"I won't betray my king." Mazi said stubbornly.

"Wrong answer." Sileas handed the jagged edge blade to Lia, replacing the one at his throat with her other dagger. "Have at it, Aunt Lia."

Liadan's face lit up as she took the dagger. She laughed.

"You won't be much of a help to your king or your people once Aunt Lia is done with you. But Ila will be safe from you as will the rest of the women. Now tell me where Nelek is!"

After setting out on a search for his daughter after Lek and Millie had left him, Aron finally stumbled upon the fight. He wasn't a fighter, but he spotted his daughter. He ran in and gathered Yehudit up and made to carry her toward the keep.

Yehudit squirmed, trying to get away from her father.

"Sileas!" Yehudit objected. "I'm not leaving Sileas!"

"Then we'll find a safe distance to be at. I'll not have you in harm's way if I can help it. I'll entertain no argument on it," Aron said sternly.

Yehudit wanted to argue about it. She squirmed harder. "Sileas might need help."

'Your Mama and Questa are with her. Lek and Millie were looking for Wulfsen and Xavier as well.

Mazi screamed piercingly.

"Tell me what we want to know, Mazi. Or we'll cut you into bits. It will be a slow, painful death. TELL!"

All Mazi did was scream.

In reply to Mazi (msg # 700):

"I can make her stop if you talk," Sileas said, her voice falsely sweet. It felt rather good, getting back in touch with her street child side. "And have the healer take a look at you."

"Oh there's no stopping me. This water pig momzer wanted to marry a child." Liadan said.

Sileas sent her aunt a glare and said "Shh." Obviously she didn't know a bluff when she heard one. "I want the information from him. And I want it now. He's the only way to get it."

"And I want to slice this momzer up!" Liadan said.

Sileas sighed. Her aunt was messing up her plan. "He can't give me the information if all he can do is scream," Sileas pointed out.

"Can't hurt anyone after he's cut up, either." Liadan said.

"Yes, he can. Uncle Nelek could die if we don't find out where he is being held."

Liadan thought about it for a minute. She shook her head. She was not letting her dream of carving up Mazi be postponed.

"Would you really be the one that costs Aunt Aislyn her one chance to have her husband returned to her?"

Xavier hurried from the keep and in the direction Mrs. Gerthrim had sent Wulfsen. He beckoned for a few of the men to follow along.

Wulfsen finally caught up with the fighters.

"What are you doing? Stop!" He ordered.

"I'm trying to get him to talk," Sileas said. "He'll get away if we just stop."

"We'll shackle him so he won't get away." Wulfsen said, "And this time the chains won't be taken off."