Welcome to Gaia! ::

Summary: (Present) It was assumed that Jhovam's room was torn up by thugs persecuting him for unknown reasons. Two slaves are ordered to make that lie reality.

Related threads:
Jhovam in the Dragon World
Isabel's Response

------------------
Geff and Leone were the dangerous type of loyal. They were the quiet type that you never questioned because they always did what you said. They appeared to be thugs that never found a reason to think for themselves.

But they were with the rebellion. Rarely did that interfer with their daily lives, since the rebellion had little more to do at the moment than subtly subvert women's orders. For instance, if a slave was in trouble but the rebellion didn't want them to be, they would find a way to ease the punishment due to that slave or a way to turn the favor of the women. Their masters were not above being manipulated.

When Geff and Leone were told to harrass Jhovam, it was more than just a manipulative tactic. When certain people had heard about recent events regarding his room and unlikely explainations, they wondered if they could get to the bottom of it while at the same time throwing off Isabel and other interested parties. So Geff and Leone approached the boy after he'd had his talk with Katrina.

"Katrina said you were to eat with us today," they informed him. It was probably a lie, but how would he know? Katrina was interested in his protection right now. "Come on, there's a room made for us."

The room made for them was actually a room that would normally be given to a visiting guest, but which was currently empty. Geff and Leone had set it up enough to look like a place to eat, complete with food, so that Jhovam would be willing to walk in. Then they would have him trapped, at least until some one came looking for him.

As soon as the door was closed, Jhovam found a tough pain in his stomach that came as swift as one of the big men could punch him. It was Geff. "Sit down!" he hissed as Jhovam's body doubled of its own accord. Just to make certain, he also put a heavy hand on the boy's shoulder.

"We've got some questions to ask you and you better damn well tell us the truth-- and quickly."

Leone had barracaded the door and now stepped closer to start the questioning. "Some strange happenings in your room just the other night, and now the mistress is threatening to punish your fellows here for it. But we didn't have nothing to do with it, so you better fess up. What happened?" They didn't really play good cop bad cop, but both loomed threateningly.

Leone was the one who took a rag he had been carrying and tied it tightly around the boy's eyes. These thugs had found that many people hate not to see a punch or a kick coming, and the anticipation is more likely to make them talk than the pain they are already experiencing. Oh, and they stomped on his foot for good measure as soon as he couldn't see.

Geff laughed and slapped the boy on the shoulder. "Come on now. Doesn't matter how strange it was...we'll believe you. We aint stupid though. You gotta know what happened."

(( Woot! ))

“I-I-I-“ Jhovam stuttered heavily, his eyes flickering back and forth under his closed eyelids. What was he going to say? Will he tell the truth? Would he lie to these men? Lying was against his code, but so was breaking a vow. His code, which made everything run smoothly, was betraying him! And he didn’t know what to do without it. He felt panic rise in his mind, filling his consiousness with doubt and confusion.

“I-I-I-“ Jhovam forced his mind to try and figure out something. What could he do? His world was crashing down around him. Everything seemed to not make sense. Oh, by the gods . . .

Using his horribly panicked mind, Jhovam said the first thing he thought of. “I-I’m hungry!” If he wasn’t in so much pain, he would have slapped himself for such a horridly stupid comment.

Jhovam simply was in his own mental panic, and slowly began retreating into his mind. This was too much for him – he couldn’t lie or deceive. He had no training, and he didn’t want that skill. It didn’t make sense at all, as he was a truthful person. This just was too much for him at once.

‘By the gods . . . Rashmak! I need counsel!’ He called out to the familiar presence, trying to figure out what on earth he should do. ‘I am being interrogated about the room! And it isn’t looking good. I can’t tell them that you broke the bed, but I can’t lie either! I just can’t do it!’

The deep, large voice responded lightly. ‘What do you expect me to do? Tell you what to say?’ A low rumble echoed through Jhovam’s mind. Ygrashmak did find this humorous, to a point.

‘Rashmak! This isn’t the time for laughter! I need aid!’

To the casual observer, Jhovam seemed to stop thrashing about in his bonds and slumped forward slightly, almost like he feinted. To someone who was more intelligent, he seemed to resort to a deep-thinking stage.

Jhovam didn’t immediately respond to the man, as he was still conversing in his mind. ‘I need to figure out what to say, Rashmak! And I can’t think of the right words.’

‘Fine, I’ll help. Let me guide you – I think I am clever enough to know what to say.’ Ygrashmak began filling Jhovam’s mind with words and phrases. Honestly, he was afraid. For once, Ygrashmak felt a pain that wasn’t his own. Jhovam was a careful slave, and he never felt any wounds carry over in the bond. But when he felt a jabbing pain rip through his torso, and fear bubble up in his second stomach, he knew Jhovam was in trouble. Willing it, he put his mind on the edge of the glass-like barrier separating him and his human. If they attacked Jhovam any more, they’d have to face the wrath of a Silver Dragon.

Jhovam’s mouth slowly opened, and words flew out of them in an eerie tone. His words seemed confident, controlled, and quite eloquent. “I swore to my honor, and my honor fades not in the shadow of violence. I swore to my honor, and my honor stands strong in the presence of pain. I swore to my honor, and my honor will not waver by the force of vile actions.” The entire idea seemed to not fit Jhovam, as he was slumped over in his chair, limp and not struggling. If it wasn’t for his words, he seemed to be asleep.

Jhovam squirmed slightly in his seat, but he didn't open his mouth when a new hand touched him. He shut it quite firmly. For a moment, his body was still.

'See, Rashmak? They are horrible! I bet they are trying to feed me some agent that will force the truth out of me. I could whip up an antidote, but I don't have my herbs. And I haven’t spent any time building up immunity to truth-telling agents.’

For a moment, no one responded to Jhovam’s mental plea. He began to feel a twinge of worry seep into his mind before his bond released a blast of inspiration. ’Jhovam! That’s it! Immunity!’

’Rashmak, didn’t you hear me? I am not immune.’ Jhovam mentally frowned at his ally, feeling as if the draconic figure simply wasn’t understanding what was going on.

‘I know that, but I have magic! I think I can strengthen your immune system and body enough to prevent the truth agent from even working!’ Ygrashmak’s resonating voice vibrated with glee.

‘Rashmak, you have no idea what to strengthen.’ Jhovam was growing slightly irritable in his panic. He didn’t take well to stress, after all.

‘No, I don’t. But you do! You can guide me.’ Ygrashmak prodded Jhovam with his bond a bit more. He hoped he could do this. Jhovam, on the other hand, was slightly apprehensive. He never did this with Ygrashmak, and he had no idea what would happen.

‘Fine, I trust you enough to let your ‘magic’ help me. How do we do this?’

‘Just let my energy flow into you. I’ll need to probe your mind for the knowledge, but it shouldn’t hurt too much.’

Jhovam hesitated, then sent a mental “okay” to his dragon. At once, he felt a force flow into his mind, weaving around his thoughts and memories. Every idea it touched burst into life inside Jhovam’s mind; it was both thrilling and horrifying. Over what seemed like a small eternity, the information on the human body was pulled up. When Ygrashmak found what he was looking for, he released a flow of energy.

As this was the first time the dragon ever performed magic through Jhovam, it was both thrilling and agonizing. Pain shot through Jhovam’s body, and it reared back unrepentantly as he let out a hoarse cry. His mouth flew open, as if he wasn’t getting enough air. However, for those who even noticed, small patches of pale, dim light shined slightly through the blindfold where his eyes were wide open in shock. As soon as the energy transfer was successful, Jhovam’s body accepted it with welcome arms. He would, temporarily, be virtually immune to poisons, diseases, and ‘toxins’, judged by Ygrashmak and Jhovam.

Jhovam shuddered slightly as the liquid was poured into his body. He swallowed reluctantly before slumping forward. This product tasted slightly familiar . . . Jhovam tried estimating the ingredients before the effect took a hold on him.

’Too late . . . ‘ Jhovam shuddered again and let the hands untie him. When the blindfold was removed, his eyes slowly opened, taking in the room. He flexed his fingers and rubbed his wrists from where the bonds held him.

“What will you do to me now?” Jhovam’s speech was slightly slurred as he tried to mimic the effects of the drug he assumed was given to him. Of course, with the already present drowsiness, he seemed quite wobbly on the wooden chair. He couldn’t seem to think strait at the moment and the bond to Ygrashmak seemed more fuzzy and opaque, like mental mold encased it.

A soft, barely noticeable mental shout flew into his mind, but the words were as jumbled as if they were heard under water. ‘JHOVAM! JHOVAM! JHOVAM!’