Karena knew that she had to stay hidden away, but she didn't want to stay inside any longer, so after putting her long hair up in a bun, she sat on the front steps of her porch and began the long wait. She wasn't keeping the time, but it seemed that a little more than an hour had passed before they sky darkened and she noticed a large fire dragon appear out of nowhere in the area to the north of her home.

"What is that?!" Karena asked herself, watching with wide eyes as it flew around for a bit before descending to the ground. "Oh dear! Zachary must be over there! I know I agreed to stay put, but I must know that he's okay!"

So without another word, Karena snuck out into the town, staying in the shadows as she made her way to the Town Square.

As soon as she got there – still hiding in the shadows – she saw one of the knights taking Espella away somewhere. 'What are they doing?!' she thought tearfully, watching as her friend was bound and heavily guarded. 'Espella couldn't have made that dragon! She's innocent!'

She felt the urge to go and free her, but she held back and instead turned her head to Zacharias and Darklaw, who had just begun their conversation. Karena slowly moved in as close as she could, and listened to them silently…

"I said, that will not be necessary. You see, this evening…you will not be the one standing in court." Darklaw told him with an air of authority.

"Wh-What is the meaning of this?!" Zacharias asked with surprise before continuing with a more demanding tone. "Who then? Who will stand in court?"

"For the trial of the Great Witch Bezella, surely it is only fitting that the High Inquisitor prosecute"

"Y-You're not saying…"

"I'm saying that I will be filling the role of Inquisitor in tonight. Is that understood, Barnham?"

"High Inquisitor…" Zacharias narrowed his eyes at his superior. "Just what are you planning?"

Darklaw became ever so slightly confused, but still remained calm. "…I'm not sure I quite follow. What are you implying?"

Zacharias took the opportunity to explain all that he experienced after following her into the forest; the village, the strange figures, and then finally the "Great Witch". To finish he announced, "The Great Witch hiding behind that masked exterior…was none other than you, High Inquisitor Darklaw!"

Karena's eyes widened at his claim, and she thought angrily, 'Zachary…I thought I told you NOT to do anything drastic!'

Darklaw, however, remained quite calm but a little intrigued at his claim. "My, my, Inquisitor. How very…interesting." She said as a smirk slowly grew on her face. "And where, may I ask, is your proof of this?"

Zacharias was taken aback as he fumbled with his words. "P-Proof?! Well…" – he paused for a moment in thought and then something came to him – "I have a witness account!"

"And where is this…witness?"

Zacharias then went silent; as he couldn't give away that he knew Karena was actually alive just yet. Darklaw picked up on this and continued.

"Did you…or this witness, not even remove the mask to confirm the identity of that person?"

He remained silent, and she tried to draw it out of him by asking further, "Well?" and he was silent for a moment more before he finally answered.

"I was…unable to confirm anything." He admitted. "Thanks to her use of witchcraft, I was robbed of consciousness."

"Is that so…?" Darklaw asked slowly, as she then returned to her authoritative voice. "In that case, Barnham, I'm afraid…I will have to treat what you have just said as treason."

Zacharias looked on in shock at this statement, while Karena thought, 'Oh Zachary…Look at what you've gotten yourself into now…'

He was silent in his shock, so Darklaw continued with, "As you know all too well…treason against the High Inquisitor means treason against the Storyteller." – she then turned to the nearest knight – "You there!"

The knight in question jumped before approaching as he asked, "Y-Yes, Milady!"

"Escort Zacharias Barnham to the Deathknell Dungeon for his crime of treason."

"Yes, Mi…" The knight trailed off before realizing what she asked of him. "MILADY?!"

Darklaw ignored his outburst as she continued. "On second thought…he may prove a handful for the likes of you men alone. I shall come along and assist in your escort. Now, ready the horses."

Karena watched on as a couple more knights joined in doing as Darklaw ordered. She then became tearful as the knights showed regret in restraining the man they so respected and honored, and Zacharias forgave them for doing so. They then left him for a moment, and that's when Constantine came bounding up to him, barking.

"Constantine! What are you doing her boy?" Zacharias asked his faithful companion with surprise and concern.

'I came to see you Master!' the pup replied, before returning the tone of concern. 'But what's going on? Why are your hands bound together?'

The knight watched as the pup sniffed at the ropes around his wrists and whimpered, and he let out a downhearted sigh. "My faithful companion, Constantine. I am sorry to say…it appears that your master has reached the end of his career…"

'WHAT?! Who is gonna catch the bad witches and get Lady Karena back?!'

"Yes…A great task has befallen me, but now I shall be unable to complete it. Such a pity…"

'Don't lose heart now Master! Think about Lady Karena!'

"Ugh…this is pitiful..." Darklaw uttered with slight displeasure as she approached once more. "The once-great Inquisitor Barnham…conveying words of remorse to his faithful dog…"

Zacharias narrowed his eyes at her silently, while Constantine let out a little growl.

Darklaw continued with intrigue. "And what, may I ask was this 'great task' of which you spoke?"

"That's simple…" the Inquisitor replied. "To find the truth."

"The 'truth'"

"Until I met Sir Blue Knight and Sir Top Hat, the question hadn't occurred to me. Is Espella Cantabella really the Great Witch Bezella? Why would the Storyteller write a Story in which his own daughter is executed?" – he became increasingly determined – "I, Zacharias Barnham, as a defender of this town, must know the truth behind this!"

By the end of his speech, Karena's tears were threatening to pour down her cheeks, but Darklaw's expression had remained unchanged. She was silent as she listened to what he had to say, and then was quiet in contemplation for a moment more.

Finally she said, "I'll tell you one thing, Inquisitor Barnham. I'll tell you why you were unable to find the truth."

He took the bait and immediately asked her, "What is the reason?"

"There is one thing which, despite your great ability, you lack."

Zacharias became confused. "Something I lack…?"

"What you lack is…true resolve."

"…What do you mean?"

It was then Darklaw's turn to give her speech in the form of a lecture. "In order to find the truth, you went to great lengths when defending Karena to no end, and even following me into the woods. I don't reproach you for that. You felt it was your duty as a knight." – she paused so he could let it sink in – "But that's also the problem, Inquisitor. Why could you not go to such lengths when it came to doubting the Storyteller himself?"

"That…That's crazy!" the Inquisitor shouted aloud to defend himself. "It is not right for a knight to question the integrity of his lord and master!"

"And so you failed. Your knightly pride was your critical flaw."

"Critical flaw…?"

"That tower…The one in which the Storyteller lives…" Darklaw explained. "Perhaps the truth you were seeking could have been found in the small room at the very top of that tower."

"What…What are you saying…?!"

'She's right! We can probably find all the answers up in that tower; even how to return Lady Karena back to normal!' Constantine barked at him.

"In any case…at this stage of the game, it's too late to do anything." Darklaw said as she shot him a sly smirk. "So I suggest you assign your unfinished task to that faithful dog of yours…"

Zacharias said nothing, but he growled in anger and defeat as Darklaw finished with her last statements.

"Very well then, Zacharias Barnham, it is time to go. From this evening you'll be spending your time in a damp, dark place…deep underground. It might be a good opportunity to cool that hot head of yours…"

The Inquisitor turned his gaze to Constantine one last time, and the pup barked at him with determination as if to say, 'Don't worry, Master! I know just who can take your place in searching the tower! You can leave it to me to find and lead them!'

With that, master and faithful companion parted ways, and Karena was torn as to who she would follow.

'I truly feel that Zachary might need me by his side right now…' she thought as she watched him being guided away. 'But there's a chance I might get caught, and I'm quite curious about Constantine and this tower…'

So she made her choice and followed Zacharias' dog, keeping to the shadows once again…

Okay not really an after-note, but during this scene with Darklaw and Zacharias…Didn't you think that Darklaw was like a cat up on a wall teasing a dog on the ground? Just a little something to ponder on…