Kel slept very little that night. She wanted to know what Remia had to tell her, and was nervous about the next day's conference with King Maggur. She debated with herself whether or not she ought to lie to Maggur. As far as she knew, the treaty didn't mention anything about extracting information form the prisoner.

"Here I go again," said Kel, slamming her fists onto the thin mattress. "Why do I still care about that cursed treaty? For all I know, Maggur could be burning it right now, plotting ways to defeat Tortall. And what can I do about it? Nothing. Absolutely gods-cursed nothing."

Not nothing, the treacherous part of her mind insisted. If you're so sure that Maggur is going to break to agreement, why don't you just kill him? Or run away?

"I can't do that!" Kel said out loud, angry with herself. "I don't know that he will break the peace agreement. If I break it, then it will me my fault. Either that, or the people that try to rescue me."

Well, there is no way of knowing. You're here, and everyone else is out there!

Kel sat up in her bed and smacked her forehead.

"What am I doing? I must be going crazy in this place, if I'm having conversations with myself!" Rubbing her eyes to keep them open, she tried to decide whether or not to give out the facts about Tortall. Finally she groaned out of stupidity.

"As long as I'm here, there's nothing he can do to me if I don't tell him. If he kills me, so be it. The treaty will still be safe, and only he would then be given chances to breach it. But then, if he was is still plotting against Tortall, shouldn't I be responsible for somehow warning the King?"

Her head throbbed. Her mind was under too much stress and pressure to be burdened with these problems. She curled up and clutched her knees, undecided, and waited until dawn.

Soon, the door opened and a soldier roughly led her back to the conference room. Maggur lazed in his chair, awaiting her arrival.

"Thank you, Karlok, that will be all," he informed the soldier. Karlok nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him.

"So…Keladry…I hope you are prepared to answer my questions today. I'll start with the easy ones. How big is Tortall's army?"

Kel put in place her best, most expressionless Yamani face. "Twenty thousand men."

Maggur scowled and banged his fist on the table. "I warned you!"

"I'm answering your questions to the best of my knowledge," Kel said tonelessly.

"Fine!" Snapped Maggur. "Who is King Jonathan's closest friend?"

Kel arched her brows sarcastically. "Well, King Jonathan has MANY friends. I myself am one of his closest." She didn't bother to keep the lie from her face.

"I will not tolerate this," growled Maggur.

Kel's hands shook under the table as she fought to control her temper.

"And what are you going to do about it?" she asked, her voice deadly soft.

"You'll be sorry you asked. Guards! Take the prisoner back to her cell!"

Three guards seized her and dragged her back to her cell. Once inside, Kel crept into Remia's room, more nervous than before.

"Remia, I know for SURE that he is up to something. He said--" She stopped and reached out to grasp the lady's hand. It was cold and shaking. "Are you not well?"

Remia swallowed and grinned feebly. "Three years of imprisonment has finally taken its toll. Goodbye, Protector of the Small." With that, she was gone. Kel stared in shock at Remia's body. Tears of rage and sorrow began to flow down her cheeks. She gently placed the old lady's hands over her chest.

"Goodbye, Remia Stone."