I kept my eyes on the electrocuted brigands as a cool breeze caressed my face, and quietly used Witness to weave some of the incredibly long grasses into some surprisingly sturdy ropes that were even able to tie them up all on their own! Though after another minute, they stopped responding to Witness, so I assume that’s the limit of what I can do with the staff’s power.

Thanks for your service grass!

I nodded contentedly, and since their continued silence was starting to get suspicious, I turned back to the group of my bedraggled beneficiaries, eyebrow cocked. “Umm… you guys okay? Did anyone get hurt? Or… .”

I left the question hanging so that they’d be more comfortable answering, but I honestly didn’t expect them all to be, well, kneeling. The mage lady looked flustered, the ranger was freakishly attentive, the guards were gloomy, and Annabelle, no, Ysdra, was as white as a sheet.

And that left Calden.

He was at their forefront, huddled on the ground with his forehead in the dirt just like he was during our shared dream, and since I’d prompted, he lifted his head just enough that his small, gentle, voice could escape. “I believe we are all in good health, great one. All thanks to you, and your indispensable artifacts.”

Cripes kid, you’re lucky I have good hearing since you’re talking about as loud as a strangled fart. But what’s this about artifacts? Does he mean Witness and my spears? Is that what they call magic items? Well, I guess that’s good to know for later.

I smiled and stopped observing my staff. “I'm glad to hear you’re all okay, but you still haven’t told me what you want to do with these fainted fellows yet?”

I watched a shudder run through him all the way from head to feet. A few seconds later he squeaked. “W–well, since they were clearly too well equipped to be regular highwaymen I think it’d be wise to interrogate them before… um.” He swallowed hard. “T–turning them into the Ariadholme guards.”

“Good thinking. Then let’s wake them up.”

I went around to each of the sinister slumberers and cast the body recovery spell, resuscitate., that Corra had taught me, on each of them.

In a storm of groans, splutters, and snorts, the group started to life and wiggled around like worms as their weary minds failed to realize that they were tied up before they attempted to stand.

One particularly bright fellow even tried to run away only to end up doing a rather spectacular dive/flop straight onto his belly, with a facefull of the compressed dirt and pebbles as his well earned prize.

Alright, that should do it, now. I turned around to the still stationary group of Calden and associates and sighed. Are you kidding me? Are they puppets? Do they need permission to do everything?

I put my minor annoyance to rest and mustered a more charming grin. “I leave the rest to you.”

At last, they found their footing, and to no one’s surprise, hesitated, before gathering up to discuss possible lines of questioning amongst themselves.

Finally! Some progress! I wonder how much they’ll learn? I know I can tell the truth from lies with Uriel, but what will they do? Oh, I can’t wait to find out!

As for the brigands, they weren’t content to simply wait to be interrogated and started jeering and fussing, demanding and bellyaching.

“Let us go, you curs!”

“Why’d ya have ta’ tie us so tight?”

“We’ll never talk! Don’t waste your breath!”

Their coarse voices made it unpleasant to listen to, and apparently one of the guards had the same opinion, because out of the blue he whipped around and bull rushed the largest brigand; knocking him right onto the flat of his back, a trail of blood trickling from the flattened rouge’s nose.

“The next one of you louts to speak out of turn is getting ground into paste!” The guard snarled and made sure to meet the gaze of all the bound men. “Do I make myself clear?!”

I half expected them to reply, “Yes drill sergeant!”, but just got a few grumbled curses and derisive pouts instead.

I sighed, and watched the guard that once carried my pack pace menacingly in front of them while the others continued to plan their next move. Then, I realized I could at least do something useful while I waited.

Uriel! You’re up!

I swept my eyes over each of the bound men, and Uriel revealed their stats to me. For the most part, they weren’t anything special; with stats averaging around ninety and mostly basic combat related abilities to their names. However, the biggest, who also happened to be the boss, as well as the one who performed the flying leap earlier, both proved to be quite a bit more… interesting.

Name: Marko

Species: Human

Health: 47/320

Mana: 4/48

Endurance: 36/400

Strength: 120 + 7

Agility: 100 + 3

Speed: 99 + 4

Toughness: 2 + 15

Spirit: 48

Status conditions: restrained, fatigued, disoriented (minor), burns (minor)

Titles: Scumbag; Theif; Extortionist; Secritive Plotter; Liar; Highway robber; Murderer; Bandit King (Self Proclaimed) Attempted Assassin (new)

Abilities:

Tyranny lv: 22

Mana sense lv: 13

Mana manipulation lv: 23

Intimidate lv: 10

Mana strike lv: 14

Battle cry lv: 47

Body Enhancement magic (Adept) lv: 1

Savage blow lv: 42

Forgery lv: 77

Feral instinct lv: 11

Back street dirty fighting (Adept) lv: 89 Name: Sorren Thaddian aka Geth

Species: Human

Health: 2/400

Mana: 15/350

Endurance: 37/520

Strength: 140 + 22

Agility: 133 + 18

Speed: 124 + 36

Toughness: 1 + 48

Spirit: 350

Status conditions: restrained; disoriented (minor); burns (minor); desperate (growing)

Titles: Right hand man; Loyal retainer; secritive plotter; enforcer; poisoner; murderer; Assassin; Servant of Marquis Palaeshek

Abilities:

Quiet steps lv: 85

Mana sense lv: 67

Mana manipulation lv: 90

Meld lv: 100

Misdirection lv: 88

Subtle movement lv: 73

Silver tongue lv: 78

Mana strike lv: 21

Poison formulation lv: 38

Stimulant formulation lv: 42

Underhanded Assassin's style (Advanced) lv: 2

So from what I can tell, Marko, the leader, was presumably hired by Marquis Palaeshek, who presumably also sent Sorren, currently known as Geth, to ensure the job got done right, and maybe to dispose of Marko and his goons afterward. Though maybe I’m reading too much into his poison formulation ability.

With that, I glanced back over at the huddle, and asked. “Are you guys almost ready?”

Calden straightened. “Y–yes great one! We’re ready!”

Out of the corner of my eye I caught Sorren arch an eyebrow at the young lord’s reaction to me before he squinted suspiciously in my direction. I could practically hear him thinking. “Wait. That one wasn’t here when we attacked, so then are they the reason we suddenly lost? But most importantly, why is the heir of Dresdeth referring to them as ‘great one’? They don’t look very great at all.”

Calden nodded to the mage lady and the guards, who advanced on Marko. The guards dragged him to the front of his captured cohort, unceremoniously dumped him onto the ground, and then pinned him there under the combined weight of their boots.

The mage lady started muttering a spell, and out of curiosity, I peeked at her status. It’s only fair since she tried to wander off with Witness, but let’s be honest, I just want to learn some new spells! I wonder which one she’ll use!

Name: Carmella Fairmont

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

Species: Human

Health: 245

Mana: 433/600

Endurance: 112/250 (275 max)

Strength: 43 + 3

Agility: 142 + 10

Speed: 137 + 45

Toughness: 1

Spirit: 600

Status conditions: winded (mild); exhaustion (moderate)

Titles: Knight's daughter; Apprentice of the magic tower; Graduate of Arcanholme; Ambitious servant; Servant of Marquis Dresdeth

Abilities:

Calculation lv: 87

Mana sense lv: 90

Mana manipulation lv: 100

Arithmatic lv: 100

Glower lv: 54

Order essence magic (Adept) lv: 81

Ice essence magic (Adept) lv: 23

Meditation lv: 32

Earth essence magic (Adept) lv: 42

Foreign Languages lv: 3

Staff fighting (novice) lv: 25

Seconds later she said “Earth spines.” And around ten extremely pointy stone bits protruded from the ground around Marko’s head. They didn’t advance very far from the dirt road, but their appearance was enough to make him squirm, and the steady flow of mana told me that she could likely change that at any time.

That’s… a little unimaginative, but at least now I know she doesn't have a way to tell the truth from lies. That means they’re gonna try to strong arm him into submission instead. I don’t much like it, but given the time period I really shouldn’t be surprised. As for if I think it’ll work, well, I have a bad feeling about this. I quietly sighed. Keep your fingers crossed, Anon, they might just surprise you.

Carmella then looked to Calden for permission, and when he nodded, she growled. “What is your name?”

Marko sneered and when he opened his mouth the stone spikes suddenly shot toward his face. He froze, but they stopped about an inch from making contact.

Carmella continued. “Think carefully about your answer, I won’t tolerate any lies.”

He gulped. “M-Marko. Name’s Marko.”

I cocked an eyebrow. The truth, eh? Is their strategy going to work, or is he simply trying to lead them astray by answering truthfully to harmless things.

She scowled. “Alright, Marko.” practically spitting his name out like some bad tasting food. “What is it you were planning to do with our young charges? You wanted us to hand them over to you, so you obviously know who they are, so save yourself the suffering and be honest.”

Marko squirmed and shook his head. “Nah lady ya’ve got this all wrong! I’s Don’t know nuffin’! We’s just simple bandits! Honest! This is our territory! We spied a couple a well guarded brats an figured we’d be able ta’ get a pretty penny from ransomnin’ them!”

Carmella pouted and clenched her fist.

The spikes drilled forward again only this time they pressed into his pores, making the softer parts of his face flex inward at the sudden prodding.

“I warned you to tell the truth. I won’t tolerate another lie.”

I restrained a wince and watched in stone faced fascination. A bluff against a bluff. The first one to break or back down will give away all control of the conversation and decide pace from here on out!

They stared at each other for a tense second, then Marko gritted his teeth, and to my surprise started to blubber. “Honest! Please miss! Mercy! I knows we’ve done wrong, but we’s don’t got no clues on who ya’re! Honest!”

“Then why are you so well equipped? And why were your arrows poisoned?”

“W–we’s just got back from sellin’ off a haul! Bought new gear! Thought some juice on our blades’d make life easier! Safer!”

Carmella growled, and narrowed her eyes at him.

But Marko’s waterworks continued, and were pretty convincing. Convincing enough, even, that Ysdra, the ranger, and Calden were all staring at him in pity. The guards on the other hand, looked disgusted, but the ultimate verdict rested with Carmella.

And she held firm.

At least for a minute longer, but when Marko’s bawling didn’t stop she released the spikes with a deep sigh. “How can our misfortune be this persistent?”

I knew he was lying, since Uriel buzzed and told me so, but the fact that he kept up the act in front of his band, who now all looked at him in shame, rather than the fear or respect they once held, was kinda impressive. I guess you don’t earn the liar title by taking half-measures, huh?

The guards clocked him a few times to get him to shut up, then tossed him back to the group in disinterest.

For a minute I held onto the hope that Carmella had gotten a read on him and was leading him on in an effort to get him to slip up, but Marko didn’t break the act, and Carmella didn’t show any sign of paying him any further heed.

Ah well. I guess they aren’t inquisitors or anything, and the fact that they’re all pretty exhausted from their circumstances would only further dull their senses, and make them doubt their own instincts.

I gave Calden a questioning look, and he lowered his head. “We’re very sorry for wasting your precious time, but it appears that they aren’t what we thought they were.”

“Is that so?” I kept my voice even and gentle as I clasped both hands over the top of Witness and looked over at the visibly relieved Sorren. “What about him then? He did try so much harder than the others to escape, so why don’t you question him about why he’s here?”

The soft breeze almost seemed to stop.

All eyes turned to Sorren, who shrunk inward while glaring at me. Marko had an especially bitter look as he glanced between me and the man masquerading as Geth, both their faces asking the same questions. “What do you know? Are you bluffing? Or have we been found out?”

Ysdra stared at me, more in confusion than support, while the ranger and Calden were both eying Sorren with piercing intensity. The two guards glanced between their masters and the brigands, poised to go back and resume the questioning, but before anyone else could speak Carmella pinched the bridge of her nose and shouted. “Oh give it a rest! They aren't important right now!” Then she glowered at me, stomping closer, finger ready to skewer me. “And You! Stop toying with us! Release Lord Calden from whatever spell you’ve put him under and just tell us what you want! I know we owe you, but we don’t have the time, or patience enough to deal with your meandering, roundabout way of doing things!”

Her dirty and cracked nail, worn from days on the road, bounced off my breast several times before I calmly clasped her hand and lowered it back to her side. “I haven’t placed Calden under any spells, so I can’t help you there. And I understand you’re all tired, I know the feeling well, so if you’re not up to it, I’ll take care of things myself.”

“I– No! What does that mean?”

She called after me, but seemed too flustered to follow, so I continued over to Sorren and crouched in front of him. “Hello there! My name’s Anon. Anon Amos, and I’m going to ask you a few questions, but all you have to do is shake your head yes or no. Got it?”

He narrowed his eyes at me and slowly nodded.

“Great!” I clapped my hands together and offered a broad smile. “First question. Your name is Sorren Thaddian, yes?”

Unsurprisingly, he locked up, with the whole deer in headlights look painted all over his face.

I widened my grin. “I’ll take that as a yes. Next question, you work for one Marquis Pale as heck, correct?”

His mouth dropped open as if he’d just been punched in the gut. Light returned to his eyes and he slowly blinked, opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water.

One of the guards grumbled. “Pale as heck? Who’s that?”

“They don’t mean–” Ysdra clapped her hands over her mouth, and Calden lowered his head, eyes closed.

I chuckled. “Oh! I’m sorry, I meant to say Palaeshek. Marquis Palaeshek! That’s who you work for right? Mister right hand man? Or should I call you a poisoner? Murderer? Or Assassin? Which do you like better?”

Marko, Carmella, the ranger, and both guards all reacted to the Marquis’ name, and the titles I listed off after that. Sorren on the other hand went mum again, lowering his eyes to the floor and muting any facial expression.

Then he grumbled. “You don’t know anything, outsider. Stop rattling off nonsense and just–”

I leaned in and said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Nonsense? How can it be nonsense when it’s so clearly written on your soul?”

He met my gaze in an instant, desperately searching my face for any sign that I might be bluffing, so I just maintained a steadily widening grin, and watched him squirm away in horror.

Calden muttered. “I never doubted.” While Ysdra took her turn as the metaphorical deer.

The guards just groaned in defeat, while Julius’ eyes nearly bugged out of his head.

Okay, I admit, that was a little impulsive. However I needed a way to make it sound believable without admitting I can see his status. And it worked!

Carmella sighed. “If you knew all this, why make us ask? What was the point?”

I smiled back at her. “Well, Carmella, if I do everything for you, how are you supposed to grow?”

At my use of her real name, she made a face akin to a child who just drank a particularly bitter medicine, then blew me off and directed a murderous glare at Sorren. “Is what Anon said true?”

He still wouldn’t admit it, and just looked away.

“Fine! On your feet you wretches! We’re going to reach Ariadholme tomorrow morning! Where you will be tried! I’m not accepting any excuses or complaints! And anyone who falls behind–dies!”

At that, she stormed off in the direction away from the forest we’d met in, presumably toward that Ariadholme she’d mentioned, and everyone else, too tired or scared to argue, just followed.

I got the distinct feeling that she wasn’t including me in her little forced march so I allowed the group some space before I started to follow. My heightened senses made me keenly aware of her displeasure at my choice, but despite her current mood, she wasn’t in charge, so I didn’t hesitate to keep pace.

I took in the beautiful, practically picturesque, scenery that the rolling hills and colorful butterfly-like bugs created under the bluer sky and soft sheepish clouds, and smiled. The world might be different, but it’s still beautiful. People, however. People never change. But that too is beautiful in its own way. Now, when we get to this Ariadholme what do I want to do first? Find lodging? Go sightseeing? Shopping? Or try to find a map?