Free Memory Hunted by Christopher Kincaid

were touchy about their authority. Likely because I am an Inquisitor. I will have to watch him. There is always
more danger from allies than enemies. He gazed at the pebbles scattering the
map. Instinct told Balwar something was wrong. Something was missing. Three areas
on the map were free of the variegated stones: the areas labeled as Belafonte, the
camp, and one other area.
    "Send scouts here." Balwar tapped the third empty area.
    Tredere’s eye twitched.
    "Is there something wrong, Captain?"
    "Nothing, Father," Tredere said. The muscle in his jaw
flexed. "I will send a small, fast group today."
    "Send fifteen men. I want no surprises," Balwar said.
    The captain’s hand gripped the dagger’s hilt. "Who is
the advisor, and who is the commander?" His voice iced the cabin’s air.
    Balwar held the man’s gaze. We are on the same side.
I have to remember that. He forced himself to look away. Guillermo always
said I was overly proud. "You’re right. Forgive me. I grow angry with how heretics
slander the Church."
    "I will send three. Your advice is appreciated, Inquisitor
Tren. Dismissed."
    Balwar clenched his fists beneath his robes. He turned
and stalked from the cabin. His jaw clenched. Foolish military men. He stalked
across the cold field.
    "You look like you want to chew rocks, Balwar. They are
softer than our rations, at least." Lieutenant Dalton joined Balwar. "Taste better
too. So you had a run-in with the captain, eh?"
    "Disobeying his orders already?" Balwar had come to like
the man from Fairhaven in the short weeks they had traveled together.
    Dalton yawned. "The fellows here are beaten down. They
don’t even want to stir up trouble."
    "I think they’ve seen enough trouble. Besides, I am an
Inquisitor."
    "Bah, you are not the bad sort. I thought all of you
were once, but you are not at all like that one Inquisitor I met. Besides, the boys
need to have a little fun or else they’ve won already." Dalton waved his hand at
the palisade.
    "We are going to have to watch the captain and his men.
He threatened me."
    Dalton whistled. "The man has a pair to do that to one
of your kind."
    "I thought you just said I wasn’t the bad sort."
    "Any idea why?"
    "You know soldiers better than I do. Your kind is touchy."
    "True there. Makes the pranks more fun, though." Dalton’s
expression turned serious. "I will watch the captain and his men. My guess is his
men will run at the first sign of trouble until I stiffen their backs. They remind
me of a friend of mine, the whole lot of them. I won’t have them endangering our
boys. Some of them owe me money." He gestured at Balwar’s crucifix. "Your papers
and rank let you take command. Why not do it?"
    Balwar shook his head. "I’m not a soldier. I don’t know
the first thing about command."
    "You think I do?"
    "I just want to get this mission done so we can go home."
    Dalton clapped him on the back. "Now that’s what I want
to hear. Have a ladylove waiting too, eh?"
    "I’m a Jesuit. I took a vow of celibacy."
    Dalton winked. "I’m sure she wants to see you too. You
don’t have to worry. I won’t tell anyone the Inquisitor is a regular man under that
robe. Seems to me God wanted every man to find a good woman. Just takes us time
to find her and to stop being boneheaded about it when we do." He smiled. "Let’s
be sure we get our boneheads home to our ladies."
     

Chapter 3
    Timothy slumped on an oak, wishing his legs would
stop cramping. For three days they’d trudged through the forest, stopping for
rest only when legs refused to work. Kit had insisted they keep moving. She had
kept them roughly parallel to the road and just out of sight.
    Kit swayed next to him. Her exposed ears drooped.
Exhaustion left dark bags under her eyes, and her lips cracked from the cold.
    So far they hadn’t seen Daeric or the Vatican’s
soldiers. Timothy hoped the soldiers would keep Daeric too busy to search for
them. What can they hope to accomplish? There are only a few of them