Chapter 30

The very next day hundreds of well dressed and very powerful looking people entered the Vlatkas' mansion. Some time would pass since Vlatka still had to do her duties. We waited passionately for her to call for us.

"Its real fascinating how well organized they are." "I was surprised to when I came here too." "Your not from here Laney?"

"...No well its complicated."

I forget that we don't anything about Laney. Well we don't know anything about anyone we are allied with. Tise, the princess and...I guess Alie too. "This is taking to long. We don't have a lot of time."

"Stay organized Alie. Remember were not suppose to be associating with the black market. It will ruin the reputation of the princess." "I know."

She nibbles on her finger nails while me and Laney laid on the furniture waiting for Vlatkas summons. I fell asleep sine I was was bored. I get tired when I'm not doing anything active. Recently I've been entering into the world of magic when I slept.

"..." I stood in silence not saying a word. The five pillars around the tree had risen again. While watching the tree faintly I could hear voices around me speaking chants. The cat had appeared again staring blankly at me.

I awoke immediately after I sank in the water beneath me. Bad nightmare Laney asked. "Yeah." Alie had fallen asleep as well. "How long have we been asleep?"

"Just a few hours. Alie fell asleep about an hour ago. She was really stressing out and I told her to sleep on it. Honestly as smart as she is she can very impatient and show a lot of weaknesses when she's emotional."

"Is showing emotion a problem?" 

"Showing to much is. The princess is trying to teach her how to be a leader. And she must get her emotions under control. But she is still young."

"Can I ask you some thing?"

"What is it?" 

"What do you think of half-bloods. I'm sure you heard of the stories of half-bloods being the reason why the beast-kingdom fell. Can you tell how?" I've been very confused lately. Its hard for me to not think of the hardships I might put on Alie and the princess.

"I haven't been here long enough to judge you. And I already know you are not that kind of person. And for your second question I can only tell you what I heard through my travels. Years ago when the southern empire and other allied human kings invaded the beast-men kingdom. A large number of half-blood beast-men had helped them."

Much like how humans mistreat non humans the beast-men saw half-bloods lesser then worms. They were stain to the mighty history of beast-men. Much like now half-bloods were second class peasants or slave. Many beast-men were able to escape or traded to human owners.

But one day the humans thought these half-bloods know the kingdom and have secrets routes to run away from the beast-kingdom. And for their freedom they would show the imperials the routes they use.

"They were the main reason why such a powerful kingdom fell. And because their betrayal all have bloods are not loyal to their own because their half-bloods."

"I see."

"Don't think to much about it. Its a complicated matter. I don't know who was in the right. The half-bloods or the beast-men. Its history now and all we can do now is learn from the mistakes of the past."

"Its kind of hard to do that these days."

"Its only hard if you let the worlds obvious problems make it hard." Suddenly a knock could he heard on the door. "The master is ready." We woke Alie and head to the dungeons. Eric who was chained to the wall shouted insults and demanded to be released.

"Geez. He hasn't stopped shouting." Vlatka who was going through her tools stated she that if you don't want to see cruelty then step outside. "You all are still kids and if you stay you will see some thing very traumatic."

"Alie. I think you should step outside." Laney said. "No I need to ask him questions." "Alie." Vlatka picks up a thin knife from the tortures tools on her table. "Lets begin."

"Master Vlatka! Why are you doing this!?" 

"We both know why Eric. I won't explain your crime for you. We have memory crystal ready for proof of your confession."

"I have no idea what your on about!?" "I would do this my but since you kids are Mia's allies. This will be great experience for you. It might even desensitize you to these types of things. Go on ask him the what he knows and its not working...well you will see."

We stared at Eric and the tools on the tables. Laney steps forward. "I'll ask the questions. We saw you talking with a Imperial in a tavern last night. We heard the conversation between you too. What are they planning and where are they."

"Vlatka this is insane! These people are with the royal house of Isabella!" "I don't have much to say until they have their answers Eric."

"What...I don't know that their talking about!" "How many Imperials are their." "I don't have any idea what your talking about!" Vlatka signals for her men to open his mouth. "WHa-!? NO!" They grab these hooks to force his mouth open and keep it open.

"Last chance." "Ahh! I dho't knou!" She places teh thin blade between his teeth and begins moving it back and forth repeatedly until it was between his teeth and a few centimeters in his gum. Alie looked away and closed and so did eye.

Vlatka pulls the knife out and Eric screamed in pain. "Are you going to talk Eric. I got all day." "I...please...let me explain!" "Then talk. What are the Imperials plan on attacking the castle!"

"They plan to hit it with a spell to trap who ever is inside. There going to make sure you all are outside the castle walls when they do it. After they are done with the princess they will deal with you all!"

"Where are they and where will they be at." "I...don't have!" Vlatka signals to her men to do some thing to Eric. Vlatka grabs a hot burning rob then. Her men rip his shirt and began using his body like paper. Vlatka wrote traitor on his chest. 

"I'm telling the truth! They don't ever tell me where they stay at!" "Guess well have to put this through your anus then." 

"NO! PLEASE NO!" 

"I got many more things to make you talk Eric. This could end soon when you tell us everything." Eric takes a breath and looks up at us. Alie had already left the dungeon then. "Look in the papers they gave me. They will cast the spell in the sewers that go under the castle. The mage will be their. In the meantime they will have each Imperial attack the one's that close to Mia and keep you occupied while Captain Kane takes care the princess."

"Kane. I know that name. Can't believe he's still around." Vlatka seems to know him and base on her tone she's goes wait back with him. "They wrote down the names of the people we need to kill and keep them away from the castle Especially those slova leaders."

"What are the names." "Tise, Laney, Henkeva, Vlatka, the knight captains, and Terra." "Wait what about Ivalyo?"

"It never mention anyone of that name." They haven't seen Ivalyo before? "Ivalyo did you ever fight any suspicious people on your way back from the battlefield?" 

"No. Hen always dealt with the assassins by himself. I never got to help him and no has ever come after me."

"This could be an advantage we need." "The plans the gave you were are they?" "I burned right away. But I memorized them all."

"Where will they be at?" 

"The elf girl they plan to lure her with a threat of killing them all. Henkeva and Terra will be on the wall during the siege."

"And what about me?"

"They said in his words. Bring the lightning cunt to the outside of the castle." "Did you do some thing to them Laney?"

"Weeelll. I kind of been taunting them for awhile. Before you guys came here I was the main deflecting their attacks and ruining many of their sabotages."

"Eh."

"It's nothing important. We kind of know how their going to attack us, But where and the exact time of they will be attacking is still worrying."

"We still have more questions Eric. What are you getting out of all this?"

"Money and support for my army...A war in the west of the region with the states of Shang." "What are you talking about?" 

"The southern empire are planning to eliminate the new found states of the land of the jade dragon." "And how do you fit all this?" "Its the only way for me to become a noble. Without sacrificing their own the southern empire promised me the lands would be given to me after I conquer it and pronounce my allegiances to them."

"And what what did you give them."

Vlatka steps forward. "I believe your done here now. I will get my answers now." "But!" "If he tells me anything related to you. I will tell you. Right now I need to do my job as the master of the black market." 

As we walked out away they pulled his pants down. Vlatka grabs the hot iron rode again and stood behind him. All I heard where screams and begging when the doors shut behind us.