The Call of Crows

Chapter 20: Out of Options

Najeem blinked himself awake in response to the cold shock of water drenching him. He sat in an iron chair, bound to it by chains.

His head pounded with pain, and his vision was slightly blurry. But he could see clearly enough to make out the giant man that sat in front of him. He had pale skin, long black hair, a thick beard and beady eyes.

He was dressed in decorated Nikan armor and wore a small 'crown' in the shape of a hairpiece atop his head. He was a prince.

"What's your name, Qahtanad?" the man growled.

"What?" Najeem groaned, unable to hear very well.

"I asked for your name, mud-fleshed shit ba-" the man raised his fist.

"Brother." a female voice from somewhere else in the room said, "It's rude to demand someone's name without first giving your own. And he's probably too dazed to answer. Hitting him would only make it worse."

"Well then, how are we supposed to interrogate him?"

"Um...maybe we can use some of Sister Ruogang's elixirs."

"But those are supposed to be for the troops."

"Father won't care if a few soldiers die. He will care if we don't bring him the whereabouts of more masters when we have the opportunity to do so."

The giant sighed, "Fine."

A soft hand tilted Najeem's head up as a bitter syrup-like liquid was poured into his mouth. He tried to spit it up, but to no avail.

After a coughing fit, Najeem's vision cleared up. He'd have felt much better if he wasn't a captive.

The woman in what he now realized was a tent was shorter than him by a head or two and had big, brown eyes like a doe's. She wore brigandine armor, but in a very impractical fashion that showed off her legs. She had this look in her eyes that made her seem like a child trapped in a woman's body.

"Hi!" the girl said in accented Qahtanad.

"What the...where the hell am I? Who are you?"

"I am Gongsun Huan, fifth imperial prince. My enemies call me the Bull Demon King." the giant man growled.

"I'm Gongsun Fen, sixth imperial princess." the princess smiled at him, "I don't know what my enemies call me."

"Your title is the Quicksilver Hare, sister." Huan muttered.

"Oh, yeah!" She gasped. "What's your name?"

"Er...Zaheer al-Jalil." Najeem said, artificially injecting reluctance into his voice. They clearly didn't know he was an Asasiyun. Interrogating one was basically the equivalent of giving up half your military secrets.

"We're going to need your help, Zaheer." Huan said, poorly restraining his impatience, "You were a part of an attack on our war camp last night. You also did one the night before, torching our mangonels. We know you did this with an Elder Shedim and that there are more of you. Care to tell me who they are and how their abilities work?"

"You won't get word out of me." Najeem growled.

"Will you do it for a chest of Imperial Marks?" Fen pointed to her brother as the Bull Demon King opened a box full of gold coins.

Najeem narrowed his eyes as though he was considering, "What do you even want with us?"

"You mean aside from stopping you from aiding separatists?" Huan asked.

"The Nikan have been after me since my trip to Jambudvipa!" Najeem exclaimed.

Huan glanced at his sister before looking back at Najeem. He was concocting a lie. "My father is supremely interested in your abilities. Others, like you, naturally pose a threat to our sovereignty. But we simply want you to be comfortable. My father pays a stipend to many other Shedim Masters to simply stay out of wars. Your involvement complicates everything."