Brother Barrelmender had been fully healed by Peep’s laying on of hands, but he remained sitting on the floor, staring at Thad’s grotesque corpse in the pew right in front of him.
Peep tasked Pinch with searching the three young women for weapons. They had none. Knuckle and Pinch moved the three back into the pews, away from the grisly scene at the front of the church. All three women were in shock and docile as lambs.
While Knuckle and Pinch dealt with them, Peep searched Lisbet thoroughly herself. She had no more weapons, but Peep recovered the dagger’s scabbard from underneath her dress’ sash.
Lisbet was coming around from Choke’s punch that had knocked her out. Choke held her down while Peep ran down into the crypts to get a set of wrist and ankle shackles. They bolted her into them by the time she was sensible.
As Choke dragged Lisbet away from Thad’s pew, she thrashed around until she was able to see what they had done to him. She wept great heaving sobs that wracked her body. Choke put her down in the center aisle and stood over top of her to wait.
With everything in hand inside the church, Peep went to the front where Shane was still standing watch at the window. Seemingly as stoic as ever, his veneer cracked just a little as he met Peep’s eye.
“That was… that was something, alright, Miss Otilla,” he said to her. “That’s a real Brother, there. He did it. He really did it.”
“Barrelmender? He sure did,” Peep said. “Anything going on outside?”
“No. With the doors shut, I don’t think they’re hearing much of anything out there.”
Peep stood up on her tiptoes to look out the bottom of the slit window. She could just manage it. Outside in the square, Corporal Osgar and the men were standing guard, looking professional enough. Most of the crowd had dissipated, but the town merchants were still together in their gossip cluster, and the faithful who had been in the church were now kneeling to pray on its steps.
Peep moved back down the center aisle towards the front of the church. On the way, she took a good look at each of the three young women. Two of them were still obviously shocked. The third met Peep’s eye with a pleading look. Peep stopped.
“Yeah?” Peep asked her.
“Please, miss, I want to go home now. I don’t like this place. Can I go home?” the woman asked, her tiny voice like that of a frightened child.
“No. Not yet, anyway. Ye need to get yarself right in regards to Stron, now. Ye think on how to do that,” Peep said.
“Yes, ma’am,” the woman said, clasping her hands and closing her eyes in prayer.
Further up the aisle, Lisbet was still weeping, but more quietly now. Curled into a fetal ball, she was talking softly to Thad between her sobs. Peep met Choke’s eye as she passed them. He was grim in the expectation of what was to come.
At the front of the Church, Barrelmender was now kneeling in prayer, facing the Wheel suspended above the altar. Peep allowed her boot heels to sound as she stopped to stand behind him, alerting him to her presence.
Brother Barrelmender squared himself up, his shoulders looking broader than they ever had before. He traced the Wheel over his breast before standing up. When he turned to look to Peep, his face was calm.
“There is more to be done here, you know,” he said to Peep.
“I know, Brother. I know what you ravens do to women like this.”
“Such spectacle has not been my mandate before. I am a combat cleric. But this situation needs handling. I am sure you agree, Otilla,” he said to her, his tone one of instruction.
“Yeah, I get it. Just remember who ye are. This don’t need to be anything more than just what it needs to be. Right, Brother?”
Barrelmender nodded. “Yes. I agree.”
He moved over to Thad’s corpse in the pew. He grabbed the singed wooded holy symbol of the Sun on Thad’s chest and turned it over. Sure enough, on its reverse was the feminine moon, unscorched. Barrelmender set the holy symbol back down on Thad’s chest, its moon side up.
“He burns with this on,” Barrelmender said. He looked to Choke: “Lieutenant Pekot,” he said, his voice strong and authoritative.
“Yes, Brother.”
“That one has been properly restrained?” he pointed to Lisbet at Choke’s feet.
“Yes, Brother.”
“Good. Sergeant Nikolas,” he called over to Pinch.
“Yes, Brother.”
“Those three have been docile, yes? Do you feel you can manage them unrestrained by yourself?”
“Yes, Brother.”
“Good. You three women there: remain seated and quiet or I will have you restrained and removed to a much worse place. Now, Lieutenant Pekot: There is a burning Wheel down in the crypts. It should be serviceable. Take Sergeant Theodas and bring it up. Set it up in the town square out front. Then attach this heretic to the wheel. You shall probably need to find a ladder somewhere. When you put him up, make sure this moon symbol is the side facing the world. That is his true face. Then, task someone with building a pyre under it. Good dry wood, and lots of it. It must burn hot and fast. As well, the body is to have a guard assigned to it. No one is to interfere with it in any way. Any questions?”
“No, Brother.”
“Good. See to it.”
Choke motioned for Knuckle to follow him and the two went down into the crypts together.
Barrelmender grabbed the hilt of his longsword and put his boot into Thad’s chest. He had to wiggle the blade up and down a little to get it free of the pew before he could pull it out. With the sword extracted, Thad slumped further and slid off the pew, rolling as he did. His head bounced off the wooded seat on its way down. Barrelmender wiped his blade clean on Thad’s trousers before sheathing it. He then grabbed Thad’s body by the ankles and dragged it in front of the altar.
“Otilla: help me put the pews back in order,” he said.
The long, sturdy pews were too heavy for the two of them to lift, but they were ablet to walk them by lifting one side and then the other. Both Shane and Pinch offered to help, but Barrelmender ordered them to stay at their posts.
There was hardly any blood on Thad’s pew, with Stron’s Holy Fire having cauterized the wound as it made it. What little there was had come from the smashed nose.
With the pews in order, Peep picked up the reed box off the floor and set it down on the second pew from the front, out of sight.
Barrelmender poked at the bloody hole in the left sleeve of his robes.
“This shall have to be cleaned and mended,” he sighed.
“Yeah. About that. This here’s her blade. It’s a nice one,” Peep said.
She handed Barrelmender Lisbet’s dagger in its sheath. He unsheathed it to have a look. It was indeed a beautiful little weapon. Made of fine steel, it had a double-edged, straight blade about two centimeters wide and fifteen long. Its handle was slim as well, with a crosspiece guard to serve as a hand stop. There were several semi-precious, green and yellow stones set in the wider pommel.
“Yes. A lady’s stiletto. Fashionable among noblewomen. Often a gift from their father or grandfather when they reach adolescence. These stones are middling, but the blade is fine. Usually it is the inverse with these things. But this is a true, killing weapon. You see: here is a Dwarven maker’s mark at the base of the blade. Hold onto it for now.”
Barrelmender sheathed the dagger and handed it back to Peep. She gave him a dubious look.
“For now? What, we’re gonna give it back to her?”
“Doubtful. But, there is a chance that she redeems herself. We shall see.”
“Brother. She stabbed ye with this. She’s gotta go,” Peep said.
“I understand your thinking, Otilla. But that is not the way of this thing. She is in a state of sin and acted accordingly. Her attack on me is a crime, yes. But I am inclined to forgive if she earnestly repents. I doubt she is capable of it, but we shall see.”
“Alrighty, then,” Peep said, rolling her eyes away.
“I am going to change my robes. I will be right back. Do not let any of the women speak to each other,” Barrelmender said.
“Sure thing, Brother,” Peep saluted.
Bristlehump’s burning Wheel was almost exactly the same as the one Father Morrenthall had used on Billy in Spitzer. The man-sized iron Wheel had wrist and ankle manacles. It was designed to affix to the top of a three-meter tall, iron tripod. Knuckle and Choke brought the heavy Wheel up together and set it down at the church entrance. They were heading back to the crypts to get the tripod when Barrelmender returned in his new robes.
“Lieutenant,” Barrel said, “I have need of Mariola’s assistance with the women here. Send one of your men to fetch her. Do it now, before setting up the Wheel.”
“Yes, Brother,” Choke said. He hurried to the front doors and let himself out.
“Sergeant, you may help me now,” Barrelmender said to Knuckle. “We are going to move the senior woman now. I will speak to her and you will assist her in moving. If she refuses to cooperate, you must carry her. I want you to be as gentle with her as you can. Do not hurt her. Is that understood?”
“Yes, Brother,” Knuckle nodded.
“With me now,” Barrelmender said. He moved to Libet, who was lying curled up in the center aisle, just as Choke had left her. She was still crying and talking softly.
Barrelmender knelt down next to her.
“What is your name, woman?” he asked.
Lisbet did not respond. Her manacles rattled as she covered her ears with her hands.
Barrelmender touched her shoulder and raised his voice as he spoke again. His tone was not unfriendly.
“Woman. Cooperate with me now and I shall give you a moment with Swallowtail before he is removed. Otherwise, you will be dragged away. Make your choice now.”
Lisbet nodded and took a long, shuddering breath. She dropped her hands away from her ears.
“What is your name?” Barrelmender asked again.
“Lisbet,” she answered.
“Good. Lisbet: Sergeant Theodas will now help you up. We will walk you over to Swallowtail’s body and give you a moment with him.” Barrelmender stood up and looked to Knuckle: “Help her up, Sergeant. And help her walk. Do not let her fall.”
Knuckle helped Lisbet stand. Trembling and swaying next to him, she was the picture of raw, ugly grief. In the wrist and ankle shackles it took some time for her to shuffle over to Thad’s body. Knuckle supported her.
Choke returned while Lisbet was still in transit. He went down the left aisle to the kitchen door where he waited for Knuckle.
Lisbet gave a shrieking wail of grief when they reached Thad’s corpse. Knuckle let her arm go and she collapsed upon Thad. Barrelmender signaled for Knuckle to go with Choke. They left to fetch the tripod. They were just laying it down across the Wheel at the entrance when Shane at the window called:
“Yar man’s back with yar wife, LT.”
“Thank you, Shane. Take a rest, Knuckle,” Choke said.
He pulled the door open and stepped out onto the church steps to receive Mariola, who hurried up to him. Her eyed widened as she saw his face.
“Yeah. It’s heavy,” he said quietly. “Brother Barrelmender has asked for your help. We have the women to deal with now. You need to go in there and help with them. Thad is dead. Barrelmender killed him after determining he was indeed a heretic. The body is… ugly. I’m sorry. You need to prepare yourself.”
“I’ve seen plenty of ugly death before. I’ll help. Let’s go,” Mariola said calmly, giving Choke’s hand a squeeze.
As composed as Mariola was heading into the church, she faltered inside as she beheld the burning Wheel.
“Oh. Right. This again. I forgot. Okay. We are doing this now. Okay,” Mariola said quietly to the Wheel. This time it was Choke who gave her hand the squeeze.
“Mariola. Good. To me,” Barrelmender said loudly from where he was standing overtop of Lisbet and Thad.
Mariola and Choke shared a look before letting go. She nodded stoically and went to Barrelmender.
“Lieutenant,” Barrelmender called. “I require Sergeant Theodas. Use your men outside to set up the Wheel. As soon as it is ready, come and have them put Swallowtail up. Remember what I said about it. I want you to personally supervise its handling.”
“Yes, Brother,” Choke said. He went outside to get the men to come and get the burning Wheel.
When Mariola and Knuckle reached Barrelmender, he look Mariola aside.
“Go to the kitchen and prepare a washing basin. Sergeant Theodas will soon bring Lisbet there to you. Help her clean herself up. Offer her water to drink and some food. Then, if she is cooperative, you and the Sergeant will take her to use the outhouse. I will rely on you there to mind that she does not attempt anything foolish. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Brother.”
“Thank you, Mariola. I understand that this is an unsettling situation. Please do your best. Now go and make your preparations.”
“Yes, Brother.”
Mariola left through to the kitchen. Barrelmender motioned to Pinch who was with Peep watching over the three young women.
“Sergeant: to me!”
When Pinch had joined Barrelmender and Knuckle, Barrelmender said:
“Go out the back and thoroughly check the yard, shed, stables, outhouse, and the graveyard. If you see anything amiss, alert us immediately. Then, stand watch in the yard. Mariola and Sergeant Theodas will likely bring this prisoner to use the outhouse. Stay vigilant.”
“Yes, Brother,” Pinch saluted and left out the back.
With Pinch gone, Barrelmender and Knuckle were left alone with Lisbet, who was weeping quietly into Thad’s chest. Knuckle immediately began shuffling uncomfortably.
“Sergeant. You have been well trained. You seem to know your role well,” Barrelmender said.
“Thank you, Brother,” Knuckle said miserably.
“You fight well. At least in training. You kill well too, though, don’t you? You enjoy it?”
“What, Brother?”
“Killing. You enjoy it?”
“Yes, Brother. It’s what I’m supposed to do, aint it?”
“Indeed, yes. When appropriate. You seem to have a handle on not just doing violence, but how much of it to apply, and when. In your role, that shall make you invaluable to your commander. You are far too young to be a sergeant already, of course, but you are rising to the challenge admirably. The men fear you, indeed. But, more importantly, they respect you and want to please you. That is the key. Keep it up.”
“Yes, Brother. Thank you, Brother.”
“Do I make you nervous, Sergeant?” Barrelmender asked mildly.
“Yes, Brother.”
“Good. What is it the others call you? Knuckle, isn’t it?”
“Yes, Brother. And Knucklehead. From the orphanage. Knucklehead was first, Brother.”
“Both monikers well earned, I am sure. So, Knucklehead, I really ought to leave you alone and allow your foolishness to punish you naturally in due course. But there is much more at stake here, and we all shall need you at your best in what is to come, I am sure. So I ask you, Sergeant: what is it you suppose you are doing with the slattern?”
Knuckle froze his fidgeting and looked like he might soil himself.
“Who, Brother?”
“The slattern. The woman I despoiled myself with. Shasta,” Barrelmender said the name as though its utterance putrefied his mouth.
The crest of Knuckle’s panic was comically evident on his face. Then he reconciled himself with his doom and straightened up to attention.
“I’m sorry, Brother. There is no excuse, Brother,” he said.
“There are plenty of excuses, you buffoon. Particularly for the likes of you. Your very existence is an excuse. And to be clear, I really would have preferred to remain unaware of this situation, but several of the faithful that infest this place of late took it upon themselves to inform me of your grubby muddlings. They seem to want to please me, and because they are pinhead yokels with the intellect and imagination of sheep, they think that is how to do it.”
Barrelmender paused to scowl at Knuckle, who remained stiff at attention in front of him. Barrelmender continued:
“I am going to be clear to you now, Sergeant. Probably clearer than I really ought to be, but I am far past the point of caring about such matters. A killer like you, Sergeant, is a high-value asset to both the King’s army and the Stronian Faith. Therefore, if you avoid sullying proper women, and leave good Stronian maidens be, whatever fornication you get up to will be easily forgiven. By me, or any other Stronian or Altarian priest. You have learned this already, I am sure. All this is just to say that I have no interested at all in intervening. But…”
Barrelmender sighed and paused to lean heavily on his staff. Finally, he squared himself up to continue:
“You are a fool to have involved yourself with the slattern. A man of your physical stature and position should have plenty of opportunities with women that are not grotesque. Believe me, I know. I have been forced to listen to the confessions of the witless dolts of this community. There is no rhyme nor reason to their debased pairings. Perhaps you sell yourself short because of your facial scars, but I do not see how that should affect your chances too much. People admire confidence and power. You exert power over your men effortlessly and they respect you for it. The women around here see you in your role as drill sergeant. That is attractive to certain types. Figure out how to bring the confidence you carry with your men into the rest of your life, and I think you shall find your options improving. Take your pick of those ewes that present themselves to you. You are obviously not particular about looks or charm, so I am sure you can find someone better.”
Barrelmender paused again. Knuckle relaxed from standing at attention and met his eye cautiously. Barrelmender went on:
“Finally, I will add that I am here to tell you from my own pathetic experience that whatever you are experiencing with Shasta now is the very best that it ever shall be. It is all downhill from here. And if you think that expressing your dislike, disgust, and disdain for her will put her off, you are sorely mistaken. She revels in it. Indeed, in every personal interaction she goes out of her way to engender that. There is no debasement humiliating enough for her. And you will experience that with her as her partner. Whatever you think you shame her with is in fact an expression of your own debasement. Whatever you do to sully her is more a stain on your soul and character than it is on hers. Indeed, if you think that a choice in partner cannot have devastating consequences, simply look to me as an example.”
Barrelmender paused here to meet Knuckle’s eye with heavy significance. Then he glanced towards Lisbet, sprawled weeping quietly on Thad’s corpse.
“Or to her,” Barrelmender said. He let that sit for a while before continuing:
“So, for your own sake, cut it off with Shasta. Cut it off. At the very least, find someone who takes some genuine pleasure in degrading themselves with you,” Barrelmender finished.
“Okay. Thanks you, Brother. That’s a lot to think about. Thank you for taking the time to advise me, Brother,” Knuckle said earnestly.
“You are welcome. I shall not discuss this subject with you again.”
It was silent in the church then. It was not much longer before Choke came back into the church with four men. They came down the center aisle to the font.
“The Wheel is ready, Brother,” Choke said quietly.
“Good,” Barrelmender said. He then knelt down next to Lisbet. He touched her shoulder. “Lisbet. It is time to say goodbye. Go with the sergeant to the kitchen. There is a woman there who will help you.”
“No. No, no, no,” Lisbet moaned softly.
Barrelmender set his staff down and gently grabbed Lisbet by the arm to start pulling her off of Thad. He looked up to Knuckle:
“Sergeant. Gently, now.”
Together, Barrelmender and Knuckle got Lisbet to her feet. Once upright, she leaned heavily on Knuckle, but was quiet and kept her feet.
“Take her to the kitchen, Sergeant. Stay with her and Mariola. Do not interfere unless absolutely necessary,” Barrelmender said.
“Yes, Brother.”
Once Knuckle had taken Lisbet through to the kitchen, Barrelmender picked up his staff and stepped aside. He gestured towards Thad’s corpse.
“Put it up on the Wheel. Then task someone with building the pyre. Remember what I said. The moon side is out. Guards stay with it. The body is not to be mortified. Understood?” Barrelmender said to Choke and the four soldiers.
“Yes, Brother,” they all answered.
Barrelmender nodded and gestured for them to take the body. The four men picked it up, one on each limb. Once they were out of the church and had shut the door behind themselves, Barrelmender said another quick prayer to the Wheel above. Then he looked over to Peep standing with the three young women in the pews.
“Let us deal with these ones now, Otilla.”
Muse Vassal 