#fredman

“Who is the ‘Fredman’?”

“I heard he was a wizard.”

“Heard he ‘twas a farmer who done ate ‘es family.”

“Fredman was some outlander who thought he could be some little lord to the Lady Waycrest.”

“I knew em. Fine sailor. But odd. Quiet but reliable. Nev a problem.”

“The devil.”

“Monster.”

“Murderer.” Eld said softly. “And I will find him.”

Lady Abernathy Perth

“What can you tell me of Lady Perth?” Eld spoke softly in the dim light of the small study he’d borrowed to speak with old farmer.

The man wrung his hands to match his sorrowful face as he tried not to look the inquisitor in the face. “She was nice nuff. Never mistreat ya or hunt ya down. Always smilin and bringin gifts down to the common square fer the littlens. Bright beaut stuff, nuthin we could ‘fford.”

Eld nodded softly for him to continue, a hand reach idly to scratch at the black head of Bandit. “And then?”

“And then she up and dispeared. All sudden and this new lady shows. Abernathy.” A shaky hand reached across the table to lift the cooling cup of tea to wet a parched tongue. A worried lick of his lips cleared the tea before setting the cup down.

“Abernathy? Not a typical name for a lady.”

“T’weren’t no normal lady.”

“Oh?” Eld inquired with a raised brow, continuing to rub the hounds ears.

“Aye, Lord Perth took her quick as a wife and then he himself up an stop showin ‘es face. Only she an tha guard ridin bout to tax us hard. All fer the war she’d say. Do yer part.”

“Unpleasant but not out of the ordinary for a new governor to exert a bit of pressure.”

“Suppose, but it was wha she started askin fer.”

Eld grimaced, he knew what the farmer would say and held up a hand. Thirteen children. Boys and girls, given over without a peep only later to be called lost by bewildered small folk. The old man looked relieved but still sorrowful as he eyed the half drank cup of tea again with a weary face. “Poor Jenny, she such a goodin. Took afta er granny, light bless em both.”

“Then what happened.”

The farmer took a deep breath in through his nose and let it out. “Called the guard course. They brough dogs and even an inquisitor liken yerself to tryen find em. But nothin.”

“Until the barn.”

The farmer nodded with dulled strength, his eyes locked to the cup again. Eld stopped scratching the dogs head as his voice dropped. “Did you know?”

The farmer swallowed hard and closed his eyes now. “No sir.”

“You sure?”

The old man nodded again, “I swear it! Never in me life would I do such a thing! I may not loved Lady Perth but never do such a thing!”

“The effigy and mutilated body beneath your barn suggest otherwise.” Eld cut to the chase as the old man flinched as tension clouded the air of the study.

“I swear I didn’t. The room is storage tha’s all.” The old man whispered.

“Apparently for more than just preserves.” Eld spoke harshly again as he stared at the man. The farmer shrank again from the words but sat quiet.

“Was it someone else?”

The farmer was quiet.

“You know who I’m talking about don’t you?”

The farmer was quiet still.

“Did he make you do it?”

Silence.

Eld scratched at the thickening beard on his cheek as he let out a sigh. “You know what happens next don’t you?”

“I do.”

Eld slowly stood up and walked by the old man, gently patting him on the shoulder before making for the door. A heavy knock was given before the door swung open to allow entrance of the two armored guards each bearing the sigil of Waycrest.

“All finished Inquisitor?” The lead guard spoke with a gruff tone of Boralus.

“I am, you can take him.” Eld replied as he took a step back to let them take over, the clatter of shackles resounding.

The old man made no move to resist as he stood and let the bonds enclose his wrists. The guards never manhandled him, treating it all with the indifference of men doing their duty.

As the farmer was lead past he paused a moment to look at the witch hunter, a pleading to his eyes. “Please don’t give up on her. Find my Jenny. Bring her home.”

The witch hunter stared hard at the old man’s last request. There was a lot of blood on the seemingly innocent old farmer. Last requests seemed hardly fitting for him. But Fredman has power and so did this new Lady Perth. What they were doing together still had yet to be seen. Thirteen innocent souls never stood a chance, but the collateral damage spread like wildfire among them.

Eld grimaced and nodded softly, making promises he doubted he could keep.

“Light bless you sir,” the old man smiled sadly before he was lead into the hallway and toward the courtyard. The gallows always impatient.