"You're right, it is. Perhaps it's meant as a lesson from god that war only destroys while graves and buildings are more lasting. In fact, I might decide to research this when I retire. Perhaps we should walk past their graves for a moment before returning these. You can learn much from those who passed before you."
Gonzales nodded.
"It wasn't until Sir Private Malidor died that the decision was made to bury him directly between those god sent and those knights from our Allied Kingdoms. It seemed a fitting tribute. Other than that, there is nothing to actually distinguish the graves apart. There were thirty-five original knights..."
"Aren't there only thirty suits?"
"We don't know if five of those who were buried were retired knights or had a different purpose. They might have been god's sailors delivering his knights."
"Sailors? They had a ship?"
"Sir Private Malidor related that Castle Staten Island was their ship. None of us know whether that is true or merely something to lead astray our enemies. You can see for yourself that Castle Staten Island has no oarlocks or mast for a sail. It certainly is strange for a ship to have two keels on opposite sides from each other."
Gonzales nodded. He had wondered why the structure was called a castle. Still, it resembled a castle better than it did a ship. Even if it was a ship, how could anyone see where they were going from within with no natural openings? Certainly, they couldn't be expected to stand upon its rounded surfaces without falling into the water.
"Then again, Malidor also said it was a ship of the air, though he never saw it fly. Maybe it needs two keels to fly."
"Fly? A flying castle?"
"We can fly in our suits. Maybe god's ship could also fly. Anyway, Malidor only states positively that he saw it moving very fast on the water before it rammed his ship. That's what makes it all so confusing and difficult to understand. Malidor called it a ship, yet it looks more like the tower of a castle lying upon its side. Its true nature has caused many arguments. At any rate, it's called a castle because it now rests on land. Certainly, with all that apparent damage, it will never fly or sail again."
Both men paused beside an old grave. "Blessings upon you, Sir Private Malidor," Wong said.
"Blessings upon you, Sir Private Malidor."
"You don't have to repeat everything. However, in this case, it certainly doesn't hurt."
"I'm really trying to do right."
"That's all that's asked of you. I've a good feeling about you."
"Thank you. What now?"
"We'll walk back to the castle and put away these shovels. Along the way, I'll tell about how some of the previous knights lived and died. If nothing else, it might give you some ideas on how to solve conflicts or protect yourself. After all, we do have some enemies; the Kron Empire for one."
***
Gonzales stretched out his arms for a moment, then reconsidered how tired he actually felt. The days of training at High Crag after the funeral had been full. After a moment of decision, he said, "Deactivate Lieutenant Gonzales suit."
The armored suit opened with a click while lights flashed, and the helmet rose up off his head. For a moment it felt like he was still wearing it. Then he shrugged his arms out and caught the suit before it fell. Though it was lighter than the shield some of his instructors carried to parry his thrusts, it was easily stronger. Several of their thrusts had easily slipped past his inexperienced defense to clank against his suit without scratching it or piercing through to his body. However, sword usage wasn't the primary thrust of his training. Instead, he was urged to seek other ways. If a fight couldn't be avoided, he was to use anything that might keep him from close combat, particularly against high odds. He still remembered retired Sir Private Washington urging him to use his flying ability more and rely less on blocking an enemy's thrusts.
"First, fly up out of reach! Then find a big rock and drop it on his head if you must fight! If not a rock, carry a bow and give him ample reason to fear what you can do to him from a distance. Most opponents are sly and devious or they wouldn't still be alive. They have no problem setting an ambush for their enemies. You have to be smarter than them if you're to beat them. If you can't be smarter, then be faster. Now be off with you to flying practice. With more flight practice, maybe you'll rely upon it and your wits more."
Gonzales had nodded. He then turned and left the back courtyard where he and Sir Sergeant Waleski practiced with the bronze sword. Like himself, she wasn't at all adept with the sword. However, she tended to do the right thing more often in refusing to give direct combat and fly out of range as quickly as possible.
"Good day, Sir Private Wong," Gonzales said.
"Good day, Knights of the Star. It must be time for your daily flying lesson. Follow me! Five up!"
"Five up!" both knights in training said.
"Five left, forward, forward, forward! You better keep up. I'm going to try to lose you both today."
Gonzales knew that Wong was mostly talking to Waleski. So far, she'd managed to keep up with him easily. Instead, Gonzales had experienced the frustration of losing sight on occasion and finding himself lost. In both cases, he'd landed. Consequently, he'd been scolded for failing to hover high where he'd be safe and use his god voice to communicate with the others and admit that he needed directions. Even if he didn't communicate, he'd have a better view and find it easier to spot the others. He didn't want to admit that alone he found himself scared more than ever about finding himself supported in the air by nothing more than the armor that sometimes cut into his underarms when those were already sore from sword practice. Even without the pain, he feared flying. Had there not been such an honor and responsibility to his neighbors back at the village to do his best by trying for knighthood, he'd have gladly deactivated the suit and placed it back on the rack in the Sacred Hall so he could walk back home.
"Ships on the horizon!"
For a moment, Gonzales forgot that he was hearing one of the other knights over the god voice. Then he remembered the proper spell word.
"Up!"
Gonzales felt the suit bite into his underarms ever more fiercely as he shot up, until his suit would ascend no more. Remembering to be more deliberate in his use of magic, he said, "Five left," several times in slow succession so that his body turned a little at a time. Eventually, he caught sight of the ocean and stared out in search of the ships before he finally remembered with embarrassment that the voice he heard was probably many leagues away from him. What they were seeing was completely out of his sight.
"Good move, Gonzales. You did the right thing in seeking the highest point possible and turning slowly for a good look," Wong said, as he came along to hover beside Gonzales.
"I did?"
"Yes, you did. It doesn't matter that you can't see any ships from here. What does matter is that you thought to check. Who knows? Maybe the other report's a diversion meant to lure our forces away from here. By checking, you made sure that we won't fall for any such tricks," Wong said.
Gonzales slowly realized that he'd, at least, performed one action properly during the day's training, even though he did it out of curiosity and concern for his neighbors rather than as a deliberate plan. He turned and placed the suit upon the floor before lying down to sleep in preparation for the next day's training.
"Gonzales?"
"I'm here, Sir Private Wong."
Wong stepped into the room, careful not to step on Gonzales. "I thought you might be here when your light went off in my helmet. I'm concerned about how well you're learning to fly. Today, I really didn't notice any improvement. Are you hearing the instructions well enough? I can shout them a bit louder if you can't hear me."
"I'm hearing you well. I can even hear you quite well over the god voice."
"That's good, but it doesn't explain why you're not keeping up with me. If we ever have to move together as a force, should another major invasion occur, I'd hate to lose you because you can't keep up with me. Basically, y
ou're a good man to have around. You really seem to care about things."
"Thank you, but the truth is that I'm not comfortable when I'm flying. My suit cuts into the undersides of my arms."
"Then use the built-in seat to support your weight. Don't leave it totally to your arms." Wong hesitated for a moment as if remembering something. "Oh, I know. You're afraid that you'll fall. You're clenching the suit with your arms to hold yourself in place. Am I right?"
"Isn't everyone?"
"At first, I guess we all are. However, after awhile, you get used to the fact that the suit won't let go of you where it wraps up between your legs. Really, it's quite safe to relax enough to sit in your suit. Admittedly, though, there have been times when I wished the suit didn't wrap around the way it does. Then I wouldn't have to hold myself from going until I could land somewhere."
"I get that feeling, too. I think being that high scares the urge to go into me." Gonzales caught sight of Wong scratching his beard. "You don't know what to tell me now, do you?"
"It's not that. You're not the first to experience this problem. Probably about half of the knights before you had this same problem. I just don't know which method is best for you to deal with it. Each knight is different, you see."
"Half of all the knights? Are you certain?"
"It could be more. I only know what's been passed along to me concerning half the knights. I'm just glad that you're not like the Sir Private Williams of thirty years ago. He hated hairy sneaks and disliked landing anywhere. He would have slept while hovering in his suit. In fact, I think he did sometimes. Still, he had to come down at least once every day in order to take off his suit so he could freshen up."
"Lots of people don't like hairy sneaks. Ugly little creatures, if you ask me. They always get into the grain and eat what we've gathered for our survival," Gonzales said. "So, how should I deal with my feelings about flying?"
"Well, from what I know about you, I think you'd be best just thinking of what you can accomplish for everyone when you fly. After all, we can spot enemies from a great distance and often without them seeing us. We can attack them from great distances and give them additional reasons not to bother our friends. We can carry ropes across gorges so that others can build bridges. We can even rescue people from floods and fires. Think about those things, or just don't think about flying at all. Sometimes it's just better not to think about it."
"What if these ideas don't work?" Gonzales asked.
"Then I'll suggest some of the other methods that worked for your fellow knights. Believe me, we're all on your side. The suit accepted you as a good, decent, caring person worthy of knighthood. That's good enough for all of us. If you need help, just ask."
Chapter 4
"Gonzales, Waleski, Wong. Proctor Washington is dead. Please gather in the courtyard," Lee said over the god voice.
Waleski and Gonzales paused in their flight training to stare back at the castle. Unlike their home villages where death came but once or twice a year, death seemed to be no stranger to the knights.
Standing but a few paces from Washington's body in the proctor's quarters, Wong said, "He was a good man and a capable knight. Still, he should have left the sword instruction to a younger man."
"He'll be buried on the island, won't he?" Waleski asked. She stood behind Wong and Lee.
"As soon as others are notified, and arrive here for the procession. Most of us will honor him with our presence," Wong answered.
"Not meaning any disrespect, but I'll volunteer to remain here on guard," Gonzales said. He'd similarly halted behind the senior knights.
Wong turned to face Gonzales. "If anything, you'll travel with us because you still need flying practice. You know our policy on who stays and who goes. An older knight always remains behind where his experience can be put to use. There remains much for you to learn about our ways and those of our enemies, particularly the Kron Empire."
For several hours, Gonzales found himself training in close formation with the other knights who would travel to the island. Each time another knight arrived from some other region, practice for the flight procession began anew. Time after time, they rose together connected by brightly-colored sashes tied to a weight resembling that of retired Sir Private Washington's corpse. Taut ropes beneath the fluttering sashes bore the real weight.
When at last, Van Dyke deemed the group ready, they picked up the body and flew away from Castle High Crag to cross the ocean to their sacred island. Along the way, several of the knights related stories involving the deceased knight. Some were deadly serious in nature. Others showed a jovial side that few outside the Order would know. Those outside the Order were more likely to know the sharp point of Washington's sword rather than the sharp point of some of his jokes. The group was nearly to the island when ships were spotted once more.
Van Dyke said, "Continue on while I ascend to send back a warning."
"Can't he do that from here?" Waleski asked in a quiet voice.
Van Dyke glanced back at her for a moment, then smiled. "We don't know why, but we can talk farther if we're up higher. Keep going. I'll catch up as soon as I've finished."
***
"Should I get a shovel?" Gonzales asked, as the group settled down to the sand with the body of retired Sir Private Washington between their two neat columns.
Wong shook his head. "I believe that Van Dyke will want to dig this one personally. They were close friends while Washington was active. For now, it might be better if you stood aside with the rest of us." Catching sight of a hand signal, Wong followed another knight into the castle with Gonzales trailing behind him.
"Deactivate Private Royal suit."
"Sir Lieutenant Gonzales, could we please have some privacy?" Wong paused for a moment. "Deactivate Private Wong suit." He waited until the suit lights went off and the suit closed after he shrugged it off. "What do you...?"
Wong paused again upon seeing a certain look in Royal's eyes. He turned around quickly. Gonzales looked at the two men with questioning eyes, then nodded and walked away.
"What do you want?" Wong asked.
Gonzales stopped at the opening. He could still hear both men through his god voice. However, he walked outside to stand on the sand in the sunlight with their voices still as clear as if they stood beside him.
"I'm concerned about how Van Dyke will take this. After all, Washington appointed him with our approval to take over the Order when he retired. Despite that, Washington still influenced him until his death," Royal said. He lifted a small flask to his lips and drank.
"True, but there's really nothing we can do. We'll follow his decisions regardless of what we think. The Order has always followed just one leader when it comes to policy. Perhaps he'll seek out one of us or a retired knight for advice. That is his right, after all. Unfortunately, it's just one more thing we have to worry about besides Sir Lieutenant Gonzales' fear of flying."
"He doesn't appear to hold as great a fear as some before him. Even I got over my fear of flying."
"Perhaps, but he doesn't have the same strength of desire to succeed as others possessed. I fear he might harm himself. Maybe his feelings about not wanting to embarrass his neighbors will see him through. That's what seems to have led him here even though god chose him. I'm just not certain how much regard he holds for them."
For a moment, Gonzales wondered if he was meant to hear their words. Was this god's way of telling him something important? He opened his mouth to speak before remembering that they weren't wearing their armored suits. With that in mind, he realized that surely god was telling him something, as there didn't seem to be any other explanation possible.
"Where are Sir Private Wong and Sir Private Royal?" Sir Sergeant Waleski asked.
Gonzales turned with his face red over not noticing Waleski approach. "They're in the castle."
"Your face looks like you're thinking evil thoughts," she said with a grin.
"Certainly not."
"I'm
just teasing. What's wrong? You seem tense and suspicious."
"I'm not certain. Maybe it's just that everything is still so new and different than before I became a knight. Don't you have that kind of feeling?"
"I don't think so. I'm now a knight as I was told to expect. My people live on the shore under constant threat from Kron's raiders. Regardless of where I'm assigned, I know that my people will be doubly watched after in hopes that they'll furnish another like myself."
Gonzales nodded. He knew she was correct. The Order and the kingdoms were known to take a special interest in whichever regions new knights hailed from, partly because their acceptances were interpreted as god's message that they should. For a moment, he considered what that meant for his people. Though they were not located on the outer border, they still played a critical role in the defense of the Allied Kingdoms. After all, the copper for making bronze was mined in his region. The neighboring region mined the equally critical tin. At one time, they'd been enemies until they learned that together they were stronger, just as the bronze they now made together.
"I'm keeping you from reaching Sir Private Wong and Sir Private Royal," he said.
"Sir Private Van Dyke is ready to conduct the ceremony. You should head over while I get the others."
Gonzales nodded. He wondered why he hadn't heard anything. When he rounded one end of the castle he saw that Sir Private Van Dyke was just placing his armor back on. It became clear why he hadn't heard anything said about the ceremony. Glancing back, he noticed that the other knights were following behind Waleski with their armor back on once more. He briefly considered mentioning that he had overheard them before deciding that god meant for him to hear them, though he wasn't at all sure just why.
***
"Sir Private Van Dyke, can you hear me? This is Sir Corporal Smith calling." Smith's voice sounded urgent over the god voice. "We need more knights. Another raiding party has been spotted. Can you hear me?"
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