A silent knock on the door interrupted our conversation. It was a maid, who, without waiting for permission, announced the arrival of a special guest.
"My lord, a nun from the Church has arrived. She claims to be the new pastor assigned to Silk City and will be under your care."
The maid stepped aside, revealing a woman of small stature, in a petite style, dressed in a simple, white, and gray habit.
The long fabric could not hide her extremely large breasts, which gave a sexy and vulgar tone to the serene nun's robe.
Her brown hair was tucked under a hood, but some strands escaped, framing a face that seemed younger, almost immature, with eyes as blue as the sea.
She smiled kindly, and not in a common way. There was a captivating aura of purity and dignity around her, which contrasted with her figure.
She tilted her head slightly and spoke in a spoiled child's voice: "Good morning, my lord. My name is Nissa Revane, and I have been assigned to your city to look after the souls of your people."
Gideon and Strefan exchanged glances, surprised by the sudden arrival. I, however, could only stare at her. Her presence was a stark contrast to the dark conversation we had just had about witches and death. The air in the room seemed to dissipate, filled with a new and different kind of tension.
Nissa Revane... I thought to myself, feeling an unknown curiosity, The new pastor assigned to me...
Gideon and Strefan said their goodbyes. "We will be waiting for your lordship in the dungeons," said the chief butler. The knight Strefan gave a small bow and followed his companion out of the hall.
I stood up, and Nissa Revane approached.
According to the doctrine of the Church of the Dawn, she held out her arms for a blessing hug. I embraced her, hoping the ceremony would be quick. In a world where physical contact was seen as an act of purity, this touch was sacred.
However, for me, it was a trial. Her prominent breasts pressed against my chest, causing my body to react instinctively. Luckily, no magic meant no erection, or I would be screwed.
Nissa hugged me firmly and then moved away slightly, tilting her head to the side. Her expression of curiosity was pure, but her spoiled child's voice accompanied it: "My lord, what is that?"
I looked at her and replied with a forced smile: "Don't worry about it, my chest has a congenital problem. By the way, you must have had a long journey."
Nissa smiled sweetly. "Yes, but the glory of the morning is comforting. I was informed that a temple will be built for me here."
"That's a misunderstanding. Silk City doesn't have a temple yet. But I promise we will build one for you. It's the least I can do to honor the Church of the Dawn."
She smiled, her face adorably young and her eyes shining with joy: "There's no need to rush, my lord. Please, grant me a room so I can stay for now. And please, show me where the rites are held. I have to visit my flock."
"You will have one of the best rooms and I will instruct someone to accompany you." The sentence came out of my mouth faster than I expected. I hope my wife doesn't start having problems. Especially at night.
Nissa thanked me with a bow, but her expression changed to one of curiosity. Her blue eyes, once gentle, pierced me.
"My lord, while I was traveling, I heard rumors about a witch being found here. Is that true?"
A pang of discomfort hit me. It was bad to have the Church looking so closely. I lied, which was a quick reflex. "They're just rumors, pastor. There was a fire at the lumber mill and a mage was hired to deal with the arsonist. People, out of fear, must have mistaken his magic for witchcraft."
Nissa's smile faded. A shadow of disappointment crossed her young face. "I understand. Gossip spreads quickly, especially in remote places."
I forced a smile, turning to the maid still standing by the door. With a wave of my hand, I signaled for her to approach.
"Prepare the guest room for Pastor Nissa. The best room." I ordered, keeping my tone firm and my smile in place.
"She is an honored guest." The maid bowed her head in respect and silently withdrew.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some tasks to attend to." Nissa smiled and nodded. "I understand. I won't make you waste any more time."
-
The city's dungeon was small, a more utilitarian structure than a long-term prison. Most prisoners were processed quickly, either with death or with freedom.
Besides Gideon, I went down. Strefan, the prison warden and two guards came with us.
The dungeon had four levels, with walls of solid granite blocks. It was the first time I had ever entered there. I noticed that with each floor, the corridor became narrower and the number of cells decreased. The architecture looked like an inverted cone, built in layers of stone.
The drainage system was non-existent. The floor was damp, and the sewage ran down the stairs, accumulating on the lowest floor where the witch was. The stench became thicker with each step.
Eddard, my city's guard leader, was already waiting impatiently.
Eddard was the first to confront me. "My lord, this is an unnecessary risk. The blessed silver chains can seal her, but there are no guarantees of safety."
He had tried to dissuade me every step of the way, without success. Not even the viscount's order to avoid danger made him stop. I was fed up with his chatter.
"To face evil on the battlefield, you have to look at it up close. I thought that was a basic lesson."
"Courage is knowing when to act. Reckless behavior should not be confused with bravery," Eddard retorted.
"So, if the enemy is weak, you confront them, but if they are strong, you hide?"
"No, my lord, I just..." Eddard stammered.
"You fear a witch's attack, but now you fear even seeing a little girl. Impressive."
The debate ended there. Although he was a good knight, Eddard was not a debater. I had the upper hand. The group reached the lower floor.
There were only two cells. The warden lit the torches. As the darkness dissipated, I saw the witch sitting on the damp floor. Her arms and feet, exposed by the fine linen robes, were blue from the cold, but her posture was surprisingly erect, even in those conditions. She didn't flinch at the sudden light, but opened her eyes, staring directly at us.
Her eyes were large and of such an intense light-blue they seemed to radiate under the torchlight. Her blonde, straight, and silky hair fell over her shoulders, framing a face with delicate and symmetrical features. Her skin, despite the environment, looked healthy. An erect and athletic posture, visible even through the simple clothes, contrasted with the blessed silver chains that bound her.
The simple act of getting up made a heavy metallic sound. Her movements were slow and calculated, not from weakness, but from the restriction of the chains. She stood up, raising her chin, and moved into the light. My men took two steps back, gasping. Only Strefan remained by my side.
"What's your name?" I asked, touching Strefan's shoulder to calm him.
"Sue," she replied.
Her resemblance to Jessica Alba in the role of Sue Storm was striking. She looked like a replica of the actress.