The two Captains were brought in by Tomoe and two Batavi Guards. They were treated well and stood uncomfortably in the middle of the U shaped seating arrangement with Dom at the top. Liao Hua stood up from his seat and headed to the centre where the two Captains were stood. They looked around nervously at the veteran faces of the Warriors in the room, before turning slightly nervous at the sight of the San Chieftain.
Tomoe stood one the other side of them, her hand gripping her sword as she stared menacingly at the two. They hadn't seen her fight as they were on Liao Hua's part of the coast, however she still gave an intimidating aura, as did the two giant Batavi Guards behind them. Liao Hua's approach relaxed them slightly, the General that had taken them captive had treated them well so far, not that they were sure if that would continue.
"Please introduce yourselves." Dom ordered from his seat, he was young in their eyes, but clearly the leader of this group. They looked upon some of the other faces, such as Subutai's and Zhao Yun's and tensed slightly. Whilst the sight of the San Elders worried them the most.
"My name is Laomedon and this is Antigonus, we are from the City of Papaver." Laomedon began nervously, whilst his fellow prisoner Antigonus seemed unsure of how to deal with the situation.
"And where is this Papaver you are from?" Xun You asked, two seats away from Dom. Laomedon went silent for a second, unsure on how to answer, but could see that everyone else was staring intently at him.
"Four days south from here." Antigonus replied instead of Laomedon, his answer confident as if a realisation hit him that if they didn't answer, then they would not be needed anymore. The fact that someone else had asked the question and not the obvious leader who had spoke first, showed to him that the situation could turn easily.
"Four days? How many Warriors did you bring." Subutai now asked, from beside Xun You. The intimidating gaze in his eyes was enough.
"We brought twelve hundred men and fourteen ships." Antigonus replied instantly, not wanting to risk displeasing his captors, where as Laomedon beside him felt that the situation was now out of his control.
"Which of you was the overall commander?" Zhao Yun now asked, the two Captives could see a slight smile on the face of Dom as Zhao Yun asked, the pressure getting to the two as the different Generals questioned them. They had already answered some of these questions to Liao Hua during transit, but it felt like the other didn't have the answers yet.
"Neither of us, it was Captain Pylades, his ship was the first to leave when it was clear that the Warriors were going to lose." Laomedon replied this time, wanting to show his worth as well.
"And why did you two not retreat, and instead stay behind until the end?" Liao Hua asked this time, already having received the answer.
"To take back our captives. We couldn't return without either the army or our prize." Laomedon explained in a deep exhale. The San delegation were furious at the answer, where as Dom looked towards Xun You who nodded back to him.
"Was it only your unit that came?" Xun You asked them, changing the conversation slightly. The two Captains had been transported by Liao Hua, but there was also other captives in different parts of the camp that they hadn't been introduced to yet. This was a testing question to see how useful the information the two provided was.
"No, there was six groups in total." Antigonus responded honestly, before receiving a nudge in his side by Laomedon. He shook his head in response before continuing. "We were the fourth fleet, I am unaware of the others destinations."
A look was shared between Dom, Subutai and Xun You. They had discovered four fleets, the one at The Cove and the three that had invaded along the coast. Any others would have either had to have gone further North, but they would have been discovered, meaning the final two must be south of the San.
"I do not believe you." Dom stated in a serious tone, looking at them after not speaking for a while. The air dropping as the two Batavi Guards grabbed their weapons and Tomoe began to slowly draw one of her swords.
"I do not know where they all went!" Antigonus replied in panic, "Two left before we reached our destination, the others continued down the coast! We do not know their destination!"
"Doubtful." Subutai commented, as a Batavi Guard kicked Antigonus to the floor, whilst Tomoe drew her blade and put it's cold sharp edge against the back of his neck. The man began to panic, whilst Laomedon beside him stared at his friend in fear.
"There was a location on the coast, a small town buried within the cliffs that was discovered by one of our merchants. That was the furthest destination, the rest of the plan was to set up a base and capture as many local's as possible." Laomedon explained, realising that their deaths were seconds away if he didn't.
"Why were you capturing locals and not creating new trade routes?" Xun You asked, the word that this enemy had merchant ships and more fleets had already made him think deeply.
"Our Leader, the King of Papaver." Antigonus spat from the floor, the blade still against the back of his neck. Tomoe lifted her blade as he spoke, allowing the man a few seconds of respite. "He has ambitions to expand his lands and his own control."
"We have captured other warriors." Subutai commented, giving the two some time to think before they questioned them further on their king. He was trying to give them time to realise that it was best to be more open than anything else. "They do not speak, some don't seem to even have the understanding of how to speak anymore."
"Control." Antigonus spat again. "There are three types of forces, the commanders such as ourselves, who are part of the city. Our families live there and our loyalty is linked to their survival."
"And the other two?" Subutai asked him, seeing that Antigonus had more dislike to their leadership that he had let loose so far. The man seemed defeated in more than one way.
"Those who have been captured or are from the lower levels of our society. They are in a similar situation where their families are slaves and if they do not return, their families will be punished further. The King takes the best of the women, their wives and daughters even." Laomedon explained, "The third are those that are addicted to his Opium. Papaver has fields upon fields of flowers that release this addictive substance. The second group have all been forced to take it and are reliant on it, where as the third as so far gone that they can only just follow simple instructions."
The word of Opium caught them all off guard, they were all aware of drugs and the effects they could have, be that in a medical situation or a recreational. However, using them to control loyal forces was something that was new to them all. Subutai even nodded his head in understanding, realising that it was a good way to control weak frontline forces or those with questionable loyalty.
"So why were you taking so many prisoners?" Xun You asked them, the San also listening in to the conversation furiously.
"Information, so we could come back and take the rest of them. The King is pushing our expansion, he needs more men, and more women for his own enjoyment. Those that are captured are tortured and given the drugs." Laomedon replied, "We do not have a choice of this, if we do not do it, our own families are at risk."
"We are sea farers, some of us have even pirated before. However, even this is a step too far for most of us. A lot of the Captains however are rewarded for their successes and become more loyal to the King." Antigonus explained to them.
"So that is why you rushed back to claim captives?" Kabbo asked, the Elder of the San speaking, he realised he shouldn't have spoke, and went to apologise.
"Answer his question." Dom put forwards, relieving Kabbo that he hadn't overstepped too far. The San Elders and their Chieftain had all been listening in intensely, some panic within them that if Dom's forces hadn't helped them, then they would have had no chance against the larger enemy forces they were hearing about.
"Yes, even if we lost a thousand Warriors, if we took back some captives that led to more, then we would have a chance to join the inner circle." Antigonus stated honestly, "Those that are returning with no warriors and no captives will not have a great return."
"They do have information though, an enemy who can defeat them." Laomedon explained, before turning to the San apologetically. "And another group who are weaker than us that we can capture and enslave."
"As we have been defeated, the other groups will hear about it soon. Whilst I know we have little chance of survival and our families even less. I would implore you to prepare your defences." Antigonus said, trying to gain some favour through his words.
"We destroyed four of your armies today with little loss." Subutai grinned at them, his teeth white. "If the others come, we'll destroy them as well."
"You are just lucky you were captured alive, we sank most of your fleets." Dom added with a grin of his own, "We would have sank more if we had known you were coming, but we'll be prepared next time."
"It's good to know you have two more fleets, I'll send word for more Navy reinforcements, we can hopefully take them out in the water and not have to risk any of our Warriors." Gan Ning added, having stayed quiet throughout most of the meeting so far. "I look forward to sinking them, I missed out on it last time."
"If they land, my Cavalry can take them out. We suffered no losses against your men." Zhao Yun added, his experienced gaze intimidating the two men.
"If you can save our families, I will tell you everything about Papaver." Antigonus wept as he collapsed to the floor, realising that he had found some slight hope in this terrible situation. "If we don't return, they have no one to protect them."
"My son will do his best." Laomedon said to his friend, trying to reassure him, but he himself was doubtful.
"Whilst that would be great, you did try capturing our allies and enslaving them." Dom frowned after another pause, "I think we'll need more information from you before we agree to anything like that. I will need to know more about this King of yours, where you are from and your strengths and weaknesses."
The San seemed impressed by Dom and his forces way of dealing with the conversation, especially how throughout he had treated the San as a close ally. The Chieftain and Elder Kabbo, who were often on different sides of their conversations shared a knowing look that whilst they enjoyed their freedom, they couldn't fight this enemy alone if they returned.
"We are originally from Cilicia, we discovered some fertile land and decided to create our own home. Most of the Captains and senior members are from the original group. The rest have joined over the last few years as we have grown." Laomedon explained, "We have over one hundred thousand residents, but a lot of those are slaves or lower caste, most work on the farms and are addicted to the products they grow. Over twenty five thousand of those residents are in the Military. However the King could call up more if needed. The majority of the Military are like those that you have fought against so far."
"Twenty one thousand are in the Military." Xun You corrected him, "We destroyed a fifth of your forces today, with no preparation."
"He wouldn't come unprepared next time." Antigonus explained in a serious, but warning tone.