27 THE GREAT SNAKE CULT 6

At midnight, they returned to Jar Dee city. After the girl had been examined and Empress tended to her wound, they return her to her family. The merchant was greatly graceful when they knew the emperor and the empress themselves had rescue his daughter, and said if ever needed. He will support the Imperial Court with all his fortune. After the merchant family had leave, they bring forth the cultists to the governor hall, and remove their mask. All of them are Downers but the twelfth his an Upper, with blonde hair and green eyes. When the governor questioning them for more information about their cult, each of them background and if there are any other member of their cult still hiding in the city, they remain uncooperative. The Upper appear to be their leader and stated that, nothing can waive their faith to the gods or betray their brothers and sisters, not even death. The Upper keep rambling about divine wrath, will of the gods, and hurling insults and slurs toward Empress Aucelen and Emperor Lam, calling her "pointed ears succubus", "Elvas whore", and he "filthy mutt", "the mistake of nature". A whole hour of interrogate pass without any progress, tired and irritating by the cultist's rambling, slurs and insults, Empress Aucelen then propose another "interrogate method", a very intrusive method.

"you dare! your forest freak!" the Upper yelled when he heard Empress Aucelen proposal.

"oh yes, I am very much dare, and you know who I am so you better try not to resist me, or it will be very painful." Empress Aucelen said grab his golden locks and pull down, her other hand press on his pressure point on his cheeks, holding his head still and look direct at her eyes. Empress Aucelen beautiful icy blue eyes turn milky white and staring at the Upper. Every muscles fiber in the Upper become tense as he trying to resist Empress Aucelen mind probe. But of course it is a very unwise decision. Soon he starting flinching and moaning out loud while their gaze connects. There is no human in recorded history ever could resist an Elvas mind probe. His effort proofed futile and result in extreme pain for him. A few second pass his flinching and moaning stop, the Upper is defeated and no longer able to resist Empress Aucelen anymore. 10 minutes late, Empress Aucelen disengage her telepathic link, the Upper collapse on the floor gasping for air, his mind gone blank and his body tripped of all strength. Empress Aucelen fumble away from the Upper, her breath and heart hasten, her eyes are wet, and she nearly drop to the floor if Emperor had not catch her.

"what is it, Aucelen? What did you see?" Emperor Lam asked.

Wipe away the sweats on her forehead and the tears swelled in her eyes, Empress Aucelen took a second to regulate her breath back to normal, then look at the Upper with unspeakable disgust but also great pity for him. "take him back to his cell." She said.

"what kind of monster do that to his own children." Emperor Lam said, cannot hide his anger in his voice. "lord governor, publicly beheaded them and hung it on the city gate to deterrence other."

"Aucele, you have mention about the Downer man, master of this monster, do you see him in his memory?" Emperor Lam said.

"yes I do, bring me a brush and paper." Empress Aucelen said, then proceed to sketch the Downer man she saw in Touton's memory. When she finished and present to her husband, lay eyes upon the sketch Emperor Lam could not hide his surprise. That slanted, dark and baggie eyes of the man in her sketch still clear in his memory.

"he is still alive." Emperor Lam said.

"you know that man, Lam?" Empress Aucelen asked

"yes, he is the cultist leader that tried to assassinated me at Qua Loh." Emperor Lam throw the sketch on the table. "we will deal with them later, now we have a monster to slay, lord governor begin prepares for the hunt." Emperor Lam said then return to his chamber with his wife.