Season 04 - Episode 21

‘corner the little’

“So this is the boy from The World Below,” says the man with the crown and the golden robes. “Leave us!”

This last is directed at the two enormous guards with their ornate armour and heavy spears. A moment earlier they dragged Ty into the incredible throne room and threw him to the floor at their master's feet.

The guards leave in silence, closing the doors behind them. The doors are a dozen feet tall and decorated with gold and gems. Ty shifts to his knees and looks around the room, shivering with cold and fear both.

The room is ridiculously ornate. Every surface is thick with gems and shining metal, intricate patterns and pictures engraved into everything. The man stands atop a dais, before an equally overdone throne. His crown looks heavy with many precious stones. His skin is pale and perfect, his red beard, flashed through with grey, is immaculately trimmed.

“We are Governor Corpo,” says the man. “Holy patriarch of this realm. You should know that normally, a governor would never stoop so low as to spend time in the presence of a heretic, however your story intrigues us. You appear to... know things.”

Ty is struggling to listen, his heart is pounding in his ears. He licks his lips and swallows, looking around the room once more. There is nowhere to run to, no escape. He is at the mercy of this strange man. He is very, very afraid.

“Of course,” Corpo continues, descending from the dais to stroll. “We inherited our title from our father, as did he from his. This realm is ours because we are the descendants of The Builders. The blood of the men who built this place runs in our veins.”

The man's words flood over and around Ty, swirling his mind.

“It is a beautiful place, this realm of ours,” says Corpo, circling Ty. “But not without it's downsides. For all their faith in The Renovation and so also in my bloodline, the people still grumble and plot. Their spies are everywhere, hidden in plain sight so that a governor may never speak plainly to anyone.”

The man pauses behind Ty and leans in to whisper, his breath stroking the back of the boy's neck so that he trembles.

“Except you,” Corpo whispers.

He circles back to stand before Ty then smiles thinly. Ty has never seen a smile that frightens him so much, so lacking in warmth or compassion.

“You provide us with a unique opportunity,” Corpo goes on, his eyes boring into Ty. “We can confide in you anything we please for in the morning you are to be burned alive, as is fitting for a heretic. And of course, as such, no-one would believe anything you say in the meantime anyway. Finally, we can talk freely.”

Ty gasps and his eyes begin to sting. He has never seen fire but his thoughts are consumed by imagined pictures and smells and feelings of flame. The man closes his eyes for a moment and smiles in genuine joy.

“We know that you are from The World Below,” says Corpo, opening his eyes and shuddering with pleasure at every word. “Because we know that world exists and in fact, not so very long ago, we were part of it. Then something happened, The World Below contracted inwards and we were cut off, abandoned here.”

Ty is crying openly now, skinny shoulders jumping.

“Our great grandfather,” Corpo continues, oblivious to Ty's distress. “Or perhaps great, great grandfather... nevermind, seized the opportunity. He declared himself governor and exploited the people's faith to establish the mythos of our bloodline. You'd be surprised how quickly desperate people will weave a comforting truth from lies.”

Ty sniffs and sobs and waits hopelessly for whatever comes next.

“Now of course,” Corpo says more excitedly. “Most of the filthy, idiot, scum out there believe we have ruled for thousands of years. And of course any mention of any other place must be crushed as heresy. We can't have them looking for other places, they might find them! They might leave! And who would serve us then?”

The governor drones on as Ty whimpers before him. Neither notice the movement on the ceiling in the corner. The little metal legs, the little red light, the little gleaming lens.

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