Witch Hunter by C L Werner

Author:C L Werner
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy
ISBN: 9781844160716
Publisher: BL Publishing
Published: 2004-03-01T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Mathias Thulmann scarcely looked up as Reikhertz crept into his room, a plate of steaming sausage and boiled cabbage held before him. The odour was enough for the witch hunter, his brow lifting in surprise.

‘I had thought you to be a more devout Sigmarite than that,’ he commented, still regarding the map laid out upon the table. His words caused the innkeeper to freeze.

‘Your pardon, sir?’ he muttered, his voice a nervous squeak.

‘You expect a servant of Holy Sigmar to fortify himself on that?’ Thulmann asked. ‘Take it away,’ he added in disgust. The innkeeper flinched away at first, then began to bristle as he considered the witch hunter’s high-handed tone. Before he fully knew what he was doing, the innkeeper’s mouth was open once more.

‘Look here, just what sort of food do you think I can afford to keep feeding you?’ he snapped. ‘I’ve yet to see any sort of coin from you, not that I’ve asked for any,’ he hastily added when he saw Thulmann look up. ‘I am just saying that this isn’t the Nine Crowns in Nuln. I can’t afford to keep feeding you better than I do myself.’

Thulmann regarded Reikhertz with an angry gaze, his finger stroking the thin moustache on his upper lip. Eventually, he reached into the pocket of his scarlet vest and withdrew a pair of gold crowns, which he tossed to Reikhertz. The innkeeper caught the coins with his free hand, his face dropping into an expression of stunned marvel.

‘I ask no man to sacrifice more than he can afford,’ Thulmann told him, a note of apology in his voice. ‘There are times, however, when I forget that not every man is as privileged as I. You’ve been most helpful, friend Reikhertz, a true servant of Sigmar.’ The witch hunter pointed to the coins gripped in the man’s hand. ‘Take that, go and get us a lamb, the best spices you can round up in this village and see that it is enough to feed both an innkeeper and a Templar.’

Thulmann smiled. ‘Whatever is left, I am sure you can find a use for.’ He looked back to the map, focusing on the marks he had made upon it.

Reikhertz stood in the doorway a moment, considering the sudden change that had come upon the witch hunter. He strode forward. ‘Please don’t misunderstand,’ he told Thulmann. ‘We really do appreciate how you are helping us. I know, everybody in the village knows, that you are doing your best to…’

‘But my best isn’t good enough,’ sighed Thulmann, leaning back in his chair. ‘Oh, I am making progress, but so is this fiend I am hunting. He grows more bold, more desperate every hour. And it is your people who pay the price for every day I fail to–’

‘You sound as if you’re giving up,’ Reikhertz interrupted. ‘If that’s the case, then I’ll be giving these coins back to you and ask you to kindly leave my house.’ The emotion in the man’s voice brought a smile to the witch hunter’s tired face.

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