We wanted to give you all a brief warning. This chapter may be upsetting to some readers. Don't say we didn't warn you. Because we did. (It isn't really that bad, but we felt that the heads up was necessary)

Aster POV

A million thoughts raced through my head. What did Thorn want me to tell him? What if I had no answer? Did he find out about Zane? I must relax. If Thorn notices I'm worried or afraid, then he'll use it to his advantage. I was so consumed in my thoughts I nearly walked straight into the big oak doors that would lead to Thorn's inner sanctuary. Pip pulled me back, and held my hands behind my back. His talons dug into my wrists, drawling blood. Damn bird better not have something. Tiedo opened the door and slipped inside.

"So, your name is Pip, right?" I asked slightly cheerful. He nodded, and I continued speaking, unsure of how alike Pip and Tiedo really were, "My name is Aster, and Pip is a really cool name," I smiled.

"Saves it mountain boy," Pip snapped, " Playin' nice guy with me aint no way of savin youse-self from Thorn. Hes beyond reasonin' right nows." his grip tightened a bit. He wasn't in a good mood. Was Thorn treating them worse than before? Again my fears devoured me. I new that if Thorn saw my fear, he would prey upon it, and he would take advantage of it, forcing me to do his will. I couldn't look afraid. For a few moments, I let fear consume me. I let all my worries flush into my body; I was practically shaking. Then, I relaxed, and told myself that their was 'nothing to fear but fear itself.'

Tiedo came back through the large doors, and announced, "Thorn is ready for you," I looked up at him and for a moment I could have sworn that I saw something behind those eyes. Something less animal like and more human. It was gone as soon as I saw it, leaving behind only sadness and oppression. Their treatment is getting worse. I suspected it by Pip's behavior, but it was Tiedo who confirmed my initial assumption. Pip practically threw me into the room. I stumbled a little bit but didn't fall.

When I looked up, I almost laughed. Thorn was draped across a large throne. His wing-like arms fell over the sides of the chair, and his legs were crossed. Behind Thorn's throne, a fire kindled and gave the high chair its own halo. He didn't even try to suppress the sly smile creeping across his face, "How do you like the redecorating, Aster Phoenix?"

"It suits you," I replied, "You're cold and ugly, and so is your taste in furniture." Its resemblance to a throne room was uncanny. Thorn was ready to whip Joan for committing 'treason.' She wasn't the one proclaiming to be some big king, now was she?

"Just as well," he snarled, "I didn't summon you here to talk about my new sanctum."

"Then, why did you 'summon me' here?" I snapped. I glanced out of the corner of my eye and noticed that the hall was filling up with more of his followers.

"I think you already know the answer to that question," he yelled. "Do you know what else I think? I think-"

"What." I asked in no louder than a whisper. Somehow everyone in the hall had heard me, and Thorn had stopped mid sentence, "What do you think, Thorn? What could you possibly think? Do you believe that your so called High King won't consider this treason, or that you're a good person? You're not!" I was yelling now, "And do you know what the 'great' Thorn's biggest and most ridiculous delusion might be?" I shook my head, more to feel the muscles move, rather than to display my contempt, "He actually believes that I am going to cooperate and tell him all that he needs to know."

Thorn began to chuckle and a cruel smile slid over his demented features, "I figured you would refuse to cooperate," His smile grew, yet it never touched his eyes, "That's why I have this," He got up and walked behind his throne. When he emerged he held a whip, unlike the leather ones his guards typically held. This one had a hardened, hickory handle. A very small link of chains extended to its metal tip, and the head of the whip was glowing red. My stomach dropped, as I stared at it. He must have noticed the fear in my eyes, "So Aster Phoenix, how do you like my little toy?" I couldn't respond; my voice no longer worked, and even if it did, I seriously doubted my ability to form a coherent thought, let alone make an acceptable response.

I could try to run. I glanced around the room, looking to find an exit. The large doors I entered through were blocked by some of Thorn's guards. Their were smaller doors across the room, but they too were covered by Thorn's men. There was no other exit.

I could try to fight. I glanced around the room, looking to find a weapon. Their was a crest, supposedly of the High King on the wall, feet to my left. Behind it, two swords crossed. A few birds stood huddled in that area. They would stop me before I got even a few steps. Aside from that, the room was bare of anything I could use to fight with. There was no other weapon.

I could try to beg for mercy. I sighed, not an option. I looked around the room again, trying to find something I might have missed before. My eyes ended up locked with Tiedo's. His face was gaunt and his eyes showed pity and self loathing. He didn't like what Thorn was doing. My gaze was pulled away when Thorn began to speak again, "Here is how this is going to work, Mister Phoenix," his voice rose in pitch at the end. He was excited to cause pain, especially mine, "I will ask you a question, and you will answer. If you choose not to respond..." his gaze was pulled away from mine, as he looked around the room. He grinned and continued, "If you choose not to respond, Tiedo will encourage you to change your mind," He handed the hard handle out for Tiedo, who didn't take it.

"Sir, I must protest," Tiedo spoke up, "I don't feel comfortable-" He's going to refuse, I thought. Maybe, just maybe nothing will end up happening to me.

"It will be more painful for him, than it will for you. Trust me." Thorn smirked and pushed the handle into his chest, but Tiedo still refused to take it. I stared at him intently and my hope grew. I might be sent back to my bunker.

"But Sir," Tiedo insisted, "You know I expressed my desire to uninvolved myself with-" He stood up for me? He already asked that he be left out of his sick plan. My hope rose, and I prayed that Tiedo would somehow change Thorn's mind.

"Your request and disapproval has been noted." He pushed the whip into Tiedo's chest harder this time, "Take it, or it will be you who I whip." Tiedo refused to look me in the eye, and he took the handle from Thorn. He kept his head down.

The sinking feeling in my gut returned. My hopes came crashing down. I knew it would hurt, but I told myself that I would tell him 'everything' in an attempt to prevent what, deep down, I knew was inevitable. I new that sooner or later, he would ask a question that I couldn't answer. However, I was determined not to displease him, until that time came.

Thorn smiled and began to speak, "Now, shall we," A few of his flock came up behind me, and they pushed me to the ground. I looked down, and noticed half circles of steel attached to the ground. His flock members were smiling, obviously enjoying themselves. They pulled my hand from behind my back, each taking one, and using manacles, they locked my hands to the steel hoop. The chains were so short, I couldn't move more than a few centimeters in any direction. I refused to lie on the ground, so I remained crouched. I wouldn't lie on the ground at Thorn's feet. Not yet anyway. Once he was sure that I could go nowhere, he continued speaking, "How many men are in your rebel army?"

"about six hundred," I breathed.

"That wasn't too hard was it?" Thorn chuckled, and continued, "Where is this force located,"

"About two hundred miles to the North. If you follow the pass for that distance, you'd run into the camp."

"Why are you here, and not with the main troop,"

"They sent me to scout the area, and see if it was possible to attack with out hurting your prisoners."

"When do they plan to attack?" I felt his breath on my neck, and shivered at the prospect of having him so close.

"They're awaiting my report. They won't attack until I return." I lied easily.

"You are rather important, now aren't you?" he asked, "What is your rank?"

"I was appointed Sergeant Major," I replied

"Well, that's rather high for a...how old are you?"

"I am sixteen"

"That's pretty high for a sixteen year old," he grinned, "what did you do to attain that title,"

"Nothing really," I responded, "My father is the General, so he wanted me to learn the trade close up and personally."

"How long have you held this position?" he asked, the curiosity in his voice was obviously attempted to be suppressed; however his efforts fell short.

"A few months," I breathed out. I prayed that he didn't see a flaw in my plan. However, fate was not in my hands, so all I could do was hope.

"I see," Thorn replied, "Now tell me, Mister Phoenix, why would the General of your army, or any army for that matter, send his sixteen year old son on a mission to scout enemy territory with no more than a few months of experience?"

"I asked to go," I blurted out, fear betraying me.

"Well," he seemed mildly annoyed, "Why did you want to go?"

"I wanted to be the hero who would be responsible for winning our battle. I wanted to be the one to bring the report back, and be the one to advise my father about our next move."

"Did ya now?" Thorn asked, the glee in his voice was clear and he seemed rather pleased, "You wanted to be the hero who won the war, and oddly enough, you'll be the one reason you lost it." He laughed a cold and menacing laugh, "ironic, isn't it? The hero is actually a zero.." His minions laughed at his joke. It wasn't even funny, "But your father let you go all by yourself, did he?"

"Yes, he felt that I was ready. I had showed great promise in my training," Thorn didn't respond at first. He paused, entertaining the thought. I waited, as what felt like minutes passed me by.

"You know what I think, Mister Phoenix," he said my name enunciating each syllable. I couldn't see his face, yet I knew what he would say next, "I think you're a liar and failure to your father and army. You deserve to be beaten, you coward. Now tell me how many reinforcements you have, and tell me where they are camping."

Thoughts of Zane ran through my head. I couldn't tell them about him. I knew that eventually I would come across a question to which I could not answer. It was only a matter of time. I had already accepted that fact, yet I still was not prepared to face the consequences for my silence. I still hadn't mentally prepared myself for that. "Well?"

"I cannot answer your question, for I have no answer." I heard the birds watching stir, but I kept my head down; I didn't know where Zane was hiding. I would take no chances by telling them a random location, when there was a chance that the spot I chose would be the place he hid.

"You refuse to tell me now, but perhaps you'll feel differently after..." Thorn chuckled again, and I heard him walk back to his throne, "Tiedo, why don't you entertain us for a little bit. I think that five lashes would be enough to loosen his tong, don't you?" A few of the bird brains began to laugh.

I braced myself. This time, I would not scream out in pain. I waited, practically holding my breath. However the blow didn't come. I looked up and saw Tiedo looking at Thorn. It was almost as if he was pleading with him, begging him to reconsider.

"What seems to be the problem, Tiedo? You've whipped miners before, ones younger than this one and ones that did absolutely nothing to deserve too. So, please tell us, why it would be a problem to whip this one miner, who refuses to answer my questions? Not to mention that fact that you will be punished in his place, should you refuse. So, please, let us in on your reasoning?" A few of the other birds began to laugh.

"Oh please! It's Tiedo you're talking to! He doesn't have a logical reason. He's to dumb to come up with one!" The laughter got louder, and more of the birds joined in. I noticed with indifference that Pip, didn't laugh.

Tiedo was silent for a long time. His feelings must be hurt. I expected him to walk out, or to yell at his tormenters. I would have done that, but I guess that was why I didn't expect the force and pain from the blow that hit me in between my shoulder blades. I shouted in agony, having not been ready for what had came. Hot knives tore through my back, and even after the blade was released, I could still feel the heat. It was almost unbearable. Almost.

Thorn had underestimated my love for a friend. Zane was my friend, and I didn't care if he felt differently. I didn't care if he hated me because of the position I put him in. As far as I was concerned, we were friends. It was this thought, and this thought alone, that got me through the four blows. Not only did it get me through them, but in a way, it made me stronger. It still hurt a lot, but I didn't cry out in pain.

"What say you now, Mister Phoenix?" Thorn asked from his throne, "Will you now tell me the information I seek?"

My face was flat against the ground, having fallen after the first hit. I stayed like this for a few moments. Then, I pulled myself up off the ground, into a kneeling position. Thorn and his followers gasped in surprise. I said in a voice that resonated across the room, "I cannot answer your question. I have no answer."

Thorn pursed his lips, and bit back a snarl, "suit yourself. Tiedo, please continue. I think Mister Phoenix could benefit from eight more."

I crouched in a position that would protect my head, and keep me off the ground, using the manacles as a brace. Tiedo began my set of eight. Each one hurt more than the previous, yet I still crouched. Each blow brought with it unbearable agony, yet I made no sound. Each strike made me think of the man I was protecting, and so I smiled.

This chapter was very difficult for Team Dino to write: we both like Aster's character very much, so it was rather difficult to do this to him. Please review and tell us if your opinion of it. Even one line reviews are appreciated, and anonymous reviews are accepted. We wanted to thank ChocolateLizz and Solei for the time they took to write their review(s). We also wanted to thank you for sticking with us, thus far!

Team Dino