1.38 In Which the Dark Lord Repaints a Barn

1.38 In Which the Dark Lord Repaints a Barn

D-did you just say... one of the street soldiers stammered.

Fuckin lunatic, muttered another.

Cauth pivoted to face me fully, his battleaxe braced in both hands, ready to swing, though the look on his face told me he knew his chances against me in a fight. His voice was tense with it.

For real, though. Who are you?

I ama man of wealth and taste. They couldnt see me grin beneath my mask, but I like to think I expressed it with my insouciant saunter as I strolled closer to them. My very presence abruptly reversed the dynamic in the room, with the thugs clutching defensively together the way the cornered prostitutes had been a moment before; Minifrits girls now began to spread out around the walls, either deliberately or unconsciously moving to encircle the predators who had abruptly become the prey. And whats puzzling you is thenature of my game.

Thats for damn sure, commented Nierit, one of the Alley cats whose sardonic humor I had come to enjoy during my visits.

Now, Im sure you all have many questions. Public speaking wasnt my forte, exactly, though performing experience had long since cured me of any hint of stage fright and Id gained a little practice on Ephemera. I had a sense of rhythm and timing even when not singing, but beyond that, my best idea for physical presentation was the broad gestures Id seen from certain preachers Id seen on video, a blend of American televangelists and one of those quasi-Christian cults from Korea. It seemed to work okay; I definitely had everyones attention. I have only one.

Yeah, yeah, the price thing, muttered one of the only two female thugs with Cauth. We know, weve heard it.

Oh, I think I have enough of a picture now to tell me who has paid the price, I said. No, this is a deeper question. A challenge, and one I want you all to really think about. Pause for dramatic effect. Spread hands in a TV preacher gesture, then resume speaking at a lower pitch but subtly louder volume. What would you doif you knew you could get away with it?

Nobodys getting away with shit, Cauth stated, still all but vibrating with barely restrained tension. Youve had your fun, Healer, but youre already in deep shit. Lady Grays dealt with more powerful enemies than you. Whatever youre thinking about doing next is only gonna make it worse. I suggest you back off

Pardon me, my good fellow, I interrupted in my kindest, politest tone, at which I was admittedly a little rusty. You seem to have misconstrued the situation. Allow me to clarify.

Immolate.

By this point I was almost No, I decided, watching the leader of the street toughs scream as he dissolved in fire and his crew scattered away from the blaze, I couldnt say I was numb to it. This was still hard to watch, and harder to live with the reality that I had done it, on purpose, to another human being. But it was definitely not as hard as it had beenas it should be. Not to mention the rest of tonights work; I was pretty sure Id killed at least one person and definitely left quite a few more badly injured, not to mention the several Id subjected to this grotesque torture. Thinking back to my first day, to the shock and sick terror of duking it out with Harold and Kasser, the way I had nearly lost my lunch after provoking Aster to execute Rocco

Ephemera was leaving its mark on my soul. You cant survive in a violent place without becoming a violent person. And while mostnot all, but mostof the people Id hurt or killed had richly had it coming, I found that I very much resented it, even more than being stranded here. Id never claimed to be a saint, but I was having to become a measurably worse human being just to get by. That was a bitter thing to live with.

While looming over Cauths unimaginable suffering and mulling the implications, I did step forward to pick up his dropped battleaxe. I had a use for that, come the next stage of this confrontation. Apart from that, making a passive demonstration of my serene comfort in dealing out fire and agony suited the impression I needed to cultivate here.

It really said it all that the rest of Cauths men didnt even try to retaliate. Theyd pivoted amazingly quickly from menacing the girls to trying hard to look harmless and innocent.

Not that that was gonna help them.

You threatening me with Lady Grays wrath is pure comedy, I said calmly once Cauth was once again lying on the floor whole, hale, and faintly smoking. I will deal with her soon enough, and believe me, she doesnt know what shes fucking with any more than you do, boy. No, your previous plan was the best one you had. I was not inclined to kick up a ruckus in Miss Minifrits establishment. But you had to go and ruin her setup, didnt you? And now, here we are. Just you, a large group of the people whose livelihood you just ruined, and me. And you know what that means?

Very slowly, I leaned forward, enjoying the way several of the bandits edged further back from me. It was now they who were pressed against the walls; when theyd fled from Cauths pillar of fire, the prostitutes had likewise bolted and were now clustered around Minifrit, behind me in the doorway. I spoke straight from the diaphragm as if in a concert hall, my voice deadly calm even as it thundered through the barn and echoed off every wall.

I. Own. You.

There were two beats of silence, and then one of them started very softly crying. How precious.

Not as funny when it happens to you, is it? I drawled at the individual in question. He tried to hide behind one of his compatriots, who angrily shrugged him off.

Youre not gonna save the world, Cauth rasped, stumbling up to his knees and glaring pure hatred at me. Thats not how the world works. Doesnt matter how much power youve got, the world eats idealists like you.

Thats the first correct thing Ive ever heard you say, I replied. Save the world? Please. Worlds are not for saving. I realize you people dont have a basis for comparison, but this world in particular is a broken wreck with nothing on it that could be salvaged, even if anyone had the capacity. You call me an idealist? Well, maybe. I wasnt sent here to fix anything. I have the power to heal whoever is right in front of me, and to destroy Well, a great deal more than that. I help wherever I can, and if that makes me an idealist, then thats a sad commentary on the state of ideals.

I moved while I spoke, ambling to one side at a languid stride that I hoped would continue to resemble an active preacher pacing behind his pulpit, though the real purpose was to shift my view so that everybody was once again in sight. They were now divided down the middle, the Alley Cats girls on one side and Lady Grays men on the other, with the distance between them now my invisible podium. Aster, displaying a knack for showmanship, had placed herself on the other end of the no mans land, sword at the ready.

And when salvation is off the table, when there is nothing left but destruction, what is there for us to do, but point it where it best belongs? Nothing thats wrong with this city, or this country, or this world, is anything that just happened. You all live in misery and squalor because someone decided it served their desires for you to do so. It didnt have to be like this! All of this could have been avoided. Well, its too late now for us to escape the fate of short lives and violent ends, so I mean to turn the full force of my disappointment on those who are at the root of all this misery. From your precious Lady Gray, to the Clans of Fflyr Dlemathlys, to the churches and kings and the very goddesses themselves!

At some point, my act had faded away, leaving behind somethingmore. I felt it taking over, driving my voice to a greater speed and higher pitch, a simmering rage I hadnt even realized I was carrying now bubbling to the surface and starting to spill over as I articulated what was actually wrong with this whole fucking planet, and what little could still be done about it.

Im not going to promise you anything fanciful like liberty, and certainly not justice. Realistically, not even life, because who knows whatll happen to any of us tomorrow? What I promise is some god damned punishment.I intend to watch everyone who laughed while we suffered bleed, burn, and spend their last moments of existence in pure regret for what theyve done to us all.

To my amazement, I could see from the expressions of my audience in Firelights glow that I had swept up a lot of themand not just the Cats employees, but even several of the thugs I was actually threatening, a fact they seemed to have forgotten. Minifrit was watching me with narrow-eyed calculation, but nearly all the faces of her girls were alight with a combination of fury and hope that mirrored what I was feeling.

It was time.

Ive been hearing rumors that Im the Hero. I assure you, nothing could be further from the truth. It wasnt Sanora who brought me here.

Reaching up to my face, I grabbed the strip of fabric covering my mouth and yanked it free, shrugging back the hood in the same motion. At the signal, Biribo buzzed out of hiding, doing a complete spin around me before coming to hover at my shoulder.

I am the Dark Lord Seiji, and I mean to burn this entire motherfucker to the ground.

Now that the moment was here, after that speech, it was almost anticlimactic. No, I realized; this wasnt the climax. This was the final moment of tension before everything plunged one way or the other at a speed that nobody would be able to stop or control. Breaths were drawn in, eyes widened, faces creased with such a variety of expressions I couldnt even parse the whole.

And I realized, nearly too late, that it would be a mistake to simply wait and see what happened. If I was going to keep riding this crazy horse, I couldnt relinquish the reins.

Kastrin. She was already staring at me with a kind of immobilized frenzy. I couldnt even interpret the expression on her face, but at the moment I was thinking of other looks Id seen her throw over the course of the night, and decided to play a hunch. The one who beat you up. Is he here?

She twitched, physically, and jerked her head around to stare at Cauth with the same expression of vicious hatred shed shown him earlier. Her lips drew back in an animal snarl; from deep in her throat came a rattling hiss like an angry leopard.

Well, he has no power now, I stated. There is nothing he can do if I decide not to let him, and no one whos capable of avenging him. Not against me. So I will ask again the question I posed to everyone: If you knew you could get away with it

I extended my arm toward her, placing the haft of Cauths own battleaxe within her easy reach.

What would you do?

Kastrins fingers closed over the shaft, slowly, at an almost dreamlike rate that belied the intensity of her expression.

Cauth tried to draw himself back upright, bracing his fists. Dont you even fucking think about it, bitch. A borrowed weapon doesnt make you anything more than a little whore.

Slimeshot.

He went down with another howl of agony, this time not accompanied by the roar of flames but by the brutal crack of his knee breaking right where Id just fired a slime into it from two meters away.

Oh, dont complain to me, I said, as disdainfully as I could manage. Youre a smirking little slime who needs to beat up prostitutes while hiding behind Lady Grays skirts to feel like a big man. Lets face it, you were always going to die on your knees.

She barked a harsh laugh and threw her bloodied dagger to the ground. Fuck you, Dark Lord. Im not stupid. After this nights work, either you kill me or Lady Gray does. I just had business to settle with those two first. Theres others Im sorry I wont get to finish off, but fuck it, you cant have everything. Now Im sure your pet sluts are gonna tell you all about how badly I deserve to die, so lets get on with it. Folding her arms, she lifted her chin, staring defiantly at Minifrit. I aint about to beg. Hells revels, I hope some of the rest of you fuckers can find your balls. Be a fucking joke if Im the only one in this whole crew who can die like a man.

I regarded her curiously for a moment, then turned to Minifrit.

The madam had her omnipresent pipe out and had actually stuffed and lit it at some point during the proceedings; the cinammony smell of whatever Fflyr smoked (it wasnt tobacco and I have no idea what marijuana smells like) was actually a relief, what with the stink of death in the air. Aside from the blood, it turns out that corpses immediately lose bowel and bladder control.

Jadrin, Minifrit said, blowing a streamer of smoke in the womans general direction. She never worked for me, but she was employed at three brothels over a grand total of two weeks. They all kicked her out for fighting, with patrons and other girls. Working under Lady Gray has been a much more suitable application of hertalents.

I dont have a problem with Jadrin, Adelly piped up. She doesnt pick on Alley cats the way most of the women who work for Gray do.

Jadrin squinted at her. Didnt I punch you once?

And I punched you right back, Adelly retorted.Most of em use weapons.

Jadrins cool, added Ennid, the youngest girl in Minifrits employ, who as usual was partly hiding behind the madame. She found enough spine to lean out and speak up, though. She sent me to Minifrits place when that old harpy Magdid tried to rope me into working for her. Id probably be dead by now if she hadnt butted in.

Well, well, I said, turning back to Jadrin, who looked utterly bemused by this turn of events. What do you say? Want to help me bring this country to its knees?

She met my eyes, and her gaze sharpened into something like hunger. Will I get to kill highborn?

Provided you can follow orders? As many as I can arrange. I wont promise the pay is as good as

Fuck that, Jadrin interrupted, her gaze growing downright avid. Ill follow orders, do whatever you want, spread my legs for you or whoever you say. As long as I get to fuck up Gray and the Clans, I am yours.

Well, this was a surprising acquisition. But to judge by the nearly fanatical expression on her face, she was the living embodiment of the rage against the system I had come here to weaponize.

That wont be necessary. Just as long as you strike when, where, and whom I tell you, there will be plenty of blood to spread around. Im not going to have you upsetting my plans or causing a problem within the organization, however.

She grinned broadly, and I thought I discerned more than a slight glint of madness in her eyes. I am in, Dark Lord. Far as I give a shit, Viryas just as good as the other one.

So, Jakkin and Jadrin. So far, he seemed borderline timid, another of those types whod fallen into a life of crime due to bad luck and not being good for much else. And she Well, it looked like Id picked up another Donon and another Sakin.

Great.

If I might suggest a change of approach, Lord Seiji? Minifrit drawled. Ill remind you that all of these cretins were just complicit in depriving all of us of our home and livelihoods. Rather than spending half the night judging each of their sins one by one, may I suggest we presume them guilty, and ask whether there are any others on whose behalf one of the girls will speak out?

Now, thats a fine idea, I agreed. I appreciate your good business sense, Miss Minifrit. Well, ladies?

In the ensuing silence, something was softly dripping.

Listen here, one of the remaining thugs snarled, brandishing his club. Were not just gonna line up quietly for you to butcher like sheep!

I respect that, I said, nodding to him. Immolate. Aster, if you would assist me, please?

I was probably going to have nightmares about this. To be honest, part of me hoped I did. I was beginning to be bothered by how little I was bothered by all the murder.

Minutes later, we retreated outside the broken-down barnor was it a warehouse? Oh well, didnt really matterto enjoy the fresh air. It really stank in there by the time wed finished. Aster and I were both splattered with blood, as were several of the Alley Cat girls whod insisted on participating. I gave everyone a quick Heal on general principles. Goddesses only knew what sort of plague was percolating in that ichor.

So, Minifrit said, turning to fix me with that piercing look of hers. I have to admit, Dark Lord was not one of my theories. Her eyes cut to Biribo, then back to mine. I suppose it makes sense you dont start off at the head of an empire of monsters. Everyone must work their way up from the bottom. I see what you were doing, now; I could more or less tell the shape of it weeks ago, but there remains a question whose answer I still do not understand. She paused to take a long draw from her pipe and blow it out slowly, and I allowed her to do so without interruption because I sincerely admired her command of dramatic timing. Game recognizes game. Why whores? There are more lowborn in Fflyr Dlemathlys who would turn on the regime than not, if they had the backing of someone who could actually pull it off. Just off the top of my head, the agricultural serfs alone have just as must resentment, and significantly more muscle.

And if Id known about the agricultural serfs when I started out, I would probably have aimed for them instead for exactly that reason. Still, I did have an answer to her question, which remained true even now. I prepared to give it, waiting for her to finish her little parting shot, as she liked to do.

If you have ideas of building yourself some manner of harem, I suggest

Groans of pain, screams. Eyes filled with desperate hope, or too beaten-down and weary to be filled with anything. The smell of rot and disease, sores and bruises barely visible under the dim blue whorehouse lamps

All this flashed across my vision out of nowhere, causing me to physically jerk. I dont know what Minifrit saw on my face, but she broke off speaking, her eyes wide in the first expression of unguarded surprise Id ever seen on her.

Fuck. I didnt know why this kept happening, but I needed to get it under control somehow.

I am, as you pointed out, just starting off, I said, covering as smoothly as I could manage. Whores may or may not have more reason than others to resent the system, but no one else is treated with as much unjustified contempt. Anyone who might have the power to stop me at this early stage would laugh at the idea of you as a real enemy. Their arrogance will be the knife I slip into their hearts, and you ladies the hand that wields it. If, that is, you will join me?

Off to the side, Jadrin folded her arms and made a thoughtful face, nodding. Jakkin just stood there looking confused.

Minifrit regarded me thoughtfully for a moment, then turned to gaze at her assembled charges, raising one eyebrow.

Champion of Virya, though, Sicellit said after a pause. I mean Its not like weve got anywhere else to go, now. And after that little taste, if you can give us the opportunity to spread some more punishment around, I for one am sorely fucking tempted. Its just thatVirya? None of us are paragons of virtue, Lord Seiji, but I dont think any of us have ever thought of turning against the Goddess.

The, uh, other goddess, Iredi clarified.

Adelly snorted. Fucking Sanora, whats she ever done for any of us? The Radiant Convocations just another thing that kicks people around and demands taxes. At least the Kingsguard dont give pompous lectures about how living in misery and squalor is our divinely ordained place. It wasnt the Hero who came to Cat Alley and offered us healing.

Ive met both goddesses, I informed them, and I am here to tell you: whatever horrible things youve heard about Virya dont even begin to cover it. Shes a fucking monstrosity and if I could stab her in the heart I would be doing that right now. What, were you expecting a surprising revelation about the goddesses? I asked, grinning bitterly at their surprised expressions. Well, good, because I have one: Sanora isnt any better. Ephemera and everything on it is justtoys to them. All of it. Spirits and Blessings, artifacts and scrolls, dungeons and miracles, the stupid fucking coins. The goddesses are immortal, all-powerful, and bored. The great struggle of good and evil is just a game they play.

A moment of weighty silence hung over the small crowd after that pronouncement.

Well, that makes way too much fucking sense, Nierit muttered at last.

Minifrit indulged in another long drag, then blew a stream of fragrant smoke skyward. So. A short life and a violent end Or a short life and a violent end, plus the chance at a little revenge? Well, girls, what do you say? Up for a career change?

I studied the assembled faces as carefully as she did. Not everyone was fully enthusiastic about this, I could tell. Adelly, Kastrin, and a few others seemed to be veritably chomping at the bitJadrin was among those. But at worst, the girls were uncertain, watching Minifrit to follow her lead. No one seemed openly apprehensive.

Dear god, Id just cost these women their home, made them watch an all but literal bloodbath, and now offered to recruit them into a doomed guerrilla army, and not a one of them seemed particularly reluctant. How badly do you have to ruin your citizens lives before theyre this willing to turn on you? Fflyr Dlemathlys urgently needed to be scoured off the map.

And now, I was a big step closer to doing it.

I assume, Minifrit said dryly, you have a place for us to stay, now that we have lost ours? Your evil lair had best not be some manner of dank goblin cave, Dark Lord.

Oh, I replied, grinning, I can offer you a little better than that.