As he left, Cortin turned to Bradford. "Okay, Brad, what's this about
unexpected problems? You and Dave should be able to handle anything
that came up in the field as well as I could. Especially with your new
truthsense."
"In that respect, yes," Bradford acknowledged. "But he and I think
what we've found out is going to take your authority to deal with. I
don't want to prejudice you, though, so I'll let you do your own
questioning and deciding."
Cortin was both puzzled and intrigued by his statements. Something
unusual was definitely going on here, and since she'd be finding out in
a few minutes anyway, she decided not to push Bradford on that subject.
She didn't see Odeon on the way back yet, so she changed the subject.
"How was the inspection trip?"
"Better than we expected," Bradford said. "A lot of Archangel's public
buildings survived better than we had any right to expect--not intact,
but not needing major repairs, either--so there are facilities
available with minimum expense for both Archducal Enforcement and
Strike Force HQ. The Governor's Mansion should make you a decent
Archducal Palace, and some of the hotels can be modified for Family
living."
"What about the people? They must have gotten some idea of what's
going to be happening."
"Just speculation, so far, but what I heard was pretty accurate--and
popular. I'd say His Majesty knew what he was doing when he picked you
a fief."
Cortin grinned. "From everything I've seen, His Majesty usually does.
I'm glad to hear it went so well--did Ivan come back with you?"
"Yes--and he's come up with a 'territorial' insignia I'd love to wear."
Cortin would have pursued that, but there was no time; Odeon was
returning, with Blackfeather and Pritchett close behind him, and Bain
was approaching from the holding pen. She moved forward, signalling
Bain to stop. When the group had joined him, now within earshot of the
prisoners, she asked, "Have you done any preliminaries, Lieutenant?"
"Yes, ma'am, but with some exceptions Colonel Bradford has probably
told you about, nothing very productive. None of the hard-cores want
to volunteer anything, and Mother Superior won't hear of an Inquisitor
working on a wounded man under her care."
"Of course not." Cortin couldn't blame her for that, though getting
immediate information would have been helpful. "All right, bring them
over one at a time. It shouldn't take more than two or three questions
to separate them--though with you and Colonel Bradford talking about
unexpected problems, I could be wrong."
"Not exactly," Bain said. "Best you see for yourself, though; to me,
it's at least close to the worst of the Brothers' atrocities."
Cortin frowned, more puzzled than ever. A Brothers' atrocity she
hadn't heard about seemed impossible, but Dave believed what he was
saying, and Brad was nodding agreement. Well, she'd learn about it in
a few minutes, from the ones who'd done it. "All right, have the first
one brought over."
Bain turned to face the holding pen and gave the appropriate hand
signals, then turned back; moments later, troopers brought the first
prisoner out. He looked about 45, his expression frightened, but
seeming hopeful as well--not at all a normal reaction, and it puzzled
her. She frowned to herself, but decided her curiosity would have to
wait. "Were you in charge of this raid?" she asked.
The man shook his head. "No, Lady," he said respectfully. "I wasn't
in charge; I'm not even a Brother."
"True. Well, then, do you have any information you think I might find
useful?"