Aries' Witch

The Mother Superior folded her hands neatly on the ornate oaken desk she sat behind.

“Do you understand the full meaning of what we are attempting to undertake here?” She asked in the tone that always made Sister Regina Carmel feel like a fledgling nun and not the fully experienced witch hunter she was.

“Yes, Mother Superior, I am well-aware of the magnitude of this duty,” Sister Regina Carmel nodded, keeping her eyes downcast, hands wrapped around her rosary as she stood meekly at attention.

“It is a mission against all evil,” the older woman continued blithely, as though Sister Regina Carmel hadn’t spoken at all, “For evil is a snake with many heads. It is our purpose to destroy this hydra so that man might know God completely. Once it has been cleansed, our world and others will accept the love and devotion it has denied for so long. You are one of the chosen, so you shall hunt this darkness wherever it should lead you.”

“I understand, Mother Superior, I shall not fail you or the Lord of Light, the one true God,” she murmured, ever the obedient servant.

“Very well then. May the Lord of Light shine upon you and protect you in your journey, both physical and spiritual. Do not let the darkness in, and He shall be there for you always.”

She held out a printout to the younger nun.

“This has all the specifics of this heresy and the heretics behind it. You will be accompanied by some of our finest hunters who will assist you. You must be careful, Sister,” she warned, “These are dangerous times and you must not allow yourself to be seduced by the darkness that threatens us all. This planet has not been fully influenced by the Diocese of Light. The number of heretics far outweigh the churches, faithful and our nuns and priests are outnumbered by over a thousand. Take care while handling this particular heretic and utilize the assigned Sentry for protection.”

The Mother Superior made the sign of the cross as a clear dismissal and Sister Regina Carmel bowed, turning to leave, although she wanted to protest the need for any “assistance.” She knew she was being “taught” humility, and she felt it catch in her craw. As she exited the ostentatious room, she felt that it was the Mother Superior who deserved a lesson in humility.

That had been two days ago. Now, Sister Regina Carmel was on a jumper from Baldur to Jamieson. From Port Jamieson, she would make the jump again, this time to a planet closer to the Edge. She hated changing ships so many times, preferring her own ship, the Light of the Lord. A little on the nose, but she didn’t care. Although the time on the ship allowed her to read through the growing list of heresies performed by this witch, each new rumor was added as they appeared on the planet. It was clearly a heretical planet named after the ancient Greek God of War. The planet existed at the Edge where the known universe melded into the unexplored darkness beyond, where the stars thinned into nothingness, and evil could take root.

The Diocese of the Lord of Light took such rumors and reports seriously, which was why it did not hesitate to send a young nun shooting across the galaxy from her convent to the source of the stories. Of course, Sister Regina Carmel may have been young, but she was more than experienced in hunting. The witch was a man, about twenty years old, although the Diocese did not have specifics on him, as they were going mostly on rumors and vague reports. Of course, the sister had no trouble believing that the Diocese had no issue going on such circumstantial evidence. She had seen hunters being sent out on far less evidence than this. As it was, based on the grainy picture they had taken of the man, he looked young, almost as young as she was. Still, that didn’t sway her opinion of him. Not based on the heresies this “Alain Bridge” had committed. The list of crimes stretched as long as her arm. Unapproved healing. Building his own aircraft. Watching pornographic videos. Reading unapproved literature. Excessive imbibing of spirits. Drawing, painting and sculpting false idols. Riding a horse outside of the city. The list went on and on until her head hurt just to look at it. Snorting in disgust, she tossed the report away.

“Sister,” came a meek voice from the doorway and her head snapped up in irritation. One of her “assistants” stood there, head down, hands clasped in front of her. Once again she cursed the Mother Superior for sending her nothing but novices. These nincompoops would be as useful to her as a twig holding back a river.

“What?” she barely could contain her disdain.

“We are about to arrive at Aries.” Sister Regina Carmel waved a hand dismissively and the unnamed nun ducked away. She really didn’t bother learning their names. They were like a gaggle of geese, trailing behind her. She stood, brushing her habit off and prepared to disembark. It would be good to finally be off this final cursed ship.

**********

Alain Bridge gripped his head in pain. He had spent too long drinking last night, and the worst part was it was one of his own creations. He thought it had some kind of ethanol mixed with straight pomegranate vodka and whiskey. Then the reminder of why he had drunk so much came crashing down on him. It was that damnable Diocese of Light. The beautiful thing about Aries was that no one had issues with gossiping – albeit quietly as they had no wish to be caught by the Sentries, the pompous holy ones going around claiming all of their actions were being done in the name of the One True God. He sneered to himself. Yes, he knew they were coming for him, but he had no intention of being taken. At least not easily. He jumped off the narrow bunk cursing quietly as his brain reprimanded him for such a foolhardy action and he had to choke back the contents of his stomach before they decided to make themselves known again. He stumbled slowly out of the door and to the tiny kitchen of his house, just as his friend came crashing in, uninvited, as usual.

“My God, did you do this?” Bryan asked, looking around at the state of the place, obviously horrified.

Alain glanced at the kitchen. It rather was a mess. It looked like a herd of buffalo had stampeded through it, leaving it in shambles. He shrugged.

“Needed to blow off some steam,” he muttered, resuming clutching his head, hoping that action would make it clear to Bryan that he needed quiet. His friend stared at him before shaking his head.

“You’re a damned idiot, you know that?” he snorted. Alain shrugged. He couldn’t help being an idiot. That’s what had caught the eye of the Diocese in the first place. It was his own fault for flaunting his abilities – what with the art, the healing, and probably worst, in the eyes of the Diocese, the porn. But he was a young healthy man, and there was no way in hell he was about to stifle his urges, One True God or not. Besides, he didn’t think it mattered to some freaking deity that a group of people worshiped whether he stripped the old sausage every once in a while.

He lurched forward, the measly meal he had the night before suddenly surging up and he barely made it to the sink before he was retching. Bryan watched him in pity before stepping over to a water bucket and dipping a cloth into it. He wasn’t about to risk getting near the geyser spewing from his best friend. The other man then approached him carefully, placing the cloth on the back of his neck, and Alain sighed.

“Thanks, Bry,” he mumbled before another fountain of bile and leftovers erupted from him.

“What the hell did you drink last night?” his friend asked. Alain let loose one last belch before sinking to his knees.

“Couldn’t tell you ‘xactly what it was...but there was a lot of alcohol,” he said, wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve.

“Well, you’re going to need to get it together, Alain Bridge,” Bryan said, and the use of his proper name had Alain paying attention. He looked up at his old friend.

“Diocese of Light, remember?” he prodded, even though Alain had not forgotten them had to fight the urge to throw up again, head still in the sink, “Goddamn assholes.”

“Glad you remembered something. I was hoping you hadn’t drunk yourself into amnesia.”

“Hard to forget that group of religious dipshits,” he grumbled, “I swear, what the hell is their issue with someone helping out someone else who’s sick?”

“So you do know why they’re coming for you,” Bryan chuckled, that damned grin never leaving his face.

“Everyone knows why they’re coming for me,” Alain scowled, “They’re a bunch of blockheaded extremists, following their stupid god with blind faith. I mean, when the hell was the last time someone was cured of scarlet fever by praying? And where did they get it in their heads that building an airplane was the devil’s work? Hell, how do they think they get around from planet to planet? God transports them?”

“Yeah, yeah, we get it, you think they’re all driveling idiots,” Bryan snorted, handing him his clothes, “Now we’ve got to figure out how you’re going to handle this group of driveling idiots.”

Alain finally grinned, brain finally giving him a break from the incessant pounding as it was given a problem to face.

“Oh, I’ve got an idea or two. Just going to need you and some of the good folk of the town to help me out.”

“We’ve got your back.”

**********

Sister Regina Carmel immediately hated Aries as soon as she stepped off the carrier. The port couldn’t even be counted as a port. It was more of a dusty little backwater town, without even paved streets. There were ramshackle buildings along the roads. She was immediately on high alert. A place like this was a breeding ground for idolatrous heathens rumored to proliferate the outer planets. Which is why the report said their witch was to be found here. She clutched her rosary tighter, sending a prayer to the Lord of Light for protection before turning to her small group of assistants.

“Come sisters, let us seek out the Sentry in charge of this part of the town and see what they report.” The nun strode down the center street, casting her eye about her, constantly aware of her surroundings. The people in the streets and under the cover of the ramshackle buildings, were rugged, and clearly none of them had bathed recently judging by the odor rising from them. She wrinkled her nose as they looked at her with a mixture of curiosity and mistrust.

There was no doubt in the witch-hunter’s mind that these people had never seen an emissary from the church, much less a whole group of them dressed in their starched and pressed robes. She felt a twinge of pity for the unenlightened residents of this miserable planet, before pushing it aside ruthlessly. They deserved no pity for their uneducated ways. She and her hunters were here for one reason and one reason only. To root out the evil that dwelt in the shabby buildings.

Suddenly a small body slammed into her and she looked down to see a child, no more than the age of five or six looking up at her through a dirt caked face.

“Look where you are going, child,” she snapped, holding back the urge to slap the child for its insolence as she had been reprimanded when she was about the same age. It blinked up at her through wide eyes before scampering off on whatever ridiculous mission it had been on before.

“Lord preserve me,” she muttered, before turning to continue walking down the street, heading in the direction of the nearest Sentry’s office, not bothering to see if her small flock was following her. She could feel their presence at her back, and for the first time since descending from the ship it was comforting. The Sentry’s office appeared just as run-down as the rest of the pathetic buildings, the sign above the door with the symbol of the Lord of Light painted in faded red. Sister Regina Carmel made a mental note to send word back to the Ministry to ensure that all Sentries were afforded appropriate accommodations given their status in their assigned posts.

Sister Regina Carmel pushed open the rickety door, wincing at the creaking noise it made, as though it could fall off its hinges at any moment.

The inside was dark, dust filled and looked as though no one had occupied it for a long time.

“Hello?” she called out into the dark, eyes casting about worriedly. What had the people done to this Sentry? Just as she began to fear the worst there was a clatter from the back of the room that made the other nuns behind her jump. She stood her ground, calling out again, “Sentry are your here?”

A cough from the darkness and a bedraggled man appeared in a Sentry for the Diocese of the Lord of Light appeared in a tabard that had seen better days. Sister Regina Carmel narrowed her eyes at the sight of stains that covered the tabard, one splattered right across the sun and flame that marked the sign of the Diocese.

“What has happened here, Sentry?” she demanded of the man who suddenly seemed to realize who his visitors were and snapped to attention.

“I apologize, Investigator,” he said, back straightening as much as it was able to, given he was clearly aged and suffering from some sort of scoliosis, “I had not realized you were arriving today.”

“You should have been forwarded a notification,” Sister Regina Carmel sniffed, looking him up and down disdainfully.

“Once again, I apologize, Investigator,” he repeated, “Communication is slower out here on the Edge. We just received word you were coming last week. There was no mention of a specific date.”

Sister Regina Carmel waved her hand dismissively.

“Never mind. We are here now. Please lead us to this witch you reported so we may see what we are dealing with.”

The Sentry’s eyes lit up for the first time and his back managed to straighten even further.

“Of course, Investigator,” he said, “Follow me.”

He led them back out onto the dusty street and Sister Regina Carmel winced as she noticed that her once pristine robes were now coated in a fine sheen of dirt and dust. That would have to be dealt with as soon as they returned to the ship.

They followed the Sentry through what could be called a city by some people, but to Sister Regina Carmel was more of a shanty town until he stopped in front of a door in a practical hovel and knocked on it sharply.

“Alain! Alain Bridge! Present yourself for Sentry Karl Magnusson and the Distinguished Investigators of the Diocese of Light!” the old man called out with strength in his voice that belied his frail appearance.

There was silence from within then a small scuffle before a tall, sturdy woman opened the door. She scowled down at the group gathered in front of the door as though they were a nuisance as opposed to an official representation of an organization more powerful than the Emperor.

“Can I help you?” her voice dripped with disdain and Sentry Magnusson straightened his back as much as he could to meet her eye level..

“As I said, Alain Bridge must present himself to Sentry Karl Magnusson and the Distinguished Investigators of the Diocese of Light,” he repeated. She looked thoroughly unimpressed.

“Sorry, Karl, Alain isn’t here right now,” she said and Sister Regina Carmel immediately stepped forward, fully indignant.

“You will refer to the Sentry by his full title, woman.”

Her eyes cut down to the much shorter nun who faced her with no fear.

“His name is Karl, lady,” she snorted, “We don’t stand on formalities here. But if you want to be stubborn about names, mine is Georgina Reid. And I suggest you look down the street if you want to find Alain. I believe he is treating old woman White right now.”

“Treating?” Sister Regina Carmel couldn’t help the rise in her voice, “You mean performing an unsanctioned healing. Come, sisters, Sentry Karl Magnusson, we must go immediately.”

She whirled on her heel, somehow managing to keep a relatively sedate pace, although everything in her wanted to run to stamp out this flagrant display of witchcraft, missing the knowing grin Georgina gave as she and her flock left in haste.

**********

Alain and his group planned it perfectly. Karl told them exactly when the delegation from the Diocese of the Lord of Light was going to arrive. Poor Karl had given up any faith in the Lord of Light years ago and performed his duties as required. He wasn’t the one who badgered Alain or his friends incessantly. That was several Sentries from nearby towns, even though each Sentry was only supposed to oversee their own assigned area.

They were the ones who kept themselves clean and their tabards pristinely starched. Unfortunately, the unnamed hamlet Alain lived in didn’t have the resources to provide Karl with the necessities he needed to even keep himself fed, and the puffed up Diocese didn’t see fit to provide Karl with the funds for even the basic necessities. So, Alain depended on Karl to provide inside knowledge for the Diocese’s plans and movements. In turn, the townsfolk provided Karl with what he needed.

Karl and Alain had planned on the Sentry to appear extremely unkempt the day the representatives were to arrive, even if he had the means to keep himself clean and tidy thanks to the assistance provided by the town. Despite Karl’s protests at the charity in the beginning, insisting that part of living for the Diocese was humility and hardship, he had quickly come to accept the fact that his Diocese did not care about him and accepted the gifts of the people.

He had learned that even those with barely anything displayed more philanthropy than the extremely wealthy Diocese, which purported to support those in need. So he grew grateful for the gifts, just as his faith in the Diocese faded.

Karl led the irate Sister Regina Carmel and her silly little flock of nuns which fluttered behind her like fledgling magpies down the road to exactly where he knew Alain would be performing his “healing.” As they rounded the corner they spotted Alain in the middle of a group of people, all swaying and chanting in a forgotten language that the healer had discovered and taught the townspeople so they would have a means of communicating in a way the Diocese could not translate. It helped that the Diocese of the Lord of Light found no use in dead languages, Alain had taken advantage of that.

In the center of the group, Alain had his hands wrapped around old lady White’s gnarled fingers, muttering something, which Karl made out and had to hold back a snort.

“These dickheads from the Diocese of the Lord of Light couldn’t tell their heads from their asses, Ms. White,” he said, and purposely started raising his voice when he caught sight of the group approaching his circle. The circle also started raising their voices and started repeating what Alain was saying. It took everything in his power not to double over laughing at the horrified expression on the good sister’s face.

Alain raised his voice even further, and locked eyes with the lead nun’s voice, finishing his chanting with a well-placed “Amen” as the final jab. He rubbed old lady White’s fingers one last time before pulling his hands away and raising them in the air proudly.

“And behold, what a simple salve of peppermint, bergamot and nettles can do to help a poor woman with severe arthritis over several treatments!” he proclaimed in the ancient language and White stretched out her fingers with a contented sigh.

“Thank you, Master Healer,” she breathed, before wrapping her arms around his neck gratefully. He murmured in her ear, “Don’t forget to come by my house when I return for another treatment.”

She pulled back and bowed to him which was the last straw for Sister Regina Carmel who burst forward with an irate, “How dare you pollute this fine group of people with your heresy, witch!”

Alain turned in surprise as though noticing their arrival for the first time.

“Witch? I’m just helping a woman with her arthritis,” he protested, then held forth old lady White’s hand to demonstrate the straightened, less gnarled fingers, “Would you rather her continue to live in excruciating pain?”

“You, Alain Bridge, are hereby accused of witchcraft and unsanctioned healing with heathen means,” Sister Regina Carmel stated with finality, “Sentry Karl Magnusson, you are to take this witch into custody where he will be remanded by the Diocese of the Lord of Light and tried within a fortnight.”

“And where are we to hold him until the trial, Sister Regina Carmel?” Karl asked, “We have no jail here.”

The nun looked at him as though he had grown a second head.

“No jail?” she exclaimed, “What kind of place is this to have no jail?”

“Our crime rate is very low. Those accused of anything are reprimanded and fined. But I think the worst crime we have had was…what was it again, Ms. White? The theft of someone’s chair?”

“That’s right, Sentry,” the older woman was wise enough not to refer to Karl by his given name, “Someone took Mr. Albright’s favorite rocking chair from his porch.”

“But it was returned within the week, Sister,” Karl continued, “You see, the good people of this town don’t have enough considered worth stealing and everyone knows everyone so the idea of killing one of their friends is horrific to them. I think you will find out of all the towns on Aries, ours is the most peaceful.”

“Be that as it may,” Sister Regina Carmel waved her hand dismissively, “We shall use your quarters as a temporary jail until the Diocese can send funds to build an appropriate prison in this town.”

That raised a murmur among the gathered people and one person had the gall to shout out, “We don’t need a jail, woman!”

“Who said that?” Sister Regina Carmel whirled, scanning the crowd for the offender and a silence fell over the group. The nun continued to glare at those gathered, “As I said, we will put in a request for funds for a jail to be built here to hold offenders.”

“Good luck there,” Alain spoke out, “We haven’t had funding from your precious Diocese in years. Why do you think your Sentry is in such poor shape?”

Karl immediately lowered his eyes when the sharp gaze of Sister Regina Carmel fell upon him.

“We can house him in my quarters until the trial,” he offered and the nun nodded, seemingly satisfied.

“Very well, Sentry Karl Magnusson, we shall do that.”

She turned back to Alain.

“Alain Bridge, come with us willingly and we will ensure your punishment is not too harsh,” she commanded and Karl had to admit he was impressed by the strength in her voice. She was a fierce little thing, he had to give her that, and he couldn’t help but think how she would be a force to be reckoned with if they could turn her against her precious Diocese. But the fanatical gleam in her eye told him she would not turn easily.

Alain nodded meekly, before turning back to the people and raising his hands placatingly as they grew agitated by his arrest.

“Do not worry, friends, we all knew this would happen, but we have a plan to deal with these idiots. Go in peace, I will see you soon.”

Sister Regina Carmel watched in astonishment as whatever the witch said calmed the gathering enough that they trickled away, going about their business. All that was left was the child who ran into her earlier, eyes still wide as it looked at her. She glared at it until it scampered away, missing the little wink Alain gave the child.

Alain turned back to the nun and nodded.

“Please, Sister, lead the way.”

**********

Sister Regina Carmel should have been suspicious of how easily Alain Bridge accepted his arrest. But she was too busy celebrating a successful case to find suspicion in the way the witch followed them to the Sentry’s house. She confidently led them to Sentry Karl Magnusson’s domicile as though she had been there hundreds of times before. The gaggle of nuns did not notice they were being followed by two shadows who darted from doorway to doorway.

She pushed open the door, and stood back as Sentry Karl Magnusson took Alain by the arm and shoved him inside.

“Good. Now, Sentry Karl Magnusson, lock this heathen inside and keep watch. I will post some of my fellow hunters around the building to make sure there are no escape attempts, as I am positive there will be at least one from this despicable being.”

Sentry Karl Magnusson nodded acknowledgement before following the heretic inside.

“Would you like to come in to question the witch, Investigator?” he asked, poking his head out of the door. Sister Regina Carmel wrinkled her nose, remembering the odor in the domicile.

“That is quite alright, Sentry Karl Magnusson, I will await the tribunal to arrive from the Diocese,” she snipped, “I am going to send a missive to alert them of the capture of this heretic.”

She turned away, making it clear the conversation was over and Sentry Karl Magnusson ducked back into the dark, odorous place he lived. Sister Regina Carmel ordered several of her flock to stay guard, posting them around the building.

“You will change shifts every four hours,” she ordered, conscious of the building heat of the day, “And you will be provided with water and food to ensure you are alert and do not faint. Do not let your guard down for one moment with this witch. He is crafty and will use all of his wiles to escape.”

The nuns nodded in understanding before scattering to their assigned positions.

**********

Once they were alone in Karl’s house, the Sentry lit some oil lanterns, shedding some light on the small place. Alain glanced around, pleased at what he saw. His Sentry was doing better than he had in a while. His house, while sparsely decorated, was neat and clean, the exact opposite of what it had been earlier.

“Karl, what have you been up to?” Alain asked, grinning knowingly at the Sentry who blushed as he shucked the stain tabard, pulling on a clean one.

“Well, you know, a timed cleaning spell never hurt anyone,” he muttered and Alain chuckled. They had to keep their voices low so as not to attract the attention of the guards outside. As though they could be called guards. Karl straightened his crooked back until he stood at his full height, an impressive six foot four, almost four inches taller than Georgina, and his aged appearance faded away until his youthful face showed itself.

“Damn, sometimes I forget what you’re really like,” Alain grinned up at the tall man, “You’re going to have to teach me sometime how to do that.”

“Alain, you know you don’t have the Touch,” Karl sighed, going over to the fire to stoke it, covering their conversation with the sound of crackling logs, “But you do have skills and a sharp mind, I’ll give you that.”

Alain pouted and flopped onto the nearest sofa and Karl snorted.

“That’s not a good look on you, Alain Bridge,” he scolded gently, “You keep using that brain of yours for good and I will keep using my Touch to protect the people of this town.”

“Is there any way you can convince those nice ladies out there to let me go?” Alain pleaded and Karl eyed him.

“Something tells me you’ve already got a plan to deal with them,” he said and Alain’s pout turned into a grin.

“You know me too well, Karl my friend.”

“Are you going to give me a hint?”

“Plausible deniability, Karl,” Alain shook his head, “The less you know, the less suspicion will fall on you and you can continue to appear to be a faithful servant of the Diocese.”

Karl rolled his eyes.

“You hungry?”

Alain’s eyes lit up.

“Starving. You know how I am after a “healing.”” Karl chuckled as Alain actually put quotation marks around the word with his fingers.

“For such a smart person, you sure are an idiot, Alain Bridge.”

**********

Sister Regina Carmel had been patrolling the town all day until her feet ached and her habit was plastered to her body with sweat. She started by trying to question the residents, but was met with a slammed door to her face. As for lodging she could find none and she had to fight not to compare herself to the family of Christ being turned away from every inn, as that way led to hubris. So she made due walking down the dusty streets until the sun began to set when she turned her path back to the Sentry’s house to check on the state of the prisoner.

When she neared the domicile, she could immediately tell something was amiss. The door was ajar and her sentries were nowhere to be found. She burst inside to find the Sentry unconscious on the floor, bleeding profusely from his head. She flew to his side, kneeling next to the man. Despite the dislike she had for this Sentry, she felt a pang of pity for such an old man to have been treated so heartlessly.

“Sisters!” she called out. For a moment there was no response before one of the nuns appeared in the doorway, looking disoriented.

“What is it, Sister Regina Carmel?” The Investigator could immediately see the signs of a spell on the young woman and she reached into her robe for her smelling salts. Which were not there. She wanted to curse, trying to figure out how she had lost such a precious commodity. Those smelling salts were worth more than the entirety of this miserable village.

Then she recalled the young street urchin who had run into her earlier that day and she let loose an expletive, although it was under her breath.

“Son of a bitch.” She turned to the young nun and slapped her hard across the face, hoping to break her from the spell. It worked and the woman’s eyes cleared, taking in the Head Investigator in front of her.

“Investigator,” she breathed and Sister Regina Carmel nodded.

“What happened here, sister?” she asked, glancing at the downed Sentry, “Did that witch cast a spell on you to make you abandon your post and leave the Sentry unguarded? This man stood no chance against a young witch such as Alain Bridge.”

The nun shook her head.

“No…no there was no spell cast, as I can recall. I remember drinking some water and eating some of the bread you provided and…then you were calling for us.”

“That heretic must have drugged it somehow…” Sister Regina Carmel paused, “And attacked our Sentry. Wake him up, sister and then fetch the others.”

The younger nun nodded, fetching a jug of water and pouring it carelessly over the man’s head. The Sentry sputtered, regaining consciousness slowly and looking around in confusion.

“Investigator?” he asked groggily, looking up through squinted eyes and Sister Regina Carmel looked down at him coldly.

“You have some questions to answer, Sentry,” she stated and the man quailed under her gaze.

“I will answer them to the best of my ability, although I do not remember much.”

“How did the witch manage to overcome you?”

“I had turned my back to feed him some stew,” the Sentry gestured to the dying fire over which there was a pot of quickly congealing food, “And the heretic must have come up behind me and struck me over the head with something.” He rubbed his skull and looked around the room for the possible weapon.

Sister Regina Carmel saw the item the witch had used immediately and picked it up. It was a heavy candlestick and had a smattering of the Sentry’s blood on it.

“Perhaps that will teach you not to turn your back on an accused witch, Sentry,” she frowned, “You have no idea what they are capable of. However, I do. And I will send my flock out in search of the heretic.”

The Sentry groaned and nodded, making to get to his feet, but Sister Regina Carmel placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Catch your breath, Sentry,” she ordered, “Once you have your strength back, you will join my flock in the search.”

Sentry Karl Magnusson sighed and leaned back, gripping at his throbbing head. Which wasn’t actually throbbing, but he had been a good actor for long enough to make it realistic enough to satisfy the shrewd eye of the Investigator.

**********

How Alain Bridge escaped from under the watchful eye of a fully trained Sentry and half a dozen witch hunters had turned into legend. By the third year of his disappearance, the people said he cast a spell over all those to watch him, including the Head Investigator herself. Others said he had disappeared into thin air using magic. Some others declared he had turned into smoke and flew up the chimney where the Sentry had been cooking him a meal.

The truth was much simpler and used much less magic. There was some magic involved, but not by the witch himself. The nimble fingers of Tally, the young girl Alain had adopted when she was first found in a shed as a baby and taught her how to pickpocket most adeptly, had fetched the smelling salts from the Head Investigator’s robes. Those, with a mixture of a sleeping potion created by Alain had been slipped into the guards’ water and food.

It caused some memory loss and a deep sleep, leaving the guards confused and lost. Then Karl had slipped back into his old appearance and added some blood nicked from a goat’s shoulder for good measure to his head. He then collapsed to the floor in front of the fire, watching through slitted eyes as Alain slipped out of the front door, leaving it ajar, where Tally and Bryan waited for him with two horses and supplies for three weeks.

The rest of the village waved to them as they galloped through town making their escape. Sister Regina Carmel, Sentry Karl Magnusson and the flock of nuns questioned the village relentlessly for two weeks before the Diocese’s Tribunal was supposed to come, but there was no Tribunal. They waited another two weeks, sending several missives, but the response came back simple and cold.

“You have lost the witch. Give up your search and return to the Mother Superior’s ship for punishment.”

That message sent a shiver up Sister Regina Carmel’s spine. She knew what the Mother Superior was capable of. So, she and her flock left the planet Aries with the firm instructions to Karl Magnusson to report immediately when the witch Alain Bridge reappeared. The Sentry had nodded and bowed to the Lead Investigator, promising to do so as soon as the heretic made himself known once again.

Little did Sister Regina Carmel know, but the witch had come back within two weeks of their departure, watching as the Sentry and Lead Investigator conversed. Sentry Karl Magnusson’s Touch was not limited to his own appearance. He had managed to change Alain’s exterior as well, reshaping his face, changing the color of his eyes and hair and even making him a little shorter.

Even Alain’s own friends did not recognize him when he returned to live among them. He merely watched as the representatives from the Diocese of the Lord of Light departed from Aries, certain in the fact they would not return for a long time. For now, he turned to duck into Karl’s home.

“We never finished that stew, did we?”