Chapter 4: Just a Quick Talk

“Empress.”

“I’m just gonna talk to them.”

Electra put herself half in front of me. “Look, Empress—”

“I’m just going to talk to them.”

“Then why do you have your deathray?”

I raised my gauntlet, the first thing I’d fixed from my suit. “To talk with.”

“I’m not charging that for you.”

“You’ll find—” I flexed my wrist, and the deathray popped out, emitters glowing sickly green. “—that this device is fully operational.”

Electra groaned. She turned towards Elaine. “Can you please talk some sense into her?”

The girl shrugged. “She’s just going to talk to them.”

“The kid gets it,” I said.

We were halfway down the main street. Elaine had told me that the worst ‘orphanages’ were towards the docks, as if they were trying to hide from my sight. I had a thing about children; every Villain has a ‘thing’, you know. Something that gets them to take the gloves off and start leveling city blocks.

What really annoyed, perhaps even vexed me, at the moment, was that I built these blocks. Blowing them up was out of the question. Of course, that also meant people were using my generosity to exploit others. They were using me.

I was not so easily used.

“Now.” I looked at the row of houses. “Where do we begin?”

The road was empty. Lady’s Port was busy, and during the day most people worked outside of the town. A work crew on the other side of the street paused in their utilities ditch. They took one look at my gun and decided to get back to work.

“That’s the one with Madgy and Vernr.” Elaine pointed to one of the larger houses. “Think they got five kids there. Neighbors are in on it too. Won’t let anyone move out.”

I nodded. “Let’s knock.”

“Mistress.” Rel put herself right in front of me.

“Relia.”

She folded her arms. “I think a more subtle approach would be…”

“See, I tried subtle.” I took a step forward, putting me an inch away. “So subtle people have forgotten exactly who runs this town. So now, we’re doing things loud.”

Rel’s hands came up and cupped my face. I jerked.

“My Lady Via.” She leaned into me. “Please, hear me out.”

I swallowed, throat suddenly tight as my eyes flicked down to her lips. “I don’t appreciate being manipulated like this.”

“Sure looks like you’re appreciating something,” Electra said.

“Shut up.”

“Mistress please.” Rel took a step back, letting my brain restart. “Won’t you at least listen to the alternative before doing something…irreversible?”

I took in a deep breath. “What alternative?”

Rel smiled. I frowned as my heart skipped a beat. Why did that grubby little urchin I pulled off the street have to turn out so unfairly beautiful, and why’d she have to confess?

Worse, why was I suddenly so head over heels, now, when Rel seemed calmer than ever? It wasn’t remotely fair.

“If we begin dragging people from their homes, then your people will begin to wonder if your new title has gone to your head,” Rel began. “Until now, you’ve made yourself one of the people, eaten with them, listened to their concerns. To begin acting like a tyrant now would throw all of that away.”

“Instead?” I asked.

“Instead,” Rel replied. “Have a public trial. Elaine should be able to gather the witnesses. Once you frame the issue as these households taking a home that was given to them, and using it to steal from children, I expect most of the town will take your side.” She shrugged. “From there, pass whatever judgement you see fit.”

I bit my lip. “Electra?”

She snorted. “Better than blasting ‘em to bits without an explanation.”

“We don’t have a place to hold a hearing,” I said.

To that, Rel pulled out her mirror. “Connect me to Dee, please.” The surface swirled, quickly resolving into the big man’s face. “Can you bring the throne to the central square?”

“It’s not a throne,” I said.

“Eh?” Dee peered around the mirror, trying to catch a glimpse of my face. “What you need the throne for, Boss?”

I sighed, rubbing my face. “This is really killing my motivation. I was going to go in there and do some real villain shit.” I turned my gaze towards Electra. “Do you know how long it’s been since I got to properly murder a bitch?”

Stolen novel; please report.

“We murderin’ someone?” Dum asked.

“Maybe.” I shrugged. “I’m not feeling it anymore. But we’ll see after the testimony. Bring the damn throne, call an early noon break.”

“Gotcha, Boss.”

Rel closed the mirror.

“Next time,” I said to her, “don’t jerk me around like that.”

She ducked her head sheepishly. “I had to make sure you’d listen.”

“She’s a horrible listener,” Electra said.

I turned my glare on her, but my nemesis just grinned back. Clearly I’d find no sympathy with her.

“Go knock on the door,” I pointed, “and drag whoever owns this house out by their ears. Elaine, you said there were a few other houses that were taking your runners’ money?”

“Yep.” She nodded.

“And, now that I’ve decided to act reasonable, there aren’t any other families renting out their houses to the people they’re sharing with?” I asked.

Rel shook her head. “No one has made any mention of it. I will ensure that going forward, your stance on that is clear.”

Electra cackled. “Oh, believe me, after today everything will be clear as crystal.” She walked up the door, hopping up the one step. Electra was a loud person, and that applied to everything she did.

After thirty seconds of relentless pounding on the door, a man finally jerked it open.

“Fuckin’ seas, I’ll—” The man came up short once he noticed whom he was talking to.

He was thickly set, nearing middle age, like many of the more established villagers that first fled to Lady’s Port.

“So,” I said. “You’re the one who’s been stealing money from my kids?”

His face twisted. “Did that seas’ damned girl tell you that? Pack of lies, m’lady. Promise you I can explain if’n—”

“You’ll have every chance to explain.” I flexed my arm, death ray humming cheerfully. “Come along now.”

The man glanced back to Electra, still grinning next to the door. The long spikes of her hair sparked.

“‘Course,” he said.

“Good man.” I turned to Elaine. “Now, where did you say the rest were? I’d like to handle this all at once.”

It took a few minutes to track down the other four houses, but in short order, Electra had three women and two men following along behind her. Elaine slipped away shortly after, gathering her ‘witnesses’. By the time we got to the town square, Dee and Dum had somehow set up the big chair on a dais. I wasn’t sure this would do much to make me seem like one of the people, but it would certainly make my people listen.

“Bring out more chairs,” I said as I took my own. “We’ll do this one at a time.”

“Gotcha, Boss.” Dum grinned. “Just finished talkin’ to the last shift leader. Everybody’s coming back into town.”

I nodded. “We’ll just add some time to the normal break.” I took a seat on my throne. “Lunch and a show.”

Elaine hopped up onto the stage with me. When I raised an eyebrow at her, she said, “So whaddaya need me to do?”

I hummed. “If we’re going to do a trial, might as well do it right,” I said. “Just bring your people out in groups and have them say who’s taking their money.”

“What if they say we’re lying?”

“I’ll handle it.”

Elaine nodded, waving her hand. A group of about twelve kids came over and she quickly explained the plan to them.

I leaned over to my other side. “By the way,” I said to Dum. “Your ‘mother’ hasn’t been exploting any children, has she?”

“Hand to heart she ain’t done nothing like this,” Dum replied. “I dunno if anyone pitches in, but Mama’s always helped ‘s many of us kids she can.”

Elaine shuffled over. “She’s clean.”

“Why isn’t everyone staying with her, then?” I asked.

The girl shrugged. “Not enough space.”

I huffed, leaning back in my chair. “You were at the meeting.”

Elaine shrugged. “And you asked.”

“Christ, I forgot how much I hated having siblings.” I waved a hand. “It looks like we have a big enough crowd, why don’t we get things started. Dum, present the charges.”

“You got it boss.” The big man took a step forward, before pausing. “What are charges?”

I sighed. “Tell everyone these fine people have been stealing money from children.”

“Right.” Dum when and did just that.

It caused a murmur. Lady’s Port boasted a tight knit community. We’d worked together, fought together; the thought that some people had been abusing that trust caused immediate concern.

Elaine came next, bringing up her runners in small groups. They pointed, shared what they’d had to do. I listened. One girl said she’d been cuffed—twice—for refusing to hand over her day’s pay. My nails dug into the wood of my chair. The woman in question shifted awkwardly. She tried to defend herself, but Dum shut her down.

“You’ll have your chance,” I said.

From there it went, down the line. More than a few of the children said they’d been hit, all said they’d been threatened. It was enough for me. By the way the voices of the crowd slowly dipped into anger, it was enough for them as well.

I rose from my throne. With my class skills, it was…child’s play to make sure everyone could hear my voice. “Do any of you deny the accusations against you? Speak now, or with your silence admit your guilt.”

Gonna be honest, I didn’t do a whole lot of research on Vecorvian criminal justice, but I’d bet it was something a lot like this. Seneschal Hawkwright hadn’t seemed big on due process. I’d like to think I could do a better job of it than a medieval world.

Later. When I was less verklempt.

The first man we’d picked up stepped forward. He had a flush spread across his cheeks, perhaps almost as angry as I and worse at hiding it. “I dispute all of it!” he said. “I’ve taken no monies, and even if I had, what crime is it to charge those who board on your property.”

I leaned on my hand. “Oh? Where then is the rent you owe me?” I asked. When that pulled him up short, I continued. “I paid for every new house, I hired every worker, commissioned every board. Where was this talk of rents when I gave a home to you?”

To that he had no reply.

“As for the first claim, that you’ve taken no rent.” I turned my gaze to the crowd. “What work does this man do? Who does he work with?”

After a few minutes, another man came forward. “He used to be on my crew, Lady Via!” he said. “We fish the shallows to the south.”

“Used to be?” I asked.

“He has not shown for work since the stampede. I thought ‘im dead.”

“Well.” I leaned back. “And have any among you seen this man spend and buy? Has he paid with coin he did not spend fishing the southern shallows?”

To that, the replies were immediate. New food, wine, new clothes. The man had even tried to buy his own communication mirror.

I nodded. “Do any doubt this man’s guilt?”

The crowd answered no. Boos and jeers filled the air.

“Now.” I stood at the edge of the platform. “You’ve abused my generosity.” I threw my arms wide. “Should he not be punished?” I asked the crowd. They agreed. “To steal from children! To lie, not only to me but to all of you!”

Jeers and shouts rose again.

“What is fitting punishment for those crimes?”

Men and women began shouting suggestions. I’ll admit, there were more calls for hanging than I expected. I grinned.

Then the crowd quieted.

I glanced to the side, surprised to see Rel had taken the stage, raising a hand for quiet.

She gave me an apologetic glance.

I sighed, flexing my words so that they carried to her ears only. “Seriously?”

She gave me an apologetic smile. “I promise you’ll approve.”

I waved my hand. “By all means.”

“Justice should restore!” she shouted. “This man has taken wealth, but more than that he’s stolen a home from others, from children.” Rel nodded to herself. “By his own back he should repay what was taken.”

I sighed as Rel talked the crowd around to having the man hand over his house and pay the kids back by his own labor. In principle, I agreed. But damn I’d been looking forward to going biblical on someone.

My leg started to tremble. I swallowed the pain with a grimace. Now wasn’t the time to appear weak.

Not even for Rel.