Starting to regain conscious, Richard felt cold and helpless, his eyes were shut by a piece of filthy clothing rendering him blind
Feeling his surroundings, he knew that his hands were tied to back of the chair he seated, feeling itchy in his bandaged head some sounds came forth
"Do you think they sent more?" A sound came from the dark
"From what I heard he was the sole life to enter this sector in the last few days, but there might be other children like him, or adults who knows" replied a second one
"But if you think about it" said the first one "It is weird, i mean how obvious this is. Do you think it is a set up? Is he a distraction?"
"He might be worse than that" said the second
"What do you mean?" asked the first sound once more
"He might be infected" replied the second "Sent here to take care of us"
"There is no way" replied the first "If he was, he would've gone mad long ago, plus, how do you think they'd counter the consequences for such an action"
Richard started to take control over his body feeling the pain in his head, the hit that brought him to such a state in the first place
A low groan fled his lips alerting the present
"Did you hear that?!" said the first "I think he woke up"
"I think a did, hey, try pocking him" said the first
A little sharp object pocked Richard who tried to play dead
"Was he hit too hard??" said the second
"He doesn't seem dead to me" said the first "Boy! Are you awake?"
"… he is not responding" said the first "I'll bring the waste water"
Richard thought to himself "Bucket of waste?"
Splash!!!
Cold water showered him as Forcing a shocked gasp
"HAA—! Cough, Cough, Cough…" Richard started coughing immediately for that some of the water entered his lungs
"So, he is awake!" said the first
"Or you might've forced him to" said the second "Anyway let him see the light"
"Light?!" said Richard in shock "No pls I don't want to!" he shouted in fear whilst dancing his chair violently
"It is going to be quick stay in place" said the voice reaching closer
"Please No!" said Richard felling helpless "I don't want to die—" suddenly he saw light… they merely removed the bandages
2 men covering their face nose down, in a room light with torches, behind them a single door was shut
Each strapped a weapon of their own to their waist, rusty and worn out. So were their cloths, old, dirty stains covered them from head to toe
"So…" said the second dragging a chair behind him, attempting a seat face to face. He was pulled back quickly by his friend
"What are you doing!?" said the first
"Trying to look cool" said the second "But thanks to a certain someone, it is ruined"
"Didn't you just say he might be infected!?" replied the first
"I just wanted to make the conversation flow somehow…" said the second
"So, you made that theory up…" said the first
"Yeah…" replied the second "Anyways Kid!"
"Huh?!" said Richard in a tone shivering with fear
"Who sent you?" Asked the second as both of them stared coldly at him
"Sent me?" Richard was confused "I don't understand—"
"Don't! play tricks on me" he shouted at him putting both hands on the chair's arms, Richard shivered in place
The man backed pulling some books from underneath a blanket, they were Richard's
"What kind of trick is this," said the man
"T—These are books," said Richard
"I know what they are!" said the man "Why did you bring them here!? What kind of disguise is this"
"Disguise?" Richard wasn't getting the full picture
"Sigh… bring the bandages, he only needs his tongue after all" said the man to his friend as he pulled a knife from his back pocket
"Heh???" Richard went pale as the man took out the knife and went behind him
"So, you are not going to speak huh" said the man "A couple of fingers will do the work"
"Wait what are you doing!!" said Richard "I swear no one sent me! Let's talk this out hey!"
Slam!!!
The door opened as everybody froze, a man barley fitting through went inside, covering his face with bandages, grey eyed, he had the gaze of a wolf in him, a gigantic one
"Ser Bram??" said the man holding the knife
Bram noticed the knife in hand and spoke saying
"What are you doing?"
"I—am interrogating the spy ser" said the man behind the chair
Bram looked up and down at him and said "With a knife?"
"I was just going to scare him" said the man before he locked eyes with Bram, understanding how serious he looked the man said "I apologies"
"I will continue from here" said Bram "Now leave"
Closing the door behind the both of them Bram took seat before Richard
"Hesitate to answer an I'll shop a finger off" said Bram to Richard "Was there anybody else with you?"
"I wasn't sent by anyone "said Richard avoiding eye contact
"… is this your final answer?" asked Bram
"I swear this is the truth—" Richard was stopped mis sentence
"You don't have to say all these stuff" said Bram pulling a pouch full of coins from his back
Staring it he said "I have an offer, lets make a trade" staring the pouch, he shook it a couple of times making the sound echo inside the closed room
"Huh???" Richard was confused
Suddenly the pouch lost some weight, as a cold wind sent a shiver down Richard's spine
"Lier…" said Bram locking eyes "Your trail as erased by someone, were you always in the capital or did you come from the outside"
"I—"said Richard before he was cut once more
"Don't force me to waste more gold" said Bram "If you do so, the price won't be a couple of fingers"
"I—I…" Richard was shaking uncontrollably
"Stop faking it," said Bram
"W-What do you mean" said Richard still watching the ground
"Your movement is inconsistent," said Bram staring the pouch of coins for a moment before hiding it and saying "You have no prior tracks, it is as if you suddenly appeared out of nowhere"
"To be able to do such a deal you need allot of gold, and I don't see a big merchant in you" said Bram with his fingers wrapped over one another as he leaned forward
"One word answer or I'll cut your throat, are you with the capita, yes or no" said Bram staring coldly into Richard's eyes
Richard's body trembled, and trembled, and trembled…. But with a deep breath it stopped, as if he was never scared, his face went calm as he spoke
"No" said Richard "I was not sent by the capital"
Bram backed his chair straightening his back with his armours folded tightly, each palm slipped under the opposite armpit. With that look if his, Bram awaited the continuation
"I was sent by the merchant guild, from the market of high halls" said Richard, his face, tone, facial features, he was no more the same person