Alexander and Marcus looked at each other and then back to Eugenia.

"Pregnant? How do you know?" Marcus asked in a surprised tone.

Eugenia tapped the side of the bag of grain on her table. "It's an old technique for detecting pregnancy. Piss on a sack of barley for three mornings. If the seeds begin to sprout by the fifth day you're with child."

"But you said the bottle had contained Bitter Kiss, how could she be pregnant?" Alexander asked as he leaned over the table to peer into the bag at the seeds inside.

"No medicine works perfectly," Eugenia replied, "Some women fear the Bitter Kiss' poison and take too small a drink, others lose track of days and drink too early or too late. Sometimes the seed is just too strong and a child plants itself in the womb regardless."

"Who knows about this test with the barley?" Marcus asked.

"Many women know of it but not all, and it doesn’t always work. A woman will know she's with child eventually when her flow doesn't come, makes no difference to a married woman if she knows sooner or later. A woman who isn't supposed to be getting pregnant, on the other hand, will want as much warning as possible to plan how to reveal her condition or else to flee if she fears her patriarch's wrath."

"I think we need to find Patrick, the courier boy, find out who he's purchased Bitter Kiss for in the last year." Marcus stated as he took the bottle from Alexander. "I am sure someone provided Simone with this, possibly killed her when she told him it didn't work."

"Could it have been Simeon that killed her? Found out she was pregnant, killed her to keep the shame of his daughter's promiscuity secret?"

"Promiscuity? You simply assume she's to blame for becoming pregnant, then?" Eugenia said with pursed lips.

"The midwife found no marks or bruises on her body, so she wasn't forced." Alexander replied.

"Lots of ways to coerce someone that don't leave visible marks." the herbalist replied coolly.

"But doesn't the fact that she became pregnant prove she was willing? Galetes taught that women must have an internal ejaculation to mix with the man's external one to conceive so she had to have been willing and enjoyed the experience enough."

Eugenia sighed and shook her head. "As wise as Galetes was, he wasn't infallible. Not that you'd know it, his teachings are held with more fervor than the words of the old priests and prophets before Tario had them put to the sword. Speak to any midwife who counsels newlyweds and you'll find many babies are sired by men who were never able to sufficiently please their wives for Galetes to be correct on this matter."

Alexander glanced at Marcus and then at the floor. He said nothing, his cheeks burned. He felt something but couldn't tell if it was embarrassment or anger or both. Nor could he tell what the cause of this unpleasant feeling was. Something about Eugenia's tone reminded him of the tutors he had in the orphanage and later in the Inquisition academy, correcting him for some mistake in his lessons. Perhaps it was hearing someone dispute the teachings of the most respected physician in history, or maybe he felt ashamed on behalf of the men who were unaware they failed to perform their husbandly duties in ensuring their wives were properly satisfied while procreating.

"We should get back into town, speak with Patrick about who he's delivered Bitter Kiss to recently." Marcus said after what felt to Alexander like an eternity.

"If I may, I suggest you ask each man he's delivered to recently to show you their bottles." Eugenia said, her face softening as she turned from Alexander to Marcus. "Glass isn't cheap or easy to come by, I charge an extra fee to anyone who doesn't return their last bottle to me. I can't recall anyone failing to return one recently. Find whoever can't show a bottle and you'll likely have Simone's lover."

"Thank you, Eugenia, you've been the most helpful person we've spoken to all day."

"I am always glad to be of assistance, Inquisitor, hopefully you come see me again soon under more pleasant circumstances."

The two men left the herbalist's cabin and made their way down the path back to Croton at a brisk pace.

"Marcus," Alexander began slowly, picking his words with care, "I know you have a more, uh, lenient approach than the Inquisition has down south," Alexander trailed off.

"Go on." Marcus prompted.

"Sorry, I am not criticizing how you handle things, I just want to be clear on official policy."

"Go on." Marcus repeated.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"And I was wondering if what Eugenia is doing, selling medicines that prevent pregnancy, is actually permitted by law or if it's something you merely tolerate."

"No law against contraceptives as far as I'm aware."

"Even with no law," Alexander puffed, finding it difficult to speak while walking at the pace his companion set, "isn't it against our principles? Doesn't the Philosopher say that those who couple solely for pleasure are no different from gluttons and drunkards and others who are slaves to their appetites?"

"No laws against eating or drinking too much that I'm aware of, either. Vice that doesn’t break the law should be a personal matter, we don't have the time nor resources to teach and enforce the Philosopher's ethics on every person in our jurisdiction."

A few moments passed in silence save for the sound of rustling leaves, birds singing, and the clinking of armor.

"Do we tell Simone's parents about her being pregnant?" Alexander asked between breaths.

"I suspect her mother knew when she saw the barley."

"Why didn't she say something?"

"The woman woke up this morning to learn her daughter was dead, then, mere hours later, she learns the girl was most likely carrying her grandchild. Can you blame her for not knowing what to say? Come, let's just focus on getting back to town."

It was later in the afternoon by the time the Inquisitors passed through the gates of Croton for the third time that day, walking quickly to the small home of Patrick the delivery boy only to find it empty.

"What now?" Alexander asked.

"I'll ask around and see if I can find where Patrick is delivering to. In the meantime, go and speak with Edwin the younger again. This wouldn't be the first time young lovers found excitement in sneaking around behind a disapproving father's back."

Alexander nodded and took off down the road towards the farm of Edwin the elder. He was covered in sweat and panting for breath when he arrived at the small farmhouse at the end of the lane. He banged on the doorway and put his hands on his hips while trying to slow his breathing.

The door to the home opened to reveal Edwin the elder.

"Inquisitor? How can-"

"I need to speak to your son, outside, alone." Alexander interrupted. The young man exited the home and followed Alexander up the lane a short distance.

"Have you ever purchased Bitter Kiss from Eugenia the herbalist?" Alexander demanded in a low growl through his helmet.

"Bitter- what? No, I don't have money for that."

"Are you sure? Didn't offer her trade or work for a bottle?"

"No, never!" Edwin protested, throwing up his hands. "What is this about?"

"Did you ever lay with Simone?"

Edwin stepped back in shock at the question.

"Lay with her? Of course not, her father forbid us from marrying."

"Being unmarried didn't stop her from becoming pregnant."

Edwin's eyes widened in surprise. Alexander immediately regretted the impulsiveness of his tongue but kept his face firm. There would be time to scold himself for his lack of prudence in speech later.

"So that's why she-" Edwin said softly to himself.

"That's why she what?"

Edwin looked up, hand trembling and eyes full of fear. "I wasn't honest with you earlier, not completely. Last night she came to the barn in the middle of the night, woke me up. Tried to offer herself to me, said she wanted to marry me no matter what her father wanted, said we could run away together and sail to Wollema and just tell people there we were married but I never touched her, I swear, I told her she was talking crazy and sent her away."

"Why didn't you tell us this earlier?"

"I was afraid, I didn't want Simone to be shamed for some passing dream of romance and adventure, and then when you said she was dead I was worried you'd think I had something to do with it."

Alexander clenched his jaw and stared at the young man who appeared to be on the verge of tears.

"Will you swear all that you just said is true, in blood?"

Edwin's eyes widened before he gave a short nod. Alexander kneeled on the lane and drew a circle with his finger in the dirt, then wrote the five letters representing suffering, pain, loss, illness, and death in the middle. He removed his dagger from its sheath and placed it in the dirt then stepped back from the circle, hand on the hilt of his sword.

The farm boy knelt in the dirt before the circle and picked up the dagger. He made a small cut on his left forearm and placed the dagger back on the ground. He pressed his right hand against the wound, rubbing it until his palm was bloody, then placed his hand in the circle with his fingers covering the five letters.

"I swear that I have never lain with Simone, that I never harmed her, that I did not know she was pregnant, that I turned her away when she tried to seduce me, and may my life be so cursed with misery if I am lying that my life becomes a warning to others."

Edwin rose from the dirt and then took a few steps back, blood trickling down his arm. Alexander retrieved his dagger, dismissed Edwin, and made his way back to town as fast as he could, the sun hanging low in the sky by the time he arrived at the gates of Croton for the fourth time that day.