Chương 109: False Memories

The next morning started the same as the rest. We began our physical conditioning, helped set up the jousting grounds (now, our task was to flatten areas for tents, removing grass and large rocks), and watched for any new arrivals. A few more tents had appeared near the castle wall, but they had no livery, and I couldn't tell who they belonged to. Then, just before noon, they arrived. I didn't see them ride in, but a trio of Subtle Men, including Frythlid, approached our training group, riding on horses.

"Levi," Frythlid said. I winced, then turned to face her.

"Yes?" I resisted the urge to say 'yes, ma'am,' remembering what 'ma'am' actually meant here.

"Come with us."

"Again?" Owl muttered.

"What did he do this time?"

"He is wanted for questioning," one of the Subtle Men snapped.

"None are guilty until their memories are read."

"I'm coming," I said, holding up my hands to show a sign of willingness. Sure, my heart was racing, but whose wouldn't be? There was no way they could interpret it as a sign of my guilt. They trotted away, following Frythlid, and she brought me to the castle, into the keep, then to Lord Ceonwin's office. As we walked, I refreshed my false memory, imagining the events as Lord Ceonwin had advised me. Our story had to be airtight. When we arrived at the office, I sat down.

They didn't bother restraining me, nor did they push me down, which had to be a good sign. Not wanting to be a bother, I sat willingly.

"Is something wrong?" Lord Ceonwin asked.

"We need to question him," Frythlid demanded.

"This is regarding his most recent mission. We will keep it quick, as I'm sure he would love to return to his business." I dipped my head.

"Your concern is appreciated." Quickly, I locked eyes with Lord Ceonwin. He didn't give me any signal, but the air was rippling around his body. He was using some sort of Art—as promised, he was masking for me.

"What did you see when you encountered the messenger?" Frythlid demanded abruptly, marching around the back of the table, her cloak flowing behind her.

"Who did you save him from?" I explained the false memory, while at the same time, directing my Focus to it. Since Lord Ceonwin was using his Art, I took the opportunity to also trigger mine—this time, I targeted a point at least a hundred feet off the ground, so the gravity wouldn't affect it. It helped concentrate the Focus. Frythlid and the Subtle Men stared at me the whole time, their eyes accusing and their expressions promising violence, but as I explained, they softened. My memories held up.

But I didn't let myself get cocky. Finally, Frythlid said, "Interesting." Of course she did.

"Lord Ceonwin," she said.

"Do you believe your man?" Ceonwin turned toward her, took a puff of his pipe, then said, "Hm? Yes, indeed, I do believe Levi. He's good at heart. And he told me almost the exact same story." I hadn't, but Ceonwin's technique for hiding his memories would've worked for himself, too. Frythlid and the Subtle Men gazed at him, assessing him. Again, she muttered, "Interesting." I couldn't let my curiosity show.

Yeah, I wanted to know what she was seeing, but at the same time, if I did, I might not mask the memory properly if I lost focus. I simply willed the Subtle Men to leave.

"Do we scare you, soldier?" Frythlid asked, turning toward me.

"Unnerved, more like," I replied.

"Good." I forced myself not to swallow, then met her gaze. I stayed quiet. The less I spoke, the easier this would be.

"Everything we do, we do in service of the greater good," she said.

"The Warlord cares, and he wishes the best for his subjects. If you're doing everything right, you will never see a single Subtle Man in your life. There is nothing to fear." This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Maybe," I said, staying vague. If I agreed outright, then there was a chance they'd detect that I was lying.

"Leave us," she said, motioning to the other Subtle Men.

"We're done our interrogation for now. This is between Levi, Lord Ceonwin, and I." The two other Subtle Men bowed their heads, then stepped out the door and shut it behind them. I waited until their footsteps faded. If they were waiting for me to say something incriminating when I thought it was safe, though, I wouldn't. Frythlid said, "What is it you find so objectionable about us? Ours is a noble task, and we have served this nation far longer than you have." I shrugged.

"Is it the masks?"

"Do not get smart with me, Duplicate," Frythlid snapped.

"I wasn't being smart. Your masks seem specifically designed to be scary and intimidating. If you want to be my friend, I'd suggest losing the masks."

"We're not your friend. We're here to maintain peace and order, and do the dirty work needed to make sure the good is protected. What is objectionable about that?" I shrugged again, not wanting to paint a target on my back, not wanting to commit to an answer.

"I know you have your opinions on the matter. Hiding them from me is just as terrible as speaking them."

"What if your guys' definition of 'right' is objectionable?" I asked. I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms, then glanced at Lord Ceonwin. If things went poorly, he was at least here—a Gold to help me against Frythlid, who was also a Gold. But something told me this was about her pride, not an interrogation. She narrowed her eyes, watching Lord Ceonwin. Her gaze had a touch of familiarity, like she knew how Ceonwin would react, and he knew how she would react in turn.

After a few seconds, she said, "Good men need the power to do good things."

"And evil men like to call themselves good men," Lord Ceonwin countered for me, taking the heat off my back.

"Sometimes, good men fail to see they're becoming bad men. What gives a man the right to tell a man what he can and cannot speak? Or think? The Great Charter of Gate certainly disagrees with you."

"Some words can cause evil." Frythlid scowled.

"I can't protect you like I used to, Frythlid," Ceonwin said, stepping forward and circling around the side of the desk.

"They will say the same about you in time, and when they come for you, I cannot protect you. Maybe not today, maybe not in a year, but you will say or think something they don't like, and the tyrants will come for you."

"The Warlord is a good man," she said with certainty.

"I do not dispute his good intentions," Lord Ceonwin said.

"But the Dark Lord feeds on those who would do evil in the name of the light."

"You walk a dangerous line, Lord Ceonwin."

"We shall see. The joust will decide everything." I glanced back and forth between the two of them. They stared for a few seconds, before finally, Frythlid spun away, her cloak snapping behind her.

"Without a doubt, I shall see your two around," she said, then left the office. I waited in silence, unwilling to speak until Lord Ceonwin indicated it was safe. Once I couldn't hear Frythlid's footsteps any longer, and the swishing of her cloak faded, Ceonwin finally said, "Fools to the last."

"Sir…was it the best idea to antagonize her like that?" I whispered.

"If it had been you? No, Levi, that would not have been a good idea. She would have used it against you, no doubt. Subtle Men are authorized to kill Dupes at will, without a second thought. You did well, keeping your answers as vague as you could. But me? I am a lord. They will need something more than petty offence to kill me openly—at the moment. The way things are going, that may not always be the case." I sighed.

"They've already tried to kill you, sir."

"They failed to frame me for a crime, and now, I have the protections of the joust. Were Frythlid to arrest or execute me now, it would look terrible. Like they were afraid of me, and how successful I would be."

"You think they care about how it looks? I mean, I've seen their fashion choices."

"For now, they still need the average man on their side. Farmers, potion brewers, hunters, smiths." He shook his head and scowled.

"The Warlord wants to be loved. He wants to rule. He can't rule over a barren wasteland."

"He seemed perfectly willing to let the southern front fall."

"To scare people. To make those he ruled over give him more power." I nodded.

"How well do you know Frythlid? We've been outsmarted—when they sent us off to the messenger. You think she can't outsmart us again?"

"I am keeping my eyes out, Levi. But I know her well enough. Her pride will always take the reins."

"I figured that, too, I guess."

"She doesn't hide it well." Lord Ceonwin circled around the side of the table and patted me on the shoulder.

"You did well resisting her. But now, you must keep training. Keep working on your mental resistance, because this is not the last time you will need it. The Subtle Men think some thoughts can be crimes." He scowled.

"These are the tools of the Dark Lord for a reason." I stood up.

"The Dark Lord?"

"He has the power to see into people's minds as well. Any who stand before him have their minds pierced," Lord Ceonwin said.

"Make no mistake, Levi. The Arts of the Subtle Men come directly from the Dark Lord."

"Has he infiltrated Gate?"

"That is yet to be seen. But until you become stronger, and until you make yourself truly indispensable, you must watch your back. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Now, get back to training. Your success in these matters has been noted, and I will greatly increase your Presence income for the next four weeks—consider it a reward for saving my life yet again."

"Thank you, sir."