Demon Hunters

The Inquisitor V

As Lucas began uttering the appropriate prayers, he couldn't help but feel guilt gnawing away at his confidence. This man had only acted to safeguard the village. Was it not virtuous to seek to protect your family, even if the means were dubious? Naturally, Lucas quickly stamped out any such notions. 'The road to Hell is paved with good intentions' was a phrase that had been repeated to him time after time during his upbringing at the church's orphanage. Whatever the aims of the heretic might have been should never be considered too deeply, for it interfered with the inquisitor's ability to make the correct decisions. It was not an inquisitor's responsibility to make judgement calls, but rather to act as an instrument that enforced the church's laws. Ultimately, the church was meant to make sure that God's will came to pass – and if that required strictness and harsh punishments, well, it was not Lucas's place to doubt these decisions.

Except that I have already lightened the penalty by allowing the alderman to take the blame without further investigation. I must reflect on this once I return, Lucas thought as he finished his prayers.

As soon as Lucas had finished, Magnus pulled a black hood over the old man's head and forced him on his knees and laying against the log so that his head was hanging in the air. Lucas saw that, for all his bravery, even the old man was now trembling.

Death is truly terrifying... Even if I know that my soul will survive, I would be every bit as terrified if I was in his position, Lucas contemplated as he watched Magnus bring the axe down.

The man's head was severed cleanly from his body. As the head landed in the basket with a soft thud, blood spurted from the neck stump, colouring the grass in a shade of deep crimson. Soon, the flow of blood slowed down, and Lucas raised his head to look at the crowd.

"With this execution, the village of Skogby has received absolution – for now. Walk the righteous path, and you will be sure to reap the rewards. Ignore the sacrifice of your alderman, and return to heresy, and you will be punished. Severely. Now, go. Pray. Deliberate. Make your choices," he bellowed.

Slowly, the people began to return to their homes. The muttering did not stop, however, and Lucas could feel hateful gazes piercing him from multiple directions. Ignoring the stares, he focused on Jorgen, who was now approaching him. The man's expression was complicated: a mixture of sorrow and anger, but also determination.

"Sir inquisitor? I didn't get a chance to properly introduce myself. I'm Jorgen Larsson... the old alderman's son, and his successor."

Lucas examined the man. Much to his surprise, the man, previously so terrified, was looking Lucas straight in the eye. He seemed to have inherited some of his father's will. That being said, Lucas noticed that the man's clenched fist was trembling. It was clear that he wasn't very fond of the inquisitors, to put it mildly – not that it was surprising, given the circumstances.

"Pleased to meet you, even under these... unfortunate circumstances. My name is Lucas Falk, and as you are no doubt aware, I'm an inquisitor on a mission to find a missing demon hunter."

Larsson shifted uncomfortably, as if he was having to restrain himself. Lucas was on guard, even if he figured that the man wouldn't dare to do anything when he was quite literally surrounded by inquisitors.

"Um... Might I inquire as to how long you intend to spend in our village?"

"Until I have completed my mission, naturally. Why do you ask?"

"I'm sure you've noticed that the locals aren't currently very fond of you..."

"Are you attempting to threaten me?"

Jorgen shook his head emphatically.

"By no means! If anything, I'm worried about the well-being of the villagers. I'm worried that, things being the way they are, things might... escalate..."