Chapter 25: Captain Soloman

Soloman wakes up in a haze and tries to rub his eyes.

Only to feel his hand restrained and looks down in confusion.

He then saw that he is sitting on a chair, his arms and legs bound to it, and tries to think through his headache.

He is in a small room with the chair far back and a door in front, the only source of light being a small lightbulb.

Then his memories came back, of the battle in the sewers, that realization that Bryan is here, and Sofia.

It was that last thought where he quickly struggles from his cuffs, afraid of what Bryan and his minions would do to her, when the door opens.

And in came in Bryan, smiling as wide as he ever saw him, and two juggernauts.

"I'm impressed Soloman. To think that my supposedly loyal captain of the guards had faked his death and opposed me in the last five years."

"WHERE IS SHE!" He bellows.

Bryan then look to him with faux innocence.

"What do you mean."

Soloman then grits his teeth.

"Where. Is. Sofia."

"Oh. You meant that red haired harlot. She's currently in a dungeon. But don't worry, She is properly fed and I have no interest in such endeavours and forbid my men to defile her, and I won't torture her. Lest she loses value when I sell her at the market."

Soloman then thrashes harder, wanting to break free and rip out his throat.

"YOU WILL NOT LAY A FINGER ON HER!"

Brundol then chuckles and looks to him with a smirk.

"Really. Do you think you have such authority over me! Don't make me laugh."

He then gives him a betrayed look.

"Why did you betray us Derrick. I saw how you lead the guards. How you managed discipline and how well you protected the king and his family. Why did you betray the kingdom you swore to protect and forsake you oath. Join me and tell me were the Obrilon is and we could unite this kingdom again."

Soloman looks towards him in contempt.

"Don't you dare tell me about loyalty and betrayal you hypocritical murderer! I am a loyal captain of this kingdom and it's my duty to stop tyrants like you. I betrayed no oath for I fight to free my people from your grip."

"Then why did you betray me?"

"Because I am loyal to my duty and captain of the guards. Not a ruthless tyrant who enslaves others. And I know that you were the one who killed them."

Bryan then smile, and turns around to call someone to enter, where a man with black tunic, pants, and hood enter with a tray of bloody implements, from bonesaws to clamps.

Brundol then grabs a vial of green liquid looks Soloman in the eyes.

"Since I can't convince you to tell me. Then I will force it." He then shows Soloman the vial.

"You know what is this."

Soloman chuckles, it's veringos: a special non-lethal poison synthesize by a poison mage which forces the drinker, unless their minds are strong enough to resist the influence, to tell the truth.

"Do you really think I will easily succumb to that."

Bryan then smiles before forcing him to swallow the liquid before demanding him on where the Obrilon is.

But Soloman, in his years as the captain, had prepared himself by drinking small doses of it to build an immunity and wasn't affected.

And even when he fails to resist it he trained himself to speak roundabout or different truth, confounding Bryan and his interrogator and causing them to doubt him.

"Well then. Since I can't convince you that way then I will show you what happens."

He then grabs a knife and twirls it in front of Soloman.

"First. My men are going to slowly gut you like a fish, letting your blood drain away as you see your intestines, before healing back to full health when your near Kindreds door. Then they will garrotte you and release you when you near death. Followed by them flogging you with nine-tailed whip which have shards of iron in them to rip your back, only healing and stopping when you go into shock. Then we will slowly rip out your nails, starting from each toe then to each fingers. And if you don't confess by then we will then break and cut off your toes and fingers, piece by piece, then your entire hand and foot. We will then reportingly break your bones, then cut off your arms and legs, and drip slow, burning, acid into your eyes and, if you still resist, gouge them out afterwards. And finally I will force your mind, destroying it in the process, with my magic. And I would rather still have you live, for public execution.

He then puts the knife back and look to his face.

"But none of this will happen if you tell me where the Obrilon is. Where you can then rejoin us and live like a lord, or at least have a painless death."

Soloman then spit in his eye.

Bryan briefly wipes the spit off with his silver hand, then takes a deep breath, and punches Soloman in the jaw.

Blood flies out of Solomans jaw as pain flares in it, almost all the left side broken with a tooth loose, before looking back towards him with a closed mouth.

Bryan flicks the blood off his hand and coldly stares at him.

"Consider this a taste of your mistake."

He then leaves the room, ordering the technician to torture him slowly, until he tells them about the whereabouts, and to try not to make him mad with pain or cut off his tongue until they get that information.

Soloman slowly breathes, ignoring the pain flaring from his jaw, and looks forward.

"I will not break! For their sakes."