Silfa was sitting on the roof of Lord Ives' carriage mindlessly staring out into the darkness. She knew that her current master was amazing but she didn’t expect just how much. She had no clue what gave her the idea to recklessly pledge herself to the Arcadian Emperor and Lord Ives, but she was glad she did it. She had felt some incredible power at the time and saw how it shocked Lord Ives. If he had recognised that power, he never told them what it was, but she also never asked. Maybe she should? Silfa was slightly worried about angering him. He was a mystery to her and, at the same time, a ticket to a better life in an impossible country called Arcadia. She wasn't going to lose her and her brother's chance to leave Saftia. No matter how dangerous their journey would be, the land where Heroes like Lord Ives live will be worth the effort.

  She touched her collar and sighed quietly. Silfa envied Catherine. Whatever relationship the woman had with Lord Ives, it was a secret between the two. What was more, something had changed between them lately but Silfa wasn't exactly sure what it was. She wasn't privy to their secrets. With a grudging acceptance, Silfa had to admit that the Black Cat, or a Nekomi, as Lord Ives called Catherine's race, was far more talented than she was. After all, without having a class, Catherine was capable of using magic. It was thought to be impossible in Saftia, but she doubted if Lord Ives knew the meaning of that word at all. Perhaps on the definition level...

  She smiled and patted her bow. He’d bought everything she had and given it to her. The same was true for her brother. Their gear was a dream of every adventurer out there, even though it was going to fall short once they reached level fifty. Still, previously she wouldn't have been even allowed to touch items like these. She smiled to herself. Even if Catherine was obviously spoiled by the Lord and was given special training, he’d taught her a completely new and handy skill as well. Leveling up skills wasn't very well understood in Saftia, besides some intuitive knowledge that wasn't officially, or unofficially, passed on. Sometimes, someone mentioned it, but nothing that could even get close to the knowledge of Lord Ives...

  A movement in the darkness focused her attention but after just a moment she realised it was one of the soldiers patrolling the dunes. They had left the savanna, it was slowly disappearing under the merciless sand, and reached a place which was not yet desert but was slowly turning into one. Some trees were fighting for survival among the sands but most of them had hardly any leaves left. The man was alone which surprised Silfa and he looked like he was trying to sneak out. She stood up and moved closer. Her feet hardly left a trail on the sand and her graceful movements were concealed by her Sneak skill. She hid behind a tree and observed the man looking around. Suddenly, she spotted another man sitting on a nearby rock and she froze. Black robes, masked face, slim blade on his hip... Unmistakably, that was an Assassin.

  "What did you learn, Shirna?" The Assassin asked with a voice that sent shivers down Silfa's spine. That man was dangerous...

  "It's impossible for me to kill that man." The soldier said with a shaking voice. "But... I think we could kidnap his people. He will certainly come to their rescue."

  "Three slaves and a Dark Elf?" The Assassin laughed coldly.

  "Yes! If you manage to get the women, especially his Black Cat Maid, he will do just about anything to save her! With someone like him, the Lord will be able to further his plans!" The soldier said in a slimy wheedling tone.

  "You think this is going to be that easy? You must be stupid..." The Assassin grumbled in disbelief. "No matter how much he likes his toys, he can always buy himself newer and nicer."

  "I'm telling you the truth! He values them. He shows affection for the women and even for that boy! But the Black Cat is special to him. If you manage to get her, he will be leveraged for our Lord to command!"

  "If he is as weak as you suggest we will be able to manipulate him..."

  Silfa gasped when the man suddenly disappeared and appeared in front of her.

  "Oh, what do we have here? Is she one of his toys?"

  Silfa couldn't move as the man reached out for her. His eyes were shining cruelly under his mask but he suddenly froze as well. A chilling air covered the area and Silfa hoped that the short, terrified but muffled scream of the traitorous soldier had raised the alarm. The Assassin reached out and grabbed her but she felt how he was shaking. Suddenly, the Darkness behind the man moved and spoke with a deep and menacing voice.

  "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

  "I'll kill her!" The Assassin squealed, but something in Silfa finally snapped, and she struggled to free herself.

  "Get away from me!" She cried loudly.

  "Y-you bi-bitch! I-I'll k-kill you!" Now his voice was trembling as well.

  "Kill her? Oh, you silly goose..." For a moment, Silfa was certain that she saw the wolf-like shape smile in the darkness. "You are too scared to remember how to use your hands..."

  That certainly was a wolf... But only if wolves were the size of a house.

  The camp was alarmed by her scream and some soldiers were running towards her. She heard the screams of her brother among them. Silfa grabbed the arm of the man and when she couldn't free herself no matter how hard she pushed him, she grabbed the knife she had on her belt and cut his hand. The shallow wound made the man scream in pain and finally let her go. She saw the hatred in his eyes that turned into fear when the wolf-shaped fragment of darkness vanished with the Assassin.

  "Silfa!" Ben got to her first with his sword in his hand and murderous flame in his eyes. "Silfa?! Are you all right?!"

  "Yes... I'm fine... I'm..." She dropped to her knees and started sobbing.

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  Her brother hugged her and she felt a hand patting her head. She looked up and through her tears, she saw Lord Ives kneeling on one of his knees nearby.

  "Don't do anything so reckless next time." He said with a soft voice and she immediately knew that he knew everything. "I'm happy that you are taking your work so seriously but, remember, that you have only one life and your life is precious, Silfa."

  "I... I'm sorry, Sir... I wasn't expecting something like this..." She cried as she hugged Ben. The pats on her head she received from Lord Ives were helping as well.

  "Tell me what happened." He asked and looked at her with his soft blue eyes.

  She recalled everything that happened and even told him about the talking darkness. However, he said that it was probably another Assassin, even more skilled than the one who tried to kidnap her. Once she finished telling him what happened, the soldiers from the camp finished scouting the area and returned to them. Some tried to help the unconscious one, unaware he was a traitor. Lord Ives stood up and slowly walked towards the traitor soldier and grabbed him by the collar and lifted him without any mercy.

  "Captain Amos? That man betrayed Lord Howthorns and plotted against me. He was spying for someone and suggested kidnapping my companions to force me into submission." He said with a calm voice. "I want you to be present when I interrogate him."

  "Very well. Once he wakes up-"

  Lord Ives slapped the traitor’s face so hard that it echoed through the night and the man instantly started wailing in shock and pain. He started wriggling in the Inquisitor's grip, trying to break free, but it was hopeless. The surrounding soldiers watched the scene in shock, but their gazes were hard and hostile.

  "You were caught red-handed in the act of treason." Lord Ives said to the man he effortlessly kept in his grip. "Lying is pointless because I have the Truth Seeker skill. If you answer my questions honestly, I will spare your life and give you to be judged by your Captain. For every lie, I will slap your face. You won't die, but you will be soon praying for your death if you don't cooperate... Do you understand?"

  "Yes..." The man gasped.

  "Who do you work for?"

  "I'm a loyal soldier of Lord Sion Howthorns!" Immediately when he said that, the Inquisitor slapped the man's face. He screamed into the night.

  "Who do you work for?

  "I'm loyal only to the King!" The man screamed.

  "Do you work for the King?"

  "No... Not directly... I don't know..." His speech was slurred and it was apparent that something forced the man to speak.

  "Who do you directly work for?"

  "Baron Tamal..."

  "Why do you want to make me your enemy?" Lord Ives asked calmly.

  "You are too dangerous to let you help the traitors! You will submit to the King or you will die!" The man answered. "Baron Tamal will learn about you soon."

  "Are you working with the Temple?"

  "No..." Another slap echoed through the desert followed by the scream of the immense pain. "Yes! I was preparing the report for Archbishop Tehmir!"

  "You will provide the names of every single spy, traitor, and helper in the city of Howthorns. You will provide the names of your contacts."

  "Fuck you!" The man shouted and immediately screamed in pain when Lord Ives dropped him to the ground and broke his arm.

  "I wasn't asking." The Inquisitor said coldly. "Lay on Hands."

  The arm was healed but it wasn't looking as it should. The man started screaming in unbearable pain. "What have you done to me?!"

  "I broke your arm and healed it incorrectly. It's going to hurt every time you move that arm. Your pain won't let you sleep and you will pray to die-"

  "Ummm... I appreciate the dramatics, my Lord, but this isn't very efficient..." Amos ducked over the traitor and put a slave collar on his neck. "You will do everything you were ordered by Lord Ives, Shirna. You are forbidden to kill yourself or allow anyone else to kill you. You can speak only the truth and the entire truth only. You are forbidden from running away and you will remain in confinement. Now tell me. Are there any more traitors, spies, or people working against Lord Howthorns or Lord Ives in the company sent to exterminate the Gnolls?"

  "No... I was the only agent in the entire Howthorns' household forces." The man answered and wailed in pain.

  With a sigh, Arthur broke the man's arm again. "You see? He is still somehow lying."

  "I'm telling the truth!" Shirna screamed through his tears of pain but then Lord Ives extended his hand.

  "Purification."

  Shirna started screaming in pain but it suddenly stopped. He stared at the Inquisitor with hatred.

  "Lay on Hands," Arthur said coldly. "You can't lie anymore. The curse protecting your mind is gone. Answer the question!"

  "Fasaar and Lutna were working with me!" He nearly spat the answer.

  "Capture them and put collars on them," Amos ordered the nearby soldiers and looked at Lord Arthur in shock. "Your interrogation methods are quite terrifying, Sir..."

  "I have broken his will, Amos. Men like him don't deserve compassion." The Noble nodded. "Even in the slave collar, some people are capable of lying, as you saw. There are ways of silencing them as well. But once you break them, they will tell you everything you want to know. And Amos?"

  "Yes, Sir?"

  "I won't tolerate taking hostages to make me obedient. If scum like this believe they can use me, I will crush them and watch them beg for death." Lord Ives said coldly and looked into the darkness. "Currently, I just want to return to my home. I don't want to involve myself in the politics of this Kingdom. But if someone tries to use me, they will see how horribly wrong they were to try..."

  Amos also looked into the darkness, suddenly certain that Lord Ives wasn't talking to him, but couldn't see anything in the dark night. He was sure that Lord Sion was genuine in his friendship with Lord Arthur so he was calm for the time being. One thing was for sure... If Lord Ives decided to take sides in the conflict that was splitting Saftia in two, his enemies wouldn't stand a chance...

  "I hope your wishes will be respected..." Amos said calmly. "I must inform Lord Howthorns about the traitors, Lord Ives. By your permission..."

  "Thank you, Amos." Arthur sighed. "You can go."

  He approached the still shaken Silfa and an angry Ben.

  "Go get some sleep. Tomorrow, we fight Gnolls..."

  Thank you all for reading.

  I wish you all a great day and as always I wait for your comments.

  A big thanks to and who edited the chapter!