“Now, what are we going to do with you?” The Rat King repeated himself, looking at her intensely, Lydia felt like she was being seen through, her entire self being laid bare before the Rat King, her motivations uncovered.

He hadn’t even asked her any questions yet.

“Well?” The Rat King said, obviously looking for an answer to his own question. Lydia looked up in surprise, not expecting to have to answer what she thought was a rhetorical question, she thought for a little bit for answering.

“I have no idea.” As soon as the words came out of her mouth she regretted them, they were weak words, and probably didn’t do her any favours or raise her standing in the eyes of the king.

The Rat King looks at her with derision, “What type of answer is that?” He squints at her, then answers his own question, “A bad answer is what that is, a very bad one.” He points his sceptre at her, “but I am merciful!” He grins, showing his fangs, “I will grant you another try, should you fail to answer in a satisfactory way your life is forfeit, should you answer well I will grant you the benefit of the doubt and not execute you immediately.” His grin gets wider, his eyes widen as well, and Lydia is pretty sure that he is insane.

Lydia knew that this would either kill her or it would save her, she had to choose her next words carefully, she took a deep breath and went over what she knew about the king once more.

He was insane, that much was obvious, but it seemed to be the more lucid side of insanity, so that was a plus. He also liked deals, she had heard of people that had managed to get out of execution by just making a good deal with him. The King was also a rat that enjoyed ingenuity and creativity, both things Lydia knew were not things that she had any aptitude at.

There was one thing though that she thought might be able to save her, the Rat King likes bravado and an insane type of bravery, both things she knew that she could do. With these thoughts in mind, she carefully started to form her next sentence, ever aware of the burning gazes of the Rat Kings Guards right behind her and even more aware of the Kings gaze.

She straightened her back and tail took a deep breath in and spoke, “Your nephew was a coward! A roach! He didn’t deserve to be alive, anyone could see that! I merely did what everyone else was secretly itching to do!” She took another deep breath and looked at the Rat King, and felt hope flare as his grin turned from predatory to amused. “Only I had the guts to do what had to be done! That’s why I laid that trap! I knew he was in the area and knew that I would be doing everyone a favour by removing that Critters Son.” She spat that last bit out, getting more and more into the act, committing more and more.

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After all, it was the only thing that could keep her alive. “When I killed him, I knew the consequences! I knew what would happen! Thing is, I knew that no one would blame me so I did it, knowing that I would be forgiven!”

She looked at the king and smiled, then bowed low. She was sure that she had played her cards right if the king's smile was anything to go by anyway.

The King sat on his throne for a little while, the smile slipping from his face and turning contemplative, mulling over what was said, then he straightened and looked her straight in the eye.

“A good answer.” He said finally, his facial expression still one of contemplation.

Lydia felt her shoulders slump in relief, she was safe, for the time being at least. She immediately straightened her shoulders, she had a part to play, a part that was keeping her alive, and so she would play that part to perfection.

He seemed to think for a while longer before straightening. “Not good enough, unfortunately.”

Lydia felt horror overtake her, and went down on her knees trying for one last word, one last anything to prove herself innocent. She expected the guards to take her away, but by the pit, she would at least try to live.

The Rat King started to laugh, and laugh, and laugh, he laughed for a solid minute, rolling on his throne, shoulders heaving type of laugh. Then he started to giggle and giggled for a solid minute.

Lydia stood by watching, her body slacks with relief, whatever doubt she had harboured about the King not being insane was completely destroyed. She had truly thought for a moment that she was about to be killed.

The King after minutes of laughter and giggles finally calmed down and took control of himself. “Forgive me. I couldn’t help myself! It was worth it though! The look on your face! The reaction! It was beautiful, I’ll need to try something like that again!” He looked at her happily, and sighed, “Aaaaa, that was the best laugh I’ve had in months!”

He turned a bit more serious, “Now. Onto your judgement.”

Lydia felt her chest seize up, this was the moment, the moment where her fate would be decided. She was sure that she wasn’t going to die, but wasn’t sure about how severe whatever punishment he would throw at her would be.

He held up his sceptre, “You start at ten points! Minus five points for a bad answer, minus four points for killing my nephew. Plus six points for superb acting and second answer. That is seven points in total. Minus another two because why not!”

Lydia honestly wasn’t that surprised at this point, scared? Yes. Frustrated? Yes. Surprised? No. She just waited for her judgement to fall, waiting for what she hoped was something that would save her.

“Your final score is three! Your punishment is gonna be harsh but interesting.” He looked at her, more specifically at her broken fang. “You’re the girl that got rejected from the elites.” It was a statement and she nodded confirming it.

He grinned and raised his sceptre high, before pointing down and right at her. “Your final punishment is…. To prove yourself worthy of special soldiers.”

She was angry at his bad math but was hopeful that maybe this wouldn’t turn out so bad after all.

“More specifically you will go into the land of the Pit cursed critters, infiltrate the Guard, and destroy them from within.”

He smiled.

“Good Luck!”

All she felt was horror.