Chapter 7: Interrogation of The Fox
The little fox's heart sank as the witch's castle came into view, to many uneducated eyes it would be beautiful, to anyone else it would be the worst and most horrible thing ever. That it what it was for the fox. A few minutes later the woman dismounted her horse and picked him up by his injured leg laughing loudly at his screams of pain.
He was immediately taken to the witch's throne room. She sat on her chair as Xena and Borias entered and was slightly taken aback when Xena tossed the little fox at her feet.
" What the bloody hell is this?" Jadis asked in disgust.
" Fox." Xena said simply. " He was the only one we found, I think he might know where the children are."
" Is this so fox?" The witch asked standing up and pointing her wand at him.
" It will take more than the threat of being turned to stone for me to answer to you witch." The fox snapped.
Jadis glared down at it rage contorting her face. Pulling a long dagger out of a sheath hidden beneath her flowing gown she stabbed the fox right in his injured leg. He screeched loudly in pure agony.
" You dare speak to me like that! When I am done with you you'll beg for death you ungrateful animal." Jadis screamed pulling the knife from the fox's leg. She raised it again but Xena stopped her.
" Don't kill it." She said. " Not yet, he is still useful."
" Kill me, I will tell you nothing." The fox spat at Xena.
" See, he knows something." Xena said extending her two fingers and touching the fox's neck.
" Xena." Borias said. " Don't kill it."
" Don't worry, the same basic principals should apply." Xena snapped at him and hit the fox square in the neck. Quickly she felt the blood vessel she had just hit, it was closed, just as she wanted.
" Fox, I've just cut off the flow of blood to your brain. You'll be dead in seconds unless I release you so start talking." Xena yelled.
" Never." The little animal said. Immediately Xena knew this would not work so she released it.
" Any other ideas?" Jadis asked an evil glint in her eye.
" No." Borias said.
" I have one." Xena sneered. " Lets take him in front of the kid. We can make him think we are going to kill the fox and we'll make him talk."
" I guess it is worth trying." Jadis replied looking down upon the fox. She scowled and grabbed its injured foot, it whimpered as she carried it away Xena and Borias behind her.
XxX
Edmund jumped when the door the dungeon was opened and a small fox was thrown at his shackled legs. The man with long black hair drew a curved sword and pointed it at the fox, the witch and the woman he knew only as Xena behind him.
" Well Edmund." The witch began. " This fox doesn't want to cooperate with me. So perhaps you will tell us where you brother and sisters went."
" No." Edmund said after a pause. He looked through the hole in the wall of his cell to see the faun Mr. Tumnus staring at him.
" Kill the fox." The witch stated. " His blood will be on your hands Edmund."
The man raised his sword and the fox looked up in horror. Just as he was about to bring it down Edmund cried out.
" Wait!"
" Stop." The witch said to the man. " Yes?"
" The beavers said something about the stone table, and that…" Edmund stopped when he saw the looks the fox and Tumnus wore.
" And what?" Xena asked. After Edmund didn't reply Xena looked back at the man. " Kill 'em all!"
" With pleasure." The man said as he raised his sword. Xena moved to Tumnus's cell and drew her blade as well. Both prepared to strike. This was eating away at Edmunds insides and he could not stop himself.
" Aslan has an army there!" He cried. Jadis looked down at him, horror stricken. Xena and the man sheathed their blades and came up behind her. The fox and Tumnus looked down sadly. This disappointment Edmund felt emanating from the two was worse than it would have been had he watched their deaths.
" Aslan. Are you sure?" The witch asked her voice high and pitchy.
" Please, please." Tumnus said for the first time. " He is a child he cannot be expected to know for sure."
" Speak kid." Xena said.
" Yes I'm sure." Edmund finally said. The witch frowned.
" Guard!" She called. Behind her stepped a tall dirty ugly orge.
" Yes your majesty?" It asked in the most horrible voice Edmund had ever heard.
" Ready my sleigh." The witch said.
" Witch one?" He asked.
" The biggest. And go out on yours, gather an army."
" It shall be done."
" Good." The witch said as he left. " Thank you Edmund. Kill the fox."
" No!" Edmund cried as Xena ran up and plunged her blade into the fox's stomach. His eyes turned up staring into space and he went limp, and died. Then witch smiled evilly.
" And the faun."
" No!" Edmund cried as Xena grabbed her Chakram threw it through the hole in his wall and hit the faun on the head. There was a sickening crack and Tumnus fell down, dead and broken. Xena caught her weapon and attached it to her waist.
" Bring him." The witch said leaving the dungeon flanked by Borias. Xena walked up to Edmund and kicked him in the arm.
" Word of advice for you kid. Stay on one side." She snapped as she undid his shackles. Forcefully she pulled him up by the arm and led him to the courtyard. There were two sleighs. The witch was sitting in the biggest with Borias and the dwarf Ginnabrik was seated behind the white reindeer ready to go. On the other was the prison guard. It was a one-person sleigh.
" Gather the faithful." The witch said to him. " If it is a war Aslan wants it's a war he shall get. Bring the army to the great frozen river. There we will group. We'll fight on the central plains."
" Yes your majesty." The orge said. He whipped the deer tied to his sleigh and off he went.
Xena moved faster toward the witch's sleigh and hurled Edmund in the back of it. She bound his wrists to his legs and sat down by Borias. The little dwarf whipped the deer and off they went headed for the great river to gather the witch's army.