Although the so called art of lovemaking was meaningless without the actually part of love to me, I wanted to experience that touch that Bella gave me again. That and it wouldn't hurt to leave my work for one day and give someone a chance, you never know really.

That was why I was standing with Heinz Lummenford in his home. He had been about to propose something I had dreams about that would never come true. I was going to say no, but I nonetheless wanted to hear those words, even if now wasn't the time. I was also with him because I had gotten him to get his family make honey duck.

His home though was almost as vast though, with an array of armaments presented on the walls. His father, Varl Lummenford, though had greeted me just like Ulein, hopefully he didn't turn out to be like Ulein.

"So this is one of my favourite rifles," introduced Varl to firearm showcased. "Got it from Nuln. The transportation was enough to make this rifle cost more than five healthy cows, but by Sigmar do I love the sound it makes as I pull on the trigger."

I wanted to yawn so badly. "Impressive my lord."

"Oh! I almost forgot to mention!" For such a fearsome man, it was odd to see him cringe. "I forgot to mention that we'd be having a Witch hunter as our guest for dinner as well."

"A Witch hunter!" He couldn't mean!

Heinz read the troubled look I had. "Father! How could you neglect to mention we'd be having a Witch hunter as our guest?"

"I guess I got caught up by the lovely lady here."

"So why did you not mention it yesterday? Or the day before that?"

"Look son," said Varl putting his hands out. "It's not that big a deal. The reason I've invited the Witch hunter here is so he wouldn't do something like burst through the door like some raving hound the day after. He's been sniffing around the noble district and I saw it best to show him we have nothing to hide. So long as you remain calm that shouldn't be too much of a bother."

"Sigh, very well father. But I really doubt I have to tell you to warn me that you're inviting Witch hunters into the house before I invite guests."

It wasn't much of a bother for them, but it was a bother for me. I had something to hide and if this was the same Witch hunter! I needed Gertrude!

"A-apologies," I stuttered, backing away. "I think there-there's something wrong with my dress and I needed Gertrude to look at it."

"Your bodyguard?" questioned Varl.

"Y-yes. I want to make sure it won't-won't-." Had to say it was my dress that was wrong. "Affect me in anyway and he's good at that sort of thing." I bolted down the stairs before they questioned me further and found the miscreant playing with one of Varl's swords. "Gertrude."

He raised his eyebrow and turned to me. "Yes?"

"Witch hunter!" I panted. "He's coming here! Been invited by Varl for dinner."

Gertrude bit his lip. "Well that's a bother."

"What are we going to do?"

"Not much we can do but avoid using your family name. Soon as he knows your full name is Gretchen Ulsware, it'll be enough to add it all together that you're the same Gretchen Ulsware that disappeared."

"What if he asks for my family name? Heinz knows my family name, so the Witch hunter will know I'm lying just from Heinz's reaction."

"Hope he's forgotten then and say something that only sounds like Ulsware." He shrugged. "Like Alsworthy."

"My lady." Heinz almost hurried down the stairs. "Please don't say you're trying to leave." He came to me and held my hands. "I know a Witch hunter is terrifying, but if you leave before he comes, he'll realise and he'll just come to track you down to interrogate you." He came closer. "It's best you faced him now where you'll have me at your side."

I wasn't that moved, but what he said made sense.

The door was thumped, causing me to yelp and that caused Heinz to hold me.

I watched however as one of the servants got the door and entered, was the Witch hunter, the one that made me give up my brother.

"A-a-afternoon." Heinz had walked out and reached to shake, but the Witch hunter stepped pass him.

"Your father home boy."

"Y-yes, he's upstairs."

"I may as well say hallo to him then."

I felt so cold that I felt I was about to snap. I wanted to scream. I didn't know how I felt then when the Witch hunter made eye contact with me. He lifted his hand and tipped his hat and continued walking. Why did it have to be him again?

I sat with Heinz's family and the brooding Witch hunter and ate. I had tried to be far apart from the Witch hunter, but the best I could manage was being on the other side of the table.

He dug into his food unlike nobles here. He sawed through his meat as if he had just killed the beast himself and then devoured it like a ferocious carnivore.

"So how goes the hunt?" asked Varl.

The Witch hunter patiently finished his meat and then swallowed, his gulp sounded like a drum beat. "Your town is infested."

"Excuse me."

The Witch hunter glared at him. "I said your town is infested."

"In-infested by what?"

"What do you think?"

"Well, do you mean by witches, mutation-?"

"Traitors."

Oh Sigmar.

"Traitors?"

"Of course," growled the Witch hunter cutting up his food. "If it had been witches, your town would be incinerated."

"B-but if by traitors then, why haven't they done anything yet?"

"They have been. They've been corrupting the souls of mankind one day at a time. I can't walk into one of your streets without picking up the scent of some foul that has given himself over to the Dark gods."

"The dark gods!" choked Varl. "My goodness, apologies, but there are ladies and children in the room."

His eyes leered onto me. "So we do." He couldn't smell me, could he? He then went back to his food. "But that's why I'm in the noble district. This infestation is too root and yet hidden that it would have to be someone intelligent and charismatic to orchestrate all this."

"Any leads?"

"That place called the Forgotten Bliss." He then gave Gertrude a look. "The one your Lady Gretchen's body guard is a member of."

All eyes were on Gertrude, but he just smiled. "Yes," he replied. "You came there accusing the sanction on conspiring against Sigmar and performing forbidden arts. But you found it was nothing more than a club that liked to experience the simple things."

"That I did," muttered the Witch hunter. "But tell me, Lady Gretchen. What makes you hire a filth like him? You're not a part of that group are you?"

By Sigmar! I-I had to speak to him. I had to talk, b-but I didn't know what to say.

"Are you alright?" asked Heinz. I nodded as best as I could. "Apologies," he said to the Witch hunter. "But Lady Gretchen is delicate woman who is new to this town. I hope that it's understandable that she can't speak up at the minute."

"She's going to have to," he sneered. "If your father hasn't told you, you can't go unanswered to a Witch hunter."

"Well I can testify that you have no need to question her sir. Lady Gretchen is an innocent and pure woman."

What was he doing!

"Heinz!" snapped the father.

"Apologies father, but I'm just speaking up for a Lady here."

"I think my Lady can speak for herself just fine," said Gertrude. He then winked at me. "Go on."

Thank Sigmar. Heinz had only been making it worse by trying to help me not have to speak. Only ones who didn't speak to a Witch hunter were the ones who had something to hide. With the attention back on me, I felt the encouragement given by Gertrude to speak out.

"Yes," I admitted. The Witch hunter could smell lies, but I doubt he could unravel twists within truth. "But only as a business associate. Its leader Bella invested into my business to obtain goods for the organisation." It had felt awful speaking to him again, but I had managed with dignity.

The Witch hunter leered, but was content. "Fair enough." He had taken another bite of his food and the spoke to Varl. "I have hope that your Gritty Firebrand will be at my disposal if I have need?"

The man was stunned. "Well if you wish. But my club is made of fiery young men who ride upon horses firing pistols in hope of one day becoming knights. I'm not sure if you want a group of impetuous boys running around with you as I've only really been preparing them if the town needs defending or we're called into battle by the Elector count."

"They're the only ones I can count on. The state troopers in this town have been neglected and ill-organised from years of peace and stability in this area. What's worse I don't know who to trust amongst them as the infestation festers more around the poor community," explained the Witch hunter. "I've seen your boys though in the taverns and about the street. They're all healthy and fit and I'm sure you've trained them better than the soldiers who are meant to be the mainstay of protecting the town. They're also close to each other and show little sign of corruption."

I was annoyed by the proud smile that was about to burst Heinz's face.

"V-very well then," said Varl impressed. "You have the Gritty Firebrands ready to command when needed."

"Good," he said cutting up his meat. "Be sure to have them ready."

The way he sounded, I didn't like it.

"You sure you'll be alright my Lady?" questioned Heinz.

"Yes, I'll have Gertrude with me so I'll be quite safe." It felt so strange saying that.

"Very well my lady. It was a true pleasure having you and apologies for my Father's abrupt guest."

"It was fine, truly. Now farewell."

I marched through the streets with my protector. "You are going to do something about that Witch hunter aren't you?"

"You mean like make him disappear?"

"Aren't you."

"Disappointingly no."

"No?"

"Bella doesn't want us crossing the Witch hunter. Too much of a risk. We fail, he'll have a stronger scent, we succeed and actually kill him, another will take his place."

"If you haven't noticed, he's close. In fact I'm pretty sure he knows everything about the Forgotten Bliss and is just putting everything into place."

"Can't do anything I'm afraid, not without Bella's say and I doubt she's going to be swayed just because you being a frightened chicken, even with me back you and trust me I would. That Witch hunter's been pushing it since you first introduced me to him."

I wanted to say sorry, but it prevented Gertrude from making me disappear. "Do we really need her permission though to make him disappear?"

"She'll be mad if we do and when it's not great to have Bella mad at you."

"So how about if she didn't know, that no one knew but us?"

Gertrude raised his eyebrow. "You're a more conniving girl than I thought."

I stopped and glared. "You people took my brother, but that Witch hunter destroyed my life. In exchange for handing over my brother and publically executing him, he turned me into an outcast who had no chance of surviving, giving me a slow and lonesome death." My blood seethed. "He destroyed one life; I will not leave him a chance to destroy this new one."

He turned to face me and smiled. "What do you have in mind then and it's going to have to be a pretty convincing accident to make sure Bella didn't know it was us who did it."

"I will think of something." I was a smart girl after all.