I slowly crept down the hall and the temperature gradually kept dropping. The stone walls became wet with condensation my eyes were no longer reliable as the room became darker. The light from the hall barely reaching me now as I felt a metal door.
"Hello?"
A male hoarse male voice called out. But I knew that voice. They couldn't see me in the dark, but no doubt they heard my approach. Desmond was searching for me, and this man couldn't know I was here.
Panic surged through me. Stumbling back as a hand reached out to grab me and I screamed. Cursing at my stupidity, I ran the way I came. My leg hit a brick at a weird angle and the twist sent an agonizing jolt through my body. Wincing on the ground, I brought my knee up to my chest as I massaged my ankle. That voice was the man who was going to take me back to Desmond just a few days ago. I knew Thor said something about bringing 'my friends' here from the other day, but I didn't truly believe he would.
Bracing myself against the wall, I slowly stood up and limped to the opening of the outside.
Eyes were upon me again, but as I looked around I saw no one. Stepping another step, I saw a figure jump down. Long silvery hair, and a menacing expression. Lyron was far from pleased. His brows drew together, his lips pursed into a straight line as his jaw clenched.
"I see that Thor neglected to make sure you were watched. Wilds are particular that way. Some are like Ivy, just want a home. Some, like the ones we captured wish to see us burn. Which are you, I wonder?"
Power flowed from his words, I couldn't see the intentions earlier or even yesterday when I arrived. Leaders in Orders had to have that power that brought people to their knees when needed.
My knees were not on the ground, but they were shaking as my ankle throbbed in pain. He eyed my leg and tilted his head slightly in curiosity. A smirk spread across his face as I felt hands behind me, gathering my arms to behind my back. I struggled for a moment before turning my head to see Thor.
"Let's have a private chat, shall we?" Lyron said as he nodded to Thor.
Forcefully pulling me around, I let out a yelp and grimaced as neither seemed to care. Going back to the hall, Thor made a sharp right turn soon after the entrance. This direction was even darker, the damp air thicker here. My heart pumped faster as I felt every beat echo in my ears. The path was not brick, but perhaps packed dirt. Much more even and yet I had no idea what to expect. My imagination ran before me as I pictured what type of interrogation room death contraption they came up with in his fortress.
The sound of metal creaking on metal resounded before me as Thor led me in and then dropped my arms. The metal sounded again, but I knew both were there in the room with me. The shaking extended through my body as I backed up extending my arms while trying to find a wall to brace on flinching as I put weight on my ankle. A light flashed as a torch was lit. Lyron let the torch fall into its metal casing and he brushed his hands together. Thor leaned against the opposite wall avoiding my gaze, he seemed troubled by the way his arms were crossed and his forehead furrowed in frustration.
"Milana?" Lyron called.
I winced at the sound, only because everything echoed in here. He did not continue. Presuming he was waiting for an answer, I swallowed hoping to gain some courage to speak.
"Yes?" I replied.
I looked away from him to look around the room. There was nothing but a wooden table beside Thor and a chair in the middle of the room. Presumably to interrogate more aggressively when needed. To call it a cell would be accurate, but the size wasn't quite right. More than likely repurposed over the years. However, the smell finally hit me, and it was the faint smell of rot. As if it was once cleaned, but not a very quality job was done. Just enough to let whoever was next realize that this could very well be the last room they would see in their life.
"Thor was able to tell me the nature of your meeting. As a Leader of this Order and someone who is quite untrusting of those around me, I have an issue with what transpired and want you to answer some questions. If you answer honestly, which I always know if one is, then you may either stay or leave. If you lie, I will have no choice but to end your life. Are my words clear?" He said them with such clarity and precision, it was equivalent to a sharp blade finding their mark to the heart of a deer. There was no mistaking his intent.
"I understand."
"Good. Now, tell me what happened."
It was obvious that he wasn't going to offer me that chair. He wanted me uncomfortable, instead he grabbed the back of it and twisted it so that he was sitting with his legs straddled on either side of the backrest. Tactics were not lost on me, I was always questioned, just usually not in this way.
"The prisoner in the hall, he… I encountered him before I met Thor yesterday. My traveling left me tired and they snuck up on me, I escaped and camped in the woods. The next morning, I met Thor. The rest you already know." I kept my answer short and to the point. My voice wavered from the pain in my ankle.
"That's the full of it?" he asked, but not to me. His head turned to Thor and he nodded in response.
"Now, why did you seek out this hall?" Lyron continued.
I hesitated. I didn't know the true answer anymore. Because I was also untrusting, because I am afraid, because anywhere that seems safe always ends up a lie? I didn't know if I could answer. I shivered as my body slumped to the ground. Thor moved a fraction of an inch before settling back on the wall.
"I wanted to know what was here. I wanted to know why it was guarded." I finally answered.
Lyron folded his arms on the top of the back rest and rested is chin on top tilting his head side to side as he thought. The room was deafeningly quiet. The drips of water could be heard as they slowly made me want to scream.
"Because you don't trust us either, Wild?" His question was hardly a question at all. A realization of my actions and where I came from. "I'm going to guess from your brown hair, fair skin, and brown eyes, ultimate distrust, and aloof nature that you're not from the Coast or Mountains. My guesses are Tundra or Desert. Both of which are brutal in nature and their Leaders even more so. The process to take this fortress over and make it ours was a long and unyielding effort. I will not have it broken by a girl who knows nothing of responsibility."
He sighed deeply and looked at me as he rose from his seat. Stepping in front of me, he crouched in front of me and reached out his hand. I shrunk back from him, unable to process where he was going with his explanation.
"Are you going to kill me?" I asked. His reflections were close enough to the heart where it felt as if he knew everything without me having to say a word. The blood drained from my face listening to him, leaving me lightheaded.
"Did you lie?" An eyebrow of his raised as he tilted his head.
"No."
"But you didn't tell the whole truth." He said as the corners of his mouth turned into a small frown. He retracted his hand and clapped it on his knee as he stood straight and walked around the room. "Here is what I propose. You may stay, but I ask there are areas you do not visit. Reason being that people will become suspicious and suspicions lead to unrest. If you have a question, I will gladly answer and possibly even escort you to the place in question if it is safe enough. However, it seems like you'd see for yourself regardless of if I deem it safe or not. Thor will check in on you and I have my own ways to keep my eye on you. I'd rather not use them but until I know for sure you mean us no harm, this is my proposal."
"Spy on me until satisfied?" I asked with my voice raising. My hands reached for the wall as I stood back up the blood coming back in my veins to help me move. Grimacing as I shifted my weight around until I was leaning with my back against the wall again.
"In a matter, but now you know what the stakes are. So, Milana, between helping me with research and Ivy at the metal shop if you wish, are you willing to stay for a time?" He asked reaching out once more, this time in a handshake.
My body released the tension I held onto as I conceded. I knew I had to play the game to survive. Pretend that they won and then escape when I felt threatened, undetected. Leaders were unpredictable. Their positions were usually never attained through peaceful terms.
"I have my own reasons for being here, none of them are to tear down what you've built here. For some this could be heaven in a world of hell. I would not ruin that for the weaker members of the Order. However, if you're asking for communication then fine. I will do as you say until I leave, Leader Lyron." I said as I narrowed my eyes and put my hand in his.
His smirk in response as he shook my hand was undeniable. Thor's mouth also curved into a half smile as he finally left the wall.
"I told you she's tough," Thor said clapping Lyron's shoulder before walking to the door.
"That you did," Lyron said, his eyes never leaving mine. Finally letting my hand go, he offered his arm. "I'm sorry for the rough treatment, but truthful answers usually come to those who are in strained environments. Yours just so happened to fall into my lap for an opportune moment."
"You're an intimidating man." I reluctantly took his arm to alleviate the strain on my ankle seeing no other option willing.
"I'll take that as a compliment," he said as I felt his body jolting as if holding back a quiet laugh. "Now, time for dinner. You must be famished after all your adventuring and dealing with intimidating Leaders."
Lyron was a mystery to me. His personality went from bleeding power and obedience to a man willing to hold his arm out and respect my tiny wish to not reveal everything. This man who didn't treat this Order like his playground but rather his responsibility. Not many Leaders shared this mindset. For now, I had no choice but to listen and wait.