*
Gez-reil wandered along the icy corridors toward the room where he knew Seteal was to speak her oath. She’d probably need some convincing, which meant Po-let was probably going to try intimidating her into submission. With the Ways, it might work, but if Seteal was anything like her mother, Gez-reil very much doubted it.
At the end of the corridor, Gez-reil came to a large door with a small window sunk into the ice near the top. He peered through to find a young woman sitting at the table within the interrogation room. The first thing Gez-reil noticed was what a striking resemblance she had to his long-dead sister. Po-let, an ugly man, loomed over Seteal with a mean smile splitting his face. Gez-reil rolled his eyes, sincerely doubting that playing it tough would work with this young lady.
She was not what he’d expected, with dark brown hair, hazel eyes, and dirt smudged against her dress--hardly an imposing figure. Turning her face toward the lantern light, Gez-reil couldn’t help but feel a stab of regret. Seteal faced Po-let, her eyes twin flames. Gez-reil hadn’t seen such fire since the last time he’d seen Jil-e-an. Po-let dwarfed the skinny girl, but her face lacked any signs of intimidation.
‘Hello, Seteal. I’m Po-let. We’re going to spend some time together. Now we can have a pleasant time, or we can have an unpleasant time.’ He spoke as though one might to a small child. ‘You’ll make this easier on the both of us if you simply swear this oath to any elder of your choice. It really is that simple.’ He slid a piece of paper across the table toward her.
‘I want nothing to do with your people.’ Seteal turned away.
‘Oh?’ Po-let tilted his head and frowned mockingly. ‘That is a shame.’ The man pulled out a leather strap. ‘Ordinarily we’d starve you for a few days, or perhaps prevent you from sleeping, but we’re short on time so I’ll just have to cut to the chase.’ Po-let hefted his thick leather strap and threw back his arm.
Unable to believe his eyes, Gez-reil threw open the door and barged into the room. ‘What are you doing, man? Have you lost your mind?’
‘High Elder Gez-reil.’ Po-let lowered his arm. ‘I was merely encouraging the outlander to speak the oath.’
‘Has the entire cleff lost its mind?’ Gez-reil stretched out his open palms. ‘We do not torture our future reis.’
‘But the War Elder said I had to use any means possible to make her commit the oath.’ Po-let shrugged and turned back, hefting the strap as he went.
‘That’s enough!’ Gez-reil cried.
‘I’m sorry, High Elder Gez-reil, but I cannot disobey the War Elder. He might send me to Vish’el’Tei.’ Po-let dug around in his pocket to procure a neatly folded letter. The big man handed it over and Gez-reil wasted no time in reading it.
Gez-reil,
By now you are probably aware of Seteal Eltari’s impending misfortune. I assure you that this is for the very best. I’ve had extensive experience with this young lady and have come to the realisation that her spirit is too stubborn for verbal persuasion to penetrate. I understand that you are not a great believer in alternative forms of persuasion, however, I fear to inform you, my old friend, that your opinion is no longer relevant. Please note the following excerpt taken directly from Ancient Law, book five, chapter seventy, subtitle 'War Elder Rights':
In times of pronounced war, all decisions whether minor or major, shalt thus be made by the designated war elder.
If you read a little further, the paragraph goes on to explain that in times of war, decisions are processed far too slowly when an entire assembly of elders is invoked, hence the use of a war elder.
Did you not declare war, Gez-reil? Did you not all make that choice? Now I am your elder and I trust you will not interfere with the treatment I’ve set out for our future rei.
Yours faithfully,
War Elder Far-a-mael
Unified Cleffs
Gez-reil dropped the letter and watched it fall to the polished ice floor. What had they done? Gez-reil rushed out of the room to the sound of Seteal’s cries.
The Inner Circle: The Knowing Page 56