Role

Chapter 22

Ra'kad had Wialor naked and tied up to a chair with hundreds of nails
protruding all along the arms, the back, and the seat. When he woke, it was a
quick pain and a few cuts causing the locksmith to yell into his gag.

'Don't move, friend. Strangest thing, if you just stay still and no one applies
any pressure to you, you won't be cut. Those sharp things all around
individually are violent and cruel, but as a group, as a collective, they're as
gentle as any other place to sit or lie down. Understood?'

Sweat drenched Wialor's face, nodding as he tried to calm down.

'Good, good. Let's remove that gag and get to the questions, eh?'

Two guards came and didn't immediately remove his gag, instead they grabbed the
ropes around his arms and legs. One held his left side and the other held his
right side. The ropes were loose when Wialor awoke, but if tightened would pull
his appendages firmly onto the nails. It was Ra'kad, once the guards held the
ropes firmly, who removed the gag.

'All right. For starters, let me begin by telling you what I know. You've been
here some twenty times or so and you bring your daughter every time. You walk
out with nearly all of the coin you've bet and much, much more. By my count you
have taken from me nearly one hundred thousand gold in total. That doesn't
happen in this establishment. Anything you wish to correct?' Wialor shook his
head. 'Good, Pik'Caryl has your daughter now. She's far better at this than I
am, so I strongly suggest you answer the next questions honestly.'