Read Dark Soul Silenced - Part One for Free Online

You'll do everything you can to assist Ser Gerome track down the girl .  The guards will report to you, not to him, and I expect you to make damn sure that he doesn't do anything to bring shame on us.  In particular make sure that the rules on using a Purity Orb are obeyed – unless two officers, which means you and him, have seen it identify an adept of the dark arts he is not to lay a finger on them !” 
    The prefect almost shouted the last part.  Calming himself he continued. 
    “Important though this hunt is, I will not have one innocent harmed in the hunt — especially not to cater to Ser Gerome's particular tastes.”
    “ And if he refuses to listen to me?  Insists on an action that you would not approve of?”
    “ Then you have the guards restrain him, permanently if needed.  Make if damn clear to him that if he wants to avoid being questioned once you return to the city he had better sort himself out bloody fast and stick to the hunt.  If it becomes necessary you have him executed and take over his role, but the guards had better back you in saying it was absolutely necessary.  Do I make myself clear?”
    Josef tried to swallow past the lump in his throat, the old man's intense glare seemed to strip him to the core.
    “Yes… yes Prefect.  You have my word.”
    “ Good.  You leave in two hours, be in the armoury well before then to get kitted out.  Any questions?”
    “ Just one Prefect.  Is Ser Gerome aware of my role?  That I will be there to steer him down the correct path?”
    “ No, and unless you have to take any action I want it to stay that way.  I told him that he needs to focus completely on chasing down the girl, and that I was giving you control of the guards and anything else not directly related to the pursuit.  Anything else?”
    “ No Prefect.”
    “ Then get out of my sight.  And Josef – don't underestimate the importance of this mission.  That girl may hold the key to our salvation and our destruction, I feel it in my bones.  Now go!”
    Josef turned and left the room without saying a word, mind still spinning from everything he'd been told.
     
     
    Josef checked his bags were securely in place one last time then mounted his horse, a solid and strong brown coloured mountain horse that someone had named Snowflake, for no reason Josef could discern.  It didn't worry him.  Where they were headed the horse's strength and endurance would be far more important than its name. 
    He mentally checked through the items he was taking.  He had his usual travelling gear – blankets, wet weather gear, clothing, soap and razor, tinderbox and other familiar items.  He wore his usual sword, but strapped to his back rather than his waist so he could draw it while mounted.
    The armoury had supplied him, and the others in the party, with bracers around his wrists and a necklace blessed with the power of the Almighty.  The wards would protect the group from any creature of darkness.  The guards were issued replacement swords etched with holy symbols and, like the bracers and necklace, carrying powerful blessings.  The blessed weapons would not only be able to harm creatures of darkness where other weapons did no damage, they would inflict great harm on those creatures. 
    As an officer Josef always carried such a sword, but for the guards it was an unusual honour.  He noted their reactions, each took their sword carefully and examined it, weighed it, made several short swings with it, before returning it to its sheath.  Josef had seen guards issued such weapons before and normally there was a sense of awe, delight and fear at the honour they received.  The guards in his squad were clearly used to handling such weapons, backing up his impression of them as experienced and capable.
    The armoury had also provided a chain mail vest and metal helmet to Josef – neither had been blessed but they would provide physical protection against attack, be it from the forces of darkness or