There had been arguements about exactly who should go on this meeting with Chistopol and the infighting the Reverend Mother had feared between the Four Holy Houses was already manifesting itself. Without thinking
Erin had picked
Nathanial Corrino to lead her security detail and that had caused the other three houses to demand someone from their family accompany her. Not wanting to favour one family over the others but recognising that Nathanial had more experience of this kind of close protection than anyone else in the Theocracy she had insisted that he would come however would not enter the room with the hosts. Instead as the Reverend Mother finished using a cut-throat razor to ensure her head was completely hairless she thought about who to take with her.
Rebecca Debdale was a natural choice, she was a Truthsayer and had been part of the Cenneg diplomatic corps as a security adviser. She'd attended several key meetings and so was probably more used to this than Erin. The other person to attend was
Olimpia Vico She was the Headmistress of the Chapterhouse in Aosta and was a respected scholar.
The trio of those on the diplomatic mission sat in armoured cars as they crossed the desert escorted by a team of Truthsayers, Erin was giving thought to how to handle the concept of a national army and the Truthsayers and thought that perhaps it would be roles such as her protection that would become the Truthsayers remit. It was a discussion she knew would come at one point but she would discuss with Nathanial and McNeill how to juggle it. As they reached the border her thoughts turned to the business at hand. She insisted they stop and seeing a couple of families crossing the border she stopped for a conversation. The desert was now the other side of the hills and ever so slowly wiry grass was giving way to more lush greenary. Erin pushed back her dark hood, the sun shining off her head as she approached the families. "Are you moving to the Theocracy?" She asked them as she approached, Nathanial a step behind.
The group recognised Erin and didn't know what to do, there was a few seconds of almost panic as the family tried to work out whether they should bow, salute, kneel or do something different before settling on kneeling before her. "No, don't be silly." Erin helped the families daughter who looked about six years old up. "What's your name sweetheart" Erin asked as she bent her knees to be a similar height.
"Jasmin..Miss..." the girl had been raised as a Bene Gesserit by her parents who since Erin had been named Reverend Mother had displayed a picture of her on their fire place. Jasmin wasn't sure exactly what a Reverend Mother was but knew she should probably respect it.
"Well welcome to your home. I hope you're going to be very happy." Erin said with a smile.
"She's hoping to become a Sister" the mother said proudly despite the fact Jasmin didn't really know what that was, just that it was apparently a good idea and something to be proud of.
"That's fantastic" Erin stood up. "Well Jasmin I hope that I'll see you in school soon. I'm so happy you're here." Erin hugged each of the group, much to the annoyance of Nathanial, before they crossed the border and made their way to the estate house. "Nathanial this is far as you go." She reminded the younger of the Corrino brothers. "Maybe go explore the village or something?"
"I'll stay close" Nathanial would go and find some of the local military and have a chat, see what he could pick up from them.
"Very well." Erin entered the building with her two advisers. Rebecca was dressed in a smart black suit with white shirt while Olimpia wore the blue and red piped Missionara Uniform. Upon being shown into the room where the King and First iMinister were located Erin bowed very slightly to the King before extending a warm hand. "It is a great pleasure" Erin was about to spit on the ground, something a sign of respect in the desert of Seitch but here probably something frowned upon. She wondered about the first formal state visit to the Theocracy and the customs of the Bene Gesserit there and how they would be percieved. "I have a small gift for you. Although no gift can ever repay the deed you did for us helping us gain our freedom." Erin produced from the pouch at her belt two wooden boxes each with the initials of the hosts. "It contains the spice melange, a central part of our faith. It helps me commune with God/Gods, although to the non-religious it apparently tastes of cinnamon." She shrugged. "To me its taste is beyond description." She introduced her advisers each in turn before they took their own seats. "On my journey here I passed several Chistopolians heading South to join the Theocracy. I want to ensure people who wish to join us can do so easily but I also don't wish to have any mass migration put a strain on either of us. Can I ask has the migration caused much issue?"