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[Sirus]

Distantly at first, but slowly growing louder and nearer, the prisoners could hear the sound of marching, steel-clad feet. A lot of feet. The sound stopped just outside the door holding the prisoners in.

^{_{"Whut dis about? Ain't time to chop. Sun ain't up."
"New orders from the General. Open this door. We are to bring the prisoners to the dungeon. I have his orders written here..."
"Can't read."
"Just open the door, man. Men, weapons ready."}}

The sharpening sound ceased, and a short time later the door's lock emitted a heavy THUD followed by a complicated series of clicks. After another short pause, the door swung open and a soldier stepped through the door, followed by three more. They all had swords drawn. Past them, the prisoners could see what looked like a dozen more armed soldiers.

: "Alright you scum, pay attention. I've orders to bring you to the dungeon alive and intact. When it comes right down to it, however, I'd rather butcher you all myself and face the General's wrath later than lose a single one of my men in some half-assed escape attempt. If you cooperate, things will go much more smoothly for everyone. If you cause trouble, you die. What's it going to be?"

[Taricus]

: "Hmph. So we have our lives. I'm not about to throw that away so carelessly."

[GiglameshDespair]

"Humph! You need to learn the proper manners to treat a lady with! But I'm not going to try to escape."
At least, not right now...

[Sirus]

: "You may be female, but you are no lady. I read your file."

[Twinwolf]

Some officer or other wanted them alive, then? Interesting. Either whatever these people had done or were thought to have done was considered worth a dramatic execution or they wanted them to do something. Which usually involves some kind of deal... no reason not to do it.

Miranda quietly nodded, in response.

[Solymr]

: Hehehe... Sure, I'll comply...

[GiglameshDespair]

"Idiot! You believe any of that?"
"I don't know what the file might have said, but it was clearly mistaken. I'm just a musician, not some wicked criminal."

[Sirus]

Sensing general agreement, the lead soldier finally nodded.

: "Smartest thing you ever did. Single file now, follow the path."

One by one, the prisoners (each with an escorting soldier who looked none too pleased about the duty) were marched towards the central keep, where they were directed through another stout door that led deeper into the earth. Eventually, they reached a room containing a number of nasty-looking "interrogation aids". In one corner, another hooded man tended a brazier full of red hot coals. Several lengths of iron had one end resting in the scorching heat.

: "Line up! Face forward! The General will be here any moment!"

[Taricus]

: "...Looks homely." Adrien commented, a small smirk appearing on his face as he looked over the room.

[Twinwolf]

Miranda stayed quiet on the way over, doing her best to follow instructions - she'd prefer not to have a painful death via backstab. When the leader gave the command she followed, doing her best not to look at things she really really hoped were not going to be used on her.

[SeriousConcentrate]

Wolf spit on the floor as she leaned back against the wall.

"Tch, vysokomernyy ublyudok."

The tall woman crossed her arms, clicking the claws of her gauntlets against her upper arms impatiently. If they were going to torture her, they should just get around to it.

[Sutoratosu Akira]

Left without much of a choice, Alain complied, eyes full of what almost seemed disgust as he silently looked around the room...

"Fucking hell...of course." he muttered beneath his breath, "delaying our executions just to torture a bit of information out of us...Knew I was right not to get my hopes up, always am..."

[GiglameshDespair]

Ghamina eyed the torture implements uneasily. It's not like she hadn't experienced great pain before, but it just made her all the keener to never experience it again.

[Sirus]

: "Line up, damn your worthless--" But whatever the soldier had been about to say was cut off as the door to the dungeon swung open.

: "ATTENNNNNN-SHUN!" he bellowed before following his own orders, standing ramrod straight and saluting in the direction of the dungeon door.

As the newcomer strode into view of the prisoners, it became clear to all that he wore the same colors as the soldier who had led him here...or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that the soldier wore the same colors as the newcomer. The new man, taller yet somewhat younger, gave each of the prisoners a piercing stare before speaking.

: "What have you got for me, Captain? You have read their files, correct?"

: "Of course, sir. What there was of them, anyway. If you'll allow me...?"

The redheaded man gave a single, sharp nod, and the Captain started with the first three in line...and the one that refused to actually get in line.

: "Ghamina al-Ghul, of the Khanate. Married Baron Gratis, then attempted to poison him in order to inherit his wealth. We have the confession of the man who sold her the poison." The general scowled at this story, but said nothing.

: "Alain Cromwell, originally from Blede. Brought in for unlicensed use of magic, as well as murder. Claims self-defense on the murder charge." The captain offered no commentary on how plausible the claim was, and the general didn't ask.

: "Miranda Solas of Heartland. Charged with theft and assassination. Pleads innocent but an eyewitness claims to have seen the killing itself." With a noncommittal shrug, the two men move on.

: "I'm afraid we don't have much on this one. Calls herself Stray Wolf, refuses to say where she's from. Apparently worked as a mercenary before snapping under pressure, attacking Imperial soldiers."

: "I'm sorry Captain, but did you say 'snapped'? Is she stable?"

: "Not really my area of expertise, sir."

The general stared hard at the first four, searching for something in their eyes.

[Solymr]

Edmund glanced at the named people, especially Alain. He had an idea of what "unlicensed" magic they were talking about.