Crowned in Black: Chapter 53

7 Days later

Crowds of people turned out onto the streets, awed and anxious, as the shadows of airships and dragons darkened the streets of Taltos. We let the warhorns blare as the lead ships - the Metternich, the repaired Illuminata, and the Destroyers Gae Bolg and Salamander - cruised in alongside the Silver Wing of the Shey’ru Karalt.

We'd split the F.A.M combined fleet into three, circling the city like a wolf pack from all sides. Word from the castle was that the royal keep was on lockdown and Janos and other traitorous elements under arrest inside the throne room, but nothing was ever certain. As the Illuminata steamed over the front gates of the city, flying the crimson-and-black raven flag from every deck, we started to hear cheering from the streets below.

There were a few airships hanging outside Vulkan Keep, none of them flying Czongrad colors. They turned and zipped away as Karalti led the Silver Wing over the Keep, her Queensong piercing the sounds of engines and shouting men. There was no resistance, no gunfire as the Illuminata touched down on the airfield. The Black Legion soldiers who ran up toward the ship went to one knee as the gangplank extended, letting me, Ignas, and Suri to the ground.

"Your Majesty!" The cry went up among the assembled. “Long live His Majesty, Volod Ignas Corvinus! Long live Vlachia!”

Ignas was stiff and elegant in red and black, an ornate blindfold fitted around his missing eyes. He rested one arm on Simeon's shoulder as he swept toward the trembling Commander of the Legion, his narrow face set in graven lines. "Commander Hudar, report. Where is Janos?"

"In the throne room under guard, along with all members of the Kingsguard who supported the coup. The King's Blade commands those inside," the soldier replied hastily. Commander Hudar looked nauseous, clearly expecting to lose his career, his life, or both. The typical Vlachian punishment for treason was death by impalement. To his credit, the man didn't stammer or try and make excuses. He just sweated it out.

"Excellent. Once this is dealt with, you and all other officers will report to me in the War Room. I intend to clean house, literally and figuratively." Ignas' expression was stony as he swept past.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The commander saluted crisply, then turned to his men. “All of you, split into your companies and sweep the castle! If anyone so much as squints at you the wrong way, detain them!”

It was a long walk from the airfield to the castle proper. There were signs that there'd been infighting between those loyal to Ignas, and those who had thrown in with the coup. A double row of sheet-covered corpses, no fewer than forty people, lined the walls of one of the hallways. The usual bustling throng of visiting nobility and scurrying servants were absent.

Ebisa waited for us in front of the main entrance to the throne room: armored and masked, her head slightly bowed, hands clasped in front. When she heard us, her face tilted up. I saw her grip her own fingers more tightly.

"Your Majesty," she said, her voice low and husky. "It is good to see you alive. I-"

"If you are about to apologize unnecessarily, there never was and still is no need." Ignas gently pushed away from Simeon, navigating by sound to where Ebisa stood. Before the Mercurion could respond, he wrapped her in a firm, full-body hug, then kissed her on the brow. Ebisa froze in surprise.

"You did exactly as we needed you to do," Ignas said, clapping her on both shoulders. "Do not fret for me, Ebisa. You were and are my right hand."

Ebisa's head dropped, and her shoulders hunched with silent grief. She stayed like that for close to a minute before she looked up, a bead of light flickering around the sight-sigil on the front of her mask as she looked over his face. "They mutilated you."

"Yes, but they did not kill me. Something our dear Janos Lanz is about to sorely regret." Ignas stepped back from her, and lifted his chin. "Take me to him."

Ebisa took a moment to recover her composure, then bowed slightly and unlocked the door to the throne room. She swept both of them in, and we entered the Ravensblood Hall to see who and what we had to deal with.

The majority of the Knights of the Dragon had been stripped of their armor and were sitting in chains. Several of them looked like they'd had the shit beaten out of them. Close to fifty other people – nobles, butlers, magistrates – were also in the chain gang. Black Legionnaires and Nightstalkers brawlers hung around in knots, supervising the detained. Janos himself was bound hand and foot in front of the dais. His face was bruised, his fine clothing torn in places. There was blood on him - none of it looked to be his. Two [Nightstalkers Enforcers] stood to either side of him, both Meewfolk, both hooded and masked.

"Ahh, Janos. In my weakness, I neglected one of the cardinal rules of politics when I decided to give you a second chance." Ignas was experienced at making himself heard in this long, high-ceilinged room, and lifted his voice so that it rang off the high sculpted arches above. "When a man shows his true colors to you, believe him. You were still Andrik’s man all along. How many good people have suffered and died because of you, you shameless wretch?"

Janos was quivering with barely suppressed nerves. He shot me a murderous, dark look, then settled on Suri for a few seconds before finally looked to Ignas. "The real Ignas died by his own hand. I saw the body when it was removed from the sacred furnace. Andrik Corvinus was our real Volod - you are nothing but an imposter. You and your false gods of dragonkind."

"My brother was the imposter, Janos," Ignas replied calmly. "And your god is dead."

"The Architects cannot die, and nor can we faithful." Janos' nostrils flared, and he lifted his head proudly. "We are the elect, and the Architects will raise us from death if we are martyred."

"Orogael is literally dead." I stepped forward, glaring at him. "He was killed with his own perma-killing sword in Solnetsi's Dragon Gate by his buttfuck-crazy lieutenant, Lucien. Ilia's dragons answered my queen dragon's call. They fly over Vlachia under her command as we speak."

“You lie.” Doubt flashed briefly through Janos' eyes.

"He speaks the truth. You can see for yourself in the Kingdom Management System that Ilia’s dragons are now Vlachia’s," Ignas said heavily. "Because of you, the 1st Fleet remains the prisoner of Ilian forces in Revala. Thirty thousand Vlachians rendered prisoner, Janos. I myself was tortured, my eyes burned from their sockets in such a way that they cannot be regrown. I would have died if not for Hector, and the return of healing magic to the world..."

"Liar!" Janos snapped, straining forward against his bonds. The pair of enforcers beside him twitched. "Only the Architects can bring healing magic back to this world! It was promised to us!"

"Give me a second, sir." I touched Ignas' forearm, then stalked up the platform to Janos. Before he could react, I balled a fist and punched him right across the side of his jaw with metal-clad knuckles. The blow knocked the man to the floor in an arc of his own blood. He wheezed as I grabbed him by the collar and hauled him upright - and then cast Caduceus on him. His pale green eyes turned round as the magic soaked into his skin, sealing the gashes, healing the pain and broken bones.

"There's your fucking Architect, right there." I waited until he was healed... then decked him a second time, dropping him to writhe on the tiles before I stomped back to the Volod, Suri, and Simeon. Suri nodded approvingly.

"Impossible..." Janos gasped, as he struggled back upright. The arrogance had drained out of him. He stared at me in terror.

" You were manipulated, Janos. And in letting yourself be deceived, you have caused untold damage to my kingdom." Ignas groped out for my arm. "Hector... walk me to the throne."

With one last dark look at Janos, I helped Ignas mount the steps, and headed past him to the next flight of stairs that led to the Raven Throne. Ignas patted the arms of the chair, then settled into it with a sigh.

"My System, at last," he said, gesturing with a hand to bring up his HUD. "I’m grateful that the gods, in their mercy, allow me to navigate this despite my lack of eyes. And I suppose Volod Ignas the Blind has something of a ring to it, doesn’t it?"

As he settled back, numerous alerts and announcements began to ping me:

[You have completed Quest: The Hidden Hand]

[You gain 6500 EXP!]

[Global Announcement: Ignas Corvinus II has retaken the Vlachian Throne!]

[Your pending Kingdom Quest ‘The Promise of Eternity’ has been updated!]

"So, there are those who believe me to be an imposter?" Ignas mused to himself, shaking his head as he continued to work. "What a farce my brother made of our name, Hector. Still... that explains why so many here were willing to turn on me like feral dogs. It seems that it is a persuasive theory for some."

"People will believe all kinds of bullshit when it suits them," I said. "Especially if it's repeated over and over."

"They most certainly will." Ignas swept the HUD aside with his fingers, and leaned back. “Elizabet is still in Myszno, so… Ebisa, I need you to relay some information to the Corps of Heralds.”

"Yes, Your Majesty." Ebisa, who had shadowed us silently through the hall, bowed in acknowledgement.

"The following pronouncements are to be spread around the realm post-haste," Ignas said, turning his face toward the sound of her voice. "Janos of Czongrad is sentenced to death, to be executed by impalement for high treason against Vlachia tomorrow morning. I shall oversee the execution personally."

"No!" Janos gasped at the foot of the throne. "My liege-!"

"Shut up, Janos." Ignas turned his face slightly toward him. "For his role in defending Vlachia's crown and country, Hector Dragozin-Corvinus the First is once more declared Crown Prince of the realm, my true heir and successor under the laws of anda. His ceremony of confirmation shall be held in three days' time."

“Understood. It will be done.” Ebisa bowed from the neck.

"Please! Anything but the stake!" Janos twisted, trying to look up to Ignas. "The disgrace... my family...!"

"Your adult family will be imprisoned for the remainder of their lives, and the children of House Lanz will become royal wards, to be monitored here," Ignas said coldly. "Should any of your relatives be found to be in cooperation with you in your bid to overthrow me, they will also be staked. Now please, those of you guarding him - take him to the tower cells."

"Mercy!" Janos gasped as he was hauled up. "I was wrong! The Architect... he was evil! He deceived me!"

"No. You allowed yourself to be deceived." Ignas made a sharp gesture, and the pair of Meewfolk hauled Janos up and dragged him off as he pleaded and begged, trying to twist around and look at Ignas again.

"The Kingsguard who acted as his accomplices shall have the following punishments," Ignas called out. "Captain Molnar, death by beheading. His children shall be taken as wards to be fostered by knightly patrons, his adult family exiled beyond Vlachia. Those men who participated in the treason under his command are sentenced to ten years hard labor, plus the removal of all titles and awards followed by exile from Vlachia. May you call on Khors for mercy with each swing of your pick."

The guilty Knights of the Dragon bowed their heads or cursed softly as they were also led away.

"How do you decide on that shit so easily?" I asked Ignas quietly.

"There is precedent in previous cases judged within these walls. You will come to learn in time what sort of crimes merit what sort of punishments. A wise king does not punish frequently, but when he does he must do so decisively, justly, and in proportion to the crime." Ignas sighed and leaned back into the uncomfortable, blocky throne. "I don’t suppose that we can stake Janos, have you revive him, and then stake him a second time? It would bring me a grim sort of pleasure to do so.”

I cleared my throat, biting down a laugh. “Afraid not.”

“How unfortunate.” Ignas made a sound of disgust. “The man has killed hundreds, if not thousands. I'd partly impale him and have you heal him a couple of times if I had it my way."

"Pretty nasty way to go." I inwardly winced at the thought.

Ignas grimaced. "It is. The stake is only used as a method of execution for the direst crimes, unless you were my brother. Still… in this case, the example must be made for the good of the nation. You will learn how and when to make such judgements in time. I will be here to teach you how to rule, Hector.”

I flushed across the cheeks. It felt weird to have them be able to feel genuinely hot again. “Sure. Thanks. So… what now?”

“For you and Suri and the others? Rest.” Ignas turned his face to me. “Return here in three days time for your confirmation at the Church of the Maker. Until then, sleep, eat, celebrate all that has been accomplished. I will decide on appropriate awards for your companions over the next few days.

You may attend the execution if you wish, but I would prefer that you were not there.” Ignas reached out and gave my arm a squeeze. “Not because your company is offensive, Hector, but simply because I must gain closure on this affair and mourn the loss of men and women I trusted. Men and women who turned out to be false friends. I would rather do that alone for the time being, and come together with my truer friends after a short period of solitary mourning.”

“Understood.” I saluted on reflex. “In that case…”

“Here. I will issue a quest to assist you in keeping track of the days. You are no doubt exhausted after your trials on my behalf,” Ignas replied.

[New Quest: A Prince is Born]

Kingdom Quest: A Prince is Born

You have thwarted the coup attempt staged by Janos of Czongrad, formerly one of Vlachia’s Voivodes and a close confidant of Voloc Ignas Corvinus II. Now that the traitor has been caught and the Volod returned to the throne, you are to be crowned as Ignas’ heir for your deeds and commitment to Vlachia.

Return to Vulkan Keep in three days time for your confirmation as Ignas’ blood-sworn adopted son. Don’t be late!

Difficulty: Easy

Rewards: 8997 EXP, Princes’ Crown, crippling political responsibilities.

I laughed at the Rewards description, and confirmed the quest - and set some alarms, just in case. “No worries, chief. And thank you.”

“Thank you, Hector. And believe me: once I am reestablished, there will be other rewards for you and all the rest who aided Vlachia in her times of need.” Ignas smiled faintly. “Now go: spend time with your loved ones and revel in your victories. Such sweetness is always fleeting.”