The Liar

Chapter 2: Rhenelius

Two days. For two f*****g days, this girl has stuck to the same story, not giving him a hint of anything more. How the hell is she even here? He doesn't believe her words for one minute. But then again, until two days ago, he assumed that the opposite side of the wall was a barren wasteland and that the humans had either died from illness, starvation, or the slaughter that took place after the wall was built. Such petty, vicious creatures, the humans. And yet it's the dark fae who got the name "monsters." Of course, this girl would know nothing of what really happened during the wars before the wall was built. She wasn't born yet. She wasn't even an idea. Rhen was a child himself during the wars, though, and he had never been to the frontlines. In fact, before this girl, he had only seen three other humans before... Three faces he would never forget.

It seems, though, that at least some humans survived if surviving is all they have done. Rhen might have believed her story, that she came in search of food for her family, had she not seemed strong and well-fed. Well-fed might be a stretch, but she does not seem to be on the verge of starving, and she does not seem afraid enough of the "monster" before her in the interrogation room. Branthous has been one of Rhen's best friends for nearly five centuries, ever since they joined the academy together. Yet in all that time, Rhen has never seen Bran quite as uncomfortable as this tiny girl is making him right at this moment. Her tongue is sharp, and her arrogance betrays her in more ways than she thinks.

But in the two days they've been here, she has not said one thing of value to him, apart from the fact that there are other human survivors across the wall and that the wall is compromised. The second part is more interesting than the first, as the wall is spelled...Or at least, it should be spelled so no human can cross. The girl is wrong in other ways, however, and Bran was not patrolling the area surrounding the castle to keep humans out. No, he was scouting to keep something much more dangerous than an insignificant human with a sharp tongue out. "Let's get this done," Rhen tells the other guards in the room. "I'm done waiting."

Rhen almost reconsiders as he approaches the door to the interrogation room. Is intimidation really the way to get what he wants from this human? Before he can convince himself otherwise, Rhen pushes open the door, ignoring the girl and looking at Bran, who looks tired and irritated. Thanks, Bran. I'll take over from here. Bran looks at him with a thankful look and nods before walking out and closing the door. The girl remains quiet at first, staring at his scarred hands, an intrigued look on her face. "So," she says, "you must be the captain." The nerve on this girl... "And you, little cub, have caused me quite a lot of trouble."

"I don't see how that's possible," Arielle says, meeting his stare. "All I've done for the past two days is sit here and answer your s**t for brains questions. You should fire him. He's the worst interrogator I've ever dealt with." "So you've been interrogated before then, have you?" Rhen stares at the girl; at least she's saying more than before. "You will find that Lieutenant Maëstram has a lot more patience than I do. But even his was wearing thin, which is why you will now deal with me." He stares at her eyes and cannot help but notice the golden, almost luminescent tint they have.

"You came here to get food for your family, is that right?" "Oh, for f***s sake, is there anyone with longer memory retention than a potato I can talk to in this place," she rolls her eyes at him. If anyone else dared this, they would be flogged and stripped in the courtyard... And yet, she just stares. "Yes, I came for food for my family. They are starving. And you clearly don't give a damn so why not just let me go so I can search elsewhere?" "If there were somewhere else to search for food, why did you come here? In fact, why would you ever come here if fae food is known to be poisonous to humans, as you say?" The girl doesn't even look surprised that he quoted her earlier words. She simply says, "Because the right poisons mixed together can create medicine." Damn, I'll give it to her, she's quick on her feet, Bran remarks from the other room.

"Okay, let's say I buy your story, which I'm not sure I do. Regardless. Would you be willing to make a deal?" She looks at him, intrigue glinting in her eyes. "You stay here and tell more about the human civilization across the wall and how you crossed it, and I will send a scout with food—the non-poisonous kind and medicine, to your family." She seems to contemplate his offer. "You really expect me to give you the location of my family? How stupid do you think I am?" He shrugs. "Well, that's the offer. Either you stay and we send food on the condition that you help me determine the situation at the wall. Or you stay and your family dies. I'll give you some time to think about it." Rhen stands up and starts walking to the door.

"Wait," she says. Rhen hesitates at the door but doesn't turn around. "I won't tell you where they are. But I will tell you where to leave the food and medicine. And I'll stay and help or whatever." "How will they know to fetch the food if we leave it somewhere exposed?" "You don't have to worry about that. Just promise me you will take the food, put it where I tell you to and leave." "Very well," Rhen says before leaving the room. He leaves the door open as he exists. Show her to a room on the first floor, Rhen instructs Bran. And make sure her room is spelled. I don't want her sneaking around unattended.

Four hours later, a package was delivered at an unmarked location at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. The package contained exactly what was promised, non-poisonous food and herbs to make medicine.