01 - The Price of Talent Read Online Free
Author: Peter Whittlesey
you want?”
As I spoke out, the inquisitor looked to his medallion briefly and smiled.
“A question that’s been on our minds as well,” my father said. “We’re just farmers, we’ve been living here for over 20 years. We are loyal parishioners of this great holy empire and active in the local church. Where do you get off threatening us?”
“Loyal parishioners? What a wonderful cover story. Demons in sheep’s clothing more likely. But we shall see the truth of the matter here and now.”
“Why are you even here?” My mother asked. “What are you talking about? You’re not making any sense.”
“What brought me here? My hunt for scum masquerading as part of the great flock of the Empire. But more specifically, magic has been sensed from this area, as recently as mid-day today. We have felt the vile influence of magic in this area, and we are here to find out from whom this emanated.”
“Magic? Are you mad?” Asked my father. “If we had magic, do you think we would have spent our lives toiling on the land? What sort of mage does that?”
“The kind that thinks it’s clever enough to avoid church detection.” The inquisitor responded.
As he spoke this he drew a long sword out from a sheath on his belt that had remained behind him instead of at his side, like the swords of his guards. The sword itself was long and thin, like the owner himself. And while it bore no particular markings, it also had a look of purpose. The few swords I had seen at this point of my life had been the more ornamental style worn by aristocrats and high church officials. This blade seemed more ominously purpose built.
“Oh, you have an interest in blades?” The inquisitor stated as he displayed the blade, noticing that I was staring at it.
“You may not find them so interesting in a moment.” And as quick as a flash the blade was at my mother’s throat.
“OH GOD! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? STOP!” I shouted.
“What am I doing? Rooting out evil. The better question is, what are you doing?” He said with a look at his medallion and a smile.
At that moment, I realized my head was pounding and my skin sweating. I could feel a vicious headache coming on. I fell back into my chair, having been unaware that I had stood up.
“Oh god not now. Not another god damned headache…” I mumbled.
“Headaches eh? Interesting. Anything weird happen when you get headaches? I bet it does… So YOU are the source of the magic boy? How very interesting. Your parents show no signs of it. But then, sometimes these vile impurities lie hidden for generations.”
“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?” I yelled at him. My headache was quite strong now.
“What I am saying is your parents must carry some old and dangerous traits that they have passed on to you boy. Traits of demonic magic. Such heretical things have no place in modern Pandanu.”
As he said this, he moved the blade away from my mother’s throat. For a second I had a kernel of hope. Then he pulled his sword back pointed the end at my mother’s chest, looked at me and said:
“You’re next, boy. Better pray for forgiveness in the next world.”
The world suddenly went into a strange slow motion. I saw his shoulders tightened and the sword started moving in a thrust right at my mother’s heart. I realized I was screaming and my father was starting to stand up off the couch. Both guards’ fingers were tightening on the crossbow triggers, and my head was pounding. As the sword began to move, I heard the vicious click of the crossbows’ triggers. The world briefly slowed, and then something inside me snapped. My headache screamed for a second, then the world went black.
Chapter 2.
The sun pierced the veil of my eyelids
As I spoke out, the inquisitor looked to his medallion briefly and smiled.
“A question that’s been on our minds as well,” my father said. “We’re just farmers, we’ve been living here for over 20 years. We are loyal parishioners of this great holy empire and active in the local church. Where do you get off threatening us?”
“Loyal parishioners? What a wonderful cover story. Demons in sheep’s clothing more likely. But we shall see the truth of the matter here and now.”
“Why are you even here?” My mother asked. “What are you talking about? You’re not making any sense.”
“What brought me here? My hunt for scum masquerading as part of the great flock of the Empire. But more specifically, magic has been sensed from this area, as recently as mid-day today. We have felt the vile influence of magic in this area, and we are here to find out from whom this emanated.”
“Magic? Are you mad?” Asked my father. “If we had magic, do you think we would have spent our lives toiling on the land? What sort of mage does that?”
“The kind that thinks it’s clever enough to avoid church detection.” The inquisitor responded.
As he spoke this he drew a long sword out from a sheath on his belt that had remained behind him instead of at his side, like the swords of his guards. The sword itself was long and thin, like the owner himself. And while it bore no particular markings, it also had a look of purpose. The few swords I had seen at this point of my life had been the more ornamental style worn by aristocrats and high church officials. This blade seemed more ominously purpose built.
“Oh, you have an interest in blades?” The inquisitor stated as he displayed the blade, noticing that I was staring at it.
“You may not find them so interesting in a moment.” And as quick as a flash the blade was at my mother’s throat.
“OH GOD! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? STOP!” I shouted.
“What am I doing? Rooting out evil. The better question is, what are you doing?” He said with a look at his medallion and a smile.
At that moment, I realized my head was pounding and my skin sweating. I could feel a vicious headache coming on. I fell back into my chair, having been unaware that I had stood up.
“Oh god not now. Not another god damned headache…” I mumbled.
“Headaches eh? Interesting. Anything weird happen when you get headaches? I bet it does… So YOU are the source of the magic boy? How very interesting. Your parents show no signs of it. But then, sometimes these vile impurities lie hidden for generations.”
“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?” I yelled at him. My headache was quite strong now.
“What I am saying is your parents must carry some old and dangerous traits that they have passed on to you boy. Traits of demonic magic. Such heretical things have no place in modern Pandanu.”
As he said this, he moved the blade away from my mother’s throat. For a second I had a kernel of hope. Then he pulled his sword back pointed the end at my mother’s chest, looked at me and said:
“You’re next, boy. Better pray for forgiveness in the next world.”
The world suddenly went into a strange slow motion. I saw his shoulders tightened and the sword started moving in a thrust right at my mother’s heart. I realized I was screaming and my father was starting to stand up off the couch. Both guards’ fingers were tightening on the crossbow triggers, and my head was pounding. As the sword began to move, I heard the vicious click of the crossbows’ triggers. The world briefly slowed, and then something inside me snapped. My headache screamed for a second, then the world went black.
Chapter 2.
The sun pierced the veil of my eyelids
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