Knights of Alcea Read online

  "Or an Intelligence Officer," added Bin-lu. "Both Wei-ra and Mu-chen were Intelligence Officers."

  "Another assumption?" queried Rut-ki.

  Bin-lu shook his head and retrieved the stolen files from under his bed. He handed them to the instructor. Rut-ki examined the files in silence and shook her head the entire time.

  "How did you come by these?" she asked. "These are Special Records files."

  "They are," nodded Bin-lu. "It is safer if you do not know how I came by them."

  "You could be hung for having these in your possession," warned Rut-ki.

  "I do not fear punishment from Za-chan," shrugged Bin-lu. "The truth is, he would deliver those files to me if I asked for them, but then people would know that I requested them. I cannot afford to have that knowledge known."

  "Yet you are sharing your secrets with me?" posed Rut-ki. "Why?"

  "Because I have gotten you into a mess," admitted Bin-lu. "I should have contemplated that Wei-ra might be a spy. I made another mistake last night when I was getting these files. I let the candle burn too long. Wei-ra discovered that someone had been in there. Add that to the fact that he knows you are still investigating him, and it spells trouble for you. You need to leave the city."

  "I cannot just abandon my post," balked Rut-ki.

  "You would not abandon your post," explained Bin-lu. "You could leave for a family emergency, perhaps the death of a parent. Where are you from?"

  "Marchek," Rut-ki answered. "I could be demoted for taking a false leave. I will not do it."

  "I can ensure that you are not penalized for the leave," promised Bin-lu. "I just want you safe until I finish this investigation. Surely you know that Intelligence Officers have access to your quarters?"

  "They have already been there," frowned Rut-ki. "That is what took me so long to get here. My quarters were ravaged. Someone tore everything apart looking for something."

  "The files," sighed Bin-lu. "They must have noticed them missing. They will not stop with just tearing your quarters apart. You must leave."

  "I have done nothing wrong," protested Rut-ki. "I will not run from those who seek to break our laws. If Wei-ra is a murderer, I will see that he faces justice."

  Bin-lu sighed heavily and sat on his bed. While he greatly admired Rut-ki's attitude, he was concerned for her safety. They sat silently for several long minutes before Bin-lu sighed again and looked into Rut-ki's eyes.

  "If you will not run," Bin-lu smiled thinly, "then we shall work together. I need to get back into the Special Records section, and I must do it before sunset. Will you help me?"

  "I have no access to those records," frowned Rut-ki. "How can I help you?"

  "You have access to Mu-chen's belongings," explained Bin-lu. "Take some insignificant item and tell the healers that you want to add it to his personal belongings. When they let you open his box of effects, take his papers and smuggle them out."

  "His papers?" questioned Rut-ki. "What do you want them for?"

  "Mu-chen was also an Intelligence Officer," answered the Knight of Alcea. "He would have access to the Special Records section. I plan to impersonate him."

  "Impossible," Rut-ki shook her head. "What if the guards know what he looks like?"

  "Look at his file," replied Bin-lu. "He was just transferred here from Chi-Chan. The odds of the guards recognizing him are remote at best. I should be able to get in there and restore those files and get what else I need in just a few minutes."

  "The guards will remember what you look like," warned Rut-ki. "You will be dead before nightfall."

  "While you are getting his papers," grinned Bin-lu, "I will be altering my appearance."

  "Start your transformation," Rut-ki said as she rose from the chair and dropped the files on the bed. "I will be back within the hour."

  "Be careful," Bin-lu warned the instructor.

  Rut-ki smiled and nodded as she opened the door and peeked into the hallway. As soon as she closed the door, Bin-lu began fashioning his disguise. He took his spare uniform and cut off the insignia that identified him as a junior officer. He rummaged through his pack until he found the proper insignia and sewed it into place. For extra measure, he placed a gold metallic star on each shoulder. He did not have an officer's cap, but he could make do without one, as many officers did within the walls of the Imperial Palace.

  Next he retrieved a jar from his pack and opened it. He stripped off his uniform and sprinkled white dust from the jar over his head and worked it into his hair with his fingers. When he was sure that he had worked it in well, he shook his head vigorously and then put on the spare uniform. Just as he was straightening the uniform a knock sounded from the door.

  "Who is it?" Bin-lu asked without opening the door.

  "Rut-ki," came the muffled response.

  Bin-lu pulled the door open and the instructor scooted into the room. She looked at Bin-lu and smiled.

  "Let me coat your eyebrows," offered Rut-ki. "They should also be white."

  Bin-lu nodded and asked, "Did you get his papers?"

  "Of course," smiled Rut-ki as she pulled the blanket off the bed and draped it over Bin-lu's shoulders. "Cover the uniform so the powder doesn't get on it."

  Rut-ki applied the white powder to Bin-lu's eyebrows and dusted them off. She walked around him and inspected his hair before giving her approval.

  "It looks good," she said. "Just don't sweat too much or the powder will turn to soup."

  "I only perspire when I am nervous," chuckled Bin-lu.

  "Then try to not be nervous," Rut-ki responded seriously. "Should I wait for you here?"

  "No," answered Bin-lu. "If we are to work together, you must officially disappear. I want you to go see General Za-hong. Make sure that you speak to him in person without witnesses."

  "And what should I tell him?" asked the instructor.

  "Tell him that I have asked for your assistance," stated Bin-lu. "Also explain that I want you to officially appear to be on leave for a family emergency. He should give you travel papers to Marchek. When that is all settled, you need to fashion a disguise for yourself. I would suggest becoming a servant. They are practically invisible to most people."

  Rut-ki smiled as she remembered the first time she saw Bin-lu. "A servant it shall be. Will Za-hong truly give me travel papers?"

  "His only decision will be concerned with whether or not he believes that I requested your assistance," mused Bin-lu. "Tell him that you know that I am a Knight of Alcea. Precious few people in Lanoir are aware of that. One last instruction," he added as an afterthought as he retrieved a key from his pack and handed it to Rut-ki, "do not return to your quarters for any reason. That key will open my quarters in the diplomatic section. Hide there until I return. You will even find some servant attire in the room if you do not mind being male for a while."

  "Being male would be an excellent way to disappear," smiled Rut-ki. "I think that is a good idea."

  "I think it would be a crime," grinned Bin-lu, "but it will keep you safe."

  Rut-ki blushed, but Bin-lu did not notice. He had opened the door and was peering into the hallway. He waved Rut-ki out of the room and the two spies split up and left in different directions.

  The false Mu-chen made his way directly to the vault. The guards outside the door straightened as he approached and promptly opened the door without being asked to. Inside the large room of the vault, both guards at the desk stood and bowed with respect when they saw the gold stars. One of the guards rotated the ledger on the desk for the general to sign. Bin-lu scanned the ledger to see if anyone was checked in that had not yet checked out. He smiled as he signed Mu-chen's name to the ledger. Bin-lu took the papers out of his pouch and held them before the guards' eyes only briefly before turning and walking towards the rear of the room.

  The situation at the door to the Special Records room was similar. The guards quickly deferred to the high officer. They barely looked at the papers before opening the door for him.
/>   "We have orders to accompany everyone into the room," declared one of the guards.

  "Are you authorized to view the material in this room?" Mu-chen asked brusquely?

  The two guards looked at each other and shook their heads.

  "We are not authorized," frowned one of the guards, "but our orders are to accompany everyone."

  "If you are not authorized," the officer shook his head, "then you shall not enter the room. Wait outside."

  Bin-lu walked into the room and closed the door. He lit the candle and placed the stolen files back in the proper spots and scanned the shelves for the numbered files. He found the numbered file for Wei-ra first and examined it thoroughly. As he searched for the second numbered file, Bin-lu felt his body starting to perspire. The room was small and stuffy and the spy felt exposed with no safe exit if someone should choose this particular time of day to visit the vault.

  When he found the second file, he noticed it was much thicker than the first. He started scanning quickly, but he felt the sweat building up on his forehead. Bin-lu skipped to the rear of the file and saw that the last paper was torn in half. He read the top half of the paper and then read the four papers preceding it. When he was done with the file, Bin-lu had a fair idea of what Mu-chen was working on, but not the reason he was killed. Still, his time in the vault had to come to an end before his disguise disintegrated.

  Bin-lu replaced the file and extinguished the candle. He opened the door and quickly signed out. He walked briskly around the rows of shelves to the desk near the door. He signed out of the vault and left without further conversation. As he walked along the long corridor, he saw an officer coming towards him. Bin-lu felt a shiver race up his spine when he recognized Wei-ra coming towards him. Bin-lu purposely focused his eyes on Wei-ra's face as the two men approached each other. Wei-ra saluted as they came close, but he immediately averted his eyes when he felt he was being examined. Bin-lu had counted on precisely that reaction.

  As soon as Bin-lu reached the end of the corridor, he sprinted for the stairs. Before he reached the next level of the palace, he heard the shouts from above. The pounding of feet echoed off the stairwell, and Bin-lu dashed away from the stairwell and into the diplomatic section. He quickly made his way to his quarters and pounded on the door. Nobody answered. He could hear shouts in the distance, and he tried to think of a place where he could hide. Suddenly the door opened, and he dashed in, closing the door behind him. Bin-lu sank to the floor with his back against the door and tried to calm himself.

  "I was getting dressed," explained Rut-ki. "Is there trouble?"

  Bin-lu merely held his finger to his lips and Rut-ki nodded. Moments later the muffled sounds of shouting and pounding footsteps echoed down the hallway on the other side of the door. Neither spy spoke until several minutes after the sounds had passed by.

  "What happened?" whispered Rut-ki.

  "Wei-ra decided to visit the vault again," replied Bin-lu. "He was on his way in while I was leaving. He surely saw Mu-chen's name as having just signed out. I have to get rid of this white hair and uniform."

  Rut-ki filled a basin with water from a pitcher while Bin-lu stripped off the uniform. Together they washed the powder from his hair. While Bin-lu dried his hair, Rut-ki removed the stars and insignia from the uniform in case someone came in.

  "What did you discover?" Rut-ki asked as Bin-lu slipped into his spare servant's uniform.

  "Both of them were working on the rebel problem," Bin-lu answered. "Mu-chen was based in Chi-Chan and Wei-ra in Ongchi. Some of Mu-chen's file was destroyed or stolen. I think he stumbled onto something that might embarrass his higher-ups."

  "Embarrassed enough to kill him?" frowned Rut-ki. "That makes no sense unless the higher-ups are aligned with the rebels."

  "That is one possibility," nodded Bin-lu, "but he might just have been able to expose some incompetence. I can well imagine an officer killing someone to maintain his position and honor."

  "Hardly a way to maintain one's honor," retorted Rut-ki. "Were there no clues in the files at all?"

  "Oh, there were clues," replied Bin-lu. "There were many mentions of the Temple of Balmak in Chi-Chan. I suspect some of the rebels must have been using the temple for some reason. Who is Balmak? Have you ever heard of such a god?"

  "He is unknown to me," Rut-ki shook her head, "but there is a temple here in Ongchi, too. I think it used to be the Temple of Thun. I guess there is no need for a god of war anymore."

  "It would not be the first time that rebels have hidden in a temple," shrugged Bin-lu. "I wonder what was stolen from the end of the file?"

  "And who stole it?" added Rut-ki. "There are few people who have access to the Special Records section."

  Bin-lu nodded silently, and the room grew quiet as the two Lanoirians pondered the mystery of Mu-chen's death. After a few minutes, Bin-lu broke the silence by issuing instructions to Rut-ki and then leaving the room. He made his way to his quarters in the junior officers section and dressed in his uniform before going to meet with Wei-ra.

  Wei-ra appeared mentally distracted when Bin-lu arrived, but he ushered the young officer into his quarters anyway. After a few awkward moments, Wei-ra focused on the meeting with Bin-lu and began asking questions about the young man's life. Bin-lu recognized the interrogation for what it was and was thankful that he had based his cover on his personal life. Only the years spent with the Knights of Alcea had been dropped from the story. Everything else was the truth.

  "So you have finally developed into the great fighter that you have always wished to be?" smiled Wei-ra.

  "Not yet," replied Bin-lu. "I have finally begun my journey, but the road is long."

  "I am sure that the road will not be as long as you expect," replied the Intelligence Officer as he focused on Bin-lu's eyes. "Did you know Mu-chen?"

  "Who?" Bin-lu replied without wavering.

  "Mu-chen," repeated Wei-ra. "The officer who died recently in the training room."

  "I did not arrive until after the accident," Bin-lu replied calmly. "I did not know the man."

  "So you did," Wei-ra nodded with acceptance, "yet you seem to have heard about it."

  "I did hear about it," stated Bin-lu. "All of the students talked about it. I guess such an accident is unusual in training."

  Wei-ra smiled and appeared satisfied with the answer. "What do you think of instructor Rut-ki?"

  "She appears to be quite knowledgeable," offered Bin-lu. "I had not expected the instructor to be female, but I feel as if I am already benefiting from her instruction. I am pleased so far."

  "I meant more on a personal level," probed Wei-ra.

  "I do not know her," shrugged Bin-lu. "As I have not come to Ongchi for romance, I am only interested in the level of her training."

  Wei-ra nodded and the room lapsed into silence as the Intelligence Officer appeared to be weighing what he had learned from the interrogation.

  "Can I trust you to keep a secret?" Wei-ra finally asked.

  "Of course," Bin-lu nodded eagerly. "My goal is to serve faithfully."

  Wei-ra smiled. "I am not really an officer in the Transport Section."

  "I had not heard that you were," Bin-lu replied.

  "That is what most believe," stated Wei-ra. "I am truly an Intelligence Officer, and I have been assigned to investigate Rut-ki. I could use your help."

  "Intelligence?" Bin-lu echoed with a tone of awe in his voice. "I will do whatever you want me to."

  "Excellent," smiled Wei-ra. "I want you to watch Rut-ki. You are to consider this a test of your loyalty. If you are successful, I may be able to advance your career."

  "I will be successful," Bin-lu said enthusiastically.

  "You are to be careful," warned Wei-ra. "She is not to know that you are watching her. If you are discovered, I will renounce any knowledge of you. Do you understand?"

  "Perfectly," Bin-lu nodded eagerly. "I will not let you down."

  * * *

  A tear welled up in
Karl Gree’s eye and rolled down his cheek. He hurriedly wiped it away, but there was no rational reason for his action. While he might have been embarrassed to cry in front of his wife, Lyda would not notice. Her eyes stared right through Karl as if he did not exist. He reached out and took her hand in his, but it was like holding the hand of a corpse. Though her flesh was warm in his hand, there was no response to his action, no tightening of her grip, no movement, nothing. He gently placed her hand back on the bed and leaned over her to kiss her goodbye. Her lips were as unresponsive as her hand had been, and Karl fought back the tears. The hunter turned and shuffled out of the room.

  “Don’t give up hope, Karl,” one of the healers said as Karl headed for the exit.

  Karl turned and stared at the man. “Hope? Hope for what? Lyda doesn’t even know that I exist. You already told me that you have done all that you can do. How can you even mention the word hope to me?”

  Karl’s eyes bored into the healer as if he wanted to tear the man apart. The healer meekly lowered his eyes and moved away from the hunter. Karl turned in disgust and stormed out of the building. He strode along the waterfront for a while wondering if life was worth living without his loving wife by his side. His emotions clashed within his mind until he was thoroughly confused. Life, death, love, hate, they all bombarded him at the same time until he could no longer think clearly. Emotionally drained, he stopped and stared into the dark waters of the sea.

  “This is no time to be thinking about a swim, Karl,” a soft voice said from behind him. “Let me buy you an ale.”

  Karl turned and gazed at Sammy. The dockworker had been a close friend of Karl’s when they both served in the Army of the West during the Great War. Sammy did not have a false smile of hope on his face like the healer did. Sammy’s concern was genuine, and it was clear that he was worried about his old friend.

  “I could use the company, and I bet that you could, too,” pressed Sammy. “What do you say?”

  Karl merely nodded. A tavern was not far away, and Sammy led the way slowly. As soon as Sammy opened the door to the tavern, Karl was assaulted by the loud voices and the smell of tobacco. He hesitated. Sammy patted him on the back, and Karl walked into the tavern. Sammy followed him and closed the door. The room was packed with men, but Sammy led Karl to a table and shooed the men there away from it with a nod of his head. They picked up their mugs of ale and moved without comment. Many of the men in the tavern had been in the same group in the army, and they knew Karl, although they had not seen him in three years. They had heard about the attack on Hega, and they knew about his wife’s condition. They were quite happy to let Sammy have the table. Sammy and Karl sat at the table, and the dockworker ordered a pitcher of ale and two mugs. Sammy started talking about the Great War. He wanted to take the hunter’s mind off of his troubles, but Karl didn’t seem to hear the words that came out of Sammy’s mouth. He sat staring into his mug of ale. The conversation in the room died as everyone stared at Karl.