“Hello, Jameson,†Natalie greeted blandly.
The finely dressed nobleman walked out of the Gates of the Sultana, with three large armored men escorting him. He squinted in the afternoon sun, his feathered hat lending little in the way of relief for all its fancy embroidery and a golden feather from the bright glare of the desert. He spied the armored Miqo’te woman and her taller shackled prisoner and smiled.
"I see that you have delivered on your promise."
Natalie held up her hand to give him pause. "Before you get too excited... I need to know if you've delivered on yours.â€
“Ah, the bargain we struck. For Deneith’s amnesty.†He lifted his gloved hand, two fingers motioning his guards to surround the Highlander.
“Aye, the bargain.†Natalie frowned, green eyes glancing to the armored men. "Jameson...? That won't be needed, he came willingly."
Jameson shrugged. "He may be willing now, but he may not be soon enough." He turned his attention to the Highlander. "Wolfsong is it? My employer has gone through quite the trouble to find you." He gave him another smile when he was met with a narrowed gaze.
Natalie stepped in between them, her brows furrowed. "You haven't answered my question," she growled.
"The bargain is nearly done, Natalie.†Jameson tugged on his white gloves. “I need to get him into custody and see what names he gives up. My employer will be happy, and happily agree to the amnesty." He gestured vaguely into the air. "Or... burn the documents with proof, anyroad. Else you want the documents delivered to you?"
Natalie gave him a dangerous look. “That wasn't the deal Jameson, she gets amnesty, regardless of what he gives up.â€
Jameson clucked his tongue. "You do not recall clearly then, Natalie. The bargain was that I satisfy my employer, and the amnesty happens. This…†he looked Gharen up and down, like a piece of meat. “...goes a long way though. Perhaps his execution will satisfy them." He gave Natalie his usual sly smile.
"No perhaps," Natalie said sharply, her eyebrows twitching.
Jameson seems unfazed by her ire and rolled his shoulders again. "Or a whipping? Â Or beheading? Hanging? Who knows? Names would be nice. His fate may not be so hard then." He glanced back up at the Highlander who was continuing to hold his tongue. "What do you say, Wolfsong? What will it be? Some names to spare your life? Or a quick death?"
"Well I'd show ye but these shackles'd make it tough fer me te shove yer head up yer arse," Gharen finally answered, his eyes still intently studying Jameson’s face. "But I'll get aroun' te tha' eventually, I'm sure."
Natalie’s hand curled into a fist by her side as she growled again. "I'm not in the mood for games, you fop. I didn't do this for maybes and possibilities."
"Hmm." The noble hummed, unimpressed. He gave Natalie a sidelong glance. "I will get for you what I promised. But you do realize, I do not make these decisions." He bowed his head slightly, meeting her eye for eye. He smiled. "But I am certain my employers will be satisfied. You have been a model employee so far.â€
Natalie exhaled, her eyes closing. She nodded reluctantly. "Fine... just.... just hold up your end." After a pause, she stared back at Jameson, the look of warning returning. "Gods help you if you do not." She turned away, as if to hide the deep frown that was bending her brows.
Jameson smiled brightly at her. “Why so sullen, Natalie? You did a good job! Turning in a terrorist!"
Natalie snapped back around. "Don't insult me Jameson, we both know what I really did."
Jameson only answered her with a smirk, before he turned back to the Highlander, appraising him. “Now Wolfsong, you look much too comfortable. My employers will not be happy seeing you without a scratch, understand." He gave Natalie a sidelong glance, shaking his head. "I expected some wounds on him. Color me a little disappointed."
"Dinnae want te hurt th' lass, me bein' a dangerous criminal an' all.†Gharen rumbled, looking down at the shorter hyur. “That'd nae be proper."
Jameson sniffed, holding up his hand again and motioned to the men. “Now be a good prisoner while we mark you up a bit. For.. presentation, obviously."
"...Right." The Highlander did not move, his jaw set.
Jameson Taeros sighed and stepped back away from the Highlander as the three armored men closed in around him, two flanking him on each side, one behind him. With no warning, Gharen received a hard kick to the back of his knee, sending him to the ground. The two men next to him started to deliver blows to his face, kicks to the stomach and ribs. The Highlander grunted, but remained stoic and silent, receiving the blows as they came. His hands bound behind him, there were no ways to shield himself from the beating nor did he attempt to. And the men that surrounded him were strong, and they were brought here for this purpose. They knew how to deliver a vicious beating.
"Now... had you delivered him a little bit more presentable, I would not need to do this." Jameson looked to Natalie, a near bored expression on his face. "Alas. Presentation is everything to my employer." He paused for an instant however, his light eyes glancing immediately to the Highlander when a low rumbling growl emerged from Wolfsong’s chest.
"Don't you fucking dare put this on me, this was never part of the deal!†Natalie hissed. "I don't hurt anyone I don't have to!â€
Jameson’s gaze lingered on the Highlander for a moment longer, but when the growl did not give way to anything else, he turned back to Natalie with his sly smile back in place. "What did you think would happen, Natalie. That we politely escort him to our dungeons?"
"Yes," she said plainly. "I'm not stranger to torture, but you're not even asking him questions." She scowled. "This... is just wrong." She shook her head. "You're beating a man just because you can."
Jameson shifted in his stance, almost as if to keep the view of the Highlander in his periphery. The three men still beating on him however did not seemed to notice or care of Wolfsong’s underlying temper. "The questions will come, Natalie. But only those broken in are likely to answer." He shrugged nonchalantly then curled the sly smile again. "And yes... because we can."
Natalie glowered. "Just get it over with then." She flicked the barest glance toward the scene of the beating, as one armored man grabbed Gharen by the cuff of his shirt, bringing his fists onto the shackled man’s face without mercy or reprieve.
“Not so tough are ya…?†The bearded guard sneered at his prisoner, spittle flying at his face.
Wolfsong only met the gaze coldly, his furrowed brows the only sign that he was concentrating intently on keeping his emotions in check. As if he knew why he was here, and why he had to take this. And it was not for his sake.
Jameson sighed restlessly as he watched for a while longer, until the three men started to show signs of exhaustion, and Wolfsong was dropped back to the ground. The guards were breathing heavily.
Natalie turned away from the scene, her eyes going bitterly to Jameson. “He's your responsibility now... whatever happens. I'll expect those documents within the next few suns." Her green eyes burned with a threat of its own.
Jameson answered her with a pleased and easy expression. “And you shall have them, I expect. Yes, my employer will be pleased indeed.â€
Gharen spat out blood onto the stoney ground, looking up at Natalie’s back. His lip was split and bloody and his face was adorned with multiple gashes from gauntlet blows. He spoke with a low rumbling voice. "Till we next meet Miss Mcbeef,  An' may th' road before ye always be well paved."
Natalie stood still, her head lowered, but did not turn to meet Gharen’s eyes.
Jameson nodded to the three men. “Take him to the cell.†His light eyes squinted in the afternoon sun as he watched the two heave the Highlander by his arms, dragging him away. He looked to Natalie, who still stood next to him, her back turned to the prisoner being taken away. Her feet seemed rooted for a moment, her expression dark.
“Always pleasure doing business with you Natalie,†Jameson smiled, tipping his feathered hat to the Miqo’te. “Perhaps we can get that drink one of these days.â€
Natalie just stared at him wordlessly for a moment, then shook her head and angrily strode back toward the gate.
The finely dressed nobleman walked out of the Gates of the Sultana, with three large armored men escorting him. He squinted in the afternoon sun, his feathered hat lending little in the way of relief for all its fancy embroidery and a golden feather from the bright glare of the desert. He spied the armored Miqo’te woman and her taller shackled prisoner and smiled.
"I see that you have delivered on your promise."
Natalie held up her hand to give him pause. "Before you get too excited... I need to know if you've delivered on yours.â€
“Ah, the bargain we struck. For Deneith’s amnesty.†He lifted his gloved hand, two fingers motioning his guards to surround the Highlander.
“Aye, the bargain.†Natalie frowned, green eyes glancing to the armored men. "Jameson...? That won't be needed, he came willingly."
Jameson shrugged. "He may be willing now, but he may not be soon enough." He turned his attention to the Highlander. "Wolfsong is it? My employer has gone through quite the trouble to find you." He gave him another smile when he was met with a narrowed gaze.
Natalie stepped in between them, her brows furrowed. "You haven't answered my question," she growled.
"The bargain is nearly done, Natalie.†Jameson tugged on his white gloves. “I need to get him into custody and see what names he gives up. My employer will be happy, and happily agree to the amnesty." He gestured vaguely into the air. "Or... burn the documents with proof, anyroad. Else you want the documents delivered to you?"
Natalie gave him a dangerous look. “That wasn't the deal Jameson, she gets amnesty, regardless of what he gives up.â€
Jameson clucked his tongue. "You do not recall clearly then, Natalie. The bargain was that I satisfy my employer, and the amnesty happens. This…†he looked Gharen up and down, like a piece of meat. “...goes a long way though. Perhaps his execution will satisfy them." He gave Natalie his usual sly smile.
"No perhaps," Natalie said sharply, her eyebrows twitching.
Jameson seems unfazed by her ire and rolled his shoulders again. "Or a whipping? Â Or beheading? Hanging? Who knows? Names would be nice. His fate may not be so hard then." He glanced back up at the Highlander who was continuing to hold his tongue. "What do you say, Wolfsong? What will it be? Some names to spare your life? Or a quick death?"
"Well I'd show ye but these shackles'd make it tough fer me te shove yer head up yer arse," Gharen finally answered, his eyes still intently studying Jameson’s face. "But I'll get aroun' te tha' eventually, I'm sure."
Natalie’s hand curled into a fist by her side as she growled again. "I'm not in the mood for games, you fop. I didn't do this for maybes and possibilities."
"Hmm." The noble hummed, unimpressed. He gave Natalie a sidelong glance. "I will get for you what I promised. But you do realize, I do not make these decisions." He bowed his head slightly, meeting her eye for eye. He smiled. "But I am certain my employers will be satisfied. You have been a model employee so far.â€
Natalie exhaled, her eyes closing. She nodded reluctantly. "Fine... just.... just hold up your end." After a pause, she stared back at Jameson, the look of warning returning. "Gods help you if you do not." She turned away, as if to hide the deep frown that was bending her brows.
Jameson smiled brightly at her. “Why so sullen, Natalie? You did a good job! Turning in a terrorist!"
Natalie snapped back around. "Don't insult me Jameson, we both know what I really did."
Jameson only answered her with a smirk, before he turned back to the Highlander, appraising him. “Now Wolfsong, you look much too comfortable. My employers will not be happy seeing you without a scratch, understand." He gave Natalie a sidelong glance, shaking his head. "I expected some wounds on him. Color me a little disappointed."
"Dinnae want te hurt th' lass, me bein' a dangerous criminal an' all.†Gharen rumbled, looking down at the shorter hyur. “That'd nae be proper."
Jameson sniffed, holding up his hand again and motioned to the men. “Now be a good prisoner while we mark you up a bit. For.. presentation, obviously."
"...Right." The Highlander did not move, his jaw set.
Jameson Taeros sighed and stepped back away from the Highlander as the three armored men closed in around him, two flanking him on each side, one behind him. With no warning, Gharen received a hard kick to the back of his knee, sending him to the ground. The two men next to him started to deliver blows to his face, kicks to the stomach and ribs. The Highlander grunted, but remained stoic and silent, receiving the blows as they came. His hands bound behind him, there were no ways to shield himself from the beating nor did he attempt to. And the men that surrounded him were strong, and they were brought here for this purpose. They knew how to deliver a vicious beating.
"Now... had you delivered him a little bit more presentable, I would not need to do this." Jameson looked to Natalie, a near bored expression on his face. "Alas. Presentation is everything to my employer." He paused for an instant however, his light eyes glancing immediately to the Highlander when a low rumbling growl emerged from Wolfsong’s chest.
"Don't you fucking dare put this on me, this was never part of the deal!†Natalie hissed. "I don't hurt anyone I don't have to!â€
Jameson’s gaze lingered on the Highlander for a moment longer, but when the growl did not give way to anything else, he turned back to Natalie with his sly smile back in place. "What did you think would happen, Natalie. That we politely escort him to our dungeons?"
"Yes," she said plainly. "I'm not stranger to torture, but you're not even asking him questions." She scowled. "This... is just wrong." She shook her head. "You're beating a man just because you can."
Jameson shifted in his stance, almost as if to keep the view of the Highlander in his periphery. The three men still beating on him however did not seemed to notice or care of Wolfsong’s underlying temper. "The questions will come, Natalie. But only those broken in are likely to answer." He shrugged nonchalantly then curled the sly smile again. "And yes... because we can."
Natalie glowered. "Just get it over with then." She flicked the barest glance toward the scene of the beating, as one armored man grabbed Gharen by the cuff of his shirt, bringing his fists onto the shackled man’s face without mercy or reprieve.
“Not so tough are ya…?†The bearded guard sneered at his prisoner, spittle flying at his face.
Wolfsong only met the gaze coldly, his furrowed brows the only sign that he was concentrating intently on keeping his emotions in check. As if he knew why he was here, and why he had to take this. And it was not for his sake.
Jameson sighed restlessly as he watched for a while longer, until the three men started to show signs of exhaustion, and Wolfsong was dropped back to the ground. The guards were breathing heavily.
Natalie turned away from the scene, her eyes going bitterly to Jameson. “He's your responsibility now... whatever happens. I'll expect those documents within the next few suns." Her green eyes burned with a threat of its own.
Jameson answered her with a pleased and easy expression. “And you shall have them, I expect. Yes, my employer will be pleased indeed.â€
Gharen spat out blood onto the stoney ground, looking up at Natalie’s back. His lip was split and bloody and his face was adorned with multiple gashes from gauntlet blows. He spoke with a low rumbling voice. "Till we next meet Miss Mcbeef,  An' may th' road before ye always be well paved."
Natalie stood still, her head lowered, but did not turn to meet Gharen’s eyes.
Jameson nodded to the three men. “Take him to the cell.†His light eyes squinted in the afternoon sun as he watched the two heave the Highlander by his arms, dragging him away. He looked to Natalie, who still stood next to him, her back turned to the prisoner being taken away. Her feet seemed rooted for a moment, her expression dark.
“Always pleasure doing business with you Natalie,†Jameson smiled, tipping his feathered hat to the Miqo’te. “Perhaps we can get that drink one of these days.â€
Natalie just stared at him wordlessly for a moment, then shook her head and angrily strode back toward the gate.
