Chapter 41 - Interrogation

"Before I remove your gag," I said. "I want to make sure you understand how this is going to go. You will only answer when spoken to. You will not interrupt me and gods help you if you're stupid enough to try and insult me."

His incoherent mumbling into his gag stopped and he slowly nodded his head, his eyes still full of fear. Well, at least he wasn't stupid. I'd half expected him to start shouting in his gag. I nodded to Asara who ripped the gag free of his mouth then forcefully grasped his hair and turned his head so he was looking up at me. He looked like he wanted to say something but kept his mouth shut.

"Good," I said. "I'm glad whoever your master was trained you to be a good dog."

A momentarily flash of anger and remorse flickered across his features before they were replaced with fear.

"Let's start with a simple question," I said. "What's your name?"

He licked his dry lips and for a second I thought he might not answer, and I was going to have to use force which would be unpleasant, but after a long moment he answered, "Pell Horver."

I raised an eyebrow at that and remembered that one of the guards I'd questioned had overheard the two imprisoned nobles I now had talking about an agreement with Count Horver. Is the man in front of me Count Horver, I thought, or just a member of their family?

"Are you the count of Horver or just a member of the family?" I asked.

He blinked in shock and an offended look appeared on his face. "You don't even know who I am? Of course, I'm the-"

His voice had been rising but was cut off by Asara's hand smacking him across the face. She glared down at Pell with fury. "Do not speak to the king in such a manner or I will have my riders flay the skin from your flesh then peel the flesh from your bones."

I blinked in surprise at her fury and at the casual way she brought up torture. More and more it seemed like Asara and her rider had two ways of thinking and acting when it came to people. The way they acted with me, kind, respectful, and with adoration, but everyone else who wasn't female was viewed with disdain and annoyance. It was an odd thing, though her words had made Pell's face pale. He started to sputter out an apology but another smack sent him to the floor.

"Do not speak unless spoken to," she growled. "Know your place dog. You set yourself against my master now you will pay for your transgression and stupidity.

Master? I thought, ok we're definitely going to need to have a talk. I'm not averse to the word but I need to know how this relationship between me and the riders is going to work because it doesn't seem so simple as I expected.

"Thank you, Asara."

She turned and gave me a brilliant smile. The two riders in the room were currently glaring at the man on the floor in apparent agreement with their commander, and I turned my focus from them back to Pell.

"So, Pell. what exactly was the plan?" I asked. "And don't get smart with me. I know the simple idea was to take the fort but what else, and how did you get near the fort so quickly?"

He slowly picked himself up as best he could with the chains wrapping around him then hesitantly looked up at me. His voice was much softer and more respectful this time. He was clearly sacred at what Asara would do, not that I blamed him, she seemed like a very capable woman.

"The plan was to take the fort and set up a dual-essence beacon," Pell said. "The plan was to use the fort as a way to ferry more soldiers and then once we had enough we would match to the capital while the other half with Duke broth would also march. The capital would be enclosed on two sides, and wouldn't be able to retreat safely."

"Dual-essence beacon?" I asked in a curious tone.

"I don't know how it really works just what it does," Pell said. "They come in pairs. Two beacons that are tied together. All I know is that they can be used to create portals from one beacon to the other."

"Duke Biroth bought them?" Asara asked, sounding shocked. "Is he a fool? They cost a lot of gold."

"His advisors warned him against it," Pell said. "As did I, but he was adamant that his plan would work and that we would make back the coin."

"But it didn't," I said. "And now not only is he poor, but half his forces are gone, and he's marching to the capital where he will meet me and my summons."

"They're not going to win," Pell said in a hollow voice. His shoulders slumped and it was like all the fight had been taken out of him. He stared into my eyes with defeat.

"Who are you?" he asked. "Why are you in a minor kingdom with power like that? Why? It makes no sense."

"That's a long story," I said. "One that you won't be hearing. Are they anything else of value you can tell me? It will make things easier and perhaps at the end of this war I won't have your head decorate a pike at the palace."

He hung his head and for a long moment, nothing happened then he spoke up. "I know of three traitors in your court at the palace. One of your generals, and two minor nobles. I don't know who the general is but I do know who the nobles are. I will tell you in exchange for one thing."

Asara glared at Pell and was about to smack him again but I raised a hand to stop her.

"What?"

"Do not kill my family," Pell said quietly. "They're innocent and have had nothing to do with any of this."

The word family chilled my anger at him slightly and I felt a bit of pity for him. Not enough to let him go, but enough that if I did kill him, I would make it quick and wouldn't harm his family as long as they didn't do anything against me and mine.

"I can agree to that," I said. I could respect a man who wanted to keep his family safe even if they were my enemy.

"Well?" I asked. "Who are the nobles then?"

I had an idea of who the general was, but there were dozens of nobles in the capital and if I didn't get a summon suited to doing that kind of work then it would be a hassle to do normally. If Pell could tell me who they were then that would help me clean up the court.

"Lillian Bornes and Dugress Venhim," Pell said. "They've been spies since the old king first died and worked for the princess but after she died at your hands they pledged themselves to Biroth. They're both good at what they do and if you want to make sure they don't run then I suggest you put them in chains the moment you return to the capital. I've only met Lillian and she's extremely smart. If she even thinks you suspect she'll run"

"Thank you for that," I replied, turning to Asara. "Take him back to his cell, away from the other two. I don't want them conversing."

Asara nodded to her two riders who re-gagged him then picked him up and dragged him from the room. His eyes were downcast and his body was limp as he dragged from the room. Once the door was closed behind them I tuned to Asara with a thoughtful look on my face.

"Asara, I think we need to talk about few things," I said. "You're not in trouble there are just some things we need to discuss."

She blinked and a nervous look crossed her face before she looked at Leone and Lilah. "Of course your majesty, but... may we do so alone?"

I looked at her for a long moment then sent Leone and Lilah mental commands to leave the room. They both left with Lilah remaining silent as always while Leone left with a wink and a smirk. I shook my head at her actions then turned back to Asara who despite me agreeing to her request, looked even more nervous.

Ok, I thought, time to get some answers from her.