Talent’s POV
The man was right. The door was heavy, but the weight wasn’t what prevented him from opening it. There must have been another layer of security. Perhaps another set of wards on the other side, or maybe the door was physically locked as well. It could even be that the door was enchanted with magic so that only certain individuals could open it.
He still wasn’t sure, but he was certain that he would not get through even if he had help.
“If you don’t want help, then move aside an’ let us through, then you can resume testing your might against the door all you wish. Unless you prefer we all die down here while you work yourself to exhaustion, hmm?" A woman snapped as she pushed Talent aside and inserted a black key into the lock.
Her hair, a mix of browns and reds, shrouded her face in thick curls. Talent thought her voice sounded familiar, but he couldn’t see enough of her face to say for certain who she was.
As she worked the lock, Talent glanced behind at the group and did a quick count.
There were at least a dozen ravens, each one wearing black clothes and armed with a combination of pistols and magical weapons. They looked like trained soldiers, but that went completely against what he understood the ravens to be.
When the lock clicked open the woman smiled and twisted the handle. A soft clunk and snap came from behind the door before it finally opened inward. She pulled the key free and slipped it into her pocket. “You’re welcome to join us, the king would have us killed if he learned we left you down here in these circumstances.”
Her tone was light and sincere, but she never looked at him and she didn’t bother waiting for his reply either. Instead she passed through the door and the other ravens followed after her. Talent hesitated briefly before finally joining them.
He couldn't help but wonder why the ravens seemed so interested in his survival, but he didn’t have time to ask before a stoogy old man with crooked glasses and untamed hair rushed up to the group.
“What’s happened down there? Where are the beasts coming from?”
Talent knew it had nothing to do with him, but he couldn’t stop himself from asking, “Aren’t you at all concerned with the slaves down there killing your fellow ravens?”
The man ignored him, pressing the raven girl for an answer as his eyes widened and his eyebrows raised sharply. “Well?”
She signed. Then opened her palm and summoned a broken sword from a hidden storage. “This was used by one of the workers to fight off a cave lurker. He didn’t kill the beast, but it ran away after he hacked off its shell.”
The old man took the broken blade, examining it carefully before returning it. “You’re joking right? Lurkers don’t run and even the raven king wouldn’t dare fight a lurker with this useless hunk of metal.”
The girl shook her head as she returned the blade to storage. “It’s all very strange, but Otto saw it. Half my squad is back there bringing him up from the tunnel as we speak.”
The man didn't seem to believe her, but he also didn't seem able to argue with her. Instead he grunted and waved her on dismissively. “If you think I’m telling that story to the king, you’re a fool. Go ahead and tell him yourself.”
The woman laughed, but her expression remained calm and confident as she responded, “Gladly, I intended to from the moment I saw him. There is one other matter though.” She cut an eye over her shoulder at Talent. “The little lord found his way out of the cell, and I doubt the king would want him left down there with things like they are. Find him a suitable room and see that he stays in it.”
Talent tensed at the woman's words and shot her a glare which she ignored completely. The old man studied Talent a moment then nodded, rolled his eyes and turned to a raven holding a tablet of some kind. “See it done, boy; be quick.”
The man nodded vigorously as his fingers worked over the device. Talent only had time to blink before the man demanded, “This way, sir.” He turned and began walking as if it was a given Talent would follow.
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Talent frowned, he didn’t want to go with this man and he didn’t want to listen to a raven, but he also knew he would likely get lost if he tried to find his own way around this place. He wasn’t sure how they’d react to his obstinance, but they’d already knocked him out once and locked him in a cell; he didn’t think they’d have qualms about doing it again.
The man led Talent up a staircase with deep, sturdy steps, then down a hallway lined with wooden doors. Each door had a glass panel beside it that lit up as they passed. When they reached the end of the hall the man tapped on a panel, opened the door and ushered him inside.
“There’s a fresh set of clothes in the closet and running water in the bathroom. This place is already stocked with food and other supplies, but if you desire anything, you need only use the tablet on the table to request it.”
He gestured at a table with two chairs sitting opposite one another as he went on, but Talent was already used to this sort of thing. Usually he was free to leave when he got ready and things were generally on his terms even when he was the guest. He didn't expect things would be any different here, aside from the location.
This room was meant for his confinement, a gilded cage if it could be called such, but a cage nonetheless. Talent settled into an armchair and surveyed the space, taking in its appearance while still trying to conceal his annoyance at being confined here.
He immediately noticed the room was smaller than his room back home. The decor was simple, consisting of a small bed, dresser, desk and two chairs at the table. There was at least an attached bathroom and his guide opened a panel in the wall to reveal a hidden fridge and pantry.
Other than that there was little more than a single tablet on the table and an aquarium stocked with several exotic fish.
The room was bare, lacking even a book or any sort of entertainment, but Talent thought it could be worse. At least he wouldn’t have to listen to the boy in the next cell snore as loud as a foghorn.
Talent turned his attention back to the boy with the tablet.
The boy smiled. “If you have any remaining questions, please ask now.”
Talent hadn’t been enough attention to have questions, but as he considered the situation he realized there were a few things that needed clarification.
The boy seemed to sense the question, smiling eagerly as he sat down across from Talent and asked, “How can I be of service?”
“I was told that if I behaved like a guest I’d be treated like one. Although since your people brought me here I’ve been kept locked in a cell despite my cooperative attitude. Do you truly intend to imprison me here? Or should I take this room as a sign you intend to keep your word? And what of my belongings; I will need them if you intend for me to stay here indefinitely. Can I at least expect my things to be returned to me?"
The raven seemed stunned at first, his jaw hung slack as he stared back at Talent, but as soon as he composed himself he let out a shaky laugh and said, "I'm sure this arrangement is quite different than what you're used to, but the situation is… I’m not really able to answer those questions. I will do what I can to find out.” He got up from the chair and quickly added, "Please don't wander around the facility, stay in this room until I return with an answer."
Talent nodded, smiling coldly as he gestured towards the door. "Very well... Now then, if you've no more information for me I'd prefer some peace and quiet."
The raven swallowed nervously, nodded, then turned and left the room without another word. The door closed with a click and Talent immediately got up and went to inspect the tablet.
It was small, flat and appeared to have no physical buttons; it was similar to the ones he used at home but this one clearly different. It was powered by a crystal, like most tablets, so he assumed it would respond to voice commands.
“Tablet, unlock.”
The screen turned on and an automated voice responded, “Hello, would to request a service?”
“Not exactly. Can you show me a map of this place, or the architectural plans?”
The screen flashed and an image appeared, it was three dimensional and showed all of the floors of the facility and what looked like areas underground as well. It was fairly detailed with labels for each area and a number of symbols that indicated access points.
Talent smiled, then the model disappeared and the voice laughed, “Sorry, but access to the blueprints and map function are restricted to authorized personnel. If you have a problem with the functions listed here then please refer to the person who granted you access and they will be happy to help you, if not feel free to use any other function you might desire."
Talent frowned, placing the device back on the table and leaning back in his seat. It wasn't entirely unexpected that he wouldn't be allowed access to the building plans. Although he wondered why they displayed at all if the feature was truly restricted. He decided to ask, “Can you display other restricted content?”
“Of course not. I can however tempt you with tantalizing secrets, spurious as they may be.” The device responded before continuing, "Perhaps you might like to test your intellect against some puzzles or play a game of chess?"
Talent nodded with understanding. The tablet was not only voice controlled, but capable of intelligent thought. The tablet truly had a sense of humor.
Talent smiled thinly and asked, "Tell me then, what secrets can you offer me?"
"Would you like a hint, or would you prefer I simply tell you the answer?"
Talent grinned; the tablet might not tell him the answers he wanted, but he might still be able to get the answers he needed. “If there was a way out of this room, would you tell me?”
“I would gladly, if there were a way out, but there isn’t."
Talent nodded slowly as he stared at the tablet. He knew the answer was a lie since there was obviously a way in and out of the room. He thought carefully for several moments then decided on a series of questions to test the limits of the device's honesty and to what extent he could expect it to attempt deception.