Chapter No. 32 Interrogatio

Then shalt thou inquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you;

Dressed in a leather tunic over a wool dress, her feet encased in fur calf-length boots, the young woman stood submissively in the middle of the room with her eyes lowered so as not to look at her inquisitors.

Her inquisitors sat at a wooden table, but they were not the imperial interrogators that she had stood before recently. These were two older men, either one of which could easily have been her father.

"Why are you, the daughter of Lord Grimsley, accused of being a traitor?"

She looked up at Paladin with grim eyes. "The royals do not like to expose their personal sins. I was convicted of the murder of Taka, my cousin."

"According to Sir Whelen, you were sentenced to death by slow torture. Why was your brother assigned to carry out this unusual sentence?"

She allowed a brief smile to invade her lips. "Grimsy enjoys torturing people. I was nothing more than a pawn to him."

Paladin's lips twisted. "Grimsy?"

"Grimsley the Second. We call him Grimsy." She bowed her head and blew out a nervous laugh that was more a sigh. "Although, I doubt he'd allow anyone to call him that now that he's ascended the throne."

"So," Paladin said, exhaling deeply, "you are considered an enemy of the Empire by your brother even though you helped him obtain the throne?"

"Yes. You must understand that I am the only person still alive who knows how he purchased the throne. He has no choice but to have me killed."

"I'm surprised that you were sentenced to slow torture. I didn't think that women were subjected to such an onerous sentence."

Estard sighed. "Things are not as they were. The Empire's decay is most putrid now."

"But, you have tortured and executed many. How can you be so self righteous?"

"I admit that I was a part of this decay. I make no excuses other than that I was under my father's rule." She turned a tear-stained face to him. "I did not enjoy my work. In fact, I hated it. I have a sickening remorse for what I did, and I renounce the Empire and all it stands for. I only wish that I could reverse the damage I have done, but I can't."

Paladin got up and began to pace. "We accept your abjuration, but what we really want to know is the plans that the Empire has to attack us."

Estard stared at him for several seconds before collecting her wits. "I'm not sure I can tell you anything of real value. I do know that my father had planned to attack the village of Alon."

"Yes," Paladin said, rubbing his beard. "Alon lies at the passage to the Steppe region. If it falls, we will be cut off."

"I do not know if this plan still exists," Estard said. "My brother may have changed it."

Paladin stared at her with contemplative eyes for several seconds. "We will continue your questioning later." He motioned to a guard. "Take her back to her quarters. And, make sure she's well guarded. I don't want anything to happen to her."

The guard bowed. "Yes, my lord."

After she was escorted out, Paladin turned to Morton. "What do you think?"

"I don't know," Morton said, rubbing his head. "She seems to be telling the truth, but it could be a ruse."

"I doubt it. If the Empire attempts to take Alon, we will be obliged to defend it, but we have little chance of defeating a full assault."

"Perhaps," Morton said, "we could employ our own ruse."

After a moment of confusion, Paladin exhaled a laugh. "Ah, you old devil. You are more deceptive than I thought."

Morton cracked a rare smile. "Deception can be a very effective strategic weapon."

"I wish to see the Lady Estard," Mara said to one of the men guarding the door to Estard's quarters.

"Do you have Lord Paladin's permission?" the guard asked.

Mara stared into the guard's squinting eyes. He was an older man with a gray beard on a craggy face. He was armed with a battle sword, the handle of which he kept a good grip.

"Is it your wish to do combat with me?" she asked.

The other guard stepped forward. He was younger and more animated. His hard face belied his baby blue eyes.
"We are under orders to allow no one to disturb the Lady."

Mara's eyes flashed with fire. "I wish to disturb the Lady. If necessary, I will cut both of you to pieces to do so."

Both men backed up with alarm in their eyes. The younger man made the mistake of attempting to draw his sword but he froze when he saw Mara draw both of her swords faster than he could blink.

"What is the problem, here?" a voice asked from the shadows of the corridor.

"She wishes to see the Lady, my lord," the older guard said.

"What business do you have with her?" Paladin asked Mara.

"My business is private," she said, her face set hard.

He stared at her for several moments. She was violating his express orders, but he was not anxious to confront her. Angered, she would be extremely dangerous, possibly endangering the rebel cause itself.

"Allow her to pass," he ordered the guards.

They bowed and unlatched the door. Mara looked at Paladin with a blank expression for a few seconds before returning her swords to scabbards and entering the room.

"Make no attempt to confront her," Paladin instructed the guards.

They bowed again.

"What happened?" Morton asked as he rushed up.

Paladin placed his hand on Morton's shoulder and offered him a weak smile. "Nothing. Let us go make our plans."

When they were out of earshot, Paladin said, "Mara seems to be upset about something. She was adamant about seeing Lady Estard."

"Interesting," Morton said, rubbing the side of his beard. "She has exhibited no signs of stress up to now. I must find out what is bothering her before it gets out of hand."

"Do so," Paladin said, while showing him concerned eyes.

Mara stared at Estard for a moment with expressionless eyes. The object of her staring was standing in the middle of a bare room that had only a straw mat. Wearing only a muslin sheet to cover her body, Estard stared back at her with a glint of curiosity in her tired eyes.

"I see you have a bed like the one I slept in when I was a child."

Estard guffawed. "It's better than the one I had in prison. At least this one is free of bugs and rats."

Mara pointed at her. "What happened to your clothes?"

"They took them. I have no idea why."

"I will get them back."

Estard wrinkled her brow. "Why are you concerned about me? Everyone here hates me, not that I don't blame them."

"You could have easily had me tortured, but you did not. I owe you."

"You're the knighted witch that everyone in the Empire is afraid of, aren't you?"

Mara rewarded her with a chiding smile. "A knight, yes; a witch, no. Although, I have been called worse."

Estard countered with an apologetic smile. "I can imagine." She replaced her smile with a thin-lip grimace. "Do you like being a knight?"

"It is a natural occupation for me, but I do not enjoy killing."

Estard sighed. "I hated it."

"You killed those who could not defend themselves," Mara said. "It is not the same."

"I should have died," Estard said, her eyes misting. "But I didn't. I know not why."

"God has some purpose in mind for you."

Estard shook her head. "I don't believe in any gods."

"Doesn't matter. God still believes in you."

"This god you believe in must have a twisted sense of humor to be concerned with the likes of me."

"God acts through us. I believe that he wants me to be concerned about you. I pledge that I will protect you no matter what."

Estard stared at her for several moments in silence. She had no idea why this unusual female was trying to protect her when everyone else wanted her dead. Maybe she's insane or worse—possessed by evil spirits.

"How can you defend me against these rebels and the mighty Empire?"

"The rebels are disorganized and the Empire is doomed to fall. Your brother is ill prepared to run the Empire and internal corruption will take its toll."

"Corruption has been a part of the Empire for a long time, and the whole lot of it is run by bureaucrats, not the Emperor."

"It is the way of men," Mara said. "But now, the way of women will prevail and with it will come compassion, justice, and peace."

"I hope I can live to see it," Estard said.

Mara flashed a compassionate smile. "You will."

After remaining silent for a few moments, Estard's eyes brightened. "Would it be possible to have a letter delivered to Terra?"

"Perhaps," Mara said. "Hilton knows some of the spies that go there often."

"Hilton? Is he that young knight that was with you when you found me?"

"Yes. He's the son of Paladin, the commander of the rebels."

"Do you and he have something going?"

"We're lovers," Mara said without hesitation, surprising Estard.

"Oh my! You are really involved with these rebels." She added a weak smile for emphasis.

"They're better than the Empire. My mission is to use them to bring peace to the Empire."

"That's a big job. This Empire hasn't known peace for longer than most can recall."

"We women will see that it happens."

Estard wasn't convinced, but she nodded her tacit approval. "If I may have some parchment, I will write my letter."

"I'll bring you some. We'll have to do this without the rebels' knowledge. They would think that you're sending secrets back to the Empire."

"No, Mara. I'm done with the damn Empire. I'm their enemy now."

"As I," Mara said, sounding proud.

###

Hilton lay in his bed and watched Mara enter their tent and walk over to her cot. Instead of stepping behind the curtain at the head of her cot, she stood at the foot of her bed near her locker. He swung up when he saw her begin to unbutton her tunic.

"Hello," he said in a soft voice.

She finished unhitching her tunic and pulled it off.

"Hello," he said much louder.

She turned to look at him. Her eyes widened. "Oh, I didn't see you. I'm sorry."

"What? Am I invisible?"

"Obviously not. I guess I'm preoccupied."

Hilton sat on the edge of his bed near the foot. "I understand that you had a problem with some men guarding Lady Estard."

She bowed her head. "I made a mistake."

"When you make a mistake, people get worried."

She stared blankly at him for several minutes. "I worry about me."

"How so?"

"I need to believe in what I am doing."

Hilton's right eyebrow lifted. "You don't believe in our cause?"

"The cause is just; the motives are suspect."

Hilton stood up. "What exactly do you mean by that?"

She smiled and it relaxed him. "I'm not criticizing you or your father, but there are some here who are not pure in their convictions. They have ulterior motives."

He sat down. "Yeah, you're right, but we'll just have to deal with it when the time comes."

Her jaw stiffened. "That time is at hand."

"I hope not. I could use some relaxation time."

She smiled again and turned her back to him to remove the muslin wrapping around her breasts. She sat down on the edge of her cot and peeled off her woolen stockings, leaving only her woolen pant that she wore to hook them to.

"Do you like to wear a man's clothing?" Hilton asked.

She turned to look at him while folding an arm across her breasts. "It works for me. I don't care for the soft things that females wear." She cracked a smile. "Why do you ask? Would you prefer to see me in soft clothing?"

"You are beautiful in anything . . . or in nothing." He wished he hadn't added the latter.

"Thank you. You are also beautiful in nothing."

He fought to suppress a blush as he watched her pull a robe around her body.

"Men are not beautiful," he said. "Women are beautiful."

"Depends on whether you are a man or a woman."

A squire appeared at the entrance of their tent. "Lord Paladin would like your council, Sir Mara."

"Tell him I will attend," she said.

"Yes, my lady," he said before leaving.

"I wished they wouldn't call me a lady," Mara said with a disgusted tone.

"Technically, you are," Hilton said in a teasing tone.

"You are full of it, young Hilton."
She strolled to the tent entrance.

"You're going in your robe?" Hilton asked, his eyes wide with surprise.

"My appearance will reinforce my conviction."

She left and he sat there dumbfounded.
"What in the devil did she mean by that?"

Both Paladin and Morton looked up when they heard a gentle knock.

"Come in," Paladin said.

The door slowly opened and Mara deliberately walked to a position in front of the crude table that Paladin used for a desk. Both men breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that she had come minus her weapons. They were both surprised that she showed up wearing a soft linen robe that made her appear more feminine.

"Please sit down," Paladin said, gesturing to a wooden bench in front of his desk.

She sat down with a graceful motion that neither man had ever seen. They looked at each other before Paladin turned to her.

"We would like to know why you are interested in the Lady Estard."

"She saved my life, and I have given her my contract to protect her life."

"I'm surprised that you would befriend her. Many here have lost family and friends to her brutal crimes."

"I too have lost family and friends to the brutality of the Empire, and this woman has also felt its wrath. She is remorseful for her previous actions, and I see no reason to make her suffer more than she has."

"What authority do you have to make that decision?"

Mara paused before she answered. "As much authority as you do. You rule by force of arms, not law. You say that we are a union of men, but law should rule this union, not men. Power must come from the members of the union, not from some individual who claims power by reason of birth."

Both men stared at her in silence for several minutes.

"What you are proposing is an alien concept," Paladin finally said. "Power coming from the people—that is something quite new."

"How do you propose to rule the Empire after you defeat it?" Mara asked.

"We have been so busy tying to get to the conquest, we have not given it much thought."

"I suggest," she said, "that you compose an Articles-of-Union document in which you delineate the principals that you will use to govern the new empire. But, you must be careful. What you will be doing is returning the Empire to a republic, much like it was long ago. The temptation will always exist to return to rule by an emperor. Threat from without or corruption from within will drive this change. You must work to avoid this by establishing a republic that offers representation for all people, including women. You must also establish a justice system that is fair and uncorrupt and does not simply provide for the protection of the patrician class."

"You make interesting suggestions," Paladin said. "We have much to consider."

"Do your considerations in haste for the time is near."

Paladin sighed. "I hope not. We're not ready yet."

Mara smiled, a gesture that relaxed both men. "Justice and liberty demand our determined effort."

Morton flicked his head back. "Those are egalitarian dreams. This land has not seen such hope for a long time."

Her eyes flashed with resolve. "Then it is time."

"Yes," Paladin said, sounding uneasy. "We've taken up enough of your time."

She stood. "Would you do me a favor and give Lady Estard her clothing. I would hate to see us imitating the Empire by keeping our prisoners naked."

Paladin stood up. "I'll see to it."

She smiled again. "Thank you."

After she left, Paladin turned to Morton. "She's right. We need laws to govern ourselves."

Morton shook his head. "How does this peasant girl, a girl who spent her youth in the wild, know so much about politics?"

"The gods are speaking to us through her tongue," Paladin said. "And, we had better listen to them."

"You still believe that she's some avatar, don't you?"

"Yes. What else could she be?"

"If she is," Morton said, "we are in for a rough time of it for we will be put to the test."

Paladin stared at the wall as if her were visualizing something far away. "You may be right, my friend."