World of Tiber

Chapter 18: Getting Caught

Nightbreeze's PoV

I was getting ready to eat than go to bed. We leave early every morning and I didn't have night watch tonight. I looked up and saw a little boy heading into the woods. No one else noticed so I quickly went after him. He wandered very far away and when I caught up to him we got surrounded. It's an ambush from the Highlord army. I quickly pull out my sword and start fighting. I clear a space for the boy behind us and yell at him while I'm fighting “Run! Don't stop!” 

He quickly starts running. A few seconds later I am surrounded and I drop my sword. I know I am way too outnumbered to win. They take my weapons and force me towards there camp. When I walk too slowly they shove me and force me to keep moving. It's early morning when we get to their camp. Everyone stops talking when they see me. I was captured by the Highlord army. I see Ogres, Goblins, Draconians, Humans. There's so many people here in there army. But they don't have any dragons. The leader walked over to us in his full armor so I can't see his face. He says “Looks like we got a spy here. You will tell me what I want sooner or later.”

I tell him “You won't ever get me to talk.”

“I look forward to the challenge.”

“You won't win. I will never tell you anything no matter what you do to me.”

He takes off his helmet and I see he is a Half-Elf. Just like Nava is a Half-Elf. Why is he part of the Highlord army? There leader. 

“You know I have always liked a challenge. It's not very often that I get challenged by someone. I'm used to the Knights putting up a fight. They always want to protect others on their honor. Elves don't ever want to die for any reason. But you…. You are different.”

“Sweet talking won't work. I would rather die than tell you anything.”

“That will happen… Eventually.”

He starts circling around me, like he is studying me.

“Your Kagonesti. They always put up a fight. How I wish I didn't have to kill as many as I did. I hate having to kill my own kind. But then again they aren't my own kind until they join the Highlord army. You will die when I want you to die. You can give me some very useful information.”

“I won't tell you anything. I told you that you would have to kill me. Or are you too afraid to kill me? You want information I won't give you.”

He looks at me angrily when I say that. I just offended him in front of his whole army. I would start fighting him but two of his men are holding my arms. He pulls out his knife and stabs me. It's not a killing blow but I start to bleed. I double over for a second than stand up again. I stand straight up and glare at him. It does hurt but I won't let him see that. 

“Take her to the interrogator. He will get her to talk. If he won't I will. I will look forward to interrogating her myself.”

His men force me over to a tent while he walks away. The rest of his men get back to what they were doing before I came. I hope someone saw me leave and go after the boy. But I don't think they did. I can always slip away very easily. Being quiet is a strength of mine. But if they come after me they will get killed. Part of me wants them to rescue me but the other part wants them to stay away and be safe. It's suicide coming after me. The only way I can get out of this is by bluffing. Hopefully they won't see my bluff. I need to try to escape by myself. I'm not sure how I will. I get shoved into a tent and chained to a chair. They leave and a few minutes later the interrogator comes in. He sets up then says “Tell me what I want to know. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. I prefer the hard way.”

“I won't ever tell you anything.”

“Good. It's the hard way.”

He walks over to me with an evil grin on his face and holding a knife. He cuts my cheeks and at my neck. Not enough to badly injure me but enough to make me start bleeding. I still don't tell him anything and the torture gets worse and worse. He is stabbing me, cutting my skin slightly, hitting me, anything he can think to do that won't kill me. I lose consciousness multiple times to wake up and the torture continues. When I wake up again I don't know how long it has been but I have lost a lot of blood. I feel weak and very tired. I just want to sleep. I'm surprised to see the leader standing in front of me. I hide my surprise but I know he saw it. He isn't wearing any armor. He says “Tell me what I want to know.”

“Only if you do a couple things for me.”

“It depends on what they are.”

“First put me in charge of your army.”

“I can make you Second in Command. What else?”

“Why are you with the Highlord army?”

“The Elves of my homeland kicked me out. I never did understand why Elves hate Half-Elves. Now tell me what I want.”

“One more thing.”

“What?!”

His temper explodes when I say that. Elves don't ever really show our emotions but he does. That's a weakness of his. 

“What is your name?”

“Elaethen. Dragon Highlord leader of the Red army. Now tell me what I want.”

“What do you want?”

“Where is your army meeting up at? Where are you training at?”

“At Wislor.”

“Why should I believe that? That's halfway across Tiber.”

“Fine don't believe me. Go ahead and get our army killed.”

He looks at me for a moment then takes the chains off of me. I get up and I can see his look. He wants something. He kisses me and I don't back away. I hate it but I have to let him have what he wants to keep my bluff. After he kisses me we walk outside. He doesn't seem to mind that I am walking really slowly. When we get outside he yells “Get ready to go to Wislor!”

Everyone hurries and gets everything packed. They haven't called my bluff yet. Now I have to find a way to escape before we start moving. He orders some of his men to bandage me. They quickly obey then go back to packing. 

*Picture at the top of the chapter is the Highlord leader Eleathen*