V2: Chapter 15:

…

Interlude: Alistair, The Headmaster

…

Centuries of careful planning undone in half of a decade.

"Your plan failed. The cost of this failure is on your head, Tulum." The man had assured me that the so-called King of Wisdom would falter and fall. None could stand against the Academy when it chose a side. Our prominence will be assured, even in the face of two ancient towers in the hands of a child. Yet, such was not the case. "The Academy has been dragged through the mud. Our gate to the lands of the Guardians of the Moon has been destroyed. The boy-king rides at the head of another victory."

Jack, the boy-king, raised to his position by sheer chance and the dying whims of a foolish warlord. His achievements spread through the land, giving him prominence and fame beyond his worth. Many whispered of his genius, of his ability, and of how he was leading so many to prosperity and peace. In truth, he was but a figurehead. A clever figurehead, but one that received constant instruction through coded letters, as his true masters hid themselves away in their Citadel.

A sacrificial lamb being bred for slaughter, but also the vehicle of our defeat.

"H-headmaster, I admit my f-faults and foolishness. Please, I beg of you, grant me a chance to make amends." Tulum was a man of talent and skill and ambition. The first two were of use to me. The last was a means to control him. I raised him up through the ranks with the same intention that Riegert and his fellows raised the scavenger. I used him, gave him wealth and power, and now it was time to wash my hands of him. I looked at my guards and they moved as one. "No! Please! No, no, no!"

"I am reassigning you to our northern expedition. Funds will be allocated for you to bring your family along." If he gained some semblance of clarity, he would liquidate his assets within the day and bring them along the expedition, and flee before it reached its goal. The discovery of the Ancient's foes had to be verified, and even if Riegert and his allies were lying, the northern lands were known to be inhospitable and dangerous. Only half of the expedition would return. "Return successfully and perhaps I will consider giving you a measure of the power you once had."

That was a lie.

I would not give this man yet another chance to turn us into fools.

"Thank you, thank you! Thank you so much!" The man wept and tears streamed from his eyes in gratitude, even as he was dragged out of my study. The lamplights were flickering outside the moon was full. It was the dead of night, far past when I usually made any decision in the past decade, but now it was the norm.

"Belford."

"Headmaster." My spy announced himself by coming forth from the shadows. Clad in a living cloak of shadow passed down for generations in his family, he seemed more monster than man. A writhing mass of shadows that bled into reality at his fringes. For years and years, I had little work for him, besides dispatching an aspirant warlord or two with delusions of grandeur. Now, I relied on him every day. "My people are coming up against opposition in both territories held by the scapegoat. We are changing tactics and infiltrating via their lesser institutions. It will take time, but we will reach their highest echelons."

"Time we can scarcely spare, but I leave the matter to you." I entrusted the matter to Belford, because I knew of his skill and aptitude. His whole lineage has proven itself time and time again. Crisis after crisis was solved before coming to head, before the Academy had to dirty its hands, because of their efforts. Now, as we find ourselves surrounded by so many potential foes, we must make use of him more than ever. "Tell me what you need and you shall have it."

"I shall prepare a list and have it sent to you by the next evening."

"Then, go."

Belford faded into the shadows, only the slightest increase in chill telling me that he left my room, while I cast my gaze on the map on my desk. Just a few years ago, only one banner stood mighty upon the continent. The Academy's green and gold of a lion holding a scroll and a shield. A declaration that the Academy will remain resolute, gather knowledge, and prepare to return civilization to all corners of the continent.

Now, though, banner after banner surrounded us.

Eight in total, but two of that number belong to the so-called King of Wisdom.

Riegert and his companions knew how to garner attention and lay claim to the Ancient's power. They took the Citadels, brought low the Children of the Elm, and began to showcase themselves to the populace. Their victory, their assets, and their story all combined into a heady brew that none could hope to ignore. People from all over the continent went to them in search of prosperity, in search of hope, and in search of power.

Through this, they rivalled the Academy, and now their most recent victory all but declared a state of conflict between themselves and us.

Their advantages were many. Each Citadel provided them with materials and food at a stead, constant rate at no cost. This cornerstone allowed the focus of labor on other forms of infrastructure, and the beginning of research into elevating themselves from the muck and grime. The alacrity of their change was startling and gave them more than anyone expected. Large cities seemingly built within half a decade, towns filled with tradesmen and farmers, and populations eager to multiply and produce more workers, soldiers, and specialists.

"The world is set to go utterly mad." On the horizon, the dark clouds of a war that will engulf everything loomed. The peace and prosperity represented by the Citadels were a crude mask. The warlords beyond the Academy's boundaries knew only war and conflict. They will seize and seize, until nothing is left for them to take, and then they shall set their sights elsewhere. If we do nothing, if we do not curtail their might and power, then everything will be undone. "We must do more."

Though I spent many nights sleepless, I returned to sit on my desk to begin drafting the next set of meetings I needed to make.

There were people I needed to visit, rebels that I needed to find, exiles to elevate, and nobility to press for coin and power.

The Academy has overcome many challenges in its past, but each and every time we were pressed to the brink of our ability and had to use all that we had.

In the face of our current foes, I feared that was not enough.

So, I must do more than any headmaster ever did before to protect my home, my people, and my way of life.

The Citadels must fall.

…

Interlude: Khanrow

…

"Could you have imagined seeing something like this five years ago?"

"Never."

Down the main street of the city, columns of infantry and infantry approached. On cobblestone streets, boots and hooves fell, while in the sky aerial cavalry flew in formation. Mages were on a floating platform, casting little spectacles of light and noise, while trumpets and drums resounded all across the city. Flanking the columns in tidy formation were crowds and crowds of people. Young, old, and everyone in between… all cheering and tossing flowers for their troops.

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A victory parade held by a nation for their victorious army.

"Not bad for a few burnt fields and a blocked mountain pass." Riegert had a large tankard of ale in one hand. We both sat together in an apartment we'd taken over for the day to watch the parade. Those who lived within it readily accepted the coin that we offered them for the day. We were presumably providing security for the parade. They left us hot meals before we left. None were poisoned. "The new soldiers are getting spoiled."

The constant music, the cheering of the crowds, and the sight of a true army in coordination flowing down the street almost made me want to simply let the statement go.

But I couldn't let my guard down, if I wanted this prosperity to continue.

"The Academy won't take this lying down. We've had multiple attempts to infiltrate our new facilities already." The military academy, university, and mage sanctum were immense investments by their nation. They could have three armies at their disposal now, if they invested there instead. However, Khanrow could not deny their usefulness. Officers on the field were learning more quickly, their research into ancient technology was advancing far more quickly, and their mages were growing in number and requiring less time to train. Not only that, but they attracted spies from all nations like honey to starving beasts. "A few were willing to turn coat from the other nations, but the ones from the Academy won't."

"Ah, they're better off there… for now." Riegert took a deep draught of ale and a massive bite of a sandwich that nearly engulfed the whole thing. I took a sidelong glance at my old friend. The man looked neater and tidier than usual, but there was a new strength to him that he was never there before. Was he training once more? "We'll get one eventually. Maybe even before you or I retire."

"The Academy is powerful and wealthy. Even after having one of its armies humbled and gates destroyed, the only thing stopping them from attacking us is that all the other nations have gathered on their borders." Jack had played his cards perfectly. The swift withdrawal from the Academy was an inspired move. One that I almost envied. In one fell swoop, he'd turned the Academy's attempt to retain power into a declaration that they were tyrants and that all must oppose them. A call to arms that all with Citadels under their command would heed. "They'll be looking to gather everyone they could, so that they have enough to keep themselves safe and attack. The best way of stopping that is getting their potential assets for ourselves."

"That's a big risk. Rita, Ilych, and I can be trusted. Others? Not so much." That was the truth of the matter when it came to Champions. Power is wanted, but it is also feared. Those who have been dubbed Champions are rarely accepted into the ranks of new warbands, because they can easily usurp the existing leader, if that leader was not strong enough to resist. "I can't take one under my wing. Duels aren't my forte. One under Rita and Ilych… that'll work, but we'll be putting them at risk if we put two under them."

It was a sound and logical deduction, but one that missed my point.

"Our greatest weakness at the moment is that I cannot be here and our other Citadel at the same time, so what I need is an apprentice. One that I can put down with the Guardians at my disposal."

"Ah, another spymaster. Hm. Shouldn't Rita take that place?"

"No. We need one under her and Ilych. Meanwhile, we'll find another potential general as you suggested to train here."

Riegert was taken aback.

"You'll be putting yourself at a lot of risk, Khanrow. You'll be alone."

"No more than anyone else trying to keep this land together." My blood quickened at the threat. Champions who focused on the same arts as I were few in number. The Academy did not teach such things. We were born and raised in our families and carefully taught the secrets that made each other peers. Unknown to one another, until we faced each other, and had to end one another live's. Ours was a secret war, a secret way of life, and even our deaths were unknown to most. "My ability to control our network is stretched to its limit. We need to take the risk. Otherwise, all that awaits us is an invasion preceded with innumerable setbacks and acts of sabotage."

Riegert frowned at my words and stared at his tankard. He put it down and finished his sandwich, before letting a sigh loose from his lips.

"You want me to make contact with the Wardens, don't you?"

"My family's old friends should be more than willing to provide me with an apprentice. The boy also needs to make friends, instead of enemies."

"And, you'll be throwing him at the Wardens? They'll eat him alive."

"Better that he learn how to resist feminine wiles early than late."

"Hah, I don't know whether you'll make for the worst grandfather or the best!"

"My granddaughter is quite fond of me. Jack is someone I need to teach."

"Sure, Khanrow. Sure."

Riegert's wide grin was insufferable, but I sighed and went along with the levity he injected into the conversation. It was his way of reminding me that there was more to life than harsh decisions, even if we were doing it all to keep the prosperity that we had now.

"Regardless, it will take time to recruit the teachers and smuggle them out of the Academy. Until we do so, you and Jack will visit the Wardens and forge an alliance with them. I will search for another general to lead, but if you can find one yourself amongst them, do so."

"You'll have better luck with the Conquerors for that." Riegert suggested and I raised my brow. The Conquerors didn't seem that enticed to work with us, let alone offer us someone with so much potential. However, my old friend didn't seem to be joking. "Trust me. They're not sending anyone over to the Academy now and we're the only ones with the right facilities to help them out. Honor demands that they give us someone of equal value… and whoever that'll be won't betray us. It'll shame them."

Conquerors did have a long and storied record of loyalty and integrity, so I nodded after a few moments of though.

"I'll extend the offer, but we'll keep an eye on whoever they offer."

"And, I'll look for someone that can help you do that."

"Done."

Riegert and I shared a moment of contentment at our agreement, simply watching the military parade go by, and allowing ourselves to relax.

We will enjoy this peace while it lasts, and perhaps we will retire and leave it all to the next generation… until the doom that Jack foretold arrived.

Though a part of me feared what was coming, another part of me welcomed it.

Dying surrounded by my family was all well and good, but the chance to die fighting and spiting the terrors that brought centuries upon centuries of pain and misery upon the continent?

It was something that I wanted.