“I don’t want this gift!” I all but yelled out. I didn’t even comprehend what the offer was.
“But this is no gift,” said the King. “It is a bribe!”
“Still, I don’t deserve it! I failed the mission Rainier gave me and despaired over my failure before Poscale. I was ready to give up, and now I’m rewarded for it with a title of nobility?”
“Mr. Espian, I can assure you this is no gift, but another burden I place upon your shoulders. To the common man, who sees not deeply into the matter, this would seem as an ennoblement of your station, but emburdening you in this manner brings me very little joy. The truth of the matter is this is another sacrifice that you must suffer for the Great Work; a new way to serve the upcoming war. A better way to get your revenge.”
I quenched the tumult within my mind and actually tried to understand what my king was trying to tell me. As his gaze met mine, I saw there a slowly burning flame. There was still strength in the old king.
“You must understand that this is a bribe that gives me no pleasure in giving. You are a hero, Mr. Espian and the rumors among the soldiery give us plenty of evidence of this truth. In my kingdom, I reward heroes fairly, and were our times different, and the enemy of another kind, I would ennoble you as an honorable knight—”
“But we’re not living in the past,” said his son Ames, and exhaled a ring of smoke. He had a long pipe, made from dark wood between his fingers, and the room filled with sweet-smelling tobacco.
“No, we are not,” continued the King. “The world is changing, and against our wishes, we must alter our plans to fit this new change. Mr. Espian, it has taken us many weeks of careful consideration, and taking into account the thoughts of your partner, Miss Regalla, to come up with this new strategy. You see, elevating one man—a war hero and powerful mage—so above the populace and nobility as to contend with my own authority were matters to go amiss, is something that has not been done before.”
The King’s face turned very serious.
“But we see no other way forward. The safety of my kingdom—our kingdom—is my highest priority. It has taken my family generations of ceaseless work to build Lienor into what it is today. And because of your might on the fields of Poscale and Krastarn, we understand the Enemy more deeply than before. Mr. Espian, you must be the torch, the inextinguishable light that illuminates all the dark corners of our kingdom. Before you, the vile and corrupted shall flee, and the faithful shall be inspired. It was a miscalculation on our part to have you work in secret, as do many of Rainier’s agents. You are not a man who can remain hidden in the shadows, even though I sense you might wish to do so. You know you draw attention to yourself, Mr. Espian, wherever you go. This is a boon which we must use to its fullest.”
“Viscount…” I mumbled, too many questions filling my mind.
“Indeed, Jonas,” said Ames and got up from the lounging couch. He stood beside his father, standing taller than him, and his movements exuded authority. “You might not be aware that this title holds special allowances and rights compared to the many lower titles. Barons, knights, lords, and honorable personages fall under our commandship and must heed our rulings. However, a viscount is an ancient title that stands above the petty nobility, but also apart from our counts and dukes who have other duties. It used to be a military title, back when war was more commonplace. These times have returned.”
“There used to be a time when heroes of war or great commanders were awarded this ancient title,” spoke the King. “If my memory does not fail me, was it not my grandfather who has last bestowed it upon someone? What became of him?”
“Viscount Raborsa met his end at sea, Your Majesty,” said Pitties casually, removing a piece of bread from his robes.
“Ah yes… a tragic loss,” mumbled the King and rubbed his chin. “My father said he had an unquenchable love for the open sea, and—”
“Let’s not get stuck on this topic for too long, father. Tell him about the other half of our offer!”
“Ah yes, thank you, my son. Do you see Mr. Espian, where my mind wanders in my old age? I have grown so accustomed to the ambitions and meddling of our counts and barons; it seems that’s all I can think about when my mind tires—which family shall make the next power play?” The King closed his eyes, rubbed his temples, and sat down. “You must forgive me, Mr. Espian. Ruling a kingdom for over forty years, and over thirty as Heir Apparent does wear a man down. There are times I wish I had been born a mage, as you or Rainier, capable of extending my lifespan beyond the years granted to me…”
“Please allow me, Your Majesty,” said Pitties suddenly and stood up. He looked with pity at the aging king and turned his eyes to me. “Jonas, I made an error in planning. You need to play a part that is more fitting for your strengths. That evening in Sanermo, I thought you would be perfect for… what was the term I used—”
“Knife in the dark,” I replied.
“Yes—a knife in the dark,” said Pitties. “As Our Majesty already said, Jonas, you are not one that blends into the background. Your spirit is alight, and anyone sensitive to the psychic winds will take notice of you. And also, your demeanor naturally commands attention, whether you like it or not. I see no other path for you but to assume that role. We shall make rumors about your powers and privileges precede your presence, and tales of your deeds linger in your wake.”
“But the others also deserve—” I tried to raise a protest. This whole thing sat ill with me. I found it unfair to the fallen that I should take all the glory.
The King suddenly interrupted. “No! It must be you! Understand: I want even the mere rumor of your coming to drive out the wicked and the corrupted. I want every vile and demonically inflicted man—” his eyes went vacant, and he looked at his son, confused. Quickly he regained himself and continued, “And a woman in my kingdom to fear your coming. Your mere reputation shall be our tool!”
The King had slurred his words, and in the middle lost his strand of thought. The immensity of this sank deep into my heart, and I saw Pitties observe me closely. He knew that I knew. There was another, deeper game planned here.
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“Please, let me, father,” said Ames and helped his father to sit down again. He stood in front of me, eyes stern and the lighthearted smile gone from his lips. “Jonas, you shall make an Order whose goal is to fight and destroy the Demonic enemy!”
“A secret order?” I whispered, skeptical.
“No, Jonas. A public one. Everyone within our realm must know its name and learn to fear it. Whispers of its doings must spread everywhere—something I’m sure Rainier will arrange.”
“Exaggerating your capabilities, or in the suitable place, understating them, will serve our purposes well,” said Pitties.
“You, as viscount and grandmaster of your order, shall have great rights amongst any noble family or army officer. And I shall give you the tools and necessary means, and the people, to do the work, which me and my father are not able to do . It shall be an organization that shall be above the scrutiny of lesser men!”
The King seemed to have regained strength and took a place beside his son. But his eyes were tired, and the dark shadows on his face seemed to empower that weakness. “We have enough secrets, as is Mr. Espian. We need not burden ourselves with more, especially in such perilous times. Keeping your Order a secret will only hinder its work. Understand it thus—if you, viscount Espian, master of your order, arrive wherever that might be, whether Caffria or Soffraza, the people there will already have an understanding that your work must not be looked into, nor stopped or harassed—”
“This is where having a title of nobility comes in use,” said Pitties. “No baron, knight, or petty lord will have the law on their side to hinder you.”
“Though some may try,” said Ames, and Pitties nodded.
“This was our error, Mr. Espian. We thought of fighting the Enemy in secret when the secret was already too great. Though the work you will do must be kept secret, for I fear it shall be very dark and… evil. But you and your Order shall be famous!”
And this was when I finally understood what the King asked of me.
There was a quiet yet sweetened voice within me that urged me to take the offer, and a hesitant, stuttering one that told me to reject it. I never wanted to become famous, someone of importance purely for the sake of it, nor did I have much ambition to join the high society. I thought, ever since I was a young boy in Darnel, that nobles were usually arrogant and cared little for the worries of the common folk. Only a few had disproved that opinion.
And then, I found myself thinking that holding a noble title, viscount Oscarian, would be in my own interests as well. Never again would I contend with the whims and opinions of some small lord or captain, or have my work hindered by them.
On the other hand, and coming from a more familiar place in my heart, I felt unworthy of this honor. I thought I was cheating the King and the reward—which it truly was not, as I now understood—I had not earned nor deserved.
“Your Majesty, I must confess…” I said, choosing this as the time to speak from the heart. “Last night I spoke with Rainier and told him about my worries and how I despaired at the last moment. I think you put too much faith in my hands, and that I won’t be up to the task. I know my strength, which is fighting, and I have an ingrained understanding of the Enemy, but I’m no leader, nor do I have any semblance of a plan on how we can defeat them.”
The King listened with a grave face, but it softened as he began to speak.
“Do you understand that this is the reason why it must be you? If you had accepted this gift without reservations, I would have been worried, but your resistance soothed my fears. Any man who desperately wishes to dominate is no man that should lead and is one who none will follow when the hour is dark. What you tell me is true—we currently do not have a clear path laid out before us, one that would lead us into the light, but we must trudge ahead, nonetheless.”
The King held both of his hands out. “I ask of you, Mr. Espian, this: on one hand, you are a beacon of hope, and on the other, an icon of fear and hopelessness to our enemies. You must uproot their corruption from wherever they have decided to set in, and from those you capture, try to force any kind of admission. Jonas—you must be ruthless in your work. We cannot afford morals and law and justice in the upcoming days!”
“That’s—” I raised another protest. This, also, sat ill with me.
“And this is again precisely why it must be you!” spoke the King. His eyes were dark and a shadow was upon his face. “Your reluctance gives me courage that you will use these special rights as fairly as one can, in these dark days.”
“Your Majesty… I find what you’re telling me deeply troubling!” I expressed with a frown. The thought of forsaking principles and ethics to combat the Enemy had never crossed my mind. It seemed a most treacherous path.
“As do I, Mr. Espian,” spoke the King. “However, in the face of such a war, much must be done that we would not even consider during peaceful times. We cannot afford the luxury of moral righteousness when confronted with such an Enemy, for they will most definitely use any and all wicked tricks against us. We are already at a disadvantage. Our resistance was held back for decades! Surely we would not survive if we were to restrain ourselves.”
I said nothing, but my expression spoke more than I could even say. The three standing before me could read it easily.
“Mr. Espian, I must, unfortunately, burden you with more. You must also learn their weaknesses, magical and mundane; their ambitions and motives. You must learn what they fear if these demons even feel such a primal emotion. We must learn what they need and want, from where they draw their strength, and how deep their dark magic run. But our highest motive must be how to expel their assault from our world!”
“Your Majesty, that is…” I whispered. The room seemed to darken even more. Now I understood this was no gift that the King offered. This was, indeed, a bribe, and one which might not even be weighed in my favor.
“A monumentous undertaking,” said Pitties, his eyes tired and breath shallow. “Indeed, it is Jonas.”
“It might very well be a task that takes lifetimes to complete. I fear…” said the King, and the room went quiet. Ames and Pitties seemed to understand what the King left unsaid. “I feel that my eyes shall not live to see this war’s ending. My strength is soon spent—”
He suddenly sprang forth and bore his eyes deep into my soul. “What I am about to reveal, you must swear to never disclose to another soul!”
“I swear!” I almost cried out.
“I intend to abdicate the throne, Mr. Espian. I still have a quick mind and my tongue is sharp, but I feel stretched winder than I can handle. And the incident you saw a moment ago—” He meant when he lost his train of thought while talking, “seems to happen more often of late… Ames will become king soon.”
I bowed my head, realizing the severity of this disclosure. Such decisions were always kept private, and there might be only a handful of people in the entire kingdom who knew this. Were any of the influential families to learn of this, the Landoros heritage might be at risk until Ames ascends the throne.
I could tell nobody, not even Florencia. And I feared she would loathe me for it.
“Mr. Espian, your task will take a long time to complete, I foresee it and feel it strongly,” said the King, rubbing his thin wrists. “And whatever you and your order will need, I shall see it done. The coffers of the Landoros family are deep, and there are many treasures that we have hidden away in the vaults of the Tower of Aarnost.”
“In this case, Your Majesty,” I said, breathing in deeply. “If you acknowledge and understand my fears and doubts, and know that I don’t even know how to begin this task. Then… I accept your gift. And as you feel deeply that you won’t live to see this war to the end, I feel just as deeply that this war, this struggle, is my life’s purpose. I feel this is the reason for my being.”
“Your Majesty, I accept the title of viscount, and I will wear it as honorably as I know how. And I shall make and lead an honorable order to wage a merciless war against the Enemy. I shall call it the Order of Hiskandrios.”