Simza sighs heavilyat Koraq, staring him down. "Fine. But if you hurt her, I'm leaving."
"Heh, if we have to do that, we'll ask you to leave."
"Good." she states firmly. She had hoped to have a chance to discuss things peacefully with the woman, but from the way Koraq had been talking she didn't think she'd have gotten that chance. That such wasn't Koraq's first approach was a relief--although the way he had described that an approach was downright offensive--hopefully they could get what they needed without resorting to that; there was a difference between what he had done the last night to defend them all and torturing an injured woman, even if she did seem unpleasant.
So Simza and Koraq head down to the cells to...converse with the captured Varisian. She sits on the edge of the hard cot as you enter the cell block, staring defiantly at you. Only a slight tremor with the hand grasping her skirts belies her nervousness.
Koraq grabs a chair and leaves it in front of the cot for his veiled companion. Staring Madam Pietra down, he lurks into a corner against the wall and cell gate and waits for Simza to take the initiative.
Simza makes sure to collect some parchment and writing implements before she heads down to the cell. She takes in Madame Pietra's current state with a frown, before approaching her calmly. She sits on the bed beside her, offering a calming smile which she hopes will get through despite her veils.
"Madame Pietra, my name is Simza Caumlo, of Magnimar Special Investigations. Please relax, we just want to find out what you know of the current situation regarding Veristan Mikobar." she begins, ignoring Koraq trying to pull the answers from her head apparently by pure force of will. "If your information assists us in capturing him then it will reflect well on you when it comes time for your own trial."
Madame Pietra fixes her gaze on Koraq, completely ignoring the veiled woman sitting within arms' reach. "I will speak with the half-breed, but not to any want-to-be giorgio. If you wish any answers concerning Mikobar, which I am happy to provide you, please remove this traitorous filth from my cell."
Unfolding his arms, Koraq pauses for a minute at the captive's words and shrugs his shoulders. "Heh, who am I to argue with a madame? Simz, some privacy please?
Simza doesn't react immediately, at least apart from her cheeks turning very red, easily apparent despite her veils. After a long, awkward pause she stiffly stands up, looks at Madame Pietra, and then simply walks from the room in silence.
After the flustered Varisian leaves, Koraq turns around her chair around and sits down, resting his muscular arms on the top of the chair.
"Alright toots, just you an' me, so spill the beans on what you got on Mikobar."
Madame Pietra waits until Simza has fully left, then relaxes.
"First, let me assure you that I had nothing to do with causing these collapses, and that I broke off my working relationship with Mikobar as soon as I learned he had killed someone. Killing was never part of the plan; indeed, I sought to prevent deaths, brutal, heinous deaths, that people like you couldn't be bothered to try to prevent. I don't know how he found out that I wanted those books, but he did, and as he was willing to get them for me if I helped him get his precious trinkets, fine with me. Of course, I expected him to double-cross me at some point, but I was confident I could backstab him first."
"But he failed to get me the halfling's copy, and then the Chel's. So I went to Rimblesnuffin's to confront him and pay him back for his betrayal. I know he has a powerful friend, don't know who, but it made perfect sense for that friend to have City Watch connections, so when you showed up...well, I do apologize for the misunderstanding, and I truly am grateful that my man...somehow...was unable to kill you."
"You can thank the wannabe jorjo for that; I'm tough, but fightin' off Mikobar's pet and trying to prevent a massive collapse in Magnimar along with your goons ain't easy.", Koraq taking some pride in the fact that Simza couldn't hear that.
"Well, explains that most of your part of this mess. Heard a couple of guys wasted a better part of a day trying to reason with that uptight halflin' and his book. What's yer thing for those creepy-ass things anyway?"