Bab 183: Delay tactics

Anaisa looked up at Barnabas with vitriol in her eyes.

"Your orders, I assume? I doubt His Majesty would give the order to kill me." She spat at him.

The guards around the king exchanged glances, as if wondering where she got her information.

"Ah, you see, I have been given charge over this mission to root out insurgents like yourself," Barnabas explained briefly, before turning back to the commander. "And will ask, why would you directly disobey orders?"

"Why should you give orders when His Majesty stands right there?" Anaisa interrupted. If she could draw Barnabas into an argument, he would lose his temper. It was a family trait.

He would need to yell and beat her a while instead of just ordering her to be beheaded, surely. He would not be satisfied with half measures when his ire was raised.

"And why have you tied her up but not gagged the wench?" Barnabas elected to ignore his cousin's daughter and speak directly to the commander.