Check out the rumor of an old love interest

The ArchDeacon having a romantic interest sounds like nonsense. In all of your life, you had never seen or heard him even hint at a romantic attraction towards anyone, and he certainly wasn't the type to wax nostalgia or reminisce about what might have been. Had there been a woman in his eyes he would have pursued it. On the other hand, the rest did make sense, he was a man of habit, and he did leave the Cathedral for a private dinner once and a while. From his position of authority and record of purity, nobody ever thought anything of it. The man does enough for everyone else, he's entitled to some time by himself and to a proper meal once and a while. The infatuation, if there indeed was any, seemed harmless enough. Likely a respect between two adherents and leaders of religious faith, be it from very different backgrounds, which is where things become complicated.

The Watch of the Eternal Flame is a holy monastic order that at times mirrors a trained army. They worship Mastro, the God of Order, Justice, and Purity. While they permit and encourage the outside world to worship and respect Mastro, being an actual member of their organization is much different from Phoenica, where any who wish to join may do so. They have been accused at times of being mercenaries, warmongers, assassins, and even terrorists, and as such have grown increasingly insular, only allowing the committed and converted onto their hallowed ground. You are doubly concerned, as Mastro's eternal enemy are the denizens of the plane of evil. Your demonic heritage will win you no favors with them, but you feel you must try. If this Palladin can respect a Phoenican ArchDeacon, than perhaps you can convince them to let you in, underling to underling. You find your way towards their campus; It's not hard, it's built like a barracks. Your hope for a calm and quiet introduction is quickly thrown away by the other party, the guards.

"What is your business here, foul demon!"

You raise your hands up plaintively "I mean no harm or intrusion. Please, I was told that there as a Palladin who served as your Master. I need to speak with her"

"Why, so that you may corrupt her with your wicked tongue? Colonel Dilancia has no time or patience for those born of evil and treachery!"

"Hey!" These accusations tire you quickly "I am NOT evil! and I'm not corrupting anyone! I have news of her friend, Fergus Doolyn, the Archdeacon of the Church of Phoenica"

"You bear the mark of evil as clear as midday sun, and you are full of heretical lies. Dilancia does not associate with the likes of you, or any outsider!"

"Please believe me! They were romantically involved once, and now the ArchDeacon is in trouble, I need her help"

The guards patience for you quickly ran out "Enough!" Both men grabbed you by the arms "You will be brought inside, but your demonic heresy and lies ends now. You will be disciplined and made pure, until these false words stop spreading from your tongue." You try to resist, but they are much stronger than you. You try to shout, but being brought further into their territory, the act proves largely futile. You are led into a small room, windowless, the only illumination coming from torches along the walls. Shackles dangle from the walls, and your hands are **** into position. The guards furiously rip your clothing from you.

"Now, demonic wench, you will purified of your falsehoods." The guard grabs a whip from the wall and moves behind you. You hear a thundering crack as he gives it a practice shot, and your body tenses in fear. The next thing you hear is a shout, from a distinctly female voice"

"Enough of this! Let this poor creature down!"

"Colonel Dilancia! This demon sa"

"HALF-Demon, initiate. Something that she cannot be blamed for and we cannot judge against her."

"But she claimed that you -"

"Do we **** liars solely for lying? Is there a reason you were so eager to punish this woman that you saw fit to take your own iniative without consulting your superior? And who is tending to the gate in your absence?"

"No one, Colonel"

"Indeed. Now, may I suggest that we work on our forgiveness? You let her go and forgive her for not having done anything wrong, and I will forgive you for the half-score rules you just broke."

"You are most gracious Colonel, I will proceed at once" You are released from the shackles, and not a moment too soon, the weight of keeping your arms up was proving to be increasingly painful.

"Now, leave us! I will talk with her alone" The iniates flee with all haste, and the stern and fearsome tone of the martial leader gives way to a more maternal instinct.
Free, you are able to see the Paladin in full. Her armor is largely ceremonial for her rank, but she still carries a fearful presence. She seems a bit younger than Fergus, but no more than seven years by your guess. Her hair had started to gray and her face had lost its youthful luster, but she wore her age and experience with pride.

"I am terribly sorry about this Demetria, are you okay? I should have those idiots flogged for doing that"

"I'm fine, thank you. Wait," you catch her intention "you know who I am?"

"Yes, you are Doolyn's ward, are you not."

"I am, which is why I have to talk to you. He's gone missing."

The Paladin took a deep sigh, resting her hand on the hilt of her weapon "And you wish for me to join you in finding him?"

"No! Well, I mean, that would be great if you knew where he is being taken to. I thought maybe you would know what happened to him, and where he is being taken to."

"I do, but I'm afraid there's little I can do to help you young one."

"Why not? rescuing people and protecting people from evil is what you do, isn't it?"

"Indeed, but it's not that simple. Your ArchDeacon left on his own free will, to fight against evil"

"On his own? He'll die! with his bad leg he can scarcely make it across the courtyard without his cane! We have to help him. Whatever the evil is, we can fight it together!"

"It's not like that young one, please calm down."

You take a deep breath and take her words seriously "I'm sorry, it's just...he's terribly important to me. To all of us"

"I know. He has that affect on people"

"You mean, it's true? You two loved each other?"

She laughed softly "Oh that? No. Not exactly. He loved me before, and I imagine he still does, but he needed me to be something I'm not."

"What do you mean?"

"The river of my heart flows in another direction, my dear Demetria." Dilancia smiled softly as she brushed your face "Fergus loves me enough to keep my secret, and I respect him enough to keep his."

"What secret is that? You must tell me"

"If I did, that wouldn't be a secret. Suffice to say, Fergus belonged to another religious order before Phoenica. He went to return to them in their hour of need."

"Fine" you reply angrily "If you won't tell me, I'll figure this out on my own"

"There's nothing that will stop you from this, is there?"

"No, Paladin Dilancia, there isn't"

"Than you have Mastro's will inside you, as much as you do Phoenica's grace. As much as he would hate me for breaking our promise, he would never forgive me if something happened to you because I wasn't there."

"So that means?"

"That I'm coming with you, yes. There is business to attend to here, name someone to act in my stead and so on. We will depart in the morning"

"But if we" The paladin raised her hand to stop you

"You must learn to listen, and to trust. As you would trust the ArchDeacon, you must trust me. Understand? Morning will be fine. You will by my guest, and we will leave at the break of dawn"

"Yes ma'am."

"Please, just call me Dilah"

"Okay, Dilah"