Forgotten Embers

Chapter 38: Fear Not!

'They're so cruel,' Benjamin pondered. 'It's harmful to their humanity, but still they persist in it.'

He had watched helplessly from the crowd as Kallida continued his dedicated character assassination. The conversation had moved from the Ambassador to the Kingsmen, then to the Armorials, and now to Caliphus. They met in a discreet contest of words as two men battling over a ship's rudder, the gentlest tap or smallest adjustment capable of redirecting the course of the conversation entirely.

Kallida was, by this point, becoming visibly bothered. "Supposing that Caliphus was promised his descendant to sit upon the throne in Pyre as you have claimed and the Chronicles of the Kingsmen record. How can you explain the world as it now is? Stephan is dead and Casper, his son, is alive in exile. How is it that such a thing would be allowed under your beliefs in this mighty king and his divine power?"

"The evil which a man tolerates is that which will one day overcome him." Webber spoke calmly with some regret. "I can see no greater example of this in our own time than that of King Stephan."

Benjamin's face broke into a small smile. 'He doesn't appear to be affected by it. But then... I suppose, there is a strange glory here, in this.'

He turned his eyes to Zephyr, who sat upon the throne of judgement with indifference. The King's expression was cold and uncaring with a slight tinge of wicked satisfaction.

'It is strange that my family would have employed such an egotistic despot. I feel as if I should apologize for him. Yet... for all his feats of heroism, to have allowed himself to be brought so low... it is extraordinary.'

"Do you mean to say," Kallida began, his voice elevated and his proper mannerisms declining quickly into increased agitation, "it is your belief that all this was avoidable?" He spoke emphatically, taking some steps forward and pointing a finger at Webber. "That if Stephan Caliphus had only dealt with the problems which he knew existed within the ranks of his own appointed officers, Caliphus would still be here today, sitting upon that throne in place of our illustrious king?" Kallida threw a hand up towards the judgement seat and turned his back on his opponent. "Ha!"

He faced the audience, walking back towards them with slow, winding steps. He threw his hands out to either side, tossing them twice in the air. "Ha! What foolish jabber!" He spun himself around on his heals, fully animated. Again facing Webber, he mocked him and said, "If the man was so incompetent, maybe he was never fit to rule in the first place! Or maybe you haven't thought of that, have you, sage? You never consider your own folly or that of this book!" Kallida contended, snatching the copy of the Kingsmen Chronicles from the desk of the court clerk and throwing it violently downward. There was a loud thud as the thick book hit against the hard ground with its soft leather binding, and there was a strange silence which followed.

Eliezer's eyes were stayed on the book with a clear and distinct sadness which could only be described as the deepest lament.

"No," he said with lasting conviction at the end of it all, "my folly is my own, but there is none such in God." He turned his eyes to Kallida with fierce indignation. "And you, Demetrius, will know it." He paused, taking a breath. His eyes turned upwards, then back to Kallida. "You have made a very grave mistake, one which you will soon regret."

"Oh, have I now?" Kallida asked mockingly.

Then, as if on cue, he was interrupted by a loud bang and the sound of a faint crackling. There was an explosion in the hallway, and smoke began to bellow into the court as the large doors which separated the two rooms burst forcefully open with undo dramatics.

The situation quickly devolved into a screaming panic of disorganized chaos. The smoke began to clear and standing in the doorway was a man dressed in white holding two glistering swords.

"Kypher?" Benjamin blurted out with grateful perplexity.

"Kallida!" Blackridge cried out. "What have you done?"

"Oh, please! Spare me," Kallida scoffed. "Alexander Kypher is a far cry from divine retribution," he told Blackridge dryly, picking the book up off the floor.

"Fear not! For I have arrived!" Kypher declared triumphantly. "Eliezer, I apologize for my lateness. I had some business out of town, as you know."

"Excellent timing, Kypher, as always!" Eliezer applauded gladly.

"Any time!" Kypher grinned. "I trust you've been treated poorly?"

"But of course," Eliezer laughed.

"Good, then!" Kypher told him, "I was concerned."

The guardsmen were struggling to contain the crowds, attempting to calm them. Some of the people were ducking in fear beneath the court benches, while others were pushing past their fellows in an attempt to get away from it all.

"Almast," Kypher proclaimed loudly, "the years have been hard on you, I see."

"Kypher," Zypher sneered, "no worse than for a failed guardsman who let his king be killed."

"Well," Kypher shrugged, swirling his swords, "what is there to say of past betrayals?"

"Benson!" Zahaynei ordered, "Take the prisoner back down to the dungeons!"

"Yes, sir!" Benson said, taking charge of Webber and escorting him through a door at the front.

It was the responsibility of the guardsmen to restore confidence and maintain order while keeping everyone properly stationed. Zahaynei was yelling out orders to his men and reminding them of this when one man shouted in a voice far above the tumult.

"Terrorists! Evacuate!"

Ben heard the voice bellow from behind him, echoing throughout the chambers and filling the hall with a renewed sense of panicked urgency. It was the voice of Marcus Garner.

The room plunged into total chaos, the guards being overrun by the rush of the crowds of people towards the exit.

Benjamin remained still as the people began to flow out, pushing hastily past him. Immediately, he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Well, young man... better run," Marcus told him, patting his shoulder before walking away into the crowd.

'...What? What is he doing?'

"The rest of you, forget about the crowds! Arrest that man!" Zahaynei ordered, calling their attention to Benjamin. "We can't let him escape!"

"Come on, Ben!" Avera urged him, grabbing his arm and pulling at him.

He stood staring into the streams of people where Marcus had vanished against the crowd.

'All this time...could he have known? Was all of this... truly done to help aid my escape?'

The crowds had begun to thin as the people funneled out in terror and a rush of adrenaline.

"Ben, please! We need to go!" Avera pleaded, doing what she could to move him.

He turned his face back towards her, and his mind began to focus. "Right. Sorry," he said with a quick nod of his head.

He glanced around the spacious hall, now mostly empty, looking for an acceptable means of escape. There were scores of guardsmen which peppered the room. Zahaynei stood alone at the front with some of his leading officers, issuing orders. The rest had gone. The guardsmen continued their offensive, barreling towards them.

'It appears the advance is uncoordinated, at least for now. It shouldn't be too difficult to evade them. Although... Ramus is gone along with Blackridge and Kallida. I'm sure he has arranged provisions for this. Likely magic. I'll have to watch we aren't trapped again.'

Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by a pointed pressure at his back.

"What now, prince?" asked a rough and unfamiliar voice like gravel.

"Ben!" Avera shouted.

"Watch it, missy!" the man warned.

He felt his heart go cold as his body tingled with numbness. He took a hard breath, his eyes wide with unwelcome surprise. He closed his eyes. 'Rats! They snuck up on me.'

"Don't move," the man said. "It wouldn't be good for your lifespan."

There was the sound of advancing footsteps racing towards them, followed by a sound like the shattering of clay pottery and a harsh declaration. "Nor yours!"

He felt the pressure leave his back and his heart revived. 'Kypher.'

"Kypher!" he exclaimed gladly, opening his eyes. He turned to see the man collapsed on the floor behind him, a gash on the right side of his forehead and fragments of a sword scattered about him.

"He'll be alright," Kypher said, looking down at the man. "I had to hit him upside the head." His tone was dark and serious, his face declaring a fiery passion. "I never thought I'd be grateful for maurium."

He turned his head, keeping all vigilance, and fought off three more guardsmen as they approached. He kept his swords raised and his vision on the advancing guards, and his hands were always at the ready.

"If they keep charging us one and one like this, it'll keep my job easy, but no matter. That door there," Kypher told them, making a motion with his head towards the doorway to their right. "Justice is waiting. I'll cover your exit."

"Yes, I understand," Benjamin quickly assured him. Though, his voice aired his hesitance.

"Alright, good," Kypher replied determinedly. "Oh, and don't you worry about old Webber, Ben." He smiled. "He'll come out of this fine. He always does."

He smiled, thankful for the reassurance. 'Yes... yes, I suppose, he does.'

"Ready?" Kypher asked, taking a glance back at him.

Benjamin nodded.

"Alright... Run, Ben!"