Fire of the Inquisitor

Helena stood alone as she watched Julian finish his speech.

“This world is our crucible, of the spirit, mind, and body,” Helena smiled, she had helped him write his ending. “And when the Lord calls us back to our previous home, like the bird of the legion’s namesake, we will rise up from the ashes of greed and war and help create a better world.”

The crowd cheered and clapped their hands. It was what they needed, hope after her uncle’s abandonment, the arrest of Acantha and her execution, and the attack of the dragon. It was a message that Helena had truly believed in and one that was validated by the dreams they had found in her uncle’s book. Whether or not the villagers truly believed in the message, it was more than enough to win Julian the election.

Just as Helena was about to head home, someone caught her by the arm.

“There you are.” Isabella, smiling as always, gave her a big hug. “Why have you been hiding?”

“It’s Julian’s day,” Helena said. “I didn’t want to distract from it.”

Isabella laughed. “It’s your day too, advisor to the governor.”

Helena frowned and looked toward the village center where Julian was shaking hands and whispering in ears. “It’s just a title.”

“So what,” the girl messed with Helena’s hair. “All of us are proud of you, your title is only the start for the women of this village.”

Helena blushed. “I think you do more as a soldier.”

“Oh please,” Isabella waved her hand, “they’ll probably give us the most boring assignments, but maybe they’ll place me in Lucia’s regiment.”

Helena nodded. “I hope she recovers soon, she’s a real symbol.”

“Where are you headed now?” Isabella asked.

“Home,” Helena said.

Isabella bowed in front of her. “Then it is my duty as a soldier of the empire to make sure that the advisor to the governor makes it there safely.”

Helena laughed and the two young woman walked side by side telling stories of the futures they would have. Isabella left her with a big hug at her door and left full of the endless amount of energy she always had. Helena thanked God for giving her a friend that could take her mind off the bigger things.

The young woman entered her mother’s house greeted by an excited lick from Bowman, who had almost knocked her down as he jumped on his hind legs to reach her face. Helena laughed and hugged the old dogs large face. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see her mother enter the room.

“I wish you father could see you,” her mother said. “He would be very proud of you and so would your uncle.”

Helena couldn’t stop her eyes from tearing up as she moved to embrace her mother. “What about you, are you proud of me?”

Her mother kissed her forehead. “I have always been proud of you, that’s why I wanted you to be happy.”

“I know,” Helena squeezed her mother tighter, “but I have always felt like there was something important I’ve been called to do.”

“Then I’ll pray that you find your calling,” her mother whispered in her ear.

Helena smiled, hearing her mother talk about praying for the first time in her life. Many in the legion had asked if the village could ever return to normal after the dragon’s attack and now Helena knew that it couldn’t. That normal they had known would never return, but she could see now that wasn’t a bad thing.