Vaener, Ausicaa

Kaz initiated the interrogation with the same tone of voice that one might use when making recreational plans with a friend. The ease in his countenance provided a stark contrast to the intensity of their actual situation.

"What is your name, sir?"

The bound and bleeding man sneered. "Varles."

"Your full name, sir."

"Varles... Hexwell."

"Who sent you here, Mr. Hexwell?"

Mr. Hexwell spat, "I am no sniveling snitch, Sindo-boy!"

Kaz cocked his pistol and aimed the barrel between the blonde man's legs.

"I will ask one more time, Mr. Hexwell—who sent you here? If you fail to answer again, you can bid your future children a fond farewell. If you answer with a lie, I will take out your other leg."

Kaz gestured briefly at Miss Catannach. "My talented companion here will ensure you do not die until you provide the answers I seek. The choice is yours."

Mr. Hexwell's eyes nearly doubled in size. Fear pooled in their blue depths.

The older man gulped and quickly complied, "I-I... am being employed by Lord-Master Eston Givenue."

From the corner of his eye, Kaz didn't fail to notice the expression of horror that settled over Miss Catannach's lovely face.

His gaze flickered.

Who was the Lord-Master to Miss Catannach?

Why had the mere mention of his name elicited such a strong reaction from her?

Kaz made a mental note to ask Miss Catannach about her relationship to the Lord-Master at the earliest opportunity.

Outwardly, he filed away each of these revelations with a levelness of mind that would have filled Lady-Consort masil-Kepar with pride. Inwardly, though, Kaz's thoughts were buzzing like a manic hive.

He was acquainted with Lord-Master Eston Hanover Givenue.

The Lord-Master happened to be Young Master Danverse Givenue's older cousin. In a convoluted way, one could argue that the man was an extended family member of sorts, and, even if the bastard didn't share blood ties with his half-brother, Kaz would have learned of Lord-Master Givenue's name and personage through other means. They had met before, briefly, on several occasions at Academy and Imperial functions.

Everyone in the Empire knew of High Councilman Givenue's son. The Lord-Master's heart beat approximately twelve warm bodies away from the crown, only one ahead of Young Master Givenue. Unlike Kaz's thick-headed and rather unremarkable half-brother, the Lord-Master was actually viewed by many as a real threat to the throne.

Tentatively, Miss Catannach inquired, "Did you say, Lord-Master Eston Givenue? He... was the one... who wished to harm us? To kill us?"

Mr. Hexwell eyeballed her viciously. "I do not know what you have done to offend the Lord-Master so gravely, boy—but you should count your lucky stars that our roles are not reversed at the moment. My master wants you dead, dead, dead."

Kaz glared at their hostage. With his arm fully extended, he held his gun steady.

"Mr. Hexwell, I must insist that you refrain from addressing my friend in such a crass and uncouth manner, else—you will not exit this forest alive. We are all gentlemen here. Watch your tongue and know your place."

Varles grunted noncommittally, but he didn't utter another word in Miss Catannach's direction.

Kaz pressed on, "How many more of you are there?"

"A dozen men are waiting just beyond the trees."

"Are they armed?"

"Yes," Mr. Hexwell replied. He paused as a shrewd look passed across his craggy face. "They will come looking for my fallen comrades and me very soon. If you untie me, I shall help you escape. I know where they are stationed. I can help you avoid them."

Kaz pretended to consider Mr. Hexwell's offer even while his pistol remained steadfastly pointed at the man. "How do I know that you will not lead us straight to your allies?"

"You can trust me!" he vowed desperately, "I swear on my life that I will not betray you!"

"Your life is already in my hands. You will need to offer me something better," drawled Kaz. "I want to learn more about Lord-Master Givenue's intentions. Tell me about his strengths. Tell me about his... weaknesses."

Mr. Hexwell's expression soured. "I am hardly in the Lord-Master's inner circle. I do not have any information of value to share."

"Then, I suppose you will die here."

A pensive shadow darkened Mr. Hexwell's eyes. "On second thought, it is possible that I might possess some knowledge that would interest you."

Kaz cocked his head to the side and smiled. "Oh?"

"A few days ago, I-I overheard Lord-Master Givenue talking to Watters about something strange. They were not aware of my presence, and I do not know if I fully comprehend what they were whispering about, but... I feel that it might be significant. If I tell you what I know, will you promise to let me go?"

Kaz frowned. "Who is Watters?"

"Promise that you will not execute me first," Mr. Hexwell insisted, "or else I shall take my secrets to the grave."

Before Kaz could reply, Miss Catannach spoke up, "I promise that we shall let you live as long as you speak from the heart and tell us the whole truth."

Kaz glanced over to Miss Catannach with a look of surprise. She turned to him with a beseeching expression—as though begging him with her eyes to not injure the man any further. His heart skipped a beat.

Kaz sighed. "Very well, Mr. Hexwell. Come forth with everything you know, and I shall try harder to not kill you. Now, tell me—who is Watters?"

"Watters is the one in charge of our lot. We are a band of hired mercenaries, you see. None of us like him much, though. He can be a bit of twat. And an ass."

An icy breeze passed through the air. Kaz shivered slightly before asking, "What was Watters discussing with Lord-Master Givenue?"

"Something about a book. I think... Watters might have killed a woman for it."

Miss Catannach's complexion suddenly turned quite pale. In a small voice, she asked, "What was the woman's name?"

Mr. Hexwell's brow creased in thought. "Vera? Lara?"

"Was it perhaps... Herra?" she supplied.

Kaz didn't like where this conversation was headed at all. Neither did he enjoy being stuck inside this strange, otherworldly forest.

As though in retaliation, as though the trees had read his mind, the frigid gusts grew stronger. Branches swayed and leaves rustled. The air whistled with an eerie, unnerving sort of windsong. Kaz tried to ignore his feelings of unease and trepidation.

Mr. Hexwell's face brightened. "Oh, yes! That is right! Herra! Her name was Herra!"

The gale whipped wildly around them. Kaz watched with mounting concern as Miss Catannach slowly, slowly crumpled to her knees. Her body and mind seemed to be at odds with one another. Every muscle upon her slight form seemed wrought with tension even while her consciousness fell slack. The poor girl puddled to the forest floor in a daze.

She didn't look alright at all. In fact, she appeared downright heartbroken.

Herra Catannach's final moments flashed across Kaz's mind. His other thoughts about Mr. Hexwell, Watters, the Lord-Master, and their current predicament in this unearthly forest fell to the wayside. Quite suddenly, all Kaz wished to do was to tell Miss Catannach everything about his unfortunate encounter with her adopted mother. Kaz wanted to offer his gray-eyed companion some comfort, to let the girl know that her mother had been thinking of her until the very end...

Roshe began to snarl and yip in Mr. Hexwell's direction. The wolf's growls snatched Kaz back from his reverie. His hand clenched around his pistol. His eyes darted around in a panic.

The next few seconds quickly spiraled into complete and utter chaos.

The forest came alive.

Mr. Hexwell screamed as the soil beneath him dissolved like quicksand. Gnarled roots, thick and serpentine, not unlike an army of pythons, slithered around the blonde man's limbs and torso to pull him underground. They reminded Kaz of a tentacled creature attempting to sink a ship at sea.

He scrambled over to grab Miss Catannach's hand, yanking the troubled, trembling girl to her feet.

"Come!" he commanded. "We must get out of here now!"