Fire of the Inquisitor

The hike to the strange girl’s home took longer than Lucia would have guessed, the structure made of rose and lavender colored stones continued to rise higher and higher as they made their approach. It could have been the fact that Silence, what Lucia had decided to call the girl, was making the trek nearly unbearable. Not only did she refuse to acknowledge Lucia as anything other than a servant as best, her constant whispering and giggling in Sable’s ear as she rode on his back was had depleted the little patience Lucia had for her.

After a while, Lucia had started to keep her distance from the strange pair and focused more on the changing terrain. This place was more like the jungle like areas that surrounded Nova Edenis that she was used to than the barren rock paths Sable and she had just come from. The flora here were darker and more menacing than the ones she was familiar with, and the fauna that kept itself out of view made terrifying noises. The reason for all of the diverse life in the area became clear when the reached the Palace of Nightshade and saw the two small magma fountains that flanked the building.

When they reached two large stone doors Silence patted Sable gently on the shoulder. “You may let me down now my love.”

Lucia rolled her eyes and watched as the girl walked towards the door with a slight unconvincing limp. Lucia crossed her arms. “Feeling better?”

The girl looked over shoulder and gave her a mischievous smile. “The warmth of my Sable’s touch has been rejuvenating.”

“My Sable?” Lucia said under her breath and eyeing the inquisitor. He was quiet as usual, staring up the large doors in front of him.

“Let me get that for you,” Silence said. The girl walked up to the doors and put her tiny hands on them causing a green light to glow within it and illuminate dozens of strange characters of what Lucia surmised was an ancient language.

The doors opened, revealing a giant chamber glowing with the light of a green fire burning in large cauldrons spread across the building. The hollowness of the giant structure was what struck Lucia the most, instead of a solid structure of halls and corridors, she was confronted with one large chamber framed by elaborate staircases and catwalks.

“Impressive home you have,” Lucia said as they made their way in.

“Thank you,” Silence said, sounding surprisingly genuine. “There was once seven similar palaces across the land, one for each of my sisters.” She moved closer to Sable and put her arm around his. “Now there are only two remaining.”

The whole place smelled of strong incense and embalming materials. Stains of different colors stained the walls and floors, oozing and pooling around their feet. Metal chains hung from iron hooks and ascended into the shadows of the upper levels, like tentacles of giant jellyfish. What Lucia found most unnerving though was the constant sound of dripping coming from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. The whole place was creepy.

“Why don’t we get the human what she came from first.” Silence suddenly turned to face her.

Lucia shrugged. “Sounds good to me.”

“Carrion Thistle, wasn’t?” the girl asked.

Lucia looked at the back of the inquisitor’s head. “That’s what Sable called, the weed that can save someone from death.”

Silence squeezed Sable’s arm. “And right he was.”

The human looking girl hobbled toward the center of the grand chamber, where a large wooden monstrosity of carpentry stood with nearly three stories tall. Silence clambered up on the weird piece of furniture, opening drawers and cabinet doors and turning rotating tables. She navigated the rounded tower like a spider spinning its thread around a bird caught in its web. Her head peeked through a glass door so she could speak to them. “Although it is quite a rare plant.”

For the first time in a long time, Sable and Lucia were almost alone together and she could see his eyes behind his mask. She worried about how his eyes obsessively followed Silence’s movements. “She’s some kind of witch, isn’t she?”

Sable nodded slowly.

“Are you going to be okay?” she asked.

He turned to her and looked her in the eyes. “Of course,” his eyes narrowed, “All that matters is pleasing my lady.”

Before Lucia could voice her doubts, Silence poked her head out of one of the cabinet doors. “I found it.”

She held out an unremarkable looking twig covered in blue moss-like leaves. Lucia reached out and took it from her. She studied it in her hand for a moment. “This is really it?”

“Yes, it is,” Silence said, crawling out of the cabinet. Without being summoned, Sable went to her and held out his arms and placed her gently on the ground. “And that was all I have left.”

“This will really save General Octavius?” Lucia asked.

“For a while anyway, he is really old.” Silence took the twig from her. “It’s just enough for one person.” She mimicked sliding her hand across the twig. “Simply remove all of the leaves from the stick and have him drink it with water, hot if he wants to taste good.” Silence handed the stick back to the soldier.

Lucia nodded to her. “Thank you.”

The shrugged. “Think nothing of it, just making good on an agreement.”

“Now the dragon,” Sable said.

“Of course my love, I wouldn’t forget about you.” Silence reached up and slid her slim hand under his mask. For some reason, the act made Lucia feel uncomfortable. As if the girl had sensed how Lucia was feeling she flashed a wicked smile. “If you would just follow me upstairs.”

Silence and Sable started walking and Lucia slowly started after them, but Silence stopped and turned around. “Shouldn’t you be leaving.”

“I want to make sure Sable gets what you promised him.” Lucia gave the girl a threatening looked. “See the agreement through.”

Silence frowned, but it was Sable who spoke. “I will be fine.”

“You see.” Silenced put her arms around the inquisitor. “He doesn’t need you.”

Lucia painfully agreed, nodding her head. “But I wouldn’t know how to get back without him.”

“Who says he’s going back,” Silence said.

“He does.” Lucia reached out shook the inquisitor’s shoulder. “You have to complete your mission for your lady.”

Sable shook his head as if he was waking from a dream. “Yes, I have to complete my mission.”

Silence frowned and started up the nearby staircase. “Follow me.”

Lucia, relieved for a moment, resolved herself to keeping Sable and Silence as apart as possible walked between the two as they climbed the twisting wooden staircase. It was a piece of art worth admiring even to Lucia, carved wood and bronze snaking around the building and leading to wider walkways, but time had taken it’s toll on the structure and it creaked and wobbled in certain places. It was making Lucia feel sick.

Silence looked over her shoulder. “It will only continue like this.”

“I’ll be fine,” Lucia said grabbing hold of the railing next to her.

“Yes, you humans are very resource aren’t you.” The girl turned around again and continued on her path. “Soon you will spread across this world like the weed that you are.”

Lucia frowned. “Well, I wouldn’t worry about it. I don’t think anyone is going to want to take this place from you.”

“What do you think Sable?” Silence turned peaked over her other shoulder. “How long do you think it will be until the humans decide I don’t belong in their world anymore.”

“I wouldn’t let that happen,” the inquisitor said.

Lucia frowned and turned to him. “You don’t really think we’d do that.”

“Wouldn’t they?” Silence turned around and stared down at Lucia from the higher steps. “You humans didn’t have any hesitation when it came to driving out the Berserkers.”

“They attacked us from the instant we arrived in you world,” Lucia pointed to Sable, “and his people fought with us in the war.”

Silence put her hands on her hips. “You humans have an odd view of history.”

Lucia turned to the inquisitor. “You know it’s true don’t you?”

Sable looked down at her, his eyes were so dark she didn’t recognize them. “I wouldn’t let you hurt her.”

Lucia took a step back, unable to believe what she had just heard. Behind her Silence giggled. “Sable my dear, this one could not harm me.” The girl reached out and ran a few strands of her hair through her thin fingers, sending a chill down her spine. “They’ll send an army when they come for me.”

“My lady would never allow it,” Sable said.

Silence waved her hand. “She cares nothing for me.” The girl sat down on one of the steps and put her face in her hands. “She has her army, her inquisitors, and bodyguards. I have no one to protect me.”

“I would protect you.” Sable took a step toward her.

“Sable,” Lucia tried to block his way, “your mission.”

“The mission you keep getting in the way of.” Silence shook her head. “How long will you let her slow you down, Sable?” The girl stood up and pushed Lucia back with more force than she thought possible in such a small frame. “How many more vows will she have you break?”

Sable caught Lucia before she could fall into him. The soldier turned and tried to look into his eyes, but there was nothing, but darkness behind his mask. He held her by the shoulders. “She is right Lucia, you have to leave now.”

“But Sable,” she could feel tears fall down her cheeks, “can’t you see that she is manipulating you.”

“I see the truth now,” Sable said. “You’re the one who has been using me for your own selfish reasons.”

Lucia gasped when he said this to her. How could he be so blind? She wanted to cry, she wanted to punch him, and she really wanted to slap Silence’s smiling face. In the end, she wiped the tears from her eye and tore the inquisitors hands from her shoulder.

“Fine, I leave,” she said. Walking down a few steps she heard Silence laugh and turned to see her being lifted off the ground and carried in his arms. “I never thought of you as the weak type.”

Lucia marched down the stairway and however excruciating long it took them to climb them, the young soldier felt the descent took only a few minutes. Lucia felt for the Carrion Thistle she had placed in a pouch on her belt, making sure it was still there and planning on how she was going to make it back to Nova Edenis. When she came to the entrance of the palace she stopped, temptation forcing her to look back.

High above where she stood, a large metal contraption hung in the center of the building. Sable climbed onto the object made of rusted metal, black ropes, and what looked giant gears. The inquisitor sat in the center of the object, giving it the appearance of a nightmarish throne. A green cloud started to form around the machine and Sable seemed to struggle in pain.

“Leave!” an unknown voice said inside her head, as the large stone doors started to close.

Lucia didn’t want to leave the inquisitor in the hands of the little witch, but she also didn’t want to get stuck in what was starting to look like a torture palace. The young soldier for the exit and heard the large doors slam close behind her. She heard the sounds of insects and the rustling of bushes in front of her in the life filled jungle. She looked back and up at the giant structure she had just left and thought that she might hear the sounds of Sable screaming.

There was nothing, but silence.