Argiala glared down at Elle imperiously. “Guards!” she shouted.
Two of the very large centaur jailers stomped up and stopped outside the cell.
“Open the door,” growled Argiala.
The nearest guard unlocked the cell and swung the door open. Argiala stormed out, and turned back to face Elle. The guard started to close the door, but Argiala put her hand on his wrist.
“Stop,” she said.
“My Lady?” said the guard, a bit confused.
“Leave the door open, and stand back.”
“My Lady, for your safety, I can’t — ”
“Stand back,” said Argiala, and the guard swallowed hard, and took a few clompy steps back away from the door.
Elle glanced up at her. “What are you doing?”
“Get out,” said Argiala, pointing at the hallway.
“What?”
“You don’t believe me. You genuinely don’t understand that the island is a paradise, not just a bigger prison. So begone. You’re free to go. We’re keeping your camera and your bag, for now; but you have our permission to go where you will on our Island. You don’t believe our people are here willingly? That they love and would sacrifice for what they’ve been given? Then go speak to them and ask them yourself. We have nothing to hide. You are a reporter, so go seek our truth. We declare you our guest, for as long as you choose to stay — as long as you keep your nose clean. If you later wish to leave our Island, you can meet us in the Palisade Pavilion, and we will escort you away.”
Elle frowned. “Are you — going to tail me?” she said.
“We don’t need to,” said Argiala.
“Because of the security cameras everywhere?” said Elle cheerfully.
Argiala glared at her. “I can close this door with you on the inside or the outside. Your choice.”
Elle hopped up off the bed and scooted out through the doorway, trying hard not to get too close to the burly eight-foot-tall man-beasts filling most of the hallway. She grimaced, sliding past them, and it was pretty obvious that they didn’t like this situation one bit.
Argiala slammed the cell shut, following her for a moment, and then stopped, and Elle turned to face her. “And do keep your nose clean,” said Argiala darkly, “or you will end up back in here, and we won’t be so generous next time.”
Elle nodded, then zipped as quickly down the hallway as she could.