Knight Spirits

by David Kuminski

  "You don't want much."

  "No more than god in this instance. Now keep quiet. Up!"

  "Please don't drop me," Gonzales cried, as they ascended fast.

  Coffin glared at Gonzales to make her point about not talking. Then she gave a series of turning commands, followed by more commands to move forward at a slower speed so that Gonzales wouldn't become too numb from the cold to hold on. Past experiences among the knights dating back to Sir Private Malidor had provided them with valuable information they'd passed on concerning the effects of speed and wind. When she finally descended she was centered on the battlement of the tower where Gonzales had lived. She released her meager grip around Gonzales as he released his hold on her.

  "Deactivate Corporal Coffin suit." She waited until her suit was off. "Go dress, and get warmed up first. I'll bring your suit."

  "You should be careful. They might still hear you. I once heard some of the knights talking even after they took off their suits and I had walked away."

  "Seriously?"

  Gonzales nodded as he reached his bed, and found some clothing already laid out for him. "I didn't mention it before, because I didn't want to embarrass them. Because they were talking about me, it occurred to me that maybe god wanted me to overhear them."

  "You're positive their suits were off?" Coffin asked.

  "I'd learned enough by then to know which god lights were theirs. They had their suits off when I overheard them."

  "Stravinsky might be more than a bit right if that's truly so. That would be a fourth miracle. Maybe you are meant to lead us."

  "I'm satisfied just to serve."

  "Finish dressing while I get your suit. Once we put it on, we're flying out to Castle Staten Island."

  "What about my announcement?"

  "You'll make that as we leave. Quiet now. Activate Corporal Coffin suit. Five up. Five forward. Land."

  "That's not my sword," Gonzales said, as Coffin landed with his suit and a weapon.

  "Deactivate Corporal Coffin suit." She stepped out of her suit and entered his room. "Would you mind remaining quiet when I'm in my suit? Here's your suit. This was Van Dyke's sword. Duke Sabbo felt it would be fitting justice if it was used on Van Dyke's murderer."

  "If this plan works. It occurred to me that this plan doesn't have a chance of working if the murderer is one of the proctors."

  "You suspect Smith as I do now?" she asked.

  "Proctor Smith? No, I haven't suspected him. What makes you suspect him?"

  "The information he's provided to everyone has varied according to who he spoke with. He told me after your arrest that he suspected Sir Corporal Smith, his replacement, as the killer and feared for his own life. At least, that was his excuse for carrying a sword once more."

  "That's interesting. He told me that he suspected Sir Private Johnson, because his name also used to be Basoc."

  "My brother told me that Smith suspected you, though he seemed hesitant about naming you as Van Dyke's killer. Then he found the one critical piece of evidence that clinched everything for him."

  "Which was what?" Gonzales asked.

  "Duke Sabbo found a secret passage into the cell that Van Dyke occupied. He followed up on his discovery and learned that it was a precaution against an enemy taking possession of Castle High Crag and imprisoning its nobility. Whoever killed Van Dyke knew of the passage. Quite likely, it was how the murderer gained access to poison the other prisoners. That cell wasn't in use then and stood open."

  "But how did the murderer get my sword? If it was Proctor Smith, he couldn't fly up here without a suit because Sir Corporal Smith has it."

  "He didn't have to fly. King Teeno didn't completely trust the knights at first, because of Malidor's origin. Even though attempts were made on the lives of the knights, he didn't trust them enough to furnish them complete security, as most of the neighboring kingdoms did. When the stones were fitted into place to seal off the tops of the towers given to the knights staying in Castle High Crag, he had the workers create secret entrances. If any of the knights tried to turn against him, he had a way of sending soldiers after them while they slept. The killer must have discovered the passageway into your tower."

  "But I had my sword when I flew down for the meeting."

  "Or one similar enough to it that you wouldn't notice the difference, until you drew it for use. Then it merely required removing the replacement sword to mark you as the murderer," Coffin said. "That would explain Proctor Smith's sudden decision to arm himself. Wouldn't it?"

  "I felt he was justified because of Proctor Raash's death."

  "I would believe that had he taken to carrying a weapon right after that death, instead of days later with his claim of suspecting his replacement. Instead, he did his level best to plant seeds of distrust among us by pointing an incriminating finger at others. I believe he wants to fragment the Order and cause us to fight each other. With most of us out of the way, it would be possible for the Kron Empire to invade our lands successfully."

  "You still haven't explained how he'll learn I'm still alive. Won't he suspect a trap if someone just tells him outright?"

  "Whether he suspects a trap or not, I truly believe he'll have to face you. I suspect that he fears the power god gave you, and wants you out of the way along with Waleski, Klaus, Smith, and myself."

  "You? Why you?"

  "Though I still believe that god granted us these suits and their powers, I must confess that I believe that Proctor Smith's theory about some of the suits may be correct."

  "His theory?" Gonzales asked.

  "Some of the suits are pre-destined to hold greater power, only he also believes that the suits aren't from god." Coffin glanced around. "It's a good thing that you don't clean up after yourself too well. Come over here so I can draw in this dust for you."

  Gonzales followed Coffin to one portion of the floor where no one had walked for a long time. She stooped down and drew with her shield hand as he watched.

  "First, let's use something familiar to you. This mark is the Queen. These marks below her are the Duke and the squires, who control the castle and the towns. These marks below the Duke are his officers. Then below them are the soldiers. Just imagine that there are similar groups under each of the squires representing theirs, so I don't have to draw everything. Got that?"

  "I think so, but why?" Gonzales replied.

  "Okay, there's only one queen, right?"

  "Yes."

  "There's only one knight with the first name of Lieutenant. If Smith is right, then it's not supposed to be a name, but a title."

  "I'm not a queen."

  "Don't argue, just listen. There are two suits named Sergeant, and three named Corporal. Now, we have only one castle in Cragland, but Cragland isn't typical among the Allied Kingdoms. Most of the kingdoms have two or three castles with a duke commanding each. What this means is that sergeants are the equivalent of dukes, and corporals are just like squires. If this logic is followed through, then it means that Private is the same thing as Imperial Guardsman. Whoever wears your suit would be the leader." Coffin finished making new marks in the dust.

  "But I can't be the leader."

  "There's already enough proof that Smith's theory about the ranking among the suits is correct. You supplied some of that proof when you discovered that you could issue god spells to activate powers in the other suits. Whether this is actually the case or not, it's what Smith believes. It's also why he wants you dead."

  "Quite right, and a bit too late to do anyone any good," Proctor Smith said, as he opened the secret door and entered with his sword at the ready. Where he walked was well used and unlikely to be spotted amid the dusty portions of the floor. "I suspected I'd find you here after discovering that your body wasn't at the bottom of the cliff with creatures nibbling at your decaying flesh. It was too soon for your corpse to be washed away. I thought at first that someone had slipped your suit to you as you fell until I realized that Coffin's suit was no longer
under guard, though yours was still there. Then she returned and retrieved your suit, leading me to you."

  Gonzales leaped for his sword and reached it in time to snatch up the scabbard and block Smith's swing. Gonzales drew his sword and blocked another swing. He then faced Smith, watching for the man's next move.

  "Why did you turn against god?"

  "What makes you think I ever followed your god? The fact that I succeeded in becoming a knight ought to be proof enough for your simpleton mind to comprehend that god doesn't select any knights. These suits were made by someone like us, but with more knowledge. God doesn't care whether you win or lose." Smith backed off slightly to prevent Coffin from reaching her suit. "Once I kill both of you, I'll leave you up here to be found later. It won't take much effort to steer the rest of the knights into believing that you were lovers who quarreled over where to hide to avoid detection."

  "Us? Lovers?" Gonzales exclaimed.

  "The others would accept that as possible. I'll mention that I noticed Proctor Coffin would often spend the night elsewhere than in her quarters. They'll believe that I refrained from saying anything then, as it was within her right to do so."

  "You're vile," Coffin said.

  "No, I'm a realist who will win out. Had you not discovered this new power the suits hold, the war would be ending anyway. Once we possess it, we won't have to kill every soldier in order to win. It will be amusing to see your former kings and queens in the roles of shackled servants."

  Gonzales blocked two slashes and jabbed back only to have his thrust parried.

  "You're one of the better students Washington ever taught, but you're not as good or experienced as me."

  "That doesn't matter. I know now why god selected me to become a knight." Gonzales slashed out with a blow that rang against Smith's sword and pressed it back. He moved in and grappled Smith with his free hand to prevent the man from moving. "Get to your suit now, Coffin!"

  "Fools! You can't…"

  "Activate Corporal Coffin suit! Klaus, Jones, Gwinn, fly up to the tower Gonzales lived in! Proctor Smith is the real murderer!"

  Smith's rage showed in his face as he shoved Gonzales aside to the floor. He broke free long enough to run for the secret entrance. He disappeared through it, closing it behind him. Gonzales regained his feet and ran to the entrance, trying to feel for any purchase with which to open it.

  "I can't get it open."

  "It doesn't matter. Smith can't escape now."

  Jones and Gwinn settled onto the battlement outside the room and stared inside at the sight of Coffin in her suit and Gonzales prying at the floor with his sword.

  "You said Smith is the murderer?" Jones asked.

  "Gonzales! You're alive!" Gwinn exclaimed.

  "Yes, Duke Sabbo and I suspected Proctor Smith. We set a trap that worked. Smith just tried to kill both of us. He even admitted to having been on the other side since before he became a knight," Coffin said.

  "That's a serious charge," Jones said.

  "Regardless, you better have your sword at the ready if you encounter him," Coffin said.

  Chapter 20

  Sir Lieutenant Gonzales knelt before the Queen, as she received his sword from Duke Sabbo. "Arise, Sir Lieutenant Gonzales. Accept back your sword and your honor."

  The escort beside Gonzales whispered, "My Queen, my blade serves you always."

  Gonzales stood and received his sword, which he then sheathed. "My Queen, my blade serves you always."

  "Return to your duty. By the way, Sir Lieutenant Gonzales, I understand that you hold an interest in our history. If you'd like, please view the kingdom's historical tapestries at your leisure. There won't be anything new for several months, but I think you know already what will be pictured. I understand that you and Sir Corporal Coffin have agreed to pose for the artisans."

  Gonzales' face reddened. "We have, my Queen?

  The escort whispered, "We will, my Queen, if that is your wish."

  "I mean, we will, my Queen, if that is your wish."

  "Excellent. I will look forward to seeing the results. Thank you. You may go now."

  Gonzales walked to the exit, pausing when he reached the tapestries. He noticed that the scene showing the first nude execution was quite small, and didn't really reveal much of anything. Confident that a reproduction of his near-execution would likely be just as small, he felt more comfortable about the pose he would have to perform.

  ***

  "Still no sighting of Basoc?" Coffin asked, as she landed in the courtyard.

  "One of us would have stated so had the guards found him. They're still searching the tunnels hidden beneath this castle. There must be additional entrances that they haven't discovered yet," Klaus said.

  "I'll not rest until he's found."

  Deliah landed beside her. "None of us will. By the way, you and I need to talk about something in private."

  "Me?" Coffin asked.

  "Deactivate Private Deliah suit. Yes, you and I. We can talk in the church."

  "Deactivate Corporal Coffin suit. Lead the way."

  Both women remained silent until they were inside the church. Each set her suit down beside the doorway, though Deliah retained her sword in case Basoc showed up.

  "What do we talk about?" Coffin asked.

  "Gonzales."

  "What about him?"

  "Waleski told me that he had eyes for you ever since he became a knight. Are you serious about him?"

  "I'm at least fifteen years his senior. No, I'm not interested in him. If he's interested in me, I'm flattered. However, I think he'd find a younger woman more suitable."

  "Then you haven't returned to active knighthood because of him?" Deliah asked.

  "I returned only because it was necessary to uncover Basoc. I'm remaining on duty because I believe I have the new power. It no longer matters that I can't handle a sword. Lastly, I want to see Basoc cornered and brought back for one last flight over the parapet. God forgive me for that. Should I take your question to mean that you are interested in Gonzales?" Deliah smile, and nodded. "In that case, I wish god's blessings and a long life upon you and Gonzales."

  "Thank you."

  ***

  "Your highness, Sir Lieutenant Gonzales has been restored to his position. Shouldn't you intervene?"

  King Vimma scowled at Duke Plesso. News had been conveyed to the court of the Grand King by means of the god voice belonging to the knight assigned to protect the crown. "It is my understanding that he was proven innocent and convicted only to smoke out a hairy sneak. Why should I intervene?"

  "Sire, because it's turned out to be one of the church's knights anyway. If we can't trust them all, then they shouldn't be permitted to fly about in suits that make them invulnerable."

  "I am more convinced by how Sir Lieutenant Gonzales was willing to go to his death rather than attempt escape. Has that point flown past you?"

  "He did escape, Sire."

  "He did no more than I would expect of any man who has just fallen from a cliff and found life rather than death waiting. I'm convinced that he felt god had saved him at that point, even though it was through our hands that god acted, or more exactly, Queen Neessha's. I see no need to intervene. The Knights of the Star are righteously outraged at how an enemy infiltrated their ranks to test their resolve and valor. They will eventually capture the cause of their unrest and deal with it appropriately. Besides, it was they who suffered, not we. We still have reason to trust in their actions, and we shall."

  "But, Sire, this proves that they're truly not selected by god. They shouldn't hold greater status or influence than the Royal Knights."

  "Can the Royal Knights, whose birth-lines ascribe them a direct relationship to god, even fly?"

  "No, Sire, but the Knights of the Star claim they're selected by god."

  King Vimma fixed Duke Plesso with his gaze. "If you even think I should tell the people that they're not, then you're certainly not in my camp. You know, as well as I, that th
eir church will claim that Smith was tempted away from the true path after god's selection. That has happened before. The people accept it as part of the rigors to be endured in living a righteous life. Whether Smith was actually against them to begin with won't matter. That will be drowned out by voices crying out that evil forced him to lie about that in an apparent effort to discredit the church and god. We've more to gain by using the church's knights than by opposing them."

  ***

  The first tapestry Gonzales studied showed how the Knights of the Star fell under the church's wing. He wasn't aware, nor did the tapestry show, that the church had seen Malidor's appearance as a way of improving their status, while enabling them to repel the efforts of other encroaching religions within Cragland. At the same time, they promised King Teeno that the Knights of the Star wouldn't be used to depose him. Instead, the Order of the Star would swear allegiance to him in accordance with the same oath that Malidor admitted he'd given to a knight sent directly from god. That the Order considered the suits as godly was a belief that the Order permitted to grow, because it was advantageous at the time. It didn't matter to them that Malidor had chosen to ally with the Order of the Star simply because their religion's name coincided with the image on his new armored suit. Certainly, the Order believed that god would have communicated with them directly rather than through a former enemy. Still, the Order knew how to make use of something that no other religion possessed, especially when one of their own proctors succeeded in opening a suit with Malidor's guidance.

  The tapestry displayed Malidor's arrival, his conversion as directed by god, and the subsequent knighting of two proctors and three villagers, one of whom soon died in an accident. Unreported was the fact that other proctors added their own embellishments to the fast-forming common lore. Flying knights weren't anything that could be easily hidden. They did, however, give the church greater legitimacy and power, which was evident in the tapestry.

  Gonzales paused before the second tapestry illustrating the near-simultaneous creation of the Allied Kingdoms. By then, Cragland had something to offer that the other kingdoms didn't. The other rulers recognized it as vital to their overall defense and integrity. Save for the innermost kingdoms, those bordering the seas were raided regularly by the Kron Empire. What Cragland possessed were experienced flying knights who could swoop into battle faster than any mounted knights could manage. Even though there were only five Knights of the Star by then, they were enough to scare off the raiders from the shores of Cragland, and cause them to seek easier targets. Consequently, the rulers gathered to propose a union that would benefit everyone. King Teeno soon found himself convinced not only to join a union, but permitted the expansion of the Knights of the Star to fill as many of the thirty suits as possible. In doing so, he became the first Grand King of the Allied Kingdoms and reigned during the first major Allied victory over the Kron Empire.