Page 18 of Storms & Sacrifice
“It was nice to meet you too, Nikka.”She’s sweet.With a salute from Khazak and an awkward wave from me, we makeour exit.
“What happened twenty years ago?” I ask as we make our way back to the other station. “What’s the Warhunter Rebellion?”
“A dark time for the city.” He sighs. “There was a member of the Tribal Council, Zanik Warhunter, who held some...extremeviews. He felt that as a people, we had ‘gone soft,’ and advocated for a return to a more brutal time in our history. That the strong should rule over the weak. Unfortunately, he had a large number of supporters who felt the same. When the time came for his term to expire, he refused to step down and attempted to overthrow the entire Tribal Council and seize power for himself. He even managed to kill one of the other councilmembers.”
“Shit.” A fuckingcoup? Those actually happen?
“It was more than just citizens. He had supporters in the government, in the militia. A small civil war broke out.” Khazak doesn’t sound happy to be reliving this. “My father was ranger captain at the time, and my other father insisted on volunteering as well, so they left me at home to look after Ayla and Yogik while they fought. That was when they met Jarek, and also when Ruda lost his foot.” The second part of the sentence is said much sadder thanthe first.
“I’m sorry.” Khazak told me he’d had a hard time when he first met his stepdad Jarek, but I didn’t realize why.
“It is alright.” He gives me a half smile. “My family came out of things much stronger than many others. But still, I find myself hoping that this connection between that time and Thog is nothing more than a coincidence.”
We head toward the jail cells when we arrive at the station, which is also where the interrogation room is. Ragnar is already waiting for us outside and gives me a funny look when weapproach.
“You want him to sit in this time?” The question isn’t accusatory, but it still makes me bristle.
“Right. David, I suppose you should—”
“Oh, come on. Let me in this time, please?” Last time they did this, I had to sit in the breakroom and wait. “I swear I’ll just sit in the back quietly and listen.”
The two orcs share a look, and Ragnar shrugs.
“Alright.” Khazak nods his assent. “Pay attention but...make sure you remain silent. Even if he tries to provoke one of us.”
“Yes, Sir.” I nod and mime locking my lips with a key.
After sharing a look, the two rangers open the door and walk in, me right behind them. Thog is seated with his hands cuffed, a chain attaching them to the table in front of him. Khazak and Ragnar take seats in chairs opposite him, and as there are no other chairs to be found, I just lean against the back wall of the room silently, arms crossed.
“Brought your pet this time?” Thog sneers at me.
“Mr. Grimrock,” Khazak starts, ignoring the man’s words, “I trust your stay has been comfortable?”
Thog narrows his eyes at Khazak but doesn’t answer.
Khazak presses forward. “Another robbery has occurred, and we were hoping you would be able to answer some questions about it for us.”
“It is a little hard to rob someone from a jail cell, Captain.” Thog rollshis eyes.
“No, Thog, it’s not the robbery we have questions about,” Ragnar cuts in, voice and attitude more biting than his casual words would let on. “It’s where we found the thief hiding: your father’s oldfactory.”
Thog snaps to attention at Ragnar’s words, his face a mix of confusion andsurprise.
“Yes, we were hoping you could explain that odd connection for us.” Khazak’s tone has remained steady since he firstsat down.
“I... I do not know anything about this.” Thog sounds a little nervous when he answers, but I’m not positive it’s outof guilt.
“Please,” Ragnar sharply draws the attention back to himself. “We all know you weren’t acting alone. Was this the guy you were working with?”
Thog says nothing, but glaresat Ragnar.
“Were you hiding the stolen supplies in the factory?” I’m not sure if Ragnar expects an answer. “What do you need that much brimstone for anyway?”
Again, no reaction from Thog, but Ragnar continues. “Just seems like a really interesting choice, don’t you think? Especially after everything that happened withyour dad.”
I can see Thog’s already clenched fists tighten at Ragnar’s taunt, and Khazak turns his head slightly to eye his deputycarefully.
“You told us you hated the militia, but that’s not completely accurate, is it?” Ragnar’s voice starts to get heated. “Yourentire familymust hate them after your father’s arrest.”
