Call of Ring(Compleled)

5 The Interrogation

No sooner did the thought occur to him, than did the sound of Aesar’s voice fill the chamber with a distinct type of echo. It was as if the chamber was constructed with a natural amphitheater sound. A voice spoken in a regular tone could be heard clearly and distinctly from a distance.

“Oh, mighty King Adelai. I humbly request your permission to speak.”

“Permission granted Sir Aesar. Tell me what business you have here,” someone replied in a deep voice.

 “We are here to present a prisoner,” Aesar responded.

“Untie his hands so he can at least sit-up. I must see how he reacts to your presentation,” instructed the same voice.

Blake’s hands were cut free from the ropes, and he sat up to face the unknown voice with his feet still tied to the stretcher. He took time to rub out the soreness in each of his wrists, and instead of studying the dwarfs who had captured him, he took time to size up the person who had given Aesar permission to speak. Presumably, this man with considerable power would hold in his hands the next moments of his fate.

King Adelai was dressed in sharp contrast to everyone else Blake had seen in this world. The dwarfs were practically naked like him, with only a patch of fur covering their genitals. The people in the market were fully clothed, but with a plain brown or white cloth. Everyone was barefoot. As he looked up at the King, he noticed that he was also barefoot, but dressed in an elegant robe of purple and black. Laces of leather appeared sown into a pattern on his chest, displaying a badge of some sort. His hair was black long and wavy with small crimped curls. Dark eyebrows matched his hair. His beard differed in color only slightly by displaying some grey hair around his chin. His eyes looked black, and his face looked as if it had been robbed of a pleasure its entire life. Blake wondered if this King had ever even smiled, or maybe this face only served as host to a mouth whose sole purpose was directing angry commands at others. On his head, he wore a gold crown adorned with undiscernible precious stones. Although seated, he looked like a large man with great strength.

“Please proceed”, King Adelai commanded.

Aesar continued to address the King as instructed.

“The prisoner was found near a patch of wild berries that our people harvest each morning. A few of our maidens came across his naked body. They checked him for signs of life, and found him to be merely asleep. Word was sent back quickly to the village for help. It was then that we decided to cover his nakedness with one of our furs. But not knowing the strength of this foe and not wishing to be attacked, we left him to wake on his own, luring him into a trap on our Sacred Mountain. It was there that we captured him. And it is now that we present him to you.”

“And what makes you think he is of any interest to me?” the King questioned rather indignantly.

 “Kind and gracious King. I beg of you to listen. He is clearly a threat of some sort. No man without ill intent would dare expose himself near our Sacred Mountain. Surely the King knows this of our traditions.” Aesar questioned.

“Yes, and I also know that today is your annual celebration, ‘Day of Gratitude’. You must not delay your presence here so as to discredit your own sacred traditions. I must ask of you. What threat do you perceive he poses to me and my kingdom? And why don’t you people punish him yourself for violating your sacred laws?” the King asked.

“Oh King. Once again, I pray you to listen. It is more than probable that he was on his way to your great city to gather information on your people. Maybe he is a student of the magic arts. Surely he was studying an indecent barbaric ritual when he succumbed to its powers leaving him asleep in that naked estate. Is it not rumored that mages are being sent to the borders of the Byrd empire so that strategies can be formed to have your Kingdom surrender?” Aesar inquired further.

“Yes, there are rumors. But how does this exchange help?” countered the King.  

“It’s a show of good faith that I Aesar, leader of my people will continue to help protect Midori Kingdom from any foreign invader. Do with this prisoner as you wish. Discover for yourself by any means what his intent was by crossing these borders and wandering into our territory with such flippant disrespect. Surely there are consequences to be had, and information to be gathered. Is it the Bron Empire or the Vex Empire who is behind such nefarious planning?” Aesar asked hoping to plant seeds of fear.

Blake wondered if he would be given a chance to speak. But he did his best to stop any unnecessary wandering thoughts. He had to pay attention to every detail, knowing that his careful study could mean the difference between life and death. This new world of which he had become a student seemed very unkind. This was more than a temporary culture shock from short term travel. This was a whole new world. How long he was stuck here, he did not know. But he was determined to fight for survival.

         “What is your name young man!?” the King yelled at him unexpectedly.

         Trying to sound calm, he uttered his name.

         “Blake.”

         Had it not been for the acoustics of that chamber, his response would not have been audible.

         The King began laughing. Others hesitantly joined in.

         “What kind of name is that, and what world are you from?” the King retorted mocking his pitiful prisoner.

         Blake did not know how to respond.

         “Do not make me repeat myself!” yelled the King.

         “I ask only one more time. Where are you from? And if I have to speak plainly and down to your level of intelligence, then I will re-phrase by saying: Who sent you?”

         Blake spoke with a little more volume, but fear still gripped his voice.

         “Sir, I know not...”

         “How dare you not address me as King!?” the King shouted.

         Seeing the King’s anger, the guard closest to Blake struck him with a closed fist. Caught completely by surprise, Blake had not even noticed the guard prior to the strike. Although seated with feet still bound to the stretcher, the blow sent him flying to the ground. His head sprung back striking the solid floor. From the slap, his upper lip had been split. From the punch, he presumed his left cheekbone to be fractured, but the back of his head also felt wet with blood.

         Taking a moment to rise to a sitting position again, he didn’t even bother looking up at the King. But somehow, he had to find strength enough to answer for fear of things getting much worse.

         “I beg your pardon, King. I know not where I am from, neither do I know how I got here. It seems as if I have descended upon your world from another.” Blake mumbled out.

         “LIES! I do not believe you!” barked the King.

         At this, the guard to his other side gave him one further blow. It was also unexpected, but he couldn’t tell which punch was worse. His whole head was throbbing, and he collapsed to the floor in a puddle of his own blood.  

         The King turned his attention back to Aesar.

“You make a compelling argument Aesar,” the King replied. “And what is that you ask in exchange for this prisoner?”

“Sir, we ask that we may continue to live under your command, peacefully in Byrd Empire. We ask further that we may continue in our way of life, that we may worship on our White Mountain. And finally, we respectfully ask the King for one more thing.”

“Proceed.” King Adelai replied calmly.

“That the King may put an end to the price gauging our people are subjected to when they come to this city’s market. We want only to live in unity. We do not ask to live among you, but we want a fair exchange of goods and services as we interact peacefully with one another.” Aesar requested with pride.

“Very well, your wishes are granted. I will issue a decree on this day, your annual day of celebration. You may inform your people and have a reason to celebrate further. And as a show of gratitude, I will send you away with two baskets of our finest cheeses, and five baskets of fresh-baked bread to share among your people on your day of celebration and feasting. Go in peace!” the King declared.

The dwarfs cut the rope that tied Blake’s feet. They pushed him off the stretcher and onto the floor with their feet. And as if this wasn’t quite enough, their leader Aesar approached, and kicked Blake in the ribs three times. The first blow knocked the wind out of him. As he was gasping for air the second landed on a lower region. And with the third, Blake heard a distinct crack. “There goes a rib or two”, Blake barely mustered the energy for this thought.

The dwarfs then followed their leader Aesar out of the Hall, waiting only to retrieve the baskets of fine cheese and assorted bread. They then swiftly departed so they could arrive on time for their annual feast and celebration. The “Day of Gratitude”.

King Adelai instructed his guards to take the prisoner down to the lower levels where a cell would await him. Blake did not have enough energy to raise himself. He was dragged away by the two guards who had each struck him earlier.

As they descended the spiral stairs leading down to the cells below, Blake’s legs dragged behind him, his ankles slamming against each marble step. Now bruised, battered, and bloodied from head to toe, he was thrown into a cold damp cell. The sound that followed was one of a steel door slamming, and keys rattling to lock the cell door closed.  

Even thinking brought pain to Blake’s senses. It wasn’t long before he craved the chance at experiencing each of his five senses, hoping for clues that would confirm his humanity. He was also hoping that these same clues would bring answers as to his whereabouts. And now, only hours later, he found himself feeling the pain of being mortally human, but still no closer to discovering where he was or what he was doing here. How long he would be in this cell with a cold damp rock floor, he knew not. He now wished that his five senses would disappear, allowing him to sleep for the night. Instead, each of them only confirmed the pain and danger he somehow found himself in. Maybe he would somehow awake to a new reality. Surely, anything would be better than this.