Chapter 20- an interrogation goes wrong
While the quest-goers went to get some rest at Cair Paravel with Martian and his assistants continuing to help in other tasks, the key activities continued into the night. The search-and-destroy groups continued their hunt for the surviving remnants of Jadis' minions, Pteranodon and his group continued to remain in contact of the Sky and Sea spies as they scoured the Eastern Sea for any kind of base that may be holding the kidnapped victims, Queen Susan and King Edmund continued to carry out the monarchy duties with Hagrid and Alestomeria's help, and the medics continued to watch over the sick High King Peter as he continued to suffer the effects of Jadis' Poisoning from eating the cursed cake. He was currently stable now but he was only showing the initial symptoms of the otherwise-incurable food-induced sickness, the 9-Realms Potion being the only antidote to his poisoning. Because of what happened to High King Peter, the hunt was on for the perpetrators and the owners of the confection stall that had sold the cursed cake to Voltasu in the first place, the female Red Dwarf and the two female Fauns, had been arrested and brought to Cair Paravel for questioning. While these three apparent participators of High King Peter's poisoning faced interrogation, a small group of hunters had managed to find and capture a small group of Jadis' minions they suspected to be partakers in the making of the cake. The small group was led by Chrystós, the Gold-Fleeced Sheep and among his team was Puss-in-Boots, the Talking Cat with a small amount of Bakeneko blood in his veins. The group Chrystós and his team had captured were a male Squeezer, a still-Jadis-loyal Minotaur, a Neko-Cabbit and a Hellhound. It was surprising that there were still some Hellhounds running around as many of the Narnians thought that these hellish black Fire Dogs had been driven to extinction during the Battle of Beruna since many of them participated in that war. However, that was another subject.
Outside the catacombs of Cair Paravel, several officials of the Four Monarchs, among them a Centaur and Alcina the three-tailed Fox looked up when they heard growls and angry protests erupt. Then a small group led by a Ram with shining gold fleece glinting in the moonlight appeared. Behind him, a part-Talking Cat wearing boots and several other warriors recruited by the Golden-Fleeced Ram to form his team, among them a Swan, dragged in a wheeled cage containing a blue Slender-Man-like furry creature with a toothy mouth bordered by a thick red rim and giant black eyes reminiscent of the White Witch, a black Canid with fiery orange-red glowing markings and red eyes, a shining white furred Cabbit-like creature with blood red eyes and neon green ears and partially forked tail like a part-Nekomata but walked on all fours, and a giant furry Humanoid with a head of a Bull instead of a Man, but one of his horns had been broken, indicative of a struggle between him and one of his captors. Several of the three's captors also bore some injuries, among them a warrior Terror Bird (not Neutrophil or Monocyte), bearing massive claw marks on its chest and some red patches on its claws and legs, Chrystós bearing some tatters in his Gold Fleece and a scratch on his left cheek, and one of the Fauns covered in black patches and singed off fur and hair, evidence of a Hellhound's fiery work. As the group pulled the caged and enraged Squeezer, Hellhound, Neko-Cabbit and Minotaur, Chrystós looked up at the Centaur and Alcina and their team waiting for them.
"Alcina, Swift-Foot," said the Gold-Fleeced Ram, a scowl on his face as he helped to pull the cage via a rope attached to it, the Swan, a male or Cob, pulling the cage alongside him, "We heard this quartet and their comrades discuss some 'fantastic plan' to wage war on the Four Monarchs and take back Narnia for their Mistress."
"We ambushed them and managed to capture these four," said the Swan before his magnificent head with its orange beak, black lobe and snow white feathers turned and eyed the casualties, "Though one of our Faun helpers, Goatson over there sustained a blast of fire from the Hellhound, Scimitar the Terror Bird back there got clawed over the chest by a rogue Nekomata still loyal to Jadis and the Squeezer and the Neko-Cabbit managed to attack Chrystós and tear out some of his golden wool and inflict him with a scratch to the face."
"The rest of their comrades had fled," added Scimitar as he winced from the scratch on his chest. He was indeed an experienced warrior as indicated by several scars on his plumage and chips in his large beak, and was one of the elders of Neutrophil's clan. His weapon of choice was a small sickle carried by his small clawed wings though Scimitar preferred to use his beak and talons as his main offensive weapons like most Terror Birds. He had indeed put up a fight during the skirmish leading to the capture of the Hellhound, Squeezer, Neko-Cabbit and the Minotaur. The red patches on his lower legs and feet were blood for he had managed to kill some of the minions of Jadis and he planned to wash it off when the interrogation of the four captured evil beasts was done. The four beasts in the cage released snarls of wrath.
"Just WAIT till our ALLIES find us," snarled the Neko-Cabbit and with that, it added a torrent of insults too gory and vile to describe. Neko-Cabbits were INCREDIBLY violent, bloodthirsty, barbaric and sadistic creatures and had been known to gruesomely kill their nemeses with their claws and teeth especially. They also sported an EXTREMELY explosive temper that when triggered, all bets were off as they would immediately lose ALL control and behave like mindless, feral beasts bent on spilling blood. And this particular Neko-Cabbit was on the very edge of entering into that feral, rabid state. Furthermore, most Neko-Cabbits' favourite food was the meat of Talking Beasts and even humans.
"I'm gonna BURN YA VILE (BLEEPS) ALIVE!" put in the Hellhound with a snarl.
"An' I'LL SQUEEZE YA GUTS OUT an' EAT YA ALIVE," added the male Squeezer, its massive red-lipped mouth bearing its sharp shark-like needles with drips of saliva stretching disgustingly from its frightening mouth as it relished the thought of devouring its victims. Its saucer-like eyes also blazed with extreme bloodlust. Like Neko-Cabbits, Squeezers favoured the meat of Talking Beasts.
"Our Mistress, the Goddess of the HIGHLANDS, deserves to have her RIGHTFUL THRONE returned to HER," snarled the Minotaur, the words coming out like a Bull's growl. Then the Squeezer glared at Scimitar and spat an insult at the Terror Bird, its thick red-lipped, toothy maw stretched into an incredibly sadistic smile.
"An' we would LUUURRRVE to see ya participate in th' right to th' DEATH like in the FIGHTING LEAGUE organised by our QUEEN, overgrown flightless Pigeon, an' WE'D LOVE TO HAVE THAT ESTABLISHED AGAIN!" he cackled. Its cackles intensified to a demonic level when this remark jabbed the Terror Bird deep like a sword. The Massacre Event was an EXTREME insult to Terror Birds, and it was not just the fact that some had been forcibly thrown into the Arena of Blood like Dumb Beasts to bloodily fight other Narnians to the sickening entertainment of Jadis and her minions and for the so-called 'better life' offered by Jadis herself as the ultimate prize for the last and only victor standing. Scimitar snapped round and was about to reach into the cage to plunge his hooked beak into the Squeezer's chest to kill the sadistic smirk on the blue furred creature's face but Goatson and some of the other Fauns rushed in and restrained the Terror Bird.
"Do NOT kill ANY of those four yet, Scimitar," commanded another Faun as the flightless Bird of Prey struggled in the restraining net of Faun hands in an attempt to lash at the Squeezer and attack it. While the Fauns dragged the enraged Terror Bird away, Chrystós walked boldly up to the evil quartet, pulled out his sword from its hilt around his waist belt and pointed it threateningly at the four. The Swan, a large male Cob named Albireo, joined his side. Then the Gold-Fleeced Ram spoke to the Hellhound, Squeezer, Neko-Cabbit and the Minotaur calmly as the four glared bloodthirstily and defiantly at him, his voice... deadly... as deadly as a Lion's growl.
"You four... will do exactly as we say and what we say and will give honest answers to our questions without... any... hassle," said he, his sword's tip pointed threateningly at the four, "And we do mean it. Do you understand?"
"Don't make me get out o' this cage, pounce on ya and fleece ya gold wool, (bleep), an' then eat ya alive," growled the Neko-Cabbit threateningly and sadistically, its cat-like toothy mouth dripping hungrily with saliva as its mind boiled with an EXTREMELY toxic concoction of thoughts too gruesome to put in writing.
"Our Mistress could well use your wool for one of her garments," put in the Minotaur. Albireo winced violently at this caustic insult against the Gold-Fleeced Ram but Chrystós, his face as solid as ice in the same facial expression, calmly went up to the cage and before any of the four evil beasts could predict what was happening, the Gold-Fleeced Ram raised his sword and brought the blade's tip down through the bars and purposely struck the Minotaur's left thigh. A MASSIVE Bull's howl erupted from the giant muscular Bull-Humanoid as it collapsed and seized its slashed thigh with its hands, EXTREME pain exploding from the injured area. As the Minotaur collapsed and held its injured and bleeding thigh, its mouth open and emitting the scream of agony, the Hellhound, Neko-Cabbit and the Squeezer drew back to the other side of the cage in shock.
"There'll be MORE to come if you don't CO-OPERATE," snarled Chrystós threateningly, his sword's tip aimed as threatening as his voice at the beasts. He then snapped his glare to Alcina, Swift-Foot and the other Centaurs with them and commanded them to take the cage into the interrogation room. The group obeyed and began to help Chrystós' group drag the four there. As they went, Alcina looked on in UTMOST shock at what Chrystós had done to the Minotaur. Normally Gold-Fleeced Sheep were friendly and calm creatures but when and if the need arises, they can be VERY brutal. Putting aside that thought, the three-tailed Fox followed the others into the interrogation room.
Soon, the interrogation process was underway and Swift-Foot was firing the questions, some of which will be about the poisoning of High King Peter with a cursed cake. Two or three Centaurs and four Fauns stood around the cage and aimed their sword points at the Hellhound and the other three to keep them in line and force them into answering the questions and once interrogation was done, the four will have a chance to surrender or face death. Accompanying them was Alcina and se was commanded to help keep the four in line while Swift-Foot questioned them. While the interrogation continued, Chrystós talked with Scimitar, Puss (who had gone ahead to check on High King Peter while the short confrontation happened), Albireo and Goatson.
"How's High King Peter, Puss?" the Gold-Fleeced Ram asked the bipedal boot-wearing Talking Cat.
"Stable currently," replied Puss, "But his poisoning is only in its initial stages and symptoms. As time goes by those symptoms will worsen and he will eventually lose his mind and physical health altogether before finally passing away."
"This is indeed VERY bad," said Albireo with dread, "High King Peter is our overall lead monarch and without him, our country is doomed and the Golden Age Prophecy will have gone to waste."
"That is why Martian has established the quest-goers to gather the Nine-Realms Potion ingredients and make the exclusive antidote," said Scimitar as he winced as a medic Faun, a female, treated the scratch on his chest. Just then, one of the Faun interrogators appeared.
"Puss, can you give us those pictures of the cursed cake please?" asked the Goat-Man. Puss immediately rushed over to the Faun and reached into his satchel. Then he produced several square slips and handed them to the Faun. Because it was too dangerous to keep the cursed cake, pictures of it had been taken using a magical device similar to the cameras and modern Iphones we use in our world. Then once the pictures were taken, the cake had been destroyed to prevent anyone else from sinking their teeth or beak into it and ending up poisoned like High King Peter. Then as soon as he had handed the pictures of the cake to the Faun, Puss returned to the conversation.
"The female Ted Dwarf and the two female Fauns who owned the confection stand are being questioned by Alestomeria," the boot-wearing Talking Cat, "After all, they had sold the cake to Voltasu in the first place."
"I don't think they were aware that it was cursed," said Scimitar as the medic Faun began to apply some wound-healing potion (not fire-flower cordial) to his scratch, making him wince and twist his face slightly from the stinging, "Apparently... someone must have... given that... cake to them..."
"We can't be too sure of that theory, Scimitar," said Chrystós disagreeably, "But one thing is clear. They had been the ones to sell Voltasu that cake and he brought it here to Cair Paravel."
"Voltasu's wife and chicks and extended family including his elderly parents had been UTTERLY worried and dismayed when they had heard that he had been detained for apparently attempting to assassinate our Monarchs with that cake," said Albireo, "However, they had been forbidden from seeing him."
"They had been protesting that Voltasu would NEVER, EVER do such an INCREDIBLY heinous and devilish thing to our Kings and Queens," said Goatson.
"I agree with them completely," said Scimitar sternly, sure of the Yatagasaru or Three-Legged Crow's innocence, "I believe he, along with the three confection stall owners, had been tricked into receiving that cursed cake so that it can end up poisoning someone, and it is possible that the maker of that cake had four particular targets in mind. I have known Voltasu for most of my life and I know FULL WELL that he would NEVER plan to murder ANYONE, whether Talking Beast, Magical Creature, or Human."
"Again, we can't be sure of that comment, Scimitar," said Chrystós again, Puss and Goatson also wearing looks that agreed with the Gold-Fleeced Ram's, "We can only find out via investigation and interrogation of those involved."
"Yes, putting someone to death on the spot because they had apparently attempted an assassination, especially of one of our Monarchs the Great Lion had put on the Four Thrones as per the Golden Age Prophecy is NOT the answer," said Puss.
"Indeed not," said Chrystós in agreement to this, "Especially if the evidence exonerates the accused."
"And that would mar our image as a country of fairness and justice as the Great Lion had commanded," said Goatson. The other three, especially Scimitar, nodded in agreement. However, Scimitar kept his beliefs that Voltasu and the Red Dwarf and Faun confection stall owners were utterly innocent and unaware of the cursed cake. In his mind, someone must have tricked these four into sending that cake to Cair Paravel where it would land on the plates of the Four Monarchs for them to consume, and that someone had had murderous intentions in mind. However, there was not much evidence to back this theory up to the Terror Bird's anger and indignation. He just hoped that Voltasu's innocence would be found out soon.
Suddenly the sounds of yelling, snarling and screeching erupted from the interrogation room. Chrystós, Puss, Goatson, the Faun medic, Scimitar and the others with them shot startled gazes in the direction of the noise and rushed there like alarmed people upon hearing the sounds of one of theirs shouting.
"WHAT'S GOING ON!?" bellowed the first one in the list as he rushed along, his hoof-hand grasping the handle of his sword, ready to pull out. However, as the group arrived in the interrogation room, they were greeted with a brutal and disturbing scene. The Centaurs and the Fauns who were supposed to be interrogating the Hellhound, Squeezer, Neko-Cabbit and Minotaur were struggling against the quartet with Swift-Foot, the Centaur in charge of the questioning, at the mercy of the rabid Neko-Cabbit. On the sidelines, Alcina the Fox looked on in UTMOST horror; too frightened to intervene. She then noticed a walking Sheep with Golden Fleece and the others with him.
"Those four have SOMEHOW ESCAPED THEIR CAGE!" she cried to them. It was true. The Hellhound, Squeezer, Neko-Cabbit and Minotaur were OUTSIDE their containment unit of bars and square slabs on wheels, its door somehow opened, and were now savagely and mercilessly attacking Swift-Foot's group. Immediately, Chrystós and his group's feet and hooves sprung into action and they plunged into the inferno, the Gold-Fleeced Ram's sword blade flashing as he pulled it out of its scabbard. The fires of the fight rose higher as Chrystós' group began to help put to death the four escaped beasts including the Minotaur who, despite being maimed in the leg by Chrystós' warning attack, was still able to deal some horrible damage with its strength and horn. It was just too dangerous to catch and re-cage these four, especially the Squeezer, the Hellhound and the Neko-Cabbit as these three began to use their brutal abilities full-force. During the fight, a Faun got caught in the Squeezer's arms and the blue furry creature with lanky arms and limbs like a Slender-Man proceeded to squeeze the Goat-Man to death like a boa constrictor as well as plunge its shark-like teeth into his neck for a literally bloody feast. A blast of fire exploded from the Hellhound's mouth as the Fire Dog attempted to roast its nemeses but Albireo the Swan rushed in and slashed his sword at it, driving it back and putting a stop to the deadly fire stream. The maimed Minotaur hobbled out of the conflagration but Scimitar appeared, knocked the Bull-Man down and with a quick execution of his species' almost-exclusive technique, the Axe-Beak, to the back of the Minotaur's neck, he killed the Minotaur instantly. The fight continued until Chrystós managed to slay the Neko-Cabbit by running it through the chest with his sword. However, the fiendish and bloodthirsty platinum white and neon green furred Demon-Cabbit had already caused some fatalities in its deadly feral mode. Two Centaurs, one of them being Swift-Foot and two Fauns had already been gruesomely and bloodily mauled and several casualties had resulted. After the Neko-Cabbit was cut down, the Hellhound and Squeezer, who had managed to kill its Faun victim via constriction and draining his blood, retreated in a hasty getaway. Chrystós, whose fleece was in more tatters from the skirmish with some golden lumps of it falling out, and the others still able to walk pursued them but the pair managed to dart out of the catacombs and disappear into the night of the forest. Chrystós released a loud baa of rage at the process going awry and the two escaping.
"SWIFT-FOOT, GUYS!" shouted Goatson's voice behind the Gold-Fleeced Sheep and the others with him. The Sheep and company snapped back ground and to their UTMOST horror, they saw several Fauns and two Centaurs, one of them Swift-Foot, lying mauled and dead about the interrogation room. Alcina slowly came in from the sidelines, stun clearly causing her muscles to ease up, her eyes to inflate out of their sockets and her fur including that on her three tails to stand on end. The other Fauns and Centaurs sobbed and grieved over their fallen comrades while several accompanying Talking Beasts shouted in frustration. Two more Talking Beasts, a Pig and Bat, carried away the bodies of the Neko-Cabbit and Minotaur, a Centaur helping to deal with the latter, heavier beast, to be burned by a creature capable of producing or breathing fire, or their own torches. Then Puss, who had sustained a burned hip and tail from the Hellhound's fire breath attack indicated by singed fur and black areas like Goatson's fur and hair, turned and noticed something on Chrystós' arm.
"Chrystós, your shoulder," whispered the boot-wearing Talking Cat. Chrystós turned and saw three short bleeding gashes on his left shoulder. However, Chrystós was aware that the Neko-Cabbit had managed to land a nasty cat scratch there before he fatally impaled the creature through the chest with his sword. A Faun medic immediately rushed in with some wound-treatment potion and a bandage and began to treat Chrystós' shoulder to the Gold-Fleeced Ram's gladness. Then Albireo and Scimitar began to angrily question Alcina.
"What happened!?" demanded the former, the Swan, "How did those four creatures escape?"
"I don't know!" replied Alcina in protest, "First they were in the cage and the next minute they somehow managed to find a way out and cause that carnage!"
"We just LOST OUR POTENTIAL SOURCE OF INFORMATION REGARDING OUR HIGH KING'S POISONING!" bellowed Scimitar angrily, making Alcina quiver at the wrath of such a dangerous flightless Bird of Prey armed with a deadly weapon in the form of a hooked beak. However, before Scimitar could threaten Alcina any further, Goatson called the group.
"Guys," the Faun shouted, pulling the three's attention to the cage. The Faun's glare hardened. "Our prisoners' escape from this cage was no accident."
This sent horror pulsing through Scimitar, Alcina, Albireo and also Chrystós, Puss and the other survivors in the room. However, that begged the question. HOW in NARNIA did the Hellhound, Squeezer, Minotaur and Neko-Cabbit MANAGED to escape the cage, despite it being bolted shut? Putting aside that question, the group focussed on dealing with their deceased comrades and injured casualties injured during the short but brutal skirmish. Furthermore, the pictures of the cursed cake had been shredded during the skirmish, further adding to the frustration of the group.