The Call of the Warrior

An Unpleasant Discovery

The village of Haldefarm was smaller than Vimla, but its church was bigger, due to surrounding farmers in the east coming there for the church days.

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay?"

Anna smiled at her father. Bertram Cyne was a thoughtful man who sometimes seemed distant from the world. He had never been much for traditions that made no sense.

"You know that's not how this works."

He nodded. "I know. You have to show her you trust her by showing up alone. And you're sure Ivar will see you home."

Anna climbed down from the wagon. "If he doesn't, I'll walk. It's only a couple of hours."

Bertram nodded and turned the horses around. Driving Anna meant he missed the prayer in Vimla, something she thought he didn't mind at all. He would use the ride to think things through. Something he did a lot. Something that was important in his job as an inquisitor.

Anna sometimes heard stories of inquisitors, and she had seen the fear on men's faces as her father entered a room in his official uniform. It had taken her many years to realize the reputation inquisitors had.

Growing up, her father had seemed an ordinary man, and most of the time he was. He lived a normal life in Vimla, an hour away from castle Yarrah. Then there would be a messenger and he would don his uniform and race off on his black gelding.

In his uniform, he was intimidating. Out of it, he was ordinary, laid back. That was probably why the villagers saw him as an ordinary man. They knew him out of uniform.

The wagon was already making its way back to Vimla, and Anna straightened her dress. Her part in the ceremony would be easy. She would receive the blessing alongside Ivar and then thank her new family for welcoming her.

Anna walked towards the church. The ten-sided building was similar to the one in Vimla. It was painted white on the outside. Inside each wall was dedicated to a god, except for the entrance, which was opposite the Trickster. Anna had always found it odd to enter right under his gaze, yet you weren't allowed to talk about him.

She knew the villagers liked to arrive early and stand outside talking for a while if the weather permitted. And she wasn't surprised to find several groups of people there already.

She was trying to find Ivar and his family when she overheard a conversation.

"That poor child, though. I can't imagine marrying into such a family."

"They have no shame," the other woman answered.

Anna spotted Ivar.

"Even here he flirts with his mistress."

"He's going to be worse than his father, that one."

"I always felt pity for Katia. They act as if they are so much better than us. But if this is the behavior they consider better..."

Anna froze and couldn't bring herself to move away from the two women who still hadn't noticed her. Ivar was standing next to a young woman.

"Do you think she knows?"

"She must know. He's always dragging that one all over the village."

Anna watched Ivar smile at the plump woman with dark curls.

"I hear she already had to visit Altha Bea," the woman spoke with a meaningful tone.

"Really? Well, I'm not surprised. Oh look, there's Katia now."