"Half". And she knew where the rest was... and is trying to BARGAIN with me. And for her parents' lives! Why in the world would I think of freeing another warlord, one who has been defeated and made angry by me and my torturer? He might just come back with another army to try and conquer the area once again!

This is what I shall do. "Cleo, I will send your parents away on a ship, so they will be out of my reach and safe to your satisfaction. Then you will show me where the treasury's remains are. YOUR word of honor that you will honestly do so upon the sail of the ship."

She was freed from the post and given another short garment, yet kept on the chain as I did not yet have her word.

We returned to the castle and I told her she could visit her parents and see that I had stopped the torture, and consider my words. Once she made a decision, we would exchange our words of honor before witnesses. And proceed at once with the ship's voyage.

I called in a minister to go with her: she still was a prisoner. Then my minister of war and I arranged the ship details, choosing the captain and the course.