Lone Blind Star: Chapter 10 - Ignorance of the Crown
The knights receive their punishment; the king's plan is revealed; and Ingram and Cecilia discover the horrors.
The walls of the royal palace audience chamber glimmered in the early morning light. White wooden panels with gold foil engravings, lined with two metre tall potted palms, their leaves wide and heavy boughed. King Titan sat on his throne, lavishly decorated in colorful furs. He was barely dressed in his morning robes, clearly just recently pulled from his private apartments.
"What are we here for?" he asked the seneschal.
The seneschal, referring to a letter addressed to His Majesty, said, "As per the report from Lord Leon Harrington, son of Marquis Declan Harrington, and fiancé of Crown Princess Stella-Cecilia—"
The king waved his hand dismissively. "Get on with it."
The seneschal cleared his throat. "Yes, Your Majesty. Ser Anjali Blais, Knight Captain of the Order of the Rose, and Ser Claude Locke, Knight Captain Deputy of the Order of the Rose, were caught derelict of duty. As a result, Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Stella-Cecilia, has once again fled—I mean, was lured away into the clutches of the notorious burglar, Ingram Clayton. Lord Leon Harrington has presented the malefactors to Your Majesty for sentencing."
"Hmph. Useless to the end, huh?" the king grumbled. "Does anyone have anything else to add?"
The seneschal spoke up again. "If I might add, Your Majesty... Ser Ezra Moore, Knight Captain of the Palace Guard, has sent his advocacy of their character, pleading that they not be charged with treason or executed for their actions."
"That man loves to meddle," the king spat, resting his chin in his palm. He was clearly annoyed, yet grinned. "Fine. Effective immediately, Ser Anjali Blais and Ser Claude Locke are stripped of their positions and put on mandatory unpaid leave until further notice. I am also considering disassembling the Order of the Rose, for good measure." He waved them away, as if disgusted. "Get them out of my sight."
The two knights did not even try to protest. They accepted their punishment willingly because, in their hearts, they believed they did the right thing.
"Of course, Your Majesty." The seneschal stepped off the dais, gestured towards the antechamber, and followed the two knights out. Now out of earshot from the king, he gave a relieved sigh. He shot a firm gaze at Ser Anjali and Ser Claude. "I apologize on behalf of the court, considering all the service you've provided until now, but His Majesty's word is law. Please, hand over your issued swords and crests. After this, I believe Ser Ezra Moore is waiting for you at the palace entrance."
Ser Anjali and Ser Claude did as instructed, relinquishing the symbols of their captaincies. Though they remained knights by trade, they held no authority.
Ser Ezra Moore stood at the top of the palace's front steps with two backpacks stuffed with supplies at his feet. "Morning," the rugged man greeted. "Glad to see you two with your heads still attached."
"All thanks to you," Ser Anjali said.
Ser Ezra turned to Ser Claude. "I was worried about you in particular. I know how you're a stickler for rules and regulation. How does it feel to be free of the rank you worked for over a decade to obtain?"
"Awful," Ser Claude spat. "Disgusting. I'm tired. I feel worthless."
"Ah," Ser Ezra said, smiling, "but it was worth it, no?"
"I hate it, but yes, it was."
The older knight nodded slowly. "Your loyalty to Her Royal Highness is deserving of great respect. You have my thanks—the both of you," he said and bowed.
Ser Anjali rushed to his side. "Ser Ezra, raise your head. Even this much, for our lady, should be expected. Just like you would do anything for the crown, the capital, we would do anything for Her Royal Highness."
Ser Ezra stood straight. "That is why I have prepared supplies for you."
Ser Claude picked up a backpack and examined it. "Camping supplies? We were expelled from the Rose Order, but we needn't camp out in the cold because of it."
"He wants us to go after Her Royal Highness," Ser Anjali explained.
"How quickly you catch on, ex-Knight Captain," Ser Ezra said, grinning. He picked up the other backpack and tossed it to her. Then, he turned to Ser Claude and said, "You were not seriously planning on going after Her Royal Highness while staying at inns, were you?"
A little flustered, Ser Claude replied, "No! I wasn't, but..."
"You had not thought of anything."
"Nothing yet," Ser Claude admitted.
Ser Ezra crossed his arms and held his chin between his thumb and forefinger. "Did you tell Her Royal Highness about the Ostwald lead?"
They nodded.
"Good. Then, I suspect that is where she will be headed. Investigating while you were gone wasn't for naught." He handed them each an envelope. "Enclosed are permission slips allowing you to borrow a horse from the palace knight stables. These horses should allow you to catch up to Her Royal Highness, and then some."
The two knights were stunned. "Thank you, Ser Ezra. With this we can—"
Ser Ezra raised his hand to stop her. "Ser Anjali, thank me by escorting Her Royal Highness through Ostwald, and then bringing her home safely."
Ser Anjali's stunned expressed morphed into one of determination. She saluted and said, "Certainly."
The King of Walden lay splayed out on his giant bed with a beautiful woman on top of him. He grinned with anticipation. He stroked her hair as he moaned her name. "Nikoletta, Nikoletta..."
Just before anything could happen, the Dragon General threw open the chamber doors and stormed up to the king's bed. "Your Majesty," they said.
The king swatted Nikoletta away. "Why are you interrupting me?" he hissed.
The Dragon General brushed a lock of their shoulder length black hair behind their ear, exposing the sheen of their gold plated jawline. "I have a report from Marquis Harrington regarding the homunculus project."
"I doubt it'll be any different from earlier reports. More trials, more failures. Months of experiments and not a single success. My daughter was supposed to be the prize, not the stipulation."
"The report states that the homunculi have still proven difficult to create perfectly, and even harder to control. There seem to be three test subjects that remain alive and human-shaped, but they behave like wild beasts."
"Tsk. This is taking too long," he groaned. "Thank you for the report, General. Return to Ostwald and continue overseeing the project as my proxy."
"Your Majesty, what about the rejects?"
The king laughed and said, "Which ones?"
"The ones that have escaped and are currently roaming around Walden."
The king swatted the air. "Leave them. The knight orders will take care of them, eventually."
"Understood." The Dragon General bowed, turned, and exited the room as quickly as they could.
Nikoletta climbed back onto the bed and cuddled up next to the king. "What's the homunculi army for, anyway? If the projects is costing too much and taking too long, why can't it be cancelled?"
The king grabbed her by the hair and slammed her head against the headboard. "Stupid girl. You're just a baroness. How dare you question your king?"
"I was just—hyicc!—curious, Your Majesty!" Tears trickled down her bloody face.
The king ripped a precious gem off Nikoletta's flimsy robe and viciously pressed it into her face. "You see this?"
She barely nodded.
"It comes from the nation across the sea. With a homunculi army, we can raid their precious gem mines at no cost to us. Walden will be rich, and I'll be the wealthiest in history." He let go of the girl and laughed, amused at his own display of power.
Flames lit the treeline in an orange glow as black smoke bellowed high into the sky. The stench of burnt flesh filled the air, making Cecilia cover her mouth and nose with fabric. She stared blankly as she watched the pile of bodies before her smoulder. Yet another village decimated by creatures. It was the fifth one yet, and they had only been travelling a week. Like a long line of death, whole communities snuffed out one at a time. The closer to Ostwald they got, the worse things were, it seemed.
Ingram came around behind her, wrapping her within his embrace. Gently, he tried to pull her away from the flame but she remained. "No, I must witness them," she said quietly.
"Ya sure it ain't too much?"
It was true that she was tired of seeing all this death—it was probably showing on her face by now—but these people were her subjects, and they deserved more than this. The very least she could do for them, like she had for the previous villages, was honor them by witnessing their bodies disintegrate into ash and whisk away into the wind. If anything was left, she would bury them.
"It's fine," she said simply, tightening her grip on Ingram's arms around her.
Ingram didn't believe her, but he didn't want to argue. He didn't enjoy the idea, but no matter the kind of person she was at the end of this journey—even if she turned into a wreck in front of him—he would be there for her, to hold her and help her heal. He believed in her resilience.
That night, Ingram convinced Cecilia to let them sleep within one of the village's empty houses. She thought it was disrespectful, and a little creepy, but he had insisted they get an actual good night's rest on a real bed. Spending too many nights roughing it on the ground without any proper shelter was taking a toll on their bodies.
Day after day, he thought his princess looked more and more haggard, aimless. Like something was eating away at her. He couldn't pinpoint a single thing, so he chalked it up to a whole slew of things at once. Sleep, food, and shelter were the easiest to solve. But the nightmares, the dead eyes staring back at them—those were harder to keep at bay.
Huddled together under the sheets, he felt her snuggle up to him so he held her tighter. Complete darkness enveloped them, but he could still make out the outline of her head.
"Thank you for coming with me to Ostwald," she whispered.
He kissed her forehead. "Of course," he replied.
"I love you," she murmured into his chest.
"Love you, too."
She tilted her face up and kissed him on the lips before snuggling back under his chin.
They were in a borrowed home with ravaged bodies outside their door, but at least they were safe in each other's arms. Even if that was all the peace they could afford, they accepted it happily.
In the middle of the night, a noise made Ingram shudder awake. He wasn't sure what it was at first. His body tensed as he strained to hear for those familiar, awful wails. But they didn't come. Instead, he heard the gallop of horses, followed by a retching.
"You all right, Ser Claude?"
"Just perfect," came the curt reply, followed by a couple coughs. And more retching.
"Check the perimeter, when you feel up to it. Some air will do you some good. I'll go through the houses."
Ingram gently brushed the hair from Cecilia's face and whispered, "Would Ser Claude ever betray you?"
"Hm? Ser Claude?" She rubbed the sleep from her face. "He would never. Not if he was in his right mind."
Ingram heard the door to the house open, and he flung off the bedcovers. He crept out of bed and reached for his holster by the dresser. "Get under the bed," he said.
"What?" She still wasn't fully awake.
"Please," he hissed.
The anxiety in his voice made her snap awake. Now she heard the footsteps, too. As quietly as she could, she shuffled out of bed and underneath it.
The bedroom door swung open, illuminating the room with lamplight. Like instinct, Ingram swung his gun and aimed at the infiltrator. "State your name," he demanded.
"That's Angie!" Cecilia clamored out from under the bed to hug her beloved knight. "You're here!"
"I'm so glad we finally found you, Your Royal Highness."
"Father didn't punish you?"
Ser Anjali paused for a split second. "He... did. Ser Claude and I were stripped of our ranks."
"What? How are you here, then?"
"Horses," Ingram interjected. "How'd you get 'em?"
"Ser Ezra Moore did a lot for us. I can explain later. Let me fetch Ser Claude, first."
It was a short wait. Ser Claude hadn't gone far yet. When the two knights returned, they explained everything. The journey back to the palace, the punishment from the king, and everything Ser Ezra Moore had done for them—as well as the mission he gave to them.
Everyone was silent for a little while. Then, the princess perked up and, with a smile, said, "Regardless, I'm glad you two are here." It rejuvenated her to see more familiar faces.
"You two know where we're headed?" Ingram asked.
Ser Anjali gave a curt nod. "Harrington Fortress, Ostwald Territory."
The princess and her thief shared a look.
"What's that look for?" Ser Claude asked.
"Sunshine here was plannin' on headin' straight for Ostwald, but we started seein' all these destroyed towns. Decided to hop from one to the next all the way there instead of shootin' straight." He casually reached for a map off the dresser that they'd gotten from the first town and pointed to how each village was crossed off with an X.
"As we get closer to Ostwald, the damage is more severe," Cecilia added, her expression grim.
Ingram wrapped an arm around Cecilia's shoulders. "We'll get there soon. We'll figure things out," he said in an attempt to comfort her.
"Well," Ser Anjali began, her eyes lingering on Ingram's hand on the princess' shoulder, "now that Ser Claude and I have caught up with you, my lady, let's have a good night's rest tonight and—what do you think about setting out at daybreak?"
Cecilia turned to Ingram, who sighed. "We've been running ragged these past couple days," he said. "I was plannin' on scrounging around in the morning for some real food."
Ser Claude's nostrils flared. "Have you not been feeding Her Royal Highness?"
"I've been doin' my best," Ingram said, feeling a little insulted.
"Don't blame him, Ser Claude," Cecilia said, trying to mediate. "He's been wanting to take food from the empty villages, but I told him it didn't sit right with me."
"There's no need to worry about food anymore," Ser Anjali said. "Ser Ezra Moore gave us plenty of food and camping supplies, as well as a pair of strong horses to carry it all."
"We also purchased some things in town before we left," Ser Claude said.
"How long d'you think it'll take to ride the rest of the way?" Ingram asked.
"Half a day," Ser Claude replied quickly. He knew the area and was confident in his estimate.
"Let's do that, then," the princess said. "We'll set out at daybreak." She yawned as soon as she finished speaking and everyone looked at her. That as the cue it was time to sleep. The two knights excused themselves to the living room, leaving the couple alone again.
Though still exhausted, they were somewhat reinvigorated by the knights' arrival. Excitement, and a realisation that they weren't alone anymore, made them actually look forward to the next morning. There was something on the princess' mind, though.
"Do think they know?"
Ingram was a little surprised. "Who? About what?"
"Ser Anjali and Ser Claude. Do you think they know about us?"
"Oh." That was all he could muster at that moment but quickly followed up with, "They saw us in a room with only one bed. They know."
Cecilia's fingers sought Ingram's under the covers. "I see." Her voice was just a whisper, and Ingram thought she might have been afraid.
"Worried they'll blab?"
"Huh? No. It's like... I'm excited to introduce you to them. But, I'm also nervous. I hope you all get along. My most important people are all under one roof right now." She gasped. "Oh! Fiona and Dahlia aren't here, though."
He folded some hair behind her ear and kissed her temple. "Mm. You'll reunite with them soon enough."
"I miss them."
"Sure they miss you, too." His words were half-formed, his voice laden with sleep. She stopped herself from giggling.
"Goodnight, my love," she whispered.
"Mm. Night."
The Kingdom of Walden didn't own Ostwald territory, but the kingdom was nonetheless given authority to govern through treaties with other nations. Over a century ago, when the treaties were signed, the Harrington viscounty was given the privilege of managing the territory. That was how a viscounty house in dire straits was elevated to a marquisate with immense power. Their job was to protect the nation, watch over the forest, and use any means necessary to keep the peace. In all three, they failed.
The moment the princess, her thief, and her knights set foot within Ostwald, something didn't feel right. "The birds," Ser Claude observed, "there aren't any."
"Or any other animals," Ser Anjali added. They had reached the border of Ostwald a little after noon and had seen no signs of life since entering. Even the plant life seemed to be failing, with leaves changing color as if it were the depths of autumn. It was surreal.
Following the main road, they eventually came upon a village—or, the remains of one. While there were indeed people who were alive, no one in the party could call them living. Their skin was pale, pulled taut over their bones, and freckled with strange black spots. The villagers' faces lit up with apprehension as the princess' party approached.
"What happened to them?" Cecilia asked, her grip around Ser Anjali's waist tightening.
The knight rested a hand on the princess' arm to reassure her. "I'm not sure…"
From behind Ser Claude, Ingram spoke up. "I've heard of something like this before. An old children's story from the potter cliffs."
Cecilia's eyes lit with recognition. "The one about the disease?"
"You know of it?" Ingram was surprised at first, but then felt like should have known. He had forgotten how well read she was.
"I read a traveller's diary that mentioned it."
He closed his eyes, revelling in the feeling of knowing her.
"But," she continued, "the diary didn't go into detail. And the traveller was known to be extravagant. Could you share what you know?"
Ingram cleared his throat. "The story goes of a group of children who go exploring in the forest above the potter cliffs, beyond the muddy fields. The children were gone for three nights, and when they returned, all of them were covered in black spots. Like freckles at first, but they grew relentlessly. Eventually, the spots became divots in their skin. Over the course of a month, their bodies wasted away, becoming more akin to empty, black wineskins."
The princess shuddered. "Such a terrible fate."
"You're from the potter cliffs?" Ser Claude asked. "Which town?"
Ingram glanced over at Cecilia. He was reluctant to share, worried she might reconsider her feelings for him if she knew what kind of backwater he came from.
"Oh, I want to know, too!" Cecilia said and Ingram knew he had to give in, just to see the smile on her face.
"Cyan Way."
"Oh, I know the place," Ser Claude said. "It's at the mouth of Lake Canyon, right by the gorge. Large marketplace."
"Still a backwater," Ingram muttered. He eyed the princess for a reaction. He could tell she wanted to ask more, but now wasn't the time.
"So it's safe to assume the spots these people have is a disease?" Ser Anjali wondered. "A plague?"
Ingram shrugged. "It's just a local story. Got no idea what it actually is."
At that moment, they turned a corner and were hit with the sight of death. Corpses, piled high, lined the streets. The bodies were clearly rotting, but oddly there was no stench.
Ser Claude asked a random villager, "How come these bodies haven't been taken to the graveyard? Are you not worried about the plague?"
The villager shrugged his shoulders, his sleeve sliding down and revealing a massive sunken black spot. He had no left shoulder. "The bodies get taken from the graveyard, anyway."
"Taken?" Ser Anjali repeated. "All of them? By who?"
The villager pointed toward the town graveyard. "Go an' see. Graveyard's empty. Soon, these streets'll be empty, too. All the dead disappear every week." He looked up at the group, eyes like lifeless caverns. "The marquis does nothing. Where is the crown?"
Ingram shot Cecilia a look. She was doing her best to hold back her tears, her guilt. If only she knew what was happening here, if only she had stepped in earlier. But she was ignorant to the territory, land that wasn't truly Walden's. She had been arrogant.
"We just came from the capital," Ser Anjali ventured. "No one there is aware of what's happening here."
The villager let out a haunting laugh, a sign of his lament. "Figures. We're not the only town hit, y'know? Five villages in Ostwald, and not a single one fares any better."