S a l e t é I V

XLI - Volonté - Sept

"An inq-what?"

"An inquisitor." Monet clarified, leaving Sleeves no less confused than she had been prior to her question.

"Who's that? Are they important?"

"Very much so. All other Sabre officials are subservient to them. That is, they must follow their orders."

The younger children were certainly impressed by such a revelation as Monet went on, her apprehension far from beginning to fade.

"We are unlucky, in that the inquisitor of Europa spends much of their time in Merveille. Summoning them here is not something that could be considered a stretch."

"You think they'd call them down here after what happened at the complex?" Sunshine asked, sharing her concern upon seeing how firmly rooted it truly was.

"It would explain the procession that both Archie and Connie witnessed. It isn't a given, but I can't imagine them making such a fuss for just anyone." Monet replied, her reasoning sound.

"How'd you know all this, anyway?" Spears asked, his question one that caught her off guard, though she didn't have to pause for long as she collected her thoughts.

"I had an opportunity to learn much before I came here. Sabre's workings aren't completely alien to me."

"I can head back over that way this afternoon, if you want. I was gonna anyway." Connie offered, the idea of any of them heading that way no longer something that really appealed to Cassia, given the severity of what might have been unfolding.

She'd slipped into thought from the moment that Monet had put forth the title.

Inquisitor. She'd heard it before, of course. The way she'd spoken - describing them as "Europa's inquisitor" - implied that there was but one in the region, and if that was the case, then...

That perfect curtain of hair still shone in her memories, much like gold.

"I'll see what I can dig up, have a poke around, then come back. Can't imagine most folks will be talking about much else, so it shouldn't take long to find out what's going down."

"I wouldn't risk going by yourself, no matter how confident you are. All it takes is one slip up. I could go with you, or Spears could." Chief replied, the friend he'd mentioned nodding. 

"So what do we do if it is the inquisitor that's turned up? What does that mean?" Shipshape asked, remaining free of trepidation. 

Whether that was because he was genuinely brave or because he wished to appear that way for the sake of the girls was something that Cassia couldn't be entirely sure of. She liked to think that it was because he really was confident.

"We'll think about that when and if the time comes. Spending energy on such matters now when it may not be warranted is a risk in itself." Monet replied. 

Cassie couldn't imagine that she wasn't planning ahead, the answer she'd given most likely one that saved her from going any further in the company of the younger kids.

"Sounds like we've gotta try watching and waiting for a while." Chief mused, only for Spears to grow mindful again.

"Except we can't really do that for long. What about the girls? We've still gotta go out and look for shit."

"I never said we didn't have to. All I'm saying is that if there was ever a time to be careful, then it's now." Chief explained, his attitude something that much of the group could approve of, Sunshine and Swoopy the most notable examples.

"I may be expressing concerns over nothing, but we really must find out for sure whether or not the inquisitor is here." Monet stated firmly, her ongoing prudence only stirring existing curiosity within the group.