Isodell FitzWarren
“Your Ladyship.” Bowed Murdock, a red haired Knight of the Rondalion Order and an Under Vassal of the Warden of the Lowlands.
With him he brought a dozen filth covered commoners, all linked to one another by chained hands and feet.
“Bow! You putrid fiends!” He barked at the prisoners, not waiting for them to reply as he smacked the flat on his sword hard against back of two prisoners knee's causing the whole line of them to fall to the ground on their hands and knees.
“Sir Murdock.” Isodell FitzWarren inclined her head in greeting as she lounged in her velvet and fur lined throne. “What gift's do you bring me?”
“Pirates, Your Wardenship.”
“Ah! And we all know who controls them do we not?” She smiled wickedly.
The day the news arrived of the King's death and the coronation of his successors, Isodell had sent out men to guard and and watch over the Northern coastline. Not a spot was left unmanned. She was no fool. The whole of Penumbria new of the Warden Hightowers dislike for the current Monarchy.
Being the coward she knew Sturmaz to be, he had waited for the old King to die and let his untested heir sit on the throne before he laid claim to power. Pirates. Thieves. Murderers. All cowards in her eyes, those who struck for behind rather then face their foes head on in a fair fight. And what was Typhon Sturmaz? Little more then the King of Criminals.
Alas, what did it matter to her. She cared little for what he did as long as he kept Arv Rondalion and the Lowlands out of the fray. But, if dared attack her Keep he would rue the day he made an enemy out of her.
“Which one of you is the Leader?” She addressed the bunch.
“T'would be I.” Sneered the one at the fore of the line; all still on their hands a knees.
“Tell me then, who sends you and for what purpose?” Isodell questioned causally, already knowing half the answer.
“T'will be a cold day in hell before I answer to a woman.” He spat with a sickly smile, his comrades sniggering at his daring in agreement.
“Quite!” Murdock commanded, whipping them into shouts of pain and then into silence with a Cat o' nine tail. “How dare you speak to the Warden in such a manner?! You won't have any skin left if you don't answer to what her Ladyship questions.”
“Well?” Isdoell asked waiting for a reply.
When none was forth coming from any of men, sighing over dramatically, Isodell raised from her seat on her comfortable throne and casually strolled down from the dais, hands clasped behind her back, she walked down the line of men, examining each one. Her cold, relentless stare forcing them to look down.
Stopping in front of the Leader.
“You refuse to answer then?”
“Aye.” He smirked, the rotten teeth in his mouth showing.
“Well, I suppose then we have no choice then do we Sir Murdock?” Turning her eyes to her Vassal.
“Aye My Lady. Tis the Crank for them then isn't it?” Murdock grinned widely, looking devilishly handsome.
“How well you know me brave Knight.” She smiled sweetly.
“The Crank!” All the prisoners heads shot up at the mention of the torture device that would spill their guts out while they were chained to a rack. “But we haven't done anything!”
“Ye cannot do that!”
“Please your Wardenship!” A young man who could be no more then seventeen at the most began to cry. “I ain't done nothing wrong.”
“Shut your whining you little snivelling wretch!” Growled the leader, frightening the boy further.
“Tis out of my hands child. Your Leader refuses to answer my simple questions.” Isodell explained calmly moving to stand in front of the boy.
“I'll do anything p-please. I never wanted to some here anyway.” The young lad sobbed, tears streaking down his mud covered cheeks.
Isodell watched him for a few discerning seconds. She could tell he was the weak link. The others may still cower under their Leasers command, even in the face of torture and certain death, but this boy was still very green.
“Of course, if anyone else wishes to answer my questions then I would be honour bound to see no harm come to you.” She stated taking a step back to address the whole line.
“I'll tell you anything you want!” The boy replied desperately. “Just please, I don't want to die Yer Wardenship.”
Isodell inclined her head in agreement and waited a moment to see if anyone else was brave enough or desperate enough to take her up on her offer.
“Will Ye really see no harm come to us, if we answer yer questions Mi Lady?” Another voice squeaked.
“Don't ye dare open yer mouth!” Shouted the Leader.
“Silence!” Murdock commanded whipping the Leader into pained silence once more.
“Of course.” Isodell replied. “You have by word upon it as protector of the Realm. Now tell me who sent you all?”
“Aye then I shall answer.” The second man spoke. “T'was Lord Hightower Mi Lady.”
Isodell's eyes glazed over gray in cold furry. Fool! The fool wanted to start a war! But that matter less to her, she wanted to know why he had sent these men to Arv Rondalion. With practised patience, she pushed her rising ire down, presenting a calm and unaffected demeanour.
“And why is it that Warden Hightower sent you all the way to Arv Rondalion? Did he wish you to plunder our prosperous land to take back to the Isle?”
The crying lad and his partner in confession shared a regretful looks with each other before the young lad finally spoke.
“W-we do not know the full of it Mi Lady b-but 'is Lordship wished for us to launch an attack on yer great city.”
“Son of bitch!” Sir Murdock spat.
Precisely. Thought Isodell, resisting to swear out loud herself. Her suspicions had been assuaged, she had been more then right to protect Arv Rondalion as soon as she received news from Langsmerth.
“Only problem being, yer Landship,” The boy continued. “yer coastline was very well guarded. Yer men took out almost our whole fleet of a few many ships and over a few hundred men in the blink of an eye. I ne'er seen anything like it in mi whole entire life!”
“Aye.” Nodded the second man fervently in agreement. “I only thanked God that he was gracious enough to keep me alive . . . That was until we few surviving we caught.”
He had the sense to look shameful with cast down eyes.
“Tis war his Lordship wants. Nay, not war to be truthful but the throne.” He added.
The Throne! She almost chocked on her mirthless laughter. Hightower wanted the Throne? The only Throne he would get would be the one in Hell if he ever tried to attack Arv Rondalion ever again!
“And where is Warden Hightower now? Is he still on his Isle awaiting news and your return?” Isodell enquired.
“Nay, yer Ladyship. His Lordship is most probably at Langsmerth by now for the Kings coronation.”
“Is he indeed?” Isodell raised an eyebrow in question.
Of course, he was there. To smile to the new Kings face while he stabbed him in the back.
“Well, I thank you both for your forthrightness. It is much appreciated.”
“Yer Ladship.” Both men answered knowing now when to bow.
“Aye! Well there ye have it!” The Leader grumbled, speaking at last. “Ye got the information ye were after.” He said grudgingly. “So now ye can let us go like you said.”
Isodell turned sharply to glower at the man.
“I said nothing of the sort!” She declared, her voice echoing through the spacious room, losing what little patience she had. “What I did say was that all those who answer my questions would come to no harm. You, I remember were specifically being disagreeing to a fault . . . And now you shall pray the price.”
The man stared at her, gaping mouthed. Isodell smiled back coldly.
“Murdock,” She said turning to face her Knight. “See to it that these two boys are not harmed down in the dungeons where they will stay until I decide what to do with them and make sure they are fed well.”
Murdock nodded in agreement.
“T-thank ye verra much yer Ladyship.”
“Aye, thank ye.” The second man seconded.
“Tis naught.” Isodell replied offhandedly with a flicker of her wrist. “As for the rest of them the Crank will do just fine. A few less Pirates in Penumbria will only aid to the good and reducing crime.”
“No! Please, no!”
The cries began again from the other men.
“Ye cannot do this ye witch! Ye cold harpy.”
“Quiet!” Murdock's voice boomed, as three other Knights came to lead the villain away.
“Oh and Murdock,” Isodell said sweetly, addressing her Knight while all the while her eyes held the Leader of the Pirate crew. “See to it that the Leader of the pack here is the last to be put on the crank . . .” Her smile deadly. “And that he watch all his men die a slow, painful and gruesome death.”
The line of men was yanked forward before the man in charge of the crew could register Isodell's harsh words and the reality he faced.
“It will be done My Lady.” Murdock declared bowing in reverence. “Will there be anything else Your Wardenship?”
“Yes Murdock, please find and send my dear uncle to me. I must have an update on how preparations for our journey to Langsmerth is coming along and other dire discussions, you understand we must have . . .”
“I understand . . .”