"I demand access."

Leander stood at the large round table around which the ruling council sat, along with Harafin, Ah'Shan, and Felix. Kevlin stood with Drystan, Gabral, and the Sentinel Durgesh on guard duty along the walls.

"I will not allow it," Sentinel Ah'Shan said from his place across from Leander.

Leander pounded his fist on the table. "Do not deny me this, Ah'Shan."

The outburst didn't scare the Sentinel. "Your vendetta is too well know, my friend. I cannot risk allowing you in the same room with the prisoner until I've extracted all the information I can from him. Then, my friend, you can have at him."

"After I order the execution," Emperor Tegnazian cut in.

"Of course," Ah'Shan said smoothly. "The execution of this man is a given. The only question is the timing of the event."

"Speaking of timing," Ambassador Janezeko of Freyarr said, "Why are we sitting here talking about interrogating this Shadeleech and not actually doing it?"

"I granted the prisoner two hours in solitude to prepare to answer my questions."

Leander slammed his open palm on the table, shaking the sturdy piece. "Are you insane? You cannot make deals with this man! He's too dangerous."

Emperor Tegnazian snapped, "Stop all the shouting, Leander, and don't hit the table like that again. You're hurting my ears."

Leander didn't look away from Ah'Shan.

Harafin said, "I have to agree with Leander. Tanathos has proven himself far too dangerous to grant any favors. Perhaps I should take over the interrogation."

Ah'Shan waved a dismissive hand. "You're all over-reacting. Harafin, you are unrivaled in battle prowess. This is my realm of expertise. I know what I'm doing."

"Then why not do it?" Ambassador Kescog asked.

"Very well, I will explain. Probing the mind of a Shadeleech is a very delicate, time-consuming process. When that Shadeleech is actively shielding his mind with Sthenic energy, it becomes entire magnitudes more difficult and more dangerous."

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"I thought you had him in some kind of magical prison that blocked his powers," the emperor said.

"That is correct. He is prevented from directing his powers outward, but that power is still there, still available to protect his mind."

"Why not cast Truth?" Ambassador Janezeko asked. "After all the argument about wanting to cast Truth on everyone, I'd have thought you'd have done that already."

"I could, but we suspect his mind is heavily guarded by layers of mind-traps, many of which are triggered when certain words are spoken. By forcing him to speak before breaking into his mind and disabling those mind-traps, he would most likely die in the very moment he tried to speak the information we so desperately seek."

As they digested that information, Ah'Shan added, "The cell where Tanathos is held has layers of magic woven into the fabric of its walls. That magic will slowly and safely drain the Sthenic powers from him, leaving his mind vulnerable to penetration."

Ambassador Talamantez leaned forward with a nod of understanding. "So when you agreed to grant him time to prepare, you lose nothing."

"Exactly," Ah'Shan said. "I'd have to wait that long anyway. And more than just bleeding Tanathos of his powers, I gain another significant advantage that I believe he does not anticipate."

"Forcing Truth from an unwilling gifted mind is difficult, even after breaking the mental defenses and disabling any mind-traps. However, if Tanathos does indeed begin sharing information willingly, I can apply Truth in stages through that conversation. Through careful application of Truth, I can first lengthen the conversation beyond what he intends. Before he realizes what's happening, he will reveal all his secrets."

"Amazing," the emperor breathed.

"Tanathos has played right into our hands," Ah'Shan assured them. "He has no idea what I can do with Truth."

Kevlin shuddered at the distant memory when he had been tortured by Truth. He almost hoped Ah'Shan failed to pull Tanathos's secrets so easily from his mind. The process sounded far too painless. Tanathos deserved to suffer.

It seemed impossible that they had done it. Tanathos had stalked them since the first days after Rhea had turned on Antigonus and Kevlin's fate became bound with Tia Khoa. Tanathos had successfully smuggled hundreds of Makrasha and at least a dozen Shadeleeches clear across the empire undetected. Even he couldn't spin the Wheel forever.

Now he hung in Harafin's prison. Soon Leander would be authorized to execute judgment on Tanathos for all the murders he'd committed.

Too bad Leander killed so quickly. Tanathos deserved to die by inches. If he screamed once for every life he had taken, they'd have to torture him for weeks to work through them all. Even that seemed too small a price to pay.

"I want to be there when you question him," Leander said again.

Ah'Shan shook his head. "I cannot allow it. I granted your two Stalwarts to assist in guarding the cell, but I can allow no more until the interrogation is complete."

Leander clenched his right hand slowly, but finally nodded. "Be quick about it, then."