When you have a large group of people on their knees, literally begging you for their lives, their sad faces imploring you for rcy, it can make you think you must be a pretty important fellow.
Im sure there have been many people who have ended up in a similar situation to the one I currently faced and it had given them a massive hard-on (including the won). To have solid proof of your superiority over other people, its what people get into politics for.
I was not feeling particularly engorged by my position of power. Not because I was so kind of angel who was above that sort of thing, but because I didnt believe a word of it.
My life has always been one of little concern to the world around . No one ever thought it necessary to play up to or show deference. The words, Hey, lets ask Colin what he thinks we should do, had never been spoken within earshot of .
Once I got here, that changed. People were a little more wary of , and I got upgraded to, Hey, we better act like we give a shit. Dont worry, its only for now. This dick cant really think he can take us all on, can he? And everyone has a good laugh before getting into character and coming out with the forlorn expressions and pleas for leniency.
I would assu there are cases where people genuinely accept their inferiority to soone usually the guy with the good hair, because we got taught genetics in school and that was the take-ho ssage and turn into sycophantic followers, but I had not experienced that sort of treatnt, except when Laney was around. And that was terrifying.
These people were not showing the signs of the defeated, they didnt have the look of those who have accepted their loss. How would I know if Id never encountered those sorts of people? Its called a fucking mirror.
I know what it is to give up. To accept fully and completely that there is no one coming to save you, that no one owes you a favour they are eager to repay, that there are no safety nets left. Youre on your own and whatever choices you make, whatever risks you take from now on, all agreents are final and very, very binding.
A strange thing happens when you fall that low. It isnt quite as despairing an experience as you might think. Theres a strange strength you gain from losing everything. A cold, hollow strength.
It doesnt give you superpowers or an unnatural resolve that lets you lift a car off a trapped child, but it does give you the strength to not worry about what others think. You can do almost anything if you dont care anymore.
I dont an do anything in the be an astronaut kind of way. I an it in the way when people say, I would never do that. Now you would.
When you et soone like that, they arent angry. They dont thrash around trying to fight the injustice of the world with their burning hot indignation. They are calm and quiet, and are grateful for the small respites where they can find them. Humility is a viciously cold state of mind to be in.
These people on their knees were not looking at like their victor (only Damicar saw that way). They were willing to take my shit for now, patiently waiting until an opportunity presented itself, and then they would make their move. Even if I had the upper-hand, and their chances were slim, they would prefer to go out that way, because they had pride.
Its a cruel thing to take that away from people, but its the only way to make them truly stop trying to fuck with you. Democracy is a good example. Does the losing side gracefully step aside to let the winners carry out their mandate, or do they try to stifle progress as hard as they can until they can get back in power?
Theyre lying to you, said Biadet.
The islanders directed terse looks of anger at her. It was their way of denying even the credit of being able to see through their pathetic sham.
No shit, I said. And I was just about to let them go free in exchange for a lifeti in charge of a giant pot plant. Thanks, that was a close one.
Biadet was still a bit shaky and pale, which was probably why she didnt imdiately pull my gizzard out of my belly button. I have no idea if humans have gizzards, but you get the idea.
Then why would you follow them anywhere? she asked . It was a reasonable question. My thods have never seed logical to anyone, including .
No one ever takes where I need to go, but they usually go past there on the way to fucking over, so they can secretly gloat about how stupid I am. Its like catching large fish with tiny bait. People think youre dumb because youll only attract small fish, which is true. What they dont realise is the small fish you catch are the bait for the big fish, and theyre already on the end of your line.
Biadet looked at with an intense gaze. I think you just made that up.
Actually, that makes sense, said Damicar. My man. Fish in par
Stop trying to impress your friend, said Laney, cutting Damicar off. Its pathetic.
Leave him alone. And yes, I made it up, especially for you, Biadet, you little roach.
They think youre soft, she continued. That when it cos to the final act of destruction, you will hesitate.
And what about you? I said. What do you think?
You let live.
And that makes soft?
I think that makes you a great leader, said Laney, because theyll never expect your true intentions.
Damicar took in a large breath as though he was about to make a counter-accusation against the princess, but she gave him a sharp look and he swallowed his words.
And what are my true intentions?
Laney shrugged. If I knew that, I wouldnt need to pursue you so vigorously. I didnt like the emphasis she put on the last word.
The two girls didnt really understand and, at the sa ti, seed to know better than anyone. Not that that was much of a claim. My one ace in the hole was that I didnt really know what I was doing, either. When youre as much of a self-sabotaging prick as I am, the person you need to stay one step ahead of is yourself.
Do you know where they took Maurices body? I asked Biadet. She shook her head, her usually bouncy bob refusing to swish for side to side as it normally did. The strands were wet and lank, and stuck to the side of her clammy face. Then what good are you to ?
She smiled wanly. To you? Not good at all. For you...?
Hey, hey, hey, disengage your talons, said Laney, stepping in between us. Let us remind ourselves that the person who subdued these savages was myself. If you wish to proceed with their annihilation, the person you should speak to is .
You couldnt get very far in a conversation around here without the royal , , pulling focus.
Do you know where they took his body? I asked Laney.
What does it matter? They will all be dead shortly. Blunt but accurate.
The dragons were doing a superb job of ripping through their park life. I probably couldnt stop them if I tried. None of them looked familiar, although my ability to tell dragons apart has never been great.
You might think they would rember , offer their heads to pat or sothing, but experience had taught dumb animals werent appreciative of my favours. And neither were dragons.
We will take you to the heart of the island, said the acting-president. He sounded a little distraught.
Like I said, lead the way. No one moved.
Were they waiting for to do sothing? Perhaps theyd co up with a clever plan that involved baiting with clues Id think Id worked out for myself, thus running straight into a trap while thinking I was being the clever one.
Joke would be on them, of course. I never pick up on anything. Nudges, winks, carefully drawn diagrams with notations oblivious, mate, ob-fucking-livious.
Richina, who had been enjoying a nice rest all this ti, groaned.
We should no now, said the acting-pres.
Sure. Soone pick up Fire Bird.
Are you sure you wish to take her? said Laney. I expect her to attempt an escape.
We cant kill her, I said.
Then we should at least remove her limbs. Its the casual psychopaths you should watch out for, strolling around with wonderful ideas theyd like to share with you. And while were at it, we should dispatch the short dark one, too. You did your best to save her, but theres no point prolonging the inevitable.
He wants alive, said Biadet.
He wants alive, too, said Laney, which was just confusing.
Just pick her up.
We cant, said the acting-president. Not bound like that. The way is too difficult.
You carried Maurices body, didnt you?
There was an awkward silence. I felt like I was missing sothing. Why didnt they want to take Richina? Were they hoping if I left her behind, she would get free and co save them?
Where is this heart of the island, roughly? I asked. I an, the general direction.
The acting-president looked at his fellow islanders, exchanging nervous glances. Then he pointed down.
Down? Under us?
Hes lying, said Biadet.
I could have told you that, said Laney.
I looked at Richina, who was struggling and failing to get free of her bonds. Laney knew her knots. I bent down and got Richina to her feet. Okay, Damicar had to lend a hand, but I did most of the lifting.
Try anything and Ill start cutting off limbs, I said. Well, not , her. I indicated Laney. Im a bit soft to do it myself.
Richina stopped struggling.
Right, into the shrine we go.
A spear ca flying towards . I could see Biadet trying to get to it, but whatever Id done to her inner-workings with the poison dart, my healing hadnt cured her completely. Laney was on the other side of , so she wasnt even aware of it until it was too late.
The obvious move would be to use Richina as a shield. Which would kill her, and then shed be free to co back. Probably what they were hoping for. Or, I could tank it and hope I was still alive and able to heal myself.
I did none of those. I raised a hand and the spear turned into ash. Wood was one of the things I was good at disintegrating. Plant-matter in general was my bitch. Poor islanders had no chance against , it was just everyone else I had to be worried about.
I can keep this up all day. I had no idea how long I could keep it up. Not a euphemism. Out of the way.
They moved aside instantly. There was genuine fear from them, and it was mostly due to . Good thing I wasnt the sort to get off on that sort of thing.
You guys wait here, I need to check sothing. Keep your fingers away from any dragonmouths you see.
We entered the shrine, down the steps like so many tis before. This ti, though, I knew the little pocket universe through the archway was empty. Arthur had retired to so other corner of his mind. He had placed them all over, so this didnt have to be the only one on the island.
What I had rembered, though, was what Arthur had told about taking Richina into one of his little void prisons. It would collapse, or force the one he was in to collapse. Well, he wasnt in this one, so what would happen if I took Richina inside?
If nothing else, it would give an idea of what to expect when I took Richina to Gorgoth to release the old gods. That was still on the schedule. It would probably end badly, but if you dont stick to your schedule, what kind of a man are you?
Richina seed to sense sothing was up. She resisted as I pushed her along. Then, Laney ca up alongside, smiling.
She doesnt need arms to walk, does she?
Richina beca a lot more cooperative after that.
We reached the archway, , Richina and Laney in front. Biadet following behind with Damicar. There were lots of things I could have asked Biadet about what Peter was up to, what shed been told to do, how it was all ant to play out, but I didnt really care. What reason does a shit need to treat people like shit? Sort of self-explanatory, really.
There was one more attempt at resistance as I pushed Richina through the archway. Its hard for a person like to hurt a woman under any circumstances. Not because Im particularly gallant or chivalrous I think we all know Im not but because its much harder to look down on people if youre on the sa level as them. I like to have a high horse handy at all tis.
Laney stuck her boot in the small of Richinas back and shoved her through. I didnt say I had a problem with other girls treating won badly.
As soon as Richina passed through, the archway shattered. It cracked like glass and then crumbled. I instinctively covered my face with my hands, but nothing hit . There was nothing there, just Richina on the floor, sobbing and muttering sothing through her gag.
With the archway gone, the path continued. To another archway.
Laney was already getting Richina to her feet. Next door, next door. She began eagerly pushing her towards the second archway.
No, wait, I said. All of you, wait here. I didnt know what was through the next archway, but it would be better to check using my spectral form.
But
Wait, I said to Laney. And dont let Richina escape.
And if the Toadstool of Death attempts anything?
You can kill her.
Biadet raised an eyebrow but didnt say anything.
I left my body and passed through the archway. It was dark on the other side, but it was a very green darkness. I expanded my light and found myself in what looked like a mossy cavern. It was crisscrossed with vines and tendrils, but unlike the ones I usually saw in the adjacent world, these were leafy. It was like I was in the 3D web of an aubergine spider.
And hanging in the centre of the web, holding it together, was a figure. Maurice.
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