Varheiman Myths: The Dragon And Her Fire

Sanlysia's Interrogation.

Teis noticed how the princess classifies people depending on the weapon that they wield. He found that very fascinating but wondered what about the people who don’t wield a weapon. How would she classify them? Anyway, everyone is the subject of the throne and royalty. Wield a weapon or not. He thought.

Although he wanted to know this. ‘Your highness, if you don’t mind, may I ask you a question?’ He asked very carefully.

Sanlysia smirked. ‘Sure, only if you promise to answer my next question with utter honesty,’ she said.

What might she ask? He wondered, the cold now gripping him slowly. He shrugged the thought out of his head and proceeded with his question. ‘You classify people based on the weapons they use. What about people who had never in their entire life wielded any weapon? How do you classify them, your highness?’

She laughed briefly and replied, ‘I simply ask if they would like to choose a weapon, what would they choose, and then I judge them based on that…,’ she scoffed, ‘… I thought would be obvious to learn about me after I’ve said all of these things.’ she stood up and walked closer to Teis.

She pulled out a dagger from behind her and sauntered slowly towards Teis. Something about her eyes had changed. They look cold now, like of a hunter. ‘Teis, you are going to answer a couple of questions now, and I would know if you lie…,’ she said and spun the dagger in her hand, ‘… do you know what happens when you lie to me?’ she asked.

Teis swallowed the fear down his throat and shrugged off the nervousness. He had no intention of lying anyway, but, now he sensed that the air between them was getting thick and damp. Suddenly, he remembered that his Lord General was waiting for him. ‘Your highness, I - um — I have no intention of lying to you. We might as well be quick, Lord General -’

‘- Ah. Good. I’m so glad you will be honest…,’ she cut him off, and now she was so closer to Teis than she had ever been. Teis could feel her breath around her, ‘… Lord General can wait a bit longer. You better tell me the truth or else I have very creative ideas for dismembering people.’ She almost whispered it into Teis ears.

‘Ye — yes, your highness…,’ he trembled.

The princess moved away and smiled. ‘Good. So were you there last night when the raid happened, huh?’ She sounded so chirpy now.

Teis, dumbfounded, just kept staring at the princess. Just a moment ago she felt like a cold assassin and now immediately she feels like an eager child. The princess’s personality kept surprising Teis. He couldn’t wrap his head around the princess, and now he was even impressed by her aspects.

What he couldn’t understand was the princess’s interest in last night’s incidents. She could’ve directly asked the Lord General, and he would’ve probably answered it better than Teis ever could.

Teis shook his head. ‘Yes, your highness, I was there last night…,’ he answered.

She leaned against a pillar across Teis and looked at him with prodding eyes. ‘And? Why did you stop go on….’ she said.

‘Ah, yes, forgive me princess, but I think the general can give you a better answer than me. Since he has the reports — ’

‘ — I don’t care about General Elisiah’s report. Also, from this moment you have to remember that I outrank all of your superiors except for his and her Majesty. Even your dimwit prince, understand?’ She cut through Teis’s sentence. ‘Now, go on.’

‘Last night I wasn’t stationed at the ramparts. I was just anxious, so I went to see the General to ask him for a position to fill in since I was not sleepy. Whenever something is to happen I somehow feel very anxious,’ he said, and began recollecting one by one.

‘Suddenly the horns blew…,’ he continued, ‘… I was already on my way to the General’s chambers, and I believe the General was sleeping. I saw other soldiers stationed around. When the horns blew, everyone rushed. I heard someone yelling that we were under attack by the sea lords, and they were making their way through the treasury. I went toward the rampart, and so were other soldiers. Among the sea lords there was a knight-like person who went slicing through and then there was a boy. I’ve never seen anyone fight like that, your highness…’ Teis paused, terror scattered across his face.

Sanlysia’s interest piqued. They didn’t kill me, she thought. They showed no mercy to anybody but her. That was something she found odd.

‘And? Then what happened?’ She asked further.

Teis hesitated. He looked away, he wasn’t proud of what happened next. What he did after was an act of shame for a man who was in the royal regiment.

‘Come on, Teis speak up...,’ Sanlysia urged.

‘I — your highness, forgive me for what I did last night…,’ he looked down.

‘Oh, for flame’s sake, stop being so sorry, it’s obnoxious.’ Sanlysia retorted.

Teis swallowed hard and spoke, 'The man... the one who looked like a knight, charged toward me. I was so scared my hands trembled and my legs froze. He swung his sword at me and I fell on my knees with my hands over my head…,’ Teis eyes were almost teary, ‘… I heard a clash of steel and I looked up the young boy defended me from the knight.’

Sanlysia straightened up. ‘Was that the boy with red hair?’ She asked eagerly.

‘Forgive me your highness. I didn’t get to see his face. But I do know that boy was our enemy, and it is such a disgrace to be saved by our enemies.’ he spoke quietly.

Sanlysia nodded at him and walked away toward the staircase. She knew that Rhineas hadn’t come to the treasury. He would’ve followed the other sea lords, but the man and boy went directly to the dungeons.

‘They later followed the other men downstairs arguing with each other. The man was yelling at the boy for saving me...,’ he spoke, ‘… I assume they went away to the treasury. I could’ve stopped them but I was afraid. I didn’t do anything, I just laid there pretending to be hurt. When everyone left, I got to my feet and ran away from the General.’ He sighed.

Sanlyisa nodded. ‘They didn’t come for the gold of the treasury. I fought two of them in the dungeons. The old man killed Sir Lambert. They could’ve killed me too, they could’ve killed you too, but they didn’t.’ She said.