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"Why the interrogation?" Stone snapped rhetorically. "Are you one of our Irenshoa overlords?"
Stone answered his question aloud too. "I'm a guard, and you know my Nation capitulated when it was attacked by Irenshoa Nation. Though all Nations are supposed to be equal partners in the Alliance, Irenshoa are in charge. They keep their intentions hidden, and they keep their actions confusing. When it comes to the Irenshoa, I'm not certain how accurate even what I think is true, is actually true."
Jean smiled and placed her hand on Stone's forearm.
Verda, the woman that owned Jean, told Jean she might want to make a gesture like the "hand-to-arm." Jean, as a slave, led a surprisingly comfortable life, and was given much advice.
Stone started talking again. "Why didn't they plunder Rome after taking it with their surprise attack? I have no idea. Why didn't they kill or torture the Pope and all the red-hooded ones? I don't know."
"I'll tell what you what I heard about the Pope. Like anything else I've heard, who knows if the story is right."
Jean's eyebrows started to move upward and so she ducked her head towards the bed. Having her face downward helped her remember matters well, and this information might be priceless.
"An Irenshoa leader gathered all the foreign traders in the city just outside of the marketplace. He began telling them to go back to their native lands and not return." Stone stopped talking.
She was about to clear her throat and tell Stone he could continue his story some other time.
After a pause, Stone whispered: "Then another Irenshoa leader heads towards the same area, holding the Pope's hand. The Pope is expressing his gratitude that no one will be killed."
Jean kept her eyes focused on Stone's bed.
"Then, the Pope starts begging this Irenshoa leader that his warriors not strip the Church's property in Rome for valuables. If this story is true, the Pope's pleading was heard by everyone."
Verda, Jean's owner, told Jean to focus when gaining information, and try not to do analyses in her head while people were still speaking - wait until after they had finished.
"If this is true, no Roman, none, has been harmed since our occupation, including the Pope. Some criminals have been released from prison and forced into slavery. That is all."
There was still some irritation in Stone's voice from her questions. "Why don't you go, Jean?"
Jean knew the Irenshoa probably coached the Pope into humiliating himself. They likely forced him to say he wanted gold and statutes protected, not bishops, the nobility, or other citizens of Rome.
Traders returning to non-Catholic countries would bring a tale of how pathetic the Pope had been. Traders returning to Catholic ones would bring back information that would mitigate any outrage. European Catholic and non-Catholic countries might not form an alliance to liberate Rome.
Jean was impressed by her genius, but tried not to show it as she waved goodbye.
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