The air in the old, dimly lit room was thick and heavy, like a suffocating blanket. Two villagers huddled together, speaking in low whispers. Unbeknownst to them, a young thief was hiding in the shadows, listening in on their conversation.
"Do you feel that? It's like the air itself is heavy with an eerie presence," said the tall man.
As he spoke, the flickering candle on the table cast eerie shadows on the walls, making them seem to writhe and twist in some unseen malevolent force.
The traveler shivered involuntarily, feeling the same palpable sense of foreboding that the tall man had just described. "I know what you mean," the traveler said. "It's like there's something out there that doesn't want us to find the truth."
The tall man nodded gravely, his eyes reflecting the flickering light of the candle. "I've been investigating the disappearances in the nearby villages," he said. "And I've uncovered some disturbing information."
The traveler leaned forward, intrigued. "What kind of information?" he asked.
"It seems that some of the missing persons were last seen in the company of members of the Inquisition," the tall man said, his voice dropping to a whisper.
The traveler's eyes widened in shock. "The Inquisition?" he exclaimed. "But why would they be involved in these disappearances?"
"I'm not sure," the tall man replied. "It is hard to tell.".
As the tall man spoke, the traveler couldn't help but feel a sense of unease settling over him. "Do you really think that the Inquisition could be responsible for the disappearances?" he asked.
The tall man's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, he seemed lost in thought. "There are two possibilities," he said at last. "Either the Inquisition has become overly zealous in their crusade to root out anything they deem to be evil, and they have started targeting innocent people. Or there is some other force at work here, something dark and malevolent that is preying on the people of these villages."
The traveler's mind raced with the implications of what the tall man had just said. The Inquisition was known for its brutal tactics and unyielding devotion to its cause, but could they really be responsible for the disappearances of so many innocent people? Or was there something even more sinister at work here, something that defied explanation?
He leaned forward, his eyes glinting with curiosity. "I actually heard something interesting from one of the guards here," he said. "They were saying that a woman named Helen just disappeared few days ago. Her husband is worried sick and offering even a reward for any information about her whereabouts. Do you know anything about her?"
The tall man's expression darkened. "Helen?" he said, his voice heavy with concern. "Yes, I know who she is. She's a farmer's wife who lives on the outskirts of Ravensworth. She's known for her herbal medicines, and many of the villagers rely on her for help when they're sick or injured especially during winter."
The traveler raised an eyebrow. "Herbal medicines?" he repeated. "That's interesting. Do you think the Inquisition could be interested in her because of that?"
The tall man nodded grimly. "It's possible," he said. "The Inquisition sees anything that they can't control as a threat. And Helen's herbal remedies could be seen as a form of magic, even though they're really just natural remedies that anyone can make. But that's not the only reason why they might be interested in her."
The traveler leaned in closer, intrigued. "What else do you know?" he asked.
The tall man hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I've heard dangerous rumors, and I have no proof yet. What I am about to tell you needs to stay between the two of us. Do not mention it to anyone, or things will end up much worse."
Lith's heart pounded in his chest as he listened to the conversation. He had heard of the Inquisition before, and the mere mention of their involvement made him feel like he was in grave danger. He had always tried to keep a low profile as a thief, avoiding any attention that might bring him to the notice of powerful organizations like the Inquisition.
But as he listened to the tall man and the traveler speak, he realized that he might be in over his head. The disappearance of a farmer's wife due to her herbal remedies sounded like something that the Inquisition would not take lightly. And if they were involved, it was only a matter of time before they started sniffing around the villages, looking for anyone or anything suspicious. He was sure plenty of innocent people would go down too.
Lith knew that he needed to be careful, to stay hidden, and avoid any unnecessary attention. He wondered if he should leave the area altogether. Giving up on stealing the dagger, all he wanted now was to get away from here, maybe even leave the village altogether.
For a long, tense moment, nothing stirred. The two men stood in silence, listening to the distant sound of the howling wind. The tall man looked into the traveler's eyes, his facial expression reflecting the seriousness of what he was about to say.