"Maelric, get it through your head. You stand in the sun. Purging the filth is your mandate."
"I exist in the shadow. My duty is to chronicle the darkness, not to caution you against it."
The Commander in the shadows let out a cold snort. The Holy Order operated on a dual system within every diocese: the Priesthood and the Inquisition. They were designed to check and balance one another, ensuring no single Bishop could monopolize the faith or steal the flock.
"The Inquisition is not here to wipe your ass."
The voice was freezing, devoid of empathy. This wasn't an excuse; it was a statement of jurisdictional fact. Furthermore, the Commander had never liked Maelric. Watching the Cardinal fumble his responsibilities brought him a twisted sense of entertainment.
"Of course, once you render a verdict and file the proper requisitions, we will follow doctrine. We will execute the filth and the heretics with absolute impartiality."
