Ben POV

‘Interrogation’ is the means by which we gain information through the target, by ways of making them want to tell you themselves. This is done through either desire or fear.

Promises of wealth? Revenge? Maybe completing some long term goal. Bribery in other words where one trades favour with their captive in exchange for their information. This is difficult as it requires not only a significant amount of investment and knowledge about the target, but also trust. You need to trust the target that they are giving you the correct info, but the target also needs to trust that you will uphold their end of the bargain.

The other method is to use the fear of pain or loss to encourage their cooperation. Torture is what most think about when they heard the word ‘interrogation’. Inflicting huge amounts of pain so that they will tell you what you want in order to stop the suffering.

The problem is that in a lot of cases rather than what you want, they tell you what you want to hear. If they give you the truth, but it is contrary to what you believe is correct, then you continue their torture because you believe they are lying. They then change their story to what you think is the truth. Then you either can’t tell what is true, or worse you think the lie is correct.

This method is not only the worst morally and the hardest to gather reliable information, but it also causes damage to the interrogator themselves.

Very few methods of torture can be done without leaving marks upon the person’s body, and the few that do usually require special materials, such as poisons, or skill like waterboarding. Combined with the fact the subject will not be inclined in any way to remain silent after the event, means your reputation with enemies and allies alike will drop rapidly, with almost no way to remove the title of ‘torturer’ from your head, no matter how much good your actions end up contributing to the cause.

Some have managed to make the reputation work for themselves, the Boltons whose very sigil is that of a flayed man is one of them. They used their reputation to strike fear into their enemies and subjects to become minor kings of the North several hundred years ago. Even today they are one of the strongest Houses in the North, thanks to their history of past victories and their foes outcome.

However I found there is a level of damage psychologically to the interrogator. When you inflict large amounts of pain on a regular basis to defenceless individuals, some of whom you hold no grudge against, it haunts your dreams until you normalise it. I have met and seen men who in order to cope with what they do, they would dehumanise the targets. The men become monsters, so whatever is done to them is good.

Some even begin to associate the pain they cause others with their own pleasure. Every scream they hear that is not their own gives them a sense of control over their lives. These sadists soon cannot live without that sense of purpose and will use any excuse to inflict pain on others. The most famous is probably the Mad King who took pleasure in burning men alive for it made him feel like a dragon.

Of course you could use their fear of others pain, like that of their loved ones, but like desires that requires information and resources I don’t have. Which leads me to my current situation.

As I re-enter the living room, one that gives me a feeling of nostalgia for my home in Oakbridge, I can hear the sound of wood against wood as Brutus drags the other prisoner I approach the man that wasn’t in a possible coma for the past hour.

He told me his name was Harry but not much else. I didn’t want to begin the interrogation in seriousness till they were both awake, especially since the other one may have suffered a concussion which would complicate things.

I must admit, my impression of the Lannisters may be among the lowest when it comes to morals, they do know how to run an army. When Jaime attacked me in King’s Landing I already realised he was a good commander, his forces being disciplined and well trained.

But anyone with enough money can train a few dozen elites. The quality of the bottom ranks tends to determine if they are a proper army or not. These scouts were well equipped, trained and their doctrine definitely surpasses most of the northerners. Against any normal force they would have never been captured.

Their only fault was lacking initiative and perspective. If they had looked at the situation from the side of the enemy then they would realise that the bridge at Fairmarket is essential and thus needs to be monitored. Anyone could see that there would definitely be scouts watching the crossing.

Of course they can’t be blamed completely as in most situations the enemy would have no course of action to prevent detection. To find the Lannister scouts one would have to cross the river, and if you use the bridge then that means the scouts will spot you and they can run away before you can find and stop them.

Even if you send your own scouts first to avoid suspicion, that will only delay so long. You can’t just start searching the surroundings without looking inconspicuous. Then either the Lannisters will retreat, or capture your own scout to interrogate them.

The only way to avoid these situations is to do what I did. Cross the Fork at a spot further West of Fairmarket and circle round out of sight. Unlike the Green Fork, the Blue is considerably thinner and shallower in several locations to swim, or you can requisition one of the many fishing boats in the area.

Of course this isn’t fool proof. Even experienced scouts would have serious trouble looking for people that are trying to avoid detection in a radius of several miles. It is about 50/50 chance whether you find them first or not. I however have an advantage.

Brutus can track much better than any human, and unlike me he can track nearly as well at night as he does in the day through the use of smell. Like this we searched the area undetected until we found several suspicious characters.

At first I worried they could just be locals relaxing on a hill, but after watching for 30 minutes with no other activity than one of them watching Fairmarket, I concluded they weren’t civilians. A quick check to the sides and in the trees, and I reached the conclusion they were on their own for the moment, though I still decided to be cautious.

After giving Brutus the resting person as a target, I removed my water sack and threw it at the man on watch as Brutus charged out. The sack struck the watcher in the stomach, winding him. While he was out of breath I charged up and subdued him on the floor.

Meanwhile Brutus had the other one pinned to the floor, his paw applying pressure to his throat in mimicry of a choke hold. I taught him that manoeuver since we were assigned to the scouts, in case we needed to take someone alive.

After gagging my one tying his hands behind his back, I left Brutus to watch them while I checked the surroundings for anyone we could have missed. I didn’t find anything, but Brutus informed me there were other people’s scents that led away from the hill.

Picking my guy from the floor I realised the other one was unconscious. So tying him the same as the other I sent Brutus to scout where they go while I watched the prisoners. When he came back I picked up the unconscious one and escorted the other while we followed Brutus to an isolated cabin, one that likely belonged to a logger in the past.

I saw 2 men outside, one chopping wood and the other tending the only visible horse. I first considered just leaving and taking my prisoners with me, but judging by the temporary equipment at these scouts spot on the hill it is likely their absences will be noticed soon, making my effort to avoid being spotted useless.

Then I debate taking them alive, but that is quickly dismissed. I already had 2 for questioning and it is unlikely anyone important will be staying here. In addition I have no idea how many are inside the house and though I am not afraid, they might do something desperate or destroy some documents if they realise they are being attacked.

So after tying the prisoners to a tree, with a raised bow I shot the man chopping wood. The arrow went straight through his neck. In his shock he used the few seconds he had to feel the shaft before he choked and fell to the floor. This wasn’t completely silent and the other man started moving over, but I quickly dealt with him, a shot through the eye to destroy the brain.

At this time Brutus had reached the cabin and with one quick strike he was through the door, qi wrapping his body like armour. A few screams later and Brutus returned outside. After checking for any others in the surroundings we brought the dead out of the cabin, I placed them next to the ones I killed before I brought my prisoners inside.

Now I watched as Brutus dragged his prisoner past Harry, where he could see him and let out a gasp at the realisation his friend was alive.

“Harry! You’re alright? Did he do anything? Oi, Sir, Lord, please what do you want with us?” he asked, his fear temporarily decreased due to his relief at seeing his friend. This fear gradually returned as he was dragged further away and out the room. Brutus will take him to where he can’t hear us talking, but not too far that a loud shout won’t reach.

I don’t want them to know what the other said, but also want to reassure them I won’t make them scream. Facing the remaining man, I talk to build a connection and understanding.

“Do you know who are one of the worst enemies?” After a pause I continued. “It is the ones that don’t surrender. If an opponent is determined to fight to the end it makes victory much harder. I personally feel that was one of the greatest differences in the rule with the Mad King and King Robert.

On one hand you have the Mad King who would often burn his allies, let alone the tortures he inflicted on his enemies. And the other was Robert, a man who sent his personal maester to tend to Ser Barristan, a man that tried very hard to chop his head off. Aerys’s enemies couldn’t lose, or they would face a fate worse than death. Robert however spared many of those that opposed him.

History has shown that those who spare the defeated tend to have more defeated to spare. My Lord, Robert Stark, is your enemy. You, are my prisoner. I could kill you, or I could torture you first.” That brings a twitch to his eyes. “Or I could spare you and your friend. Let you leave so you can spread the benevolence and mercy of Robert Stark all across the Kingdoms. So that when we surprise your allies at Riverrun, they will do the smart thing and surrender.”

I let him ponder on my words, the desire for freedom conflicting with his distrust for me. Before he can decide, I remind him of the situation he is in before he commits himself to resistance.

“I WANT that to happen. But I NEED the information you and your friend have. Which is why I am going to ask you some questions, and then I am going to ask your friend. For every piece of information you give that I think is useful, I will give you a silver stag. Tell me enough and you will have enough to travel home and avoid this war altogether.” As I show him the coins one by one his eyes are drawn to my hand.

“Of course this is all under the assumption you tell me the truth." The coins disappear and my smile turned to a snarl. I take a wooden plate from the table, one of the simple but sturdy ones, meant to last a long time.

“If your stories do not match, then one of you is lying. If one of you is lying, spitting at my generosity and kindness, we will go with the first option. I will break each of your bones *snap* one *Snap* by *snap* one.” Towards the end of my sentence I use qi to strengthen my hands and snap the plate in half, before taking the pieces and snapping them again.

When I had four pieces I was afraid I wouldn’t manage it and embarrass myself, but flaring qi hard eventually did it. In the end my point was made, and on top of fearing what he knows I can do, he now fears the unknown after that display of superhuman ability.

“I’m going to give you a few minutes while I go and explain this to your friend out there. When I come back I am going to remove that gag and you will tell me what you know, and only know not think. I will then do the same with your friend out there. I suggest you think carefully about what you want to say, because if I need to come back no-one will be happy.” As I say this I leave the room, the sweat falling from Harry’s brow going unseen, though I could hear his panicking breath.

I may have walked a bit quicker than I hoped, and once I was outside I clutched my hand that was cramping badly. After letting it settle I resolved to only do 2 snaps with the next one.