Meera's cheek burned where she had been slapped, but her vision was slowly adjusting to the light. They could take her armor and chakrams away, but not her skills. She tried calling her chakrams and still nothing. She was very conscious of her lack of clothes and all these brutish men around her, most of whom were Bleeders, and the Shadow Scribe was there as well, eyes on her book and quill ready. So, Meera stayed on the floor, kept her legs firmly closed, and did her best to cover herself up with her arms. Thankfully, she still had her makeshift bra and underwear on.

She was in a throne room of sorts. There were torches lit all along the walls. The ceiling must've been thirty feet high. Black drapes were hanging from the walls, which had a symbol of two swords, one dark, and the other steel gray, crossing each other. There was a single chair, more like a throne made of a dark metal. It had two swords melded to its sides. So, when one sat in it and rested their hands on the armrest, they could hold the hilts easily.

What purpose do they serve?

Lastly was the man with his back to Meera, staring off into the back of the room, which was shrouded in darkness. He was tall, with a broad back, and wore two swords on his right hip. His armor was the most intriguing thing about him. It was a steel armor, but a shadowy darkness swirled around it. Then there was his cape, which somehow was normal. It was dyed black and had the same sigil as the two swords.

[Shadowsteel Overlord – Level ??]

Meera figured she wouldn't be able to see his level. But she could take a guess at what his level was if he had level 200 people in his employ.

"How do you know my name?" Meera asked, keeping her tone steady.

"That is not the answer to my question, Meera." Despite his heavy voice, there was a calmness to it, almost like he could put you to sleep just by talking. She wondered if it were a skill.

"Yes, but I would still like to know the answer to my question," Meera replied. "Because I don't remember telling any of your lackeys my name."

"They're not under my command. Not directly, anyways. Only Perilla is."

"The one who put me in the box and stripped me of my clothes and weapons."

Narikas tilted his head and finally turned to face her. His armor was indeed worthy of a prince but, at the same time, terrifying. The swirling shadows took the shape of screaming people who seemed to be in a lot of agony. The man was handsome with a neatly trimmed beard despite the scar on his left cheek that went down to his beard.

His dark eyes fell on Meera, and he was immediately angry. The room grew dark and cold. Meera immediately had goosebumps as she did her best not to shiver. Shadows emanated from him, threatening to swallow all.

"Why was she brought to me like this?" He lashed at the Scribe. "Perilla, you are a woman yourself. Do you not know the meaning of decency."

Even this emotionless woman could show signs of fear. Perilla shrank before her master's anger. "Your Highness, she had a necklace that was connected to her magical armor. When we took off the necklace, her armor went with it. Also, it was not my decision to present her to you like this."

Narikas's eyes fell on the three Watchmen in the room, and they dared not meet his.

"Y-Your Highness, she killed Captain Vimpus."

"Sliced him into pieces. It was gruesome, my lord."

Narikas nostrils flared. "And you think that gives you the right to toy with her honor. I want you to fall my sight this instant, or I will have three more shadows to add to my armor."

They bowed and practically ran from the room. When the door shut with a thud, the darkness receded, and the room was back to normal. Narikas stepped off the pedestal and walked toward Meera.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

She tried to back up but could only do so much before he reached her. He reached for his cape, ripped it off, and put it around Meera's shoulders, covering her up.

"No matter what you've done, a woman should not be treated like this," he said. "My apologies."

"Thank you." Meera pulled the cape tight around her and stood.

"Now, you will answer the question, Meera," Narikas stated. "Why are you here?"

"Not before you tell me how you know my name?"

The warlord sighed and nodded to Perilla.

The Scribe flipped a couple of pages and scribbled something in the book. A black box appeared. It was about as high as Meera's chest, and Meera knew she was trapped in a similar box, and it was the Scribe's doing. Those cold hands were hers that pulled Meera into darkness.

One side of the box became transparent, and inside was Tamas.

He was beaten and bloodied and cradled his right arm as he winced and wiped tears with his other arm. He, too, had been stripped bare like her. So, she saw the breadth of the bruises they left on his body. He was even worse than when the Mistblades had beaten him.

"We picked him up a few days after we captured you."

How long was I in that box?

"Answer my questions truthfully, and I will send him back to the prison he escaped from," Narikas said. "Or choose not to, and he will stay in that box until madness takes him. I have scores of such boxes filled with people who are delirious and talk to imaginary phantoms."

Meera couldn't help but feel that was a dig at her talking to Onyx.

"So, what will it be Meera? Answer my questions, or leave your friend in there to spend eternity insane and in pain. Time doesn't pass in those boxes. His wounds will never heal. He will stay like that. In pain. Forever."

Meera's nostrils flared as she breathed out roughly. "Fine, I'll answer your damn questions, but you will heal him before sending him back to prison." She figured they would have to bring him out to heal him. That was when she would make her move and run off with him.

"That can be arranged."

"I've come here to find my brother," Meera said.

"I see, what a fabulous way to gain entry into the kingdom, I must say." Narikas climbed the steps and sat in his chair. "What is your brother's name? Maybe I've heard of him."

Meera snorted. "I seriously doubt that. He's no one. His name is Jai." She gave him her father's name.

Narikas looked to the Scribe, who had scribbled everything they said.

"That is a lie, Your Highness."

Meera's heartbeat elevated. What are you, the Mirrors of Dorheia?

"How would you know?" Meera barked. "What, you have a skill that tells you when people are lying? Are we to honestly trust the words of this woman?"

"Yes," The Warlord replied. "Now, let's try this again, shall we? And the truth this time."

"I told you the truth."

Narikas sighed and waved a finger at the box. Perilla scribbled something, and the box shrank. Inside, Tamas banged on its sides and screamed something, but she couldn't hear what.

"What is a Varshan spy doing in my kingdom?" Narikas asked.

"I'm not a Varshan and definitely not a spy," Meera dribbled out. "I really am here to find my brother."

Perilla gave a single nod, signaling Meera was telling the truth.

"Then what is his name?" Narikas asked, voice all calm.

"His-His name is Jai, like I told you."

"Another lie, Your Highness."

The box shrank further, packing Tamas in tighter. His legs were squished against the sides of the box. He screamed and cried, but Meera could not hear his cries. If Perilla had shrunk the box any smaller, he would have folded in half.

"Okay, okay, I'll tell you the truth." Meera drew a deep breath. "My brother's name is Neel."

Narikas' expression didn't change. It felt like he was expecting that answer. "Like the Champion?"

Meera didn't say anything.

"Your brother is the Champion," Narikas stated.

Again, Meera kept quiet.

"I don't think your friend has much room left in the box."

She grinded her teeth and said, "yes."

"I figured as much. There is a resemblance between you two. Not a lot, but enough, and of course, you were sloppy when you told Tamas about looking for your brother and the Champion."

"Then you knew why I'm here."

"I did." The prince spared a look at Perilla, who had her eyes glued to her book. "He was here. He enjoyed the luxuries of my home, and I liked the young fellow. I would even say we were becoming friends, but then he stole from me." The room grew dark again. "Stole something that I had planned to gift to my brother on his birthday, which is coming in three weeks. And because of his spies in my home," he looked at Perilla again. "He knows I'm to present him with a mighty gift."

"Hence, the bounty posters," Meera concluded, drawing his attention back to her.

He nodded. "Hence the bounty posters. See this thing your brother has stolen. I need it back. Now, if I were anything like my brother, I would have taken out my anger on his next of kin, meaning you." He smiled. "Fortunate for you, I'm not like my brother. So, I won't have your skin ripped from your muscles or have you tortured by his Watchmen. I think I might be able to find another use for you. I suggest we do a trade."

"What sort of a trade?" Meera asked.

"Tell me what you want to know most?"

"Why was my brother here, and which way did he go?"

He pursed his lips. "I can answer those questions. But before I tell you why your brother was here, what he stole from me, you will have to do something for me."

"Do what?"

"Find the missing Queen of Azeria."