"I don't understand! Why is the boy important? He's just a harmless boy! Let him go, as he's done nothing wrong!" I said angrily shaking the chains binding my hands in front of me.
"My dear boy you don't understand the rat's nest that you've become involved in do you! The boy is more important than you know and far more important than just a common brigand such as yourself!"
I looked at Larc not understanding and then back to the governor as he began to elaborate.
"We would have preferred his mother, but alas she slipped through our fingers years ago."
"My mother is dead!" Larc said defensively speaking up for the first time.
"No, she's quite alive and well actually. She is a member of the Valley Lander high council. In charge of their security sector, such as it is." Mused the governor.
"We suspected that the boy was still in Kharta, but we lacked knowledge as to where he might be. The boy's father had outlived his usefulness, and the decision had been made to terminate him, when we received word through our sources of the intended rescue of the boy and his father. The father may have outlived his usefulness but the boy; however, is still quite useful to us. Through him we will manipulate his dear mother to allow our agents access to strategic points of interest, which will aid us in our invasion of the Valley Lands. What do you think will get the picture of the new state of affairs across to his mother the best, a finger or a whole hand?"
I lunged for him gaining several steps up the dais before I was jerked back to the bottom by the guards behind me.
The governor got up with some effort, "Roric you too have outlived your usefulness. The only reason that I don't end your miserable misbegotten life now is that your demise has been requested by other important parties in a much more exciting manner so I am led to understand. Take him to the high priestess! She has requested an evening's time with the famous outlaw before he meets his demise in the arena tomorrow. No doubt this evening's entertainment will make the pain of what you will be losing tomorrow all the more acutely felt by you!" The governor said as he began to laugh out loud.
His laughter was soon followed by the echoing chorus of guards and courtiers up and down the hall.