Quinlan selected captives to match the broad mixture of races in the company waiting at home: elves, dwarves, beastkin, and mostly humans. One group after another passed through under his wind, their chains clattering until the darkness cut off the sound.
The fear spreading among those left behind gave him an opportunity. He needed some of these people to stay and vouch for the newcomers, but they would also know about his portal and his undead. Allowing them to speak freely afterward would ruin everything.
Forcing that many witnesses into service was beyond what he could afford here. On foreign soil, his Subjugation capacity was limited, and resisting targets consumed far more of it. He needed them to accept the bond themselves.
They could hate him while doing so. Accepting his offer out of fear would still cost less than forcing the bond upon them.
He kept the receiving room and its guards to himself while his wind carried a terrified captive into the dark.
