Zatana glared at Clarisse as the woman laughed, so assured that she would not break under the torture that would come. She had the right mind for the work, the dark elf would credit her that. After all, it was only the job that mattered, and if you failed to get away? Well, that was hardly the problem of your employer or whomever your loyalty lay with under the condition of course that you would not break under torture or had something stashed away as to hasten your demise. Had it been her in Clarisse's situation? Zatana would have bit off her own tongue seeing so many of her fellows captured. If it had been her alone? She would hold out, endure and wait and see if escape would be viable later. If that proved too much? She knew death would be merciful by then if she at first lacked the resolve. Restraining herself from throttling the woman, Zatana gave a mental sigh of relief as the doors opened to admit Balthazar. In this matter, it was better for the spymaster to make the call. Her own fear of her grandfather's potential recall of her and declaring her task a failure was pushing her far too deep into the realm that her torture without restraint might kill a few of them.

Balthazar's words to Clarisse relieved some of that tension however and the dark elven woman nearly crowed in delight at the expressions on the faces of the incompetent assassin and the 'old' wizard. Watching with a malicious smile as Clarisse and her company were dragged off to cells, Zatana spared an ear for Acrius's tale and winced at the many flaws and mistakes. Her own were quite clear and she doubtlessly hear about them in length at some point. Of course, it would match most closely to the own tear she was taking out of her spirit. How could she have joined the siege at the cost of the Prince's protection throughout it? She could have and should have refused the order and her own want to wander and observe the town to remain near Prince Leonidas. It was not a mistake she would repeat. But there was some relief in the fact that the prince would not be dying of the poison. Looking away from the cells to focus on the others and shield her obvious relief of that fact from the prisoners, Zatana felt her spine stiffen as Balthazar turned to her.

And ordered her to get to work.

While the wizard looked nearly as sadistic as a drow could hope, Zatana's fist curled over her heart in a salute. Her black eyes flashing with delight and fury and her smile a hungry grin. "It will be my pleasure, My Lord Balthazar. Would you care to assist or observe at your leisure?" She would not necessarily ask or offer, but Zatana had a measure of respect for the man. It was nothing she would not given her own commander. Looking to several of the guards, she considered them. They were from Bergkoff and she debated using them to assist them. Her lips thinned as she realized they would be of use. If only to help manage the prisoners while she kept herself fresh. Six prisoners to break was no small number and despite herself, Zatana found herself a bit skeptical about the order to be 'quick' about it. As it was, those guards would walk away with tales of drowish torture and that was something Bergkoff would not welcome.

Not waiting for Balthazar's reply but allowing him to stay or go as well as the others, Zatana stalked down the row of cells like some hunting cat. Fingering each door until she came to the man she had captured in the stables. "Perhaps I should have my mare brought down..." She crooned. "She did want a piece of your flesh." The man shuddered as Zatana nodded to the guards as they seized him and dragged him from his cell to tie him to a chair. Zatana paused in front of Clarisse's cell and gave the woman a cruel smile as she followed them. "Gag her and the others, I would not want them to get any rude ideas. Her..." She gestured at the stubborn woman. "You, I shall save for last. It will be most delightful." Continuing to the chair she studied the man in it who looked up at her in terror and Zatana selected a knife from a set that one of the stony face guards brought. "It is not drowish make, but... It shall suffice to make them sing the tunes they know. You." She gestured at one of the guards who was helping to gag the prisoners per her order. "Bring me-" She rattled over several items, some of which seemed nonsensical but with others, there was no mistaking what they were for. Satisfied that her tools would be gathered she turned back the man who was regretting everything in his life that brought him to this point, the dark elven woman gave a throaty laugh. She would start with the weakest and work towards Clarisse then back through the others in reverse order. They would live the first time, but the second time? They had a choice and there was only one way to end Zatana's questioning. To answer her questions.