Agnese Vieri did not even raise her head. With a piece of spotless linen, she was slowly wiping a shallow scratch on her kite shield, a mark left by the aftershock of Douglas's lightning.
He stopped in front of Agnes and said coldly:
"I, Piero Rossi, in my capacity as director of the Italian Ministry of Magic's Law Enforcement Department, hereby formally remind you.
"The actions of the Order of Saint Sebastian are suspected of violating Article 73 of the International Statute of Secrecy, as well as the Memorandum of Understanding on Italian-Vatican Magical Affairs jointly signed by our country and your side in 1929.
"That memorandum explicitly stipulates that, before the Church's armed forces undertake missions on our soil, they must-"
"Director Piero."
Agnes finally raised her head and interrupted him.
"We are hunting a Class A Heretic on the Church's blacklist. Our authorization comes from God, not your cumbersome bureaucratic paperwork."
Her voice was cool and utterly unruffled, as though she were stating an indisputable fact.
A young Auror who had accompanied Piero finally lost his patience. He stepped forward, his face flushed. "But you nearly caused a mass Muggle sighting! Once the International Statute of Secrecy is breached..."
Agnes did not even bother to glance at the young Auror. Her ice-blue eyes remained fixed on Piero, a barely perceptible trace of mockery curling her lips:
"God's will stands above mortal law. When the threat of heresy is enough to shake the foundations of faith, purification itself is sacred, whatever means are used."
Piero laughed in anger.
He stepped forward until he was almost pressed against Agnes, his perfectly straight collar nearly touching her chin. Lowering his voice, he enunciated every word:
"Don't forget, Vieri, this is Italy, not the Church! Your divine-right-of-kings tricks don't work at the