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Inquisitor and his rightly guided troops protect you in sunlight and by moonshine. His wisdom and their faith is what stop the terrors that haunt the valley from breaking into our beloved city.” He walked through the aisle, making intense eye contact with every person he passed, “Men, you have seen what the outside holds, and it is nothing I wish any of you to see,” he put his hand on the shoulder of a veteran. “Honorable men, with wives and children waiting for them to come home, fight day in and day out… only to be torn to pieces by these monsters, severing arms and legs from our heroes’ bodies and eating their flesh that was born to be holy.”
    Children shrieked in fear. That was all it took for them to forget about the hunger, inequality, and secrecy. The thought of rebellion certainly crossed some people’s minds, but the unknown alternative was just too terrifying to risk.
    After the sermon, those of pre-service years remained in the Temple District. While the veterans and women returned to their work, any child ages seven to eighteen had to attend scripture study for another hour. I dropped Katrina off at the convent and headed for the monastery. They kept us separated, for the boys’ teachings were meant to inspire while girls learned to obey.
    At the entrance of the monastery I crossed paths with Peter again. He leaned against the archway, waiting for me.
    “How was the feast?” he asked as I walked towards him.
    “Let’s just say the food made up for the company,” we passed through the archway to the inner courtyard. “What do you think about the Inquisitor’s ward, Cecilia?”
    “The pretty little witch has a name?” he asked. “I did not hear much of her. She didn’t exactly talk to us at our feast…”
    “She definitely has a tough shell,” I remarked walking up the monastery steps. “But I want to get to know her better. She must know more about the Inquisitor and this city than anyone aside the council and eldest temple-men.”
    “Good luck with that, peasant,” he said trying to mock her tone.
    “She asked me to see her again.”
    “What?” Peter cocked his head.
    “I will be joining her private lessons… she asked for it.”
    “Oh, I’d give her private lessons,” he laughed. Observing no shift in my countenance he stopped walking, “In all seriousness Adam, are you telling me that you will be in the Inquisitor’s mansion again?”
    I nodded, standing straight under his intensive stare.
    “I may have been drunk yesterday and proposed this as a joking matter, but you mark my words right now.” He stepped closer to me, “No one sets foot in that mansion after their seventeenth birthday. You have been given a chance you cannot ignore. Fate has given it to you, of all people, for a reason. I don’t say this often, but forget the damn girl. Do you know the power this gives you? Are you aware of what you could do?”
    The implications of his words were so close to my deepest desires, yet the fact that they came out of his mouth frightened me. “Do you suggest that I…”
    He glanced around and lowered the volume of his voice, “Yes Adam. That you slit his bloody throat, and put an end to it all. Remember how you asked me yesterday if there was another option? Well here it is.” His right hand clenched my shoulder increasing the intensity of his words, “Imagine your life without the Inquisition. Imagine all the things you could do and all the things you would not have to do. Think about your girl.”
    The bells of the monastery rang, signifying the beginning of class. “Adam, don’t mess this one up. It is your last chance.” The pressure of his fingers vanished and we rushed inside to take seat on the old creaking benches.
    “Barber, Blacksmith, you are late,” Father Bartholomew said sternly. “Today we are reading ancient scriptures again. We shall start where we left off in the Old Testament . I believe it was Job 17 . Barber you read.”
    Almost every