Wandering Warrior: Judge - Chapter 7 (Revised)

Chapter 7

“Commander Gleason, I think he’s fallen unconscious again.”  The man wearing the uniform of the White Wardens, the investigative division dedicated to rooting out criminals violating the laws set forth by the guilds no matter where they might hide, dropped the mundane leather whip he was holding and glared at the man who had spoken to him.

“Do I need to explain everything to you?  Have the healers look him over.  I want answers, and he’s not allowed to die before I have them.”  Gleason waved his hand in irritation at the sergeant who was assisting him for the day.  “No, don’t untie him, idiot!  Bring the healer here.  I want him alive, not given relief.”

Chastised, the Warden rushed off, leaving the bleeding man tied to the post where he had been for the past several hours.  Gleason was relentless when he suspected a man of wrongdoing, and wouldn’t stop until he found the truth he was looking for.  The prisoner should feel lucky, despite his reluctance to confess.  At least he wasn’t using his enchanted weapons.  The training yard he was using at the moment near the front gate made it more difficult to interrogate prisoners, but his usual location was under renovations after the last… incident that occurred.  His temper had gotten the best of him, leading to a few walls needing repairs.

“Making more friends, I see.”  Gleason looked up to see the only Warden in the city who might have the slightest chance at matching him in power besides the Commandant.  The man was on horseback, wearing the uniform of a Blue Warden, with the armor and rank of a captain.  “Don’t you tire of beating on innocent civilians and ordering around underlings, Gleason?  You should join me outside the city on a hunt some time.  It might do you good to fight a real monster or two for once.”

“Innocent?”  Gleason snorted in derision.  “This man is a member of a conspiracy dedicated to undercutting the Potters Guild.  Does the starving families of hundreds of potters seem so trivial to you, Captain Cross?”

“I’m not trying to do your job, Commander.  All I’m saying is that getting out of the city would broaden your horizons about the threats we face.”  The Blue Warden shrugged and turned to leave.  “It’s your choice, of course.  Anyway, I’ll leave you to your work.  The Commandant has me on a special mission, so I best be off.”

Gleason’s brow furrowed.  “A special mission?  Why would the Commandant select you over me for something like that?”  After all, Gleason knew he was the better choice.  He could perform more powerful magic, and had won far more duels in both the Hunters Guild and Warden tournaments.

“I’m not supposed to talk about it.”  Captain Cross put a gentle heel to his horse, sending it walking slowly toward the nearby gate.  “This isn’t exactly a secure area to speak of such things.”

Not one to give up so easily, Gleason kept pace with the Blue Warden’s horse.  “Look around.  No one is foolish enough to listen in on one of my private conversations.  They wouldn’t dare.”  Of course, a quick glance proved him right.  Not a single person was close enough to eavesdrop.  “You might as well tell me.  I’ll find out anyway.”

Captain Cross winced, thinking of the things the Commander might do to uncover a secret he wanted to learn.  “Fine.  I was requested specifically by the Oracle.  There’s a new threat that has cropped up, and I was chosen to put it down, no matter the cost.  I’ve had word from some of my men that have pointed me in the right direction, and now I’m going to take care of it.”

Gleason stumbled, almost tripping over his own feet.  “The Oracle requested you, over me?”  The Blue Warden nodded his head in acknowledgement, and Gleason could feel his heartbeat in his ears.  “I suppose I should wish you well.  Trinity’s blessings make your path easy.”

“Thanks.”  Captain Cross raised a hand in farewell, spurring his horse onward.  “I’ll tell you how it goes when I return.”

“You do that!”  Gleason waved, the smile on his face not reaching his eyes.  Once the Blue Warden was out of sight, he turned back to the yard where his prisoner was still tied up.  The healer had finished applying some salves, and was standing off to the side where his sergeant was waiting.

As Gleason approached, the sergeant stepped forward to speak with him.  “Commander, the healer said–”

Brushing past the Warden, Gleason picked up the blood-encrusted whip off the ground.  As he unfurled it, words of Captain Cross ran through his head, causing rage to bubble up in his chest.  Why would the Oracle not choose him, the strongest of the White Wardens?  Why wouldn’t the Commandant want his best on a mission to put down a threat that warranted the attention of the Trinity?  Had he not proven himself, time and time again?  Was there more he needed to do?  What more did the gods demand?  Did he need to–

“Commander!”  Gleason looked over to see his sergeant had grabbed his arm, stopping him from swinging.  When had he started whipping the prisoner again?  “Commander, I-I think he’s dead.  You can stop now.”

The courtyard was covered in blood and gore.  Streaks of it ran across his white robes, staining its pristine appearance.  Both the sergeant and healer looked at Gleason with fear in their eyes.  His prisoner was barely recognizable as human.  He looked like he had been shredded in an animal attack.  Taking a deep breath, Gleason let go of the whip and freed himself from the sergeant’s grasp.

“Clean this up.  I need to change.”  As Gleason left the courtyard, he stopped and glanced back at the sergeant.  “On second thought, toss the body to the side, but leave it in plain sight.  Then, bring in the next one.  His brother, I think.  I still need to know who else is in their group.”

Gleason wouldn’t let such a minor setback stop him from completing his mission, especially now that he knew he still had to prove his fidelity to the Trinity, and prove himself he would.  One evil criminal’s pound of flesh at a time.