Beyond Redemption by Michael R. Fletcher

voice choked with hope.
    â€œNo one threatens my friends.” Konig sat motionless, unblinking, staring into those cold eyes until he felt the Hassebrand submit to his will. “You are critical to me,” said Konig, manipulating Gehirn’s emotions. “I need you.”
    â€œYou do?” She looked ready to cry with gratitude; her need was disgusting.
    â€œYes. I have work for you. Work only you can do. Work I trust with no one else.”
    â€œOf course, Your Holiness.”
    Konig did his best to ignore the stench of burning flesh leaking from the voluminous robes. “Someone killed my priests in Unbrauchbar. All of them. You—” He was suddenly aware that Gehirn was staring, eyes wide, at something behind him. Damn. His Doppels had entered the room unbidden. He willed them to silence and pressed on. “You will go to Unbrauchbar, find out who did this.”
    Gehirn glanced at the sun knifing between the cracks in the shutters and whimpered. “To Unbrauchbar?” The smell of burned meat grew stronger. “I will leave the moment the sun sets, Your—”
    â€œYou will leave now. A carriage has been prepared.”
    Gehirn stifled a sob. “But . . . the sun—”
    â€œThree of my Krieger will accompany you.”
    â€œDo . . . do you trust these priests?”
    â€œYes,” said Konig.
    â€œNo!” snapped Abandonment.
    Gehirn’s eyes widened with fear.
    â€œWhat my Doppel means”—Konig shot a warning glance over his shoulder at Abandonment—“is that while I trust these priests as much as I trust anyone, I have total faith in no one.” Gehirn’s disgusting little eyes peered at him from within the cowl. It was so difficult to read the Hassebrand, so hard to know if he really had her. “No one but you, I mean,” Konig added.
    Gehirn bowed low. “I will not fail, Your Holiness. I will travel to Unbrauchbar as fast as your Krieger can take me. I will discover the identity of the murderers and I will bring upon them your vengeance.” A breath of smoky air hissed between clenched teeth and Konig could just make out the bright teeth and overlarge canines glinting from within the cowl’s shadows. “I will purify them in fire. There will be naught left when I am finished. Not even their souls will survive to flee to the Afterdeath.”
    â€œI must know who was behind the attack on the Unbrauchbar temple.” Konig hammered the Hassebrand with an unblinking gray glare, daring her to disobey. “Burn the perpetrators, but you must report to me your findings. I must know what is happening.”
    Gehirn Schlechtes bowed again and backed toward the door. “Yes, Your Holiness. I will discover the truth. I will punish those responsible.” Again Konig saw the toothy grin glinting from within the cowl.

    Gehirn stumbled from the High Priest’s room racked with sadness and loneliness. Her every effort to please Konig ended with looks of disgust and fear. But she’d prove her worth to Konig and his vicious little Doppels.
    Gehirn stalked long passages lit by guttering torches and dodged past the few windows, directing hisses of hatred at thesun. She could feel her skin crack and peel and the smell of burned flesh followed her everywhere. Other priests and staff ducked from her path, cowering as she passed. She’d burn everything someday. Every ounce of hurt their fear caused her would be repaid in full.
    She’d burn the world.
    But not before doing what Konig asked of her. Gehirn’s need to serve, to be part of something, quenched even her desire to burn. At least for now. Someday even Konig would not be enough to halt her descent into madness.
    Gehirn stopped in the center of the long hall, her gaze darting about. She was very much alone. Though there had been people about a moment ago, suddenly the hall was empty.
    Assassins? Here in the center of Geborene power? No, she