Fire of the Inquisitor

The sounds of insects gently brought Lucia out of her long sleep. It took her only mere seconds to discover that her entire body was sore. She lifted her head as far as her stiff neck would allow seeing that her body was covered in bandages and that she was lying in a bedroom she hadn’t been in since she told her family that she was becoming a soldier. The air in the room was bordering on uncomfortably warm, telling her that everything else had gone back to normal.

Despite being in her old bedroom, Lucia felt as if she were a guest in the house, too polite to disturb anyone for some company. Still she was content to just rest with her eyes opened, taking in familiar sounds and smells. Someone was baking bread nearby and she hoped that she would be able to have some herself.

She didn’t have to wait long for someone to check on her, but she was surprised by who it was.

“You’re awake,” her father said. He surprised her even more by sitting on the bed next to her. “How do you feel?”

Lucia found her voice weak and garbled. “I feel like a building must have fallen on me.”

Her father nodded. “It must have been a hell of a fight, they tell me that you saved the legion.”

Lucia painfully forgot her stiff neck as she tried to shake her head. “It wasn’t just me, Flavius was there and Helena and her friends and of course Sable. I wouldn’t have ever made it all this way without him.”

“Flavius told me you might say that,” her father crossed his arms, “but they also said you showed more wisdom, courage, and leadership than anyone else in the entire legion.”

She shrugged. “Really we couldn’t have done it without the other woman.”

“I know,” he said, staring out the window. “I was wrong about them,” he looked down at Lucia again, “I was also wrong about you.”

Lucia could feel her eyes start to water. “We don’t have to talk about that.”

“You know trapped in the frozen building was the first time in my life I ever felt scared.” He reached down and swept her hair out of her face. “Not because I thought we were all going to die, but because I thought I would never see you again.”

She started to cry. “When I was out there I never thought I would see you again either.”

Her father put his hand on hers. “I never doubted you would make it back, you were always so stubborn.”

“I just wanted to make you proud,” she sobbed.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “You have made me proud, you are officially a legionnaire.”

Lucia couldn’t help, but give him a large smile and even though she knew she was going to pay for it, she sat up enough so she could hug her father and kiss his cheek. He laughed and gave her a gentle hug back.

“I have to go now,” he stood up, “the village is meeting its new leader today.” He gave another kiss on the head. “I will send your mother up with some food and water.”

The young woman nodded and when he had shut the door, laid her head down back again. She said softly to herself. “Legionnaire Lucia Maximus.”

“Who are you talking to?” a familiar voice said from the window.

Lucia smiled as she watched her guest climb into the room. “Sable, I thought you would have left by now.”

“I wanted to make sure you recovered.” The inquisitor looked around the room curiously. “Do you require anything to help you heal.”

“I don’t think so,” she watched him examine her shelf, “but it’s kind of you to ask.”

“I should be the one to thank you,” he said, looking at her books, “you helped me complete my mission and keep a promise to my lady.”

Lucia frowned. “What happened that changed your mission so abruptly?”

Sable shrugged. “My lady’s will is her own, I just follow it.”

Lucia was slightly hurt by his vagueness. “So, what will you do now?”

Sable tilted his head and looked at her as if she had just asked him if water was wet. “I will return to my lady for my next mission.”

Lucia frowned. “Will I ever see you again.”

“It is unlikely,” he answered, as he moved toward the window. “An inquisitor is never without his mission.”

“I just,” she found it hard to find the right words, “hope you remember me like I will remember you.”

“I will not forget you, Lucia.” Sable put one leg out the window but turned to her one last time. “Inquisitor’s have perfect memories.”

The young woman couldn’t help, but smile as she watched her friend leave out the window.