Chapter 552: Interrogation (1/2)

Nix leaned his chair back until his face was in the sun and then closed his eyes.

/Go Fish: Jun Li: I'll tell you if you get a bite!

/Go Fish: Nix: Thanks.

/Go Fish: Jun Li: Want me to check your bait?

/Go Fish: Nix: It's fine.

/Go Fish: Jun Li: Want something to drink?

Nix opened one eye and glanced at the Gemini Champion. Since the misunderstanding the day before, Junie had been going out of her way to be nice to him. ”We're good, Junie. That's not something that would really bother me to start with.”

Junie smiled at the Inferno leader and cast her line into the river. ”Who made these poles?”

”Fat Jubo,” Nix replied.

/Go Fish: Semmi: From Alfie's group? How can a Skelly be fat?

/Go Fish: Nix: Not sure. That's just what he calls himself.

”GOT ONE!” The Ravager splashed out of the water on the other side of the river. A large silverfish flopped out of its elongated mouth and onto the rocky shore. ”Rabi has caught one!” Without speaking any further, it immediately started eating.

/Go Fish: Semmi: Hmm... I'll keep my pole.

/Go Fish: Nix: Same, although my Rotter would work better here.

/Inferno: Alfie: Ready to question the prisoner?

/Inferno: Nix: Yeah. Is Pon there also?

/Inferno: Pon: Already here.

/Go Fish: Jun Li: Just keep the line in the water; we'll watch it.

/Go Fish: Semmi: Today is your day off, Nix.

”It's fine. If you catch something, save it for later.” Nix left his equipment and headed toward the trail leading to the building they had constructed to house prisoners. Del stretched lazily on her rock before getting up to follow him.

The two walked in silence while enjoying the mid-morning weather of the Bone Fortress. Every time the Undead Faction took over a Burrough, the result would be a sudden warm spell that lasted several days. The Honor Burrough was almost already completely green. The six Burroughs that they'd conquered since then were thawing at an unprecedented rate.

Del's furred head rubbed against his hand while they walked. ”I was thinking, Nix. This is actually a seed world. Right?”

Nix nodded, letting his hand rest on her head while they continued on their path. ”A seed world that's anchored to Eidengal. Bone Fortress has a lot of special rules.”

”What happens when we defeat the Keep and erase the Ice Faction from this place?”

Nix waved at the guard who was standing in front of their prison; without pausing, the skeleton guard waved the pair through. ”It would make a great training world, especially for the Titans.”

Pon's old face lit up with a smile when Nix entered the containment area. The mage gestured toward the rock encased figures. ”Who we starting with?”

”Shae.”

”Huh? Shae isn't here?”

Nix nodded a placed a hand over his chest. ”I know; we could use her insight on this one.” He pictured the salamander in his head, a moment later, the air in front of them shimmered as a new person arrived in the room.”

Shae's pretty face showed some surprise; she hadn't expected to be brought back today. ”Did something happen?”

Nix pointed at the two living statues. ”One is Talon Kane; the other is a salamander.”

She placed a hand on the nearer one. ”Demon fire.”

Nix nodded. ”That's what he said; let's question him first.”

Nix equipped his sword hilt and pushed white sonic flames into it. It buzzed loudly like a high-pitched cutting tool as he slowly began removing large chunks of the rock from the figure. Once the rock was removed, the Inferno leader placed a hand on the Black Ice; the ice around the salamander's face fell away under his touch.

Within a few seconds, the dark eyes of the salamander blinked open. His eyes glanced between Shae and Nix, both of who were in their human forms. ”Had I known the Lich King was you, I would have run instead.”

Pon snorted loudly. ”Fucking straight you would have.”

”Let's make a deal.” Nix placed a hand on the imprisoned salamander's ice-covered shoulder. ”I'll be honest with you, and I expect the same from you.”

The statement seemed to amuse the black-haired salamander. ”How could you know if I'm telling the truth? For that matter; why would I believe anything you say?”

Nix stepped away and moved beside Shae. ”First truth, no matter what you say, Talon Kane is going to die.”

Delix didn't reply, but his eyes showed a complete lack of concern.