by K. L. Bone
“Derit,” Savrick suddenly said.
“My commander’s name is Derit, second Lekit of my command.”
I offered a smile, moving both of my empty hands back into Savrick’s line of vision. “How are you feeling today?”
“Better than when you left me.”
Okay, at least he was talking this time. “How many were in your command?”
“Forty-seven,” he answered.
“How many commands?”
“I’m not saying any more,” Savrick said.
“But I only need one more answer,” I cut in. “Consider carefully, Savrick. One more question and we will be done. I understand you have a family, correct? One more question and we can send you back to them.” I leaned down closer to the helpless creature. “Tell me the name of the Sentiles next target and I will call off these men and send you on the next ship home.”
He glared at me and refused to answer. “Savrick please, I don’t want to hurt you anymore. Please keep talking to me so we don’t have to do this. Do you have children? What are your children’s names?” He again said nothing.
I looked up at Inquisitor Verayt and he nodded. “Okay then,” I sighed. “Once again, if at any time over the next hour you feel like talking, please feel free to do so.”
I picked up a device from the table behind me. It was small and circular in shape, but would expand when put into place. “Okay, Savrick, I need you to please open your mouth.” He did not. “Open your mouth or these men shall force you.”
“Then let them force me.”
I looked up and nodded to the men standing on my left. Two stepped forward. The first grabbed Savrick's thin lips and forced them open while the second inserted the device into his mouth. The press of a button expanded the device, forcing his mouth to remain open. A cloth was placed over his nasal passage to prevent breathing.
“In ancient times,” I stated, “prisoners used to be tied underneath a giant wheel. From this wheel, water was poured down the prisoner’s throat, preventing breathing. As you can see,” I waved my hand in a circular motion, “we have no wheel. However, we will be implementing the basic concepts behind the torture’s principles.”
A small tube was brought forth and placed into my left hand and a rag was placed in my right. “This,” I held up the cloth, “is nothing extraordinary, but you will find it extremely absorbent.” I took the cloth and under inquisitor Verayt’s watchful eye, inserted it halfway down Savrick’s throat. Then I held up the small tube, “this contains an endless supply of water, our modern day version of the ancient wheel, if you will.” I looked directly into Savrick’s eyes. “Once water starts running, the cloth in your throat will inflate, causing you to drown and suffocate at the same time. Once this begins, it will be several days before you are able to speak again. This is your last chance to tell me what I want to know. Nod yes if you have changed your mind. I will walk out of this room and give you exactly two minutes to think about it.”
I stepped out of the room. Kavra was waiting for me on the other side of the door. “You’re doing well,” Kavra said.
“Thanks. Do you think he will talk?” Kavra gave me blank eyes. “Yeah, I don’t think so either.”
“It is the learning that is important,” Kavra reminded me.
“Yes, I know.” I glanced at the clock and saw that his two minutes were just about up. I turned from Kavra and reentered the room. I walked over to Savrick’s line of vision. “Are we ready to talk? Nod, yes, if you are.” I waited several moments, frustrated but unsurprised by his lack of response. “Savrick,” I said, “please, talk to me. I don’t want to do this to you, please don’t make me.” I offered a small smile, “Just talk to me, just a nice conversation and then we can go home.” For a moment, his eyes roamed as though considering my words, then he shook his head in the negative.
I sighed, “Okay, Savrick; you brought this on yourself.” I grabbed the tube from the table it was lying on and took a seat near Savrick’s upper body. I moved the tube to his open lips and placed my finger gently on the button which would begin the flow of water. “Last chance,” I whispered. No response. I turned on the water. He gasped as the first drop touched his throat. It was ice cold.
Two minutes passed. The cloth in his throat inflated and he started to gag. His arms fought against the bonds, the ropes digging into his wrists, drawing blood. I kept pouring the water. His chest rose and fell in a panic. His lungs screamed for air. I turned off the water and let the cloth deflate as the water drained from the cloth, allowing him to take a shallow breath. “Have you had enough?” I asked. I turned the water back on, cutting off his air supply. His body jerked against the ropes again, cutting deeper into each of his wrists. I watched him as though from a distance, and came to the realization that for once, I was not horrified by the writhing, drowning creature before me. Instead I felt only pity, and perhaps a touch of satisfaction that the torture was working as expected.
I turned off the water again, then took my gloved hands and reached for the cloth in his throat. I gripped it tightly between two of my fingers and jerked forward. The cloth was ripped from his throat, bringing with it tissue, skin, and blood. Savrick screamed as it was removed.
He gasped great gulps of air and then screamed more because the cool air hurt his raw throat. He coughed up water and blood. He became ill. The men moved forward to move him enough so that he would not drown in his own vomit and blood. I waited several moments until he became cognitive enough to comprehend what was taking place around him.
“Savrick,” I said. “Are we ready to talk?” He nodded ‘yes,’ but then grimaced as he tried to speak. “Quiet,” I said. “You won’t be able to speak for several days. These men are going to take you to get some rest and clean you up. I will return in a few days at which time I expect you to tell me everything I require. Do you understand me?” He nodded ‘yes.’ Tears streamed his face. “Good,” I replied, motioning for the men to release him. “Tend to his injuries.”
I walked out the front door and calmly removed my robe. “You are handling this well,” Kavra said.
“It worked.”
“Certainly seems that way,” he responded. “I am very proud of you. I have never seen anyone employee that particular form of torture before. It seemed to work very well. If he does indeed begin to talk next week, other inquisitors might begin to implement your chosen tactics.”
“Wow.”
“As I said, you have done well, Chrissa.”
“Thank you, Kavra.”
“Of course,” he said. “What do you say we get out of here and go back home?” I nodded and we walked out of the building and took our private shuttle back to the resort. I walked into my room and took a hot shower. When I left the shower I put on a pair of black slacks and a sapphire shirt of satin. I took a towel and began drying my hair as I walked toward the sound of Kavra’s voice coming from one of the large living rooms with black walls and deep red furniture. When I reached the large door and walked into the room, I dropped the towel to the floor and ran toward the couch into Lord Kasar’s waiting arms.
“Oh my god!” I exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”
“Hello, Chrissa,” Lord Kasar said. “I have some recent battle reports to give to the council and its good news for a change, so I thought I would deliver it personally. It was also an excuse to see you.” I left his embrace and took a seat beside him. “So tell me, have you been enjoying your stay on Setianta?”
“Oh yes! I saw the museum and the hall of Emperors and even met two council members!” I spent the rest of the evening describing all of my most recent adventures and explaining my choice of tactics. Dinner was eventually served and when he could get a word in, Lord Kasar told us about some of his most recent conquests and battles. Kavra piped in occasionally to complain about Lord Kasar’s old fashioned décor, to which Kasar only laughed.
The next morning we enjoyed a hot breakfast in one of the dining rooms when Lord Kasar asked, �
��Chrissa, I would like for you to accompany me to give my reports today.”
I nearly choked on the piece of toast I was eating. “You mean, to the council?”
He nodded. “It will give you a chance to actually see the council chambers and meet the rest of the Councilors as well. I thought you might enjoy it.”
“Oh, yes! I would love to!” I glanced towards Kavra who was sitting on my left. “Are you coming too?”
“No, but I will meet you both for dinner tonight.”
I returned to my room excited at the prospect of being allowed to watch an actual session of council. I dressed in a pair of black slacks with a black blouse that buttoned up the front. My dark hair was left straight, the top layer pulled up in a partial pony tail and the rest left down across my back. I placed a small drop of dye in each eye, changing them from green to a brilliant blue. I added a simple gold chain around my neck and a pair of thin hoop earrings. I buttoned the long sleeves tightly against my wrists and turned in front of the mirror for one last look before walking out to meet Lord Kasar.
He looked wonderful in a classic black and white suit. His jet black hair was pulled back with a gold band matching the golden chain which encircled his throat. He took my arm and escorted me into the waiting limousine which took us swiftly to the council chambers.
I felt insignificant standing beneath the tall, building with its tall spiral pillars and domed ceiling. The immortal words once spoken by Emperor Dehartra stood out against their gold background about the entrance to the building: “Long live those who die in service; Long live the Setian Empire.” I was filled with a sense of awe as I began to walk up the golden steps.
Two guards were waiting at the top of the stairs. The first guard said, “Please state your name and business.”
“That’s Lord Kasar,” said the second guard. “I served under him for several years.” He then looked down at me, “and who are you, my Lady?”
“Chrissa,” I said shyly.
“My daughter,” Kasar added. “I am here to give battle updates to the Councilors. They are expecting me.”
The guard nodded, “Yes, we were informed you would be arriving today. Please, come this way.” The doors swung open and we entered a long corridor. The floor was white marble and the click of my heels echoed down the hallway. The walls were a light cream with specks of gold, as though they had been covered with a light coat of glitter. We walked down the silence hallway before finally stopping outside of a large, black door.
Two men stood on either side of the door. Two were dressed in red cloaks, the color of the council, while two were dressed in gold, the color of the Emperor. It meant that the Emperor was in the session, though his identity was kept secret from all those who were not of Lordly rank. One of the guards in red stepped into the room beyond to announce our presence and a few moments later, the doors opened. A guard in human form dressed in gold stepped forward and offered me his arm. “May I escort you to a seat, my Lady, so you may watch the proceedings?” With a nod from my father, I took the man’s arm and allowed him to escort me through the tall black doors.
The room was massive, oval in shape with a high, vaulted ceiling. On the far side of the room were the thirteen chairs where the Councilors were seated and to the left were additional chairs for an audience. There was a raised platform in the center of the room that offered a decent view to all. I was escorted to the center of the room where I gave a formal bow before the Councilors. “Greetings, Lady Kasar,” Councilor Vektor said. “You are most welcome here.” I was then whisked off the floor and to a seat on the left side of the room. Lord Kasar followed with a bow and took his place on the podium in the center of the room.
“Good evening, Councilors, Emperor. I am grateful for this opportunity to report to you personally.”
“Greetings, Lord Kasar,” Councilor Vektor said. “We are eager to hear your reports.”
“As you know,” Lord Kasar began, “we have been having particular trouble with the Trests for the past few months. Several of our spies were captured by the Setian scans which have been implemented throughout the planet. Yet I am here today to inform you of some recent developments which I believe you will find most satisfactory.”
Several Councilors gave him a somewhat quizzical look as they waited for him to continue. “Harars nine decided to try out a new plan, approved by Lord Redim.” Lord Kasar cleared his throat. “They took several tenns and semnas and introduced Setians into their primitive minds. These pets were allowed to enter the rooms unsuspected.”
“What?” The question came from a Councilor I did not recognize.
“Yes,” Lord Kasar said. “It was truly ingenious.”
“What happened?” asked another Councilor.
“Our pet spies infiltrated the major control rooms inside of the Trests home-world. We coordinated a simultaneous attack between Lord Redim’s spies and my troops. I put my commanders in position around the planet while Redim managed to completely shut down the outer defenses with the passwords learned from the Trests’ own pets. Once the shields were down, our troops had an easy victory over the Trests’ major cities. They had few actual defenses, depending so heavily on their superior technology that it seemed they had no alternative plan in place.”
“Are you saying?” Councilor Vektor asked.
“Yes,” Lord Kasar replied. “We have taken the Trests’ planet. Eighty-five percent of their population is in a holding area awaiting infestation pools to arrive. It was a shocking and of all things, easy victory.”
Councilor Revdran, who had remained quiet throughout this report, suddenly spoke. “Wait!” he said. “You are telling me, that…that we infested their pets?”
“Yes,” Kasar said.
“Wait! You mean it actually worked?”
“It was your idea?” Lord Kasar asked surprised.
“Of course not!” the Councilor replied.
Councilor Revdran exchanged a look with Councilor Vektor. “Did you tell?”
“I told Lord Kylen.” Councilor Vektor said.
Lord Kylen, a Horde, looked up from his seat. “I told Harars 3.”
“You mean…it worked? I told Harars two, but only as a joke, the same as you told it to me, my Lord.”
A man in human form said, “I told some people, and I suppose Harars nine was one of them.” He shook his head, “I never thought anyone would take it seriously!”
Lord Kasar looked at the faces around him confused. “Whose idea was it then?”
The two Councilors looked at each other again, and both began to smile. “This brilliant idea which just won to the battle of Trests,” Councilor Revdran said, “was brought to us at dinner a few weeks ago by Lady Chrissalynn Kasar.” All eyes turned toward me.
“His daughter?” one of the others said in disbelief.
“My Chrissa?’ Lord Kasar echoed his question. “My girl?”
“Yes,” Vektor confirmed. The two Councilors then enlightened the rest of the room of the conversation we had recently had over dinner.
“Congratulations, Lady Kasar,” Councilor Revdran said. “I understand you have not yet had your day on the beach?”
“No, my Lord.”
“Then you shall do so in three days hence. We will make arrangements to have you taken to the Dehartra beach, the most beautiful on the planet.”
“Thank you, my Lord.” I was half ecstatic; half shocked over the fact that my idea had been so successful. When my father walked me out of the room I was still slightly in shock.
“That little girl may be one to watch,” I heard a voice say as the black doors closed behind us. Once in the hallway, Lord Kasar stared down at me for several moments before suddenly lifting me in his arms in a joyous embrace. “Congratulations, my daughter. You have made me so proud today!” I smiled, his joy meant more than the congratulations of all the Lords and Councilors combined.
We went to dinner that night and informed Kavra of our story. The look on his face was as stunned
as mine had been at the news. We celebrated with some grand desserts and when we returned home, a mean game of cards.
Chapter XII
The next day I returned to the nearby moon for my next session with Savrick. I entered the room to find him tied to a chair this time, Inquisitor Verayt informed me that he had spent the morning saying he would speak with me so he had been placed in a slightly more comfortable setting. I forwent the usual black robe. I was wearing a pair of black jeans with a long sleeved shirt of burgundy. I had dyed my eyes to a deep green for the day.
A small black table sat beside the seat where Savrick was bound. A second seat was waiting for me. His hands were chained behind his back to the chair which was bolted to the floor. I walked into the room and took the seat beside Savrick, moving the chair so that we were facing each other. “Hello, Savrick.”
“Hello,” he replied.
“I understand that you are ready to talk to me today.” Silence followed, “Savrick?” I asked.
“Yes,” he finally replied. “I am ready to speak with you.”
“Then give me a good faith answer.”
“Yes,” he replied, the fight at long last gone from his sore throat.
“What is their next target?”
Silence once again fell between us. I allowed it to linger as he looked at my young face. I showed him the blank eyes I had been taught to show in instances such as this. It was a look that I had spent many a night practicing to perfection. Then he finally said, “Palta.”
“What priority level will the attack be?”
“One,” he answered.
“When will preparations begin?”
“They already have,” was the reply.
I glanced at where both Lord Kavra and Kasar stood. Kavra appeared to be cursing with a shocked look on his face. He turned to one of their guards who promptly turned and ran out the door, presumably to tell the council.
“Palta?” I continued. “They are possibly the most peaceful and non-interfering species in the galaxy. They are known for their friendly nature and extreme level of intelligence. Why would anyone harm Palta?” I recalled fondly my last visit to the planet. Lord Kavra had been visiting with the leader of Palta and their five year old son had proudly displayed the picture he had drawn in class earlier that day of his family playing the park with their semnas. He was a cute boy with light blue fur and a bright smile.