A kelpie was an …interestingmount choice for an inquisitor, but considering how rare the Fey were nowadays, he might not have been aware of its disquieting, true nature. He certainly acted like it as he absentmindedly rubbed the stallion’s side.
So did the other man he was speaking to—the Venator knight from before. With his tanned skin and black hair, he looked similar to the inquisitor, but he seemed older than him by a few years—a hardiness in his gaze betrayed a lifetime of fighting.
His hand clutched and unclutched the hilt of his cold iron longsword, following the flow of his conversation with the inquisitor. It wasn’t a pleasant one, judging by the fierce scowl on the knight’s face.
That caught her curiosity—and her suspicion. Taking care to avoid their attention, Semras feigned some interest in her little garden.
Autumn had settled in it long ago. She had prepared it for the coming snow by throwing nets over bushes and gathering branches into tight bundles around some protective poles. There was nothing to look at here anymore, but it would have to do to hide her intentions.
Throwing another careful glance over her shoulder, Semras confirmed the men were still deep in their discussion. Then,she veiled her vision from the visible world and peered into the Unseen Arras.
Her sight filled with the threads of magic surrounding her, still as vivid as the day her mind opened up to them. Thousands and thousands of luminous, dancing filaments turned the world into a vivid tapestry. From each blade of grass to the rays of sunlight penetrating the tree canopy above her head, the warp and weft threads shaped everything around her. They slowly danced to the rhythm of the past and the future, a few seconds in and out for her limited perception.
Semras was no seeress, but some gifted witches could see far beyond in time and perceive the various shapes the world might or might not take.
But it wasn’t a glimpse through time she needed right now; it was the blue-white threads of air and sound.
Raising her hands to seize a few of them, the witch carefully rolled them up around each of her fingers, then started weaving. Her lips mouthed a silent melody, a tempo she knew by heart and used by habit to rhythm her weaving. Semras had woven magic since she barely comprehended what it was, and she had long since mastered its art. She needed no tool and no incantation—only the threads, her fingers, her vision, and her skills in weaving the weft around the warp.
From them, she remade the world to her will.
Before long, the air between Semras and the men shrank, pulling voices into her ear that once were too far to be heard. With practiced ease, she kept dragging the sounds to her with discreet motions of her fingers as her vision returned to normal.
Her weave caught the end of the knight’s words. “… happen again, my lord. They will return to guard the House of Tribunals as soon as we are back in Castereina.”
“For their own sake, I hope this will be the first and last time they disobey my orders.” Inquisitor Velten sighed. “There arefar too many eyes watching me already. Inexperienced fledglings bumbling their way through more trouble than they are worth hold no appeal to me.”
A brief pause, then the knight spoke again. “You walked into the witch’s lair alone, my lord. She locked you in, and they panicked. With just cause, I would say.”
“There was no cause, Sir Ulrech, and you should have stopped them.” The inquisitor’s voice was sharp, accusing. “Were you expecting me to thank you for at least not joining in?”
“Velten, I panicked too. You should have told me what you had planned to do.”
Semras strained her ears. So the inquisitor had kept his plans secret even from his knight?
His answer came after a far too long pause and in a voice much softer than before. “I see … Considering how our previous case ended, I will let this go. Forthistime only.”
“I know you can protect yourself, Velten. I just … What happened last time with … I do not want to see it happen again.”
Inquisitor Velten exhaled loudly. “… Neither do I.” With a forcefully cheerful tone, he continued, “I am glad you believe me capable, var Hesser, unlike whoever thought I needed this boy knight over there. Who asked him to join my retinue? I did not request his presence.”
Semras spotted the mentioned young man standing close to the horses. Just like Sir Ulrech, he was wearing a studded black brigandine and a dark burgundy cloak adorned with a silver Elumenra star.
Another Venator knight, then. Her heart twisted with unease. The inquisitor travelling with even just one was far too many for her taste.
“The young Sir Themas de Maldoza, you mean?” Sir Ulrech asked.
“If that is his name.”
Busy verifying a roan gelding’s saddle straps, the golden-haired, tanned man remained completely oblivious to the attention he was now receiving.
Ulrech gave a noncommittal grunt. “He told me the cardinal sent him along with the sword-bearers, my lord. His Eminence was worried you would lack protection while travelling here, now that … now that only a single Venator knight remains in your retinue.”
The inquisitor scoffed. “Wonderful! What does he take me for, a child in need of supervision? More than likely, he is his spy. Send him back to the Confraternity at the earliest opportunity.”
“As you wish, Inquisitor. Although … you should give him a chance. More eyes on that witch will not be too many, if you ask me. I saw how she looked at you.”
A surge of panic made her glance wide-eyed at them. Had they noticed her?
