The trembling creatures didn't know what to do when their ability to escape was taken from them. Much like… the arrogant princeling, whatever his name was, they considered themselves to be superior to me and my people in every way. That I had handily rendered them unconscious with only my voice did not matter. That we obviously knew about their magic and had them surrounded in firelight did not matter. That they were adolescents and we were fully grown did not matter. The arrogance of youth, I supposed, though I also supposed that, in calendar years in their bodies, there was a good chance that they were my elders.
They were, at last, coming to realize that there was no escape though. When neither managed to revert to shadow between the light and several smaller magics constantly filling the space was when the terror and realization had replaced the arrogance. Now they sat huddled together in the center of the flames where they were tied while they snarled at anyone who approached.
"They seem to be somewhat resistant to my magic. Even so, it is merely a question of time. Before long, they will tell us of every little thing that they know, though I do not imagine that these younglings know much."
Sybil was positive that she would be able to wrest the information from the two Misti Hawar prisoners we had taken. The fact that she said as much while she held Thia in one arm and Hashthi in the other was somehow sweet while also terrifying.
"I trust you. Even so, I will lend my strength to the interrogation while you use your magic in the background. I'm sure there are several things that I can do that will assist us in ensuring that we are able to get whatever worth we can out of these two in a short time."
"As you command, Zaaktif."
Flaring my frills, I looked at the two prisoners and evaluated them. Going off of their comparative size to the other Misti Hawar that we had fought and killed, I would guess that they were nearly adults. I couldn't say how quickly they would grow, but in human terms, I would call them mid to late teenagers. Maybe. More and more, it was difficult for me to tell other species apart, and I couldn't say for sure. They were just a bit smaller in shoulders and in stature, but everything else seemed to have grown to adulthood.
Deciding that I'd let them stew for long enough, I strode forward into the light of the fires, my scales glimmering in the glow. I pushed my presence forward with [Absolute Dominance] and [Imperial Bearing], deliberately making myself sound and feel more impressive. Then, as I lowered myself onto my haunches to be nearer to their level, I spoke in the human tongue. I deliberately allowed my fangs to carve the words as they left my throat, keeping the words intelligible, but making myself more bestial.
"I am Ashlani. I am the Zaaktif, the absolute ruler of my nation. You and your people have entered my land and attempted to hunt my people, and as the leader of the New Empire of the Saharliard, I will not allow intruders to hunt my people. I hear you consider yourselves to be the great hunters. What made you so foolish to think that we were prey?"
"You are prey! Your people have always been prey and your return is just a sign of the Principality's rise to continental power once more!"
"Is that so? I can't imagine that there would be any way for you to gain control or dominion over the Indlovu, the Wilds, or the Veratocracy. Instead, you are a bunch of dogs yapping in the mountains about time long gone. So why did you think that your small group could challenge us?"
The only one that spoke, was brash and leaned forward against his bonds which were tied to a stone buried underground.
"You will see! The Nyust'taa will save us! She is the most powerful leader we have had in generations!"
"Is she the one that I drove off when she was trying to kill my children?" I asked as if I wasn't already sure that she was. "I can't say that I was particularly impressed with her performance."
"She's told the story already, we know that you ambushed her as the coward that you are!"
"Oh, she's telling lies now. I understand. That's why she came into the nursery of our children and, as soon as she saw that her magic was insufficient to Hunt. The rest of us, she ran. So impressive…"
I pushed my [Skills'] influence further and further, hoping to either push his pride or to break his resistance as I continued to prick at him.
"We could never listen to the words of a mere beast! The Ainingatch are a proud family that will not bend the knee nor the neck to prey!"
"So instead, you will die? I suppose that is an acceptable trade."
I felt the influence of Sybil's magic behind me, it washed over me to instill an emotion that I couldn't quite place. I felt it influence the two prisoners.
"I will die in the place of my younger sister!"
"Very well. Shemira, please take the female away. We'll see what her brother decides to do as we begin to… Take care of her."
"Monsters! She's innocent!"
"Oh? And what would she have done with any one of my people that she was able to wield power over?" I spoke as Shemira strode into the ring of light, cut the cord holding the other Misti Hawar prisoner, and dragged her free. Once they were within the bounds of the flame circle, Hala stepped forward and set her own arm into a conflagration bright enough to banish any nearby shadows.
The smaller female cried out in their own language to her brother, begging for something. I couldn't help but internally scoff at the fear that they wallowed in. They were willing to come into my home and slaughter anything they could get their claws on, but the moment that consequences reared their head, one of the Misti Hawar became a coward, unable to deal with the life that they had chosen for themselves.
"You will not harm her!"
The brother, raving with rage and terror, demanded her release, but he was too weak to do anything more than continue screaming. A cold part of me supposed that it was a small testament to his strength that he was willing to stand up against us in such a hopeless situation, but my [Skills] told me that now is the time for me to push harder.
"We might not. We might. It depends on what you'll tell us, so get to talking. If you don't, well, I think you can imagine what might happen."
He tried to hold strong, to hold back the information that I was demanding from him, but as his sister continued blubbering as she was pulled away, out of the building he was in, he couldn't hold on any longer.
"My family, that of my parents and us, was assigned to be the first scouting family to harry your supply lines. The rest of the Ainingatch will come soon."
I flared my frills. Realizing that he probably wouldn't understand what I meant by that, I nodded and gestured for him to continue as a smile cracked my face.
Thanks for reading! Check out the Patreon, where you can read up to 40 chapters ahead!
https://www.patreon.com/No_creative_name
Join the swarm! https://discord.gg/RqzsKj8hkD