Falcon was leaning over the war table where a huge map of the territories of his tribe lands, the Rahsea, and the other neighboring tribes with their corresponding territories lay.
"How many men did we lose during the siege at Yelgen?" Falcon asked Monro.
"Only 500 men, M'Lord," His companion replied and set the figurines to layout the strategy that they had imposed during the attack.
"It was just as you planned, Falcon," Orko commented and continued, "Gavim and Meero severed the communications between Roth's generals and soldiers by taking down their couriers and messenger birds."
Thanos then tipped one of the red figurines over. "Orko and I had set our troops to attack the remainder of Roth's disoriented armies in the battlefield, thus minimizing casualties on our side. Monro and his men did the rest and cleaned out the capital, killing Roth."
Falcon nodded. "So Yelgen is truly ours?"
Monro shook his head. " Yes, M'Lord. But we were unable to capture Roth Balgruf's son, Akim. He was spirited away before we were able to reach Roth's castle."
"But we have the next best thing," said Gavim.
At that moment the door opened and Falcon looked ahead and saw Meero drag in a beautiful red-haired woman. Her dress looked worn out from the hard-ridden journey back to the capital of Rahsea but it was designed specifically for any woman born of nobility.
Meero walked towards Falcon so that he could get a better view of the lady. "This is Magda, Akim's twin sister."
Falcon smirked. "Ha! Roth's son must be a fucking coward to scurry away and leave his sister behind instead of defending his home"
The redhead looked into his eyes defiantly.
"If Akim were here, he would have cut your tongues out for your insults. I chose to stay behind to defend Yelgen and I was the one who persuaded Akim to escape. Father and I knew Akim's importance in keeping our lineage from being destroyed. I am a woman so I cannot carry the Balgruf name in the end and my father cannot claim the bastards that he sired to carry it on," she explained.
"Smart woman," Monro commented.
"Indeed," Thanos responded
"Now Lady Balgruf, I cannot guarantee that your temporary stay here at my castle will be an accommodating experience. So please tell us where Akim is and you will be treated well," Falcon asked politely.
Magda spat on his face,"I'd rather have my head on a spike than tell you were my brother is"
Falcon shook his head. "Such a shame. I had hoped that we would become friends." He then went to one of the end tables and grabbed a rag to wipe his face.
Falcon looked to Gavim, who met his gaze and immediately understood his signal.
Gavim quickly went over to the woman and slapped her face so hard to she fell down on the floor. Then he bound Magda's wrist with the belt of his tunic and carried her unconscious body on his shoulders.
"You know what to do. Don't leave any lasting marks. But if you do then place it somewhere undetectable," Falcon said to Gavim.
"When I'm done with her, maybe she'll even escort us to her brother," Gavim smiled evilly and turned to Orko. "Orko I will need your assistance"
Both men then went off to bring the girl to the dungeon while Falcon and the rest of his council waited for their progress.
*****
Magda slowly woke up to find herself hanging in some contraption. She was naked and her hands were bound together. The upper part of her body was bound to some sort of a back brace. Attached to the wall the handle hanging next to her must be thing that operates it.
"Welcome back, Lady Balgruf," The bearded one, she remembered whose name was Orko, called out to her.
She was so high up that her knees were the same level as Orko's face.
"Gavim here was asked by Falcon to retrieve the location of your brother," He said and pointed his thumb at the man who was looking at the array of usual torture items and some that were foreign to her.
"And why are you here?" She asked Orko in an indignant tone which immediately amused Orko given the fact she was hanging and awaiting Gavim's interrogation.
But he merely gave a light shrug before replying, "I am merely as an observer here, My Lady, and to ensure that Gavim doesn't take it too far."