"The Witch Hunter's Oath" by J. L. Coulbeck is a wonderful story of the witch hunter Elijah, a man fully dedicated to his grisly calling. Even his orc companion Thrazo, as willing to spill blood as he is to chase it with ale, fulfills his duties out of obligation more than faithful devotion. Elijah is alone in his devout pursuit of witch annihilation. In this novella, Elijah faces his most gut-wrenching trial yet, a clash with a coven so malignant and so poisoned, even he may not have the strength to cleanse it.
I enjoyed the descriptive prose in Coulbeck's novella. It is a little slower-paced but so self-reflective, which is what most of the novella is really about. Being a witch-hunter is meritorious, and yet so isolating, and Elijah has much to consider in order to to truly choose what kind of life he wants. He is capable, hard, and as true to his heart as he knows how to be. A Knight Templar challenging his own morality while cutting the enemy down. I hope Coulbeck continues Elijah's stories, because I will absolutely read them all.