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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ilex" data-source="post: 5410181" data-attributes="member: 82687">18x02In the morning, everyone ate and dressed a little self-consciously as Kawazu watched them with darting, fearful eyes.  Nyoko borrowed the use of Savina's tent and emerged in full Adept robes, hair, and makeup.  The Inquisitors joined the Adept in a circle around their prisoner.  Arden, as the Inquisitors' servant, decided that because she couldn't ask questions herself, now would be a perfect time to sharpen her daggers and all the cooking knives. She gathered the blades and the whetstone and settled in to observe.  Rose came and sat not far away, stroking Whisper's head and not watching the interrogation directly."Well, good morning to you, sunshine," said Mena to Kawazu."Be advised," Nyoko said, "that you have been captured and detained by the Inquisition.  I stand as Witness to all that occurs here."Arden scraped her dagger across the whetstone.  Zing.  Kawazu shot his eyes toward her, and she met them with a cold smile.  She was convinced that information was necessary to a good solution, and so she wanted him to talk:  to confess, and while he was at it, to babble the names of every Tidesman from here to Lord's Edge.Zing.  Kormick undid the gag and splashed a little water in the general direction of the prisoner's mouth.  Kawazu sputtered.  "I'll tell you nothing," he choked out."Thank you for informing us so straightforwardly," said Mena.  She turned to the group.  "If that's all he's going to say, I suppose we must simply proceed with the execution.""I take it back.  We can reach an understanding," said Kawazu. "My congratulations, sir," answered Kormick.  "Even Hans the Squealer never caved that fast.""You're welcome.  I'll make it worth it to you.""The stakes are so much higher for you than for us," said Twiggy.  "What could you possibly offer?""Names.  Big names.""Of?""High-ranking nobles in Cauldron.  Tidesmen, all of them.  With big plans.  Big plans.""You can implicate people, of course," said Kormick.  "But would it be true?""I'm a coward, not a fool.  Of course it'd be true.""Very well," said Twiggy.  "Give us the names, and in return we will offer you an honorable death."Kawazu snorted.  "I don't think so.  If any part of our deal involves my death, I won't talk.""If you expect us to be so extraordinarily lenient, then we must first be certain that your information is good," Twiggy asked. "How can we confirm that?"  Arden wasn't sure how Twiggy had ended up taking the lead in this conversation, but no one seemed to mind.  Twiggy's tone was endearingly similar to the logical, curious tone she used whenever she was probing for some explanation about how the world worked."I'll come with you quietly, let you lock me up in Cauldron while you check my story… as long as she Witnesses that you've agreed to spare my life if my information is good."  He nodded at Nyoko."You'll let us confine you?""Yes, fine, whatever it takes.  Oh – except you also have to make sure that no Tidesmen are guarding me.  I'm not going to go through all this just to have my throat slit by some undercover Tidesman among the Inquisitors who wants to shut me up.""So," summarized Twiggy, "you agree to tell us everything and remain in custody until we have verified that your information is good, as long as Nyoko-san Witnesses the agreement and we make sure you're protected from the Tidesmen you're betraying.""Correct."Twiggy turned to the group.  "What do you all think?"Kormick grabbed Kawazu by the shoulder of his tunic and dragged him over to the treeline, tying him to a tree out of earshot from their deliberations."He seems truthful," said Savina thoughtfully.  "If he really knows enough for us to save people's lives, and we can hold him while we check that out, then… I think Alirria would want us to save lives more than she'd want us to destroy his.""Indeed.  His talk of the Tide's 'big plans' got my attention," said Mena.  "I hate to think what Sedellus might inspire them to unleash if we don't learn what he knows.""What do you think, Rose?" asked Tavi.  "It's your decision," she said resolutely.  "Then… I guess we take the deal," said Tavi. Zing.  Arden kicked up sparks with the force of her stroke across the whetstone, and Twiggy turned in her direction."What do you think, Arden?" Twiggy asked."Please you, gentlefolk," Arden answered. "Your prisoner is dictating his own terms.  You're giving him everything he asked for.  I think we need his information, so we do need to spare his life, but beyond that… he should pay.""Can we enslave him?" Savina promptly asked Nyoko. Zing.  Arden kept her expression rigidly neutral.  Never. Underestimate. Your. Mistress."We have no slavery in the Sovereignty," Nyoko reminded them.  "Criminals who aren't executed are often branded, however."  "Well, then," said Tavi.  "First thing, when we get back to Cauldron, he's branded.""I'm eager to see your specific brand for 'The craven mid-level boss in a terrorist organization who sold out his comrades," said Kormick."We do believe in precise labeling," agreed Nyoko.  "It's a subtle trait of your people's, but being a careful cultural observer, I've noticed it."Kormick retrieved Kawazu, and Twiggy, still acting as spokesperson, presented their conclusion.  Kawazu tried to argue that the brand would identify him to vengeful Tidesman, requiring him to remain perpetually in custody or exile himself to some distant land if he wanted to live, but Twiggy boldly presented the deal as if it were branding or death, and Kawazu gave in. Nyoko Witnessed their agreement.Kawazu immediately listed many unfamiliar names and their low-level criminal activities: embezzlement to support the Tide, attempts to intimidate Cauldron's non-traditional worshippers.  "You said big names," Kormick reminded him.  "I will know a big name when Lady Nyoko-san's eyebrow moves upward ever so slightly with shock.  Notice how, at this moment, she is entirely un-shocked.""I've saved the best for last," said Kawazu.  "The leader of the Tide in Cauldron, the one who approved of the operation in Hillside District, is <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/story-hour/251423-rose-wind-saga-halmae-updated-december-19-2010-a-20.html#post5368144" target="_blank">my aunt</a>.  That is, Mother Superior Kawazu Noriko.  Head of the Priesthood in the city."Both Nyoko's eyebrows shot skyward.Not long afterward, Arden swung onto her horse and followed the rest of the group back to the road and east toward Cauldron.  Kawazu – bound, magically disguised, and hooded for secrecy – was flopped across the front of Kormick's saddle.  The mood was somber:  Kawazu's revelation that the Tide controlled a crucial part of Cauldron's government was unnerving.  But Arden was feeling cheerful.  With the help of her suggestions and Twiggy's interrogation, they'd stumbled into some kind of mortal justice.  Score one for the servants, Arden thought.</blockquote>

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