Wizard · Laurence M. Janifer
Part 3
Chapter 3 of 3 · 1 min read
His control slipped. The two guards came toward him, overpowered and held him in a brief second—
"Wait," the Inquisitor said heavily. "Wait. Release him."
"And so," Claerten thought, "the job was accomplished."
"Naturally," Jonas thought.
Claerten's thought had an overtone of weariness. "There is no need to be smug," he told Jonas. "After all, you did not do the job yourself."
"Unimportant," Jonas thought. "The man is convinced; he can be trained further and join the Brotherhood."
"It will take time," Claerten said. "A few years, perhaps. But in the meantime there will be no trials in Speyer."
"No trials?" Jonas thought. "But ... oh. I see."
"Of course," Claerten thought. "Any man who considers himself a wizard will have his mind seen by the Inquisitor. And since there are no wizards—at least, none we have discovered—"
"The trials will cease," Jonas finished.
"And the Brotherhood has gained a new member," Claerten said. "A member with influence and power. It is an important step forward, Jonas."
"Of course," Jonas thought disinterestedly.
"Yet you seem bored by the matter," Claerten thought, puzzled. "I don't see ... oh. I see the woman in your mind. The daughter. And—"
"Now, stop it," Jonas thought. "Stop it. Cut off. After all," he finished, "there are times when even a hero wants a little privacy."
Postscript:
In 1605-1606 (in Offenburg) there were no executions....
—H. C. Lea, "Materials Toward a History of Witchcraft," Vol. III, p. 1148.
THE END
