22 Chapter 22 - Questioned (2/2)

On the other side of the door was a large group of soldiers that seemed to be getting ready.The armor they had laid out next to them was being put on them by a group of young boys.The situation looked weird but their armor didn't seem easy to get in and out of so Thomas figured that the boys were probably squires.

The armored man entered opened up a door and gestured for Thomas to go inside.After Thomas entered a light turned on and he could see a large table.On the table was a large amount of sand and some blocks placed at different points making it resemble a village.After getting closer Thomas realized that the village that it was meant to look like was Newton.Thomas unconsciously reached out to the block that was placed where the hut Gren lived in would be.

”Don't touch that.It took a while to place everything in the right place.”Thomas withdrew his hand and then the man took off his helmet--revealing a blonde head of hair and a handsome face that was ruined by a weak chin.Thomas noticed that the two other soldiers stayed outside the room.”I brought you down here to find out just how much you know about Newton's current condition and to give me whatever information you have on the attack.Tell me everything, even if you don't think that it's important.”

Thomas started talking about what happened before the attack.The soldiers had left and left only the weaker guards behind.Then he talked about how the village was surrounded and that the bandits started to set fire to the huts on the outer layer of the village and that his mother told him to hide in the hut before she tried barricading the door.At this point the man stopped Thomas.

”Where is your home located on this table?”Thomas pointed towards the block that he was reaching for earlier.”And your mother, what was her name?”After thinking about it, Thomas realized that Gren never knew her name.She didn't get close to the other people in the village so it's unlikely that they even knew her name.

”I don't know.”Thomas felt bad for Gren.Thomas grew up as an orphan but he still knew what his mother's name was.Gren wouldn't have even been able to make a proper monument to her without her name.

”It's possible that we have her name written down in our records.If you'd like I can have someone look it up for you.It's the least we can do for you in exchange for the information on the attack.They'd just need a description of what she looked like.”The man picked up a piece of paper and dipped his quill in ink before looking over to Thomas.

Thomas wanted to find out her name so that he could create a small shrine for her.He did have her blood flowing through his veins, after all.”She was tall for a woman, had green eyes the same as mine, silver hair, and an almost pale white skin.”

After writing something down, the man placed the sheet of paper to the side so the ink could dry.”Continue from where you were.You said that she was barricading the entrance to your hut?”

Thomas continued, telling the man about how his mother died protecting him and that the bandits captured him because they needed him to fit through a hole.The man stopped Thomas once again to ask about the location of the hole and what was inside of it.Thomas finished off by telling the man about how the exit was in the forest and that there was a trap by the entrance.

”Did you get a good look at the man leading the bandits?Is there anything that could help identify him?”The man brought out another piece of paper and prepared his quill.Thomas then told him about Susan's bushy beard, the cut underneath his right eye, and that he looked to be in his forties.Thomas also told the man about Susan's name and the story that he was told.

”Thank you for the information.We've already confirmed your identity but for now you'll be brought back to the holding cell.In the meantime we'll find someone to take care of you since you're still underage.”The man opened the door and told one of the soldiers to escort Thomas back.The other soldier was given the papers and told to bring them to the scribes.

As Thomas approached the area with the holding cell he could hear a lot of noise up ahead.There was something banging against metal bars and a familiar female voice screaming things.”You murderers!”Whatever was happening up ahead seemed serious so Thomas and the soldier rushed forward.