Chapter 30: "Trust me..." ------------------------- Sascha stood on a ridge overlooking the smoldering ruins of Kohlingen. It had been strange, watching her hometown burn, and knowing that she was responsible. Strange, but not altogether unpleasant. More than anything, she felt vindicated. Her oppressors had paid in blood for the emotional abuse they had subjected her to, and rightly so. She cast her eyes on the destruction below. Troops were herding small groups of people into one of the few houses that had survived the bombings. Old Man Zwalen's, if she recalled correctly. The crazy one. Where other houses had stood were now only smoking black skeletons, empty, rotting husks of their former selves... "Beautiful, isn't it?" She turned abruptly, and saw Akfek standing there. She had been so deep in thought that she hadn't sensed his presence. "Yes," she replied. It _was_ beautiful. This was the fruit of her power! No one would _dare_ mock her again... "The attack was extraordinarily successful," her compatriot was saying. "Almost all the buildings were destroyed. We didn't lose anybody, and civilian casualties are minimal." Normally, this last item would have been of no concern, but this operation had another purpose. "Have you completed your tasks?" "Yes. The perimeter has been secured," she reported, "and no communication will be able to get in or out. Also, the fields have been inspected; our scouts report the crops are in satisfactory condition." "Excellent. We will put the citizens of this *smirk* pathetic town to work immediately..." His speech was broken off when sounds of a scuffle erupted from below. A young man had broken away from his group and was running at one of the troops, screaming in fury. His charge was halted, however, when the soldier drew his sword. The would-be hero was promptly escorted to the holding area. Sascha turned away from the scene, growing pensive. "You know," she began, thoughtfully, "it would be much easier to control them if they believed that we were their protectors, instead of their attackers..." An idea was forming in her head, and Akfek picked up on it immediately. An evil grin spread across his face. "Shade?" he said, calling on the Elemental. The craeture of Darkness appeared instantly, in a swirling cloud of black smoke. "How may I be of service?" * * * * * Somewhat later, in the house where they were being detained, the populace of Kohlingen was wondering what the heck was going on. That morning, forces calling themselves the 'New Imperial Army' had invaded their town, destroying everything in sight. They had all been herded here, in Zwalen's house. About an hour ago, a messenger had arrived and had spoken to one of the soldiers guarding them. Then, a few minutes ago, most of the soldiers had left the building. Silence hung over the room like a noxious cloud as the citizens looked about nervously, terrified of what was going to happen next... As they fretted amongst themselves, they did not notice that the room suddenly got a little darker. It was at this moment that the soldiers returned. They cleared a space at the front of the room, and two more people entered. A smattering of whispers rippled across the hall. (Not even the fear of death can dampen small town nosiness!) These were the two who had led the assault! But the woman - wasn't she Sascha, the innkeeper's daughter? Apprehensive curiosity grew in the room as the populace eyed the newcomers. * * * * * Akfek and Sascha looked right back at them. Akfek stepped forward to address the crowd, confident that the plan would succeed. Shade hadn't failed them yet... "Good people," he began, adopting an air of great chagrin, "something terrible has happened here today, my friends..." "Friends! Hah!" a particularly fearless (or particularly stupid) youth cried out, "you're no friends of ours!" But the two strategists had been prepared for such an outburst. Sascha looked at the ground in (seeming) utter shame, and Akfek allowed a single tear to fall from his eye. "Please," he said haltingly, "just hear me out..." There were murmurs from the crowd. Resentment... confusion... but mostly, curiosity. Good. "We have all been victimized," Akfek continued. "Once again, the dogs of Figaro have fooled us..." "Figaro?" someone from the crowd said. They were all listening intently. Living so close to the castle, they were all too aware of its change in alignment. What could this have to do with Figaro? "Yes. Our intelligence reports told us that this town had been evacuated, and turned into an army base. There must have been a spy among us... we thought this was a military target! This is more horrible than anything I could ever have imagined..." The house was silent. Akfek could tell that they were unsure, despite Shade's help. But it wouldn't take much more. "I know," he went on, "that nothing we could ever do could make this up to you, but we would like to try..." "I don't believe you!" came a voice from the back. It was the same impudent teen as before. The little swine was really starting to get on Akfek's nerves, but he kept his temper in check. Then, Sascha stepped forward. "Look at me!" she implored. "You all know me. Why would I do this to my friends, my family? Surely you can see this isn't a ruse?" She turned her face to the boy who had spoken. She recognized him as her cousin. "Jeremiah," she said soflty, "I would never have let this happen if I only knew..." She burst into tears, quite convincingly. A matronly woman in the front row spoke up. "Now, Jeremiah! Look what you've done! Gone and made the poor girl cry... Can't you see they only want to help us?" There was a general murmur of assent. Even the boy seemed placated. Akfek said silent thanks to Shade, and continued his oration. "We will begin helping to rebuild your town immediately." 'With a few additions, that is,' he added silently. 'Say, oh, a couple of factories, nothing _really_ extravagant...' The townspeople clapped loudly. They seemed to have forgotten that these were the people who had just destroyed their homes "We can also help you fortify your town, so that nothing like this will happen again!" At this, the people cheered wildy, as if Akfek and Sascha had just saved their town, not torched it. Shade had done his work well.