“With … um, with Warwitch Leyevna as a mentor,” Semras continued, “I could finally have someone—”
The inquisitor stood. “You must excuse me. I have Sir Ulrech’s secret alcohol stash to investigate.”
“What?” Ulrech said. “No, wait, my lord!” Grumbling something about abuses of power and the unlawful seizure of private property, he ran after Estevan.
Left alone around the campfire, Semras eyed the younger knight.
Earlier, Sir Ulrech had stopped himself before mentioning why Estevan was under scrutiny—and by who. Themas hadn’t served the inquisitor for very long, but he might still know something if he came from Castereina too.
“I wanted to ask—”
“Do you know—”
With a shy smile, Themas gallantly gestured for her to go first.
Semras chose her words carefully, hoping to obfuscate her query behind curiosity. “Do you know what, um … reputation Inquisitor Velten has in Castereina? Or the things he’s known for? Like some scandals, or if some people resent him …?”
Themas mused a moment, then spoke slowly, “Are you referring to the rumours about his witch lover?”
Her heart skipped a beat. His … witch lover?
What witch lover?
Grabbing a branch, Themas stirred the fire. “I believe her name is Nimue. Rumours say she’s lived with him for … three, four years now? Inquisitor Velten used to bring her along in his travels, but she has remained behind for the past year. Probably because she was with child. I’ve heard a newborn was recently spotted at his residence.” Themas glanced at her. “As you may imagine, other inquisitors are none too pleased about it. It is notillegalto sire a child, but … it’s not like he can marry his lover while keeping his position. He’ll never make of the poor witch an honourable woman.”
He had a witch lover?
At last, Themas noticed her distress. He dropped the stick and drew her hands into his. Their warmth did not reach her.
“Semras, what happened this afternoon? When you were alone with him? I—I saw the marks on your skin … He did not force himself on you, did he?” His thumb caressed the top of her hand, and she stared at it numbly, unable to feel it.
Face blank, she shook her head slowly.
“That’s a relief.” Themas squeezed her hands. “Please pay him no further mind. It pains me to say so, but Inquisitor Velten is a known dissolute rake. He is not … he is not worthy of your consideration. You’d do well to keep away from him. He’s not a … a good man.”
He had a child?
The knight bent down and gently kissed her hand. “I fear you might be in danger around him.”
He had kissed her. It had meant nothing.
How.
Dare.
He.
Chapter 12
InquisitorVeltenhadliedto her.
Of course he had. He was a master of deception: playing with her feelings, taking turns between terrorizing and seducing her, making her too confused to realize it all. Old Crone curse her; at past thirty-one springs, she should have known better than to believe in his sweet lies.
But lies he would give her no more. Tonight, she’d get answers, even if she had to pry them out of Inquisitor Velten’s warp shape herself.
Attempting to calm her anger, Semras sought the refuge of the forest, leaving Themas alone around the campfire.
Darkness embraced her like an old friend. Beneath her feet, dried leaves rustled. The soothing chirps of crickets filled her ears. Moths flew all around her like tiny, flickering stars descended from the twinkling night sky. Among the sea of birch and beech trunks, the witch walked, and walked, and walked. It took her an hour to steel her mind into a cold blade, tempered by the resolve of scorned women.
