Heirot

Reya glanced over at the sundial she had positioned in the room's window, and back at Jhaptal. "I seem to have slept too long. Let's eat and get busy. There is much to be done today," she said, getting to her feet. She went to her closet and removed the clothes she intended to wear that day, quickly changing into green blouse with drapey sleeves and a long green skirt, then walked out into her office, where food was prepared for them as always.

Jhaptal watched Reya change, unaffected by her temporary state of nudity as she does so. As she had been uncaring about his own the previous night, he returned the same sense of apathy towards her. Instead, once she finished changing, he stepped out of the room with her and took his normal seat at the table.

Reya sat and ate the breakfast that had been set out for them of bread, milk and spiced pork. She seemed quiet. as though reflecting deeply on something. She ate half her bread and stopped, her stomach not up to the amount she normally ate. At length, she finally said "When you've had your food, please head to the cells and see to the task we discussed last night."

"Very well Lady Reya," Jhaptal said, then he paused for a moment as he recalled the interesting weapons the elf had used. "Lady Reya, do you know of the... armblades that Soran Nightblade wields?" he asked.

"I do," Reya answered calmly. "What of them?"

"They are interesting weapons," Jhaptal replied. The request might have been strange to any other person, but Reya would have known Jhaptal well enough to know about his love for acquiring more skills and more fighting styles. "I would like to have a pair made for myself, to test them out."

"Understood," Reya said with slight amusement in her tone. "I will have my weaponsmiths forge a pair."

"Thank you," Jhaptal said. He finished up his meal and stood. "I will proceed with my task now." Without waiting for a dismissal, the ninja left the room and soon found himself opening the door to the dungeons.

When Jhaptal had left the room, Reya went to her desk and took a seat. She began continuing the formula she'd been working on the last few days that would correct the inadequacies in the design of their last test subject, forcing her mind onto the topic at hand.

Soran's delicate senses returned quickly as a sound came from outside, signalling that someone was coming. He opened his eyes and sat up warily.

Jhaptal walked into the dungeons and eyed the captive carefully. "The Lady Reya wishes for me to... interrogate you," he said. He could have changed his words to kinder ones, but there was not a doubt in his mind that Soran would have seen through it anyway. "Will you come peacefully to the torture chamber or will I have to resort to more... desperate methods?"

Soran stood up and studied Jhaptal warily, anger and blame in his eyes as he looked at the person who had betrayed him. He couldn't imagine what information he could have that this Reya person would want, but nonetheless the idea of interrogation held little savor for him.

He considered his position. These people knew where Mizuki and the others were living. If he failed to cooperate now, everything he'd done so far would go to waste. After all, he could think of lvery few questions he wasn't willing to answer. "Lead the way," he said coldly, green eyes burning into Jhaptal.

Jhaptal made sure to activate the magical seal on the entrance to the dungeon before he opened the door to Soran's cell. After all, the worst he could now do is harm him, and that would put his friends in a very bad position.

He led the elf over to a door off to the side, on the right wall of the dungeon. The whole time he kept watch in case the rogue would try to attack him from behind. He opened the door to the torture chamber and motioned Soran to go in first. Inside were bottles filled with strange looking liquids and various implements that could be used for torture. The only exit to the room was the door that they were entering by.

Soran felt his muscles grow tense as he made himself step willingly into the room. He hated being touched, and hated being bound just as much because of the vulnerability that came along with it. He kept his external features perfectly calm, but couldn't stop his heart from suddenly pounding in his chest.

Jhaptal motioned Soran over to the torture rack that was set up in the middle of the room. "Take off your trenchcoat and shirt. Then lie down in it and strap your ankles in, as well as one of your wrists," he ordered. The ninja was already beginning his torture of the rogue, whom he figured would dislike anyone having power over him. By ordering him around, he would create more of a sense of helplessness in the elf, which would lead to breaking him and getting information faster.

Soran rolled his eyes and removed his shirt and coat, and got onto the table. Trying not to think, he closed the cold steel braces over his ankles and then his wrist, taking his time. He was in no rush. He didn't say a word, staring sternly up at the ceiling.