Book Five: The Cleansing Flame. Avvon Helforth fumed at what he saw as he walked the streets of Old Hrolmar. Every day the city grew more chaotic; its streets were filled with foreigners, its buildings dressed with marble facades, and its people spoke of new ways and new ideas. How could its Chancellor, one of his own kinsmen, allow these heresies? Something had to be done to stop Duke Avan Astran, and if the crown or the church would not do it, then the Inquisition would… and they would start with the Duke’s pet! Nykira had left Syn and Rynard in a tavern to explore the street side stalls and shops of Quayside, a newly sprouted district outside the city’s walls along the docks. She remembered visiting Old Hrolmar as a child with her father on one of his many business trips; it had seemed quite an adventure to her then to sail to another land, but what she remembered was a drab city of uniform buildings and droll people, nothing like the lively and spirited place full of new construction and optimism that she saw today. Passing merchants and sailors from many nations, most of whom paid flattering attention to her in her garb of tight fitting, soft leather armor, she was surprised by the site of one figure, whom the thong gave a wide birth to. She was tall and attractive, with a lean, well toned form and had her dark hair pulled up in a tight pony tail on top of her head, dressed in half-plate armor with a greatsword slung on her back… and she was Mabden! The men of Pan Tang were reviled in Vilmir, even more then most of the Young Kingdoms, and their woman were treated as nothing more then property; so to see one here, and armed, was surprising to say the lest. But then something else caught her attention, several dark figures moved in the Mabden women’s wake and she saw flashes of metallic red from under their oversized cloaks. Just then the Mabden woman spun on her stalkers, drawing her greatsword as she turned to confront them and sending the thong of bystanders scattering away or huddling behind any cover they could find. “Come out to play rats,” Nadjana challenged, “or scurry back down the sewer you came from!” She had noticed their clumsy attempt to follow her and decided to force the confrontation in a place of her choosing. Growling in rage and scorn, Avvon and his men cast off their cloaks to reveal blood red full plate armor, close cropped hair and the shaved faces of priests of Law. “The Inquisition!” Nadjana scowled in disgust. “I should have known. Well then, what are you waiting for,” she egged them on, and all six responded by charging in a wave, their maces held high and ready to strike. Avvon had expected to face the Duke’s pet Mabden alone; after all what Vilmirian would stand by her side. But to his surprise, a dark haired woman in black, soft leather armor rushed forward with sword in hand. Nadjana barely had an instant to glace toward Nykira and nod her thanks, before the knights fell upon them. But these were not common ruffians, they were battle hardened warriors as well as religious fanatics… and it was six against two! To be continued on S3-5-2: In the Wake of the Inquisition. The first installment in the fifth book of my Stormbringer character's adventures. Thanks for looking... Hope you enjoy! Comments and suggestions always welcome and appreciated!