The draconian's twisted face appeared from the shadows as he stepped into the light of the torturers' torch. "What did Gunthar whisper in your ear, you miserable wretch? Don't try to deny it. What did he tell you?"
The door banged open again, and a man dressed in a crisp blue captain's uniform entered the room. He strode to the table, his bootheels clicking on the stone floor. He doffed his tall, plumed hat and bowed.
"Well, General Zen?" the draconian leader asked.
"The ship and its cargo are intact. As we speak, it is being unloaded, and the prisoners removed to dungeon cells," the man said.
"Unfortunate for them that they sailed too close to this shore. You have done well," the draconian said.
"Thank you, Grand Master Iulus," the man said as he bowed again.
"This is an interesting form you wear," Iulus commented, indicating Zen's appearance.
"Ah, yes. The captain was a bit of a dandy," Zen said. "I flew out to the ship as it passed, and in the usual manner, killed a member of the watch, thus taking his form and disposing of his body overboard. I then proceeded to the captain's cabin, where I killed him and took his shape. Once this was done, it was a simple enough matter to order the helm to steer to the castle's harbor, where our soldiers were waiting. We took them without a fight."
"General Zen, your efficiency is a model to us all. Reward the wyvern watches with a few of the prisoners from the ship. Make sure the master of the dungeons chooses lively ones. The wyverns do so love to play with their supper," Iulus commanded.
"Yes, my master," Zen said, bowing as though to leave.
"Not yet, my friend," Iulus purred. "It can wait. First shed that hideous human form. It's making the baaz nervous."
General Zen stepped back and closed his eyes, folding his arms before his chest. His body began to change shape, his nose lengthening into a snout, his fingers narrowing into claws. His smooth human skin erupted with silver reptilian scales, while from his shoulders and back spread large, powerful wings. In mere moments, he had resumed his natural shape, that of a sivak draconian. Uhoh's mouth fell open.
"Ah, that's better," Zen said in a deep powerful voice. He shook out his wings and stretched like a cat awakening from a nap.
"Now, allow me to introduce to you our long-awaited guest. General Zen, meet Uhoh Ragnap, esquire," Iulus said. The sivak stared down at the prostrate gully dwarf.
"Hello," Uhoh said.
Iulus laughed. "Oh, he is a good sport, don't you think?" he said. "Uhoh was brought in by Harj and that sanctimonious idiot, Shaeder. Harj has once again proved himself valuable in this little affair, but I think Shaeder's blatant disregard for subtlety needs addressing."
"I agree, my lord," Zen said.
"In the meanwhile, Uhoh was just about to impart to me the dire nature of his master's last words. He also needs to tell us who else shares his little secret," Iulus said. "We know that, at the very least, he spoke to that onetime priest of Chislev, Nalvarre Ringbow."
"I blame myself, my lord," General Zen said. "I had him right across the campfire from me. He suspected nothing because I'd take the form of the ranger I'd killed just after dark. If I had known of the priest's involvement, I'd have silenced him then."
"I know, my friend. I don't blame you," Iulus said. He turned and knelt beside the gully dwarf, his reptilian snout almost in Uhoh's ear. "Torture is so messy," he hissed, "but we have to be sure you are telling the truth. Now tell me, what was Gunthar's last shuddering whisper that fateful afternoon?"
"What afternoon?" Uhoh asked.
"Don't play stupid with me. You know which afternoon," the draconian Grand Master snarled.
"Yes," Uhoh squeaked.
"What did he say?"
"The book… Kalabash… in bell room," Uhoh began.
"Stop blabbering, you fool! You are only making it worse for yourself," Iulus warned, pointing one long, goldish claw at the terrified gully dwarf.
"Tell him Liam tell no one," Uhoh continued.
"Master, this is useless," Zen said. "Just kill him and be done with it. That way, no matter what the secret, he can never tell it to another soul."
"But if Gunthar suspected anything, said as much to this creature before he died," Iulus said with a disdainful gesture at Uhoh, "then he might have told others. Our plans could be thwarted. What this gully dwarf tells will help us decide whether we can proceed with caution or confidence."
"I see, my master," Zen said, his voice betraying a shade of uncertainty.
"It is fruitless to resist. We have ways, painful ways of making you talk," Iulus said as he returned his monocular gaze upon Uhoh.
"I talk already. I go now?" Uhoh asked.
Suddenly, Iulus chuckled. Rising to his full seven-foot height, he motioned to the baaz torturers. "I must say, he is a good sport. Don't go too hard on him, but make sure he isn't hiding anything," he ordered.
Turning, he took Zen by the arm and led the sivak from the torture chamber. As the door closed, a shrill scream shattered the night.
Aurak Grand Master of Assassins Iulus set down his silver goblet and gripped the edge of the table with his clawed hands. His one good eye rolled up in his head.
"This wine is superb!" he groaned in ecstasy. "Zen, you really have outdone yourself with tonight's catch."
"It is quite good," Zen agreed, though not with the emotion displayed by his master.
Iulus picked up the goblet in one clawed hand and swirled its contents thoughtfully. Human servants wearing iron collars scurried about the chamber, lighting tapers, trimming wicks, and clearing away the plates from supper. The Grand Master tossed back the remainder in his glass, all the while eyeing the sivak. General Zen merely toyed with his cup, sipping lightly and infrequently.
"Something bothering you, my friend?" Iulus asked. "Would you like a little music with your wine?"
Without waiting for an answer, he turned in his chair and lifted a bronze cap from a metal tube protruding from the wall. Faint echoes of tortured screams welled from the tube.
"No, my master," Zen sighed.
"Is your cup dirty? I'll have the dishwasher flogged," Iulus said.
"The wine is fine," Zen said. "That's the problem. We drink the finest wines of Palanthas while our warriors have to content themselves with watered ale or whatever they can brew themselves. It doesn't seem right. I remember the days when you and I ate boot leather and hobgoblins just to keep alive. That's what made us what we are today-hard living. It made us strong."
Iulus nodded in agreement.
"Do you remember when we pillaged Que-shu and burned Solace to the ground?" Zen asked. "Do you remember how we laughed at how fat those lands were, and how much they deserved destroying. That is what I fear, that now we are grown fat and deserve destroying. This unsettling affair with the gully dwarf only justifies my fears."
"The gully dwarf is nothing. We'll soon learn what we need from him, then we can mop up those he told and be done with it," Iulus said.
"But the Knights…" Zen protested.
"Soon the Knights of Solamnia will not be a concern. Matters are coming to a head there. The Knights are finished, and they don't even know it," Iulus said.
A servant entered the room and approached the Grand Master. He knelt beside the table and whispered something that Zen was unable to hear.
Iulus nodded, then looked up at Zen. "Speaking of Knights, we have a visitor." The servant hurried away.
After a few moments, the door reopened and an armored Knight entered the room. The Knight wore a full helm with the visor pulled down hiding the face.
"What is the word?" Iulus asked.
"Pyrothraxus has retreated to Mount Nevermind," the Knight answered in a voice muffled by the helm.
"What?" Iulus screeched in surprise. The twisted, malformed half of his face turned scarlet. "Was Isherwood destroyed and the Knights there killed?"