The captured agent of the Circle of Shadows knelt before the group, his mask removed to reveal a pale, scarred face. His eyes darted from Ronon to Kellan, searching for an escape. There would be none. Thalia and Jorin stood behind him, weapons drawn, ensuring no surprises.
"We can do this the easy way," Ronon began, his voice low but firm. "Tell us who in our ranks betrayed us, and we might let you live."
The agent said nothing, his lips sealed in stubborn defiance. Kellan stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, eyes cold. "You think you're loyal to your cause, but I've seen what your masters do to their own. They'll discard you like the others. Tell us the truth, and maybe we'll spare you the same fate."
The agent smirked, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "You have no idea what's coming, do you?" His voice was hoarse but laced with venom. "The Circle isn't just a shadow. It's the darkness that consumes everything. And you? You're all walking corpses. It's just a matter of time."
The weight of his words settled on the group, but Ronon didn't flinch. He leaned closer to the prisoner, his tone icy. "We've faced worse than your Circle. Now, talk—or you won't leave this place alive."
The agent's smirk faltered for a brief moment, but he remained silent.
Jorin, who had been watching from the side, finally spoke. "If he won't talk, we'll make him. There are ways."
Thalia shook her head. "We're not torturers, Jorin. We have to do this right."
"There's another way," Ronon interjected, his expression darkening. He reached into his coat and pulled out a small, intricate dagger—a relic of the ancient order he once served in his past life. The blade shimmered in the dim light, etched with strange runes.
"What are you doing?" Thalia asked, eyeing the blade warily.
"This is a Blood Oath dagger," Ronon explained, his gaze never leaving the agent. "It binds truth to the blood. If he swears an oath on this, he's bound to it. If he lies, his life is forfeit."
The agent's eyes widened as Ronon held the blade close to his face. "You will swear an oath of truth," Ronon commanded, his voice filled with authority. "And if you lie, your blood will betray you."
The agent looked at the dagger, the fear in his eyes unmistakable. Kellan stepped forward, grabbing the man's wrist and holding it out. "Swear the truth," he growled, his grip tightening.
Reluctantly, the agent looked at the blade, then at Ronon. "I'll swear," he muttered, his voice barely a whisper.
With a swift motion, Ronon pricked the agent's finger with the dagger. Blood welled up, and the runes on the blade glowed faintly, a strange, eerie light emanating from them.
"By this oath, I bind you to truth," Ronon said, holding the blade firmly. "Now, tell us—who in our ranks is feeding information to the Circle?"
The agent's face twisted in pain as the magic of the Blood Oath took hold. His eyes darted around frantically, as if searching for a way out. Finally, he spoke, his voice trembling. "It's... it's someone close to you. A name you trust... but I... I don't know exactly who."
Ronon's grip on the blade tightened. "That's not good enough."
The agent's body shuddered, his face growing paler by the second as the magic bound him tighter to the truth. "I swear, I swear! I don't know the name! But the spy—they've been meeting with a man in the capital. Someone who wears a serpent ring. He's the one pulling the strings. He's... he's the true master of the Circle."
"A serpent ring..." Kellan muttered under his breath, exchanging a look with Ronon.
"I've seen that ring before," Thalia said quietly. "In the royal court."
The agent gasped, his breathing labored, the magic of the Blood Oath slowly draining his strength. "That's all I know. Please... I told you the truth."
Ronon stepped back, lowering the dagger. The runes dimmed, and the light faded. "He's telling the truth," he said, his voice grim. "But we still don't know who the spy is."
"We'll find out," Kellan said, his jaw clenched. "We're closer now than we've ever been."
Jorin glanced at the prisoner, who was now slumped over, barely conscious. "What do we do with him?"
"We let him live," Thalia said, surprising the others. "He's just a pawn, like the rest of us. Killing him won't change anything."
Ronon nodded. "She's right. We'll leave him here. The Circle will deal with him themselves once they realize he's failed."
As they prepared to leave, Ronon couldn't shake the weight of the revelation. A spy in their midst, someone close to them. Someone wearing a serpent ring. The thought gnawed at him like a festering wound. He would find them—whoever they were—and when he did, there would be no mercy.