The Web of Iron

Chapter Twenty-five: The Rising

Kiyora went to sleep that night and tried to go to Seathorius.

Emphasis on tried. As soon as she made it, she felt a grip like iron on her mind and was yanked backward. Suddenly she was standing in front of a pillar at the center of a town and clutching her head. Agony surged through her mind.

"What is this?" she gasped.

"You were attempting to return to Seathorius without leave, weren't you?" asked Raka. The dwarven warrior was holding an axe in one hand.

"It's my country. I'll go back to it if I like," snapped Kiyora.

"You haven't earned the right to do what you like," said Raka.

The pain intensified, and Kiyora collapsed to the ground with a scream. Raka stood over her, a hand on her sword. Her eyes were empty. "We serve the Iron Kingdom. It is ruled by those with a far greater understanding than us. We live and die at their command. Continue to defy them, and it will be worse for you."

The pain disappeared. Kiyora looked up. "Greater understanding?" she asked.

"It is their lot to rule and direct," said Raka, "Just as it is a lot of my brother and myself to act as their sword arm. Those who oppose them must be rooted out for the greater good."

"What is good?" asked Kiyora. "Because from how you people act, I'm guessing it isn't the dignity and well-being of sentient beings."

"We seek the only logical definition of good," said Raka. "The greatest amount of happiness for the greatest amount of people."

Kiyora looked around at the villagers in this place. They were staying indoors. They eyed the soldiers of the Iron Kingdom with mistrustful eyes. The soldiers looked to be repairing a wall that had broken. Kiyora wondered if it was meant to keep people in or out.

"...Great job," Was what she said.

"Security must come before any society may be created," said Raka.

"Oh, is that why you go around killing everyone who disagrees with you?" asked Kiyora.

"Dissent cannot be tolerated in times of crisis," said Raka. She sounded more and more like one reciting something drilled into them from birth. "The Iron Kingdom has been at war for centuries. As the Einheroth raid us, rebels attempt to restore the gods of old. Viokins seek to raid our shores. We are strained to the breaking point and must take necessary actions."

"You want to know how to fix all these problems really, really, easily?" asked Kiyora.

Raka raised an eyebrow in amusement and suddenly was back to normal. "You would claim to know the solution to matters the Iron Council has sought for centuries?"

"Yeah," said Kiyora. "Want to hear it?"

"Speak," said Raka.