Inca 2 : Scourge of the Sun 16

[ismenin]

Cuy! Inca dinner! Oops. *Creeps out blushing*


Here, my dear friends is this week's Inca, beta'ed by the fragrant ladysunrope Hope you like it.





Part 16 - The Inquisitor

The first thing Dom saw as he entered the tent was the presence of three men: the Captain General, Captain Sancho, and the Inquisitor General. Sancho stood to one side of the desk, and smiled as he came in, but the other two men, seated behind the desk, looked sternly at him.

"Good morning, Father Damian," fluted the Captain General in his finicky, high - pitched voice. "I shall make you known to our Inquisitor General, appointed by the Holy Father himself, Father Benigo Idelfonso. Father Benigo, this is he of whom I spoke."

Dom looked at the Inquisitor with veiled eyes. He was as tall as the Captain General, dark, and much like him in form. There the resemblance ended. The Inquisitor had a look about him that spoke of dungeons and heated pokers, and the smell of burning flesh. His eyes were avid with zeal.

Dom had met men like this in Spain. Fanatics, concerned only with converting the heretic. No pains - other men's pains - were spared in the prosecution of this task. The man ran his bright brown eyes over Dom, and came to rest on his face.

Once again Captain Felipe asked Dom to tell his story, and Dom, allowing a slight weariness to overcome his expression, did so.

The Inquisitor rubbed his chin. "You say you had papers from the Holy Father concerning your mission, Father - which, so sadly were lost by a careless servant?"

Dom's lips thinned. The servant was a fiction, but still Dom felt annoyed at the cool disposal of a supposed life. "It is hardly his fault, Father, that he fell over the cliff. I do not blame him for it."

The Inquisitor stared at Dom. "I would be obliged to you, Father Damian, if you would furnish me with your state and titles, for I see from your accent and bearing that you are of the hidalgo class."

Dom's mind quickened. He and Will had thought of this and had prepared for it. A distant cousin of his mother - well-born, but of modest fortune - who chose to live in seclusion on his estates at Estremadura. Dom had given the man a son named Damian, which he hoped would serve.

"...I trust that will satisfy, you Father Benigo, for I cannot see what difference my degree in life will make to my appointed task here."

The Inquisitor lifted his chin, and stared at Dom, his eyes suddenly cold. "I would be obliged if you would address me by my full title, Father. It was gained at some cost to me, and I would have men acknowledge it," he said in a flat, expressionless voice.

Dom was so angered by this demand that under different circumstances he would have risen from his seat, and walked out - but, remembering Lizhe and his promise, he merely closed his eyes for a second and said, quietly. "It shall be as you say, Inquisitor General."

The man permitted himself a small, wintry smile. He reached into the pocket of his soutaine, and brought out a sheet of paper which he laid upon the desk and straightened with the pads of his long fingers. Captain Felipe tried to see what was written there, but the Inquisitor merely put his hand on the document to obscure his view, and addressed Dom once more.

"You say it was the Holy Father's office who gave you this mission, Father. Is that not so? "

Dom thought of the letters that had sat in his box at the Holy City until Lizhe had ordered them burned. They had come directly from his uncle, the Pope, calling him "dear cousin," and wishing him well in his endeavours. Dom was glad Lizhe had destroyed them, for that reason - and for the fact that his name and titles were also written on the parchment.

But there had been a change; he was no longer Dom Domingo, but Dom Huascar. He breathed deeply, and nodded his head. "That is so. I have already told you it was so." He did not add the honorific, which mightily discomposed the Inquisitor, who obviously liked to hear his title on everyone's tongue under every circumstance.

The Inquisitor lifted the paper and held it out to Captain Felipe by the two first fingers of his left hand, not glancing at him, but keeping his eyes fixed upon Dom. "I find it of great interest, Father, that upon this list - given to me by Cardinal Mazzarato himself - of all those labouring to bring enlightenment to this part of the Vineyard, there is no mention of a Father Damian de Miguel Perez - of Estramadura or, indeed of anywhere else. What do you have to say to that?"

Dom allowed himself a smile. Some things had been well planned; talked over on their journey.

"And does no answer to this conundrum leap to your mind, Inquisitor General?" said Dom, favouring the Inquisitor with a smile as false as the man's own. "It seems perfectly obvious to me - but then, I had the advantage of knowing what was in the Holy Father's mind - directed through Cardinal Mazzarato, I may add."

Dom gave this information a minute to be assimilated into the men's minds, and then continued, with a shrug of his shoulders. "My mission was not known, or recorded in the annals of the church. You see, we - Brother Guilliermo and I - travelled here on a ship carrying a man already sent by the Holy Father to do exactly as I have been doing - and will continue to do - to work with the people. It was thought that if he succeeded with the Sapa Inca, he might fail with the people - being a member of the Royal Family of Spain, and a relative of the Holy Father."

"Therefore, hopes in the Vatican were not high that he would succeed. It was thought that I might have a more likely chance of engaging with the natives hearts, and souls, being a far lesser-born mortal than was his Excellency, and well-used to dealing with common folk. He was well-known in Spain - and in Rome, I gather, from the Cardinal - for having a very high opinion of himself. Very high indeed. I refer, of course, to the Papal Nuncio, the late Dom Domingo, Prince of Aragon."

There was silence in the tent. The Inquisitor's brow knit; Captain Felipe sat stunned. Only Captain Sancho looked comfortable, the hint of a smile informing his lips as he nodded to Dom as if to say "well done!"

The Inquisitor stared at Dom, a crease between his eyes betokening his discomfort. "What do you know of Dom Domingo? It is said the Inca king had him killed."

"Nonsense!" Dom snorted, half annoyed, although still thinking carefully on what they had planned he should say in such circumstances as these. He felt agitated, although he tried hard not to show it. He wanted nothing more than to return to Lizhe - to see if the medicines had had any effect on his fever.

However, he continued with no outward sign of his inner feelings. "I saw Dom Domingo several times in those early days - but I was not there when he died. There can be no doubt that he died of a fever. Brother David, the French brother who had elected to stay and teach the natives, confirmed it to me. Besides all else, the Sapa Inca had grown very fond of him. He would not have killed him - he treated him as a brother. It is patent nonsense."

The Inquisitor's lips thinned again. "Yet, Father Damian, it is known for brother to turn against brother, is it not? One must not forget the mark of Cain. And we must remember- king or not - the man is an ignorant savage. Who knows what dark deeds he may commit - or order committed - to serve his own ends?"

Dom could see there was no point in arguing. The man's mind was set. As if in confirmation of this, the Inquisitor murmured, almost to himself - "I will find this so-called king, question him, and bring him to the truth. I may yet save his soul. Surely this would be most acceptable to God..."

Dom interrupted the man's thoughts. "If you have finished with me for the present, may I return to my tent? I have not yet said my morning prayers or broken my fast. I would be obliged if you would allow me to do so."

The Inquisitor waved Dom away with a languid hand, his mind much occupied; clearly Dom had given him food for thought. "You may leave, Father. I shall send for you if I have further questions..."

Dom wasted no time in leaving the tent, but was surprised to find Captain Sancho walking beside him.

"I must tell you, Father, that I much enjoyed seeing you put the old buzzard out of countenance. Never mind Dom Domingo's pride - that one thinks he is only one step down the rung of the ladder of perfection from the Almighty! Sangre de Dios! it was good to see him so confounded."

Dom smiled at the man. "I think him a pompous lobcock. I am glad to see my opinion of him is shared by a sensible man."

Captain Sancho's face grew serious. "It is not wise to run counter to his wishes, Father Damian. Nor is it wise to speak so of him; who knows who may be listening? He is a man with a vision - he would bring the whole world to the Faith. Such zealous visionaries are always dangerous men."

They were walking past a tent, and came suddenly upon a soldier beating an elderly Inca man with a stick. "Lazy, good-for-nothing lout. If I say I want bread, you bake me bread..."

"But there no flour!" the old man cried, in fractured Spanish, driven to his knees in the dirt by the soldier's blows.

Dom strode forward and snatched the stick out of the soldier's hand. Captain Sancho helped the man to his feet, and stood a little way off, an interested spectator to the Father's doings.

"You will not strike an old man so, you dog! He is of an age to be your father. Have some respect!"

The man stared at Dom as if he was mad. "Respect, Father? These men - these people - are animals!

Dom snapped the stick into pieces across his knee. "If I see you behaving in such a way again, I will excommunicate you myself and throw you to the Inquisitor as a heretic. Get you gone!"

The man glared at Dom, hatred spilling out of his eyes, and Dom saw then that this was the man who had tried to ravish Lizhe, back in the village where they had first met Captain Sancho. “One of yours, I believe, Captain, whom you have dealt with before.”

The captain glared at the man. "Go about your duties, Lope, and keep your hands to yourself, or I will allow the Father to run his full length with you. Nothing will be gained by beating a man so badly he is incapable of work. Go, now!"

The old man stood beside the captain, well away from the angry soldier, who cursed under his breath and walked quickly away.

Dom turned to the injured man, and saw, hanging around his neck on a piece of dirty string, a small engraved metal talisman, of no monetary value. He made a decision.

"Captain Sancho, do you think I may have this man for my servant? One of my men is sick, and it may be that this man can take his place until he is well again."

Sancho nodded. "Of course you may have him, Father, with my good will. There are natives and to spare in the camp." He turned to the old man. "Go you with the Father. He will not mistreat you."

He smiled at Dom. "Neither have I broken my fast. I go to eat. I hope to see you again, later today, Father - I like your spirit!"

The old man followed Dom to the tent without uttering a word. Dom gestured that he follow him in, but his mind was now full of Lizhe, and he hurried to where his love lay. To his relief he saw he was sleeping. He touched Lizhe's head and found he was slightly cooler, and he leaned back on his heels and breathed out loudly.

"Aye, he went off not long after I gave him the medicines, him not being used t' it," Will said, bringing Dom a cup of coca. Dom took it gratefully and swallowed it down. He sat on his bed and asked if there was any food.

"Amaru has gone to fetch it. It seems we are t' be allowed food from the officers kitchens, as we were yesterday. Being as the Inquisitor had ye in his claws I wasna sure we'd still be allowed it. The other - the common soldier's food - is dreary ...dreary, man, ill-cooked and poor stuff. We threw it away. God, ye wouldna give it t'yer dog!"

It was then Will noticed the old man standing in the corner, trying hard not to be noticed and was about to ask about his presence when Dom made a request. "Will, my dear friend, will you go and find Amaru and help him with our food? I must admit to feeling the need of it."

"Aye, I will. I wouldna leave Lizhe alone, ye ken, or I'd ha' gone with him." Will gave the stranger a nod as he left, knowing full well why Dom wanted to be alone with the man. Help could often be gained in the strangest of places.

Dom beckoned the man forward. "What is your name, old man?" he asked, in Spanish, refilling the cup he’d recently emptied and offering it to the man, who came forward and drank it eagerly.

Dom smiled. "You need have no fear of me, priest. I will not harm you."

The man stood straight, his body tense, his hands tightly grasped before him. "How did you know I was a priest, Lord?" he answered, his Spanish visibly improved out of the way of the soldier's stick.

Dom reached forward and grasped the little talisman. "This gave you away, my friend," Dom said in his perfect Quechua.

"What is your name?" Dom enquired, in the ancient priestly language.

"Khuno, Lord," the man answered, without thinking, and then fell to his knees as the knowledge of what Dom had just revealed struck him.

"Who are you?" Khuno trembled, "that you - a stranger - know our sacred language, known to no-one but...? It is not possible, unless..." His voice died away. He swallowed a few times, then, as Dom told him to sit on the other bed, answered his own question.

"There are only two men who could have taught you this, Lord. The Villac-Uma, maybe, or...or God. The others are at Qoylurani - have started out for Qoylurani - to meet God there. Was it the Villac-Uma who taught you?"

Dom shook his head, and reaching out, grasped the old man's hand.

"I trust you with his life. You bear the sign of the Priests of the Moon, Guardians of the Secrets. I have no fear you will betray him. "

Drawing the man to Lizhe's sleeping form, Dom uncovered his face.

The man fell on his knees, pressing his face with his hands. "It cannot be!" he breathed. "How comes God to be here? Why is he not journeying to Qoylurani? Chasqui came from Lord Amaru to tell us priests that he was advising God to go there. I am afraid, Lord. I am afraid for him, here!"

"So am I," Dom said, his voice equally hushed. "I am the Auqui Dom Huascar, and I demand of you your allegiance - that you will strive to protect his life, even at the expense of your own. Do you give this allegiance willingly?"

The old priest bowed his head. "You are the Auqui Inti Huayna Capac - The Splendid Youth of the Sun - and Ray of Inti, bed-partner of God. I will protect him with all the strength and skill I possess, and think nothing of spending my life in this, I swear."

"I must ask you not to reveal your priesthood to my two companions, even though one of them is Lord Amaru. The less they know, the less they will have to lie if questioned. Remove your talisman - if I recognised it, it may be Amaru will also."

The man drew in a sharp breath between his teeth, and took off his amulet, stuffing it into the small bag, that all Inca men carried, which held their coca leaves. "He warned us well - all managed to escape the invaders, except me."

Dom put out a comforting hand and touched Khuno's arm. "How did they capture you?"

The man smiled. "I was the oldest and the slowest. I stayed behind to give the others a chance to run. Otherwise all would have been caught."

There were voices outside the tent; Amaru and Will were returning. Dom said, in Quechua, loudly enough for his two friends to overhear, "...so you will bide here and tend to my sick servant, and to us, as we need you. We shall not beat you, as did the others. You shall have food and sleep in our tent. Do you accept?"

As Will entered carrying four bowls, Khuno replied, "I do accept, Lord. I will do as you say."

"Ah!" exclaimed Dom, rubbing his hands together. "Good! I am hungry!"

Will dragged out the small table from between the beds and put the bowls on it. Amaru carried a basked filled with meats and bread and a bowl covered with cloth.

"I thought... he... might like some quinoa," he remarked, still unable, Dom realised, to use Lizhe's name.

After they had all eaten, and Khuno had told the two men the story of his capture, leaving out the nature of his calling as Dom had requested, Dom asked Will if he would apply some of the balm they had had from the doctor, to the old man's injuries, some of which were open wounds.

As he did so, Will kept up a commentary on the wickedness of subjugating innocent people in general, and by using violence to achieve it, in particular. After Will had finished, Khuno thanked him and went off to wash the bowls in one of the streams.

Then the three friends went to look at Lizhe. He was still deeply asleep, twitching slightly, as a man with a fever often will. Amaru felt his cousin's forehead. "He is cooler. I am glad of it, and the rest - drugged though it may be - will benefit him greatly."

Will glanced at Dom. "What happened wi' yon Inquisitor?" he asked, bluntly. They moved away from Lizhe, so that their voices would not disturb him, and Dom told them the story in a quiet voice.

"Aye, I'm glad we thocht o' bringing Dom Domingo intae it, if the need arose. There were other priests on that ship, after all, Dom, so who was t' say you were not one of them, and me your servant? That was well done! I hope it gave the man something to think on." Will grinned at his friend.

Khuno came back inside and bowed. "If you please, Lords," he said in rapid Quechua, his voice tight with fear, "there are soldiers outside who wish to take the Brother to the Inquisitor." The man hurried out again, obviously not wanting to be near the soldiers.

Will shrugged, then stood, brushed down his soutaine and reached for his hat. "I'll stick fast to our story, Dom. It'll do nae good t' be going off on tangents, now, with one never sure of what the other one might ha' said."

Dom automatically sketched a cross in the air. "God be with you, my son," he intoned, without thinking.

Will stared at his friend, raised one expressive brow, and laughed. "Och, aye, Father - I'm sure his thochts will be, when he wakes up!" and, still laughing, he left the tent.

Dom sat, stunned by his own actions. He had played the priest - a role now long neglected - with so much intensity of late, the ritual behaviour had returned to him without his knowledge.

Then he looked over at the bed roll, and the sleeping man. There lay his God - a real God of flesh, and blood and spirit. He had never been quite sure of the mind or the wishes of the other one. It was a pity, he would be grateful for any deity's aid at this present, but there it was.

Amaru was speaking. Dom dragged his thoughts back to the difficult problems at hand. Lizhe had to be saved, even if they all perished! Carefully he bent his mind to the task.

Comments

[lisabellex.livejournal.com]

Inca dinner, indeed.

Wow. Well done, Dom, in surviving your first encounter with the Inquisitor General, who seems to be a right nasty piece of work. Now, why do I have a bad feeling about Will's upcoming interview? I'm imagining all sorts. Hope he comes back in one piece.

I'm reassured by the addition of Khuno to the 'royal household' - that can only bode well.

Very much looking forward to the next instalment!

:D

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

I know. But we do eat lambkins, don't we? Salves conscience with the thought. :D

The Inquisitor is a nasty piece of work, I agree. We shall see what happens later on. I'll join you in The Enlightenment, because I haven't a clue either! xxx

[mole-caz.livejournal.com]

The calm before the storm I wonder? Things seem to be going too easily at the moment......Thanks Ru.

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Well, there's plenty left to happen, yet! :D Rubs hands together. You're welcome, Moley! xxx

[frolijah-fan-54.livejournal.com]

Thank goodness Dom kept his anger in check and his wits about him - that Inquisitor General is like evil incarnate as far as I'm concerned. I'm so glad the medicine is helping Lizhe and that there is now another to help them. But I'm really worried about that soldier that has now been rebuked twice and is obviously going to be out for revenge against Dom and Lizhe. God, I love this story so much - it continues to get better and better and draw me in deeper and deeper. Thank you so much!!

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

I can SO see younger Chris Lee in this part. He does evol very well indeed!

I'm so happy you like it. Hugs. xxx

[laeliacatt.livejournal.com]

I've never seen "dinner" with such a cute face before. :)

Dom handled Drac...er...Father Inquisitor very skillfully. Like Capt. Sancho, I'm impressed. I hope Dom and Sancho can remain friends. Sancho may prove helpful in the future.

I'm glad Dom happened upon the Inca priest, as he will be another ally to keep Lizhe safe. I'm worried about that cruel and lecherous soldier who was beating the priest, though. He might be trouble...again.

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Vlad the Inquisitor, eh? :D

Well, we'll have to see what ttranspires. It's a long road for these poor lads, love them. :D xxx

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed Dom's meeting with the Inquisitor General. Scary, but he got the best of the encounter. It's all so tense, and you know one misstep could get them all killed. It's a great story.

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Ta, mewsie. I do like tension, angst and mayhem. I'd have made a great Inquisitor if only I could have just teased the pretty boys a bit! :D xxx

[http://users.livejournal.com/tweedle_/]

*pants* Have just caught up. :) Lovely long train journey and the forethought to save Parts 1 to 15. Hurrah! Very exciting story. O.o Seriously hope the Dom and Billy have got their stories straight.

(the fragrant lsr? *grins* Loves you both.)

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Well, that was a long journey, then! Glad you liked it, kiddo. Oh, btw, read my latest post about the Muffins. Quelle horreur!! :D xxx

No idea how lsr smells, but I expect it's nice - since I had my nose done my sense of smell has plummeted somewhat. As it was not very good to start with, hey ho! Still, I can remember with crystal clarity how Lij (and Dom) smelt at C4. Wibble. xxx

[pattilovesviggo.livejournal.com]

Ah. I enjoyed that so much. Dom`s quick thinking was great to read. Here I am hating Inquisitor General with pride :) and looking forward to next weeks.

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

*Joins in the hate-fest!*
Hope it went ok at the hospital today, my love. I'll ring ya later! :D xxx

[lireeli.livejournal.com]

I've just managed to finish your last chapter!! I'm so late I'm ashamed!! Please forgive me, I'm still here, always will be, but sometimes I run out of time! Your last chapter is wonderful and I'm printing this one right now!!
*hugs tight*

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

As long as you manage to read it sometime, my love, that's fine with me! :D Hugs ya back. xxx

[angharad001.livejournal.com]

Wonderful chapter, Issi, thank you . . . your stories always have me biting my lip in nervous anticipation ;)

And the cuy are very cute . . . not sure I could eat one but I suppose it's all about what one's used to?

Thanks for story and pic.

*Hugs*

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Thanks my dear. And I agree - it is what you're used to. Lambkins and rabbits here, cuy there! :D xxx

[chickenlegs-11.livejournal.com]

Oh Dom did so well in his performance! I was very proud of him. And even when Lizhe is asleep he is still a mighty presence isn't he? I'm just adoring this!

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Yes, my Lizhe seems to do this. I think it's odd cos I get to see him in my dreams, and he is a mighty presence indeed. Wibble. Thank you my dear. :D xxx

[janejanejane.livejournal.com]

Dom has certainly learned how to control his temper! I admired the way he handled the Inquisitor's questioning. What will Will have to say, I wonder...?

Interesting, the introduction of this new character, Khuno, I like him already :)

Looking forward to seeing where this goes! Thanks very much to you, dear Issi, and to Ladysunrope for beta.
XXXX

[primula-baggins.livejournal.com]

"Cuy! Inca dinner! Oops. *Creeps out blushing*"

*giggle* I've had little animals like those as pets, so I hate to think of them as food!

I adore how well Dom handled the Inquisitor.

I am glad to know that the old priest is there and will strive to help his God.

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean about the critters. I'm glad I wiol never be in a position to eat one!

Khuno is a lovely bloke. I think it's Ian Holm. Bless. :D xxx

[http://users.livejournal.com/saura_/]

I loved so much how well Dom behaved. The Inquisitors always have this kind of look yeah? Now I'm really worried for Will, though I'm completely sure he'll master the Inquisitor just like Dom.

I loved the "God be with you" answer "He'll be as soon as he wakes up" *giggles* Though it's sad to realize that Dom's mind is so setted that he comes back to something he does not like anymore. But it will save their lives, I'm sure of it!

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Dom is learning, that's true! ;D I do feel sorry for him - for them both - but they WILL triumph! Oh, yes! :D xxx