PBEM-G6

Chapter Ten

"I sure hope you didn't send him up ahead to equip the easily swayed peasants with rotten vegetables," Isianu said keeping her arms folded. Taking several steps forward she said "Alright, just don't do anything brash and I'll come along quietly. I would like to give this Baron a piece of my mind..." She then walks along with the rest of the party, trying to remain dignified despite being prisoner. This was turning from bad to worse, the legion of soldiers at the gate was a bit much, but it make her feel like they were respected in some way which didn't feel too bad.

The knights took up flanking positions. Their leader only growled at Isianu's comment, and the prisoners were forced out into the field again, cutting toward the road and bound for the castle this time. As they approached the road, a large group could be seen hustling towards them. Most of the group were lightly armored, although a few seemed to be clad in regular clothing. The group as one drew up short upon seeing the procession coming up the path. The sea of humans parted to allow Isianu and company to pass, and Isianu sensed more than perceived the group falling in around them.

An old man waited at the gate, along with more of the guards. "What's going on here?!" he yelled, gasping a little when he finished. Isianu's captor came forward.

"I don't have any business with you, old man," he growled, "I have important prisoners and I need to see the Baron right away. Step aside." The old man, clad in robes, slowly limped over a step and approached the impertinent knight. They conferred, the knight gesturing to his prisoners. When the old man looked in their direction, he squinted, then blanched at the sight of them. He hurriedly stepped aside, allowing them entry. Swarms of guards followed them as they stepped into the main chamber of the castle. They were herded into a side chamber and through a large doorway. Many different types of guards preceded them, weapons drawn. Some of them visibly shook as Isianu passed them. They entered a dank, underground room which branched into several tunnels and the knight took the lead.

"Take those two to cells..." he gestured absently to Rei and Asper. They were immediately seized. "Search them, the Baron will decide what to do with them when he returns." He put his sword point to Isianu's back. "These are mine." She and Kupita were directed deeper into the dark tunnel ahead.

Isianu was pushed on, past several intersections with other tunnels. The walls became smoother and changed from dark to lighter gray. A pale man was waiting at the next intersection, clad in a dark vest and raiments. "Amazing," he breathed, unpleasantly.

They entered that hall, taking the first door they found. Isianu and Kupita blinked in the light of the spacious room beyond the door. It was like someone's living quarters, with several chests of drawers, two bookshelves, a few tables, and various other furnishings like chairs and stands. Guards stood at the door, watching uneasily as Isianu was led to an unusual table.

"Strap it in," said the man, "It will fit." The table was turned up at a slant and the knight pushed her against it, his sword held to her neck while he and the other man secured her arms, legs, and waist. The table was tipped back to its level position. "That will do," said the man.

There was the sound of a struggle and one of the guards exclaimed in dismay, "It bit me!" Then there were a few defeated grunts of anger.

"There now," said the dark-clad man.

"The Baron will need to see these two, or at least the wolf. Don't..." he trailed off.

"Of course." The footfalls of the man hastily retreated, followed by the click of the door. The table suddenly tilted to show Isianu the room again, not just the light fixture suspended from the ceiling. Kupita was gagged and bound to a chair near the door. The man carefully rifled through Isianu's robes, taking her personal objects and setting them on the table nearby. He looked at the Essence Jar curiously. The guards followed the knight out of the room, shutting the door behind them.

"Hey!" Isianu exclaimed once they began to rifle through her things, "Watch where you put those those hands! I don't know how you treat the females in your society, but it has to be better than the way you're treating me!" While they were putting her things away, she carefully watched the man holding the orb, trying to notice any strange changes in him due to being in contact with it. The orb wobbled on the table, slightly, but the man paid it no further notice. Isianu could perceive no discernable physical change in him.

"You're a fine specimen," said the man, smiling coldy at Isianu. "Much better than the one we had yesterday. They never even let me touch it." He pouted.

Once the soldiers left Isianu turned to her tormenter and said, "Very well Mr. Creepy-Freak-Who-Lives-In-A-Dungeon, what's the first order of business? It definitely seems that you are interested on what I am. Has it ever occured to you that you could learn a lot more by simply asking nicely than going through all of this?"

He stopped pouting and grabbed a book from the table. He wrote quickly, speaking as he scribbled, "Curious. Somewhat belligerent. Claims to be female." He glanced up at her. "Well, Miss... or Mrs., could be, Tall-Angry-Wolf-Thing, if you feel like talking, please continue. The more information you give, the better. I'm not really interested in what you have to say, but the Baron will be." He sighed. "You should probably tell me your plans, how many of you there are, how you have escaped our notice so long, things like that."

"I seriously think that I would know my own sex," Isianu said rather hautily, "And don't even think of checking to make sure." Shrugging as best as she could while restrained she looked at the interogator. "You will need to be a little more specific please, as far as I know, I'm the last Lupine around here, and I have no plans save for the usual. Stay alive, find a steady form of income, eat well, get a nice home, maybe find love one day, be happy; you know, the goal of about everybody else." A slightly malevolent smile crossed Isianu's face as he responds, "Despite my height, I am rather stealthy. That and I try to avoid most major settlements figuring something such as this would happen, only coming to this town to reaquire a few things belonging to me and my companion. Foolish, I know, but they are irreplaceable and we can't just let people steal anything they want, or else we'd have a total breakdown of society." There was also the fact that so far we have, at best, only encountered second-rate mercenaries and petty bandits, so they weren't much of a challange for one such as myself." He scribbled hurriedly, speaking to himself. "Comes to find home, comma, eat humans. Does not like the taste of mercenaries, slash, bandits." He looked up brightly. "That explains much..." He knitted his brow in thought and scribbled something else before continuing. "Tell me about your pack. How many humans do you eat in... say, a week?"

Kupita began to stir, sliding down her seat in a strange way. The ropes sank down and gave way. The figure that stood was distinctly human, a man, a soldier. Kyle pulled the gag from his mouth and shook his head. He put his hand to his temple and shut his eyes.