Day 297
Mid morning
Patience.
"…
my people.
I'm their king…"
Patience, and fixing him with a steady stare while the rest of my face remains completely still. And not responding with word or gesture.
"…like you
run the place while I'm fighting…"
I can
feel Khoah's
love and
hope as tiny disruptions in the aura of fear that usually surrounds me. People see my closest confidant so obviously happy… No, no, it isn't a problem.
"…forcing people to work…"
Or rather, it's not an existential problem for the community. We're.. not at the level of desperation which we were after the sacking of the City of Thundera. I can afford to be something
other than a stern-faced judge and executioner. After all, it is best to be loved
and feared rather than
either alone.
"…
stole my
sword…"
The boy is
unnerved, and that as much as anything else is making him irrational. And
he knows it. He knows that he's
failing some sort of unspoken test, but he just can't control himself. I'd assign blame to his youth, but the people of this land can't afford to wait for him to get his head on straight.
"…
say something!"
I wait a moment as Lion-O glares and gets his breath back, but he doesn't appear to feel the need to continue his rant. Cheetara's remained quiet, but her eyes occasionally drift to the Sword of Omens now at Pumyra's hip. I'm not sure if whatever supernatural abilities this version has would allow her to break out of the wrought iron bonds holding her wrists behind her back. But even if she
can, I'm confident that I can deal with it.
I lean forward slightly.
"If you've
quite finished?
"
"Let us-" He takes a half-pace forward and beside me
Pumyra's right hand tightens on her newly acquired sword. Cheetara spots
that,
her fear for Lion-O flaring momentarily as she realises that
she might not be able to save him if he persists in his stupidity. "-
go, you-."
I raise my right hand, glowing construct chains attaching themselves to his arms, legs and neck and pulling him to the ground to grovel before me. I add a solid faceplate to cover his mouth and then force him into a kneeling position.
And then I walk over to him and bend down, so that my mouth is closer to his right ear.
"If you've quite finished?"
"Mrrrrrrugh!"
I straighten up and go back to staring down at him. Since my…
Harrowing meditation under the ring's influence I've found that certain things -such as staring unflinchingly- are far easier than they once were. He doesn't have that advantage, and he's trying to maintain eye contact anyway. Again, it just makes him appear weak.
"Then in no particular order. You are the king of no-one. Thundera
fell. Its rulers dead or…
Fled.
"
"Mry ruruh urgh!"
"I took charge because I had the power to protect those who submitted to my authority and the power to enforce my rule. People
stayed because I was able to organise them into a society that is capable of feeding itself. Their numbers
further bolstered by those cats I freed from lizard and rat slavers… And the lizards I freed from
Slithe.
"
Cheetara frowns. "Why would Slithe take other lizards prisoner?"
"Because they don't serve Mumm-Ra.
" I keep staring at Lion-O as I answer her.
"For the most part, the lizards who attacked Thundera did so to reclaim the lands the cats took from them and to prevent
any possibility of another reversal. Slithe was their war chief, not their king. With their objective complete, they want to go home. Slithe won't allow that, and he's been quite brutal in making examples of those who challenge his orders.
"
"Moving swiftly on.
" Lion-O's eyes are watering and he's forced to look away.
"You don't rule here because, as I said, you left. You ran after Mumm-Ra rather than protect your people. And while I'm willing to blame that on your youth and inexperience rather than any underlying defect of character, that abandonment means that there's little residual affection for you here. Pumyra in particular was quite put out that you didn't stop to dig her out of the rubble as you
ran right past her on your way out.
"
"People here work so that there is
food. The lizards' army fed itself by taking food from local farms and granaries. The farmers then
fled. Before I started doing this
no one was planting. And if the fields are not planted then there
will be no food. Everyone will
starve.
" I bring my face closer to his.
"Do you understand why that is bad?
"
He briefly meets my eyes again, and gives me a small nod. I pull back, my eyes still locked on his, and dismiss the construct chains holding him.
"I don't know why you're here. I'm
mildly concerned that your presence will prove disruptive, but that potential damage is minimised by you leaving
promptly. As for your sword? It will be returned when you
leave.
"
I
feel the change in Pumyra's posture. No, I didn't expect that would make her happy. And there is a.. value in having another weapon like my own sword around. But the Sword of Omens would just make us too big of a target, and without a personal lantern I can't fight the sort of force Mumm-Ra could throw at me. Oh,
I'd be fine, but everything I've been building would be utterly destroyed. And while I'm sure that she'll demand an explanation, I've taught her to do things like that in
private. And even if I
hadn't, she wouldn't undermine me in front of the man she
hates.
"Is there anything
else?
"
He
cautiously rises to his feet. "We're still-. We need to fight Mumm-Ra-."
"I think you over-estimate what I 'need' to do. But,
yes, I am willing to participate. Once there's an actual
plan. That has a hope in hell of
working. Though if by some miracle you find a lantern with this-
" I hold my right hand up so he can get a clear look at the sigil.
"-sigil on it, you can pretty much name your price.
"
Because if I get
that, oh, things become a
lot easier. I only had a
quick look at the flying pyramid that Mumm-Ra calls a
ship, but I rather imagine that bringing it up to full functionality would
dramatically improve my situation.
And then… Sinestro did want his Corps to be a force for universal
order, didn't he?
"I'll keep that in mind. We.. need some supplies."
"We have
just a little more than the
bare minimum of food we need for everyone to
live. And you want
supplies?
"
"No, not
food. For our tank. We need help with the repairs-."
"Fine. Talk to the berbils. Anything else?
"
"No, that's-."
"Good. Off you go.
" He hesitates, and I make a flapping motion with both hands as I use the ring to unlock their metal chains.
"Shoo. Pumyra will escort you.
"
"Ah. … Thanks."
He steps away, rubbing his wrists as he does so.
"Cheetara, stay a moment, would you? I have a few questions for you.
"
Lion-O looks back
in alarm, but Cheetara shakes her head. He hesitates a moment, then Pumyra walks up and
shoves him forward. Cheetara and I both wait until the door closes behind them, then look at one another. Her, I
don't stare down. And-. Ah, smile.
"What did you want to ask?" Her expression is
guarded, but there's no sign that she's preparing for an attack. Hopeful.
"I'm not a cat. Obviously.
" I turn away and walk over to my cabinet.
"May I offer you a drink? I'm afraid all we have is
water.
"
"Thank you."
I pour water from the clay jug into two plain clay cups, then turn and pass one to her. Then I take a drink, which she watches carefully before sipping from her own cup.
"There are things I don't understand about cat society, and I can't afford to look ignorant before my people. But since you're leaving soon
anyway, there's no harm in me asking you. And as a cleric, I imagine that you're well placed to answer.
"
"What did you want to know?"
"After the death of a spouse-
" She blinks.
"-what is the appropriate period of mourning before entertaining a new suitor?
"
"Why are you asking?"
"I am extremely fond of Khoah, and… She's fond of me. Her husband died a while ago, and he was by all accounts a fine man. I have no desire to insult his memory, but I
would like to pursue her romantically. So I would like to know how long I should leave it.
"
"Ah."
Oh, of course. Mustn't forget.
"We also have a graveyard. I've tried my best, but all too often people died before I arrived or were too badly injured for me to heal. If you have the time to consecrate it while you're here, I'm sure that it would be a comfort to-.
"
"I'm.. not that kind of cleric. I'm a warrior and a keeper of secret knowledge, not a.. priestess."
I frown.
"Oh. Are you at
all familiar with the relevant rites?
"
"I know the death-rites. If you think it will help people-" I nod. "-then I can say a few words. And there isn't a 'standard' period of mourning. If she.. likes you then it's probably okay."
I smile pleasantly.
"Thank you. I will bear that in mind.
"