Born Of Fire Chapter 9

                                    

                                          
Phoenix strode into the butcher shop, taking care to not let the door slam behind him. Past the rough wooden counter, through the swinging door that led to the rear of the shop, Phoenix's eyes fell upon the captured soldier. Grabbing the small key from the hook on the wall, he opened the door of the cell and it swung open with a creak of un-oiled hinges, startling the soldier awake.
                          

                          
Phoenix crossed his arms and stood in front of the man. "You will speak."
                          

                          
Quaking in fear, the soldier stammered through his words. "Do what you will. I will not betray my master."
                          

                          
Phoenix laughed, a ominous sound that echoed around the two men in the cage. "Do what I will? You should be careful what you say, as that may make me think I have to resort to drastic measures in an effort to get the information I desire. Measures that you may not survive."
                          

                          
The soldier's eyes shut for a moment before opening again. This time Phoenix could see a new resolve within the man, who clamped his lips shut. A smile formed on the young mans lips before he started forward and grabbed the soldier by the collar. "First you will tell me why you attacked our village. Then you will tell me who sent you. And finally, you will tell me if there are others like you coming."
                          

                          
The soldier said nothing. Phoenix reared back and punched the man in the jaw, making his head snap back, then hit him again. With his eyes rolling back into his head, Phoenix waited a moment, then spoke. "Are you ready to speak?"
                          

                          
The soldier coughed, then spit a mixture of blood and teeth into Phoenix's face. "I am Soran, servant of Demetrius. May the Gods grant me strength, as our cause is worthy. I will not speak!" 
                          

                          
Phoenix removed his hand from Soran's collar and wiped his face. "Fool," he said, then punched him once more, knocking him unconscious.
                          

                          
Once the soldier was out cold, Phoenix got to work, moving quickly. He cleared the metal table the butcher uses to cut the carcasses, then laid Soran's body on top of it. Picking up the twine used for wrapping parcels, Phoenix let the soldier's hands hang down over the edge of the table, then tied them tightly to one another, underneath the table. He did the same with his feet, which dangled off if the table at the knees, then tethered his feet to his hands. With a sharp knife, he cut the straps on the armor, letting it fall to the floor with a clang. Soran now lay on the table, clad only in breeches. As he started coming to, his eyes snapped open and he looked around wildly. 
                          

                          
"I am still here Soran," Phoenix said. "You will not be allowed to move for this, nor will you be allowed to scream."
                          

                          
Phoenix removed a rag from a bucket of animal fat and shoved it into Soran's mouth, making sure he didn't choke on it. When he was satisfied, Phoenix raised a hand into the air and set it aflame, causing Soran's eyes to grow large. "Oh not to worry. I wont kill you just yet. You still have not told me what I wish to know. But you will. In time. Which is something I have an abundance of."
                          

                          
With that, Phoenix let the flame coalesce at the tip of his pointer finger, making a torch of sorts. Soran shook with fear, and Phoenix brought the torch to the left side of Soran's ribcage and he screamed in pain. Muffled as it were, the sound was music to Phoenix's ears. Music that told him Soran would break.