Secret of the Sunstones, Part 1: The Wanton Kingdom

Chapter IX : Second Chances

Midday of Terminus, Thirtieth Day of Harvestmoon

Bram was blinded by the light of a lantern as the door to the dusty cargo holds cracked open. He squinted through bloodshot eyes to see two Royal Guardsman make their way inside. He had been locked in there since leaving Minoa, bound tightly with rope to one of the structural beams by order of that bastard, Virgil. An hour earlier, he felt the Heron land and heard his crew disembark. But he remained, disgraced and humiliated.

Bram looked up to meet the Royals, who were clad in full regalia. Their identities were hidden by faceplates, which was typical. He ignored the leg cramps and back aches that he accumulated over his daylong trip, as well as the exhaustion stemming from a lack of sleep. The stuffy, air-tight compartment smelled of musty old wood and phosphorous from stored munitions. No one wanted to spend more than a few minutes down there, let alone a whole night.

One of the Royals shoved a parchment in his face.

He winced. “What’s this?”

The room was too dark. Even if his hands hadn’t been tied, he’d have no hope of reading it.

A deep, gravelly voice answered. “It says ya’ve been granted a hearing with the king. Imagine that. Charged with mutiny an’ still able ta get the king’s ear. Must be nice bein’ one of his lapdogs, eh, Gnostic?”

Any other time, Bram would have jumped to defend his honor. But now, his retorts were muffled with shame. And he couldn’t stop thinking of what he’d do to Virgil, if ever he got his hands on him.

Of course, he couldn’t overlook the good news. A hearing with Richard was a godsend. Bram knew his king would never fault him for standing against the use of force on an unarmed group. Besides, he wanted to hear from Richard’s own lips whether the attack on the temple had been sanctioned.

Bram would stand by his assessment that the priests were innocent refugees, slaughtered without cause. Their only crime was possessing the sunstone, which was far from warranting execution. Even if the artifact were truly dangerous and needed to be requisitioned, there was no sign that they had used it maliciously, or even intended to do so. Besides, killing innocents during peacetime came with repercussions. If other nations found out, they would condemn Angkor and its king for war crimes.

“Then take me to His Majesty. And get that parchment out of my face.”

The Royal withdrew the papers and unsheathed his knife, waving it like a poorly attempted joke to intimidate. Getting no reaction from Bram, he cut through the restraints and not-so-gently grabbed the Knight under the shoulder and forced him to stand. The rough treatment was certainly intentional, and despite Bram’s mood, he knew he had to teach the goon a lesson, lest he think the Knights had gone soft.

With one smooth motion, he grabbed the Royal’s arm, spun, and twisted. An audible snap confirmed a dislocated shoulder. The man dropped to his knees and screamed.

“Ya sodding git, I’ll kill ya!”

The other Royal nearly dropped his lantern as he reached for his spear.

Bram stood his ground and cracked his knuckles. “I may be saddled with false charges, but I’m still a Gnostic Knight. Don’t ever touch me like that again.”

The Royal by the door hesitated a moment before pointing with the tip of his spear. It was a signal that Bram should move forward.

The Knight walked forward, leaving the injured Royal to shake his fist and shout expletives. “Yur lucky the king’s looking out for ya, ya damned Gnostic! Next time we meet, I’ll beat yur face ‘till it looks like ground meat!”

Bram grinned, knowing the man had no hope of carrying out his threat. “Stop whining. Five minutes with a sorcerer, and you’ll be fine.”

It wasn’t the first time tensions between Gnostics and Royals erupted in violence. The rivalry had gone on for years, fueled by no less than King Richard. The king believed that pitting his two elite factions against one another would force them to compete and grow stronger.

There was harmony, in rare instances. During the battle of Dobb’s Plain, which ended The War, Gnostics and Royals fought alongside. Unfortunately, the camaraderie didn’t last long. Tensions slowly returned in the years that followed, and now, the two forces once again competed for limited resources. Bram couldn’t resist the temptation to up the ante, either. Besides, it gave him an opportunity to practice a move he wanted to try on Virgil.

As he disembarked, he looked back at the Heron, perhaps for the last time. He couldn’t imagine a conviction, but Virgil already had a head start with the king and was sure to frame him as guilty. It was his word against a newly appointed chancellor, but that didn’t mean Virgil’s lies wouldn’t tarnish his reputation. Nevertheless, he needed to stay optimistic. If he didn’t have faith in his king, he didn’t deserve to be called a Gnostic.

The Royal with the spear followed closely behind, never letting his weapon waver. Bram noticed a faint dusting of frost at the tip, indicating an enchantment of ice. Just like Gnostics, Royals commonly sent their weapons to be magically imbued by Angkor’s wizards. Ice magic was effective at draining an enemy’s warmth and slowing their movements, and it could also do so from a distance. Simply grazing the surface of a highly armored foe would chill them on the inside and make them easy targets.

The Heron had landed in an underground cavern that Angkor used as its hangar. It was large enough to store a few dozen airships, but most of the floor space that day was dedicated to Richard’s top-secret project. Bram whistled as he sized up the enormous scaffolding, which had just started construction a few days earlier. It already took up nearly half the cavern.

Bram heard rumor that it was for a new galleon-class model. During The War, these were the crown jewels of the king’s air fleet. But in peacetime, their size and firepower had no practical use. Bram couldn’t imagine why Richard would approve the construction of a new one. Only two others had ever been commissioned, and one of them had already been disassembled for spare parts.

Angkor’s hangar was quite large, but it was just part of a much larger underground military base, known as The Substratum. The mighty facility took decades to build, with scores of wizards boring through rock and excavating tons of earth each day. The investment paid off in the end, providing Angkor with a network of secure tunnels, training rooms, bunkers, and even a dungeons for holding prisoners of war.

There were just two ways in or out. The first was the long vertical shaft used by airships, while the second involved a circular stairwell that connected to the surface. Once on top, there were passages to the city as well as the king’s palace. It was a convenient path for military personnel, not to mention a handy escape, in case the palace ever came under attack.

It was through these passages that Bram now marched. He thought hard as he walked, nervous that Virgil might have already stacked the deck against him. He wondered what the chancellor could say to sway Richard’s opinion. Or if he would even use his mind-control magic.

The Knight shook his head. No … there were too many safeguards. Richard had loyal allies, including powerful scholars. There was no way a single man, even a proficient wizard like Virgil, could get close enough to corrupt the king. Not without someone intervening.

He sighed. His march was at an end. He stood before the doors of the king’s audience chamber, flanked on either side by more Royals. Bram’s escort joined his brethren, and before long, the mighty doors blew open. Out stormed Virgil.

Bram held fast, fighting the urge to tackle the chancellor to the floor and pummel him. Meanwhile, the chancellor stomped by without even acknowledging the Knight’s presence. Looking at the glower on his face, Bram hoped it was a good sign.

From the wide-open chamber, another Royal peeked his head outside. “Sir Morrison, His Majesty is ready to see you.”

Bram gathered his wits and entered. He was followed by the Royal with the icy spear, who entered and closed the doors behind them. Bram walked to the room’s center and kneeled.

There was no mistaking Richard’s audience chamber, a room designed to demonstrate the scale of Angkor’s power and wealth. Dark ironwood paneling and gilded ceilings ran throughout. Paintings adorned the walls, portraying heroic scenes of Richard leading his armies to victory. Lavish accents topped every surface, including statues, busts, and ornate vases. A great window in back ran the length of the room, revealing a majestic view of the palace courtyard outside. Carnelian rubies dangled from the drapes, and gold thread and diamonds wove through the carpet and sparkled in the midday sun. They formed a path up a series of steps, ending in the king’s throne. Richard Cromwell sat there, waiting, his crimson robes and auburn beard perfectly matching the room’s décor. Scholars stood on either side, a wizard and a sorcerer, each in the uniforms of their respective orders.

“Rise, Sir Morrison,” the king commanded.

Bram did so, ready to meet his liege. Richard rose as well and descended the scarlet stairsteps. He greeted his Knight with warmth and familiarity.

“Abraham!” Bram usually disliked his birth name, but he welcomed it this time. “I am heartily sorry that you’ve been treated so poorly. I asked my Royals to bring you here as soon as I’d heard.”

Bram’s heart soared. Richard’s support was music to his ears. He had so many questions, he nearly stumbled over which to ask first. “My Lord, should I assume you’ve already heard an account of the mission from Chancellor Garvey? Did he … did he tell you everything?”

Richard opened his arms. “Why don’t we make sure of that by hearing your side as well?”

Bram’s shoulders relaxed, glad to be free of the weight that had saddled him since first encountering the mad wizard. Now was his chance to seize the moment. He recounted everything; from the moment he took off for Minoa, to his return trip as a prisoner aboard his own ship. Richard listened carefully and considerately.

At the end, the king shook his head. “I regret to hear that the mission had gone so poorly. However, you needn’t worry about Virgil twisting the story. His version of the events matches yours.”

Bram was awestruck. “Then he admits his crimes? How then does he still walk free, after what he did to unarmed priests? Should our allies learn what he’s done, Angkor’s reputation would be irreparably tarnished. I swear to you: if not for his mind-controlling magic, this mission could have been completed peacefully.”

“Fear not,” Richard assured. “I have my best people working on containing the damage. We’ll have our own cover story, which we’ll relay to our diplomats and to the press. The world will hear our spin before any other version. I assure you: none have more credibility in this world than our great nation.”

Bram found the response greatly dissatisfying. He had expected Richard to address the actual injustice of Virgil’s conduct.

“Your Majesty ….” He took a deep breath as he peered into Richard’s eyes, pleadingly. “We killed seemingly innocent people. Had you been there, you would have seen defenseless worshippers cowering beneath our might. These are serious crimes, not to mention the mind control that violates the Scholars Creed. So I must know … how much of Virgil’s so-called intelligence was real? And to what extent was his aggression justified? We must live with the consequences, either way, but whether those worshippers were rogue scholars or innocent refugees makes a world of difference.”

Richard approached and placed a hand on Bram’s shoulder. “Indeed, you are among the best of my Gnostics, Sir Abraham. Your ability to excel in both combat and compassion separates you from the rest. Sadly, I can’t set your soul at ease by telling you the men and women in that chamber deserved to be murdered.”

Bram’s heart sunk, but his king continued.

“I suspect Chancellor Garvey told you they were rogue scholars to bolster your conviction, in case you needed to face some difficult choices. I am saddened over any loss of life, but the important thing is that the sunstone is now ours. You might not yet understand, but I assure you: this artifact is now safer in Angkor’s hands.”

Bram reminded himself to have faith in his liege, but it was difficult to accept that any object was worth the price of innocent lives. Richard seemed to understand.

“Come this way. I’d like to show you something.”

He ascended the steps of his audience chamber and beckoned Bram to follow. The Knight joined his liege at the window, where he overlooked a grove of ancient oaks, each casting gentle shadows atop cleanly manicured stone pathways. Fountains stood at every corner, carved in the shape of animals, cherubs, and whimsical forest creatures. Spurts came from their mouths to land in placid pools of sparkling water.

Richard cleared his throat. “First, let me apologize. The mission guidelines were vague and confusing, and I realize now it compromised your leadership. It’s no wonder you were confused over the importance of our objective, but soon you’ll understand why we worked so hard to keep it confidential.”

Bram lowered his head. “My obedience has never been contingent on the quality of the mission briefing, My Lord. No matter how dangerous the sunstone was in the hands of the Minoans, the problem was how we went about seizing it. This fault lies squarely with Chancellor Garvey. His mercilessness is a moral outrage, especially if I’m to understand the Gaians committed no crime. Had anyone else led the mission, we could have retrieved the artifact without violence. Surely others match the chancellor’s skills in magic, so I must ask: Why entrust the mission to him in the first place?”

Richard stared out the window to his courtyard. “Because he was first to learn of the sunstones’ secrets.” He paused to let it sink in. “Moreover, he took the information to me, first, before serving his own ambitions. Quite simply: he earned my trust, and I couldn’t have sent anyone else.”

Bram winced. It was obvious now that Virgil was above retribution. Bram had to wonder what else the chancellor kept hidden. Or by the same token, what he might still be hiding from the king.

“Your Majesty … I assume you’ve verified the chancellor’s claims, leaving no room for the chance that he might have misled you or omitted important details?”

Richard reached inside his robes and produced a small object, which he held in his palm. Bram recognized the sunstone. “Abraham, I’m curious. Why do you think society has never truly accepted scholars?”

Bram was taken aback by the non-sequitur. He thought of Rosa, whom he loved and trusted with all his heart. Of course, he knew their love was an exception, and many other laymen had mixed feelings about scholars. Even while modern society relied heavily on the use of magic, and the Scholar’s Creed largely kept life stable and safe from magic’s ill effects, there was still a great deal of distrust among the general public. Few laymen socialized with scholars, and they rarely intermarried. Bram always figured it was due to old prejudices.

“I suppose people fear them, Sire. Despite the safety promised by the Creed, I believe many are ignorant or prejudiced against those who might hold power over them.”

“Fear and ignorance, then?” Richard seemed to consider the response before nodding. “Yes to both, in part ….” He paused, apparently captivated by the sunstone’s sparkles as he turned it ever so slightly in his hand. Bram gazed upon the object, wondering what secrets had so intently captured his king’s interest.

Richard turned his attention back to Bram. “History has taught us it takes time for society to outgrow old prejudices. Not that long ago, nothing could stop a small band of wizards or sorcerers from bombarding a kingdom and seizing it by force. People have long memories, which they pass down by word of mouth. Parent tell stories of the wickedness of scholars to children, thus maintaining this bias for generations. As for ignorance, I suppose we’re all guilty. After all, how could any layman fully comprehend the beauty and splendor of magic, without experiencing it? It’s like a blind man trying to imagine what it’s like to see the world.”

Bram understood all too well, but he wondered where Richard was going. “What else, My Lord? Do you believe there’s another reason why laymen distrust scholars?”

To his side, he looked to the wizard and sorcerer, who stood just a few steps away. Both faced forward, obediently avoiding the conversation. Bram hardly noticed them, much less saw them as a threat. But he knew, if ordered, they could destroy him in mere moments.

The king gripped the sunstone tightly. “Envy.”

Bram felt the word’s power as soon as his liege uttered it.

“No matter how much time goes by or how many generations we wait, society will always find it unjust that so few among us are born with manna in their blood. And fewer still are given an opportunity to train their gifts to their fullest extent. It’s only human for us to despise that which we can never attain. At least … until now.”

Bram shrank back as the king ordered his scholars to leave the room. Both wizard and sorcerer did as he commanded.

When they were gone, and the door shut behind them, Richard explained. “You’ll soon realize, for what I am about to show you, you must believe that no scholar was involved.”

Bram wondered what Richard meant, but instead of elaborating, the king merely raised his hands and aimed the sunstone out the window. He never uttered a word, nor did he weave his hands in magical gestures. Yet, it was clear his will was being made manifest.

Dark clouds swirled in what had once been a peaceful sky. The view of the courtyard darkened, and menacing shadows crept across the stone walkways. Thunder reverberated through the palace’s thick walls, moving the very bones inside Bram’s body. He watched as a few passersby in the courtyard quickly sought shelter. The sky twisted, and forks of lightning streaked from end to end.

Bram’s hairs stood on edge as he realized what was happening. Somehow, without any access to manna or training, the king of Angkor was commanding the weather. The sunstone granted him power well beyond the common wizard. Even masters of their craft with decades of experience struggled to do the same. The only explanation was that the sunstone—which for years had been ignored as a worthless icon, studied and disregarded by dozens of scholars—now granted its bearer unfathomable magic.

The king curled his right hand into a fist, and a bolt of pure divine energy shot down from the heavens, engulfing one of the oaks in a pillar of flame. Richard let it burn for a moment before relaxing his fist into a flat palm. In response, a downpour of rain fell and quenched the fire.

In place of a once mighty tree, a charred and blackened husk remained. Richard lowered his arms, and the storm disappeared. A quiescent sky returned, and gentle midday sunlight once again streamed through the window. Except for the oak’s skeletal remains, the courtyard was once again at peace.

Wearing a satisfied grin, the king returned the sunstone to his pocket and hurried to one of his Royals. Bram overheard orders to assure the people outside that they would be safe and have nothing more to fear from the sky that day.

The man left the chamber, leaving Bram in stark disbelief of what he had witnessed.

Richard’s smug grin said it all. “You see? The power feels good, Abraham. Perhaps someday I’ll let you try it.”

Bram was speechless. His heart pounded, and he struggled with how to respond to the incomprehensible display of power and might. Even more unbelievable was the effortlessness with which Richard wielded his newfound power. Complex incantations often left scholars fatigued, but Richard appeared energized.

Bram fell to his knees. “Your Majesty … forgive my earlier disbelief. I had no idea the sunstone was capable of such might!”

Richard chuckled as he urged Bram back to his feet. “Now, now, there’s no reason to treat me any different. We took every conceivable measure to keep the sunstone’s powers a secret. How could you have known?”

Bram was overwhelmed with questions, but one was at the forefront. “What is Angkor to do with this kind of power?”

Richard’s expression turned thoughtful. “Well, I am king, and it’s still my duty to protect my country and enrich its citizens.”

Thoughts raced around Bram’s head. “But surely such power can’t remain secret for long. Others will seek sunstones of their own. Including our enemies!”

Richard nodded. “Indeed. It’s only a matter of time. Just knowing what’s possible will embolden our neighbors. Koba or Kitezh will not hesitate to reproduce our success with their own sunstones.”

Common knowledge was that there were four sunstones in the world, each under the protection of a different country, including Angkor’s two enemies during The War. For now, Koba and Kitezh were ignorant of the sunstones’ powers, just as Bram was moments earlier. But word would eventually spread.

“We must act before our neighbors learn of these powers, Sire. If even one of these artifacts falls into the wrong hands, they could become unimaginable weapons.”

Richard chuckled. “As usual, Abraham, you catch on quickly. We have no choice but to act with haste, if we wish to protect Angkor’s security.”

The more Bram thought, the more he worried. The sunstones were like snowballs rolling downhill, slowly gathering size and momentum. As time went on, more of the world would vie for their power. The repercussions would be devastating. Bram wondered if Angkor could move fast enough.

The king peered into his Knight’s gaze. “Abraham, tell me your thoughts.”

Bram stood straight. “Sire, it’s my duty to prevent our enemies from using the sunstones against us. However, I’m concerned we know too little. How can we be sure that prolonged use is even safe? Imagine the consequences, should we be unable to control their destructive power, or if such power is ever abused.”

Richard waved away Bram’s concern. “We’ll have plenty of time to study the artifacts and learn their limitations. As for potential abuse, let me assure you that I’d never allow that to happen. My desire is for peace and stability—not just for our own economy and the happiness of our citizens, but also for our neighbors. We are, perhaps, the sunstones’ best stewards.”

Bram was pleased to see his liege so resolute. He already knew that Richard was not a tyrant. Although he often acted proactively against Angkor’s enemies, he was also merciful. His fair treatment of Kitezh’s and Koba’s monarchs after The War had made Angkor an example of statesmanship in the eyes of the world. Bram had no doubt that Richard was the great steward he claimed to be, but he was cautious about how to obtain the other sunstones without engaging in outright war.

“I’m reassured, My Lord. My only question is how to ensure your success. I want to prove that I can hand you victory more effectively than any chancellor.”

Richard’s expression fell. He grunted under his breath and started pacing, which pricked at Bram’s anxiety. “What’s wrong? Is it something I said?”

The king drew a deep breath and held it. “It’s good that you bring up Chancellor Garvey, for there is something I must tell you.”

Bram felt his blood pressure rise. “You can’t mean—”

Richard cut him off. “No. I won’t force you to endure the chancellor’s leadership a second time. In fact, I’ve already assigned a different Gnostic Knight to join him in future missions.”

“I see ….” Bram was glad to be out of Virgil’s sight, but he wasn’t happy that his king still trusted the devious miscreant. Bram wondered what other tragedies would follow in the chancellor’s wake.

“It’s not my place to ask, Sire, but are you sure it’s wise for Chancellor Garvey to lead other missions? Now that he has demonstrated poor judgment, would you still trust him to carry out your bidding?”

Richard began wringing his hands, giving Bram a sinking feeling.

“I can’t underscore how important Mister Garvey’s role is to Angkor’s future,” he stared listlessly into the courtyard. “With just his knowledge alone, I must be concerned with retention. I must … keep him close … and loyal. Which is why I’ve granted him a fairly sizable incentive.”

Bram’s heart skipped a beat. “Your Majesty ….”

“I expect you to keep this confidential until I proclaim it officially,” Richard commanded, “but I’ve already laid plans for Virgil to ascend to the role of First Advisor.”

The blood drained from Bram’s face, and his jaw went slack. He knew right away that he had been a fool. A damned fool! Virgil was untouchable as First Advisor, a position that granted him power second only to Richard himself. Bram was sure he had made a powerful enemy. Though still fortunate to have Richard on his side, the king could not protect him forever if Virgil were sufficiently patient and vindictive.

Bram felt the need to bow a second time. “Your Majesty, I will prove your trust in me is well-founded … no matter what your future First Advisor thinks of me.”

Richard relaxed with a wide grin. “I have no doubts, Abraham. We’ve known each other too long to question our loyalties. To that end, I’ve prepared a very special mission for you. One which you can use to prove your worth to the entire kingdom.”

Bram felt encouraged. Elated, even. If it allowed him to keep his distance from Virgil while restoring his lost honor, he would jump at the opportunity. “Whatever you ask, My Lord, it shall be done.”

Richard’s confident demeanor returned. “In that case, I’d like you to travel to Kitezh. You shall be the one to bring us their sunstone.”

The request took Bram by surprise. The responsibility was huge, and the stakes were high. Even so, he was confident. Certainly, there was no time to lose, if mere knowledge of the sunstone’s power would hasten other nations to respond. He needed to prepare, and quickly. That included who to bring, how to avoid raising alarms—

Richard smirked. “I see you’ve already started to think through the implications. That’s good. My hope is if we move quickly, we can retrieve a second sunstone without bloodshed.”

Bram wanted to show that he was quick to think strategically. “Indeed, my Lord. I mustn’t travel with too large a crew, or else I’d rouse suspicion. In fact, if I arrive on my own, I can make up any story I want about why a Gnostic Knight would visit their capital. With just a bit of reconnaissance, I can determine where they keep their sunstone and how to remove it. I can finish the job and extricate myself before anyone even knows it’s missing.”

The king looked pleased. “Clearly, I’ve done well in choosing you. Although ….” Richard trailed off, leaving Bram to wonder what might have earned him an early critique.

“Your Majesty, forgive me. I was merely thinking out loud. Give me time to strategize, and I vow my plan will be flawless.”

“Of that, I have no doubt,” Richard responded. “It’s just that we must take full advantage of the element of surprise. I fear that even flying into their airspace will result in a subtle signal. As you know, their king, Henrich Brandt, is a very smart man. He pays close attention to anything out of the ordinary. Specifically, our peace accords allow for delegates of my choosing to pay visits or conduct various assessments. However, they must be scheduled weeks in advance, and he’ll keep a close eye on any unscheduled visitors.”

“I understand,” Bram admitted. “If King Brandt discovers that an airship dropped off a Gnostic Knight who wasn’t expected, he’ll bolster security and keep an eye on me for sure.”

“Precisely,” Richard praised. “On the other hand, if you travel by mount across the mountain pass and through Saladin, it’ll take only a few days longer. Surely, word of the sunstones won’t travel that fast, and you should be able to sneak past border security without anyone knowing.”

Bram agreed. “Mounted travel, it is, then. I’ll need the evening to prepare, but I should be able to leave by morn tomorrow.”

His heart ached at the thought of leaving Rosa again so soon. She’d never forgive back-to-back missions, but he had no choice. His future was on the line, as was his honor. Even so, she deserved an apology. Assuming she’d accept it. Then again, the day was nigh when pardons would not be enough ….

“Sir Abraham.” Richard’s voice tore him away from his thoughts. “There’s just one more thing.”

Bram put his brooding aside. “Yes, Sire.”

“I was hoping you might consider taking someone with you. Someone capable, of course.”

Bram had hoped to handpick his companions, or even complete the mission solo. With so much at stake, he couldn’t risk another travel partner undermining his choices.

“Who, exactly?”

Richard walked back to his view of the courtyard. “Perhaps I’m just sentimental, but it’s been five years since we were at war. I remember those dark times. Victory was not yet secure, and it grew fainter with each passing day. Our resources dwindled, and morale was low. Had things gone differently, we wouldn’t be standing here today, looking to Angkor’s future. We might not even be alive.”

Bram had to agree. If it weren’t for the decisive stand-off at Dobb’s Plain, the war could have dragged on for months, eating away at Angkor’s men and resources through attrition. Bram believed he knew where his king was going.

“I made a decision at the time to force a final conflict, one in which the stakes were so high that one or more sides would be forced to surrender.”

Bram nodded. Many generals and senior military leaders lost their lives that day.

Richard continued. “I believe our greatest advantage was not strength in numbers, but rather the camaraderie between soldiers.”

Bram remembered it fondly. “Angkorian troops, fighting together, united in a single cause.”

“Precisely,” Richard agreed. “Our forces once operated as disparate factions, but I wanted to forge them into comrades in arms: Gnostics and Royals, Wizards and Sorcerers, men and women, all fighting alongside. It was a savory moment, one I’m inclined to reproduce for this next arc of Angkor’s future.”

Richard turned away from the courtyard to face the Royals in the room. “Who among you would set aside their differences, step forward, and join this Gnostic Knight in his mission to secure Angkor’s future?”

Bram was surprised to see the man with the spear step forward.

“I would.”

This was the first time Bram heard him speak, and he felt like he should have recognized the voice. It reminded him of something from his past, but he couldn’t place it until the man removed his helm.

Blond hair fell to the man’s broad shoulders. He was about thirty, with chin and cheeks covered in light-brown stubble. The last decade had been unkind, judging by the age-lines around his eyes and cheeks, but Bram recognized his old friend instantly. He couldn’t believe his eyes.

“Kane … after all these years ….”

He had lost touch with his best friend since leaving the Academy. But as children, they were inseparable. Bram was overjoyed and overcome with nostalgia. It was almost possible to put his miseries aside and forget the last few days.

Richard grinned broadly. “I sense a close connection between you two. Well, well, isn’t this serendipity. Perhaps, even a sign from the Goddess.”

Bram couldn’t have been more pleased, but he contained his shock and presented himself professionally. “I admit … it’s quite a surprise. We haven’t seen each other in nearly ten years. I had begun to think he had perished in The War.”

Kane wore a half-smirk. “I wouldn’t have made the same mistake. Sir Morrison here is practically famous. All the Royals know him by name.” His smile melted, and he lowered his head apologetically. “Forgive me. I certainly wanted to reach out all these years. I suppose I was just waiting for the right time.”

“Nonsense.” Bram walked over and embraced his old friend. “Your reasons are your own. I’m just glad to see you now. And I’m more confident than ever that we’ll prevail in our mission.”

Richard appeared to be soaking up the joy. “I’ll have you know I have a soft spot for reunions. Now, Mister Harding, I must ask that you return to your post, for I have one more thing to tell Sir Morrison. I’ll send for you later.”

“As you wish.” Kane bowed deeply. Before putting his helm back on, he shot Bram a wink. “See you first thing tomorrow, old friend.”

Bram nodded. “I’ll meet you at the city gates.”

As soon as Kane left, Richard approached, speaking under his breath.

“I’ll also need you to make an appearance later tonight.”

Bram stiffened. “Where, My Lord?”

Richard took a deep breath and let it out. “You might find it distasteful, but there’s still the matter of damage control, following the incident in Minoa. My plan is to throw a banquet, so it appears our actions were justified. Even praise-worthy. I’ll need you to be there and take credit for the victory.”

Something stirred in Bram’s gut. Images flashed of innocent men and women, impaled with swords from his unwilling crew. Yet, his king asked that he celebrate and take credit.

“We’ll make no mention of the sunstone,” Richard instructed. “The cover story is that we gained intelligence of rogue scholars and their plans of terrorist activities. We sent a venerated Gnostic to infiltrate their compound, took down their masterminds, and exposed their plans. Our scholars are already drafting some very convincing evidence.”

Bram wiped the grimace from his face. He wouldn’t dare decline. In fact, he needed to stand strong and show his loyalty. “Very good, Sire. If I might inquire about the event, do you intend for it to be a family affair?” He thought of Rosa and hoped, perhaps, that an invite to an elegant outing might thaw the frigidness between them.

“Yes, I would encourage you to invite any spouses or love interests,” Richard told him. “It’s formal attire, and I’ll make sure Angkor’s most influential are invited. Please come ready to have a good time, and … rest assured that when you complete your mission and return with the sunstone, your rewards will be greater than you could ever imagine.”

Bram bowed once again, and the audience ended. After leaving the chamber, he felt a firm grip on his shoulder. Kane had waited just outside the chamber.

“I just wanted to say I’m sorry for how things played out today. I know it wasn’t how you would’ve wanted our reunion.”

Kane certainly referred to earlier in the day, when he met Bram aboard the Heron, bound in rope and locked inside the holds. Indeed, the humiliation was still fresh, but at least Bram had an opportunity to redeem himself.

The Knight grunted. “There’s no reason for you to apologize. You did your duty.”

Kane looked optimistic, his eyes bright and confident. “Your quarrels with Chancellor Garvey are in the past. Even as First Advisor, he’ll be too busy to be vindictive. And when we return to Angkor with another sunstone, we’ll be heroes. He won’t even think about old scores at that point.”

Bram found Kane’s confidence reassuring, but something still bothered him. He put the feeling aside, however, believing it better to embrace the good mood and foster ongoing cooperation.

“We’ll have a long trip ahead,” Bram told him. “I’m eager to hear about your life since leaving the Academy. I bet you’ll have lots of stories.”

Kane nodded. “Yeah. Looking forward to it.”

Bram walked on, his mind weighing strategies for the mission. He would not allow a second one to end in failure.