Silas raised an eyebrow. "The king's really that bad? I thought the king was a good guy?" he asked. "He did order the construction of the Star Cathedral and the Silver Basilica."<br/><br/>Ashton pushed aside Nathaniel lightly and looked Silas in the eyes. She noticed fear, confusion and a hint of curiosity, likely directed at Aris. Was the king Nathaniel and Silas talking about the same king? Perhaps the demons themselves had a king. But why would Silas not know about it?<br/><br/>"Aris. Nathaniel. Eve. Amaya," said Ashton, matter-of-factly. She stood up, and beckoned Silas to stand up as well. "This demon will be my responsibility for now, not the responsibility of an injured man. I will question him. It is my duty as a knight."<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Hope that they fall for that.</span><br/><br/>Silas raised himself to his feet, looking at Ashton with a expression of relief. "You're not out of the fire yet," said Ashton, noticing his face.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>Dragging him by the collar out of the training room, Ashton shoved Silas to a quiet corner of the hallway.<br/><br/>"Is your real name Silas?" Her hand went to her sword, and she readied herself.<br/><br/>"Y-yes."<br/><br/>Ashton looked around furtively, hoping not to catch a glimpse of Nathaniel or Aris. Then, she leaned forward slightly with a harsh glare and whispered, "If you tell Nathaniel about Giles, I'll flay you alive. If you tell Giles about Nathaniel, I'll feed you to the pigs."<br/><br/>Silas gulped and nodded meekly. He wondered whether all knights were like Sir Ashton. Giles was a nice enough knight, even though he was a demon hunter.<br/><br/>"Where are you from?" asked Ashton.<br/><br/>"The Bishopric of Ainwaery," replied Silas instantly. Ashton frowned, which immediately made Silas cry out: "I'm not lying! I don't even know where demons come from!"<br/><br/>"<span style="font-style: italic">What</span>are you then?" said Ashton. Her voice sounded like her patience was coming to an end.<br/><br/>"A half-demon."<br/><br/>"A... half-demon?" Ashton paused, her attention off Silas. Did demons really do that sort of thing? But it could explain how Silas seemed so ignorant, she thought. Still, the idea of someone raising a half-demon to his age sounded implausible. Who would spare him long enough?<br/><br/>And was Nathaniel a half-demon too, or a full demon?<br/><br/>"Pater noster, qui es in caelis..."<br/><br/>Silas had begun chanting something, his eyes closed as the words left his mouth. Ashton knew she heard it somewhere before. Somewhere, with a grand piano and a choir, she recalled.<br/><br/>"Sanctificetur Nomen Tuum..."<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">The church?</span><br/><br/>"The Lord's Prayer?" Ashton interrupted. "Why would a demon, or half-demon, know it? Are you of the clergy or of demonic nature."<br/><br/>Silas opened his eyes and smiled politely. "Both."<br/><br/>"<span style="font-style: italic">Interesting</span>." Ashton grabbed Silas's ear, who yelped in pain, and pulled him back towards the training hall. "You get to live for now. But don't do anything I would<span style="font-style: italic">dislike.</span>"<br/><br/>She re-entered the hall, and shoved Silas to a wall behind her. "He doesn't know anything. Is he<span style="font-style: italic">even</span>a demon?"