Tearing Down Roots
Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2020 2:53 pm
Darbyton: The Logging Consortium.
3rd of Ymiden, 720
3rd of Ymiden, 720
It was an odd feeling marching with an army at your back. Even if it was just a small troop of Element soldiers, Tio couldn't deny the sense of authority that came with it; the knowledge that with but a word and a raised hand he could have anyone he wanted assailed by a group of trained fighters. It was a heady feeling. No wonder so many tyrants travelled with a procession of royal guards at their beck and call.
The people of Darbyton scattered like chickens before a hound as Tio led the army through their town and up the road to The Logging Consortium. Slowly the crowds of everyday civilians blended into lumberjacks, and more than a few of them ran off to the head office as soon as it became clear where their destination was. By the time Tio had reached the offices a crowd of lumberjacks, all brandishing wood axes like weapons, had gathered protectively around Cornel Sherapo and her three head foremen.
"Devout Silver! What a pleasant surprise." Cornel began, effortlessly bringing up the sweet, innocent smile on her face she wore at public events. "I must say this is quite unexpected. What brings you all this way, and with such an... entourage?"
Oh how he'd been looking forward to this part. The corner of Tio's lips twitched up into a smirk as he steped forward, pulling a roll of parchment out of his coat. "Cornel Sherapo, by the power invested in me by the council of Scalvoris I hereby place you under arrest, to be taken and detained immediately within Element Hall until such a time as your innocence or guilt can be determined by trial. In the mean time all property, resources and assets of The Logging Consortium are henceforth claimed by the council following evidence of the companies involvement as a front for an illegal enterprise. I will ask your head foremen to also accompany us to Element Hall for the purposes of providing testimony, though stress that this is entirely optional and that they have not been formally charged with any crimes at this time."
As he'd expected his announcement was immediately met with angry mutterings from the lumberjacks, who stepped forwards with weapons raised to guard Cornel. Their loyalty was touching, if not a bit misplaced. Fortunately there was still a way to solve things without violence. Tio took another step forward and this time looked over the assembled crowd, allowing the enchanting power of his voice to flow forth like water over them and ensnare their sensibilities. "Easy friends, easy." He crooned, his voice possessing an almost whispering quality. To his delight he could immediately see his words taking hold: draining the aggression out of the tense shoulders of the lumberjacks. "This is but an escort to a trial, not a conviction of any wrong doings. You believe Cornel is innocent correct? In that case where is the harm in allowing her to go. The truth will come out, and if your employer is indeed innocent then she has nothing to fear. She may be back among you within the ten-trial. If you were to cause a problem here there are many who would see this as a sign of guilt, that she is attempting to resist arrest, and will only cause trouble for her."
Before him some of the lumberjacks looked around glassily and began to mutter among themselves, but without the same angry heat as before. When framed like that it was hard to not see Tio's point, and like a receding wave they stepped back to clear the path to Cornel again. Cornel for her part was terrified if the whiteness of her face was anything to go by, but to her credit he steeled her nerve well as Tio gave a hand signal and two soldiers stepped forward to escort her into an iron wagon used for transporting prisoners. When she was inside and out of the lumberjack's line of sight metal manacles were fixed to her wrists and chained down to the base of the wagon to prevent her from escaping. Of the head foremen only Kyniya Sherapo, Cornel's little sister, chose to accompany them, and was allowed to ride on the back of one of the soldier's horse, while the other two remained with the company.
Tio turned back to his soldiers and gestured for the leader of this troop to step forward. "Take half the men and keep the main office occupied. I want all records of the company's inventory noted down and mailed to the council hall as soon as possible. Also I'd like you to post adverts for labour to help transport the resources here to Faldrass to help with the rebuilding effort, and for workers to help with the actual reconstruction effort." He nodded as the soldier snapped a quick salute and got to work, then turned back to the rest of the troop. "Everyone else about face. We're heading back to Almund."
As the troop turned around to set off again Tio ducked through the door of the iron wagon Cornel was in and fixed her with a grin. Now that she didn't have to keep up a brave face for her workforce Cornel looked far more afraid; hunched over in her seat and visibly sweating. Seeing his cocky smile she glared up at him. "These accusations are ridiculous. I've been nothing but a generous and upstanding member of the community. I'm a philanthropist!"
Tio inclined his head in acknowledgement. "Indeed you are Ms Sherapo. It's just a shame that the money you're so generous with comes from working with an illegal enterprise."
"I've done no such thing!"
"Your business ledger would suggest otherwise."
If Cornel had been pale-faced before, now she was a white as a sheet. "But that's-..." Noticing his self-satisfied smile, Cornel's glare intensified. "It was you! Your the one responsibly for stealing it!"
Tio leaned back in the seat, allowing himself to feel nice and smug about his actions thus far. "My my Ms Sherapo, I don't know what you're talking about. I am just a humble holy man. What would I know about organising a burglary on your offices?"
"This is corruption! You can't break the law in order to incriminate me!"
"Can I not?" Tio raised an eyebrow, his good humour vanishing in a moment. "Do you think I am someone who will be content to let my enemies grow in power through criminal acts and do nothing, simply because it awards me some moral high ground? You are very much mistaken." He leaned forwards, noticing with a hint of pleasure how she flinched away from him subconsciously. "This Consortium you've been dealing with picked a fight with me first, and now has the gall to pose a threat to my island. I am going to own this country, from top to bottom, and I will burn away any trace whatsoever of those who would stand against me. If that means I have to face fire with fire then so be it. If that means that a man I know with a great degree of skill at torture pays you a little visit to help you tell me everything you know about this Consortium then so be it. If that means I have to stain my hands with the vilest darkness then so be it."
Cornel backed away, eyes started to glint with fear as she noticed the completely serious expression Tio wore. "You're insane."
"Maybe a little." Tio replied, leaning back again and letting a smug smirk fall across his face. "Tomorrow supplies will be taken from your company, and delivered to the repair effort on Faldrass in my name. The people will see the effort I put into mitigating the disaster on Faldrass and the work I do to help it recover, and they will love me for it. I will vilify this Consortium, destroy them, and then become the hero of Scalvoris. My influnce will be unrivalled. And you, Cornel, will help me by telling me everything you know about the Consortium, or I will make you suffer for it.
Cornel's reply was to spit in his face, and Tio winced as the ball of saliva struck him on the cheek. Yet still he smiled, and Cornel shot back in fright as his eyes began to shine with a bright silver light. The air in the wagon began to swirl as if swept in a breeze, and when Tio spoke again his voice was accompanied by a spectral echo.
"Cornel Sherapo, thy crime is hubris. Thou wouldst scorn those who dabble in the darkness even as thou do the same. Since thou would spit upon thy fellow damned, then never again shall thy mouth know the touch of water. Forevermore shall thy mouth be as dry as the desert, and however much thou drinks thy thirst shall never be quenched."
Cornel whimpered in alarm as steam began rising from her mouth, and her lips and inner mouth became chapped and bone dry. Tio shot her a wicked grin and stepped out of the wagon as she began to paw at the mouth in shock.
"I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay in Element Hall Ms Sherapo. Have a pleasant day."