Malek nodded. "You're damned right, there was something off! If these two are even your guardsmen at all, why didn't either recognize you? You would think out of all the men the captain would send up, it would be familiar faces. The fact that he didn't, tells us something all on its own, doesn't it?"
Jera frowned. “And that was reason enough to cripple them?”
Jess grimaced. Jera’s voice held doubt, but not outright condemnation, much to her relief.
“It wasn't just that," Jess clarified. "Though that was part of it. It was the outright condescension they had. To all of us. Even Raphael himself. Neither of these so-called guardsmen even bothered to ask for his given name. They just treated him like a fat pig too stupid to know better that they were happy to lead to slaughter."
Jess took a deep breath, frustrated with their uncertain gazes, their inability to understand. "Notice how they even tried to convince Raphael to dismiss Malek and me, the most obviously armed and armored of all of us, thereby assuring you were all but defenseless, assuming the only inspection that awaits Raphael down there is the point of an enemy’s blade!”
Jess locked gazes with a brooding Raphael. “Those were the clues that let me know something wasn’t right. But I knew for sure when I goaded Rolin into looking right at me when he assured me personally that I would be safe under their care.”
Raphael tilted his head in puzzlement. “What does that have to do with anything?”
Jess felt herself blush, suddenly realizing how absurd it would sound, her saying that she could sense his malice, that once he had locked gazes with her, she could sense his deliberate deception regarding the fate that was intended for her, a fate no doubt intended for them all.
It would sound incredibly deluded, Jess realized, her hunch being utterly outside the purview of understood magic. And considering that she had just smashed Neltose's face in, his writhing screams bringing poor Josie to tears even now, Jess knew that for her to say those words allowed would make her appear a madwoman at that moment.
“Anyway, just to be sure, I goaded Neltose. Implied that I knew what was coming, knew the treachery planned, and implying that I would be happy to get in the captain's good graces serving as his harlot if he'd spare me."
Josie looked shocked. “Surely you aren’t serious, Jess?”
Jess nodded. "Serious as the grave." She turned to the two writhing guardsmen, watching them tremble before her furious gaze. "That's why he was leering at me, Josie. He was considering the offer, implying they'd spare me if I served as their bed wench as well." Jess's brows knit together in a fierce scowl. "They meant for our deaths, Josie. At least mine, and I suspect they bear nothing but malice for you and Raphael as well.”
Josie looked on, horrified, even as Raphael held her close. "That would explain why he was chuckling so… inappropriately, gazing at you like a piece of meat." Raphael shook his head, as if pulling away from that path of thought. "Let's hold on a minute, Jess. Are you truly certain of this? Absolutely sure? Are you sure you couldn't be mistaken somehow? These are members of my house guard. They have been loyal to my family without incident for decades!"
Jess took a deep breath and drew herself up. Raphael flinched, chuckling lightly as he did so, and Jess looked away, suddenly embarrassed. Still, she made herself speak. “Have you ever seen these men before, Raphael?”
“Of course not, Jess. I thought we had just established that?”
“Then how do you know whether or not they are actually members of your house guard?”
Raphael blinked, nonplussed.
“You are paranoid, Jess!" Josie wailed. "First you compel us flee the college immediately, declaring that some mad diabolist means to capture or kill Raphael, bolting the door and harrying us to make our way out of the window, suspended from that perilous height by no more than a silken rope made of bedding, for gods' sake! We spoke to no one outside our own little circle before we traversed in secret all this distance, and this is after we had rather methodically ascertained that my beloved Raph couldn't possibly have any enemies who would dare act upon such a gambit; the diOnni clan well in royal favor, and my lover has far too many contacts to have been caught so utterly unawares! For all we know, those people banging upon the door were instigated by your frantic escapades, and we were in no danger at all! Next you compel us to spend days traipsing through deepest woods without a properly prepared meal or a decent night’s sleep, not even wanting us to speak to a single roadside traveler that could have told us of any news. And now you are attacking my love’s house guard, suddenly thinking they are out to get us!”
Josie's gaze reflected fear and pity both. It broke Jess's heart to see. "Can't you understand, Jess? The strain of all you've survived and had to do has pushed you too far. Your mind couldn't handle the pressure, and it's made you paranoid!"
Alex hissed, as if afraid that Josie’s own rising hysteria would somehow cause Jess to lose herself. It shamed Jess to think that her friends could so doubt her self-control, that they might even fear for their own safety while under her care. Her sad-eyed gaze made Alex drop his own, suddenly shamefaced, even as Josie continued on.
“Something’s wrong with you, Jess! Can’t you see that? You are the one acting irrational and crazy. You are the one attacking complete strangers!” Josie began to tear up. “Oh gods. What if you’re the one infected with diabolism, Jessie? What if you were infused by some taint, fighting in ghastly Shadow, and perhaps you don’t even know you are infected?”
Jess glared down at the two guardsmen shivering in their undergarments, having been quickly and ruthlessly stripped of all their gear and equipment. Thankfully, they were too far away for their enemies to make out what had happened, yet Jess knew it was only a matter of time before suspicion drew more of them forward, and she knew she had to act now. For if her company was divided in their commitment and resolve, it would play right into their enemy's hands. The guardsman who could still speak caught sight of her gaze, turned pale, and began to shudder, though Jess couldn’t understand why. She hadn’t even begun to interrogate him yet. The other man continued to moan and writhe, blood still streaming from his shattered face.
Jess abruptly grabbed her blood spattered mace, pressing the gore coated flanges against Rolin's panicked face. He began to whimper. Jess smiled, grabbing his hair and forcing him to gaze into the horrific travesty of his friend's countenance. "Unless you want me to do the same to you as I did to Neltose, you will talk! And tell me everything I damn well want to know! Who are you? Who are those men back at the Chateau? When were the diOnni guardsmen compromised? Who is paying you to betray your lord? Quit blubbering, Rolin, and talk! Talk now!"
Josie began to sob inconsolably.
“Take her out of here, Raphael!” Jess snapped.
“Jessie, you're mad!” Josie sobbed. “Can’t you see that? You’re going mad!”
Rolin gazed toward the sound of Josie's sobbing voice, a look of desperate hope fixed on his features. "Please, my lady! Please, Lord diOnni! Call off your bloodthirsty hound! I know not why this hellion has so brutally struck us unawares when we had already sworn her safe passage, but there you are! We are your loyal escort, nothing more!"
Raphael’s plaintive gaze made Jessica’s gut twist with sudden panicked doubt. By the gods, what if she was wrong?
“Jessie, is there any chance, any possible chance at all that you might be mistaken? That perhaps this is all the result of some… tragic misunderstanding?” Raphael's gentle smile was almost pleading.
Jess closed her eyes for a moment, forcing herself to regain her equilibrium. She had to remember that Raphael and Josie were utterly naïve to the realities of brutal combat, the mad desperation that was the true face of war. Josie, at least, had some experience with the reality of injuries and mishaps suffered by Highrock's future knights and commanders, but nothing like the grievous wounds to be found on an actual battlefield. Alex and Jera at least had some small idea of the horror of actual conflict, tr
ained to butcher and blast livestock without hesitation so that, should war come, they would not shirk in doing what they must, to defend their country.
Jess knew that very few outside Eloquin’s chosen circle were taught the most ruthless elements of both war and interrogation. Yet alienating her friends, horrifying them, would be just as bad for their survival as anything else that would divide their allegiance and loyalty to one another. She had to make them understand the true gravity of the threat that awaited, but do so in a way that would shock and traumatize Raphael and poor sobbing Josie as little as possible.
“Watch them, Malek.” Jess smiled at Malek’s sardonic nod, knowing that he, at least, would always have her back, would always fight by her side without question, no matter how waspish his comments were about her state of mind later. Just as she would do the same for him.
“Well I’m certainly not going to kick them, Jess. Just be quick about it, whatever it is you are going to do.” Malek sighed, looking down the slope. “I’m sure we are safe for the moment, but time is at a premium and I, for one, would rather us be mounted and ready for a charge, with Alex and Jera ready to blast at our backs, than be standing around, vulnerable as hell.”
Jess nodded. "Good point, shieldbrother." Jess then removed her gore-spattered gauntlet to stroke her purring familiar. "I don't suppose I can trouble you to keep your eagle eyes posted on the road and let us know the minute our enemies grow suspicious and begin to make their way up the road?"
Twilight's maw curled into an amused grin, peering down at his mistress. "As if you even had to ask." At that moment he fluidly sprung from Jessica's shoulder to land with supernatural grace upon Malek's helm. "Here's as fine a perch as any, my mistress," he teased.
Malek grimaced. "I know it's impossible, but I suddenly feel as if a certain sarcastic cat has just perched himself atop my helm."
Jess quirked an amused eyebrow. “And how did you know that he has a flair for sarcasm if you can neither see nor hear him, shieldbrother?”
Malek tilted his head, his smile turning suddenly puzzled as he thought about it. “I don’t know, to be honest. Isn’t he, though?”
Jess allowed herself a quiet chuckle, winking at Malek, before turning to Raphael, doing her best to wear her most conciliatory smile. “Raphael, if you could follow me for just a moment?”
Lips pressed together in a slight scowl, her friend nonetheless sighed and did just that, Josie refusing to leave his side.
“Are you having second thoughts, Jess?” Josie asked hopefully, her pleading gaze not lost on Jess.
Jess smiled gently down upon her somewhat shorter friend. "I am sorry, dear Josie. But things have come too far for that." She then raised her hands placatingly before further protest could be raised. "But here me out, my friends. You might actually approve of what I'm going to propose. I think there may be a way to convince our captives to tell us what we need to know without undue bloodshed, at least for the moment," she qualified, quelling Josie's helpful gaze, even as she locked eyes with Raphael. "Make no mistake. I believe the next hour or so will be extremely brutal and violent. My hope is simply to obtain the information needed to maximize the chances that the rest of us can keep you and Josie safe and whole, Raphael."
Raphael gazed solemnly at Jess for a moment, acquiescing at last with a nod. “Very well, Jess. What would you have me do?”
Jess smiled, and told him her plan.
14
Twilight?” Jess queried even as she withdrew her belt knife, approaching the suddenly anxious looking Rolin.
Twilight grinned. "We are safe for the moment, my mistress. The dozen or so guardsmen down below are still milling around. I almost think that I sense frustration from the gestures of the one that I infer leads them. But he is not a complete fool. At the foot of the chateau he holds the advantage of terrain, at least to his mind, with half a score of crossbows ready to capture his recalcitrant prey when we at last make our way down the winding road. He knows he loses some advantage if his men proceed up the road in pairs. Not only is charging uphill difficult for anyone lacking your training at our present slope, his men can only fire off two bolts at a time and, worst of all, we could turn tail and run, forcing him to chase us down." Twilight gave a slow shake of his head. "He will bide his time a bit longer. I am quite sure of that."
Jess dipped her head in approval of her familiar’s report. “Well done.”
Twilight smirked. “Quite all right, my mistress. I have no doubt that I shall be suitably recompensed.”
Jess nodded, turning quietly to Raphael. “I do hope your chef prepares fish regularly.”
Raphael looked a bit nonplussed. “What by the angels above does that have to do with anything?”
Jess grinned. “Twilight’s hungry.” She quickly smoothed her features into a grim scowl. “All right, Raphael. Don’t flinch. This look if for Rolin. You know what you have to do.”
Jess quickly strode over to the suddenly struggling Rolin, jerking his head up by his oily locks, grinning madly into his terrified eyes. “Do you feel that, Rolin?” She allowed Rolin to gaze down at the dirk she had jabbed into his crotch. "You are going to answer Lord diOnni's questions. If I sense even one lie from you? I shall twist and tear and you shall never be able to call yourself a man again!"
Rolin's sweaty features, already pale with dread, turned ghastly; his cheeks alone two hot spots of crimson. Jess could sense the terrified racing of his heart mirrored in his suddenly rasping breaths. "Do you understand me, Rolin?"
“Yes, my lady!” He whispered. “But, my lady…”
Jess ever so gently pricked him with her blade, the man shutting off his declaration of innocence with a whimpering cry.
At that moment Raphael knelt down beside the man, gazing at him with a cool look, shaking his head in mock pity. Jess knew it was all an act, knew that Raphael was actually dreadfully certain they were doing the man a grave injustice, but being the son of a merchant prince had lent him a certain mobility of character, able to take on roles at will, and lie and bargain with the best of them. Fortunately, he had had the foresight to delegate the care of gentle-hearted Josie into Jera’s sympathetic embrace, knowing that the less she saw and heard, the better it would be for her, and the less chance there was of her wrecking their charade. Or, at least what Raphael thought was a charade, Jess thought grimly. As for herself, when it came to protecting her friends, there were no limits as to what she was prepared to do.
“My dear Rolin. It is best you listen up, chap, because here is how it is going to be. Firstly, you are going to inform my good friend Jessica here about the true nature of whatever is awaiting us down below." He gently held up a finger, capturing Rolin's desperate gaze before he could blubber. "Now I would advise you consider your answers very, very carefully. Because, as I see it, there are four possible outcomes to two possible scenarios."
“The first scenario is that all is indeed well below." Raphael smiled, patting the man on his cheek. "Why, if this is the case, and you insist upon it, not only will all be well, but I shall reward you five gold crowns by way of apology to you and Neltose both!" Raphael chuckled softly as the man blubbered his extreme gratitude, assuring that such was exactly the case. "Yes, I know it is extremely generous, and such is exactly what loyal staff deserves. Of course, if such is the case, your good friend Neltose will be healed to the extent he can be, by the best healers in the land, and I shall cover all associated costs. But think very carefully over this answer, Rolin. For I have not finished laying out the possible outcomes. The second possible outcome to the scenario of innocence is that you tell me danger awaits below when in fact none waits at all, scaring me unnecessarily. If such is the case, I'm afraid I shall have to dismiss you right away with no reward at all." Raphael chuckled softly. "I know. Why would I even state such an outcome? It is so that you know it is to your own benefit to assure me of good intentions, if that is what awaits us, and not be overly intimidated by dear Jessica's knife at your crotc
h here. She will only use it if danger awaits us, and you don't warn us of its exact nature."
Raphael locked gazes with Rolin, and Jess was quietly impressed by the fierce intensity she sensed from her friend. His stare was unwavering. His every gesture made it quite clear that he was unflinching in his resolve, and more than willing to carry out his threats, or make good on his promises.
Rolin blinked, yet was unable to look away, captivated by Raphael's hypnotic gaze.
“For here is the second scenario, dear Rolin, and that is that danger does await at the chateau. In that case, two further outcomes are possible. One, that you warn us of the danger, so we are prepared for what awaits us below. The reward for this, should we emerge victorious, is that you would be allowed to walk free with five gold crowns to your name and the opportunity to start your life anew, though we may hold you captive for a time, to assure you are unable to warn any enemies.
Raphael smiled, reading something, Jess thought, into the curious twitch of emotions flowing over the man’s face.
“The other outcome is this: Trouble awaits us below, and you do not warn us of its nature. In that case, either we emerge victorious, in which case I allow my dear friend here to castrate and disembowel you…" Jess pressed her dagger ever so slightly against the man's pants once more, earning a terrified whimper even as Raphael spoke on. "Or you fail to warn us, and your friends below capture us, at which point I will make it utterly clear that I will cooperate fully with their demands, but only if they disembowel you for my pleasure."
Raphael’s gaze turned dark. “Believe you me, dear Rolin. Whatever you may think of your position, I can almost promise you that manipulation of my family would interest the powers using you and your men as pawns far more than my death. So I suspect that such a request would be a more than suitable bargaining chip to assure my cooperation. So think carefully before you lie, dear Rolin. Do you really think your captain, if he is corrupt, would hesitate to torture you if it would earn my cooperation, even my willingness to impart the whereabouts of hidden coin for the satisfaction of your demise?”
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