then states flatly, "You know, I am tired of roundabout cries for help. Don't be polite, not now. Tell me what's hounding you. And I'll tell you how I think I can help. I haven't had any luck puzzling out what people want, and I cannot protect you if you don't tell me how I should."

Mrs. Krodos drops her eyes. "Keyni, please wait for me in the library," she tells her son, quietly. "Lady de Bellefeuille and I have matters to discuss privately."

Keyni makes the "why do I miss all the good stuff?" expression universal to children, but he nods to his mother. He slips from his chair, gives his mother and Elise another nice bow, and says, "Miria, my lady, please excuse me," in his almost laughably formal manner, before exiting.

"Keyni," interrupts Elise as the boy begins to leave. She sits up and looks at him as he goes. "I don't want you to think this is your fault. You're a good boy. I'll tell anyone that. And you're welcome to think of me as family, should you want that." Before the boy can respond the lady lifts a hand and waves him out. "Now go on, then." The boy exits and the poodle returns her attention to his mother.

Leisa lets out a long-held breath when he is gone. "Lady Katherine has told you … the truth about my past? That the truth isn't much better than the inaccurate rumors circulating the city?"

"Some of it. I am not surprised," answers Lady de Bellefeuille. Her expression and tone remain neutral. A part of her wonders if Leisa is feeling how she did when she sat before Lord Pink.

"Good." The dark gray bat looks tired. "My lady … all I really want is a safe place to raise my son. That's all. I wish there was something I could do, anything," she clenches her hands into fists at her sides, "to ensure that. I would go to Little Babel and be a store clerk or a washerwoman before I returned to that waking nightmare called 'Babel.' Any decent work. If I could get even that.

"Your sister said that prospect did not bear contemplating." She smiles, faintly. "She said we should stay here, that her First Ones would never forgive her if … well." Leisa shakes her head. "She and I had planned that I would run the orphanage when it was completed, and live there, but I don't think that's wise now, given the state of my reputation. The Temple would never allow it. She said she considered setting me up in a private house without work to do, but that, really, that would just make things worse. It would be like giving up, Lady Katherine said. Like … admitting I was a whore." Leisa blinks rapidly, closing her eyes and wiping at them.

The poodle nods slowly. She continues to give Leisa her full attention. "I had no idea she had been making plans with you. I'll admit she's better with these sorts of difficulties than I am. I'm a fighter, Mrs. Krodos, and not much of a politician. I wish I could slay some monster for you and correct your problems but I can't, and well I do not know how to help you. I am having a hard time deciding how to help myself if that puts things in perspective. If Katherine desires to help you for faith or kindness then, Great Ones Above, why is she making this so complex? And what does the Temple have to say regarding my private charity? If you do not wish to give in to these rumors, then don't. If there is any truth to them let it go. Raise your son, and to Darkness with anyone who's so petty as to deny you a second chance."

"The Temple would object because … well." Leisa sighs. "In Babel, no one would care. But Lady Katherine says that even though orphans in Rephidim are left largely to fend for themselves, that still doesn't mean that it's right for people to prey on them. If it looked as though your charity were merely a front for a – a brothel." She grimaces. "The Temple would not stand for it," she repeats. "It wouldn't matter that it wasn't true. It only matters that they would believe it." A pause, then she adds, "I cannot tell you that I truly understand your sister. But I might say this much: just because one has settled on a course of action is right does not mean it becomes automatically easy. I am sure she, like I, rails at the lack of a better way, even if we cannot find one."

"Then that is one thing we all share. That I can understand." Elise gives a brief and rather grim smile. "I think that the matter, here, is perhaps a lack of faith. You and my sister feel that if you pursue a course you believe is right you will be condemned by your peers and by the Temple. I have come to think that perhaps we ought to chance our paths and keep faith in those who believe in the right, and in the will of the First Ones – may They forgive me, for I am no priestess – that They will bless our endeavors because They are just."

Leisa raises her hands and spreads them. "I will do my part as best I can, my lady. I have been fortunate these last few years. I could not count on it always being so. I only wish I could be more useful." She blows out a breath. "Perhaps the First Ones will take pity on us all. They are certainly better than the foul Sisters of Babel," she adds, her lip curling in distaste at the latter.

To that the poodle gives an approving nod. "My best advice, and I say this not because I particularly like the fact but because it has made itself abundantly clear, is that you alone are best suited to help yourself. I cannot remain to protect you, or Katherine, or whoever at all times in all places. I can and will of course help you. But in the end you must want to take it the rest of the way. Remember what's important. Remember your son. And do not forget. Hold on to it, because without our causes and our faith we are lost."

The Eeee woman drops her eyes to her lap, nodding. "Yes, my lady," is all she says.

The canine woman offers kindly, "I know it's not the answer anyone wanted. And maybe it's not the best one. I don't know. But I feel it is the best advice I can give along with the assurance you are not alone. If you want more guidance I can recommend a priest to speak with, should you feel comfortable with that."

Leisa offers a wry smile, reminding Elise of Cyprian as the Eeee woman says, "My lady, in fact, I find it quite comforting that you believe I can help myself. I'd like to think I can, too. All I need to do now is figure out how."