They decided to hold the inquest in the troll's empty dwelling. First of all, the vampire did not want to torture people in full view of everyone. Maybe they would shout out where the treasure was buried. That's why a secluded place in the forest was ideal.
There Alexander's guards began to drag the yesterday's "masters of life" one by one, who for decades felt themselves far from the king and his power, the real lords of the north.
The procedure was the same for everyone. First, with two or three blows, the vampire turned the face of the person under investigation into a bloody mess, and then, having gotten from the blood all information, took the necessary documents from the assistant and started asking questions. They usually started talking after the liquid in their veins began to warm up "slightly".
Thus, in a few hours a complete picture of all the machinations that had taken place at the mine was drawn up. The most interesting thing was that Archmage Elos, deceiving the king and withholding part of the moon silver production, was himself among the deceived. The management, being in collusion with him, managed to conceal something for themselves as well.
Heading to Archmage Dukun's report in the evening, Alexander pondered whether he should try to hide some of the information and use it to his advantage or whether it would be better to lay all the cards on the table in front of the commander and thus earn additional points in his eyes.
"Still won't believe I didn't appropriate something for myself. On the other hand, I didn't kill anyone and my words are easy to verify. I'll be honest with him. Let's see how grateful an archmage can be."
The report made a lasting impression on Dukun. The extent of the theft at the mine struck him in the heart. The thought of the riches that Archmage Elos had been sitting on for decades made him sick to his stomach. The caches discovered as a result of the investigation, it was decided to open quietly, sending there trusted people of Archmage Dukun, which Alexander described in detail where and what to look for.
The commander of the army was satisfied with the result of the knight's work and wished to see him in the detachment, which would go tomorrow to the form covering the silver mine, it was decided to start the new plan to suppress the rebellion. Even though silver was not as valuable as gold or mithril, the mine was not even large, but simply huge.
The archmage himself was not going to leave the siege camp anymore, thinking that he had had enough of traveling. Alexander's timid attempts to point out that it would be better to start with the mithril mine did not bring any success, repeating his fate of the morning, when the meeting refused to listen to him.
The vampire bowed and assured the archmage that he would gladly go with the squad to storm any fort and would conduct all the necessary proceedings on the spot. Already leaving the archmage's tent, Alexander met Martha Tap.
Baron Savoyardi's magess was a rare guest anywhere, almost not showing herself from her tent and spending all her power only on recharging artifacts. Such participation in the siege, apparently completely satisfied the girl, but something made her show her nose out of her hiding place and look for a meeting with the archmage.
The vampire was well aware that the reclusive way of life did not prevent Martha from keeping abreast of all the news in the camp, her servants perfectly fulfilled the functions of collecting all the information their mistress needed.
Alexander even began to wonder what sneakiness the schemer was up to this time and where she saw an opportunity to enrich herself. But he soon forgot about Martha, and in the morning, wrapped in his cloak, left the siege camp and went on a short hike to the main silver mine.
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