07-01-06 1

Characters involved: Toroth & Zoe_lang.

Salamandastron: Badger Lord's Room

The day after the victory and Toroth is awake and sitting down with one of the not so damaged soft chairs that was brought up from the officers fancy room as pretty much anything else of comfort. Holding a glass in his paw full of some spirit, he swirls it around while watching with his eyes in thought, though he looks at the door from time to time awaiting his guest.

And cue the entrance of the 'guest'. With one vermin lifting under an arm, the Colonel is dragged into the room. Her arms are still tied behind her back and her ankles are also secured, though slightly more loosely to allow her to stand and walk if not run. Blood is still crusted in the fur on the side of her head, and overall she doesn't look very good, but she's awake and alert. But silent.

Waving his paw for the guard to leave her where she is, the pine marten just smiles. "Ah, so glad you can join me. I have to say that you higher ranks know all about luxury." Toroth smiled as he sipped the contents from the glass. "However to business." Slowly he places the glass down onto the side table beside his chair. "I am going to ask questions, you're going to answer them politely or someone will get hurt like last night, understand?"

When the guards release her, the Colonel's shoulders slump forward as much as they can with her arms secured behind her. That shoulder wounds gotta be killing her. She doesn't act like it, though, remaining silent as she surveys the familiar room. Eventually she looks back to Toroth, and save for the slight flattening back of her ears, she remains impassive.

Toroth leans forwards in the chair, slowly arching his fingers like a pyramid as he speaks unusually softly. "Tell me where all your valuables are and I forego killing anyone for today."

Zoe_Lang's lips twitch. Her eyes cut upward from their silent study of Toroth's chin, looking suddenly mirthful. "Yer the 'Lord', here. Surely yer capable of locatin' yer own wealth."

Leaning back in the chair, Toroth just smiles. "Oh I've found what you lot use to pay for stuff at the village around here. I already have that, but since there was a lord here once there has to be more and I am guessing you were around when there was one and you look quite well high in rank." Picking up the glass again, he runs a claw over the rim of it. "Either tell me where the stuff is or I'll drown one of your leverets." He gives a frown. "Or a dibbun if you speak wrongly to me again."

"A true Lord cares only fer home 'n' family. 'Tis not the practice of our Lords t' gathah wealth like a shield. Their 'fame' 'n' their 'fortune' is in their acts, not what they c'n steal." The mirth is gone from her eyes and a final shake of her head is offered. "There's nothin' that ya can't lay yer paws on in the rooms I know ya've already searched."

Getting up from his chair, the pine marten moves over to where Zoe is and slaps her in the face. "What would you know about me, hare? Mind yourself on speaking badly of me." Looking down with a frown. Twirling around, he makes his way back to his chair and sits back down. "Where's the rest of your hares? Seems that there aren't that many at the mountain. How many are out on patrol?" Toroth nods his head and a ferret comes over and refills the glass.

Zoe_Lang doesn't even flinch as he approaches, setting her jaw in preparation. The slap is audible, though, and rocks her head to the side. 'Sssss' goes her breath through clenched teeth. She cuts her eyes back to him, watching in silence as he returns to his stolen seat. A shake of her head is the only immediate response, and then a one-shouldered shrug. "Ten thousand."

Toroth gives a laugh though whether it's from amusement or annoyance, no one can tell. "You're starting to test me hare. Fine, since you're not ready to giveme proper answers over your ignorance of the situation that you and everyone else is in right now. I feel that another example has to be made." He goes to wave his paw. "Take her away so she can think on who I will decide will never see another sunrise."

As the guards come forward and once more wrench her arms up and back, the Colonel's calm exterior blows open /just/ long enough for her to snarl, a pained and frustrated one. As they drag her toward the door, she offers a goodbye over her shoulder. "I'll kill ya before this is ovah, 'n' all those dear t'ya. I swear it!"

Torosh holds up the glass and takes a sip. "My what a temper, though my dear." The pine marten's green eyes stare out at Zoe. "I only punish because of your actions, so their blood is really in your paws. All you have to do is submit and tell me everything." He doesn't say anything else, allowing the hare to be dragged off again.

The Colonel is dragged off again, but not without some personal retribution from the guards. Once they pass through the door and out of sight, they slam her shoulder back into the wall. Her shout, which fades away into a grunt, makes it into the Badger Lord's room as she is drug back down to the dining chamber.

Toroth gives a sly smile to the sound coming from outside as he beckons one of the rats over. "Go tell Higear to come see me when he's free. I need to talk to him." Seeing the rat nod and leave the room, the pine marten relaxes though deep in thought.