The new, bird-like Azarian motioned in front of him and Viktor brightened at Marialena seated in a chair with a back rising far above her, despite her considerable height, and curved back into the darkness beyond. He winked at her, which she quickly returned with a grin, resulting in the man spluttering, "So, you're feeling hopeful, despite your current reality?"
"Who are you?" Viktor sidestepped the question, attempting to move but finding that Taranna was far stronger than she looked.
Please," the man called Merahir motioned, waving angrily at Taranna until she let Viktor go, though she followed him like a cat closing in on a mouse. As he sat down in the only other chair in evidence, Marialena placed a hand on his shoulder and Merahir started to speak again.
"I should explain everything, even though the Lord Commander wills it another way." He seemed to spit out the title as if he couldn't stand thinking of whoever that was. As Merahir expounded on all of the facts of their kidnapping, Viktor felt more and more like his eyes were going to pop out of his head. When he got to the point of Viktor's friends, he couldn't help jumping in, even though Merahir radiated an aura of one used to others staying silent while he spoke.
"What about them? How do they fit into your plans?"
"You're all connected because all of you can use magic boy." I know. How about something new?
"Only the Lord Commander and I know. And Tarranna now," Merahir waved at the woman to leave as if swatting away a fly, though she stayed put, scratching her chin, appearing to be lost in thought. Do they want to use us for something? What is it? Why take us here? Despite his increasingly wayward thoughts, Viktor nodded, trying not to show any fear. "Makes sense."
"Does it boy? Perfect." Merahir rubbed his hands together rapidly. "That means the Lord Commander will be happy and when he's happy, well, so am I." He began to pace the area in front of the throne. "I have to be." The man had a mix of a fencer's grace and an addict's shakes in his movements. I would know both. Both of them because of Reynar. "Aren't you forgetting something, general?" Taranna offered from the side of the throne.
"Oh yes. So... what's going to happen to you and your group? I'm sure you've been wondering. We'll be running some tests and if those tests go how we think they will, then you'll find yourselves with a choice. Join us or.." He pointed behind him and two shapes strode out of the blackness as if on his command, "Become like them." They could be from anywhere. Except for their eyes. Viktor began to shiver. Lifeless and without pupils.
"What's wrong with them?" Marialena spoke up. "What are they?" Viktor could hear the tremor in her voice, a level of fear she'd never displayed before. Not even when the Azarians came to Silverwood.
Are we going to die now?
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