Protector

an old friend

--- jaron's point of view ---

It was the third day of my imprisonment and I could scarcely imagine how Hunter had managed to last six years. A couple of soldiers came in at one point to give me a bowl of soup, but I refused it, which earned me a lot of fury from Kippenger. Hunter still hadn't woken up yet, and I was practically out of my mind with worry for her. And, if solely to add to my torment, I was paid a visit from King Vargan. We had a delightful little chat about how it was a crime to starve, how horrible I looked, how it was my fault Imogen was dead and Hunter was here, and how he'd kill everyone else I loved or cared about if I didn't cooperate.

A delightful little talk, really.

Another day passed and Hunter hadn't stirred once. I was now going into full-fledged panic mode. If she didn't wake up, I had no idea what I would do. Or if I could ever recover from losing her all over again. So I watched her for hours on end, keeping vigil and praying to any god who might be listening to spare her and bring her back to me. I worked to quiet my hectic mind with memories.

So many memories.

Good, bad, funny, infuriating, and even ones I didn't know I had. I was in the middle of an especially pleasant memory, where the two of us set our least favorite vigil on a wild goose chase around the castle when I was jerked back into reality by a woman entering the cell with another bowl of soup. I was ready to decline the food again, but then I noticed the figure following her. Kippenger.

Fantastic.

He told me that if I didn't eat, he would hurt the woman until I did. As I was in no hurry to get anyone else hurt for me, I took the bowl. After I ate the soup, however, I was glad I did. I had desperately needed the nutrition. The second I was done eating, I was sucked into another interrogation session. At this point, I had no will to protect myself from the pain I knew he would inflict on me, so I decided to ignore him completely. Kicking me in the side, he added to a bruise I had all but forgotten about. He scoffed and straightened with a renewed look of determination on his face.

"If hurting you or your sister won't make you talk, I'll just keep adding to my collection of members of your court."

Two guards entered, dragging a figure between them. His face was downturned, but I'd know that horrible haircut anywhere.

"Tobias."

He looked up sharply at the sound of my voice. "You-You're alive?" He stammered.

"It would seem so."

Kippenger rudely interrupted our reunion, with a click of his tongue and the same question as before. This time though, instead of inflicting pain onto me, Tobias received such a slap to his face that he fell to the ground, unconscious. Kippenger sighed and ordered that Tobias take Hunter's chains and that she would be bound instead, as she was still unresponsive. After all that was done, we were left alone.