This story is Part XI of the Series and is rated M for graphic scenes of torture.

Volume 2, Part XI: Welcome Back to Luskan

It was dark. So dark.

Probably because he had his eyes closed. He opened them a crack. Still dark but not as dark. He could see a small very sliver of light close by. Sand tried moving and realized he couldn't. The pain on the back of his head was throbbing making even the slightest movements send bolts of pain down his entire body. But it meant he was alive. He was also bound, his wrists tied cruelly behind his back, his ankles lashed together as well.

He took a deep breath and realized he was also gagged. The information was coming to him slowly as his consciousness returned to him. He was lying on a floor, a cold stone floor - it was damp, moldy.

Torio. He reached out with his mind, tentatively, the headache becoming worse with effort.

There seemed to be pain everywhere at once. Torio tried to swallow, to ease her parched throat, but the gag in her mouth prevented such; she could see a vague, pale light in a line across from where she was lying on...she shifted...stone?

Helkaer...

It was faint, like the sputtering light of a candle reaching her from across a yawning chasm...Bodaes! Are you all right? Whe-

She had lifted her head involuntarily, feeling her short hair brush against her cheeks... Her stomach sank like a stone as she realized the implications.Bodaes, she thought after a moment of pure, abject terror washed through her,my polymorph has been dispelled.

Her terror was palpable and it translated over to him; for a moment, he felt nothing but her blind terror. The adrenaline shot through his body, his heart rate skyrocketed. He lifted his head and felt the long strands of hair fall over his eyes.

Oh gods - she was right.

Stay calm, Helkaer. At least they haven't discovered this telepathy spell yet.

He blinked a few times and realized that he could see clearly in the dim light. He was in some sort of stone-walled cell. A table was along the far wall, as was a rickety wooden chair. On the table he could see a crumpled robe - he looked down and realized he was wearing only his undershirt and trews. His boots were off, his dagger gone, all the rings, the ariik gem… The map!

He looked down on his waist and then on the table. He sighed, relieved, when he saw the simple black leather belt tossed carelessly under the robes. But his relief was short-lived, as he heard footsteps approaching his door. There was an ominous click as a key was turned in the rusted lock, and then the door opened.

A pair of guards marched into Sand's cell; they grabbed him roughly by the shoulders, and began dragging him out, leaving the narrow cell and pulling the wizard down the hall. They pass multiple little doors on their way, and as Sand was dragged past one he could feel a flickering at the back of his mind...Bodaes... More guards passed him as he was pulled up the stairs, heading back down towards the cells, their faces grim. The flickering at the back of his mind that was Torio's presence dimmed, and was finally silenced as he was pulled farther and farther up the long stairway...

A door was kicked open. Sand was slammed against the far wall, his arms raised above his head; chains were wrapped and locked around his wrists so that he hung with his feet barely touching the floor. They guards tugged on the chains to ensure their security, and then moved to the door.

An elven woman stepped through, her long, russet hair swept up into a tight bun. She wore nondescript black clothing, and in her hand was something that looked like a wand. She was recognizable as the elven serving girl at Asrar's dinner party. "Sand," she said smoothly, shutting the door behind her. "Welcome back to Luskan."

Torio began wriggling desperately, ribbing her wrists against the knots around her wrist...she could feel Sand's presence flitting past her door, heard the steps of the guards. She reached out to him as she felt him stretching, fading...He was gone. And her door was opening...

The second set of guards that had passed Sand picked Torio up under the arms and half dragged, half carried her. They took her down the long narrow corridor, in the opposite direction of Sand. A door was opened, the hinges creaking and she was seated roughly in a chair. A table was lined with bottles, wicked looking sharp instruments, and a cat o'nine-tails. The guards stood on either side of her, waiting. Footsteps could be heard echoing down the hallway, approaching her cell with a firm resolution.

A man, the waiter from Asrar's home, entered. "Ambassador - or should I say - former ambassador Claven. How good of you to join us."

Sand grimaced, his head feeling sticky with drying, coagulated blood, his arms already starting to tingle from holding up his body. He swung his feet lightly, trying to see if he could reach the ground but it was futile. It was so tantalizingly close - the nearness of the floor making it all the more painful and frustrating. He could feel the cold emanating from the rough stone floor on the soles of his bare feet and if he wiggled his toes forward, he could place a bit of his weight on there before the chains hauled him back up.

He stared at the elven woman. "So - my reputation precedes me. And it appears promotions in Luskan are a lot quicker and easier to come by than when I was here. Serving girl to interrogator in one day? You must have some skills I am not aware of. I personally thought your catering form could have used some refinement." Sand had no idea why he was goading the girl. But he was tired, sore, hurt, irritated, separated from Torio again and likely facing the prospect of a lengthy torture session and if he was lucky, death. He didn't want to think about what awaited him if he was unlucky. "Did Gweynn send you?"

The elf smiled at Sand slightly. "Guard," she said calmly; one of the men in uniform snapped to attention. "Bring the wizard's personal effects here." The guard saluted and left the chamber, his platemailed feet clanking against the flagstones.

The elf tapped the wand-like instrument against the palm of her hand as she walked towards him, a considering look in her eye. "Gweynn Malfang is of no concern to you, at the moment, Sand." She stepped forward until she was standing in front of him. "I've heard of you, you know; you were quite an enthusiastic learner while you were here, albeit somewhat...hindered by your reluctance to accept some of the 'tower's practices." She clucked her tongue. "Such a shame."

She flicked her wrist; the wand tapped against Sand's collarbone, resting there as she said, "However...if you cooperate with me, then maybe we shall see about reinstating you; I'm sure the Hosttower would appreciate welcoming the wizard who not only recovered the Scales of the Sphinx from Asrar's greed-driven hands, but delivered the head of the traitorous Torio Claven." She practically grinned. "Such a curiosity; and to think, they've assumed her dead or captured; their poor, devious, crafty little ambassador. And all this time, she's been working for your dear Neverwinter..."

She tapped Sand's cheek with her wand. "Ah well now, it will make a dramatic revelation; on such things are powerful men built. What say you? Where is the map?"

Torio hunched against the back of the chair; in the light the interrogation room (oh, she knew exactly what room it was) she could see she was still wearing the torn, bloodstained dress from the auction; her feet were bare, scratched raw from being dragged through the cold stone halls, tied together at the ankles. The demure slit in the skirt was stretched and torn beyond repair, revealing her legs (and the general lack of garter or knife). She clenched them together, clasping her hands on her lap (which were also tied together; she could feel the bracelet cold and lifeless against her wrist.

"How good of you to invite me," she said acidly. Her mind was racing furiously while she tried not to look at the various implements scattered across the table. "Did it ever occur to you that the reason I'm ultimately here is to reach the Hosttower? Release me from these ridiculous bonds; you're wasting my time."

The man crouched before Torio, smiling skeptically, "Really Miss Claven? This big elaborate plot involving the Scales of the Sphinx, and killing Asrar, all to get back to the Hosttower? What about the wizard? Is he trying to get back to Luskan too or are you dragging him along as an unwilling victim?" He shook his head lightly. "You'll have to convince me better than that. It was quite the surprise for us to have found out we had you captured. We all thought you had been hanged by Nasher." He gave her a large toothy grin, not much different than a cat that had just captured a mouse and was now batting it about in its paws...

Torio shifted in her chair, narrowing her eyes down at the man. "I'll have you know that Nasher has been keeping me in captivity; the mission for the Sphinx was a way to use me to Neverwinter's advantage." Well, that much was true. "The wizard is my keeper. Now will you untie me, you ignorant Luskan dog? I have much to tell the Brotherhood."

The man brushed a stray lock of brown hair out of his eyes. "Ah, so the wizard is an instrument of your captivity. Then you won't mind if we dispose of him. Good good."

He stood and walked over to the table of tools, touching the different tools. He picked up a heavy iron tool, with four long curved claws. He held it up to her. "A cat's paw. Have you ever used one, Miss Torio?" He touched the tip. "Ouch, quite sharp! Any preference for how we kill him? Surely you must know his weaknesses by now - or would you like to do it yourself?"

He put the torture device down with a heavy thunkand turned back to her. "I represent the Brotherhood to you right now. Why don't you tell me what it is you need to say, and I will determine if you can go see the Overmage or not?"

Sand narrowed his eyes. "So you work for the Hosttower? I was wondering if the Arcane Brotherhood was going to get involved in the auction. It seemed bizarre none of your representatives were there." He tried flexing his arms and relieving some of the tension in his muscles. He mulled over the elf's words. He hadn't been able to save Torio from Asrar; but maybe he could spare her from whatever it was they planning for her. No sense in both of them getting killed. "That Luskan harpy was forced to serve Neverwinter or she faced the hangman's noose. I had the unhappy misfortune of being her...babysitter at the Keep."

The pounding pain in the back of his head was starting to abate slightly. He did his best to ignore the wand that was touching his cheek. He needed to stall, to think, "What are you offering me?"

The elven woman ran the wand along Sand's jawline absently. "Full acceptance into the Arcane Brotherhood," she said, without flinching. "Access to research, artifacts. Power, prestige; a say in the legislature and decision making processes of the city." Her eyes narrowed slyly. "And of course, protection from Neverwinter's eventual retaliation on your person." The wand slid down from his chin to his neck, crossing his collarbone and tracing down the front of his chest, snagging at the fabric of his undertunic. "All you have to do, Sand, is give up the map. How could you refuse? Really, we're logical, civilized elves...you would never receive an offer such as this amongst our own people, much less the base humans of Luskan." She arched her brows at him, the tip of the wand resting lightly against his chest.

Sand swallowed hard. "I...wish I could take you up on your offer, dear girl. But quite unfortunately, I have already destroyed the map."

"Oh?" The elven woman imperceptibly switched her grip on the wand; instead of it resting lightly in her hand, it was an extension of her index finger, pointing into his chest. "Now...that is a shame." She sighed melodramatically. "Well...I suppose I could convince them to give you a chance, given that you've dropped Claven right into our paws." She lowered the wand fractionally, its tip pointing towards his stomach. "However, I'm not quite positive you're being honest with me, Sand." She pulled a pout, but her eyes were glittering dangerously...eagerly. "You wouldn't lie to me, would you?" Her finger tapped against the wand, once, briefly...and a short, hot, searing lance of pain shot into Sand's gut.

Torio's heart pounded...where was Sand? Her skin crawled at the thought of what they might be doing to him…Focus on what they might be doing to you, girl. She let out a loud, piercingly clear laugh. "You represent the Brotherhood? Please, boy, I was walking their halls while you were still scraping outside the front door licking any available boot that presented itself to you. A common questioner, representing the Overlord himself?" She tossed her head disdainfully. "I asked you, politely, to stop wasting my time."

The man's hand tightened, his knuckles turning white. He grabbed a small fine scalpel, the blade shining menacingly in the flickering torchlight. He hooked his finger into Torio's mouth, pulling one corner of her mouth back and pressed the blade against her lip. "We all know you were nothing more than a whore so don't question my credentials. You know how they mark whores who have stolen from their masters? They slice them, mouth to ear. The wounds heal but the scars never go away." His voice lowered into a dangerous hiss. "Stop wasting my time, Miss Claven and talk to me."

Torio sucked in her breath, her head instinctively pulling forward as the blade pressed against the inside of her mouth. She shut her eyes, choking on the whimper rising in her throat...relax, relax, relax...

"I've been in Crossroad Keep for weeks," she said, her voice slurred from the blade in her mouth. "I could draw them a map if I had to...could they resist? Neverwinter's last bastion of hope against the darkness, and they get to know every little back door, nook and cranny?" She wasn't even positive she could remember the hallway outside of her own bedroom right now...and how would they know the difference, anyway?... but she held her breath, waiting, feeling the blade press against her mouth.

He relaxed his hand and pulled his finger from her mouth. "That is a start. I would hate to hurt somebody as pretty as you." He motioned to the guards. "One of you, get me a quill, some parchment." He put the scalpel down and hopped on the table, sitting and swinging his legs casually, looking for all the world like he was having a casual conversation on a bright sunny afternoon with Torio. "You still haven't told me what you'd like done to the elf?"

If Sand could have, he would have cried out but the pain was so quick and intense that all he could do was twist in the chains that held him, not being able to breathe, think...It was as if every nerve in his body was on fire, spreading out from his mid-section.

Then it was gone, leaving him panting, hanging limply. His voice was shaking, coming out higher than usual. "You are quite convincing, girl, but the map is gone..."

Steady, Sand, steady. It's just pain, pain that goes away...He gritted his teeth and stared at her, defiant.

She tsked. "Sand. Come now. Don't you think we would know if such a powerfully enchanted item had been instantaneously destroyed within the walls of this city?" She lowered the wand, her eyes narrowed into mere slits, until the tip pointed against his groin. "The truth now, wizard...I would hate to damage such a fine specimen as yourself, but needs must..."

Sand flinched. Why was it that women always always threatened a man's manhood when they wanted something? "Perhaps you underestimate my ability to destroy the map and cloak the process, girl. I am a mage of considerable talents and I have been in Luskan long enough to understand how nothing done here is safe from scrying."

Her eyes narrowed. "You obviously haven't been in Luskan long enough to know when to tell the truth." She tapped her finger briefly, and flicked the wand against the inside of his thigh, holding it there slightly longer than the first time. The wand crackled as it shot pain between his legs, buzzing slightly; and then she pulled it back.

Sand's whole back arched as the pain burned through him. He bit down hard on his tongue and tasted the coppery liquid accumulating in his mouth. He tried squirming out of the way but the chains were too tight and holding him at her mercy. "Oh gods..." Some faraway voice was crying out in pain and he realized it was him. His heart was racing, and he no longer had the energy to even hold himself up.

She turned from him, a bored look on her face. The guard had re-entered the chamber and was laying out Sand's effects. She stood over them for a moment, her eyes wandering over the robe, the belt, various rings, a few wands...

"Oh...what's this, little wizard?" When she turned around, she had the ariik gem dangling from its chain on the end of her wand.

Torio looked away, examining the far wall absently. "Whatever you want. It doesn't matter to me." Oh Gods, Sand, please tell me you've fireballed half the tower by now..."Although Neverwinter sent us here; they'll come looking if he disappears." She glanced at him archly, keeping her voice cold. "Mark him, I say, and let him wander back to them like the whipped pup he is; kill him and you'll bring Nasher's attention on the city. He's one of their...'heroes', one of the companions for those captains at the head of the war." She had almost said your city. "And with the problems with Ruyathm...well, that might be a bit disastrous." She waved a hand absently. "But, I'm sure you'll do what you wish." She could feel her blood pounding in her ears.

The man tilted his head back thoughtfully. "Actually, we highly doubt Nasher will care much. The elf likely entered here with forged documents and without the leave of Luskan. That's trespassing and unlike the... disaster... you brought down on yourself with Ember, I am fairly certain we won't let the elf go back to Neverwinter for their 'high justice'. The treaty Nasher signed is still in effect." He picked up the cat o'nine tails distractedly and began smacking it light against his leg.

"Secondly, he's not a Shard-Bearer. I'm fairly certain Nasher could find another mage to replace him." The man waved his hand dismissively. "By the time Falathiel is done with him anyway, I doubt he'll be of much value to anybody. If she doesn't kill him, that is."

The guard returned with the writing tools. The man laid out them out on a small table. "Release her arms, but keep her legs bound." He turned to Torio. "Draw the map. And then we should discuss the other map."

Sand was vaguely aware that she was talking to him and he lifted his head weakly. "You know what that is." The blood was seeping out of his mouth and tried spitting out as much of it as possible before he choked.

Falathiel swung the amulet slightly from the wand, before letting it drop into her hand. She pushed open the locket, and her eyes widened slightly, darting to Sand's face. "And how," she said evenly, "did you get an ariik gem, little wizard? You do not belong to any of the elven families purportedly possessing one." She shut the protective locket with a snap!

Sand kept his eyes steady on Falathiel. "You don't think, in all the time of adventuring, that we wouldn't have come across such a marvel? I was the only one who could use it so naturally it became mine..."

After a moment, she gestured with a finger. One of the guards stepped towards her. "Take this," she said, dangling the chain so that the human guard could take a hold of it. "And give it to Keldrin. He should find it useful on the Ambassador." Her mouth twitched in a smile as she glanced at the guard, the man taking the chain gingerly between his fingers. "And be careful not to touch the gem; I do not wish to have your partner clean you up off of the floor if you do."

She sighed once the man left. "Well, we can at least prepare Torio Claven for presentation to the overmage. You spent time with her, yes? Do you think she would prefer a silver urn? Perhaps a garnet box? They might even use her ashes for spell components. A fitting end to the harpy." She pressed the tip of the wand to Sand's forehead. "Don't you agree? At least there's one little ray of hope for you in this yet."

His insides gave a twist more painful than the torture the Luskan had been administering at the mention of Torio but Sand fought to keep his composure. "What do I care what you do with her? I'll be happy to be rid of the girl." The words were bitter, sitting darkly in the air in front of him. He could feel the tip of the wand pressing against his head, looming...

Falathiel smiled at him, almost sweetly. "Ah, but you were so convincing at the dinner; we watched all of the possible auctioneers that night; I was quite touched by your...tenderness..." She flicked a strand of hair back from his forehead with the tip of the wand. "And curiously enough, your room at the Sails was practically destroyed when we went to search it. You would have been horrified at the mess...there was even blood on the wall..." Her eyes flicked upwards, gazing at Sand's bruised, still swollen hand.

"Interesting, don't you think?" She bent her face close to Sand's ear, applying a slow, gentle pressure; the pain was steady, but not as intense as before; it built slowly, gradually. "Keldrin," she breathed, "will strip the flesh from her back; he will break every finger on those little hands of hers...he will brand his name into her body until she can no longer even scream." She pulled the wand back from his head. "Unless...you tell me where the map is."