"Wait, wait, wait," Warren repeated as he backed away from Tyrion. "I was at Amelia’s home for work at first, but then she wanted to pay me to spread around the town how the duchess doesn’t care for my mother."
Damien offered Tyrion the knife, but it wasn’t taken.
"Go on," Tyrion urged Warren to speak.
"She paid me again to approach the duchess at the ball. To speak of how my mother wasn’t cared for. That is why I went up to the Collinses. That is all," Warren said.
"Should we torture the rest out of him?" Damien asked, not believing what Warren said.
"No," Tyrion shook his head. "I believe him. He’s on the verge of pissing himself. Hold the knife, Damien. I don’t need it. Bring me the bar," Tyrion said, his plans for Warren’s eyes remaining.
"Wait! I told you the truth," Warren said, his back pressed against a wall.
Warren didn’t have anywhere else to run. The window wouldn’t open. Warren had failed to get it to open when he thought the guards weren’t watching him.
Warren considered the chances of him getting past Tyrion and the guards around. He would die before he got to the door.
"You did," Tyrion agreed with Warren. "But I recall only giving you one chance to give me a proper answer, and you spat near my shoe. I’m not in a good mood to offer you a second chance."
Warren gritted his teeth. Had he known that Tyrion was going to deceive him , he would have kept why he met Amelia to himself.
Warren watched as a guard came in with a metal bar with an orange and red hue, which was still sizzling. It was carefully handed to Tyrion, who didn’t flinch despite how hot the other end of the rod was.
"I was kind not to go through with my plans to get rid of your tongue. I might be able to get some answers out of you, but as for your eyes, I’ll help you to keep them closed. I’ll do something else for you," Tyrion said, stepping to the side so his guards could enter. "I’ll show you power. Hold him down."
Warren clenched his fist, ready to fight anyone who came near him.
Warren threw the first punch and missed, but connected with the second one, which gave him confidence. If he were to die here, Warren at least wanted to make it to Tyrion and press the metal bar against his face so Tyrion would be reminded of this moment for life.
"Get off of me. You bastards!" Warren yelled, beating on the men who tackled him.
The guards were stronger and weighed more, which didn’t make it a fair fight in Warren’s eyes.
Warren locked eyes with Tyrion for a moment and saw how Tyrion stood back whilst his followers did all the work.
This was just like Edgar, but as Warren was forced down to the floor, he had to admit that this was the kind of power he sought. He longed to have others serving him, yet he was unfortunate to have to do what he wanted by himself.
Warren continued to fight against Tyrion’s guards as Tyrion walked over to him.
"Out of the way," Tyrion said, not wanting to burn anyone on his side.
"I’ll tell you what else I know. I’ll tell you everything," Warren frantically promised. This was his last resort. "There’s more you have to know."
Tyrion didn’t care for what else Warren wanted to share, yet. Tyrion got what he and Edgar wanted to hear concerning Amelia. Warren had plenty of body parts to torture for more answers.
Warren closed his eyes, as though it would stop Tyrion’s plans, and tried to turn his head, but someone grabbed his head, keeping him in place.
Warren made the mistake of opening his eyes just as the hot bar was placed against his face, and a gut-churning cry filled the room.
Warren’s body thrashed as he tried to get the bar off his face, but Tyrion was persistent.
Warren screamed for every second the bar was on his face.
Tyrion lifted the bar after he thought the job was done, and as he lifted it, some of Warren’s flesh peeled off with the bar.
Tyrion didn’t have much time to spare, so he placed the bar directly on Warren’s left eye. The cry that filled the room again did nothing to make Tyrion regret what he did or sway him to go easy on Warren.
Tyrion couldn’t count on both hands how many times Warren had tried to push himself before the Collinses, because there were too many instances long before Tyrion married Penelope. Warren had to learn the consequences of his actions.
Sometimes, when you walked with envy and chased after what belonged to others, you got burned.
Tyrion removed the bar and handed it to a guard. He inspected his hands, which had red marks from where he held the bar. It would take ointment from the palace to heal quickly, so Penelope wouldn’t notice.
"Let him rest," Tyrion ordered the guards. "No one is to disturb him until he is to be carried out to the dungeon. I don’t have any use for the hot water anymore."
The state of Warren’s eyes and the surrounding areas were more than enough to satisfy Tyrion for now.
Since Warren was only going to cry for the next few hours, Tyrion decided to leave.
Damien took one last look at Warren’s face. Luckily, he was used to such gruesome sights that this wouldn’t haunt him.
Warren should have taken the chance to give a proper answer when it was given to him.
Damien followed Tyrion out of the room and asked, "Should I send someone to inform the duke of Amelia’s plans with Warren?"
"You are to wait for me to give you an order, not come up with what you think you might have to do, Damien. We’re going to keep this bit of news to ourselves," Tyrion said, having plans for Amelia and her family. "You’re Penelope’s guard now, so focus on my wife."
"I’m sorry," Damien apologised.
"Don’t be. I’m in somewhat of a terrible mood right now. It would be good to bring Amelia here to see what has become of her little friend, but I have a better idea. Teo isn’t going to like it," Tyrion said, plotting.
Tyrion knew what Amelia wanted most, which was to be courted by the crown prince with hopes of becoming the next queen.
It was going to be hard to convince Teo, but Tyrion was certain he could get his brother to do this one favour.
"Have my carriage prepared for me to go to the palace early in the morning, and have someone keep watch of the Prescotts," Tyrion ordered Damien.
Tyrion stopped before he got too far away from the knight’s quarters. "Where are the maids who were speaking about my wife?"
"Still working. They think they are safe," Damien replied.
"Remove them," Tyrion said. There wasn’t room for gossiping fools here. "Keep an eye on them as well. The moment they speak of my wife again, kill them."
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