“That’s impossible,” Miriana said sharply. “Laoise Foreflame is dead and has been for nearly a decade. She was hanged for her crimes along with the rest of her pride.”

Miriana sounded certain but it did nothing to comfort Megra. She had grown quiet as Adrian explained the structure of Drummond's gang. Most were dejected and aimless men who were drawn to the power he held over women and while they may have been dangerous in their own way they paled in comparison to Drummond's personal guard. To Adrian's telling the man trusted his safety to a small group of professionals all supposed former members of the Golden Lions. 

They were, in their time, a well known and respected army of mercenaries that had on more than one occasion saved the empire from collapse. It was said one of their lot was worth three of any other fighting force and given the victories they had won it was a boast that was easy to believe. According to Adrian, this particular band had once been the elite of these warriors and at  their head was Laoise Foreflame.  The Radiant Lioness and one time heir apparent of the entire company. That was until she stabbed to death the head of the company, her father Liam Foreflame

What happened next was common knowledge, the battalion that was under her stayed loyal to their commander attempting to cover her escape and raising their weapons against their former comrades. In most tellings the rebellious group was put down and the lioness hanged upon the sturdiest branch they could find. It was said it took a full day for the woman to succumb, her eyes defiant and piercing right up to the end.  However, there were whispers that no one had actually seen Laoise die upon that branch. According to these tellings her executioners had retreated under her glare leaving the woman to die alone in the dark and when returned the next day they found only the tattered remains of the rope. 

“Whether it’s Laoise or not, the fact that he has a group ready to fight complicates things,” Megra said. “You’ve been tracking him, do you have any estimation of how many remain with him?” 

Adrian thought for a moment, “He was down to about  thirty or so when I last encountered him. Ten of those were Laoise and her pride. I think by the time I was done I had halved the pride and got the others down to just over a dozen.” 

As he spoke his mind flashed back to that night, the memory hazy with gray smoke, the sound of gunfire and the cries of the fallen. His nose almost tingled at the sulfur smell of burnt powder mixed with the metallic scent of blood. Cas gasped instinctively as they found themselves walking through the memory as it played in Adrian's mind and for a moment the gunman felt the demon's grip weaken.

“Well then no wonder he’s so desperate,” she said, turning away to speak to Miriana and Boran. “Perhaps that will be to our advantage. They can’t be camped far, we'll find them and negotiate for Ressa’s return.”

“I wouldn’t bother,” Adrian said, drawing the ire of the group.  

“And why not?” Megra asked. 

“You won't have to go looking for him. He didn’t come here for her, he came here for money which he didn’t get. He’ll send someone here to collect but I doubt it will be much of a negotiation.”

“We’ll see about that,” Megra said.  “Whil we appreciate your advice until we have a better handle on the situation we will approach things on our own terms. Now, I have a few more questions.” 

Megra began to ask about where Adrian had camped but he wasn’t listening. For the past several minutes he had been building an image in the back of his mind hiding it just under the surface. He now brought it forward and made it all he could think about. Dilating his focus as if he could make the thing real if he tried hard enough. Cas gave out a sharp yelp and for a split second their grip weakened once more. With a burst of exertion he rocked the chair back slamming onto the floor. As he did Adrian turned his head and blew as hard as he was able. A plum of ash swirling away and breaking the circle. 

Boran rushed forward a moment later and hoisted the man up  the chair lifting nearly a foot off the ground before it was slammed back down. The half troll's strong hand gripping his shoulder so tight Adrian wondered how his collarbone didn’t snap. 

“What’s happened?” Megra asked. 

“He broke the connection,” Cas answered, the demon's expression seemed flustered and their words breathy. 

“Then we’ll fix it and reconnect.” Megra said.

Cas shook their head, “It doesn’t work like that. It must be laid out in a single unbroken line. You would need to redo the whole thing in order for it to work.”

“Heavens be damned,” she spat, her words coming out in a hiss. “I thought you had him locked down, what happened?”

Cas looked a bit ashamed and spoke softly as they answered, “He, distracted me.”

Megra looked at the demon with an expression of confusion and resentment that seemed unnecessary before taking a moment to compose herself. 

“Well then, we will table the interrogations for now,” she said, her anger poorly disguised. 

“We can always try the old fashioned way,” Boran said, rearing back with a fist but staying his strike until given the order. 

Miriana however had no such reservations and rushed forward to deliver her own strike to the Adrians cheek. The tied man had seen her coming and turned his head to ensure she didn’t strike the side with his loose teeth. Even from her weak hand Adrian was rocked and he was grateful Boran grabbed her before she could deliver another. 

“He hasn’t told us a damn thing except sob stories and tales of dead men! He knows more, he has too!” She struggled against Boran’s grip twisting and clawing, ripping the bindings on her wound as she did, causing it to drip blood across the floor. 

Megra rushed over to the flailing woman speaking softly and soothingly, “We will get her back I promise, but you need to keep yourself together. You’re no good to her otherwise.”

Miriana looked to the Zmeu with wild eyes and for a moment it seemed she would continue her struggle but instead she relaxed tears trailing down her cheeks as she let Megra lead her from the room and into the care of one of the maids. 

Once Miriana was removed the Zmeu turned back to Adrian, her gaze piercing. “I think it goes without saying we’ll be keeping you here for the time being,” she said.

“I figured that was the deal if you didn't kill me,” Adrian said.

“Well I’d rather not but that option is always on the table and I suggest you keep that in mind.”

“Kept,” he replied.

“Boran please stay and keep a close eye on Mr.Pierce.” Megra said. 

“Actually,” Cas interjected, “Would it be possible if I was the one to watch him for a bit.”

Megra furrowed her brow, seeming uncertain, “Are you sure? He did get the better of you.”

Cas tensed slightly at the comment. 

“That was a fluke, it WON’T happen again,” they said, staring at Adrian as if to bore a hole through the man. 

Megra considered for a moment before relenting, “Alright, just don’t untie him or kill him,” Megra said before adding quickly as the door closed. “And don’t even think about fucking him.”

Once they were alone the demon studied the gunman, approaching with swaying serpentine steps. 

“Rules, rules, rules,” they said in a threatening yet sultry voice. 

“Do you plan to follow them?” Adrian asked his eyes following their movements. 

“Of course,” Cas answered coyly, “Well at least 1 maybe 2,” they said caressing under Adrian's chin as they leaned in. “But that depends on you, I have some questions of my own and I’m getting my answers one way or another.”