"Dead?" Agreas gnashed his teeth, and stood up in a huff. "Nia...This isn't good."
"The news came as a shock to everyone...Our Lady, bless her soul, looked pretty healthy during the New Moon festival," Vinea furrowed her brow at her brother and took another sip of soup. "I heard it was an accident. She fell off a horse while on vacation."
"Oh! Fantastic!" Agreas said. "For the Love of Heaven, this was the last thing any of us needed right now! Mosra Inoria was the only one keeping the Houses from tearing the Holy States apart! And now!"
Agreas turned to his sister. His face twisted with dread and worry. "Our family's gonna use you to do it!"
"We knew this was gonna happen eventually--sooner or later, what difference does it make in the end?" Vinea replied. "Put your heart at ease: what good does it do now to make ourselves sick trying to deny the inevitable?"
"This wasn't part of the plan...I made a deal, Nia. I made a damn deal!" Agreas pulled at the priestly collar around his neck. "I joined one of the orders! I got out of the way! I wanted to be good! Gods, I wanted to be good! I gave our bastard old man everything he damn well wanted from me! I told our witch mother I was gonna get out of the way!"
Agreas slammed the tabletop with his fist. "All I asked is that they left you alone!"
Vinea shook her head, and curved her lips into a crooked grimace--a most bitter smile.
"And they still couldn't give us that? Well, they can both get fucked! To one of the Nine Hells with them!"
"You know full well that was never going to happen! Vinea answered back. "Not here. Not now. Not in the Cagalia family!"
Vinea stood up and held her brother's face between her soft hands. She stared up into his eyes. So like hers in many ways, but his right now seemed to burn.
"But? Kou-e? What are you talking about? You're already good!" Vinea chuckled and wore a face full of gentleness and compassion. "You are very good! Very, very good!" She laughs. "I'm sure Don Euramo would be proud of you too if he saw you now."
"Master Euramo…" Agreas sneered. "That old man still bugs me beyond the grave."
"But you loved him for it."
Agreas now pulled Vinea closer and held her in a tight embrace. The heat of his gaze has cooled--but now they seem locked looking at a distance.
"I'm not gonna let them get away with this uncontested, Nia," Agreas said as he held his sister and slowly collected himself. "When's the Virine's funeral?"
"In four days."
And the Procession of Candidates?
"Two weeks."
"I see....Enough time, then."
"For what?"
"I'll have to speak to my brothers in the order...And a few friends around town as well."