Vala stares in genuine surprise at the creature chained so heavily to the large chair. "Oh my. I think I didn't believe any of the stories we've heard so far until this very moment."
the thing bellows. Then, after it has strained and struggled it slumps miserably back into its chair, the flies continuing to crawl over its face.
"You know that's not an option right now," says Constantin. With a momentary burst of psychic force he shoos the flies away from the creature.
"But we are here to listen, and to understand you," he continues soothingly. "We believe that you have been wrongly accused of many crimes that you did not commit. And we want to learn the truth. If you want to be free... if you want us to release you... let us help you."
But I haven't done anything! it says miserably, blinking hard now that the flies are gone. They hurt me and hurt me and lock me up. I don't know where I am. They put out the lanterns at night but I hear them talking about hurting me again.
Zed takes a silent breath of relief. If the creature was undead, it would have been an extreme conflict of interest for him. As it was he could make a full, honest attempt to help the creature.
"Listen, we are here to help. We want to expose the truth of the matter. Tell us about yourself. Where did you come from? What is your name?"
I don't have a name. I wasn't given one. They call me things most times. Horrible things but they aren't my name either.
It's mismatched eyes narrow.
Why do you want to help? You could be tricking me.
"People are scared of you because you look different from them. And so when they see other scary things, they think it must be your fault, because to them, you seem scary, too," Constantin explains patiently.
"We want to help because we've lived through scary things before too, but we solved them and we learned that sometimes the things you think are frightening, aren't so bad. We learned that people come in all kinds and not everyone who looks different is bad. We have friends who are different... and we don't like it when people hurt folks who haven't done anything wrong."
"So we need your help," he says. "We don't want them to hurt you, and we need to find out what really happened. The guards say you did things and you say that you didn't. We need to figure out the truth so we can make sure that the real people who did bad things are the ones who are caught. And so that you aren't blamed for things you didn't do."
"Is he a biter?" Vermundr asks loud enough for the guards to here. "Why is his head bound like that?"
Kazamir pauses a moment, so the questions are spaced out...not sudden, badgering, coming from all sides at once.
"We want to help because we care about what is right. If you have done nothing, then seeing you let go is right," he begins in slow, calming tones...
...horrible memories of all of the times he has had to explain to a child why their father was being led away in chains, or why their sister was not coming home flood his mind, but the investigator merely shakes his head and continues, as soothingly as he can manage.
"To help you, we will need to ask a lot of questions, and we...
I'm sorry. This is a bit awkward. You say you were not given a name. Would you like one? Something we may call you as we talk?"
Zed pauses for a moment, then takes down his hood and shows his face. "Because I know what it is like to be judged based on what you look like instead of what you are."
I'm sorry. I don't like to go where people are much They got knives and torches... And things. And I get ascared around new folks sometimes. Th's why I was shoutin' just now. I thought you was gunna hurt me...
It doesn't hurt when they hit me like it hurts you. Just on the inside.
Seeing this nine foot hulking brute answer so bashfully is more than a little odd. It answers the question as if eager to please, a far cry from the howling creature just moments ago.
I never had a name. it repeats regrettably. What are your names?
Tied down for everyone's safety. Look at the bastard. He'd probably crush a bull's skull with one of those mits.
Kazamir smiles and introduces the party, one by one, to the beast. Last, he comes to Hazel.
"Hazel, you are a follower of Desna...You go places and name things, no? What should we call our friend, here?"
Zed inclined his head as he is introduced. "I understand you. Please, tell us from your perspective what happened." Zed recounts the three incidents they are going to be addressing in court. "What happened those nights?"
When? I don't even know why I'm here. I woke up and they were dragging me in here in chains, hitting me with sticks, shouting. Lots of people seem real angry at me for something. it replies miserably.
Vala seems near to burst into tears as the creature speaks so frankly. She steps up beside it, kneeling down next to the chair and patting one of its shackled, meaty hands with one of her own which looks pitifully small and wrinkled in comparison.
"I think lots of people are angry about a lot of things but they're scared and blaming you. I know Constantin was very formal just now, but you can simply call me Vala if you'd like." She smiles warmly, patting its hand again as her eyes begin to shimmer slightly. "You are not at all what I expected, sweetheart. I'll help you as best I can."
Tied down for everyone's safety. Look at the bastard. He'd probably crush a bull's skull with one of those mits.
"Yeah, well he won't be crushing this bull's skull. You can loosen his restraints at least so he can shake the flies loose."
Tied down for everyone's safety. Look at the bastard. He'd probably crush a bull's skull with one of those mits."Yeah, well he won't be crushing this bull's skull. You can loosen his restraints at least so he can shake the flies loose."
The man sneers at Vermundr.
That thing's a killer of women and kids. We ain't loosening nothing. Had my way it would be swinging by the neck in there till they burnt it. Even that would be too good.
Vermundr sneers back, showing a bit of his too-white teeth.
"As I hear it he hasn't been proven guilty of anything yet. Now how about you do as I ask or I'll go pay the judge another visit. I hear she loves dealing with guards that are mistreating prisoners. You might make a better beggar anyway."
The man shows no sign of backing down and his fellows also start to stand and gather round.
Judges ain't got no say in what happens in this jailhouse. That's the Captain's business and public order and protection is our prime concern. he says almost sarcastically. The chains stay. I see you messing with them, you can sit in the cell next to it.
Vermundr studies the defiant' guard face closely. The big northerner wanted to burn the image into his memory. "Have it your way."
I try to be gentle. I... um... I never killed anyone who didn't try to hurt me bad. And thems I was always real sorry about but I never went looking for trouble. It says in reply.
Blue-and..... it says, rolling the name around on it's tongue as if trying it on for size.
"Well, Blând,"Kazamir says, smiling, "do you know of a place called Morast? A village? " He goes on to give what information they have about its location
"Have you been there?"
I never go near villages Mr. Blând says. There's always too many people there with sticks and meanness. I live in the swamp and keep to myself mostly.
Did I hurt people there? it asks carefully. They said I broke stuff in the ooniversiddy and I don't remember that. Maybe I hurt people too. it cries out.
"Now, now. There's no need for talk like that. Lots of people don't remember things and there's nothing wrong or strange about it. And you needn't worry about anyone at the University; old Crowl might have been given a fright, but nobody got hurt."
Zed whispers to Vermundr after he passes. "It seems the creature has bad memory lapses, there is a fair chance that it actually is the rampaging monster it is made out to be, and simply doesn't remember. Let's get some evidence before making any demands."
Zed addresses Blând once more. "What is the oldest memory you can recall?" He may not be proven competent to stand trial.
Zed whispers to Vermundr after he passes. "It seems the creature has bad memory lapses, there is a fair chance that it actually is the rampaging monster it is made out to be, and simply doesn't remember. Let's get some evidence before making any demands."
Zed addresses Blând once more. "What is the oldest memory you can recall?" He may not be proven competent to stand trial.
Constantin backs up briefly and turns so that his usual murmuring won't be noticed. His mind-voice seems more pervasive, like he's addressing a room rather than a person.
Vermundr frowns as he considers Zed's warning. "His missing memory isn't proof of his guilt anymore than it's proof of his innocence. Perhaps we'll learn more once we visit the sites of the crimes."
Zed gives his slight hint of a smile. "Indeed, it cuts both ways. As you say, let's visit the sites and see what is to be learned. That is the wise path."
"I am more interested in who remembers him, and how. "
,
Signalling agreement through the spell, Kazamir turns to the creature.
"Blând, my friend Constantin hasu a trick that may be able to help. If you agree - and only if you say yes - he might be able to see what you remember. It may help us convince them to let you go. Will you let him try?
Regardless of Blând's reply, Kazamir will pace slowly around the cage, memorizing every detail of the creature's appearance that he can. He pays particular attention to the hands and teeth, if they are visable. He does his best to gauge the size of the creature's feet, comparing it to the spacing of the cage's bars, and holding his cane alongside the bars to get a rough measure that he could use in the field.
HE will mutter an encouragement for Vermundr and Zed to do likewsie, so that they would recognize his trail if they saw it.
It really is like talking to a child!
"Vala's right, no one was hurt," Hazel agrees. "And you're not stupid, either. You said you live in the swamp?" she asks gently, trying to change the subject slightly. "I've never met anyone that's lived there before! Will you tell us about it? What's it like? Do you have any friends there?"
I like the swamp. It's nice and quiet. I like to read my book of words. I like the words, they're soft and sound good. Sometime I don't understand them but they feel nice to say. I had a friend once who said they was "verses and poems." I found it and I liked it. he grins like a loon.
She's gone now. he says sadly but then adds; She used to show me tricks sometimes with flowers and things. I liked them. he says by way of consent to Constantin's 'trick.'
Zed gives a slight smile at the creature. Either the creature is a brilliant liar, has unrecognizable fits of rage, or is being framed. He waits for Constantin's 'trick', ready to aid.
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Constantin nods and approaches. He bends down on to one knee and says, "All right... this shouldn't hurt at all. It might feel a little funny. I would like you to just try to relax. That's good, thinking of the tricks your friend used to do. Think a bit about your friend and her trick with the flowers."
Constantin lowers himself to one knee but even in doing so has to look up in the eyes of the Beast as it hulks in the oversized metal chair, the manacles clanking loudly as it awkwardly shifts position.
The psychic mind reaches out through the space between them and at first there is nothing but then the first grey and washed out images begin to float before him.
He starts to see the Beast, as if floating above it. Blând is surrounded by flowers that seem to have been picked and arranged in a large circle. To one side is a broken old shack and beyond that seemingly just miles and miles of swampy marshland. He is sitting down with something in his massive hands. A book. Battered but well loved and he carefully thumbs one page over the other.
For the first time you see someone else in the image. The tiny form of a little girl huddled next to Blând. She has streaky blonde in ragged bunches and a filthy gingham dress but she leans in close to the Beast, resting her head on his hip but then occasionally looking up and pointing to something on the page and you realise what is happening. It appears as though she is teaching him to read.
The size difference between the two is startling but you would hazard a guess that she is between eight and ni-
The blackness that rises up is sudden and terrifying. It fills Blând's thoughts completely. It is a screen of darkness but there are eyes in there, thousands of them. Red and evil and hungry and wanton and before the connection breaks you hear the little girls scream her heart out...
Blând hunches in the chair, looking unbearably sad.
Constantin closes his eyes wearily and rubs the bridge of his nose. After a moment he exhales slowly. "I'm sorry to bring that back up, Blând."
Then he slowly rises again and reports to the team, "His friend was a young girl. She didn't seem to be afraid of him, and he remembers her teaching him to read. She would put flowers in a circle around him and rest with him and teach him from an old book."
"But... something happened. A sudden blackness in his mind, eyes in the dark... then violence."
"I'm not sure if it's something from outside exerting control, or... something locked in Blând." Constantin looks back to the tortured soul. "I don't know where those scary dark places come from, Blând. But I know what you felt that day, now."
He is not consciously guilty. That much is apparent. The only question remains is that if he is being set up, if he is being controlled, or if he has fits of rage.
I know better than most about the darkness that can lie within.
Vala seems saddened by the description Constantin gives. "Well. Now that that's over with, let's see about getting to Morast. We haven't much time."
Maisie... it says miserably. She helped me read my book of words. Didn’t poke me or make fun of me or chase me with sticks.
The Beast suddenly unleashes a wild braying laugh lips drawn back over his mismatched teeth, that sets you all back on edge but Zed quickly realises the creature is languishing in despair at the loss of his friend and that this strange display is it trying to cry – but being physically unable to.
Sometimes we would lie in the flowers and just look at the sky. Maisie might fall asleep on me but she weren’t heavy. Just like a little bird. it sighs. I can’t sleep but I like to lie still sometimes and pretend I am except... sometimes I see scary things... stuff I ... don’t know what it is. That’s what happened last time and when I woke up it was dark and Maisie was gone.
I hate the dark, and without her I got real scared so I went looking for her. [b]The Dark-With-Eyes snatched her away! he wails. I tried to help but I couldn’t and... she was already... broken.
I carried her back to her home and left her by the door. I didn’t want anyone to see me ‘cos they wasn’t nice to me. Not like you.
Zed gets more and more convinced of the creature's innocence, but his pragmatism makes him keep a cool head. "What is the Dark-With-Eyes? What can you tell us about it?"
I ain't never seen it before, scared me terribly. But I seen it there over Maisie and I tried to help but I couldn't grab it. It was like smoke or... Something... I dunno. But it hurt her and there was nothing I could do.
It just kept looking at me with those eyes and then it just... Went away.
Vala pats the beast's hand gently, "That sounds horrible. You were very brave to try and help though. Not many would do such a thing." She then glances to the others, "We really are pressed for time. We should go now if we hope to have any time at all to make sense of what we may or may not find. And if this darkness with eyes is still about, we might run into some trouble too." She frowns at the thought, then pats the beast's hand again.