Free The Heresy Within by Rob J. Hayes Page A

witnessed.
    “What exactly is it you want me to do?” Thanquil found himself asking.
    “My sources have brought me a name; a man somewhere in the untamed wilds by the name of Gregor H'ost. He is connected somehow. I need you to go to the wilds and find him, if he can't provide proof make him tell you who can.”
    “The wilds are a bit outside of my jurisdiction, your majesty. I operate within Acanthia and the Five Kingdoms.”
    The Emperor smiled. “Not a problem. Thank you, Thanquil. I'll not forget this.”
    With that the Emperor turned again and stared out of the window, dismissing Thanquil with his back. Thanquil bowed and walked to the door. He turned once; the Emperor was still standing by the window. Thanquil pushed open the door and walked through it.
    Outside the guards and the servants and the messenger with the fluffy top lip were standing waiting but with them stood another single looking figure.
    Thanquil nodded once. “Arbiter Vance.”
    Vance nodded once in return. “Arbiter Darkheart.”
    Crushing silence descended. Again Thanquil nodded. “Glad we had this talk.” With that he stalked off, the fluffy lipped messenger struggling to catch up to lead him out of the palace.
    No sooner had Thanquil stepped foot into the Inquisition compound another messenger appeared in front of him. He wanted nothing so much as to find a dark corner to sit in and mull over what the Emperor had told him. It did not feel like an easy task he had been given. First he had to find a way to the untamed wilds. He was certain there would be boats leaving from Sarth to trade with the free cities in the wilds but it was a long journey and long sea journeys were never safe. Pirates were the major problem, with violent sea storms coming in a close second and Thanquil was never sure whether to believe stories about giant sea serpents.
    “Arbiter...”
    “Yes, you have a message,” Thanquil finished for the man.
    “From the council.” The messenger did not seem cowed by Thanquil's snap. “They demand your presence.”
    “That's why I'm here.”
    “Immediately.”
    “Of course.” Thanquil was already starting to regret waking up this morning. First a private meeting with the Emperor of Sarth and now his interview with the council of Inquisitors. Thanquil couldn't think of a way the day could get any stranger. Plenty of ways it could still get worse though.
    Kosh was on duty, guarding the outer doors to the council chambers. He stood at ease but his hands rested on the shafts of his twin scythes and Thanquil knew first-hand how dangerous he was with such weapons, even more so when enhanced by blessings. His friend grinned as he saw Thanquil approaching.
    “Hangover cure?” Kosh asked.
    “Around my neck.”
    “I hear you've had a busy day.”
    “News travels fast here.”
    “Good luck in there.”
    The halls that led to the council chambers couldn't have been more different from the imperial palace. No carpets graced the cold stone here and Thanquil's footsteps rang out loud and clear and echoed around the bare black walls. No decorations of any kind in this hall. No grand paintings with gilded frames, no priceless vases, only the occasional torch sputtering in the constant and cold draft. It felt like entering a dungeon or walking to his own execution. Neither were endearing thoughts.
    Then Thanquil was at the inner doors to the council chambers. Two Arbiters stood guard by the doors, neither of which Thanquil recognised. The guards nodded for him to enter and Thanquil pushed open the doors and stepped through, they shut behind him with an ominous ‘ bang ’.
    The Inquisitor council chambers were built in a circle with a pit in the centre for the subject and raised seating behind a waist high barrier for the Inquisitors. All was built out of cold grey stone, lifeless and dull and lit by a hundred torches positioned around the room. The torches somehow managed to project most of their light towards the pit making it hard