Daughters of the Land

XIV.| Revolutionary Minds

"Quite a performance you put on out there", he said as he lay out his dagger atop a table, before seating himself in front of the prisoner.

He was right. Her sudden pains were convincing enough it required authoritative   attention - Baron Castorons'. Although Castoron seemed fairly conscious of her plans, he had her escorted over to a spare room for questioning rather than treatment, like he had insisted.

Nukula gave a nonchalant shrug and raised her fastened hands, "I beg your pardon, but are these necessary?".

He smiled, "There's no need for that", he clarified when she refused a response. "Politeness- it makes me uneasy. I know you're a skilled fighter Nukula. To have made it this far. I don't want any trouble".

Once a moment of silence passed, she leaned forward. "What do you know?", she asked, squinting her eyes in assessment.

He spoke in a hush for fears he'd be heard. Guards had followed him to the book-riddled room and agreed to wait outside, on account of the other Barons being notified. Castoron wasted no further time in getting straight to his inquisition.

"Why are you here?".

"How do you know my mother?".

Baron Castoron looked at his supposed foe and sighed, "Answer my questions and I'll return the favour. I swear it", he held out his hand for a shake. Nukula rejected his touch but nodded in agreement. "The Bletsian brought me here", she said, lowering her head in attempts to conceal the fear she felt of that unfortunate night.

"On purpose?".

"Purpose?".

"Yes-".

"If by purpose you mean did I ride the river to Uta by force, then no. Of course not", she bit her tongue in distaste.

The Baron dropped back to his seat and sighed. His eyebrows furrowed as he thought carefully; eyes fixated on her. "You were with Forges, I believe?".

She nodded, "Yes. Is he ok-".

"What did he say to you?".

Nukula shook her head, "Nothing. Look,  I don't understand what it is you're doing but I can assure you I'm not a scout".

"I hadn't said you were. In fact, I want to know why you wouldn't be?", his thin brows raised higher.

Their war of words came to a halt, when Baron Pann and another walked in. They both seemed rather dubious about the situation. Baron Pann politely nodded at the noblemen outside, who seemed disinterested. "A medic for the prisoner", he told Castoron as the guards closed them in.

The medic put his bag down in unison, and joined the two Barons in a corner for a silent briefing. They looked back and forth between themselves and her, with Baron Pann and the medic working hard to disguise the shock on their faces, before retracting their steps and confronting Nukula.

Baron Pann spoke first, "Right, I hear you're feeling a bit ghastly? Lucky medic Meurtin was around to see to you eh?". Nukula thought the man spoke too loudly, though she was convinced he had reasons for doing so, so decided to cooperate.

Baron Castoron motored his hands for the medic and so he too, assisted Baron Pann in reminding her of her fortune. Ironically, the man was scrawny in appearance and held a ageing- copper-head of hair, which he had combed over neatly to hide his balding. He smiled politely at Nukula when their eyes met, then returned to examining a scab on his lower arm. He was anxious and from what the Barons said next, he had reason to be.