Pleas of Mercy From the Victim?

JP with Lorem and Omni

Soliam Farm

The Arbiter gave Gonyaul an annoyed look like 'what are you doing?'. The people were already upset about the situation and now he was trying to forgive the man in front of them. She didn't realize it but she was slowly shaking her head in disappointment and disapproval. She looked down at the man and back to the people. She kept her gaze upon the speechless crowd as she held the tip of her sword over the flames just to make it hot.

"I will have answers here or I will have them at the Keep! Speak true, for there are many methods to loosen a lying tongue!"
She could not execute the man without more proof, but she could use some techniques to pry information from him while intimidating the others.

What did she mean? Wasn’t it obvious. He was trying to be a solution to the malevolence and suffering that existed in this moment. He was trying to keep evil from paying it forward with evil. He was trying to keep her reputation from being rooted in fear and loathing. He was trying to give a man a second chance to reevaluate his choices in life.

Gonyaul noticed he was being ignored. That was disappointing. But he didn’t have the power or command in this situation. He looked back to the man struggling under his boot. He held no more ill will towards him, even though the bruising over his body could have given him a reason to.

"Confess! You are a member of the creed! I want your name! And the names of the others!" she brought the sword close to his face.

Gonyaul’s eyes went wide as he saw the sword with the heated point coming closer to the assassin’s face. He spoke up.

“No.”

He didn’t know where that courage came from. But it was out there now. Did he just outwardly defy an Arbiter’s actions?

“Not the way.” He pleaded.

She turned her head in frustration and anger toward Gonyaul with sharp inhale, "Don't."

He met her gaze. His was calm and not angry. He whispered this time so only those close would hear.

“Please. Hate not look good on you.”

She just stared at him, eyes flicking to each of his, left to right. She was fuming, breathing heavily, her heart beating faster than she knew. None of this would look good on her now, but the young man's remark struck something in her. He had a deeply disarming charm about him. She licked her dry lips and swallowed hard, addressing him in a serious tone.

"Gonyaul... this cult is killing people. Draw out the symbol. Just there in front of the fire."

He nodded. She was right about the threat. He crawled to the fire from his kneeling position and expertly recreated the Creed symbol in the dirt near the fire. He drew it large enough that it would easily be seen by those further back.