The Champion's Guard

Depths of Deceit

Vax got the gate opened and Percy tied together Ripley's wrists - even though she only had one hand - then slammed her against the wall.

"Alright, talk" he demanded, "you work for the Briarwoods, why would they imprison you?"

"Would you believe I had moral objections to their plan?" She chuckled as if thinking this interrogation was a game. Percy only shoved the head of his gun into her shoulder in a threatening manner, "it was a simple transaction" she said, "they needed an engineer, I needed a patron to find my experiments. When my job was complete, I thought it was time to leave. They disagreed"

"And why am I not simply shooting you, heading to the throne room, and doing the same to them?" Percy asked nonmoving

"Because, Percival, they aren't there. Their concerns lie with the ziggurat"

"The what?" Grog asked

"Oh! The-the zippertwat!" Scanlan remembered

"It was in that Book of Evil" Miel added

"It all makes sense"

"Does it?"

"No, not really"

"Their ritual, whatever it is" Ripley continued, "it'll happen there. And the ziggurat is not up. It's down"

"Ah, the dark power I sensed through the Sun Tree's roots" Keyleth pointed out

"I think she's telling the truth" Cassandra said as she stood next to Percy

"I don't trust a word she says" he replied and moved his gun from her shoulder to her head

"Then trust me" Percy looked at his sister and his gaze softened, thinking maybe he should

"If you let me live" Ripely spoke, making Percy press his gun more into her head, "I'll take you there"

Finally, Percy pulled back his gun, "fine"

Ripely let out a sigh and fell to her knees. Cassandra then walked over to her. "We're only sparing your life because you're useful to us...for now" after that Ripley got up and walked out.

"I'll need my bag" she said and reached for a bag that was next to her cell.

"Wait" Percy took it before she could grab it and started searching through her things.

While he was doing that, Miel couldn't help but glance at Cassandra. There was something off about her now. Before she seemed...normal? But now, Miel was sensing a lot of hate and anger coming off her. Cassandra glanced back at her and Miel looked away quickly.

"Shall we go then?" Percy said as he started to walk

"Never thought you and I would work together" Ripely chuckled

"At the moment, you are the luckiest person in Whitestone" Percy replied without looking at her, "Cause you're at the bottom of my list"

They walked through the dungeon for a couple minutes, following Ripely, until Scanlan decided to break the silence.

"So, Cassandra, was it? Seeing as how we're two unattached adults-" he then bumped into Percy who was glaring down at him

"No" and that was all that needed to be said for Scanlan to keep his mouth shut.

"Nice try Casanova" Miel chuckled, "why would you try to flirt with the sister of the man who his literally holding a gun in his hand, right now?"

"Shut up, Miel" Scanlan muttered in a growl as Miel laughed

Vex couldn't help but stare at her brother's girlfriend. "Why is it, that a few hours ago, she was trembling in fear and now she's all smiles in a dark dungeon?" she whispered over to Vax