Excerpt "Crucible"

Here is the excerpt from “Crucible” I had promised you over the weekend.  Enjoy. 
Their discussion ended as the riotous noise of soldiers on the stairs interrupted.  Three goblin guards came down the hallway and stopped at Miri’s cell.  “On your feet, Your Highness.  It is time for you to move.”  “Which level will I be going up to this time?” she asked as she pulled herself off the floor.  “Up?” asked one of the goblins.  “Your time in the jails above is over.  Lord Mandrean personally decreed you be handed over to Hugon for interrogation.  You are going down to the Room of Horrors.  If you do hold any information, you would be wise to divulge it quickly.  The Sergeant has no patience and will use every means at his disposal to extract it from you.”  “I swear I don’t know any of the things you have asked about.” Miri argued as they removed her forcibly from her cell.    “Then you will die a slow, methodical, agonizing death,” the guard said.  “Sometimes Hugon lets us watch when the torture really gets intense.  I hope I am one of the lucky ones who gets to watch you die.” Linvin heard every word and stood at the edge of his cell, holding the bars.  “Take me instead,” he called to them.  “I will go in her stead.”  The guard who had been speaking had a noticeable limp and shuffled over to Linvin.  “What’s this, Princess?  You’ve made a friend in here?   How sweet.  Much as Hugon is eager to filet your body, Mr. Grithinshield, Lord Necromancer has other plans for you.  In fact, I hear them coming for you right now.”  Loud clanking of armor could be heard on the stairs.  “Whatever Necromancer has planned for you, I am sure you will wish I had let you trade places with her before it is over.”  A half dozen Imperial Guards entered from the stairs in a single, straight column.  Along with their usual armaments were spears held high.  The Captain who led their journey from the river was at the lead end.    “Out of our way, Goblin Scum,” he ordered as he knocked a goblin to the ground with his shield.  The goblin addressing Linvin rapidly scurried away and held Miri tightly.  He kept his prisoner between himself and the Imperial Guards.  The goblins did not move, as they were petrified with fear.  The Captain addressed Linvin’s entourage.  “I hope you have been well fed and cared for per Necromancer’s instructions.  Lord Mandrean has requested your presence in the Great Hall.  My orders are to take you there.  It will work in this way.  My lieutenant will shackle you.  While he does that, a blade will be held at your uncle’s throat.  Any move to resist us will result in his immediate death.  Then another will be held and so forth.  Lord Necromancer wants you all in good health.  Emperor Mandrean cares not if you live or die.  He does not even know you have been here for weeks.  His orders, however, countermand all others.  So, to be clear, I would prefer to deliver you to the Emperor alive.  I, however, have no problem carrying your decomposing bodies to the hall if you resist.  Are we clear?”  The elves reluctantly nodded.  The cell door was opened and the spears were thrust toward Linvin and the twins to hold them at bay.  A guardsman strode into the room and seized Anvar with one arm, pulling him tight.  With the other hand he drew a knife from his belt and held it tightly against Anvar’s exposed neck.  His nephews gave no struggle as the irons were attached to their wrists and ankles.  Once the prisoners were secure they were led from the cell where they formed a line with three soldiers to their front and rear.  As the Captain prepared to move the column he noticed the goblins had not moved in the slightest during the exchange.  “Are you transferring that prisoner or just giving her a better view of the hall?” he asked with disdain.    The gimpy goblin answered meekly, “We just wanted to stay out or your way, Captain.”   “Well, like everything else you people do,” the Captain said, “You are a miserable failure.  You are blocking our path so move on before we throw you all in a cage.”  The goblins dragged Miri to the stairs.   She desperately looked back to finally catch a glimpse of Linvin’s face.  He too bobbed his head back and forth to see the person with whom he’d conversed on so many occasions.  When their eyes met, all the horrible thoughts about what was about to happen disappeared.  All that mattered in that enchanting moment was seeing each other for the first time.  Overriding all other instincts, they longed to be together.  Such events are called moments because they do not last very long.  That was the case with their mutual gaze.