Castle & Conceit Read online

  Cassius heard the call of one of the troops from downstairs, asking: “Are you still with us, Cassius?”

  Cassius left the room and went down the stairs to them, and said: “Patience, soldier. This is of interest to his imperial majesty, and will take some time. We cannot return without that which the Emperor would want. We cannot serve him with less than our full ability, and so you must have patience.”

  Cassius then went back up the stone staircase and returned to the room in which he was searching. He resumed his search and found that, behind some of the books, there was a small opening in the wall. He believed that was the way he had seen revealed by the demon in the swamp. Cassius cleared the other books nearby from the shelves, revealing that the small opening was, in truth a large opening. It appeared to be an actual break in the wall rather than an ordinary doorway. A hallway could be seen behind it. He moved more books and saw that the bookcase shelves had been damaged and could be removed by pushing on the weakest parts, which snapped off. Some books fell to the ground, but now there was an opening that he could fit through.

  Cassius went through the opening in the wall and walked down the exposed hallway on the other side, where he found another door, and this one was locked and covered with a series of pentagonal tiles with patterns of grooves engraved into them. The tiles were on the ends of rods and he was able to turn them, at least part way, if not all the way around. After being turned, some of the tiles at the left edge of the door lined up with beams of light shining from a set of five (5) crystals embedded in the stone on the left edge of the archway. When he turned more of the tiles, the light beams seemed to follow the path of grooves in the tiles. He rotated more of the tiles, until the light beams reached the right side of the archway, where another series of five (5) crystals were located, but which did not shine any light. Some of the tiles, when turned, caused other tiles to turn and break the paths they had formed. This was yet another puzzle.

  Cassius drank anew of the waters of the Medathero Ocean from his vial and his mind was energized yet again. He then made numerous calculations about which certain tiles had to be turned first, and then others turned second, and which turned third, and so on, until all five (5) crystals on the left shone their beams through pathways of grooves in the tiles, until they reached crystals on the right side. At this, the door itself opened upward, into a pocket above the archway.

  He entered the room and saw fifteen (15) ornately framed portraits hanging on the wall. In each one, there was a depiction of a nobleman kneeling before the throne of a different king, most of whom Cassius recognized. The nobleman was receiving a gift from each one of the kings. The first thirteen (13) of the portraits depicted him receiving water vials, with classical markings on them indicating which of the waters it contained, including the Dead Waters, which give no powers to the drinker. The fourteenth (14th) portrait depicted the nobleman receiving a book. The fifteenth (15th) portrait depicted him receiving a sword. There were title markings on each one of these portraits that identified the kneeling man as the legendary and greatest architect of castles, Duke Hagan, who died, according to Cassius’ reading of the markings and his knowledge of history of some of those kings, some twelve (12) millennia ago.

  In the center of the room there was a large, canopied bed, and lying on the bed was a skeleton dressed in the same clothing as the nobleman kneeling in each of the portraits: it was almost certainly the remains of Duke Hagan, and this was almost certainly his castle. Next to the bed was a table with a game board – which was an arrangement of twelve (12) squares by twelve (12) squares – and on which stood the pieces representing the troops and treasuries of two opposing armies.

  Cassius recognized that the pieces and their arrangement on the game board was that of the War of the Treasury, which was an ancient game that first appeared around one hundred thirty (130) millennia ago. Supposedly, it had been designed for training youth to be great generals, and to capture their opponent’s kingdom’s wealth. No moves in the game had been made on this board, however. Even the seven (7) diamonds for each opposing army – which were to be secretly hidden on the treasurer pieces at the start of the game – were not yet placed. Instead, all fourteen (14) diamonds were resting on the center of the board. The goal of the game was to be the first to capture four (4) of the seven (7) diamonds by capturing the opponents’ treasurer pieces that secretly held them. Since there were ten (10) such pieces per side, and it was legal to hide as many as two (2) diamonds on any given treasurer, that meant that at least three (3) of those treasurer pieces served as decoys. The rules of the game gave the other pieces – such as the towers, tunnelers, archers, generals, paladins and more – various powers to attack each other and the treasurers. Yet, some of the most complex strategies of the game revolved around how to allocate the diamonds to the treasurers and bluff the opponent by moving them into or out of danger. Cassius occasionally played, and was able to outmaneuver many amateur players. However, he was by no means an intermediate level player, much less a master, and didn’t consider mastery worth the effort. Drinking the waters of the Medathero Ocean did help with the analysis of possible moves, but there were far more profitable ventures in life.

  While Duke Hagan was most definitely known to be a brilliant architect, and a drinker of the waters of the Medathero Ocean to give him such great intelligence – at least it was believed by some that he was a drinker of those waters, though even that was not certain – the duke was no warrior or general. Thus, it was unclear why this game of war was here, other than as a symbol of status or as a decorative work of art.

  The skeleton was holding both a book and a sword in its crossed arms. Cassius surmised that the book may just have been the one depicted in the fourteenth (14th) portrait, and the sword may have been the one shown in the fifteenth (15th) portrait. He moved the skeleton’s arms to take the book, and just then a blazing blue sword fell from the ceiling and passed quickly by his eyes, but he did not feel the sword hit him, nor did he see it hit the ground and he did not know where it landed after falling. Cassius decided that it was merely a way of frightening an intruder – some sort of illusion – as he avoided it too easily. However, a ray of darkness – not merely the absence of light, but an intense darkness like that which the dark scouts themselves used – suddenly shone upon the skeleton, and a spirit rose from it: the spirit of Duke Hagan.

  The spirit was attired like the man in all the pictures, having an appearance of vitality, despite its translucence, and then the spirit spoke to him, saying: “Awaken the dead only if you wish to join them in death.”

  Cassius knew much of the world of the dead and the spirits, and even of many intricate details and defenses against them, and so he was not frightened and would not be deterred. He picked up the book from the skeleton’s crossed arms, but then Duke Hagan’s spirit spoke again, saying: “To gain the knowledge of death is to lose the knowledge of life.”

  This was obviously a warning, or a threat. But Cassius began walking away with the book in hand.

  As Cassius left the room, the spirit of Duke Hagan spoke yet again, saying: “The Author of Deception thirsts for the ruin of souls. Though the book of castles gives the wisdom of the builder, the wrath of the destroyer shall tear down the corrupt. Read his books of death and deceit and you shall write your own eternal condemnation. Torment awaits the betrayers in the Maelstrom of Vengeance.” The spirit of Duke Hagan then vanished.

  Cassius opened the book and began to read through its first few pages. The language was ancient – it was that of alchemists from many millennia ago, perhaps many tens of millennia ago – and it was a language with which he was very familiar due to his studies. The book had symbols which depicted crystals reflecting the light of many suns, and the crystals were arrayed in geometric patterns that were clearly designed by a mathematical genius, with a mind at least equal to, or even greater than, that of Duke Hagan himself. There were drawings of castles forming out of what seemed like air and water. This
was his prize, whose location had been revealed by the demonic spirit in the swamp during the ritual.

  Cassius took the book and placed it in a small satchel he carried, and then closed the door behind him. He then changed the pentagonal tiles back to a locked position, so as to prevent entrance by a less capable mind. After this, he walked through the hallway and back through the broken wall, leading into the small library room with many bookcases which he had broken through. He searched among the tomes in the room and found a book of maps of various islands and another book containing the names of various kings, which he could quickly verify had no recent claim of ownership of this castle or land. The land was clearly the property of Duke Hagan in the past – inferred based upon his presence here – but it seemed to have no owner in the present. However, regarding the fact that the deceased Duke was in this location, Cassius would keep that a secret, not wishing to reveal what he had found, as there may be more to discover here on some future visit. Cassius did not want anyone else to take something that would be of value to him later. Duke Hagan’s resting place had long been sought, and Cassius’ knowledge of it could likely purchase a future advantage, hopefully exclusively for him.

  The cursory research that Cassius did into the kings and maps was not comprehensive or scholarly in the limited time that he had, and the books had only the weakest logical connection, proving nothing about the history of this place or of its owners: absence of proof of ownership is not proof of its absence. Cassius’ logical mind – greatly enhanced by drinking the waters of the Medathero Ocean – knew this very well. However, he reasoned that he could use his already overlong delay and these two books to argue to an untrained mind how his research was sufficient and that the castle itself was thoroughly proven to be unowned. Since there was no record of ownership of this castle between the book naming the kings and the book containing the maps, he believed that he could convince anyone who might make a competing claim of ownership at some point in the future.

  Cassius held these books under one arm and then made his way back down the stone staircase to the troops. He then said to them: “I have found what his imperial majesty seeks. We shall return home at once.”

  Cassius, along with the two hundred fifty (250) troops, left the castle and walked back down the path that wound around the rocky formation. For this part of the trek, they were guided by the light scouts among them, who once again drank the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from their vials, energizing their powers to generate light and penetrate the dark mist along the path. After this, they found their way back to the icy path. The dark scouts led them for the remainder of the way, drinking anew of the waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean from their vials to energize their powers of darkness, thus refreezing the water in the cold darkness to provide sufficient strength for a safe return trip. Another one of the dark scouts was continually refreezing the ice wall to hold back the magma flow, until all were safely past it.

  When they returned to the ship, Cassius took Octavian aside, in the privacy of a cabin, and said: “I now have that which we have come to find. I have the books of record, proving that this mountain, and the castle within it, were both abandoned over twelve thousand (12000) years ago, and have no present rightful owner. Into your father’s empire this mountain, its castle, and all of its treasures, shall enter.”

  Octavian was satisfied with Cassius’ findings, thinking that, if it would enrich his father, then it would enrich him through inheritance when the Emperor died. Octavian then went back out on deck and ordered the captain to resume the voyage home. The course was set and all four (4) ships began sailing west across the waters of the Trerada Ocean toward the continent of Ihalik.

  Along the way, Octavian continued to stare into the crystal he held, seeing his own reflecting and delighting in it.

  “You are greatly pleased with your new appearance, I see,” Cassius said.

  “I will be held in high regard, Cassius. There will be no more shame or rejection or disgust…only respect, and reverence for my authority,” Octavian said.

  CHAPTER 6: Empire of Vanity

  When they arrived in Ihalik and entered the palace, they were greeted by Octavian’s brother, the Imperial Prince Leonides, who was surrounded by hundreds of guards, and hundreds of persons dressed in black. Leonides looked at Octavian and appeared startled at his handsome appearance.

  “Who is this before me?” Leonides asked. “By those who accompany you and your manner of dress, I would think you to be an Imperial Prince. Yet, I do not recognize you,” he continued.

  “It is I, your brother, Octavian. I have been restored by the powers of the waters of the Trerada Ocean,” Octavian said.

  Captain Julius, who had witnessed the change, spoke up and said: “It is true; I and my troops have witnessed this. This is your brother, the Imperial Prince Octavian.”

  Leonides then said: “Very well, then. I accept you as my brother, only much more pleasant on the eyes, and more appropriate in appearance for your new standing. Our father, the Emperor Brennius, has died while you were absent. It was his written will, never before known to me, that his empire should be divided evenly between us. This is instead of the decree which he had spoken, whereby the empire would be given in totality to me, with you serving as my advisor. However, his written will is that which must be executed, according to the law under which Emperor Brennius himself first came to power succeeding his own father. The empire’s northern portions shall be mine, ruled by me and my advisors, and its southern portions shall be yours, ruled by you and your advisors. You are to leave at once and take residence in the southern palace.”

  At this, Octavian and Cassius turned around, accompanied by the same troops with whom they arrived, and began to make their way to the Octavian’s new home. He marveled at this turn of events. “It is my time to rule,” he thought. Now, at the age of thirty (30), he had his own empire, albeit only of the southern half of that empire which his father had once ruled.

  Cassius, Octavian and Captain Julius boarded the same ships again and sailed around to the southern coast of the continent of Ihalik, taking up residence in a palace which was nearly identical to the palace in the north, being every bit as opulent. There were additional companies of troops and guards assigned to Octavian, and Cassius was made his chief advisor. Captain Julius continued to serve as captain of the guards for a time, as well.

  During these years of Octavian’s reign, Cassius studied the book of castles that he had taken from Duke Hagan’s skeleton. He consulted with other, lower-ranking advisors for powers outside of his own. There was Gregory – a drinker of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean – who thereby had the power to bend light and understood its logic and law. There was Nikolai – a drinker of the waters of the Kazofen Ocean – who could thereby manipulate diamonds and rubies and other crystals. Cassius frequently drank anew of the waters of the Medathero Ocean from his own vial to energize and enhance his mind, so as to penetrate the complex logic contained within of the book of castles. Assisted by Gregory and Nikolai, Cassius was able to experiment with the knowledge that he had gleaned from the book. Together, they built the castle constructor, a fantastic machine which could bend light through carefully shaped crystals and transform the elements of the world into castles of their own design.

  Day after day, year after year, the trio of advisors improved their understanding of the book and its concepts, discovering the limits of light, crystal and logic. The first structures they built with their constructor were formed incorrectly, or fell apart quickly. Others required so many crystals to build castles of a small size that it would be unaffordable to scale up their method to build a castle large enough to be of any real use.

  Over time, they improved the castle constructor so that it could be used for building larger and larger castles, more quickly and accurately, and requiring fewer crystals. Yet, they had to work in secret, unbeknownst to Octavian, and they had to avoid the spies that were sent by Imperial Prince Leonides from the northern
empire, who did not trust his brother, Imperial Prince Octavian.

  During this time, Imperial Prince Octavian continued to stare into the finest crystals of his empire, admiring the beauty of his own reflection, delighted with himself at all times. His thirty (30) years of having the “face of death” left him insatiably hungry for his new, handsome face. Young maidens noticed him, yet he rarely noticed them. He only had eyes for himself. The spies of Leonides saw all of Octavian’s behavior and reported back to him and his advisors.

  Octavian’s appearance was fantastically handsome, and when a lightkeeper crystal bearing his new appearance found its way to the villages and towns in his empire, women young and old felt desire for him, and many joined his military in hopes of rising in rank and nearing his throne. Many approached him with flirtatious smiles and made double efforts in their duties so as to impress him and win his favor, but none impressed him for long. Some fortunate woman would appear to get close, and then he would lose interest in her. Later, another woman would approach and be interesting to him for a short while, and then he would lose interest in that one as well. He never married any of them, and never begat any offspring. He came tantalizingly close to having physical relations with several women, but his desire waned at the crucial moment, thinking the women to be entirely unworthy vessels to hold his exquisitely handsome flesh. Octavian truly had eyes only for himself.

  An attractive witch named Fallavakara, who was a drinker of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean – the waters of which connected her to the spirit world – heard of Octavian’s legendary handsomeness. She also saw the lightkeeper crystal that was passed around villages bearing his image. Her womanly desire was aroused at the sight, and, knowing that he was an Imperial Prince, she thought herself capable of luring him with her own beauty. She approached his palace and when the guards saw her, they thought her to be royal and allowed her entrance. In truth, her powers of spirit – given by drinking the waters of the Zovvin Ocean – created an aura about her, and its power was such that the guards were inspired to trust her.