Chris Evans - The Light of Burning Shadows

“So it appears,” the Prince said, unable to hide a smirk. “Well, no doubt they, like me, wanted you unburdened with matters of great consequence so that you could focus instead on the battles at hand. Battles, I might add, that you handled admirably. Her Majesty’s Scribe has not spared the ink in writing your praises for the good people back home.”

The Prince’s jovial manner dissipated as he said this. Konowa had read enough of Rallie’s reporting to understand why the Prince might be less than thrilled with her. While she was always careful to include something about His Highness as colonel of the regiment, it was Konowa and the soldiers themselves that got most of her attention.

“My editor has a keen nose for what sells, and the Iron Elves-these particular Iron Elves-move copy,” Rallie said.

“Of course, of course,” the Prince said with studied indifference. “They are a simple folk, after all.” His smile quickly returned and he doffed his shako again, his flourish even more elaborate than before. “My hat off to you again, my ladies. In keeping the major in the dark, you did all womanhood everywhere proud by showing gossip is not a natural state of being for the fairer sex.”

The three women were a sudden study in repressed emotion. Barely. Konowa knew that with these three, looks could indeed kill. Another time Konowa would have enjoyed this immensely, but not now.

“You were talking about an opportunity,” Konowa reminded the Prince.

“Not just any opportunity, Major, the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s the Stars.” The Prince’s voice grew soft, but his eyes burned bright.

“We only know of the one,” Konowa said, “and it’s now a guardian protecting the lands of the elfkynan.” Something like the Wolf Oaks of the great forest of the Hyntaland, the Star had transformed itself into a majestic tree following the battle of Luuguth Jor. It had become a bridge between the sky and the earth, a channel for the elemental power of nature to spread across the land and protect it from the Shadow Monarch’s encroachments.

The Prince’s sunny disposition clouded over at the mention of the Star now turned into a tree. “Yes, a result I do not intend to see repeated.” Prince Tykkin had very much wanted the Star for his collection. He took a deep breath and forced the smile back on his face. “Of course, the Star is much more than simply a protector, Major. It is a symbol. It is the harbinger of change. It is the return of a power long gone from this world. It’s…” The Prince broke off and looked with wonder at Konowa. “Major, the Stars are like you. Once a force in the world, then sent away when that force became uncontrollable, and now returned and put to good use when that energy is needed the most.”

Here we go again.

“You’re talking about another myth, aren’t you,” Konowa said, looking from the Prince to the women.

“The Lost Library of Kaman Rhal is no myth. It was the finest repository of knowledge ever collected in one place in recorded history. The library of the Royal Society of Thaumaturgy and Science pales in comparison, and I’ve spent the better part of ten years acquiring for it.”

“Is that what this is still about?” Konowa asked, motioning to the ships in the bay. “We’re here to find more books?”

“Not simply books, Major, but knowledge. And with that knowledge we will usher in a new era. Imagine the inventions, the discoveries, and now imagine them gathered in one place.”

Konowa could, and it filled him with dread. Power had a tendency to coalesce until it blew violently apart, redistributing that power over a very large area. Empires rose and fell that way. “That’s been tried before, and it ended badly. Doesn’t the story say Kaman Rhal was cut into a hundred pieces and scattered throughout the desert and the high seas? And that his great library was swallowed by the desert along with the town of Urjalla and all of its people?”

Konowa looked at the women, but they remained uncharacteristically silent. He couldn’t tell if it was their pique at the Prince, or frustration with him.

“That was then, and this is now,” the Prince said. “The Stars have unlocked the potential and it is up to the wise and the swift to harness this new wind of change and put it to use. This, Major, is politics at its finest. I will chart a new course and the Empire and all its subjects will be the better for it. Now, I want this ship unloaded before noon.” The Prince took in a deep breath and surveyed the ships in the bay. “It’s time for us to change the world.”

FROM HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, THE PRINCE OF CALAHR, TO THE Peoples of These Lands

The return of the Stars of Power and Knowledge herald the dawning of a New Age. Be it known far and wide that henceforth the Dark shall be banished and the Light of justice, truth, and prosperity will shine again in these blighted lands. It is time to rejoice and to partake in this most Wonderful Occurrence.

For too long, you have suffered under the Tyranny of Chaos and Disunity. Without Strong and Honest governance, these lands have fallen prey to Banditry while the coastline is ravaged by the scourge of Piracy. Discredited and most foul Beliefs have flourished, poisoning the hearts and minds of good and decent people. Be it known far and wide that salvation is at hand. Rejoice!

Know that I, the Prince of Calahr, have come here not to Conquer but to Liberate. The Empire does not seek to subjugate you as you are now by these Lawless Rogues. I come to you as Your Servant, offering succor in your time of Need. Already medicinal supplies, food, and other aid are being distributed among those people who have shown themselves to be friends to the Calahrian Empire and to the cause of Enlightenment and Good Order. The path to your salvation lies in your very hands. Raise them up in praise of your Empire and you shall be saved.

CONDUCT TOWARD A Peaceful and Prosperous NEW DAY

DECREE ONE. Any person-be they human, elf, dwarf, orc, or other-taking up arms or spells against the Calahrian Army or engaging in sabotage so as to cause discomfort and worse shall be considered an enemy of all that is Good and treated without Mercy.

DECREE TWO. Any known agent of the Shadow Monarch, the orcs, or the Lawless Bands that bring only terror and woe must be reported to the nearest Calahrian representative at once. Failure to do so will be viewed as an Act of War against the Calahrian Empire.

DECREE THREE. Any act of rebellion or resistance to the Glorious and Beneficent Works of the Calahrian Empire in these Lands will be met with OVERWHELMING FORCE. Wells will be salted, houses razed to the ground, livestock slaughtered, food stores redistributed to Loyal and Law-abiding citizens, and all modes of transportation confiscated (including camels, horses, mules, and large goats; domesticated dragons any larger than a mule will be shot on sight).

DECREE FOUR. Information pertaining to the location and discovery of the Library of Kaman Rhal, a lost Star, or any other source of Knowledge and Power must be divulged immediately to a representative of the Calahrian Army. Information leading to a Find will be rewarded. Failure to disclose information will be punished (see Decree Three).

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, Prince Tykkin

The stagnant inlet on the western outskirts of Nazalla provided the perfect backdrop for Konowa’s mood. He wiped the sweat from his brow and wondered if he was ever destined to find a mode of travel that didn’t want to drown him, buck him off, trample him under hoof, or possibly even eat him. He approached his latest mount keeping one hand on the hilt of his saber. The beast stood well over six feet high at its back, which was humped as if it were carrying a large supply bundle. It was covered in a light, short brown fur and was all knobby knees, huge feet, or hooves-he couldn’t decide-and a long, curving neck on the end of which was a head that looked comical and unlikely to want to kill him.