Out in the bailey, the air was cold, humid, and chilling. The sun was just below the horizon, casting the dreary glow of pre-dawn.

Cairn couldn’t believe who was in front of him, standing in the guardroom. Perhaps this was a nightmare. He was having a waking dream, born from the guilt of leaving Kylian alone at the scene of death.

“It’s probably a lot to take in,” Ailn said, holding his hand out. “Nice to meet you, Cairn. I’m Ailn eum-Creid.”

Cairn had known Ailn since he was born, but he’d never given off this kind of confident air. Perhaps it was his current state of dress: he wore the uniform of the Azure Knights.

Just like his brother Sigurd, his silver hair paired naturally with the azure cloak—matching the colors of the eum-Creid family crest. Unlike Sigurd, Ailn was fresh-faced. Put more bluntly, Ailn had the good looks of his brother, without looking like a jerk.

“...We’ve met before,” Cairn said dubiously. But he returned Ailn’s handshake nonetheless.

“Nice handshake,” Ailn said. “Firm grip, web of the palm and everything.”

Ailn’s hands had been stiff with rigor mortis just a couple of hours ago. And his eyes had been almost completely gray, clouded with death.

Now those eyes weren’t just lively and clear—they looked amused. As if coming back from the dead were the punchline to a great prank.

“Cairn, you’re the only one who properly examined him,” Kylian said. “What do you think? Could this be some miracle from Lady Renea’s holy healing?”

Cairn shook his head. “I’ve never heard of a Saintess bringing someone back to life.”

He thought back to the last mournful look of Renea eum-Creid, praying over her brother’s body. It was just before she left the castle to examine Varant’s barrier. He was certain nothing like healing had taken place.

“I won’t pretend to understand it, either,” Kylian said, “but for the moment, he needs an examination.”

Ailn crooked his neck and pointed to it.

“Actually, doc, I think my neck’s still kind of sore.” Ailn said. “Why don’t you do some of that healing abracadabra on me?”

“Abra—what? That’s not what…” Kylian pressed the back of his thumb against the bridge of his nose in frustration, trying to maintain his patience with the flippant noble. “Physicians don’t have healing magic.”

Cairn ignored Ailn’s impertinence, wordlessly checking for all the wounds he saw last night.

That small bump on his head was a fractured section of skull six hours ago, and he’d surely died from the resulting bruising of the brain. The burn marks on his neck, and even the cuts all over his body looked like they were healing.

“You seem perfectly healthy,” Cairn said, his voice a little shaky. “I can hardly even see the burns.”

“So those really were burn wounds,” Ailn felt his neck again.

“They’re rapidly healing even as we speak,” Cairn muttered, his face turning pale. He raised his hand to his forehead in disbelief. “I don’t know what to make of it.”

“Are you well, Cairn?” Kylian asked.

“I’m fine,” Cairn said, waving his hand dismissively. “Why don’t you stop by my office later, Your Grace? Let’s see if you still feel fine after moving about.”

“Sure,” Ailn shrugged. “Wouldn’t be surprised if I had a few questions for you later, anyway.”

“...Make certain you stop by then, Your Grace,” Cairn said.

He kept his eyes on Ailn, while taking more than a few steps backwards. It was as if he wanted to make sure the newly revived noble wouldn’t attack him while he retreated. And when he was a ways off, he turned around and made swift with his gait.

With that, Cairn was gone, and Kylian and Ailn turned their attention to the urgent matter at hand: judiciously spreading the word of Ailn’s survival.

“I don’t believe it would be wise for you to simply walk through the barracks,” Kylian said, “so I’ll find a way to surreptitiously bring the high marshal, Sir Aldous, here.”

“I’m just sticking around here? Didn’t you bring the knights’ uniform so I could blend in?” Ailn asked.

“No one in this duchy would fail to recognize you,” Kylian shook his head. “I brought you the uniform so you’d give off… less of an impression of death.”

“...You’re not gonna make me pay for it, are you?” Ailn asked.

“Of course not. I received it without cost from the quartermaster,” Kylian said. “I’ve turned a blind eye to many of his indiscretions.”

Ailn whistled. “You know what Kylian? You’re pretty slick.”

It was true. Kylian had learned fast that a peacekeeper’s job went smoother when people owed you.

“At any rate, we don’t know if anyone in the Order has complicity in your death,” Kylian grimaced. “I want to consult Aldous first because he’s one of the only men I can trust.”

“Well, be fast. I’m hungry,” Ailn said.

“I’ve already procured your breakfast,” Kylian said flatly. Turning to leave, he tossed him a pouch of dried meat he’d also retrieved from the quartermaster.

He didn’t even look back when he heard Ailn groan.

----------------------------------------

Sir Aldous, the de facto leader of the Azure Knights, commanded respect beyond his title. Nominally, the Knight Commander was always the oldest male of the eum-Creid family. Hence, Ailn’s elder brother Sigurd was the proper head of the knights.

But Sigurd made his rounds at the imperial capital almost as frequently as he made his rounds through the northern wall. Given his persistent absence, Aldous for all intents and purposes had led the knights for decades.

He was a man of his own making.

Born a commoner in the north, he’d known strife from the earliest age. Before he was even ten years of age, he was already a squire within the Azure Knights, learning swordsmanship to protect the duchy, the noble house of the eum-Creids, and the people of the domain.

His rise to nobility was signified by the uninheritable title of Baronet, bestowed upon him by the then-Saintess, Celine eum-Creid—Ailn’s mother.

The modesty of this title, relative to his accomplishments, underscored the limited influence the eum-Creid family wielded within the empire at large.

Nonetheless, he’d earned a deep respect within the duchy that would surely be remembered beyond his own lifetime.

This was who Kylian decided to place his bets on.

Kylian walked briskly through the halls of the barracks, nods of respect given to him by the other knights as he passed. For once, Kylian was glad for his reputation as a rising star within the ranks of the Azure Knights.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Most of the time, it did little more than earn him quiet, petty enemies; many of the older knights saw him as an obnoxious upstart. Indeed, the reward for his consistent hard work and loyalty was mostly disgruntled whispers.

But today, that sterling reputation would be sorely needed.

Kylian’s wait was short. In fact, Aldous’s aide came out to retrieve him. He’d jumped the line, and he sighed at the whispering he could hear even as he passed.

“Sir,” Kylian said upon entering. He addressed Aldous with a chest salute.

“What could possibly be urgent at a time like this, Kylian?” Aldous sighed. He looked like he hadn’t slept.

Aldous was a tall and powerful-looking man. He was still muscular, even though it was evident he was beginning to lose the battle against age and desk work.

Because he was a baronet, that made him a full-fledged vassal, if a minor one. Hence, he could wear the eum-Creid’s family crest upon his person—in his case, the silver wolf was embroidered into his blue cloak.

At the moment, however, his commanding presence was undercut by the hunch in his back and the blots of ink on his hand.

“… I see that you have much work to do because of the recent tragedy,” Kylian said. “But that makes what I’m about to reveal to you all the more imperative.”

“Well, out with it then,” Aldous replied brusquely.

“Sir, forgive me for seeming cryptic, but…” Kylian paused a moment. “You’ll just have to see it yourself. If I uttered it before the proof was given, it would sound blasphemous.”

“Kylian, I hate riddles.” Aldous pinched the bridge of his nose. “Now is not the time. Just look.”

Aldous really couldn’t be blamed for his frustration. Tall stacks of parchment sat on his desk. The knight commander worked with ink more often than steel.

The stack was even taller today, likely due to Ailn’s apparent death. They would need to reach a conclusion on the circumstances which led to it.

As far as announcement, the citizens of Varant had already heard, but nonetheless there still needed to be a public proclamation. The empire at large needed to be informed.

The actual arrangements of his funeral would’ve been handled by the Azure Knights; some unwilling knight or priest would be forced to eulogize him, and lend dignity to an individual most believed completely lacked it.

What caught Kylian’s eye, though, was a document of request sitting at the very top of the desk, stamped with a seal of rejection. Anyone in the duchy knew the seal belonged not just to the eum-Creid family, but one specific member: Renea eum-Creid.

But what was being rejected, exactly?

Aldous followed the line of Kylian’s gaze and realized what he was curious about.

“Our Lady Renea is not satisfied with the investigation of her brother’s death. Since the nature of events seemed self-evident, we formally requested closure. But I suppose that was tactless all considered,” Aldous sighed. “I hate to say it, but a tragedy like this often calls for an appropriate performance.”

Kylian felt a tremor of discomfort. Even before he’d seen Ailn come back to life, he’d disagreed with the other knights’ consensus.

“She wishes for a formal inquest when she returns,” Aldous said. He didn’t try to hide the frustration in his voice. “We should be worried about war, not this imagined plot of murder against a son too piteous to even have enemies.”

“Sir—” Kylian started.

“The real direction of our investigation should be into how the beasts even came into the castle! Those miserable gatekeepers—” Aldous was already on a rant.

“If I may, sir,” Kylian interrupted, “I believe there are reasons an inquest is appropriate.”

Aldous stared at Kylian.

“Come now, Kylian,” Aldous said. “The reality of the situation is obvious.”

The ‘obvious’ story of the knights went like this. Shadow beasts had inexplicably broken through the city’s outer walls, and into the castle itself. It was so inexplicable, in fact, that the knights considered it likely the work of a malicious actor.

There was an endless list of noble families who wished to see the eum-Creids suffer, and Ailn had been caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. His holy aura was weak, and he simply couldn’t protect himself.

A pitiable death that he hardly deserved, but that was life in the north.

The task now was to determine which enemy was responsible. The eum-Creids would never suffer humiliation without retaliation.

But what Kylian feared was that the enemy lay within.

“Sir, on all my honor as a knight, I just need you to follow me,” Kylian said. “It is relevant, and it is urgent.”

And it would probably save Aldous a heft of paperwork. Probably.

“…So be it, then! Not like you’ve ever cried wolf before,” Aldous grunted. “But if this is a waste of my time, I will beat you half to death in the knights’ yard and call it training.”

Kylian winced, remembering his squire days.

----------------------------------------

“Aldous, right?” Ailn asked, holding a hand out.

Aldous lurched back as if Ailn had cast a spell.

“Good lord! W-what the hell is this?!” Aldous yelled out. His hand hovered over his sword, as his face twisted in fear and alarm. “Is this some form of devilry?!”

There were few things that could shock the steadfast Aldous. But the sight of Ailn nearly brought the proud high marshal to his knees.

Ailn, for his part, had looked almost bored waiting around for them. He’d hung around the empty guardroom like a bad surprise.

“Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated,” Ailn said, walking up and offering his hand to the high marshal again. “Ailn eum-Creid. Nice to meet you.”

Aldous stared blankly at Ailn’s hand.

“What, do you not do that here?” Ailn asked. His brows furrowed.

“Sir Aldous, as you can see, Ailn eum-Creid is alive and well,” Kylian said hastily. “The young master has, ahem, had a change in memory and disposition from the blow to his head.”

Kylian turned warily toward Aldous, whose countenance had gone from fearful to cautious. Though his hand had stopped hovering over the hilt of his sword, the glimmer of appraisal had not yet left the high marshal’s eyes.

Finally, Aldous spoke.

“Then it would appear,” Aldous began, his voice grave, “the Azure Knights have truly blundered this time.” He gave a long, exhausted sigh. “Heads are going to roll… mine chief among them.”

Aldous growled, presumably thinking of the failures of the investigation. It seemed he’d defaulted toward the most mundane explanation: that Ailn had simply never died.

“Still,” Aldous continued, and smiled broadly. “To think the young scion lives. What a miracle! I’ll see to it that the herald makes haste, and the proclamation of your survival is prompt to the town square. Your family will be overjoyed—especially your sister.”

“...I don’t think that’s wise, Aldous,” Kylian said hesitantly. “I brought Ailn here to keep this within our confidence.”

Cautiously, Kylian continued to speak despite his apprehension over what he was about to suggest.

“Ailn was attacked by man, not shadow beast. I’m certain of it,” Kylian said. “Someone in this castle wished him dead. You were the only knight I felt I could trust.”

Aldous simply stared back at Kylian. The moment lingered, and Kylian started to feel like he was being pierced by that stare.

It was an uncomfortably long time before Aldous actually spoke.

“Are you saying you believe the murderer to be among the Azure Knights? Or even… the noble eum-Creids?” Aldous's question hung in the air, heavy with implication.

“I wouldn’t suggest it carelessly,” Kylian said, feeling sweat creep down his spine. “Few have access to the inner keep, and I do not believe this murder to be the work of a servant.”

“And why not?” Aldous asked. He peered down at Kylian in skepticism.

Until this point, Ailn had been largely content to let Kylian and Aldous handle things. But the recent turn in the conversation seemed to raise his ire.

“Because they left my body,” Ailn interjected. “The body of a man they thought was dead. They wanted it to be seen.”

Aldous sighed.

“Young master, if I may,” he said somewhat gruffly, “you are alive, are you not? How do you know they left you for dead?”

“It’s even more bizarre to leave me unconscious,” Ailn said, not even trying to hide his impatience. “Aldous, clearly I’m not that important, or you’d do a better job of pretending to pay me respect. But I’m sure even I could get a servant put to death if I remembered them assaulting me.”

Aldous flinched at the accusation of veiled insolence. “Forgive me,” he muttered, bowing to one knee. “I have forgotten my place.”

Kylian was shocked to see Ailn act this way. Even if his new disposition was bold, he seemed like he’d be the last person to care about noble regard.

Then again, the old Ailn had always been loath to pretend he had power… perhaps that was precisely why he had none.

“Don’t sweat it too much,” Ailn said. His tone was casual again, but notably he didn’t tell Aldous to be at ease, or offer him a hand. “Anyway, I don’t really want to hide, so…”

He made a face and shrugged.

Kylian stared at Ailn in disbelief. “The whole reason we came here—”

“All we need to do is catch the culprit before they can do anything,” Ailn said. “That inquest is in two days, right? I’ll avoid walking around alone in empty courtyards until then.”

Pausing, Ailn added, “Just make sure no one strikes me down as an evil creature.” He looked down at Aldous. “Unless there’s a problem with that?”

The words Ailn spoke asked for permission, but his tone of voice suggested it was a command.

“…Certainly,” Aldous said. “I’ll spread word among the knights. They will be of assistance to you should you need them.”

“Perfect. You can stop kneeling now,” Ailn said. “We’ll be back whenever we need you. Let’s head out, Kylian.”

As the two walked out, Kylian couldn’t help but glance back at Aldous, whose expression was too complex for him to decipher.

“By the way,” Ailn started, once they were out of earshot, “what the hell’s a shadow beast?”