He called out for help. We trudged over to the entrance of the dimly lit cave. Markings and hieroglyphics covered the stone walls. They appeared to be instructions of some kind. Another room on the cave's left was where the voice was coming from. But there was also another voice now, it was snake-like, a trog's. We plodded up to the threshold, soaked with muddy water. An elder trog was interrogating someone, who seemed to be a soldier, but was so covered with blood it could have been anything.

"You're… A barbarian… A savage, and nothing more… And to think I'd tell you such classified… Information…"

It must've been a soldier, if he knew anything that was considered "classified". The trog must've heard my footsteps, because he whirled around.

"Oh, thank heaven… Another person… Please, help me!"

"And why exactly would I do that? Hey, wait a minute… Aren't you… Yes, you are the Royal Seer of Lady Myschala, am I right?"

"Yes, so you have heard of me! Thank goodness you have come to rescue me! These beasts are trying to force out secret information. Please rid this world of their being!"

I looked down at the man lying on the ground, looking right back up at me with a smile. The elder trog went to swipe at me, but Tokage told him that I was part of the tribe. The man looked at me.

"Does that beast speak of the truth, M'Lady?"

I knelt down and smiled at him. "You bet. Know, you could start by telling us that information."

"You traitor! Do you not care for your own kind, or do you have a heart only for these… things!"

"You know, you're really starting to get on my nerves." I grabbed him by the throat and lifted him off the ground. Holding up my other hand, I made a chair from the stone using alchemy, and flung him down into it. Snapping my fingers, metal braces wrapped around his arms and legs. He was tied down to the most uncomfortable chair. He fought for a second, then looked up at me with pure fear in his eyes.

"Now, without giving us any lip about us being savage beasts, tell us what you know."

"No, I would never sink so low as to spill out secrets, so just kill me now because you will even if I did tell you."

"So, you're keeping quiet so you'll die with dignity… Well then," I turned to the elder, "do you have any snakes at hand?"

The trog looked at me, surprised by my request. But as the meaning sunk in, a fanged smile crept across his face. He walked over to a shelf and picked up a jar. He handed it to me. I twisted the lid off and a small boa sat, curled up inside. Carefully, I pulled out the snake. It hung from my hand, flicking its tongue and hissing. I'd read about this in a book once, and I felt sorry for the snake, but this man needed to spill the beans about whatever it was that he knew.

"Now, I will ask you again. Tell me what you know, and I shall make your death quick and painless, and bury you in the sun, and you shall rest in peace. Refuse, and I will kill you in one of the most horrible ways, and leave your rotting corpse before the village for everyone to see."

"No, please, you are human, have you no emotion toward your fellow man?"

I sighed, then sighed. "Well, you leave me with no choice… Tokage, hold his mouth open."

"No, wait! What… What are you going to do? Please stop!"

She grabbed his bottom jar and jerked it down, then pushed her claws against his face, prying his mouth wide open. Slowly, I pushed the snake into the man's mouth, headfirst. It crawled into his throat. He started to gag, but the snake kept going down. He fought against Tokage, but she was stronger than she looked and kept his mouth open. His lips started to turn blue, his eyes becoming blank. He stopped fighting, then stopped gagging. The snake was all the way down the man's throat; it would not be saved, sadly.