To the Bishop

To the Bishop of Southwark, should he ever make his way to the High Wilderness:

I send this ahead of any rumors you may have heard about me since I left you upon the Empress's ascension. Since then, I spent some time working my debt off to Albion, served on a homestead for a while, and then started ministering to the folk of New Winchester. A few years into that, I learned that an old friend of mine back when I worked the docks with the Blind Bruiser had died and left me his locomotive. I could have sold it, sure, but the best way to honor his legacy was to try my hand at captaining, finally experience the life he used to tell me about when we went drinking. After this is when things got complicated.

I'll just shut down some of the more fantastic rumors.

* I did some extensive research into the native gods and rituals of the High Wilderness, both to satisfy my own curiosity and to better understand the people I was working with and the locations where I was travelling. I did *not* slaughter dozens of my own people to drink their blood and anoint myself with their ashes.

* I have, admittedly, broken with strict Anglicanism out of recognition of Victoria's cruelty to her own people. I have...familial connections with the Liberation of the Night, but I've killed more of the revolutionaries than I've actually helped. I did *not* amass a fortune for the sole purpose of assassinating key figures amongst the queen's courtiers.

* I am *not* constantly having orgies with every living creature under the Judgments. That said, I have formed some liaisons with some...unexpected nonhuman figures. Mr. Apples says hi, by the way. It remembers you as being...'crunchy'.

But those aren't the salient points to you, I'm certain. So let me be clear. I have given up the fight against devils, and I have good reason. The devils up here are not like the ones down there. Gone is the sense of pride and smug superiority. The Brass Embassy is in shambles. The devils of Old London squat in caves, singing to a king banished to a well by the suns. Up here in the High Wilderness, they are under the gaze of the Judgments, and they have no true power outside of the Judgments. In the Blue Kingdom, they remain proud, but elsewhere, they're to be pitied. I have chosen to help them; someone must pray even for Lucifer. With extremely rare exception, most of them aren't interested in converting to Christianity, surprise surprise, but they appreciate someone who'll listen and care and give them hope for the future. Granted, I occasionally have to whop a devil who wants to try and grab my soul (not only do I still have it, but, according to the devils, it's grown even more brilliant than when I was a proper clergywoman), but I do think my presence is making them better...'people'. Especially the repentant elder, who served with me on my train and has become an incalculable help when navigating the nature of the stars.

Additionally, as much as I still hate to say it, the devils aren't the most dangerous thing up here. The Judgments dictate law in their realm, and...there is something wrong with the Judgments. I can't tell you it in full; I don't even know in full; I believe it's dangerous for mortals to know. But I aim to combat it. And I aim to do so without sending the heavens into darkness and setting the horrors of unlaw loose. So I've used my wealth to form an academy of sorts. Open to all, but favoring devils, who have the most experience with the judgments and aren't too loyal to them. The life expectancy is low - something keeps killing my people and we don't know why - but it's getting higher. One of my students might actually last long enough to inherit my train.

I doubt this will convince you. I would love it if it did; you'd be a perfect addition to the team. But you were always wonderfully blockheaded when it came to devils; I appreciated that once and I still do. So I say this out of respect for our former relationship: please don't come to me looking for a fight. I don't want to fight you, and you don't want to lose.

Sincerely,
Sister Davies