"Inconclusive."

The word was a curse in Melcher Fitz's ears. Back at the plague doctors' monastery, he sat in his office and listened to Mujahid's report about what had happened in Elekvaz. As Melcher had suspected, the results of the experiment had been quite promising, until Giradin started performing miracle cures.

Melcher beat his fist on the desk, causing Mujahid to jump. "Damn it! We may have been on the verge of a breakthrough..."

Mujahid raised both his hands in a calming gesture. "Master, I'm not sure I agree with you that this is purely a bad thing. We may not know the exact reason why, but by the time we left Elekvaz there were no more citizens there with signs of plague. Frankly, whatever the cause, I think we should celebrate that."

Melcher rolled his eyes and waved a dismissive hand. "Yes, you may organize that party. By all means, eat, drink, and be merry, like Shlomo always says. Then, when it's over, prepare for the next experiment."

"The next experiment?" Mujahid repeated. "Do we know of a city that--"

"We'll find one!" Melcher snapped. "There's always some fool somewhere who realizes he's got plague and thinks, 'I can beat this. I'm strong,' or 'God will heal me because of my great faith.'" He pointed an accusing finger out the stained-glass window behind him. "I tell you, with people like Giradin going around with their little miracles, making everyone think magic and prayer will solve all their problems... God!" He clenched his fist and gritted his teeth. "No one appreciates all we do, all we go through, to keep this world from tumbling into the abyss! Idiots like Giradin will fill their heads with idealism and false hopes. Meanwhile, we look little better than demons because we don't have the luxury of magical remedies and are forced to kill and burn the infected so others won't be doomed to die!"

"Master..." Mujahid's yellowed, bulbous eyes met Melcher's. "I don't believe in the Christian God, but I do believe in Giradin. He knows what's right, and he knows what we are often forced to do. He'll argue our case before others. He'll help people understand our methods. If he can do as we did for so long and then become a saint, then we can't be that far off from the righteous path, can we?"

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"He became a saint shortly after questioning my authority," Melcher grunted. "Oh... don't you remember that?" His every word dripped with venom, as if he were mocking a child. "After Fulk set Elekvaz on fire and we did everything we could to keep the infected from leaving the city, Giradin accused me of going too far. He questioned my authority, and suggested there was another way. Days later, he becomes a saint. And he... he summons me to the church." Fitz turned and beat his fist on the stained-glass window. "He's so sure he has the right answer, and now he has no reason to doubt himself. Damn it!" Melcher swept his arm across his desktop, smashing his inkwell on the ground and scattering papers.

Mujahid backed toward the door, obviously eager for an excuse to leave. "Well... let me get to work, then. I'll see what I can find about a city we can use for the next experiment."

"No." Melcher shook his head. "I have other people working on that. I want you to look for Fulk."

"Master?"

Melcher snorted and folded his arms. "We haven't seen Fulk since the Templars arrived in Elekvaz. Sounds to me like he's deserted. For what purpose, I don't know. But it doesn't matter. We have strict rules about how to deal with deserters. Were it anyone else, there might not be a need to hunt him down, but Fulk is a murderer. If he kills again that blood is on our heads. So, I'll send you with a small team. You find Fulk, and when you do you kill him."

Mujahid stammered a moment before finally forming the words, "You don't want him brought back here for trial? What if he didn't desert? Or... if he is, wouldn't you prefer a public execution?"

Melcher shook his head. "Before he became a plague doctor, Fulk evaded and escaped capture for five years. If you try to take him in for a trial he'll just escape again, and probably kill a few people in the process. No, Fulk must die while being taken into custody." His nostrils curled in disgust and his furious eyes met Mujahid's. "Don't think, even for a second, that just because you've been working with him the past couple of years he'll show you any sympathy. Fulk is a ruthless killer. He cares for no one but himself. Father Hewlett thought if given the chance he might redeem himself, but he hasn't changed at all since he's been here. When you find him, run him through. Make it look like he tried to escape if you need to."