[Shigure]

Tomaso del Monferrada rode wearily across the Umidor coastline, the churning of the Whirling Sea sounding static in his mind. Where had it all gone wrong? Had he not lived in state of grace? Had not the Church itself? Sure, there was the occasional heretic or apostate, but they were always dealt with thoroughly. The Church remained pure. What, then, could explain the defeats in Solian? How could they have been brought low by the cold, unfashionable peasants of Ulm?

Suddenly the churning stopped. Startled out of his thoughts, Tomaso turned to stare at the ocean. Spirited waves no longer disturbed its surface, and Tomaso almost felt that it was mourning a great loss. Or maybe it was a sense of relief?

Tomaso watched the placid sea for moments longer, before turning his steed from the coast. The ocean may have found its rest, but the chivalrous man knows no leisure. This was a test, Tomaso decided, a test of faith. Marignon was not yet dead, and neither was the Church. So long as Tomaso lived, so long as the Lady Flonne watched over him, he would maintain his faith. He would see the fight through. So long as he lived, Marignon would never die.