"God just spoke to me through the god voice about sonics and Sir Sergeant Waleski. What do I say? What should I do?" Gonzales replied.
"What did god say?" Van Dyke asked.
"Something sonic, something Sergeant Waleski," Gonzales said.
"You'll have to remember every word better. Waleski, give the spell again. We'll see if the god voice will repeat itself to Gonzales once more," Van Dyke said.
"Activate sonic," Waleski said.
"Authorize sonics for Sergeant Waleski?"
"Authorize sonics for Sergeant Waleski," Gonzales repeated slowly.
"Sonics authorized for Sergeant Waleski."
"God spoke again?" Van Dyke asked.
Gonzales nodded. "Sonics authorized for Sergeant Waleski."
"There's a new red light inside my helmet," Waleski exclaimed.
"Identify target."
"God just spoke to me!" Waleski shouted.
"What?" Van Dyke exclaimed. "What did god say?"
"Identify target," Waleski replied, in a calmer manner.
"More strange spell words. Why must god make us pass so many tests?" Van Dyke said, as he slumped to a seat beside Jones.
"Why is god speaking to these new knights?" Moto asked. "Haven't we been devoted enough? They're not even originally of the Order."
"I don't know, Moto. All I do know is that god chooses how he behaves, not us," Van Dyke said, slowly shaking his head.
"Identify target."
"God's still speaking to me. What should I do?" Waleski asked.
Van Dyke shook his head. "I don't know. What's god saying now?"
"The same thing."
"Perhaps it's time to try one of the other spell words with this new spell word," Jones said. "Since activate worked with it, why not deactivate?"
Van Dyke's head jerked up as his face blossomed into a smile. "Yes! Those are opposites! Very likely, one cancels out the other for this spell as well. Try the deactivate spell word."
"Deactivate sonic," Waleski said. "It must have worked! The new light went to yellow! No, now it's green!"
"Perhaps this is another of those powers that works only when god chooses to protect us, such as when we fly fast or into combat," Jones said.
"But why only these two?" Moto asked.
Van Dyke put one arm out around Moto as he stood up. "One might as well ask why are their names so different from ours?"
"Are you suggesting that they should be leading us instead of you?" Moto asked.
"I don't know anything about leading," Gonzales said.
Van Dyke frowned. "No, I'm not. Their time may come someday as it has for some of us, but not now. That hasn't changed."
"What if god assigns one of them our leadership?" Wong asked.
"Should god ever decide that I'm to be replaced, then I will step aside. I'll not dispute god's right to assign a new leader. Until then, I shall lead," Van Dyke said.
"Just as I shall follow," Moto said.
"I'm not questioning your right," Wong said.
"Nor am I," Gonzales said.
"I only ask the question that many of us might wonder about because of this," Wong said.
"Consider that this spell worked for Gonzales during a time of danger," Jones said. "It may be that god is questioning Waleski as to the danger."
"Impossible. God would know what danger is around. God can see everything," Moto exclaimed.
"God also lets us fly into walls on occasion instead of protecting us. Remember that god might be questioning us to ascertain our purity. Maybe it's to remind us of what is expected," Jones said.
"Sir Private Jones states something we all know has been debated before by our retired knights when they became proctors. Very likely, these are special tests for our newest knights. Perhaps god has something especially dangerous in store for each of them. He might be preparing them while giving them additional weapons to equalize the struggle they later have to endure," Van Dyke said.
Wong nodded. "Makes sense to me."
"In that case, I better brush up on my swordplay," Waleski said.
"Not if god is giving you a new weapon. It might be that swords are useless against the evil god intends for you to defeat at a later time. This could be his way of giving you practice," Jones said.
"Or it might be that they bring a new power to their suits...with god's blessings, of course," Wong said. "After all, keep in mind that both of their suits were believed empty of magic."
"Deactivate sonic," Gonzales said.
"What was that for?" Van Dyke asked.
"I wanted to see if my yellow light would also change."
"Did it?" Van Dyke asked.
Gonzales smiled and nodded. "It just went to green."
Van Dyke stood silent for a moment in deep thought. "I'm changing their assignments. Gonzales will proceed to Castle Bright Sand. Waleski will be at Castle Wind Spirit."
"You're assigning them to the most dangerous sectors?" Jones gasped.
"I must. If god is speaking to them, which I have no reason to doubt, then it follows that I should place them where god may use them to his best advantage," Van Dyke said. "That lies in protecting and leading his people down a righteous path."
Chapter 6
Gonzales woke as Wong shook him. "Ubu just spotted raiders coming our way. Get your suit on."
Gonzales rubbed his eyes. "Did you bring anything to eat?"
"No. We'll pick up something from below to take with us. Besides, aren't you eager to find out how well your new power works?"
"What if it doesn't work this time?"
"So, what if it doesn't? All that might mean is that the circumstances are different and god doesn't see a need for you to have that new power here."
Gonzales picked up his suit, and slipped it into place. Upon closing it, he walked out of his room to the tower battlement that surrounded it. Unlike some of the other towers, the top of his could be reached only by air. It provided him with special security in light of his importance to the castle's defense. There were no stairs leading to it. Instead, the floor was solid stone to prevent anyone, particularly a raider in disguise, from reaching his room. Just about every castle within the Allied Kingdoms possessed such a tower for the exclusive use of the Knights of the Star. The few that didn't were deep within the interior and safely away from direct attack by raiders from Kron.
***
"Have you become used to the directioner?" Wong asked, not long after they passed the last of the fleeing fishing boats warned of by Sir Private Ubu. As the boats encountered other boats and passed on the warning, the returning fishing fleet grew in number.
"I believe so. I wish I'd known about this during my first days of flight training," Gonzales said.
"That was a last precaution against you somehow faking inner worthiness."
"Can it be faked?"
"Enough to fool us, probably. Men are men, after all. As such, we all contain some part of us that can be fooled. We're not certain about the suits that god provided. For that reason, we take precautions in what we teach and how quickly."
"We must be close to Sir Private Ubu."
"You can see him already on your directioner?" Wong asked.
"Can't you?"
"Not yet, I can't."
"He's more to our left. Five left."
"Five left. Already, you talk more using spell words. That's good. Only a month, and you act more like a knight than a miner. Yes, I see Ubu on my directioner now. You might want to correct your course some more."
"Another five to the left?"
"Five left. Yes."
"Five left," Gonzales said.
As Gonzales and Wong approached Ubu, Gonzales noticed there were two ships full of raiders a short distance away and more on the horizon. It was a full-scale invasion. It was up to the three knights to delay them while allied forces deployed, many of whom had to be rounded up from their normal jobs in the countryside. Only a few extra hours were needed to get the men and women formed into fighting u
nits and into place.
The Allied Kingdoms couldn't afford to maintain standing armies even though the Kron Empire was their sworn enemy, and had tried several times to invade. Someone was needed to mine, plant or harvest, smelt, fish, or otherwise produce goods that could then be shared among the Allied Kingdoms, thus giving them even more reason to stand together. Clearly, though, the excellent fishing off Castle Bright Sand was reason enough to defend it despite its vulnerable position.
Arrows flew up to fall just short of the knights.
"Don't get too close. They've got better archers than what you've seen," Ubu said.
"Activate sonic?"
"Yes, god. Activate sonic," Gonzales said. The green light changed to yellow immediately.
"God spoke to you?" Wong asked.
"Yes. Nothing is happening. I don't understand," Gonzales said.
"Maybe you did something before that god liked," Ubu said.
"I was charging the enemy the last time and then god spoke."
"Perhaps you should charge again," Ubu said.
"Five down. Forward."
A flash filled the air as Gonzales moved clear of the other knights. That was followed by a second flash. In both instances, one of the boat-loads of raiders was struck by its force.
"Hover," Gonzales said.
"I see it! I see it! They've all been struck down without even touching them! It's incredible!" Ubu exclaimed.
Wong drew his sword. "I'm moving in closer to see if they're dead."
"I'll cover you with my bow," Ubu said. "You should all carry one of these. It's better than dropping rocks."
"You know that I'm not any good with a bow," Wong said.
"I'm still learning how to use one," Gonzales said.
"You might not need to learn if god has graced you with a weapon as I believe he has," Ubu said.
Ubu flew directly over one boat as Wong approached it. Wong reached the nearer boat and settled down onto it. He carefully moved from one raider to another. When he finished and flew up off the boat, his sword dripped red. He headed for the second boat and was about to settle upon it when some of the raiders stirred. He lifted up quickly, while Ubu fired arrows down among the still helpless, waking raiders with devastating results.
"The others aren't going to believe that we slaughtered two boat-loads of raiders this easily," Wong said.
"I'm more concerned about what the other raiders believe when they reach these boats," Ubu said. "I hope they gain a quick understanding and turn back. I don't have enough arrows to deal with them all."
"Why not just take some of theirs?" Wong asked.
***
"Good. Pass the word to Waleski that Gonzales has used the sonic spell once more to great benefit in the witness of Wong and Ubu. Tell her that she must be charging the enemy," Van Dyke said, upon hearing the relayed report.
***
Castle Wind Spirit guarded the port connecting the island of Minius with the rest of the Allied Kingdoms. Small, but vital, it provided several strategic benefits. One was its value as an early warning of invasion, as its easily defended coast was in marked contrast to the poorly defended coast of the allies on the continent. As well, the people of Minius were willing to fight provided they were supplied with the arms they needed. Their island couldn't produce the weapons the other allies possessed. Consequently, the people of Minius had kept the Kron Empire away from the other allies' shore since joining the alliance.
"Did you hear that?" Sir Corporal Smith asked.
"I heard it all. I'll have to charge when I chant my new spell. Well, I knew I'd have to fight sooner or later," Waleski said.
"This will be a great victory for us if you can deliver our enemies to us so we can slaughter them before they kill tens or hundreds of our people," Smith said.
"It doesn't bother you killing them while they're helpless?"
"I've seen them do it to our people. I'm willing to return the same in kind."
"Yes, I've seen them kill innocents before. It's just that we're Knights of the Star. Should we be killing those who are helpless? Sir Lieutenant Gonzales said that the raiders were fearful after he first used the new power."
"Then what do you suggest?"
"Why not just take away their weapons? We did, after all, take oaths not to kill unless absolutely necessary."
"Raiders! Raiders! I need the nearest knights."
"Already? Kron tempts fate so soon after our victory in the east?" Smith exclaimed.
"Maybe Kron doesn't know about the victory in the east yet. They don't have god voices," Waleski said.
"Of course, you're right. Regardless, we're being called by Royal."
Waleski stared in mute horror at the sight of two boat-loads of raiders whose bodies had fallen limp, when her suit flashed out twice in succession after she gave the proper spell. "Oh, god, what kind of power have you given us?"
"God knows that we're in need," Royal said.
"God knows that we won't abuse his power. In accordance with our oaths, we shouldn't kill them. Just take their weapons."
"Take them where? We can't carry that many weapons," Smith said.
"Then dump them into the sea. If you kill all of them, I won't call again on the power that god gave me. The seer told me I was called upon to do good for god, not kill every helpless person in sight," Waleski said.
Smith glanced from Waleski to Royal. "What do you think?"
"We'll have to act fast. Sir Private Van Dyke passed along that they won't be helpless for but a short time."
"If all three of us hurry, we can do it," Smith said.
After brief glances at each other, all three knights descended upon the same boat. Working fast, they moved from raider to raider tossing overboard every weapon larger than a knife. Some of the raiders were sluggishly stirring when they lifted off once more.
"What about the other boat?" Royal asked.
"They're already waking," Smith said, when another flash emanated from Waleski's suit.
"Not anymore," Royal said, as one arrow plunked into the water near Waleski.
"God is obviously watching out for us," Smith said.
"I'm glad we have Waleski with us. For once, we don't have to worry about having our arms or legs sliced open," Royal said. "This just occurred to me. What if she has this power because the name on her suit is different from ours?"
Smith descended upon the second boat and paused to stare first at Royal and then at Waleski as she landed. "It's possible. However, what you're suggesting is that I might also have that power because my suit responds to one of the strange spell words."
"Have you tried the new spell word?" Royal asked.
"No."
"Perhaps you should when those other boats get near," Royal said.
"What do you think, Sir Sergeant Waleski?"
"You owe it to god to try."
"Authorize sonics for Corporal Smith?"
"Authorize sonics for Corporal Smith," Gonzales repeated slowly.
A flash instantly erupted from Sir Corporal Smith's suit.
"You can do it, too!" Royal exclaimed, as another boat full of raiders ceased to be a threat. "My idea about your names just might be right, you know?"
"I'm still thinking about that. What if your suit can also do this? Have you tried in combat like I just did?" Smith replied.
"What do you think, Waleski?" Royal asked.
"Me? I don't know what to think about all this," Waleski said. Her suit flashed at another boat rendering its occupants helpless.
"Is your suit doing the sonic spell?" Van Dyke's voice suddenly asked.
"Yes," Smith replied. "The raiders we haven't reached yet are rowing as fast as they can to escape. They've seen what we can do."
Chapter 7
Sir Private Van Dyke stared about at the knights. It was highly unusual for them to all gather at High Crag's church, except for the purpose of conducting a funeral. The other knights were in awe of the three among them who could command
the sonic spell. Already, numerous theories had been put forth by them, and by two still-living retired knights in residence at High Crag. Proctor Smith stepped forward amid a hush of voices. He was the oldest living knight among them.
"I recognize Proctor Smith. Your voice is free," Van Dyke said.
"Thank you, Sir Private Van Dyke. Sir Private Malidor's own words were to the effect that he was enlisted into god's service by the last living god-sent knight; the namesake of Sir Lieutenant Gonzales. It was he who gave Sir Private Malidor the instructions on casting magic. God spells, as some of you might insist, though I'd rather not start another argument on what we should call what we do. We do it for god regardless of what name we call it. That is enough. However, this came about because this young man who has taken the name of Sir Lieutenant Gonzales has somehow been given powers that strike me as very close to what the original Sir Lieutenant Gonzales controlled. We have striven to protect our people and to better their lives. Most of us have shed blood to do so. Now it appears that god is at last pleased with what we have gone through."
"Your point?" Van Dyke asked.
"My point is that perhaps god is trying to tell us in another of his mysterious ways that we should elect a new leader." Numerous voices cried out against the idea. "Hear me out, please, as I have more to say. You asked for my opinion. I give it freely," Proctor Smith said.
"He has our ears. Give him his voice," Van Dyke intoned, through a hint of a smile.
"My other idea is that this is a sign that we are to give Sir Lieutenant Gonzales the responsibility of guarding the hollow knights. That too, was one of the original tasks his namesake performed," Proctor Smith said.
Van Dyke nodded. "If I might speak for Proctor Smith, I believe that he has brought out a very worthwhile idea that we should entertain. He is correct that the first Sir Lieutenant Gonzales was responsible for the hollow knights. Sir Private Malidor mentioned that he remained at his post even though dying. While we do not know for certain if he was their leader, he was certainly a responsible knight. I'll even grant that he was their leader when Sir Private Malidor first met him if only because he was the last one left alive, a situation we nearly faced twice ourselves. If any would suggest that we place Sir Lieutenant Gonzales in charge of the hollow knights at High Crag, they will not find their idea opposed by me."
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