The Inquisitor's Lust (closed)

[Zagreus_D]

Father Dominic inspected the congregation with a keen eye. Thus far there had been seven accusations made, a high number for such a small community. Looking out at them during mass he could almost begin to feel out which were the accusers and which were the accused. The accusers knew why he was here, and their faces bore the mark of smug satisfaction. They were happy to do their part, to point their fingers at the unwholesome among them. They felt safe so long as they were the ones doing the pointing. They clearly didn't understand how quickly the tables could be turned.

Those who were accused fell distinctly into one of two categories. There were the old women, always guilty in a sense, because they were wise and defiant, and did not fear death, which was good because they could rarely be saved. Father Dominic had no desire to exterminate old women, but communities had to be appeased, and Dominic had always felt better about killing the old than killing the young.

It was the young women however, who where of special interest to Dominic. They were the reason he answered the calling, and become an inquisitor. The young ones were always innocent, almost shockingly so, and beautiful. They were accused most frequently by jealous wives and rejected lovers, those who were threatened by such goodness and beauty as they could not possess.

Dominic did not believe that any of the women he tried or even convicted were actually in league with the devil. There were day's when Dominic was not even certain that he believed in God, though he would never speak such heresy aloud. Dominic understood the church. He knew how to give the necessary performances. The church father's constantly praised him for his piety, his charity, his chastity.

Chastity! Of all the redundant hypocritical virtues, chastity was the one that made him laugh the hardest. Priests, on the whole, were more lust filled, and more deviant than of any other class or calling. Dominic was no exception. He did not become an inquisitor because he wanted to purge the world of sin. He became an inquisitor because it gave him unlimited access to women, beautiful women, sweet and innocent women, and yes, even chaste women.

They did not remain chaste long, not once they were called upon by Father Dominic to answer to the accusations against them. He felt no guilt or shame in taking these women against their will. The world was a hard cruel place, their beauty and virtue fleeting. He plucked the most beautiful women with the same careless audacity as a child might pick the prettiest of flowers. He loved his women in their brief moment of bloom, and discarded them long before they could begin to wilt and die. He helped them when he could, saved their lives anyway, it was impossible to save all of them, but he was the nearest thing to comfort and protection that any of these women were likely to find.

Mass came to a close and the local parish priest introduced Father Dominic to the congregation. Dominic was a handsome man, not yet forty, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes. He stood before the group of poor farmers and laborers and bowed to them respectfully. "It is always a grim time when I am called upon to visit a community such as this. You may already suspect why I am here. There have been accusations of heresy and witchcraft among you, but I assure you that my intention is to conduct a sober and through inquiry. With God's guidance, I assure you I will discover any threat to the salvation of this village. I will root it out, and purge it according to the sacred doctrine of the church. Likely many of you have heard tales of villages which have been completely destroyed due to hysteria and the overly zealous actions of the clergy. There will be none of that here. I will require everyone's full cooperation, but I will sort those who are evil from those who are innocent in due time. If you have any questions for me, I will be staying at the cottage on the back of the church grounds, until my inquiry is concluded."

 

[BethJones]

For Arethusa she knew which camp she was in, accused. No doubt in her mind. Her card, as well her mothers, had been marked since the day they arrived. Arethusa father had been a travelling trader, usually welcomed into villages such as this thanks to the exquisite items they had to trade. Sadly, on the winding road to this village there had been a tragic accident. There cart had struck a boulder causing it to roll, trapping her father. Despite their best efforts Arethusa and her mother had been unable to save him.

Arethusa and her mother had arrived at the village in a state of shock and grief. Lost, poor unsure of what life would bring. The villagers had been weary of two women travelling alone, especially when they could find no trace of the cart or the accident. The inn keeper had refused a bed leaving them to sleep in a farmer’s barn, within the week his tavern caught fire when a bolt of light struck from the sky. That had just been the start of the coincidences that had led to them being feared and accused.

Despite her willingness to work Arethusa’s blessing (or curse) of good looks had led to further problems. The wives suspected her of being a seducer sent to tempt their husbands, whilst the husbands did in fact often lust after her. The pale complexion mixed with fiery red hair seemed to further arose suspicion.

The service came to an end as the inquisitor was introduced and as he addressed the congregation the knot in her stomach tightened, she knew he was here for her and her mother. She dared not speak nor move, not wanting to draw unwelcome attention yet she felt eyes around her boring into her skin making her shift uncomfortably as she listened.

Whilst Father Dominic concluded his speech all Arethusa could do was think about her fate. She had read about the treatment of witches and now feared for her life. She held her composure as best as possible leaving the church with the other parishioners and returning to the small hut her mother and her had managed to build with a little help from interested parties. Inside she contemplated her future, nervous, on edge knowing that before long she would hear the knock on the door.

 

[Armphid]

Anna Farmer sat attentively through the mass, as she always did when she attended. The eighteen year old did so as often as she was able but her work with the family's farm kept her busy many times. Her charge was the cows, milking, feeding, taking them out to pasture, there was so much to do! Even with only three of the beasts and the current calf. And two of the heffers were with calf so that meant she had been to church very little lately.

Warm brown eyes the color of fertile earth lingered on the unknown clergyman during the service. She had heard rumors that an inquisitor was coming but that had seemed so silly! An inquisitor here? Surely there were none who trafficked with Satan here. There weren't even any Jews in town. Yet there he was; tall, dark haired, a man of regal bearing. His voice was both stern and comforting. Anna felt a bit sorry for him, he was wasting his time in their little village. Yes, people gossiped about others doing wicked things, but it was just gossip! Even that red headed girl and her mother just had bad luck. The poor man would be very bored here, she was certain.

She gave a smile at Arethusa as the congregation departed but the other girl didn't seem to notice. Her mind on something else, no doubt, she was so smart! She could even read! Anna walked away from the church behind her father and brother, idly thinking she would only ever see the mysterious inquisitor from a distance.

The milk maid's hair was the color of honey and braided up to keep it out of the way and clean. When loose it would fall past her shoulders. She wore a simple dark brown smock dress of linen that stretched taut over her ample bosom, the girl really only blossoming the last year and having a diet with plenty of milk, cheese, and butter let her body develop generous curves. Her skin was fair but lightly sun kissed from tending to the cows in the fields so much.

It was a half hour walk back home and she took a minute to change to a simpler, shorter (and older) dress before going to the barn. Anna opened the doors and began to sing, the beasts within having learned to respond to her voice, they rose and trudged out at her song, moving to the pasture.

 

[Zagreus_D]

For Arethusa

The knock came later that very afternoon. Father Dominic decided to start by questioning the pair that seemed to be at the center of the village's suspicions. The girl and her mother had both been accused, and by multiple sources. Looking at the small hut, he was hardly surprised, they might as well have hung a sign above the door, reading "Witches Live Here." People were so simple and foolish, they seemed to have no capacity for discerning a difference between poverty and evil, and the accusations were some of the most elaborate he had ever seen.

He waited patiently for someone to answer. Dominic knew that he was terrifying enough without any need for aggression or hostility. He would wait until one of the women answered, or he felt convinced that they were not home. This hut would not have anything to bar the door, no one in the village would dare to enter for fear of being cursed. Dominic had no such fears, and he could often learn just as much about a woman by looking around her home as he could by speaking to her.

This woman, Arethusa and her mother, would not be easy to save, even if she was completely cooperative, and followed his guidance exactly. Once people had made up their mind to go for blood, it was very difficult to convince them of a woman's innocence. No matter how substantial Father Dominic's authority was in these trials, he could never give a verdict that completely contradicted expectations. In all things he was required to serve the well being and comfort of the congregation, even if he knew in his heart that they were wrong.

 

[Zagreus_D]

For Anna Farmer

It was getting on toward evening before Father Dominic made his way out to the respectable looking farm on the outskirts of the village. He might have gone back for a horse, and ridden the long road out to his final destination, but he enjoyed the exertion of walking, and liked having the time to clear his head between visits.

He saw the pretty girl, sitting idly at the edge of the pasture, watching the cattle graze. He couldn't help but hope that she was the one accused. Everything about her seemed to cry out innocence and simplicity. It was not just the darkness of his nature, his lust to possess sweet and innocent young ladies, that rejoiced at the idea of her, she would also be easy, easy to save, easy to corrupt. She was like a perfect little lamb, and Father Dominic felt every bit like a ravenous wolf just looking at her.

He approached and tipped his hat. "I don't suppose you could help me find a Miss Anna Farmer. I was told she lives out this way."

 

[Armphid]

Anna and the Inquisitor

Anna hadn't noticed him until he was close. She had been watching the cows and keeping an eye on the edge of the forest. During the day, she would be over there, in the shade and out of the worst of the sun, but as it drew towards evening, she moved to watch it. She didn't remember the last time she'd seen a wolf but you could hear them sometimes, howling, and she didn't want them to surprise her or the herd.

Then she heard the sound of someone approaching and turned to see...him! The inquisitor! Here? Why would he be here? Her large brown eyes clouded with worry a moment; he couldn't be here for her but still, it was an intimidating thing to be in his presence. He had so much power, and wisdom, of course, or he wouldn't be an inquisitor.

She stood up as he drew closer, dusting herself off as best she could and trying to smooth the front of her dress and tug it lower. It was a vain effort; this was her dress from two years ago and she had grown in height and...other ways...a lot since then. It now only came to her knees and was quite snugly fit across her chest. It was once a light brown but many soilings and washings had turned it sort of a muddy brown gray.

Her mind raced as he drew near. He was very tall. And handsome. What was he doing here? Maybe he came to see the forest? They said witches did their wickedness in the woods. Perhaps one of the poor girls accused had said she could vouch for them? She would! Anna was still quite certain that no one here would be involved in any real sin like that! Consorting with the devil and magic, that was for folk in the cities and big towns!

Then he spoke and her sweet mouth fell open. He was looking for her? Why? Surely...no, no, it couldn't be that. As a character witness for someone else, for poor Arethusa or Hanna the blacksmith's wife.

She shut her mouth and did her best to curtsy, a clumsy movement that made her breasts heave and bounce a bit. "Your pardon, Father, er, my lord, uh, Lord Inquisitor...I'm sorry, I don't know how it's polite to address you, Sir. I'm sorry, I've not much learning."

Her pink tongue slipped out over her suddenly dry lips, "I-I am Anna Farmer, though, Sir. Father. My lord." She felt a deep sense of dread; she hadn't done anything but it still wasn't good to have the inquisitor ask for you. "If I may be of service to you, I will be. Did you want to know about someone from the village? I'm not much for news or gossip, but I know most a little to a bit. I'm sure you're wiser and keener seeing than I am, but I don't see a bit of real wickedness in any of them, Sir. Father. Uh, my lord. I don't know that you'll find any witches, Father and Mother always say they're in bigger and more important places than here."

She realized she'd been babbling and blushed, lowering her head, "I'm sorry, I'll just shut it and listen. I'm a bit of a runner at the tongue, they say, and more when I'm nervous."

 

[Zagreus_D]

For Anna Farmer

Father Dominic almost laughed aloud at the pretty girl's attempt at demonstrating proper manners, but he managed to control the impulse. He didn't want Anna to think he was making fun of her. Instead he managed to conceal his amusement behind a warm smile. He did not dream of interrupting her delightfully awkward chatter.

When she finally fell silent, Dominic spoke, "Please, I'm just Father Dominic. It's appropriate to call me Father. There is such a thing as a Lord High Inquisitor, who is formally addressed as Lord, or His Grace, but I am not one of those. I'm not even a senior member of my order. I lack even the authority to declare a person guilty of the crimes for which they are accused." This was of course only a partial truth, the approval of a senior inquisitor was required to finalize any judgment Father Dominic made, but Dominic knew that they rarely read the reports that were sent along with the accused. If Dominic sent a woman to his superiors for a formal trial the guilty verdict was guaranteed.

"I've come in order to assess the situation. You're parents sound like very loving Christians, and I do not doubt that they mean to guide you well, but evil can appear anywhere, even in the most small and obscure of villages. It's my job to determine if there is a real threat present in this village, or if the accusations are merely based on fear and misunderstanding. Many accusations come down to nothing more than that, and if that is the case here you have nothing to fear."

Dominic moved his hand to brush away a curl of the girls honey blonde hair that had escaped from her braid. He tucked the silky strand behind her ear, and allowed his fingers to linger against her cheek in a caress that could be easily interpreted as a paternal gesture. In truth, he wanted to find out if the girl's lightly sun-kissed skin was as soft and smooth as it appeared to be.

"You have been accused Anna. I am not permitted to disclose the names of any informants, but I can tell you the charges. You have been accused of mixing potions, and distributing those medicines and elixirs in the milk that you deliver in the village. At least one family has reported palpable losses linked to consumption of the milk you delivered. You have been accused of causing a miscarriage in the wife, and impotence in the husband of that family. How do you answer these charges?"

 

[Armphid]

Anna and Father Dominic

Her eyes went wide and all color fled her face; making her already fair, if sun kissed skin, go as pale as a corpse. Anna's legs went limp under her and she fell, not even aware of it happening, her expression one of terrified disbelief. She wanted to scream but she couldn't; the sound just wouldn't come out of her chest. It just fluttered around inside her body and inside her mind, shrieking her senseless from mortal terror.

Anna knew what happened to girls who were accused. Even if they weren't guilty, the church had to be sure. She'd be tormented for the good of her soul and the village; burned and scarred, her bones cracked, her feet and hands ruined, and if they weren't happy with her, she'd burn. Burn in this life and beyond.

But she hadn't done it! She couldn't do witchery if she wanted to, she just hadn't the wit for it! And she couldn't have done what she was accused of because she didn't even know what it was!

Anna blinked after a full half minute of staring into space in shock. She...was on the ground on her knees. When had that happened? "M..Muh...Me?" She shook her head slowly, "I...I'm no witch, Father, I've not consorted with no devils in the woods! I only go there to bathe! I...I couldn't make no potions, I'm too dumb! I can make broth and I mix herbs into the butter and cheese at times, but potions in milk? I never put anything in the milk! It goes straight from the cows to the tins and then to be delivered."

She looked up at the clergyman, her lower lip quivering. Her hands were trembling as well. "I promise, Father! I'll swear on the Bible in the church, sure no witch could do that. You can come and see where I work, all the tools, look at the cows too, and, and you'll see, there's no witchery afoot! Maybe it was someone else hexed them people! But I didn't never mess with a carriage, Father, not even one in the village that I can think of!"

She shook her head more vociferously now, "And there ain't no impotent men here, we're too small a village. The most impotent man's the priest or the reeve, and he stays a good twenty miles away most of the year, 'cept harvest and tax time."

Anna reached out to talk hold of the edge of his vestments, "Please, Father, you believe me, don't you? I'll prove it, please, give me a chance! I...I don't want to get cut up or burned or drowned! I don't want my Father and Mother to hate me! I...I'm innocent, I promise!"

 

[Zagreus_D]

For Anna Farmer

The girl's lack of verbal self control, which had seemed charming to him at first became tedious when she was frightened. "Hush child," It was less an attempt at soothing and more an insistent command.

"Not everyone who is accused is guilty. If you are innocent, as you say, you have nothing to fear. Is your faith so lacking that you believe God would allow you to be punished without cause? Do you believe that the church would condemn an innocent Christian woman? Or is it possible that there is some stain upon your soul as yet unburdened in confession that may give you cause to doubt your own innocence?"

This line of questioning was a trap. Of course Father Dominic knew better than anyone that no woman, however innocent, was truly safe from the church, but to express such an idea aloud was pure heresy. Officially, the church did not make mistakes. It was in every way above reproach. To doubt the church was to doubt God and to doubt God was proof of guilt. Dominic hoped for Anna's sake that she had enough intelligence, or faith, or dumb luck not to defeat herself quite that easily.

 

[Armphid]

Father Dominic and Anna

The blond milk maid bowed her head slightly at his rebuke. Her chattering away had gotten her in trouble again. She hadn't been able to stop herself in her fear. It had clearly annoyed Father Dominic as much as it often did other men. She lifted her head back up as he went on and though she listened, Anna focused more on taking deep breaths and calming herself. No nattering now, she must speak as best she could.

"No, Father, I have faith. I know the church is as right as God and would condemn no one if they weren't truly wicked." She shook her head, "I didn't mean to say anything that was doubting, I've heard the tale of Thomas many times."

The girl rose to her feet, dusting off her knees and the skirt of the simple dress as she did so. "Goodness, I'm sorry, Father. I was so startled my mouth quite ran away with me, and it tends to enough on its' own. I was scared not because I thought I'd get punished, but...well."

Anna fidgeted a bit and then went on, "Some years ago when I was just a child, a priest came through on his way to the cathedral in the city. He gave a sermon while he was here and he talked about hunting witches. He talked about a book," her face scrunched up a bit as she focused on the memory, "it was called "Malleus Maleficum," I think. He set great store in it, Father, and said it said that you had to drown women to test if they were witches. Or press them with stoned, and other such things, and if the woman died she was innocent."

She quivered a little, "That's what went through my head when you said I was accused, Father. And I'm scared of such tests. I know it may be sinful but I want to live." Anna shook her head, "I'll go without fuss if that's required, for I'm innocent and God will have mercy on my soul, but I hope there's some other way to show it."