Chapter 8: Sojourn at Fort Kingsley

The inside of the military stronghold was somehow even more imposing than the mountains it was built into. One massive room sprawling in the rocky interior spread as far as the eye could see. Upper floors consisted of elevated platforms and walkways, connecting to each other via metal stairs. Three elevators powered by giant rotating gears travelled from the depths of the mountain to the fort’s ground floor.

Bradley noticed the group peering into the abyss below, a small metal handrail the only thing blocking them from falling to their deaths. “That’s a coal mine, the biggest in the kingdom. Other ores are mined there as well, but coal is the main one.”

Fort Kingsley was big enough to be an underground city, housing soldiers, miners and even artisans and merchants, who sold their wares to the inhabitants of the base from a market in a quieter part of the fort.

The group followed Bradley to an elevator leading up, this one much smaller than the ones plunging into the earth’s depths. The gears whirred loudly, and the metal platform shook, before lifting the group high into the air, giving them a bird’s eye view on the colossal base. From where they stood, people at ground level appeared no larger than cats scurrying in alleyways to find their next meal.

The group walked along a suspended walkway, which transitioned into a claustrophobic hallway with only one door at the end. Bradley knocked on the thick metal door.

“Come in,” answered a woman’s voice from inside.

Bradley did as he was instructed, bringing with him his little siblings and their companions.

A woman sat on a desk, legs crossed, leaning on her arms. She was tall and robust, with a somewhat muscular body. Her unnaturally bright red hair covered her head and back like a fiery mane, and her brown eyes had a faint red hue to them. She wore her three silver stars on the shoulder of her open coat, which she had loosely tied around her neck.

She uncrossed her legs, leaned forward a bit, and smiled. “You’ve brought many guests, Bradley.”

Instantly, Hunter, Luck and Taina understood what Alexis had meant when she said that Ophelia was a kind woman. She had only spoken a sentence, one without any significance, and yet, her voice, her eyes, her smile, her posture, it all radiated like the morning sun on the water.

“Yes, General,” said Bradley. “These young people actually want to have a word with you.”

“I know. You’re the troublemakers from the capital, are you not?”

“Would you believe anything else?” asked Luck sarcastically.

The general puffed a laugh. “No. I know it’s you.”

“Well, dang it.”

Ophelia jumped from the desk and walked to greet Jim and Elesia. “You two must be Bradley’s younger siblings! I’ve heard so much about you. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

“Oh, uh, we’ve heard about you, too,” said Elesia. “From our sister.”

“Good things, I hope?”

“Yes,” she responded shyly.

Ophelia turned to the rest of the group. “I know you wanted to speak with me, but first, answer me this. Are two of you the Reas boys? Sons of Travis Reas and Silvers Reas. Before you answer, remember where you are and who you’re dealing with. Lying will only land you in further trouble.”

Luck put his arm on his cousin’s shoulder. “Yep, that’d be us. I’m Luck and he’s Hunter.”

“Very well. Thank you for your honesty. You may ask of me what you wanted.”

“Yeah, so about that. As you know, we’re kind of on the run from the Royal Army.”

“I’m aware, yes. What a peculiar idea, to run from the army to an army base.”

“Yeah, it wouldn’t have been our first idea, but Alexis told us to come here. Your captain’s sister.”

“Yes, I know who Alexis is. She trusted you enough to send you to me. And that was before or after you became wanted?”

“Well, before, but it got worse after.”

“The incident with Commander Blacke?”

“I’m starting to think you know everything already.”

Ophelia laughed. “I’m a general. I get briefings on everything the second the information leaks. Besides, right now, all of the Royal Army knows about you.”

“And that’s why we’re here.”

“You want me to provide you with protection?”

“I know you’re a general, but if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, then yes.”

“Alexis trusted you enough to send you here. You seem like an honest bunch, and so I want to make some things clear. I am a general in the very army currently hunting you all. I cannot bend the rules as I see fit. The law applies to everyone, even me.”

“No luck, then?”

“I want to help you, whatever that help may be, but I need to know something else. The king tends to hyperbolize, to blow things out of proportion. Right now, you lot have been described as dangerous criminals who attacked Royal Army personnel. Commander Blacke is currently wounded. Are any of you responsible for his injuries?”

Luck scratched the back of his head and sighed. “Yeah, that was me. I threw a pot of boiling stew on him.”

Ophelia nearly choked on her own surprised laugh. “Hah! … I’m sorry, how very unprofessional of me.”

“Who cares about that guy anyway?” said Hunter. “You don’t seem particularly saddened either.”

“However true that may be, as I’ve already explained, I am not exempt from the law. I must also show the right example as general.”

Ken intervened in the conversation. “I attacked that scumbag first. Luck only joined the fight to protect me.”

“I see. How very noble. Might I ask why you attacked Commander Blacke?”

“He killed my cat. It’s only fair I take his life in return.”

“Ah, revenge, I see. A powerful motive, though often misguided.”

“He deserves every ounce of pain I plan to inflict on him.”

“Your honesty might now be starting to work against you.”

“I always tell the truth, and only the truth. Lies are a coward’s weapon.”

Ophelia walked in circles in her office, holding her chin. “I see. There is something else. Earlier today, two of my men out for patrol were found dead, brutally murdered, rotting in the sun.”

“That was me. We are fugitives, and they saw me. I did what was necessary to ensure our survival.”

“They were my soldiers. In this fort, I treat everyone the way I expect them to treat me. If that is how you treated my men, I have no other choice but to put you under arrest.”

Ken’s eyes sharpened, as he analyzed his possibilities. In an enclosed space with a man like Bradley, he could not hope to fight. Running was also out of the equation; it would take too long to reach for the door, and the fort was brimming with soldiers.

“Don’t try it,” said the general on a more serious tone. “I’m putting you under arrest, but I’m not sending you to the capital.” She turned to Luck. “The same goes for you. Though your crimes are less severe, I cannot overlook your assault on Commander Blacke.”

Hunter raised his voice. “What! Why him! He did nothing wrong!”

“That is not for you to decide.”

Luck put his hand on Hunter’s shoulder. “Hey, don’t worry. It’ll be fine.”

“No, it won’t,” irritably responded Hunter. “Why are you like this? You always downplay the severity of every situation. I’m not a baby, you don’t have to treat me like one. I know what’s going on.”

“I don’t mean to treat you like that, sorry.”

“I have heard your request,” said Ophelia. “Your cousin and your friend will remain safe. They will be fed properly, be given a bed to sleep in, new clothes and most importantly, temporary protection.”

“Temporary?” asked Taina shakily.

“It’s the most I can guarantee for now.”

Luck smiled. “You did plenty. Thank you, General Ophelia.”

She smiled back and nodded at Bradley. The big man led Luck and Ken outside of the office, and brought them across the fort, in one of its many sublevels, in a jail cell.

It had bunk beds in the corner, a toilet in urgent need of cleaning, a desk, two flimsy chairs, and a hanging fire flickering for dear life.

“Very comfortable indeed,” scoffed Ken.

“Better treatment than what we’d be getting at the capital. I call dibs on the top bunk.”

“Suit yourself.”

Bradley locked the door. “Someone will bring you your meals three times a day. In the evening, you’ll be allowed to leave your cell to shower. If the general sees it fit to change the details of your detainment, I shall come inform you myself.”

Luck gave Bradley a friendly wink. “Alright, thanks big guy.”

Time elapsed painfully slowly. To pass the time, Luck counted the flickers of the coal lamp above, so that he would know exactly how many times it threatened to go out during his stay. Ken, on the other hand, lay in the bottom bunk, his head resting in his hands, eyes closed.

Luck was the one to break the silence. “Why do you want revenge so badly?”

Ken sighed impatiently and kept his eyes closed. “Why do you wanna know?”

“We don’t know how long we’ll be in here, we should get to know each other. Besides, we’re cellmates!”

“We’re not friends.”

“We don’t have to be to talk to each other.”

“If I tell you, will you leave me alone?”

“Hm, maybe for a little while,” he laughed.

Ken opened his eyes. They were solemn and hid an undeniable sadness behind a thin vail of strength. “Sir Mew was everything to me. In a world that abandoned me, he was my only friend, my only source of happiness. By taking him away from me, that scumfuck bastard commander took everything from me. I will not rest until I see the life drain from his shallow eyes.”

Luck nodded along, listening attentively.

“I don’t care if you think it’s stupid. He wasn’t just a cat to me.”

“Oh, I would never dare have such an insensitive thought. I had a pet fish once, and when he died, I was devastated. I can only imagine if Sir Mew was your only companion, how hard his death must have hit you. By the way, Sir Mew is a great name.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“Thank you? I did nothing worthy of gratitude.”

“You’re annoying, but you’re respectful and compassionate. That is more than I can say for most people.”

“That just seems like the bare minimum, honestly.”

“What about you? You want to save your father, right?”

“Things aren’t going exactly how I’d have hoped…”

“They never really do, don’t sweat it.”

“You think I can still do it?”

“I think you might. I’m only an outsider, but it seems you make allies wherever you go. Even the general in this place likes you.”

“She put me in jail. I don’t think she considers herself my ally.”

“She’ll let you out soon.”

“You think so?”

“I know it. She’s only pretending. She’s a general, she has an image to maintain, even if she’s doing a terrible job at it.”

“Awesome! So we’ll be out, soon.”

Ken scoffed. “Not me. No matter how you slice it, I’m a criminal. An actual one.”

“Damn. I kinda forgot about that.”

“Don’t worry about it. I put myself in this mess. Let’s rest until dinnertime.”

***

Meanwhile, General Ophelia personally led the others to their new quarters. Jim and Elesia had loosened up, a feeling of safety curtailing the stress they had accumulated until now. Hunter and Taina, on the other hand, walked with uncertainty, now more anxious than ever before.

Ophelia unlocked a classy wooden door in a hallway away from the fort’s hecticness. Inside were two large beds with fitted sheets, thick blankets, and cloudlike pillows. Coal lamps lit the room from above the headboards, and a small bedside table rested between both beds. Two doors opposite from the beds led to a cramped bathroom and an unexplainably larger closet.

“This is where you’ll be staying,” said Ophelia. “There are only two beds, as you can see, but I assume they’ll be more than big enough for the four of you.”

“Thank you, General!” happily exclaimed Elesia.

“Please, there’s no need to be so formal with me. Simply call me Ophelia.”

Elesia nodded and quickly ran off to the bathroom. While Jim and Taina explored the room, Hunter drooped his eyes, lost in the carpeted floor’s pattern.

Ophelia called out to him. “You, come with me.” Her voice was stern, but her face showed only kindness.

Hunter begrudgingly left the room he had just been led to and followed the general as she walked seemingly aimlessly inside the fort.

“You’re Hunter, correct?” asked Ophelia.

“Why does it matter?”

“I like to know who I’m talking to,” she replied bitingly.

“What do you want from me?”

“Raise your chin, Hunter. Your cousin and your friend will be kept safe so long as they stay here.”

“I don’t care about Ken, and he’s certainly not my friend. But Luck did nothing wrong. He doesn’t deserve to be arrested.”

“Because he’s in a cell doesn’t mean I arrested him. If I had, I’d have contacted the capital already, like I plan on doing for that Ken fellow. You have severe distrust of those around you, I can tell.”

“I distrust the Royal Army and all the king’s scum.”

“And justifiably so. I know of what happened to you as a child. Frankly, with such a famous name, everyone knows. I know if I were in your shoes, I would probably be the same.”

“Then what’s your point?”

“Just an observation.”

“Is there a point to this conversation?”

“I wanted to reassure you. Despite your animosity toward me and the Royal Army, I will not let any harm befall your cousin while he is in my custody. The same goes for you and your friends, as well as Bradley’s siblings.”

“Like you said before, I don’t trust you. Your words mean nothing to me. As far as I’m concerned, we’re all just awaiting our execution.”

“Do you know why I joined the army? It was to gain the power to help those in need.”

Hunter scoffed. “You’re a general, the highest rank in the Royal Army. Your hands will forever be tainted with the blood required to reach that position. Don’t be a hypocrite.”

“It is true I have done things of which I am not very proud to get to where I am. But never would I think to send a group of youngsters to their death without proof of crimes warranting such a response.”

“No matter how highly you rank, you’re still the king’s dog. If he says ‘sit’, you sit.”

“You underestimate the power generals and admirals posses. If I wasn’t confident I could keep you safe, I wouldn’t try it. The soldiers here are loyal to me before anyone else.”

“Then why lock away Luck?”

“Precautionary measures, more than anything else. Though I will say, my wariness of your cousin is waning by the second.”

“You thought he was dangerous? Have you seen him? He wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

“Except he hurt Commander Blacke.”

“That guy is less than a fly, it doesn’t count.”

Ophelia chuckled. “On that we can agree. Still, he is an important officer, and a strong one at that. Anyone able to cause serious injury to a man like him is worth keeping behind bars at least a little.”

“But you’ll free him?”

“I plan on it. Your friend, Ken? I can’t say the same for him.”

“Not my friend.”

“I see no possible outcome where he leaves with his freedom.”

“Guy’s a murderer, I don’t have much sympathy for him.”

“In any case, I hope I have, in the end, reassured you, even if only a little.”

“It’ll be fine when Luck is freed.”

Ophelia bowed her head in agreement. “I must bid you farewell, now. Try to relax during your stay with us.”

***

~Winrol Citadel, Kingdom of Vasilosse~

Admiral Eska Gunn stood in the throne room, facing the king looking disparagingly back at him. “You wanted to see me, Your Grace?”

“Of all my officers, you are the one I trust the least,” said the king. “You may be subservient, but you are still a commoner. Call it instinct, if you will, but I cannot shake the thought that you were never truly loyal to me.”

Eska remained unmoving, his arms behind his back, waiting for the king to start speaking the true reason for his summon.

“Nevertheless, I gave you the rank of admiral. Do you know why I did?”

Eska shook his head respectfully.

“I believe, perhaps against my better judgement, that you are instrumental to finding Travis Reas. You were friends with him back in your childhoods. Despite his poor choices in life, despite his attempts to drag you into his quest for the treasure of the stars, the same way he did with his brother, you wanted to become a soldier. You and the Reas brothers are not the same.”

“May I ask the purpose of this lecture?”

“Careful how you speak to me. Remember what you are.”

“Apologies. I meant no offense.”

“I have summoned you here today because I require your services. The Reas boys, who have likely been the source of all this recent chaos, have run away, as you know. I want you to tell me where you think they would have gone. You have met them before, have you not?”

“It was a long time ago, Your Grace. If I had to take a gamble, I would guess they went to Fort Kingsley. If they are truly part of the group of fugitives, they likely followed the Kareese siblings to the place their brother is stationed.”

“General Freyne is in charge of Fort Kingsley. Do you trust her to bring the fugitives to justice?”

“Frankly, Your Grace, I don’t. She is soft and forgiving. Upon hearing her subordinate’s plea to spare his family, she will bend.”

“The Reas boys have no connection to any of them.”

“She might turn them in, then. But I wouldn’t count on it.”

“Should I send someone to Fort Kingsley to verify their whereabouts?”

“That might be for the better if you aim to capture them. If they are indeed there, or on their way there, the longer we stay inactive, the higher their chances of escape rise.”

“Very well. You make convincing arguments. I shall send you to investigate the case of the fugitives in Fort Kingsley.”

“Your Grace, with due respect, I have other duties. I cannot simply abandon my territory to chase a group of teenagers on land.”

“You question my decisions?”

“Insubordination was not my intent, forgive me.”

“The island of Corin is divided among my three generals, and the seas of Vasilosse among my three admirals. If I were to send a general to Fort Kingsley, there would be only one left to patrol their territory. For a few days, I can afford to send an admiral.”

Outside of the room, Vice Admiral Brock was listening, and almost as if he had been waiting for the conversation to take such a turn, he opened the door on cue.

King Bartholomew was startled by the grand door of his throne room being pushed open with such force. “What is the meaning of this interruption!”

“Pardon my intrusion, Your Grace, but I was of passage and could not help but overhear you two talking,” said Brock, a devilish smirk on his face. “I have a proposition, if His Grace would be so kind as to hear it.”

The king was undoubtedly irked by Brock’s boorish behaviour but nevertheless decided to hear him out. He had always had a soft spot for his crueller officers. “You may speak but make it quick.”

“I heard you’re looking to unearth the identities of the fugitives, that the Reas boys might be among them. You may remember my most recent encounter with those boys and Silvers, ending in a success on my part, albeit unforgivingly humiliating.” He shook his broken arm as an example of the humiliation he had suffered. “Admiral Gunn is not the only one who knows the Reas boys. I do as well, and it so happens I have a score to settle with them.”

“You wish to go in his stead?”

“Precisely. I will not come back empty handed, mark my words.”

“Though I appreciate your enthusiasm and determination, I must refuse. You have yet to fully heal from your injury.”

“Then send me with someone else! I swear I will bring those boys to justice myself.”

“Vice Admiral Floke’s proposal might prove a better allocation of resources than sending me,” stated Eska. “I have the most territory to cover of all the admirals. Even if only for a few days, leaving my territory might prove dangerous, especially with the recent sightings of Finhro and Centari Kingdom ships in my waters. Vice Admiral Floke may be injured, but he should be more than capable of investigating a few runaways’ whereabouts.”

Brock’s weaselly smile grew larger. “I’m glad to see even you have common sense.”

The king tapped his fingers on the arm of his throne, frowning perplexedly. “I am not particularly worried about the Centari Kingdom, but the Finhro Kingdom in our waters is alarming. Very well, Vice Admiral Floke, you may head to Fort Kingsley. I expect great things from you. Do not disappoint me.”

Brock bowed. “Have I ever, Your Grace? I shall apprehend the fugitives and return promptly. They shall be brought to justice.”