The Inquisition of Alejandro
(Iron age media Prompt) The Empiricist, for January 10, 2024
The night had passed into early hours of morning. Radiance of a full moon brushed a regal landscape coastline of Valencia Espana. A clam wind caressed large fruit trees as purring shores, twinkled with Moonlite pearls and diamonds. A Glorious mirror reflection of the jeweled sky. An envy of any true artist.
Within these times, when dreams of children should have been the sole thoughts to color the heavens. Three shadowy figures approached within the somber chill they brought with them.
A humble stone cottage, it’s roof in need of repair. Rested quietly upon the environment. A single candle dancing in its glasses window. The rugged stone pathway echoed up the hill as the men approached. A soft yet firm knock on the door.
“Por Dios! Who trespasses upon my home at this unholy hour!” An older man snarled
”Cuida tu boca. It is the servants of Christ, blessed is his name, who you accuse.” A stern, younger, yet middle-aged man replied.
”Blessed is his name.” The own replied
”Blessed is his name,” said a deeper voice at the door.
”Blessed is his name.” said an older voice at the door as well.
“Senor Alejandro. Perdoname, I am High Inquisitor Javier of the Parish of Our Lady Catalina. Permitanme presentarles, Padre Francisco, and Comisario Hernandec.” He gestured to a robust, moorish giant of a man with a scowl as large as himself. Then to a kinder hunched over elder, who’s thick white hairs defied the deep trenches of wrinkles over his tanned face.
“Maravilloso!! What do you want with me!?” Alejandro demanded.
“Miralo, viejo! Much!” The Comisario replied, barreling his way inside the small cottage. “What business have you, to be alert as such a cursed hour? Hablar!”
“Paz, hijo mío.” Padre said the Comisario.
“Si!” Javier said calmly, tapping dirt of his boots as he entered.” Intimidation does lead both guilty and innocent alike to confess.” He gave Hernandec a disappointed look. “Truth and reason are the tools of Heavan.” He continued, turning his attention to Alejandro.
“You accuse me!? of Heresy? Escupirte!” Alenanjdro snarled.
“Paz, Por favor. This is merely an inquiry into the nature of your…studies.” Padre implored.
“Bah! ‘The nature of my studies’…” He turned to hear aggressive rustling “PARAR!” He roared as the Comisario began searching his books. His knotted hands grabbed the robust arms of the giant, who in turn seized the collar of Alejandro.
”Hernandec! Detener! Let him go!” The inquisitor ordered. Hernandec released the man, half his size. His thick brows were frozen in an intense glare.
“Senor, Por Favor, allow us to inspect your work; I am within faith you have nothing to hide…” Javier began
”Par Que!? Why, then, do you disturb me?” Alejandro interjected. The inquisitor took a slow, deep breath before continuing.
“We then might solemnly testify to your innocence; as such, no future quarrels shall befall you.” He gestured to the books and written works. “If you would?
Alejandro tightened his robe, closed, with a grim expression. Sneering at the Comisario. He laid out several old rustic keys, each of them he unlocked books, cases, chests and other such things. The ophidian eyes of the inquisitor never once left the hands of Alejandro.
”Search! Place all you move within it’s station. I have no patience for disarray!” Alejandro growled
“Bravo. Very godly of you, my son!” Padre complimented.
“Very…Par Que, what of the seventh key on the ring? does it not serve a purpose?” The inquisitor asked.
“Par Que? why would it!?” Alejandro rebutted
Javier strutted closer “You do not present yourself as one who has use of meaningless trinkets, “ He glanced down quickly then back to Alejandro “Under your right foot, the wool rug has a queer elevation…as a sound of metal. Por Favor, step aside.”
“No hare, There is nothing that would interest…” Alejandro was cut short by the aggressiveness of Hernandec.
“Move old man! Arriba arriba!” Hernandec ordered as she forced Alejandro aside. Javier, with his deft dexterity snatched the key ring. Rolled the rug up with his left foot, revealing a small wooden cellar door. His agile motion removed the lock with timely ease.
”NO!” Alejnadro yelled. Javier peered down into the small room.
“By the Order of the Inquisition. The Church and her majesty the Queen of Espana, Show yourself!” Javier commanded
Within the small cellar, not one, two or even three. But five small children and a older woman slowly emerged.
“Who are they?” Hernandec asked.
“Leave them be!” Alejandro demanded “They have done no wrong!”
“Paz mi hijo. Being a child is no crime.” Padre replied, with a gentle hand.
“Who are you?” Javir asked
“They know not our language.” Alejandro interjected. Javier spoke again, but in a different language. The old woman replied.
“Hellens?” The Comisario asked, his expression softened. The old woman pulled the boys tighter to her dress.
“Par Que, what are they doing here?” Javier asked glancing back at Alejandro. “Por Favor…no not secrets.”
“Odyssia seeks refuge.” Alejandro said grimly. The boys hide their faces as the inquisitor kneeled down. The old woman glared at him as he did so. Speaking things harshly in Greek.
Javier examined the boys hands, each of them. In turn he slipped off his left glove. The old woman gasped with horror. Her eyes filled with tears a trembling hand barely covering her mouth. The boys looked upon his stoic face and welcomed his warm embrace.
“Que!?” Hernandec asked.
Javier shook his head. “Padre? I believe you possess the power to offer sanctuary to those in need?”
“It is within my right, Si!” Padre answered.
“Muy bien. They will with us at sun rise…now.” he turned back to Alejandro. “If you would, we need resume our enquiry…”
Alejandro gestured to the Greek woman to take his room. She did so, giving Javier a pitiful look and a gentle kiss upon his head.
The moon sailed through the sky as the night carried on. Alejandro’s ire settled as the enchanted scene played out within his open window. Padre Francisco snored and slumbered in a wooden chair. Inquisitor Javier rubbed his tired eyes as he wrote and Hernandec had nearly uncovered every herb and alchemical implements for documentation.
Opening the last of the cider boxes for inspection. A heavy whiff of herbal fumes assaulted his nostrils. He waved his hand a to clear the air, a moment before his pupils dilated.
Javier studied the giant’s behavior. Flashes of intense memories reflected powerful emotions within Hernandec’s brown eyes. His features tightening harder then before. His massive hand seized the dried herbs from the box.
“What, is this?” He demanded. Glaring at Alejandro.
”Hmgh...Mentha pulegium,” Alejandro barely finished answering, As the entire table was flung across the room, and shattered, by the powerful man. Javier’s cold eyes glanced at the Moor. Padre snorted and shifted in his deep sleep.
”Te maldigo! Murderer!” Hernandec snarled. The accused alchemist had not even blinked before the giant tackled him through the cottage wall, to the damp soil. “I kill you!!” His voice echoed through the majestic valley.
”Hernandec! Detener!” Javier ordered, attempting to restrain the Comisario. Padre snorted in his sleep again. Alejandro squirmed himself free from the moorish giant.
“Leg’go!” Hernandec demanded
“Calmate!” Javier replied, struggling to over power his companion
Hernandec stood, with a wide opening of his arms, flung Javier back to the moist soil. Alejandro crawled on his hands and knees to escape the raging berserker. Hernandec placed his great hands over a large stone and perused the alchemist with murderous fire in his eyes.
”You Kill children! Demonio!” Hernandec roared as he lifted the great stone over his head to smash Alejandro. A low whisper of a cracking whip wrapped itself around the giant’s wrist. Javier shifted his stance and disarmed Hernandec.
”Calmate ahora!” The Inquisitor ordered. The stone fell harmlessly and deeply into the ground. Hernandec grapped the whip and flipped Javier forward, towards Alejandro. Before grabbing the alchemist from the ground.”
”Dejalo ir!” Alejandro cried “Get this ape of me!” Javier, landing with grace, continued to struggled with the Comisario in his defense of Alejandro.
Groggy eyed Padre stepped out into the moonlight with a sloths pace. His older mind gradually processing the event. Scratching his chest he approached the tussling trio more then half his age.
“Mis hijos..” He said sleepishly. Yet before he could continue. Hernandec great fist, through a sever miscalculation, struck Padre hard. Knocking the old man back, falling to the ground and striking his head upon the great stone.
A sickening sound of cracked bone and gasp of the old man snapped Hernandec from his rage. The three stopped as stared at the old man. His dazed eyes idly glancing left and right. Agile Javier quickly rushed to the aid of the old man.
”Padre!” Hernandec cried. Dropping the alchemist and rushing to aid Javier
”Imbecil!” Alejandro hiss “Look what you have done!” He also join them.
“Padre! Padre!” Hernandec said. "
”Si Hijo…” Padre whispered back
”Keep him conscious, I shall call get my tools!”
”They can help?” Javier asked
”Si Si!” He hissed in frustration. “Odyssia as well. She can attach a crushed feature back onto a bird!” He said, rushing inside
”Padre.” Hernandec said with tears. “Forgive me. Por Favor!” The old man’s head shifted left and right in a somber daze.
”Si.Si I…” He stopped mid sentence. His old eyes widened, he stared at something past them both. He stared as if searching for something. “My God…” He murmured, taking his crucifix to his hands.
”Que? Que es?!” Hernandec asked. Javier lifted a brow, curiosity over his stoic face.
”I see…I see.” He began, the giant held the old man’s hand tighter. “Espana! No…A” Both men listened intensely. “It is, him. it is him! He is here! The son of man!” Padre looked around. “The people…I know them. The sun, so warm. Field of gold! Trees…so green. Never have is seen.” He started straight ahead. His large pupils looked at something past the two men.
”Alfonzo…” He whispered, gripping Hernandec’s hand tightly.
”My Son??” Hernandec gasped. Lifting a trembling hand to reach out
”Si..He has your eyes…and…and Ana..” Padre continued.
”My wife??” Hernandec grit his teeth hard, fighting back tears.
”They are here. Mi Hijo!” He reached and felt Hernandec’s face. “This place. So beautiful. So much life… there is…no pain here. Only joy and love…” Padre looked past the men again. “She asks, you to forgive the one.”
”I can’t.” Hernandec hissed. “I can’t forgive that…Bruja!” He spit to his side. “I must find her! Sere' Vengado!!” He hisses, as large tears falling from his face. A cracking of his clutching fist.
”Mi Hijo. You must. They are in our Father’s kingdom, hollow be his name, Find her..but forgive her…if not for her sake then your own. Forgive, so you may join them in heaven. Forgive. as….I…forgive…you…” Padre’s eyes closed, his head went limp to the side.
Javier checked the neck of Padre, then glanced at Hernandec. The Moorish giant inhaled deeply through his sniffling sob.
”Dios, dame fuerzas…I will try.” Hernandec swore.