“Why?” Her companion’s poisonous whisper resonated in her mind. “You owe her nothing.”

“Yep.” Irene shrugged and took a seep from the beer, her emerald eyes fixed on the girl sprawled on the next table.

“Admit it, deep down you are a kind and caring person.” The thing laughed.

“Nope.” The taste of the drink was not the same. It had lost something and she no longer enjoyed it.

“You know I can breach the barriers guarding your thoughts if I wanted to.” He grunted and she felt him wrapping tighter around her soul.

“Yep.” The Witch Hunter shifted her eyes to the broken door.

She had commanded the innkeeper and his servants to fetch the local Silent Knights, the commander of the guard and the leader of the Dusk Brigade. Esthergrad was not a small town, but it was not that large either and those three tended to be located close to each other. More out of necessity than an actual need for cooperation. After all, each of the three orders that protected the residents of the trade centre had vastly different duties and responsibilities. However, sometimes mistakes were made, which would require one or the other to step in. There were also the rare occasions when one of them would need extra hands to hunt a dangerous beast, lure out a monster or just to keep the law and order.

So, why were they taking so long? It was not every day they received summons from a Witch Hunter. And it was not something Irene liked to do in the first place. But it was the fastest way have all of them in one place, while she kept an eye on the boy upstairs and the girl bleeding out on the table. She shifted her gaze towards the unlit cigarette on the table. It was a guilty pleasure of hers, but one the others would not approve of and they could arrive at any moment. Irene bit the end of the rolled Kindra and leaned closer to the small candle burning on the table. Once the opposite end was smouldering, she returned to her previous laid-back posture and inhaled deeply. Let them think what they wanted; those people could do nothing about it.

“Fine,” her companion relented. “I’ll remove the curse. But you are being unreasonable.”

“That’s all I asked.” The Witch Hunter shrugged and a victory smiled split her lips.

“Your bottled-up anger is quite the incentive, but I still think that it’s pointless. She is just some random girl, which I remind you, hates your guts.”

“I know,” Irene narrowed her eyes and looked at the sigil carved on the trainee’s neck. It made her want to rage and forgo any pretence of civility.

“It has your mark in its centre, you know.” The thing’s words lacked their usual mockery in them, instead, there was expectation and what sounded like worry in them.

“I am not blind.” The woman answered through clenched teeth.

“The witch that has used it was following this one.” It hissed in return a predator waiting to lash out. “The curse is not meant to kill, but incapacitate.”

“Do you think my brain has rotted away?” Irene snapped and crushed the cigarette in her fist. “That’s why I want this idiot to be able to speak.”

“I don’t understand why you bother. You are going to use the girl as bait anyway.” She felt the thing slowly fade. Despite its protest, her companion was going to do as she had asked.

Irene was not sure either. She had spent so much time pretending to be something else, that she was beginning to forget who she was. The Witch Hunter glided her hand on the great sword propped against the table. For years it had remained dormant, but now she could feel the blade’s excitement. The entity trapped within the runes, engraved on its black metallic surface, pulsed with power. It had remained dormant for far too long and it had irked Irene because it meant she was going the wrong way. But there was always something that came up. A distraction after a bloody distraction, caused by her need to feel accepted.

Ever since Uther’s death, she had felt that she had lost something. Meeting the trio of idiots out in the bogs had only made the sensation grow stronger, but thanks to Nathaniel, she had a clue what it was. Reina, the name evoked sadness and blinding anger in equal measure. Thankfully the group of men and women chose to enter through the broken door, just as her morose thoughts were threatening to consume her. There was no mistaking the three people who stood at the front of the small crowd that filled the inn’s communal room.

In the middle was the captain of the guard; a man with a ruffled white shirt and a dark brown overcoat with gold buttons and studs, that had seen little use. The feathers sticking from his hat made him look like a prancing peacock. An almost accurate description, considering the man was no fighter. No, he was a cunning, calculating and ruthless animal. Anyone could see it if they met his hard, grey eyes. Irene did not know the man, but she had dealt with his kind before. Discipline and order were all they cared for, which made them predictable and oddly enough very reliable.

The man on his right was one, she knew very well – Zan Tetradon. If there was a person to embody the picture of a true warrior, it was him. Broad shoulders and wide chest, with strong muscular arms and a clean-shaven face and head. A face that was rough and with more scars than there were marks on a freshly cut stone block. This was the leader of the Silent Knights in Esthergrad. As expected, the red tabard covering his breastplate had a few additional kill marks stitched onto it. Despite being in his late forties, Zan could not stay still and was a force to be reckoned with.

To see Marshal Tetradon stand a step behind the captain of the guard, meant that the lean man was as impressive in his own right. Irene, however, was more interested in the delicate woman commanding the Dusk Brigade. Natalia Scandr, if she remembered the name. The two of them had never met, but the Witch Hunter had heard rumours that she was both competent and ferocious. Yet, there was no mistaking the smell of a geldling. True the little buggers looked human enough, despite their ashen skin, reptilian eyes and insectoid mandibles hidden in their mouth, but they were monsters of the Wilds nonetheless. Their presence was begrudgingly tolerated because they were intelligent carrion-eating scavengers and solved a very delicate problem with corpse disposal with thin the larger towns and cities. To think one of their kind was allowed to venture out of the sewers or underground secluded shacks they inhabited and be accepted in human society, let alone become the leader of the local Dusk Brigade, was fascinating.

A deep cowl and a blank iron mask, along with clothing that hid her skin, might be enough to fool the average person, but such a poor disguise would not work on the Silent Knights and her comrades. Which meant that they knew what Miss Scandr was and had accepted her.

“I know that look,” her companion chuckled. “No, you cannot keep her. Besides, you already have a new pet waiting for you upstairs.”

Irene managed to retain control over her expression before the irritation reached it. However, based on how Miss Scandr flinched, she was not fast enough. The poor thing must have mistaken the grimace as one born of disgust or more likely desire to kill her. It was an understandable reaction, considering that most, if not all, Witch Hunters were a very intolerant bunch.

“Did I order you to move?” The captain of the guard barked at his three bodyguards as they reached for their weapons.

Without a doubt, they had smelled the Kindra, Irene had been smoking till a moment ago. After all, the drug was outlawed in Esthergrad and the stinging odour was not easy to hide. Especially not when a thin line of smoke drifted around her.

“I beg your pardon, Hunter,” the commander bowed and removed his hat, placing it over his chest. “My men can be overzealous at times. It is one of the risks of our calling. However, I would like to ask you to indulge your habits in private.”

“Lady Navina, captain Kull is too lenient when it comes to your kind, Marshal Tetradon is not.” A hooded man stepped from behind Zan. Although every one of importance could understand the Silent Knights’ sign language, it did require a line of sight. As a result speakers, such as this man, made almost a tenth of the quasi-monastic order.

“The Quiet Brotherhood have come to tend to your companion, but we will not assist you, after what happened to my predecessor.” The man continued and motioned for the two Knights standing behind the Marshal to get the girl sprawled on the table.

The peacock and the geldling shared a look of confusion before turning to look at the venerated man. Apparently, they were kept in the dark about this, something neither of them appreciated. After all, they were the three de facto leaders of the town and were supposed to work with one another. This did not mean they did not keep secrets from each other, it only meant they were very careful when revealing them.

“Are you still mad about that Zan?” Irene chuckled. “The boy was as good as dead and you knew it.”

“Lady Navina, your words…” Everyone’s attention was directed towards her, when the Witch Hunter sent the tankard flying to the wall, slapping it with the back of her hand.

“If I want to talk with you, mouthpiece, I will.” She spoke in a voice colder than the glaciers surrounding the Frozen Keep. Her emerald eyes fixed the stone-face warrior. “Next time that creature speaks out of turn, I am going to feed it its tongue. Now, what is this all about Zan?”

To everyone’s surprise, the Marshal pulled the fuming speaker back and motioned his response with angry gestures.

“The boy was my flesh and blood. You promised to save him.”

“Oh, please!” Irene let out a frustrated sigh. “That werewolf bit halfway through his neck. I’d told you the kid was the Spirit King’s mortal shell if it meant you and your men would hold off the witch’s pets while I dealt with her.”

“You lied to me.” A bright red spot formed on the Marshal’s face and he took a menacing step forward. “You finished him off before he could turn.”

“Right… And your sister was kidnapped by that pack of smelling mutts.” Irene laughed. “Isn’t that what you told me when you came begging for my help?”

The large man froze. His hand tightened into a fist and everyone could see a conflict rage inside him. It was obvious even to those that did not know him as well as she did.

“It changes nothing,” Zan gestured after a moment. “You, of all people, could have saved him.”

“Really?!” The Witch Hunter felt her frustration rise. If she had known, he was the one leading the Silent Knights in Esthergrad, she would have never called them. “I am telling you again, as I told you then, your nephew could not be turned. And you know why, or do I need to explain it with all those people listening?”

Her comment caused a few eyebrows to rise. Even the Silent Knights accompanying the Marshal looked at themselves in confusion. Irene knew that although he might have shared the story and placed the blame of his nephew’s death on her, the leader of the order had skipped over a few interesting details. As amusing as it was to play this game, she doubted that the cyclops’ pet had a lot of time left, before bleeding out.

“Now, if I remember correctly, we had this matter settled that same night.” Irene stretched her shoulders and placed her hand on the hilt of the great sword. “So, why don’t you drop the act and tell me what is the real reason.”

The strong man’s jaw tightened and he locked his brooding eyes into hers. If he wanted a battle of will, she was happy to oblige. Ignoring the murmuring around them, the Witch Hunter, picked her weapon and walked closer to the towering Marshal. As expected, by the time she crossed half the distance separating them, he was the first to turn his gaze away.

“Sabrina took her own life, not a week after Lance’s death.” Lord Tetradon gestured with tears gathering in his eyes. “And I blame you for it. You could have saved him because I know who you are and what you can do. If you had used…”

“Zan,” Irene warned him, every last hint of emotion draining from her face. “Think very carefully before you finish that sentence. You do know me and you know what will happen if you do.”

The Marshal closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he let it out, his body deflated in defeat and with heavy hands, he gestured.

“I crossed the line and I apologise for it. The Silent Knights are here to assist you, Witch Hunter.” He then turned to his men and motioned for them to call someone waiting outside. After that, he gestured in her direction again. “However, I will not, cannot forgive you, Irene.”

A faint gloating smile formed on captain Kull’s thin lips and a snicker escaped the geldling’s throat. The leader of the Silent Knights was a born leader and those two most likely found it difficult to shine in the large shadow he cast. Seeing him be forced to lower himself was definitely the highlight of their day. This little conversation was bound to make them investigate further, but that was not her concern. Not that they would find anything. Zan had made sure that everyone who knew the truth was buried in a shallow grave, deep into the Wilds.

“Miss Scandr, in your place I’d make myself as invisible as possible when there is an angry Witch Hunter in the room.” Irene gave the geldling her best threatening smile.

The delicate woman jumped like a startled cat and quickly bowed in apology to the chagrin of her subordinates. Unlike them, Nathalia had realised that anyone who could Marshal Tetradon and get away with it, was not someone to anger.

“Honoured Ladies and Knights,” Kull interrupted in the tone of a skilled orator. “Let us not allow emotions to distract from what is an important matter…” Irene stopped him with a gesture.

“Hi, we’ve not been properly introduced.” She smiled charmingly at the stunned man and pointed at herself. “Irene Navina, a Witch Hunter in a bad mood. Now, be a dear and shut the fuck up. I’ve wasted enough time.”

Venting some of her anger on the three of them, helped improve her overall mood. Now was the time to play her hand and prepare a trap for the witch or witches that were coming for the wounded girl. Patiently she waited for the surgeons of the Silent Knights to pick up the trainee. There was little they could to for her on the inn table and with a nod Irene allowed them to move her upstairs. Once they climbed the stairs, the Witch Hunter turned to the gathered crowd.

“Everyone who is not in charge of your respective orders – leave!” She barked at them. “Except for you, mouthpiece.” She stopped the hooded speaker of the Silent Knights as he hurried towards the broken door.

When there were no extra ears in the room, Irene walked to the bar and poured herself a new tinkered of beer. Dawning the entire thing in one go, she helped herself to another one and returned to her table, where the others had already taken a seat.

“Now then,” she licked the foam from her lips. “That child is Calypso Pech.” Thankfully her companion had provided her with the girl’s name.

“When are you going to start to learn their names.” The Witch Hunter did her best to ignore the thing’s mocking voice.

“Along with Ire of Segenburg…” mentioning the cyclops’ name got their interest.

These fools just loved the morbid bitch. Ask them to name a Witch Hunter and after staining their pants while screaming Irene Nox, they would say Lady Ire. Other than that, perhaps only Zan could name a few others.

“The two of them were dealing with a request in the Hasturian Bogs, unrelated to Esthergrad. Or the Highguard Combine, for that matter.” She finished after the gasping came to an end.

“Pardon my interruption, Lady Navina, but the only request that would be of interest to your kind was in regards to the suspected witch in Irwingstown.” The man leaned back in his chair, thinking his smile was charming enough to win her favour.

“And that was dealt with by you, nonetheless.” He added uncomfortably, faced with her indifferent stare. “Correct me if I am wrong, Natalia, but it was Lady Navina who presented the crone’s head to the Dusk Brigade last night?”

“You are correct, captain Kull.” The faint echo in the geldling’s voice was disconcerting and strangely alluring at the same time. To find one of her kind that could speak the human language was a rarity. But to form a sentence with all the complexity of proper intonation and emotion, made this one unique.

“Their request has nothing to do with me,” Irene shrugged. “As such, I do not care what it is. Would you remove that damn mask, already?” She snapped at the commander of the Dusk Brigade.

“Uhm… We should have informed you of this sooner, Hunter.” Worry replaced the smugness that was plastered on the face of the captain of the guard. “You see, Miss Scandr has a terrible…”

“Richard.” Thankfully Zan’s strange gesture was translated by the speaker. The knight shook his head and continued. “The Witch Hunter noticed the moment she saw Natalia.”

Captain Kull stood from his chair and walked to the bar. Leaving a few coins on the counter, he picked a small mug and filed it with beer. All the while his hand stayed close to the sabre at his belt. He was ready for a fight but was not stupid to start it himself. A cool mind was always a good thing to have around.

Irene returned her attention to the creature sitting across. Reluctantly, the woman reached for the mask and undid the straps that kept it fixed on her face. She was less deformed than the Witch Hunter originally imagined. Only three bone protrusions decorated each of her cheekbones in a sideways L-shape and her eyes were soft red and a lot more human-like than the rest of her kind. The line bisecting her lower lip and chin, where her jaw would split in two, was barely noticeable and lacked the excess of saliva, geldings produced. And then there was her skin. A mixture of dirty white and light grey.

“She is like a geldling hybrid.” Her companion summarized Irene’s thoughts. “A scion of parents who have decided to return to their monstrous roots.”

“Fascinating…” The Witch Hunter whispered.

“Please excuse the deception, Lady Navina.” Natalia offered in a shyly, the echo in her voice sounding clearer. Her hands firmly gripped around the edges of the mask, eager to put it back on.

“Ever since, Richard… I mean captain Kull’s parents took me in, I’ve been warned to tread carefully around your kind.” At her words, the man in question lowered his shoulders in defeat.

If she wasn’t pressed for time, Irene would have loved nothing more than to dismantle this little secret. There was significantly more to what Miss Scandr was saying. For one, Zan’s guilty reaction to the admission was a dead giveaway. And for another, Richard’s deathly glare at the speaker meant that the person was not meant to know this.

“I predict a misfortunate accident in that man’s near future.” Her companion sneered.

“Sounds like a heart-warming story, but honestly, I don’t care.” The Witch Hunter shrugged in hope to put the conversation back on the correct path and to silence her unwelcomed partner. “It was distracting me, nothing more.”

“You are getting better at this.” The thing’s laugh echoed in her mind. “You almost had me fooled.”

“As I was saying,” Irene made sure they noticed the annoyance in her voice, “Calypso and Ire’s task has nothing to do with your town. It is only coincidence that they were here at the same time as me.”

“I am sure that you have realised by now, that things did not go well for them. Alas, until the girl wakes up, I can tell nothing more.” Oh, the had realised it, alright. The distressed looks the three of them shared was the only sign, the Witch Hunter needed. The uncertainty in their postures and reluctance to be the first to speak told her that she would be playing her hand sooner, rather than later in the conversation.

“What you say, is concerning. After all, we all have heard the stories telling of Lady Ire’s skill.” Captain Kull was the first to break the silence. “I’ll be sure to bolster the ranks of the Dusk Brigade with some of my main.” The man turned to face Marshal Tetradon, before continuing.

“And I hope, I am not overstepping when I say that; I am sure, the Silent Knights would join the patrols.”

“It goes without saying.” The speaker hurried to translate the one-handed gestures of his master.

“I am thankful for your warning,” Richard smiled at her thinking he had won and would have a Witch Hunter in his debt, “but I fail to see why you thought it prudent to call us here with such urgency. As you can see, our town is secure.”

This was the argument she was waiting for. She saw the commander of the Dusk Guard flinch at the last and Irene knew that no one had yet informed the captain of the guard about the incident from the afternoon. Things would have not aligned this good, even if she planned it.

“Do not take what I say lightly, captain Kull. Until Calypso wakes up, there is no telling what danger is lurking in the bogs.” Irene tipped her finger in the sticky foam of her beer and began drawing on the table while talking.

She paused her task and looked at the confused man. “I would be out there, searching for my fellow sister, if your town was as safe as you say.”

“What are you implying.” The man sounded insulted and stopped his hand from clasping around the hilt of his sabre.

“She is not implying anything, Richard. There was…” Natalia began to speak but closed her mouth once Irene’s emerald eyes stopped on her.

“I am talking about the witch that was hiding, not far away from Esthergrad’s town hall. A witch which was responsible for my charge almost killing himself while under my protection.” The Hunter delivered the blows one after the other. However, she was not finished. They had to be convinced to trust without a doubt, for as long as it took for her prey to reveal itself.

“Having to worry about the life of one person, in your safe town, is an issue I can do without. Instead, I end up with a badly wounded young Witch Hunter and one of the strongest women in my order missing, or most likely dead.” Irene finished her drawing and downed the remainder of the tankard.

“This is the mark of the curse that afflicted Calypso when she came seeking my help. It was very powerful but not meant to kill. The witch that has made it is coming for the girl.” She continued calmly. “Miss Scandr, have your people check your archives and inform me of anything they learn. It’s not a bad idea for the Dusk Brigade to begin searching the town for other unwelcomed surprises.”

Irene turned to Zan next. The man’s expression unreadable, but he was not one to ignore her words. Even if he had doubts after this, there were other ways to pressure him into doing as he wanted.

“Marshal Tetradon, I officially request for the support of the Silent Knights, while I search for the missing Ire of Segenburg.” The veteran warrior nodded and motioned for his speaker to hurry back to the Quiet Brotherhood’s fortified mansion.

“As for you, captain Kull,” she turned to the man glaring daggers at the commander of the Dusk Brigade, “I ask you to protect both my charge and wounded kin, while I am gone.”

Irene picked her weapon and headed for the stairs. Stopping on the first step she turned back as if she had remembered something important.

“Zan, when your people are ready, tell them to find in the room upstairs. Dealing with that curse has taken its toll.”

With this, she secured all the pawns she could. All that was left was to prepare a proper trap for when the witch arrived. Hopefully, this was going to be enough and Irene could remain a faint memory for everybody involved. If not, well, the past had a nasty way of repeating itself ever so often and everyone had a past.