assumed the emperor would be the one asking, not an interrogator. Nonetheless, at least everyone was giving consistent responses.
“ Yes,” Gaverek said, “but why is Prince Darmik here?”
“ He…he…has a message for the emperor.”
“ What is that message?”
“ I…I don’t know. He ordered me…to accompany him, and I did.”
“ How did you acquire one of our military ships?”
Darmik wondered if there was a record of Captain leaving with the ship. Vesha glanced at Darmik.
“Dunk her again.”
“ No!” she screamed as the table tilted again, submerging her head in the filthy water.
Knowing she wouldn ’t last long, Gaverek raised his hand, giving the command to right the table. “Flip her face up,” he ordered.
Vesha ’s chest heaved up and down, her hair and face covered with her own vomit. “Why are you doing this?” she cried, her eyes wide with fear. “I don’t know anything of importance.”
“ I’ll be the judge of that.” Gaverek stood before Darmik. “What do you suggest?” he asked. “The cane? Or the knife?”
Both weapons were painful. He’d witnessed Savenek and Audek’s canings and had no desire to see Vesha abused. He wished the entire ordeal were over. “I don’t care,” Darmik answered. “I am here simply to witness your barbaric behavior. I had forgotten how…unrefined your empire is.”
Gaverek studied him for several moments. “You’re from Emperion. We put you in power. We are the strongest and largest empire in the world. Do not forget that.”
Darmik took a step toward him. “The strongest empire?” He cocked his head to the side. “You’re beating up on a girl, simply to prove your power. That doesn’t make you strong. It makes you pathetic.”
Gaverek punched Darmik in the stomach. “I’m pathetic?” His knee flew up, slamming into Darmik’s jaw. “You’re the soft prince who’s locked in a dungeon. You’re the pathetic one, not me.”
Darmik sucked in a deep breath, trying to work through the pain.
“I knew you had a soft spot for your companions. You’re so predictable.”
Darmik pushed himself up on his knees. “Has it ever occurred to you that my uncle might actually want to hear what I have to say? That you are jeopardizing your position by keeping me here?” He was running out of time.
“ Move him into his own cell,” Gaverek demanded.
Darmik stood, thankful he didn ’t have to witness anymore of this brutality.
Neco ’s scream pierced the air. Darmik had never heard that kind of pain from his friend before—something was wrong.
Gaverek smiled. “I think I’ll go join that interrogation. It’s always fun to witness lovers being tortured in front of one another.”
Darmik wanted to tear Gaverek apart, but he maintained his position, knowing his old instructor was simply goading him. If Darmik showed any emotion or attempted to fight back, whatever horrors Neco and Ellie faced would be multiplied tenfold.
****
Darmik woke up in a cold, damp room. He was lying on the ground, his arms still bound in front of him.
The door opened, and a small amount of light pierced the darkness. “Get up, you filthy piece of trash,” the soldier said. “The emperor is ready to see you.”
Darmik had managed to make it without being interrogated, but watching his friends get tortured was worse. Hopefully, it was all worth it now that they were going before Emperor Hamen.
Darmik stood, stretching his stiff limbs. The soldier took him to another room where all of his companions were waiting.
“ Put these uniforms on,” a soldier said. “Once everyone is dressed, I will escort you from the dungeon. If any of you make a single move against me, or any other soldier, you will be killed on sight. Understood?” Everyone nodded. Darmik’s bindings were removed, and the door slammed shut.
“ Everyone change,” Darmik demanded, “quickly.” They all faced outward, toward the wall, while they dressed. “These are Emperion
“ Yes,” Gaverek said, “but why is Prince Darmik here?”
“ He…he…has a message for the emperor.”
“ What is that message?”
“ I…I don’t know. He ordered me…to accompany him, and I did.”
“ How did you acquire one of our military ships?”
Darmik wondered if there was a record of Captain leaving with the ship. Vesha glanced at Darmik.
“Dunk her again.”
“ No!” she screamed as the table tilted again, submerging her head in the filthy water.
Knowing she wouldn ’t last long, Gaverek raised his hand, giving the command to right the table. “Flip her face up,” he ordered.
Vesha ’s chest heaved up and down, her hair and face covered with her own vomit. “Why are you doing this?” she cried, her eyes wide with fear. “I don’t know anything of importance.”
“ I’ll be the judge of that.” Gaverek stood before Darmik. “What do you suggest?” he asked. “The cane? Or the knife?”
Both weapons were painful. He’d witnessed Savenek and Audek’s canings and had no desire to see Vesha abused. He wished the entire ordeal were over. “I don’t care,” Darmik answered. “I am here simply to witness your barbaric behavior. I had forgotten how…unrefined your empire is.”
Gaverek studied him for several moments. “You’re from Emperion. We put you in power. We are the strongest and largest empire in the world. Do not forget that.”
Darmik took a step toward him. “The strongest empire?” He cocked his head to the side. “You’re beating up on a girl, simply to prove your power. That doesn’t make you strong. It makes you pathetic.”
Gaverek punched Darmik in the stomach. “I’m pathetic?” His knee flew up, slamming into Darmik’s jaw. “You’re the soft prince who’s locked in a dungeon. You’re the pathetic one, not me.”
Darmik sucked in a deep breath, trying to work through the pain.
“I knew you had a soft spot for your companions. You’re so predictable.”
Darmik pushed himself up on his knees. “Has it ever occurred to you that my uncle might actually want to hear what I have to say? That you are jeopardizing your position by keeping me here?” He was running out of time.
“ Move him into his own cell,” Gaverek demanded.
Darmik stood, thankful he didn ’t have to witness anymore of this brutality.
Neco ’s scream pierced the air. Darmik had never heard that kind of pain from his friend before—something was wrong.
Gaverek smiled. “I think I’ll go join that interrogation. It’s always fun to witness lovers being tortured in front of one another.”
Darmik wanted to tear Gaverek apart, but he maintained his position, knowing his old instructor was simply goading him. If Darmik showed any emotion or attempted to fight back, whatever horrors Neco and Ellie faced would be multiplied tenfold.
****
Darmik woke up in a cold, damp room. He was lying on the ground, his arms still bound in front of him.
The door opened, and a small amount of light pierced the darkness. “Get up, you filthy piece of trash,” the soldier said. “The emperor is ready to see you.”
Darmik had managed to make it without being interrogated, but watching his friends get tortured was worse. Hopefully, it was all worth it now that they were going before Emperor Hamen.
Darmik stood, stretching his stiff limbs. The soldier took him to another room where all of his companions were waiting.
“ Put these uniforms on,” a soldier said. “Once everyone is dressed, I will escort you from the dungeon. If any of you make a single move against me, or any other soldier, you will be killed on sight. Understood?” Everyone nodded. Darmik’s bindings were removed, and the door slammed shut.
“ Everyone change,” Darmik demanded, “quickly.” They all faced outward, toward the wall, while they dressed. “These are Emperion
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