"Wake up Nukke! Wake up!"

Nocens poke Nukke with the tip of his boot in an attempt to wake the lazy servant.

"It is time to get moving again."

"Hmmmppphhh."

He shortly observed his still sleeping companion with disgust and amusement, but then he suddenly stripped him off his warm blanket.

"What the..."

Nukke did not manage to finish his curse, when Nocens kicked a clod of snow straight into his face.

"Seems to me, that you are ready to go, or am I mistaken?"

"N-no my lord, I am ready to go."

Still covered in white snow, Nukke was trembling, when cold wind pierced his clothes and froze his skin. He was not used to a weather like this, neither of them was in fact, but Inquisitor Nocens did not seem to mind it at all.

"Are you?"

His eyebrow raised, Nukke knew that he was forgetting something, but what?

After a brief moment of silence, Nocens lost patience again.

"The horses! Why aren't you saddling the damn horses already?!"

As if a lightning bolt just struck him, Nukke stormed towards the horses and started saddling them. Both the great black stallion, belonging to the Inquisitor and a chestnut mare, that he had "borrowed" from a group of farmers who could be called anything, but vigilant.

The Inquisitor didn't know, if he did, Nukke wouldn't live long.

"May I have a question, my lord?

"No."

Nukke did not insist, he was frightened of the Inquisitor and forcing someone like him for information could not end well.

"Smart choice."

The rest of the morning remained comparably silent, as neither of them spoke much and only birds singing disturbed their calm walk through the frozen forest.

Later in the morning, the forest started to make space for smaller trees and brushes, occasionally interrupted by wild fields and long abandoned shacks.

This was a no-man's land, very few villages could be found this far into the Anathema pass, as rebels gained control of the mountains.

"Why are we actually going to that village? How did you say it was called?" Nukke smiled on the Inquisitor, but was met with a stone face.

"I do not remember allowing you to speak, if I were my daughter Tressa, you'd have already lost your tongue."

Nukke held his breath.

"But I am not her and we both have our methods. You however are here to lead me to Latet and you are of no use to me, if you can't ever remember the damn name."

"But I know where it-..."

"Hold your tongue until I finish speaking!"

Nocens hit him on his back, making him nearly fall from his horse.

"Speaking of names, your's is rather silly: Nukke, what's that supposed to mean?"

Nukke waited for a brief moment, until he was sure that he finished talking, then he replied with a soft smile:

"Well my lord, it means free-willed and independent in some old language."

Inquisitor chuckled softly.

"Names as it seems can always be badly picked. Don't you agree?"

Nukke hesitated a bit, but Nocens pierced him with his brown eyes, it felt as if he had seen into his soul, it made him shiver in fear.

"Y-Yes my lord."

Smile broke out on inquisitor's face.

"To your previous question, do you know who a heretic is?"

"All non-humans who are capable to speak, but incapable to embrace our true faith!"

During all those years, Nukke learn this phrase by heart, everyone did in fact and those who didn't could find themself in the cells at any time.

"Well memorized, but do you understand those words correctly?"

He did not understand what was asked of him, what is there not to understand?

Nocens noticed that Nukke is hesitating with the answer and chuckled again in amusement,

"Everyone who aids the non-humans is a heretic. Everyone who does not believe in what we believe is a heretic. Everyone who doubts our words is a heretic. Everyone who breaks the law with a clear intention to endanger our goals is a heretic. Do you understand now?"

"Yes my lord!"

"No you don't and it is going to get you killed boy. Mark my words, it is going to get you killed."

Nukke did not understand, if he did, he could've lived a far longer and happier life.

"We're almost there."

Nocens stopped his horse on a small hill just on the border of the forest, a small village could be seen in the distance, but sun made it hard for them to figure out any details. It was a time for lunch, but they weren't going to bother about that now.

"Yes my lord. A fine day isn't it?"

"A day like any other, I wouldn't call it fine."

Nukke patiently waited for further explanation and just when he wanted to say something, the Inquisitor spoke:

"We are here, because some farmer is suspected to be hiding an elven rogue."

"Simple enough, my lord."

Nocens exhaled deeply, noticeably annoyed by his companion's attitude.

"No, it is anything but simple. Those people did not report a traitor to the Inquisition, a passer-by did, which means that they might all be guilty as well."

For the first time during the journey, Nocens seemed to be afraid.

"May I go afterwards?"

"What?"

Nocens looked at him suspiciously.

"After we capture the heretic or whoever it is. Am I allowed to leave afterwards?"

Nukke observed Inquisitor for any reaction, but his expression did not change, the grey-haired man did not even turn his head.

"Sure you can."

Something about that disturbed Nukke greatly, it just did not seem honest.

"Riders incoming!"

Several militia men stood prepared on the border of the village, near a long wooden fence, surrounding one of the adjacent fields.

There were no outer walls, nor any other added protection, everything seemed very different from other cities and villages in the area.

The village itself consisted of about thirty to forty houses, bigger or smaller in size, they were mostly made from wood, all of them but one in fact, the house of the mayor.

When they were about fifty metres away from the guards, their commander yelled on them:

"Who are you? Are yer pricks stupid as a stump?!"

He didn't give enough them time to answer.

"Why the fuck did you come here, you fancy town lasses?"

Nocens, getting of his horse made his way towards the commander. Members of the militia clutched their weapons in anticipation and fear.

"I am lord Inquisitor Nocens, I come from the capital to enforce the will of the Inquisition itself, the will of our lord and the will of our esteemed king. Who are you to cross my way and make demands?"

"I am Blodel and I am the one in command of this militia, not you! So keep your damn titles for yerself!"

Nocens exhaled, visibly annoyed by this man.

"I did not come from the capital to lose my precious time talking to you, I am here to talk to mayor, be kind and fetch him for me, will you?"

"I am not your dog, you-!"

"Blodel!"

Short fat man in expensive clothes made his way towards them, smiling and nodding on the Inquisitor.

"Let them into my house, I knew this had to come eventually. Please Inquisitor, he's a good man, who surely meant no harm."

Blodel whispered something for himself so no one could hear him, but then he said:

"Of course, follow me into mayor's house lads."

Inquisitor nodded in agreement and ordered Nukke to follow them to the center of the village and into the stone building.