Kichi and Masahide explored the dark passageways above their apartments with the thin light of an oil lamp. It didn’t look like anyone had set foot in this section for ages. They came across a collapsed span and jumped to the other side, and it only got worse from there.
More than just the castle had collapsed above. Chunks of the mountain had slid down and crashed below. They stood in a room that gaped to the outdoor air. But above, the castle continued where it clung to the mountain, and there was a high tower above all other things man-made and stood in relief against the stars.
Kichi pointed up. “It could have flown her up there.”
Masahide studied it. “I'm certain it went the other way.”
“I didn't get as good of a look as you did.”
“It could have flown anywhere after I stopped looking. Let’s save it to look last if we can’t find her elsewhere.”
They backtracked and took the long hallway to the south structure from their apartments. The castle could logically be divided into four main areas to each compass direction. There were a few braziers throwing light from doors, and they saw the movement of guards. It still felt like they were sneaking, but there was no law against midnight strolls, so they tried to look nonchalant.
They peeked into a chamber and saw people raising something from the floor. A tarp covered most of it, but a gold arm shone from its concealment. It was heavy. The bearers grunted and sweat.
Kichi moved to the side of the door. “What is that?”
Masahide waved her down another path. It seemed to wrap around the chamber. “Whatever it is, they don’t want anyone to know about it.”
“Now I want to know what it is.”
“Then let’s find out. Perhaps they’ll lead us to Ema.”
Those inside the room labored to move the object down the hall. There were curses when it thumped against doorways, and eventually, they sat it down and rubbed their hands.
Duke Akitomo strode into the room and yanked the tarp. A gold man with a twisted face stared back at him. It was gilded, and he unfasted the clasps down its chest. It swung open to each side and revealed spikes.
Kichi pulled back from the view of the room. “It’s some kind of iron maiden.”
Masahide put a finger to his lips and studied the Duke.
Someone with a bag on his head. A man and woman had the victim by each arm. They dragged and threw down the victim.
The woman snatched the bag from a man with no hair.
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The Duke grabbed him and picked him up with one arm. He forced him to stand in the iron maiden. “I told you to watch Hisa and tell me everything she did. And to my surprise, I heard she flew off on an eagle with Sada sometime earlier. Strange that it wasn’t you who I heard it from, right? But I’m sure you were busy and on your way to tell me at any minute.”
The man just glared at the Duke.
“Your little sisters live with your parents in Zulvale, don’t they? I’ll send a few handpicked men to tell them goodbye.”
At this, the man began to protest. Then, the iron maiden began to shut.
Kichi tried to move forward to stop this madness. She couldn’t sit back and let it happen even if she hadn’t taken the oath.
Masahide caught her arm. He whispered into her ear. “They are killing a knight of the Celestial Order. As knights, we are bound by the oath to help, but not if the odds are impossible. Do you recognize the man who dragged him in? That’s Yasukatsu, a grandmaster of the Marstonic Order. And I’ve heard the Duke, though not a knight, is in the upper echelon. All we can do is live another day to seek justice for this misdeed.”
The screaming began. It didn’t just echo in the hallway but in the mind. They had to bear witness, an act that continued into heartbreaking silence.
Then the Duke uncorked a bottle and pulled a knob at the base of the iron maiden. A twinkling liquid poured from a nozzle into the bottle. “A hyper elixir. Make good use of it, Yasukatsu, and win another tournament.”
Yakukatsu’s held up the bottle. “The trick is to wait and see who the real competition is, and then we break them.”
The conversation faded as Kichi and Masahide slipped away. They snuck to the next turn and then composed themselves.
Something slithered along the cracks, bumps in the wall, corners, and anywhere the shadows cast. At the same time, the Duke's son emerged from nowhere. “Strange that I find the two people my father distrust most wandering the walls at night. Why are you sneaking around?”
Kichi tried to open her mouth but found it locked closed.
Masahide folded his arms. “We’re here only out of concern for others. You know a knight can’t lie, and you know we’re vowed to help those in need. I find it hard to believe we would ever be mistrusted. At least not by anyone honorable. There must be a mistake.”
“The mistakes I’d watch out for are your own. And you have a tournament tomorrow. You might want some rest.” Akisane walked away.
When they’d left earshot, Kichi asked, “I can’t move my mouth when I try to dodge the truth. I swear I wasn’t going to lie.”
Masahide laughed. “You must think of what you'll say and focus on its truths. Otherwise, you’re binding yourself up.”
“What if I really need to lie.”
“If you force the words out, you’ll die. Don’t do that. Now, you better get some rest and tell Whitebeard everything we’ve learned.”
“What about you?”
“I’m still searching.”
Kichi
Level: 6
Focus: Prescience
Secondary focus: Lava+1
Weapons: pure sword - 3% pure
Items: Near Field Amulet (Prescience+2, focus)