[Ransom]

Ransom slept fitfully, his mind drifting in and out of consciousness. Memories long gone played before his eyes, interspaced with the holy litanies of the Inquisition

Pain through Duty.
Duty through Pain.

The woman struggled against the golden bonds, glaring hatefully at her captor. She would have spit, if not for the gag covering her mouth. Ransom looked at her, a mass of emotions twisting inside him. This thing had killed half a dozen people. Including his father. He walked in a slow circle around her before stopping by her right hand. In one quick motion, the joints in her little finger was pulled out of alignment. He watched her eyes go wide with pain before he began the Litany of Absolution. “Your body is weak. Your limbs are heavy. Your soul will be saved, even if it costs you your life.”

Strike fast. Strike hard. Strike suddenly.
But remember always that your failure will lead to the deaths of other.
Those which the Valar have entrusted to you.

He reread the words on the scroll. The a band of orcs lead by a heretic had sacked the temple-town of Saharion, slaughtering and enslaving the townspeople. Of the Order of Nienna, there was no word. He felt a hot tear run down his cheek. His sister had been there.

May Mandos watch over you in the hour of your passing.
May the Feanturi take your soul to the One.
May Nienna comfort you in your passing.

She looked as peaceful in death as in life. Her mortal body had been scarred and crushed, but her face was still peaceful. Ransom laid her upon the pyre before removing his glove. High Inquisitor Cross lifted the hand and made three small incisions in his arm, one for each Valar involved in the Passing. The blood fell freely upon her body, as Cross lay his torch on the fragrant oils that soaked the wood.

Your duty as an Inquisitor and as a person is to the One himself.
Everything else is dust and ashes.

He awoke with a start and grabbed for his sword before stopping. No one had attacked them. Almost everything was quite. He could hear Elwyn speaking softly to the captive.

"Well, Mithwyn, it's been some time since we have met. And I have not missed you. You remember what I swore I would do to you that day, the day you burned the village? That oath has never been broken..."

So the abomination had a name. Mithwyn. He was sure that would come in useful at some point in time. But Elwyn would wake him up when it was his turn to keep watch, and so he drifted back to sleep.

[ October 05, 2002: Message edited by: Ransom ]