Chapter 28 · You don't look like a captain

She drove her heel into the inquisitor's shin. He stumbled. Raven released the chain and shoved it toward the floor. Seraphina spun inside the loop, planted her free hand against the soldier's chest, and released a burst of holy fire.

The inquisitor slammed into the wall.

The third one stopped at the threshold.

His mask had no eye slits. Only a red line across the face.

"You don't look like a captain," Raven said.

"I am not here to command," the figure replied.

Seraphina's sword rose. "Name yourself."

"You know my name."

The voice was distorted, but something about it caught in her face.

Raven felt her pulse change.

"No," she said.

The masked figure lifted a small black bell. "The High Seat sends its blessing."

Raven lunged.

The figure struck the bell.

A pressure wave slammed through the chapel. Raven hit the floor hard enough to lose his breath. Seraphina crashed beside him, her sword skidding across the stone.

The tether flared between them.

"Get up," she gasped.

"Working on it."

The masked figure walked toward them. "Commander, you have violated three sacred vows. You abandoned your post. You aided a condemned heretic. You broke the blood seal.