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Chapter LII : Secrets Revealed
Premorn of Denuo, Tenth Day of Autumnmoon
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Bram and the others returned to the sandskipper with the serum made of Prometheus’ sap. They were greeted by gleeful faces. Yuri ran and wrapped her arms tightly around Bram’s waist. He felt relieved to see her, too, and he supposed her constant doting might be growing on him. He removed his gauntlets and patted her fondly on the head.
The Kitezhians gathered around their king and the rest of his search party to hear the tales of their adventure. Meanwhile, the sorcerer joined his peer to mix additional herbs and powders into the serum. Expectations were high, and everyone wanted to ensure the highest quality cure.
Yuri watched as they worked. Her gaze went unnoticed, except by Bram. He witnessed her intense concentration, as if memorizing every step. He wondered what other skills she had absorbed while no one noticed.
Géorg didn’t wait for them to finish. As soon as his sandskipper was fully boarded, he directed his craft toward Mount Abakai. As he drove, the clouds parted, revealing the pale white light of Gaia’s two moons. The moonlight added some risk that Angkorian airships might spot them, but Konrad agreed it was a risk worth taking. Daylight was only a couple of hours away, and it would increase the danger tenfold.
Given the long day and stressful night, most on board slept for the remainder of the trip. The sorcerers did, too, as soon as they finished their inoculation procedure. They expected it could take hours or even days for Rosa to recover. Remedies made from the sap weren’t well studied, and the tiny amounts of published data had varying results. The sorcerers put the remaining serum into a small phial and gave it to Józef, who packed it away for safekeeping.
As the others drifted to sleep, Józef beckoned Bram into his corner of the craft. The Knight made his way over.
The young king spoke in a low voice. “I notice you chose to remain awake. I understand you must be anxious for the serum to take effect. But, it could take some time. You might as well rest.”
Bram smiled. “I appreciate your concern, but I think I’ll stay alert a bit longer. What about you? Why haven’t you joined the others?”
“I slept earlier, at the farmhouse.” His eyes looked distant, almost melancholy. “Listen, since we’re both awake, would you mind if I asked you something?”
The question took Bram by surprise. He had already revealed plenty about his past, even though it was not in his nature to be so forthcoming. Still, he knew that continued transparency would help him maintain vital trust with the Kitezhians.
“You don’t need to ask permission, my friend. If it’s about my life as a Gnostic, I’ve got nothing to hide.”
The young king waved his hands. “Actually, I wanted to talk about Prometheus. It’s been on my mind since leaving the swamp. I’m grateful we found the sap, but I fear what remains will soon rot away to nothing. It’s a great loss to Kitezh, but also to the rest of Gaia.”
The Knight nodded. “Now that you mention it, I was pretty surprised as well. For a tree that has lived for thousands of years, I would expect that it should have adapted to the swamp environment. Its death is part of a worrying pattern. Almost like an omen.”
Konrad had apparently been awake as well. He crawled over to Bram and Józef from his resting spot on the skipper. “I couldn’t help but overhear. I was also thinking about Prometheus. Its death is not the only unexplainable, unexpected event. Consider the unrelenting heat waves all across the Northern Continent. Kitezh should have experienced its first frost, but instead it feels like mid-summer. Surely, these things must have played a part.”
“I don’t know,” Józef argued. “Changes in temperature and moisture play a part of any tree’s life, but Prometheus endured in a swamp for thousands of years. I’m sure it survived much worse. My thinking was that it had to do with the insect infestation at its base.”
“I agree,” Konrad added. “Dracobeetles aren’t ordinary insects. They have caustic enzymes that can dissolve a tree from the inside. Spawn have been around for just a few years, and we have yet to observe the long term effects they have on the ecosystem. Given the sudden rise in spawn populations, I’m sure they will have a measurable impact across the world.”
Bram was intrigued by the points made by both men. He thought of other examples. “I’ve read reports of other strange occurrences: cows producing sour milk, hens laying rotten eggs, carrier pigeons never returning to destinations. I believe it’s all connected.”
Konrad nodded. “We’ve seen these happen in our country, too.”
Józef leaned back. “What makes you think they’re connected at all?”
Bram had been considering it for a while now and believed it was a useful discussion. “When enough odd things happen all at once, I’m not sure you can call it coincidence. I think it all started toward the end of The War, when spawn were first sighted. Whatever happened … the spawn, the heat waves, the death of Prometheus, and even the sunstones … I think we should pay attention to these patterns and try to find a common cause.”
Jozef scratched his head. “But, I thought King Richard only learned about the sunstones a few weeks ago. How can there be a common cause, when spawn have been active for years now?”
Bram had been working on an answer to the very same question. “The years of time in between isn’t large enough that we should assume no connection,” he reasoned. “When I was in Minoa, and Virgil forced me to take their sunstone, the Gurudeva told me something that I’ll never forget. He said the sunstone would unleash a terrible menace. You reminded me of that, when you described what would happen if the sunstones ever came into contact with one another.”
“Calamity … Chaos … Destruction ….” Józef repeated the words he had used.
“That’s right,” Bram agreed. “You said the sunstones contained an ancient power that would be released. But, what if that spell is already weakening? What if all the things we’re seeing are some kind of … early warning signs?”
The Knight’s ominous conjecture gave Józef and Konrad pause. All three stewed in silence. Bram wondered what other plagues, blights, and catastrophes were in store. His rumination was interrupted by one of the sorcerers in the rear of the craft.
“Your Majesty.”
Jozef gave the man his attention.
“Apologies for interrupting, but the young woman … she has regained consciousness.”
Bram bolted upright and was immediately at Rosa’s side. His insides churned. He had been struggling to overcome the uncertainty of whether the serum would work, and he only held on to as much hope as he dared. So when he finally saw the flutter in her eyes, his doubt was replaced with pure joy.
He took her hand and felt its warmth, his eyes locked on to hers, and he almost burst with relief. An incredible weight—tension accumulated over days of intense worry—had finally lifted. She curled her fingers weakly around his, and he nestled close.
For long moments, neither said a word. Géorg piloted his craft, and the others joined their comrades in sleep. This gave Bram and Rosa a chance to savor a private moment. It took some time before the color fully returned to her face, and the serum cleansed the vile curse from her body. During that time, her warmth provided Bram with a constant reassurance that she was going to make it.
He almost dozed off before she spoke her first words. “Bram … where are we?”
He chuckled, purely out of relief. The serum worked. Thank Gaia, it worked! He relished answering her question. A single tear rolled down his cheek. He spoke low, hoping the others would stay asleep.
“We’re aboard a sandskipper. You were infected by a magical illness, and unconscious for … too long. A man named Géorg Töller found you at the base of a ravine, and we think you must have fallen while traveling across the Zeugma Pass. We owe him a lot and wouldn’t have made it this far without his help.”
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Rosa’s face grew fearful, and her lips trembled.
He grew concerned. “What is it?”
“I … I was afraid I’d never see you again. But I knew I had to find you. After learning the truth about the sunstones, I knew I had to survive to pass that knowledge on to you.”
He saw the fear in her eyes, and it made him protective. “First things, first. Tell me who did this to you.”
Rosa described her escape from Angkor and capture by Virgil Garvey, followed by her harrowing flight from the endrake.
Bram gritted his teeth. “I knew Virgil was behind it! I swear, I’ll kill him!”
Rosa reached out. “No, you mustn’t face him! His power is immense, and I must tell you what I learned about the sunstones. But … first, who are these people? Can we trust them enough to speak freely?”
Bram explained what had happened while she was asleep. It almost pained him to see the worry and fear in her eyes as he described the attack on Yuri’s village, the bombing of Rungholt, and the death of Henrich Brandt. It was clearly difficult for her to hear how long she had been under Virgil’s spell, and how much damage King Richard had already spread across the Northern Continent.
Bram felt guilty. “I didn’t want to burden you so soon after your recovery.”
Rosa’s face stiffened. “I’m glad you did. Given how far Angkor has already gone to acquire the sunstones, you must know the truth behind their power, and the true danger they pose to this world.”
“Excuse me.”
Józef seemed to have overheard. The young king rose from his napping spot and cozied up beside Bram and Rosa.
“Apologies for eavesdropping, but I, too, am eager to learn about the sunstones.”
Rosa struggled to sit up, so Bram helped. He made introductions during the assist. “Rosa, this is Józef Brandt, son of Henrich. He is heir and ruler of Kitezh.”
Rosa looked almost embarrassed. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. Yes, I believe you should hear this, too.”
He looked grateful. “Thank you. But, please, call me Józef.”
She smiled. “Yes, of course … Józef. Might I assume that you already have knowledge of the sunstones, due to your father’s passing?”
“You’re referring to Transiens Veritas?”
Rosa nodded.
He lowered his head, looking sullen. “Not exactly. My father told me I’d inherit his knowledge someday. Sadly, it never occurred. At least, not that I’m aware.”
“Did you recite The Oath of your kingdom?” she asked. “It’s a necessary component for Transiens Veritas to pass. According to my research, the role of Sunstone Protector can transfer across bloodlines. But the Oath of the kingdom is used to ensure that the rightful ruler receives the enchantment, even if not through blood.”
Józef looked satisfied. “That explains it. Rungholt is under Angkorian occupation, so all official ceremonies have been postponed. Please, assume I know nothing. Start from the beginning.”
Bram and Józef gathered close while Rosa told her story. Her expression was gravely serious. “I spent hours in the Archives looking for answers, but the truth became clear only when I stumbled upon the journals of an old historian and sorcerer named Maurice Vance.”
Bram felt a spark of recognition. “Where have I heard that name before?”
“He’s practically famous in the scholar community,” Rosa explained. “He dedicated his career to studying the Old History.”
Bram recognized the term as referring to the era before written or archeological record. Historians could piece together human history for about a thousand years; but for anything earlier, the records simply did not exist. At least, not in any reliable form.
Rosa explained further. “Vance wasn’t the only one who dedicated his life to this subject, but other historians have struggled to find enough factual evidence. Go far enough back, and it all devolves into folklore and legend. As it happened, one particular legend captured Vance’s interest: the Omega War.”
Jósef looked excited. “I’ve heard about that tale!” He placed his hands atop his mouth, aware that he was no longer whispering.
Bram smirked, happy to provide Rosa with some context. “Józef here has a huge interest in the arts, including music, song, and theater.”
Rosa looked delighted. “Then tell us, please. What do you know of the Omega War?”
Józef’s cheeks reddened at being put on the spot. “Well … as the name implies, it was so epic, that people believed it would be the war to end all wars. I suppose no war will ever be our last, but in this story, it involved all life on the planet.”
Bram grinned. “All life? Including birds, plants, and animals?”
Jozef shrugged. “You could read it that way. It’s a fantasy poem, though I heard of at least one troupe that attempted to put on a theater production. The war was between mankind and demons. I suppose if the demons won, all life would be lost. So you could say that mankind fought on behalf of birds, plants, and animals. Apparently, these demons raised an army of demonspawn that consumed everything they touched in fire.”
Bram’s body went stone cold. He remembered the creatures made of mud that destroyed Yuri’s village. If those weren’t a demon’s spawn, he didn’t know what was.
He wanted to get straight to the point. “Tell us, Rosa. Did Vance discover some kind of evidence linking the sunstones to these demons from the Omega War?”
The sorceress laid it all out. “Vance had a theory that even old tales hold grains of truth. Even though facts get muddled over time, traces of evidence still remain. Vance studied two stories. In the first, four ancient beings known as the Ahrimen fell to Gaia inside meteorites. They were so mighty that not even all of mankind could defeat them. Only with the help of the world’s most powerful scholars were these creatures imprisoned and sealed away for all eternity.”
Bram readied himself for the punchline. “And the second?”
Rosa held up an index finger. “The second involves the Gaian religion. In particular, their story of creation. Supposedly, the Goddess provided mankind with four artifacts of power, known as the sunstones. Before the sunstones, there was chaos. But when mankind received the sunstones, they gained order, knowledge, and reason. Thus, these relics cleansed the land of chaos.”
Bram tried to piece it all together. “So, Vance believed that ancient scholars used the sunstones to defeat the Ahrimen?”
Somehow, the explanation felt incomplete.
Rosa shook her head. “No, Bram. The sunstones weren’t used to defeat the Ahrimen. They became the Ahrimen’s prisons. Vance believed that he could prove the sunstone’s power wasn’t intrinsic. That the stones themselves had no power of their own, but rather only power derived from the immortal spirits of these demons trapped inside!”
A shiver crept up Bram’s spine. Everything suddenly made sense. “I understand. The sunstones don’t grant power to a laymen, and Richard didn’t command the sunstone’s power when he demonstrated it to me in his throne room that day. Rather, he summoned the power of an Ahriman to do his bidding. The power of a demon.”
Rosa took a deep breath and shuddered. “It’s even worse, Bram. Richard cannot demand power from these demons, unless they give it willingly. And when they do, that power comes at a price.”
Bram felt a knot in his throat. “What kind of price?”
Rosa’s lips began to tremble. “The Ahrimen know nothing but chaos and destruction. They have no cause nor creed. Their only desire is to corrupt. In other words, the more a person uses the sunstone’s powers, the more they become like the demon itself.”
Józef’s eyes went wide. “Are you certain that Vance’s theories were correct? That the sunstones are nothing but tools of corruption?”
Bram saw everything clearly. “Of course it’s true. It explains everything. Richard would not have done the things he’s done, if he were himself. It’s precisely why Virgil—”
“Precisely why Virgil gave the sunstone to Richard, instead of keeping it,” Rosa finished.
Bram’s whole body felt numb. “And it’s also why the Sunstone Protectors and the Gaian Priests took great care to keep the sunstone safe … why they kept them inside AMF’s and vowed never to use them. They understood the dangers … they tried to warn me ….
“What about the second sunstone?” Józef’s question broke Bram out of his trance. “Angkor now has our sunstone, from Kitezh. If Richard has the first, who has the second?”
For a few seconds, no one said anything. It was an obvious question, but no one seemed to have an answer.
Rosa decided to speak first. “We should assume that Virgil knows better than to handle them directly. He’ll want to find another patsy who’ll be ignorant of their true dangers.”
Bram considered something. “How do we know that Virgil isn’t using a sunstone already? He’s already demonstrated immense powers that terrify even other scholars.”
Rosa shook her head. “No, what Virgil is using is something different. Jean called it Interdicta.”
“Jean?” Bram was unfamiliar with the name.
Rosa told him about her old professor, who sacrificed himself so that she could escape. Yet she had failed and was captured, anyway, which meant his sacrifice had been in vain. She looked crestfallen. It was clear to Bram that Virgil had to be stopped. But he couldn’t help but think about the word that Rosa used. He heard the very same term from the Gaian priests in Minoa.
She continued. “I’ve heard of interdicta before. I can’t quite place it, but I don’t think it’s related to the sunstones. It means ‘forbidden magic’. I’ll need to do more research as soon as I have the opportunity. But for now, assume it makes Virgil virtually unstoppable. Scholars can’t force an AMF upon him, if they can’t detect his magic. Nor can they defend themselves against it. We’re simply not ready to face him.”
Józef had grown a few shades whiter since last he spoke. His whispered voice had a sharpened edge of fear. “How are we ready to face any of this? Aren’t these demons supposed to be immortal? How can we possibly stop them?”
Once again, the mood fell silent. It stayed that way for a few moments, until Bram thought of an idea. “The Ahrimen might have once been an unstoppable force, but they were defeated once before. A group of scholars succeeded in trapping them inside the sunstones. And somewhere, the information exists of how to do it. Our best chance right now is to speak to another Sunstone Protector.”
A twinkle of hope returned to Jozef’s eyes. “Of course! Emperor Zhao Peng.”
Bram grinned, happy to explain to Rosa. “We’re already on our way to speak to the Koban Emperor to warn him about Angkor. While we’re there, we can ask him. He should have the knowledge of Transiens Veritas.”
Józef’s expression brightened. “With knowledge, there is power.”
Rosa looked somber. “You’re right. It’s our best move, but we must get there quickly. Armed with two sunstones, there’s no telling how fast Angkor can mount another attack. We must beat them to it.”
Bram had some experience with Angkor’s military. “Logistically speaking, it will take some time to redeploy the air fleet, which only left Rungholt a couple of morns ago. I estimate we have about a week, which should give us enough time to reach Loulan and prepare a defense. I … can’t be sure, of course. There’s no telling what they can do with the sunstones. But, we must still try.”
“That’s right,” Józef agreed. “We can’t fail. The people of Kitezh are depending on us.”
“More than that,” Rosa told him. “Without us, Koba is completely unprepared. We can’t let Angkor possess a third sunstone.”
Bram nodded with conviction. “Then it’s a race, and the first to Loulan might determine the fate of the world.”
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End of Arc IV : The Angkorian Occupation
… To be continued in Arc V: Race to Loulan.
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