Eventually the torture stopped. His torturers left him alone. But Micky was sure this was yet another trick. The mind mage was tricky like that. They would even make you revisit the torture chambers and have a little chat. One where you would speak about all of your dirty little secrets. They had gotten several small deposits and some of the main channels from his quarries for the fortress like that. But nothing that wasn’t already earmarked by people higher up than they could dream of. Being the temp. leader had its advantages.

No, Micky knew this was yet another trick, he would not be fooled! The mind mage relaxed him almost as much as they actually tortured him. Bringing him fond memories of home before taking him to his most dreaded memories and back again. No, dementia was his defensive wall! Depression was his greatest weapon! When they soothed his greatest fears he would bring up his greatest childhood traumas. But this wouldn’t hold them off for long. It was a slow process but they had been piecing the mind together into a well adjusted young man perfect to travel amongst society. Well he would show them! Oh would he show them!

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Prin stared off at the prison again ‘one last time’. She held her sword in a white knuckled grip. Oh it looked like a relaxed grip to the passer by, but a white knuckle grip was a common thing amongst those that had been to the front. It was also never a good sign. The most common sign being they had been at the front to long and if they weren’t killed off in the meat grinder soon they would kill off somebody they shouldn’t.

But that wasn’t the reason for Prin’s white knuckle grip. Though she had seen what a fool hardy knight does for their charge first hand. No, this time she was following orders. Like didn’t even begin to describe what she didn’t about it. But she knew better. Her own father hadn’t lived in his position so long because he was politically oblivious. No, it was the opposite, he played the politically oblivious for his master. True diplomacy was always initiated in some far off bandit camp somewhere, probably with a tied up ‘prisoner’ that was about to have a ‘bad day’.

So Prin understood the technicalities of doing your job regardless. She just didn’t like it at all. But this was exactly what Micky had needed at the time. He was prepared for this before it even happened, and had gathered what he needed as it became available. Though just enough that he himself would stay out of the crossfire with hopefully the bigger guys taking things in his stead. In particular the 11th…

She gave the missive, several actually, to the flying messenger. Something that hadn’t been set up in the skirmish till then as it was an unnecessary expense that wasn’t warranted. Something that was almost immediately set up the moment the 11th arrived. Prin supposed the legate had access to something similar though with much more limited implantation.

Luckily this was a military bird, and thus was absolutely corrupt but only to the king and country ,noble that they came from…

In this way the missives that were sent out would get to their chosen recipients. It was a riveting tale of corruption and intrigue and obviously told of how heroic Micky was, even sacrificing life and limb to bring this missive to the appropriate authorities. It even included a copy of the evidence. Not the original signed copy of course, but enough that basically anyone that had a grudge against these officers would have this evidence.

In this way it was just visible enough to not be denied, while also not being enough to cause les majeste and get himself killed. The courts would then get to it, decide an appropriate punishment that Micky will be dissatisfied with and the senior centurions will be willing to actually carry out, and that will be the end(?) of it.

Either way it will be enough leverage to get him out of the position he is in. The fact that he doesn’t have anything else notable, right or wrong, at least that can’t be stolen, is also something strongly going for him. Afterall, he won’t even be a footnote on the fort that he spent so much time on. Forts were always popular, even if they served basically no purpose. Kind of like castles. In fact, forts were only second to castles, now castles were where it’s at!

And all for the low low price of ousting some nobodies could they claim these achievements for themselves. Afterall, if people hear about the name, they’ll know about it, but if they never hear about him, than they can swoop in and take what is rightfully theirs.

Which is what the prince did. He was a handsome lad, right up Prin’s ally, too bad she wasn’t here so he could sweep her off her feet… or the other way around. Oh well, she was busy finishing up.

As it was, the prince was there because of what Micky had sent around. On of which was specifically to one of his supporters. Now the 11th was the 8ths supporter himself but he could make this stretch on his own.

He walked into Micky’s cell and rattled the chains. “You’re a lucky man! If there wasn’t this coup going on I wouldn’t even know you existed!” Said the prince.

He unlocked the chains and said “Welp, now you’re free to go, move along.”

Micky waited until the prince left the room. He waited some more just to be sure. Then when he was sure that the prince had actually left him alone he walked out. He closed his eyes for the expected beating. It didn’t come. He tentatively walked the halls, soon a guard came to pick him up and put him back into his cells and they didn’t! What a twist!

Slowly, but forcefully, the guard pulled Micky along. He hissed as he passed by a sleeping goblin. This set the little demon off and it hissed back, Micky was pleased.

Soon he was at the front desk, “Here’s your items take em’ or leave em’.” Said the guard. It was suspiciously light of items. Notably his centurion legion armor, his silk underclothes, though why someone would want used, soiled underclothes was beyond him. All of his cash, and most of his supplies excluding those that even the soldiers wouldn’t eat or use. They even took many of his important documents. Speaking of, his citizen papers would be most appreciated, and would likely get them in a lot of trouble if they ‘lost’ them.

“I would like my other items please.” Micky said.

He stared at the guard, the guard stared back. They lost each other in each other’s eyes. The guard put two more items on the desk. His stare told Micky he was done. Micky picked up his staff and his papers. “The item spirit wouldn’t let anybody else touch it anyway. Not while you were alive, tough luck for us I guess.” Mumbled the guard on Micky’s way out.

Micky decided not to push his luck much further and hurried along. While they couldn’t have him disappear now that didn’t mean he wouldn’t the moment he left those doors latter if he wasn’t fast enough.

Micky looked at the sun straight in its eyes. It was good to be back out into the light again. He sneezed, ahh the sun. Soon he was picked up by Kux and brought over to his compound. He wouldn’t be getting a send off from his soldiers, even the dukes. They would have to stay here though, while Prin, Kux, and his personal retinue and items, which basically meant the two mounts plus what he had, would come with him.

Micky sighed, he was actually worse off than when he started. But he would still get his slice at least. Afterall, the reason why they couldn’t find the damn thing was because he filed it. Along with the rest of the ‘important’ files like surveys and other things, very valuable things if you know what to do with em’.

Of course, the filing system was terrible, only made worse in Micky’s time by Micky how actually implemented a system that only he truly knew. Thus, he ensured that it would not be found unless he wanted to. Like that mithril deposit that would show up as the half mined deposit just north of a small village owned by the duke by would actually be located deep along the path, or innumeral other things.

Then there was a giant explosion!