Secret of the Sunstones, Part 1: The Wanton Kingdom

Chapter XLI : Entreatment

Earlnight of Terminus, Seventh Day of Autumnmoon

After receiving his pardon from King Richard, Cedric spent most of his waking hours developing the Zounds airbase. Long after his staff returned home to their families, the Craftsman stayed up late, striving to maintain the project’s aggressive schedule. He’d stop only when exhaustion overcame him, sleep a few hours, and begin anew. The rapid pace led to some unprecedented progress, and the work kept him from other distractions.

Rosa wasn’t one of these. He no longer dwelt on the beautiful sorceress. She was far outside his reach. Even if he did find her, no amount of convincing would sway her path. Rather, Cedric had larger issues to worry about, as did the rest of Angkor: the fear of insurgency.

He had first heard about possible Kitezhian threats from King Richard. However, they apparently followed through a couple of days later with a series of violent attacks. According to state media, revolutionaries backed by the Kitezhian government slaughtered villagers at the eastern border by the hundreds. The attacks were described as brutal and horrific. However, before Angkor could strike back, the revolutionaries were said to have disappeared into the mountains.

King Richard promised swift and immediate action. In a speech at highsun the next day, he proclaimed the first in a series of new orders. Angkor would close its borders, and the capital would begin its wartime fortification process. This meant turning away all travelers and closing international commerce. Richard deployed the military to gather foreigners into groups, based on their country of origin. Vinetans were sent westward, back to their homeland, and those from the Southern Continent were deported using all available ships.

As for those of known Kitezhian descent, they were apprehended and interrogated without exception. The government suspected a network of insurgents, deeply rooted inside the kingdom. The situation called for extreme action, the first of its kind in Angkor’s history, to Cedric’s recollection. Yet, somehow it made Angkor’s citizens feel safer, knowing their government had acted swiftly.

Fortunately, it didn’t pose a risk to Cedric’s project. None of his staff were of Kitezhian descent, nor were any of the artisans or contractors from the palace. After The War ended, very few Kitezhians remained inside the capital. Some had moved back, others immigrated, and some remained as part of second-generation families. But most lived in the surrounding bergs. Cedric didn’t expect conspirators to reside inside the very city from which they plotted. Then again, he never suspected Bram Morrison of defection, either.

The Craftsman wasn’t the only Angkorian troubled by the idea of spies living among him. Rumors spread of terrorist plots, and folks worried what their ostensibly quiet neighbors might be discussing behind closed doors. People grew suspicious of those around them, and paranoia bred. The seeds of doubt had been sowed, and a miasma of fear seeped into every corner of society. Even so, Cedric kept sane by focusing on Zounds. Within days, he planned to update King Richard on a schedule for the first functional prototype.

It was a significant milestone, and he wanted to celebrate. Before heading to bed, he cracked open a cask of aged brandy, which he had been saving for a special occasion. He received it as a gift years ago from a guest, back when he hosted big events. With bottle in hand, he went to one of his many drawing rooms and poured himself a glass. He sat back in his recliner, letting his body sink into the cushions. He spotted his favorite book upon the end table, right where he had left it. He hadn’t touched it in weeks, but now it seemed like the right time to lose himself in a story.

His manor was dark and quiet. All that remained was the night staff, who understood how much he valued silence and privacy. A log crackled beneath the hearth, engulfing the room with a warm glow, while a clock ticked atop the mantle.

He was ready to lose himself inside the pages, when he heard approaching footsteps. Erik, an elderly gentleman who served as his butler, slowly emerged from the entryway. It was perfect timing, since Cedric had emptied his first drink. With his nose in the book, he tapped the snifter on the end table and awaited his refill.

After hearing a splash of liquid, he craned his arm back, reached for the drink, and brought it in for another sip. The smoky aroma and sweet flavor combined to coat his throat with a gentle tingle. He expected to hear his butler depart, but there was a notable lack of footsteps.

Cedric finally placed the book on his lap. “You may go now, Erik.”

The butler cleared his throat anxiously. “My apologies, Sir, but you have a visitor in the foyer.”

Cedric clenched his glass. Respectable folk didn’t visit in the wee hours of night. It wasn’t Erik’s fault, but Cedric felt he needed to be firm about the rules. “I’ve told you countless times already. I don’t accept visitors at this hour.”

Erik spoke nervously. “Th-the gentleman says his name is Mason Eckerd, Sir. He claims to be a colleague of yours. H-he was … quite distressed and refused to leave when I asked. He claims the matter is urgent, and that you should … speak to him at once …?”

He trailed off in a tone that sounded more like a question, as if he were asking Cedric to clarify his position once more.

However, this time the Craftsman had reason to hesitate. Mason Eckerd was one of his oldest acquaintances, a longtime business partner, whose relationship started long before Cedric’s promotion to Grand Craftsman. They met years ago, when Cedric repaired sea vessel engines. Mason was a trader and importer, and he supplied Cedric with the parts he needed. When the world turned to air flight, Mason shifted his business and continued to be one of Cedric’s best suppliers.

Of course, the relationship had always been strictly professional. Cedric didn’t know Mason well enough to learn his background or history, nor did he meet him outside of an office setting. It was therefore highly unusual to receive a home visit, especially one so late.

“Very well, Erik. Send him in,” Cedric commanded, now more curious than anything else.

“Yes, Sir.” The butler bowed before leaving.

Cedric rose from his chair and returned his book to its shelf. He had a feeling he wouldn’t finish it anytime soon. He walked to a mirror, mounted behind his mantle clock, and attempted to make himself presentable. He combed through his hair and beard with his fingers, wishing he had his oils handy. He then brushed his vest and slacks with his hands to smooth out any wrinkles. He didn’t usually allow guests this late, so there wasn’t any reason to demand perfection. A few moments of primping would have to suffice.

When he heard Erik and Mason enter the room, he turned around, ready to greet his unexpected guest. But to his horror, he faced a ghoulish figure who looked like he had slept in the gutter. Mason’s face was coarse and unshaven, and his hair disheveled. His clothes were caked in mud, and his eyes bulged, red and bloodshot. He stunk of old garbage.

Cedric held back the urge to plug his nose with thumb and forefinger. He noticed he was gawking, so he quickly neutralized his expression and dismissed the butler.

“That’s all, Erik. Please, leave us to discuss our business.”

The butler nodded politely and departed.

When he was gone, Cedric faced his supposed business supplier with shock and concern. “What in the Burning Pits happened to you, Mason!”

The man hobbled to the nearest chair and collapsed. Cedric winced at seeing the filthy garments come in contact with his furniture.

His voice was weak. “It’s true. I’ve been through the Burning Pits and back. Yesterday, a group of armed men went through my house and took my wife. I only found out because my grandson ran to my shop to warn me.”

Cedric took a step back and nearly fell over. He grabbed onto the mantle to steady himself. “What? Armed men? Insurgents?”

Mason waved his hand. “No, they were our men, Cedric. Angkorians. They came to arrest me because ….” He rested his head in his hands.

Cedric glared at him. “Because what?”

Mason’s shoulders slumped, and his eyes begged for understanding. “I never revealed much about my past, but the truth is that I was born in Kitezh. My parents emigrated to Angkor when I was a boy.”

Cedric’s heart sank. “But your accent ….”

“I’ve lived here for over fifty years. If you’d met my wife, you’d know. Her accent is more pronounced. I believe our neighbors must have sent a tip to the authorities.”

Cedric thought about Richard’s mandate. All Kitezhian men and women were to be apprehended and interrogated, without exception.

“I came here because I had nowhere else to go. They’ve chased me all around this blessed city, from the seaports to the sewers, and I can’t keep on running. See my eyes, Cedric? I love this country and have lived here most of my life. I’m not the enemy!”

Cedric agreed. Mason was incapable of violence, much less insurgency. But … “Why run at all? Surely, you could have settled this by explaining your lawful history here. They would surely exempt you and your family from the king’s orders. We’re supposed to be identifying conspirators, Mason. Not decent, law-abiding citizens!”

The unkempt man rolled his eyes. “You try reasoning with military men. They’re not the same as police, Cedric, and they can’t be talked out of their orders. They were told to apprehend Kitezhians. Period.”

“And then what? What’s the kingdom to do with hundreds of detainees that all need proper processing?” Cedric hadn’t really thought much about it. He just assumed the military would bring folks in for questioning, and there’d be some kind of sorting process to separate the villains from the just.

Mason furrowed his brows. “You mean, you haven’t heard about the newly erected camps along the countryside?”

Cedric had no idea. “What camps? Are they some kind of military facility to handle the inflow of prisoners?”

Mason rolled his eyes. “I should have known. The kingdom seems to have done a good job keeping people ignorant.”

It sounded ominous. Cedric had to know. “Tell me. I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s happening.”

Mason glared, his eyes and nostrils flaring. “The camps are execution centers, Cedric. They aren’t questioning or providing prisoners with due process. They’re putting them all to death!”

It was a stunning allegation and couldn’t possibly be true. No one would murder a potentially innocent person without serious proof of considerable crimes.

Cedric was outraged. “I suppose you have proof of such claims? I see before me the appearance of a madman, looking and smelling like a street urchin. If you’re going to accuse our own military of monstrous deeds, I’d expect to hear something more substantive!”

Mason recoiled. “A madman, you say? I thought we’ve known each other long enough to know I wouldn’t dare spin tales as grave as this. Then again, perhaps Angkor’s Grand Craftsman isn’t willing to question his country’s complicity in a crime against humanity?”

Cedric felt angered at the blow to his integrity. “Listen here. I love this country just as much as anyone, and I won’t stand for wrongdoing. But what you suggest is beyond the pale. Our own kingdom, systematically cleansing itself of anyone with Kitezhian descent? That’s monstrous, Mason. And I believe the burden of proof is on you!”

Mason stood from his chair and growled. “You want me to show you my wife’s dead body before you’re convinced?”

Cedric shrank from the man’s rage. “No! I just … I want an explanation! I’ve worked with Richard and his senior staff for more than fifteen years. They’re not killers! The idea, it’s just … preposterous! I wouldn’t know where to begin. You know what I think? These murder camps are nothing but a no-good rumor. I think if you go to the authorities and answer their questions, you and your wife will both be home by teatime tomorrow. Don’t you think that’s a better idea than hiding in the sewers and exposing yourself to disease?”

Cedric eagerly awaited Mason’s response, but his old colleague regarded him listlessly. His eyes were vacant and dispirited. “Yes, I see your point. Why should you believe me? We live in unprecedented times. If the roles were reversed, I might not believe it, either.”

Cedric’s patience for guilt trips was wearing thin. “That’s enough, Mason! I don’t know how you think I can help, but without seeing something concrete—”

“I can’t simply produce proof for you on the spot.” Mason was clearly frustrated, but he raised his index finger as if struck by an epiphany. “But … I can tell you what I know.”

Cedric gestured toward the chair, which was already covered in Mason’s filth. “Sit down, and I promise to listen with an open mind.”

Mason did so, his face filled with contempt. Not toward Cedric, but for the details he was about to disclose.

“The night after the so-called Kitezhian attack, word spread quickly. I have friends belonging to the unit that was sent to investigate. Turns out, the attackers left no evidence of their country of origin, much less that they were revolutionaries backed by the Kitezhian government. That was only announced later by state media sources. Imagine, Cedric: all the chaos Richard put in motion, without even a shred of evidence to back up his weighty proclamations.”

Cedric was stunned. There was surely something Mason was missing.

His colleague continued. “Yesterday, I learned that Angkor attacked Rungholt. It was an air strike, with sizable casualties. Without a doubt, an act of war, yet the public knows nothing. Even if Richard is wrong about the attackers, he has no choice but to follow through and make Kitezh the scapegoat.”

Cedric couldn’t believe it. The allegations were unfathomable! He needed to think. “Richard can’t just start a war and put people to death without somebody questioning it. True, he has the power to overrule his advisors, but between the palace, the military, and the whole damned government … you’re telling me no one has stepped forward with the truth? They’re all just going along with it?”

“You better believe the kingdom is going along with it.” Mason’s words were daggers, cutting to the heart of Cedric’s deeply held trust in his kingdom. “I have contacts who have seen the camps for themselves! So I know what goes on there. Why don’t you go to one of them and witness it with your own damn eyes. Or just take a walk down Niedam’s main street and observe fully armed Angkorian soldiers storming into people’s homes, throwing them into carts with iron bars, like animals! They do it without hesitation, Cedric. Folks who have seen it end up leaving shocked and in disbelief. So don’t just sit there, fully ignorant, and pretend it’s all a misunderstanding!”

Cedric had broken into a cold sweat. He was shaking. “There’s just no way … I know Richard … he’d never order the deaths of hundreds of innocents … the palace wouldn’t allow it, either. I just … I just can’t believe—”

“It is the truth!” Mason roared.

The volume of his voice was terrifying. Cedric was frantic. “Th-there has to be another explanation! Wh-what if Richard learned something horrible that justifies the measures he’s taken? Something that isn’t public knowledge.” He was desperate to find a reasonable explanation. “What if they’re planning to poison the water supply? Or set fire to the city?”

Mason just shook his head. “There you go, playing right into their strategy. All it takes is a bit of fear, and your mind is made up for you. Let’s assume there are insurgents. Do you think the mass murder of all Kitezhians in the area somehow leads to justice?”

Cedric closed his eyes and buried his face in his hands. There had to be a reason. Mason claimed the impossible. Evil didn’t just spring forth and take control of an entire country overnight. It was … not … possible!

Then again … Cedric wondered if he could be wrong. He wondered if Rosa and Bram could have stumbled upon something so terrible and insidious that Richard marked them as traitors, just to cover it up. Would the same man be capable of murdering thousands of innocents, and declare war against a defenseless enemy, just to keep up the act? He couldn’t imagine what Kitezh would have that could drive a man to such lengths!

Sunstone ….

Cedric opened his eyes. The room stopped spinning, and Mason was gone. A clamor erupted a short distance away. Cedric stood up, ignoring the light-headedness of blood rushing to his head.

He breathed a lung full of air and bellowed for the butler. “Erik!”

The butler emerged, a little sooner than Cedric expected. A fair-skinned, middle-aged man stood beside him, hair and beard covered in streaks of gray. He wore a high-ranking military uniform.

The Craftsman felt weak in the knees. “What’s this all about?”

Erik looked apologetic. “I’m sorry, Sir, but it seems that Mister Eckerd might have had an encounter with the law. This is Captain Chaucer. He has recommended that we cooperate in returning Mister Eckard into custody.”

Cedric’s stomach was in knots. He wondered how the captain could have arrived so fast. It made Mason’s story feel a lot less conspiratorial. Even if half of what his colleague said was true, he needed to respond carefully.

He stood tall and dignified, ready to face the officer in his steadiest voice. “As you can see, Captain, Mister Eckerd has already left.”

Chaucer strutted over and examined the grime along the chair where Mason had been sitting. “I’m sure you’re aware, Mister Curtis, that we’ve been investigating possible Kitezhian insurgency inside the capital.”

Cedric tried to remain calm. “That’s preposterous. Mason is an old friend. I’ve known him for years. He’s incapable of violence.”

The captain didn’t appear to be swayed. “All the same, I’d like to question you further. You wouldn’t mind accompanying me for a few hours?”

Cedric’s heart dropped. “How about tomorrow? It’s been quite a long day for me. I’ve been working very hard on an important project for His Majesty.”

Chaucer smirked. “Yes, well, you might consider postponing your work for a bit. I have the authority to arrest anyone in conjunction with the Kitezhian invasion. But, I suppose if you come willingly, I won’t be forced to.”

At last, Cedric felt fear. “I hope you realize you’re speaking to one of King Richard’s cabinet members.”

The captain didn’t skip a beat. “I know exactly who you are, but I really couldn’t care less about your title, Mister Curtis. I’ve already found several items of evidence on the premises that prove a Kitezhian man was here. So, if you don’t want to be charged as an accessory to his disappearance, I strongly suggest you cooperate. Surely, you won’t want to test my patience on this particular night.”

Cedric’s jaw hung open. He had no more rebuttals to offer.

“I’ll send for the lawyer immediately,” Erik promised.

Cedric nodded. Chaucer wasn’t giving him a choice, and this time, he didn’t hold out hope that Richard would intervene. He was on his own. For decorum’s sake, he would follow the captain and answer his questions willingly. Still, he never expected to end the night back in jail.