“King Gotthard did not dare to name Prince Heiko within his plea,” explained Bernardo, “for fear of the repercussions.”

“The repercussions…”

Cele could recall with ease the anomalous series of events which, in due course, found their crux at the 91st Battle of Reuzen. Taking the enclave had become something of a holy sport between the royal House Noriega of Ilyos and Clan Achterecht – a point of grand achievement for any member who could accomplish it, or, on the opposing end, keep it.

Vincente’s military exploits alone would have been enough to hoist his name above the others in his bloodline, if not for that holy fucking sport and, to add salt to the wound, it was not just any Achterecht that he needed to defeat to take Reuzen. It was Gotthard the Cunning. The Ghost King.

Proceeding with the utmost of caution, Vincente had planned the mass of his campaign with only himself, Cele, and Bernardo – allowing no other prying eyes the privy. Moreover, when he finally made his intentions known to the rest of the Horned Forum, the preparations were carried out with minimal movement to evade suspicion from the Simonese scouts posted on the Reuzian-Ilysian border.

Vincente’s objective was to force King Gotthard’s hand into a hasty, defensive battle by attacking with an army that outnumbered the limited forces the Simonese king had standing at the ready in the holy enclave. It had to be done in one fell swoop, lest providing the Simonese time to rally reinforcements and ultimately overpower them.

Vincente and Cele both knew that there were many holes in the plan – the largest being Gotthard’s ravenous Simonese spirit – and many sleepless nights awake, plotting one countermeasure after the next in a seemingly preposterous attempt to cork up as many points of weakness as they could. But, in the end, the effort was wasted.

Before Vincente could announce to the gods his intention to take Reuzen – before even a single weapon could be drawn from its scabbard – King Gotthard requested a parley.

It was so out of character that Cele remembered his gut twisting wretchedly, riddled with a sense of impending trouble.

'I will cede to you the Enclave of Reuzen.' Recalling the timbre of the man's voice was as simple to Cele as recalling his own name. 'For it, I will require only one thing in return.'

"He had asked to take a sacred icon from the Afflatus Temple," the commander remembered.

"Wit is a well-crafted blade for those who possess it," Bernardo replied, "but even when it is not drawn, every man who has crossed it will remain wary.” The old man sighed. “Notwithstanding, His Majesty’s choice to decline the offer was astute - the Mute Laws do not condemn the use of deception, and Gotthard the Cunning lived up to his namesake, time and again."

“Why,” Cele demanded, "is this something that I am only now just learning, Bernardo? Victorious or not..." His words trailed, making way for burgeoning thoughts. "Is that why the Viper has such a wretched reputation? Has his malcontent over... our lack of trust in his father embittered him? Surely, he cannot..."

The commander trailed again. Surely, he figured to himself, the prince could. Because both the commander and Vin refused to believe the authenticity of King Gotthard's words – because they both saw him as a machinating, deceptive beast, rather than a man of principle and veracity – the great king needlessly perished. Not for his country, nor his stake in Reuzen soil, nor even the honor of his bloodline. He died for the wellbeing of his child.

"An icon could've been anything." It felt like a plea as it left Cele’s lips, which unsettled the man. Never had regret seized him over a dispute, a battle, a war, and yet now, over something as pride driven as Reuzen, he grasped for justification. "The Afflatus Staff, the Pike of the Revenant – it could've been The Doctrine of the Mute Empyrean, itself."

"Yes." The archivist's response was tender and meant to soothe – something it did not accomplish. "Gotthard understood the risk of his ambiguity, otherwise he would not have chosen it as his sole tactic.”

“A tactic that served him so well,” the commander murmured, unintentionally sardonic.

“You jest,” Bernardo noted, “but his choices transcended him. Irrespective of King Vincente’s decision to decline his term of surrender, what Gotthard set out to do was achieved. He protected his child so well that even I did not uncover the secret until only recently, when I was forced to research something no one would otherwise bother to."

And that something was Second Prince Heiko, the commander figured. He asked, “How did you know to consult the Book of the Illumined?”

"I did not." The old man sighed, lifting his shoulders in a subtle, innocent shrug before gesturing behind him, towards the northeast corner of the chambers. “Over a quarter of our archives are dedicated to Simo. In my attempt to condense the information that would best serve the king during this summit, I surveyed the records of Gotthard’s reign – both of Simo and Reuzen. When I came across the Ingress Ledger of Reuzen, I noticed how frequently he and his two eldest sons visited the enclave, but never Prince Heiko. My curiosity turned to suspicion and one thing led to another, which led to the Book of the Illumined, and to the best kept secret of the Clan Achterecht."

"Their Illumined Muse," the commander exhaled, before looking up to the archivist. "The Mute Laws may forbid actions of vengeance, Bernardo, but not even the gods can forbid the resentment that we are sure to have planted in his heart."

The old man only hummed.

"This entire situation we find ourselves in…" Cele trailed. It had to be tended to quickly and with great care. There was no telling the wiles an Achterecht was capable of – especially one with little to lose. “Then it is likely no mistake that King Ingo has released a viper into the chamber of the Horned Forum.”

“They claim to seek accord. I do not dare to tell a legate how to govern,” the archivist began, surveying the commander’s expression with caution, “but an overabundance of caution is what brought us to this point, Celestino. Perhaps a bit of calculated risk can work in your favor, now.”

⚔