"That pistol on your hip. Where the hell did you get that?" Caesar demands, motioning for is guards to restrain the Courier. Vulpes grabs one arm, and Lucius the other. She tenses, but doesn't struggle. He has Lucius hand him the pistol, and tries not to notice how the Praetorian's hands shake. He takes the gun, and looks at the engraving that snakes down each side. He can almost hear Joshua's voice riding on the tides of the faint Mojave wind.
"And the light shineth in the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not."
He stares into her eyes long and hard, and forces himself to stand. He walks toward her, aiming the pistol at her.
"I said, where did you get this?"
"Trip to Utah," she says gruffly, meeting his gaze. "Fellow named Graham gave it to me." Despite himself, Vulpes draws in a ragged breath. She smirks. "You fellas heard of him?"
"Tie her up," Caesar orders, all thoughts of honoring the promise of his mark forgotten. He holds a hand up to his pounding head. "Subdue her. I want her interrogated." That is when she starts to struggle. She manages to get loose, and runs for the exit of the tent. Vulpes is on her in a flash, tackling her to the ground. She screams, and fights, dragging ragged nails down his cheek. Lucius walks up, fisting a hand in her hair and pulling her up. His hand wraps around her neck, cutting off her air supply. She gags, weakly clawing at his hand. Vulpes punches her across the temple, and she falls limp, only held up Lucius' hands.
Caesar retires to his bed, the gun heavy in his hand.
When Caesar has rested, he follows Lucius to where the Courier is being held. He walks into the holding pen, and sees her hanging limply by her wrists, her back covered in wounds that will soon scar. Vulpes is panting heavily, whip gripped in a bone white hand. He bows to Caesar, and Caesar orders him to rise.
"She won't divulge anything, my Lord," he says. "All she'll say is she met him in Utah, and doesn't know where he is now."
"Leave us," Caesar says, waving both men away. Lucius shoots him a worried look, but none-the-less follows Vulpes out of the tent. Caesar walks over to the limp woman, and wonders if Vulpes went too far with his "interrogation."
It wouldn't have been the first time the Frumentarius killed someone while trying to force information out of them.
"Woman," he says, cupping her chin. She groans, and blearily opens her eyes. "Tell me. Where is the Burned Man?"
"He's trying to make up for his past. For when he followed you," she says, wincing at the pain the effort causes her. "He's looking for peace." Caesar feels guilt, and suppresses that odd emotion he hasn't felt in some time.
Sons of Mars have no need to feel guilty.
"He doesn't deserve peace," he answers, and he isn't sure if he's talking about Joshua, or himself. "I will hunt him to the ends of the earth."
"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses," she quotes, and he wants to strangle her for making him remember. "You're going to have to kill me. I'm not telling you a damn thing."
"I think I can get the information out of you, one way or the other," Caesar threatens.