Gwyneth

“She was hiding at the brothel my lord.”

He stood before me barely put together, His shirt was nearly open at the front, and his black, leather trousers were had only two of the three buttons fastened. His boots were just slipped on, and his hair was matted to one side. He had recently awakened from slumber and didn’t take the time to prepare himself. This was not the first time. I was used to his chaotic, disheveled nature.

“The brothel” was The Rose and Thorn. There were many such establishments in the kingdom, and the line of work was not ostracized, but that was the fanciest. Brandis had favored it and had a thing for its madam even though she despised him. We confronted her once. She was only using him and we had even hid us in much the same way. She had every opportunity to betray us. To send us to her lord, but she didn’t.

When Brandis fell, there were few happier than her. I let her keep the establishment. Gave her the deed of ownership which Brandis lorded over her, and asked her to be my eyes and ears. She had turned in many Brandis loyalists over the years, but over time they smartened up and kept silent about their loyalties. I wouldn’t blame her for having a traitor in her girls.

“Strange choice, and from your tone, a bad one.”

“Well, yes and no. She was there and, of course, had no idea I frequented the place and most of the girls are loyal to me. The one that hid her was a Brandis loyalist. There’s bound to be a few left. I can’t interrogate them all.” Pontious grinned, and when he saw I didn’t return it, he grew serious again. He cleared his throat and continued. “She is in our custody. Unfortunately the quarry fled before we could put hands on her. She is a wily one my lord, but I will find her. I think the loyalist might talk with a little encouragement.”

I didn’t relish torturing people, but they refused to talk. They thought they were being noble. Brandis had promised a return from defeat. I didn’t doubt it. Even though we burned his body after parading through the streets, his loyalists held on to the idea that he would return and reward his faithful. The idea of him returning kept me alert. There were so many ways for an ambitious, amoral person to return, but rewarding his faithful I was skeptical of. He would probably sacrifice them. Eat them or whatever. They were foolish for putting their faith in Brandis, but there loyalty was one of the things that kept me up at night.

It didn’t really work anyway. Torture. They said a victim would say anything you wanted to hear eventually. I had to try regardless. Brandis’ torturers were enthusiastic about the craft, but I had suspicious that they were all just pain fetishists who got off on hurting people. They were among the first to be executing. They died laughing or wailing. I tried not to imagine the wails be ecstatic. The deranged little perverts.

I hired a new man. He was likely no less deranged, but at least Brandis hadn’t corrupted him. I was constantly disappointing him by denying him and cutting the sessions short. When I found out he was taking his urges out on animals I flew into a rage and beat him myself. What did those cows do to him? I needed him though. He was a grisly necessity, and I wasn’t under some delusion that we could just ask prisoners nicely to betray their families and friends.

I could bring down Ariadne and tear the truth from her. It was painful, but less so than ripping off fingernails and bloodletting. That was a last resort. There was only one chance. If I didn’t ask the right questions there was no second chance. Whatever Ariadne did it was final and permanent.

“I see.” I said after some moments. “And when was this that she fled?”

“Just this morning my lord.”

“You visited the brothel this morning?” I raised a questioning brow. My lips curled in an amused, scandelous grin.

“It helps me think.” He shrugged nonchalantly. “Little did I know she would be hiding in the cellar.”

“Most fortuitous.” I nodded in agreement. “A pity she escaped, but she couldn’t have gotten far. I will interrogate this worker and see if they talked plans. This could lead to a ring of Brandis loyalists. Two birds, one stone.” I grinned. “It’ll be years before we wipe out the blight of the past, but Gwyneth might already be helping us even if she doesn’t know it. At any rate, at least we caught one.”

“And honestly, an ugly one if you ask me. I wouldn’t fuck her with Elias’ cock.”

I raised a brow, but said nothing in response. Pontious was crass, but I found it refreshing and amusing. Everybody else was afraid to talk to me like I was a person. It was lonely even with all the perks. Even if I was to indulge in lovers I could not be sure they were with me for me. They would want to be concubines of the king with all the advantages that afforded them. Besides, I was way too busy. Pontious however was still reverent, he did use Elias for his example instead of me, but he spoke to me like a friend might. I would have been a fool to punish it, but I didn’t encourage it with anyone else. I couldn’t have court devolving into a bunch of foul mouthed ruffians,

“Go, continue your hunt and bring her, and anyone else you catch in her flight, to me. Brandis bequeathed me with quite a large dungeon and I hardly use it. There’s plenty of room.”

Pontious bowed and exited.