With Fendrel's family brought before him, the bandit leader's resolve shattered. The once silent and defiant man was now spilling every detail, his words tumbling out in a desperate rush. Every question I asked was met with an immediate answer. His transformation was almost too easy, a testament to the fragility of his will when his loved ones were on the line.
"Who's been orchestrating these ambushes?" I asked, my tone calm, leaning casually against a nearby tree, though the tension hung thick in the air.
Fendrel's eyes darted around nervously, his voice shaky but compliant. "It's an inside job… The bandits work with some of the guards and even a few of the carriage workers. That's why the raids are so smooth and quiet—no one fights back because they're all in on it."
It made sense; the seamless nature of their attacks suddenly had a clear explanation. The lack of resistance, the near-flawless executions—it was all part of a carefully coordinated plan between those sworn to protect the routes and the bandits themselves. A perfect betrayal.
But I needed more. The details were important, but without the mastermind behind it all, it was just noise.
"And who's at the top of this operation?" I pressed, watching him closely. "Who's pulling the strings?"
Fendrel's face fell. The words seemed to catch in his throat, fear rooting him in place. He knew the answer, but admitting it would mean crossing a line he wasn't prepared to cross. His silence hung heavy in the air, each second that passed a defiant refusal to betray his true benefactor.
I gave a small sigh, my patience wearing thin. "I see. So, we're playing it this way."
I stepped closer to his son, the young boy staring up at me with fear and confusion. He was caught in something he couldn't begin to comprehend, dragged into his father's world without any choice of his own. I grabbed him gently but firmly by the collar, dragging him toward the edge of the ditch. It was a calculated move, one designed to shake Fendrel to his core.
Fendrel's composure snapped instantly. "Stop! What are you doing?!" he shouted, his voice cracking with panic. He strained against his chains, his face twisted with fear and desperation. "Leave him alone!"
I met his eyes, my expression unreadable, detached. "This is on you," I said, my tone even. "You could've stopped this."
I released the boy, watching as he stumbled to his knees, terrified but unharmed. My threat was clear: this could escalate, and I would take it there if I had to. Fendrel's pleas filled the air, his voice raw and desperate. He looked like a man on the edge, torn between his principles and the stark reality of his family's danger.
Fendrel's scream was anguished, the sound of a man breaking under the weight of his own choices. His eyes were wet with tears, his voice thick with emotion as he begged, pleaded for his son's safety. The rawness of his pain echoed loudly in the clearing, filling the space with a palpable tension.
The soldiers shifted uncomfortably, exchanging glances that spoke of unease. Even Mayer, who had been at my side through everything, looked rattled, his face pale. This wasn't the sort of thing anyone expected to see from someone my age, but I wasn't here to make friends or seek approval. I was here to get answers.
I turned my attention back to Fendrel, my expression as cold and indifferent as ever. "If you're still willing to keep quiet, then you're making a choice for your family, too. This doesn't have to continue, but it will if you don't talk."
Fendrel's rage was simmering just beneath the surface, his whole body trembling. He glared at me with a mixture of hatred and helplessness, but he couldn't deny the truth of his position. He'd brought his family into this, and now, their fate rested in his hands.
"Talk, or else," I said, glancing briefly at his wife, who was staring at the ground, her shoulders shaking as silent tears streamed down her face. "It's that simple."
Fendrel's resolve, once unbreakable, crumbled before my eyes. The anguish on his face, the torment of watching his family's suffering, finally pushed him to the brink. With a defeated sob, he finally spoke, the words spilling out like a confession that had been burning inside him.
Fendrel's broken cries echoed through the trees, the sound of a man who had lost everything and still found himself powerless in the face of his own choices. The truth, once hidden, was now laid bare, and the weight of his decisions hung heavily in the stillness of the forest.