Betrayal
Overlord stood in the rain with his arms crossed, examining the criminal that had been brought before him.
She was a slight thing- though all his women were- with wet, stringy black hair and wide, terrified brown eyes. No older than fifteen, she sat on her knees, palms in the mud, shivering.
"You were disobedient to my men," Overlord said, loud enough for the hundred or so slaves in the grove to hear. "Is this true?"
Attending executions was not mandatory- it took too much time to assemble the thousands of slaves living in his community. Nonetheless, many still gathered, afraid of what might happen if they tried to ignore it as they passed through the grove.
"They hurt me," the girl said softly. "I panicked, and so I struggled."
"My men say you were very disrespectful, and as a punishment you were denied food for a day."
"Two days," the girl said.
"Are you correcting me?"
"N-Nanesh."
Overlord lifted his chin, sneering as he stepped forward. The rain seemed to stifle itself, falling silently as he circled his prey. He smelled the fear of his audience. The sweet, flowerlike scent of terror from the girl kneeling in the muck. She was crying. It made him so, so happy.
"I am commander of the stone warriors," Overlord said. His hand brushed against his Blade; the amethyst sparked to life, glowing like a torch in the mist. "Whatever I say, they obey. In the same way, the stone warriors command you. What does that mean?"
"That I must obey your soldiers as they obey you," the girl said. She had heard the speech before- everyone had- and so she knew the correct answer. The answer that every criminal spoke before their final judgment.
"You did not obey them," Overlord said. "Therefore, you did not obey me." He stooped, grabbing her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. "Those who obey will be rewarded how?"
"With shelter, and food, and protection."
"That's right. And how will those who disobey be rewarded, child?"
"With..." She closed her eyes. "With death."
"That's right. And why is that? Why must I be so strict?"
One of the girl's sobs caught in her throat, and she squeaked. "Because w-we need order," she said. "Without order, there is no safety."
"That's right." Overlord stroked the girl's cheek. "Do you have anything else to say?"
Not a word. That did not surprise him: they knew better than to beg forgiveness. Forgiveness and second chances were fallacies. Lies.
He spat to the side, straightened, and turned to his waiting line of stone warriors.
Those who made mistakes would be given the same sentence he had been. Death.
"Chains," Overlord said. A stone warrior set heavy chains in his hands.
Overlord shackled the girl's wrists in front of her, then drew his Blade. "Stand," he said.
She did, legs so unsteady that she pitched backward. Only a quick jerk on Overlord's chain leash kept her from falling.
Overlord snarled, irises flashing white with rage, and pulled on the chain, flinging it in an arc over his head. The girl's body followed, whipping through the air like a tree branch in the grasp of a hurricane's wind.
As Overlord spun, the girl's body hit the trunk of an avocado tree. There was a snap, and some members of his audience gasped.
"Stand," he growled, bending low for a strike as her body fell to the ground.
She did not get up.
"Stand!"
At last she obeyed- though one of her legs now bent at an odd angle- and Overlord charged, feet flinging up mud behind him. He turned his torso, shoulder making impact with her ribcage. She flew again, but the short leash- coupled with her blinding speed-
caused her to plummet back into the muck.
Cut, Overlord ordered Morningbloom. Dropping the chain, he cleaved through two tree branches. He kicked the girl- only half-conscious- onto her back, then extended her arms above her head and drove a makeshift stake through her wrist. She screamed, blood flowing from the wound.
He did it again to her other wrist, sticking it to the ground. To his disappointment, she only whimpered at that.
The more intense the pain, the faster they burn out. Sadly, I don't have the energy to drag this out and get some proper noises from her.
The girl was stuck to the ground, unable to struggle. Not that she would have, anyway. Real struggles were rare. Which was why he loved prisoners from Ninjago so much: they knew how to put up a fight.
Well...usually. Sanguine had been a bit easy for his taste.
He crouched over the girl, Blade stabbing her shoulder. Blood squirted out, mixing with the mud. Her eyes rolled back in her head. He tugged the knife free and lifted it to split her gut.
"S-Sir?"
Overlord paused, turning his head to look at the blond boy. He must have just returned. "Cimmerian," he said. "You're back."
Cimmerian pried his eyes from the girl and bowed. "I...I did as you request," he stammered in the Dark Tongue.
"And?"
"And...I have Cole. And of several his companions. The drug is wearing off, they'll be awaken soon."
"Good." Overlord jabbed his Blade through the girl's heart, then stood and turned away, sheathing it. "Let's go, then."
A stone warrior- one of the captains- raised a hand. "Sir!" he said. "What about the river problem? You were going to come when-"
Overlord waved a dismissive hand. "Later. Come, Cimmerian."
They passed through the dispersing crowd, making their way to the keep's entrance.
"Master…" Cimmerian rubbed the back of his neck. "I...know it not my place to say, but...was that necessary?"
Overlord clenched his fists to hide his tremors. "You'll have to forgive me," he growled. "That Nindroid has me very cross."
Putting Sanguine in the Nindroid's cell. What was I thinking? All my plans- my beautiful houses of cards- could blow away in the breath he left behind with Sanguine.
I will have to crush Sanguine's soul completely. He must never spread that Nindroid's knowledge.
"I am sorry for your troubles, Master," Cimmerian said as they passed the sentinels and entered the dry, warm tunnel. "Do you need my help interrogate the prisoners, or can I..."
Overlord halted as the doors closed behind them. "No, no. Go be with your sister. Sleep. Be back in the morning, though."
Sleep. That sounds pleasant. Perhaps the Dark Knight can wait until tomorrow.
Cimmerian bowed. "Thank you, Master."
"You have earned this, boy." Overlord gave him a tight-lipped smile. "Go."
Cimmerian took off running, shoes squishing wetly against the rocks.
"Oh, yes," Overlord called after him. "Boy?"
Cimmerian stopped and turned.
Overlord's smile spread into a cryptic grin. "You won't ever see me again," he said. "At least, not like this."
A flicker of confusion and hope crossed the boy's face. "Pardon?"
"Just be prepared," Overlord said. "That is all. Goodnight."
When Pixal awakened, she was in the dark. A vomit smell itched at her nostrils, and she dampened her olfactory sense to make it more bearable.
Blinking, she turned on her night vision and scanned the room. She was on the floor, Jay and Merv laying under the wall to her left. Merv was stirring a little, but- except for his quiet breaths- Jay was motionless.
In the right corner was Besai. She sat awake, knees pulled close to her chest. Her eyes were moist, sending a thousand-yard stare into the empty darkness that curled around her.
"Besai," Pixal whispered, crawling close. She saw a wet puddle in the corner close to the girl. Vomit. Why did her stomach get so upset? Did she have an adverse reaction to the sleeping drug?
Besai blinked. Her voice trembled with anxiety and exhaustion. "Pixal?"
"I'm here." Pixal touched her hand. "Don't be alarmed, I'm going to turn on a light."
Besai nodded.
Pixal turned off her night vision, then mentally flipped another switch. Every uncovered part of her body let off a gentle white glow, bathing the room- and Besai's startled face- with light.
"Are you all right?" Pixal asked. "Are you in any pain? Why did you throw up?"
Besai nodded, quickly recovering herself. "I am all right," she said. "Throwing up ees...is normal. Do not worry."
"Besai," Pixal said, wrapping an arm around the tense woman. "That can't be normal. Or healthy. Come on, we're both girls. Can't you tell me?"
Besai's chest shook with a hushed sob. She relaxed her grip on her legs and leaned into Pixal's embrace. "I am alone," she whispered. "I failed Kai. And now this happens."
"Do you have the plague again?" Pixal asked.
"No."
"Then why does your stomach..." Pixal searched Besai's eyes for confirmation. "...Oh."
Well, this was a surprise.
"We were supposed to be together," Besai said. "And now he leaves me with this."
Pixal tentatively touched Besai's belly. With her sensitive fingertips, she could feel a second heartbeat.
By the First King! she thought. When did they have time to make a baby?
"When did you...find out?" she asked out loud.
"The day Kai was captured." Besai wiped her moist cheeks. "It is my fault," she sniffed. "Kai is gone. I am alone. But...I can't do eet alone. Not again."
"Kai isn't gone," Pixal said. "He's here. And you will find him."
"How?"
"We'll escape, of course," Pixal said.
Besai shook her head. "We will be caught and executed."
"No, we won't."
"How would you know?"
"Because," Pixal said. "I am an incredibly strong and smart woman. And so are you. With the right materials- and a great plan- we will escape. Now, let me go and check on the others, okay?"
"Okay." Besai moved away. Her hair glowed coppery in Pixal's light.
Pixal got to her feet and approached Jay. He seemed fine; normal heart rate, no visible injuries. She pushed his hair out of his face, smiling despite herself. His countenance was neutral. Peaceful. No big, melancholic blue eyes staring at her like an abandoned animal; no lips curved up in a perpetual fake smile.
Stop it, idiot, Pixal scolded herself, feeling a bitter emptiness in her chest. Didn't Lloyd give you enough pain?
Escape. There had to be something they could use for escape. Pixal patted her pockets and found that they were empty. She hiked up her skirt and checked the pouch strapped to her thigh: also empty.
No dignity here, she thought crossly. I wonder where else that boy searched me? Surely not... She reached into her brassiere, eyes narrowing. Damnation. He found that one too.
She knew it was useless, but she checked the hidden pouches on her hip and left bicep. Also empty.
Next she looked through Jay's vest- it was a worn thing with a thousand pockets. One was even large enough to hold a book.
...Actually, there was a book in it. An old tome with crinkled pages and a cracked leather cover. She could not read the language it was written in, so she left it alone and continued searching.
There was nothing useful to her: a small journal, soap, and a charcoal pencil. Any potential weapon Jay might have carried with him- a razor, rope, or a comb- had undoubtedly been taken away.
Still, she didn't want to give up. Stifling her conscience, she dug a hand into his trouser pocket. Her fingers wrapped around cold metal, and she pulled it out.
Stormstrider. The Blade was out of power, dead to the world, but it was better than nothing.
Why had Senzo left it?
"We'll get out of here." Pixal slipped the Blade back into Jay's pocket. "Just you wait, Besai. We'll get everyone out of here."
"That's bold of you, Milady," said the Overlord's voice.
Besai whimpered again, covering her face.
"Leave us alone, Overlord." Pixal rose to her feet, sword hand reaching for her belt on instinct. She could see Overlord's eyes through a slit in the door.
"I was just going to bed." Overlord's tone was light and conversational. "Your cell was on the way, so I thought I'd peek in." He chuckled. "Besai. Dear Besai, a regular revenant. I thought you were dead."
He unlocked the door, and it creaked open. "Come, qyenti," he said, proffering a key in his palm. "Go see your Sanguine."
Besai stood eagerly.
Pixal caught her shoulder. "Don't follow him!" she said. "We'll get separated!"
Besai jerked herself free and rushed to the Overlord, holding out her hands.
"Go." Overlord gave her the key. "I'll see you in the morning."
Besai bowed, shot Pixal a sad, apologetic smile over her shoulder, and scurried away.
Overlord laughed at Pixal's dumbfounded stare. "I'm not stupid," he said. "No, Besai will not take advantage of my gift and try to help Kai escape."
"How would you know?" Pixal asked.
"Because I have a much more powerful incentive than love or hope," Overlord said, shutting the door
"What's that? Fear? Cliche."
"No, Pixal. Not fear. Betrayal." The lock engaged, and Overlord withdrew.