The Nightscape

On The Edge

Immediately, Lyra bristled, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end as she stared at Zidros. At first, she tried to read his expression. Was he being sincere? Or was he trying to play with her? But it was impossible the tell. The boy's face was still frozen in a bright smile, dead behind the eyes and so still there wasn't even any body language that could be examined. She swallowed nervously, and released that she would just have to ask. 

"Zidros, what do you mean by that? Why have you locked them away?" She asked, trying to stop her voice shaking. He blinked at her, the smile dropping for a moment as he studied her quizzically before a look of understanding washed over his face. He laughed, his brows coming out of the frown as he smiled at her while gazing at her with a patronising look. 

"Oh, silly Lyra, that wasn't what I meant! When I said locked away, I meant that they've all shut themselves away in the huts where it's cool. The council doesn't really need the extra rest, or to stay out of the sun, but they prefer it. And the others do need to stay out of the heat at noon or they'll get sick." He said, and Lyra breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't completely lost it, then. She returned the smile, forced though it was. 

"Oh, I'm sorry, I misunderstood. To be fair, saying that they were 'locked away' does invoke the idea that something has gone wrong. Anyway, I might go and find Anya, make sure that she's alright after what happened." Lyra said, beginning to stand up. Zidros held out a hand to stop her, frowning. 

"No, wait a little bit, I still want to talk to you. That's right, sit back down and get comfortable. I've already interviewed the other members of the council about a few things, so it's beyond your turn. I want to know about what you think about bringing new people into the city already." He said, and Lyra frowned. As she had walked through the town, she had noted that there were a few differences. A well had been built, a few more huts had been erected, and there were the beginnings of a field being ploughed and equipment being made. But it looked like just the start of being able to support the people they already had, not enough infrastructure to bring in more people. He saw the frown on Lyra's face and nodded. "Ah, you agree with the others, then." He concluded. Lyra looked at him, an uncertain expression on her face. 

"If they're also against it, then yes, I do agree with them. Zidros, if we keep trying to expand like this then the whole place will collapse. We have people here to work for us now, and when we've got enough resources to support all of them and more, then we can expand more. Doing so now would be a mistake." She said, trying to reason with him while also desperate to not let him drag anyone else into the middle of this mess. He thought on it a moment and frowned. 

"You see, I disagree. I think the more people we get here working, the quicker this city will be built. And if there aren't enough resources for them all, they will work extra hard to generate those resources. It can only be a good thing." He argued. 

"No, Zidros, it won't be. Because if we don't have enough resources to look after them, they will get sick, or worse, die. And that won't motivate them to work harder, it just won't. They'll leave, or fight back against us. Unhappiness doesn't make for a good workforce, just ask anyone who's ever worked a shitty job." She argued back, remembering the time she had worked in a cafe with a horrible boss who refused to pay any of them properly. 

"I can stop them from leaving. I can force them to work. You know this." Zidros stated calmly, with that chilling mix of childish innocence and cold psychopathy. Lyra felt a shiver travel up her spine, but she didn't let it show. Instead, she fixed him with a cold look of her own, her face still and mask like. 

"You are talking about becoming a dictator, Zidros. You will be enslaving all of our people, which will breed hatred and resentment towards you from all corners of the Scapes. You said that you wanted to be loved, to be respected, and that can still happen. But the second you become a dictator, any chance of that will be lost forever. People will scatter and go into hiding, rebellions will rise up against you, and the people will not be settled until you are felled." She told him coldly, staring him down even as his own gaze turned threatening.