Ever since the Church's authority began its decline, the meaning of a sacred oath had faded, tainted by worldliness. Even so, the faithful still regarded it as a symbol of the solemn religious trial, as weighty as a noble's honor.
Which was why Nikolaus flew into a rage at the accuser who confessed that every word of his own testimony had been false. Witchcraft charges or not, I'd wager his fury right now was aimed squarely at the men who had turned a sacred oath into a lie.
Whatever loyalty the gang had shared vanished without a trace.
The accusers, eyes bloodshot, turned on Dressel.
"Dressel made us do it! He planned the whole thing!"
"We only did what we were told!"
"Verflucht nochmal! Now you're saying it's my fault?!"
"You're the one who held a grudge because that woman turned you down!"
