Road of the Heavenly Light

12-2: All-seeing Eyes

I found some strands of red hair by the pedestal with the jewels of Queen Meissa, next to the tapestry. I still believe Brigid is innocent.

Burn this.

Elliot watched as Edith's note smoldered in the fires of the closest candle. He could only hope his sister was right about Brigid's innocence, as there were few others with access to the room of the tapestry with red hair. At least now, that piece of evidence would not be found, and there had been no other evidence found in the house so far, to his great relief. Elliot knew that would likely change when he heard Joseph call for him. He made his way to his fellow cardinal and watched as he held up a lock pick made from a hairpin.
"She must have used it to get into the room of the tapestry," Joseph concluded.
Because criminals conveniently left evidence lying around in their bedroom. Elliot was skeptical, but evidence was evidence, so he placed the hairpin in a small box meant for containing the evidence.
"I believe we have searched enough of the house for now, we should take our leave," Elliot suggested, and to his relief, Joseph agreed, suggesting they head towards the scene of the crime.

The room that had contained the tapestry looked quite different now that it was gone. It was hard to miss the empty spot on the wall where it had hung. There was no time to lament the change, though, so the two men immediately began looking around. Elliot took advantage of Joseph's distraction to covertly watch him search around, as he was not convinced he had been able to find the hairpin so easily on his own. He watched as Joseph slowly made his way to roughly the spot where Edith had found the strands of red hair, and saw the cardinal's eyes widen upon noticing their absence.
"What? But that's impossible!" he exclaimed.
"Is something the matter?" Elliot innocently asked, feigning ignorance.
"I-It's nothing. I was merely... mumbling to myself."
Elliot tried his best to suppress a victorious grin as the two of them continued searching for evidence, but found nothing. As the two of them concluded their search for the day and parted ways, Elliot knew there was much to share with his sister.

Edith was not as surprised as she perhaps ought to have been upon learning the details of Elliot's search of the day. If anything, it only strengthened her belief in Brigid's innocence.
"Joseph was clearly looking for the hair strands you took, so someone must have told him in advance that they would be there," Elliot concluded.
Edith nodded.
"Someone is clearly trying to frame Brigid for this."
Edith watched as Elliot reached into his bag and took out a small box, containing the hairpin he had spoken of. He held it up in the light of the fireplace.
"I doubt Brigid would ever leave something like this behind in a place where someone would find it," Elliot remarked.
"That can't even be hers, Brigid doesn't use hairpins. She always wears her hair loose or in a ponytail, anyone who has seen her can come to that conclusion."
"I doubt that will matter. Whoever is trying to frame Brigid has the tapestry, and I can imagine it will soon suddenly appear in her house."
Edith felt her heart sink. She could not let this happen.

"We have to prevent that from happening," Edith said, "I can only think of a few suspects..."
"No," Elliot cut in, "it would be too dangerous for you to take the tapestry. Think of the trouble you would be in if you were caught!"
"Think of what will happen if we don't stop this, Elliot! Brigid will be in prison for the rest of her life, and if they're doing this why I think they are, all we've done will have been for nothing. Besides, we would be betraying a loyal friend. Two of them."
Elliot let out a sigh in frustration. Edith knew he understood what was at stake.
"Very well, I'll allow it. But promise me you will not put yourself in danger."
"I won't disappoint you, brother."

As she sat down in her bedroom, Edith began to draw up a list of potential suspects for the framing of her friend. It was not a long list, but she would need more certainty. She narrowed it down to just the people who were in the capital at this moment, which left with just two. Still, it was not enough. She needed to be absolutely certain. Edith had to find out who had broken into Brigid's house and planted the hairpin. To find that out, Edith would have to find Brigid and question her as soon as she could. Edith decided to do that in the morning, and act as soon as she knew who would be hiding the tapestry. She needed to clear Brigid's good name, she had been her close friend ever since she joined the church as a teenager. Brigid did not deserve a life in prison.

Elliot felt himself admiring his sister's determination to help save Brigid. She had become a grown woman in the past few years, and so he was hardly surprised to see her dive head in into danger and to support him as much as she could. Yet he still worried about her, as it was not without its dangers. Edith had been too young to truly understand the events of '80 that still kept him awake at night, which was why he had always tried to make sure Edith remained invisible, not well-known like he was, because being invisible would be the only way to keep her safe. Brigid's framing only served to confirm this. If she were imprisoned, others would be in danger too. Elliot desperately hoped that could be avoided, but he had to prepare for the scenario regardless, so he sat down to write a letter.

Things have taken a turn for the worse. Brigid has been detained, and we fear it is because they have discovered she has valuable information that they can get out of her if she were imprisoned. Have an escape route ready in case she is convicted. Seek sanctuary outside Divinia if this happens, or all will have been for nothing. We are trying all we can to prove Brigid's innocence, but you should know just as well as me how powerful they are; they take no risks. Stay safe, old friend, and pray that all will be well.

Elliot.

Burn this.