Page 35 of Of Serpents and Ruins
On the long table at the opposite end from me sat instruments of torture: wicked curved blades, icy thin needles, vials of dark potions. These items were mostly for show and intimidation.
The two prisoners had been separated into adjoining cells. Both men cowered, shrinking even from my shadow as it crossed the seams of the floor. The chains about their wrists and ankles rattled. Their black garb was tattered and torn, their masks ripped off but the indentations still apparent on their skin. Bruises and markings covered their faces and peeked through the rips in their garments. Blood spattered over their flesh and garments. One was missing two fingers on his left hand. The other had a makeshift bandage wrapped around his thigh.
My jaw clenched, and my right fist tightened. Only two of the assassins who had attacked my beloved survived, and here they were.
"Who is the seer who told you where to find the queen?" I crossed my arms over my chest, my fingers digging into the serpent tattoos once more.
Both men eyed me with caution.
Hord approached from behind and took his position on my left.
"Answer me!" I bellowed.
The man with the missing fingers staggered to his feet. The chains visibly bit into his wrists. "We don't know who the seer was. The messages were anonymous, but the need is clear. The queen must die, or else everything—"
I struck the stone wall. The stones rattled. Fiery pain blistered through my knuckles and up my arm as I glared at the man. "How many of you believe this? How many are there?"
Both men stared at me, stupefied. These men were clearly amateurs. One of the homegrown factions of allegedly well-intentioned nationalists who lacked true skill.
"Answer me!" I bellowed.
The assassin with the bandaged leg spoke, his voice shaking. "There are many scattered about. The curse must be ended, or else all will die."
Rage boiled inside me. "Fools," I spat.
"We did it to protect you," Missing Fingers pleaded, "to protect Ogniskoan interests and the Ognisko line. If we do not slay her, then other factions will slay you. We are on your side."
"If you try to kill your queen—my wife—you are not on my side," I snarled.
Lunging forward, I reached in, seized Missing Fingers by his black tunic, and dragged him forward. He whimpered, dropping his gaze and struggling to pull back.
"I want the names of everyone involved." I slammed him up against the bars. My voice echoed and faded almost at once within the stark chamber. Fear shone in the man's bloodshot eyes.
Bandaged Leg hunched back, clearly hoping he was out of reach.
"Tell me!" I loosened my grip on his ragged black tunic to let him fall back just enough before jerking him forward and striking his face again.
Blood gushed from Missing Fingers's nose as it cracked against the metal. The chains rattled and clanked.
Hord stepped forward. "Interrogator Lodin will be coming to conduct the interrogations to gain all this information," he said,his voice calm, "and both these men will speak better if they are…alive."
It occurred to me that I might kill one and let the other speak, but who was to say who actually had relevant knowledge?
With great effort, I released the man. He staggered to the ground then collapsed, weeping as he held his bloodied face.
I glared at him, contempt filling my very being. "Fine."
Hord followed me to the staircase out of earshot of the prisoners. "When we are finished with the interrogations, should they be placed in the general prison for trial—"
"Kill them. Make sure the bodies are never found. Do the same to all involved with that faction," I said, not even glancing back over my shoulder.
Hord halted, his boots squeaking on the floor. "No trial?"
"I am the king." I spat the words out with ice. "They had their trial. There is nothing any of them can say that will change what they have done. Get the information we need from them. Find the rest and then make sure they aren't found. There is no mercy for anyone who would harm my wife."
That went for me as well. I turned my back on them and left.
No matter what it cost, I would keep Stella safe.
