Shadow of a Shadow

As night fell upon the Kingdom of Mithambe, not all of its denizens were retiring to their homes, although it was advised to be the prudent choice. Constabulary officers were gearing up for their shift changes - patrolling the night and keeping undesirable louts under control, while the Evernight Market's prostitutes were preparing to ascend to the overworld streets, selling their bodies for precious orb and coinage to pay their rents and sustain their existences for yet another day. Even as shops closed up for the night, other establishments in the form of bars and pubs flipped their signage to open, greeting those who embraced the night life with relish and familiarity.

The same was happening inside of Castle Manhesto, with many of the lords and ladies of the 9th Royal Court retiring for the night - some staying in the guest rooms of the castle grounds, while others were already tidying up their business and preparing for late night trips back to the seats of their power throughout the Kingdom. Even as the moon crawled up the sky and the sun dropped below the horizon, the kitchens and eateries of the castle remained busy, with cooks and menials ensuring that their fellow staff and the courtiers were sufficiently fed. The Royal Knights patrolled the castle grounds, while the Talons remained in the shadows, maintaining watchful eyes where the Knights' could not see.

Even in the highest echelons of power, sleep and rest did not come often - especially when the kingdom was gearing up for war against an unknown adversary. Even as he kissed his wife goodnight, Jacob remained seated at the desk of his study - dozens of books regarding military strategy, the history of the Louthian continent, and even the holy books of lesser and extinct deities - nothing was considered too simple for the Invisible King, the one who needed to know in order to properly lead his people through the coming storm. Sighing, he took a swig from his glass mug, allowing warm tea to wash down his throat and keep it moist, before setting the cup down, and turning around in his chair, eyes igniting with violet hue. "You are late," he irritably gritted through his teeth.

"Unlike your other staff, I could not necessarily come in through the front door, Majesty," was the clipped answer of the "uninvited" guest that was interrupting Jacob's study. "You may need to have your Talons re-trained, given I was able to elude even their enhanced senses just by trailing their footsteps," they sneered, even as they removed their hood to allow Jacob to see their face.

"... your criticism is noted, and I will have their training rectified to prevent such obvious breaches in security from being exploited in the future," Jacob replied, before his eyes hardened once more. "But both you and I know that we are not here for small talk and trading quips. What are you truly here for, Arthur?" Jacob finally turned the chair around to properly face his unannounced guest, giving them his full attention. It was the least he could spare for his former brother-in-law, even if his brother-in-law was indeed a deserter and oathbreaker.

"Always one to not dance around the touchy subject. Very much like Hector," Arthur noted, his voice tinged with sadness borne out of a beloved memory. "Nevertheless, while your politicians and nobles have been bickering on a course of action, I have obviously sought out to do the same - even risking the wrath of Anais to get the answers I seek. The answers that you seek as well, if your messy study is of any indication," he pointed out, though the sarcastic and vitriol-laced sneer was now absent. "And I came back with some newly found... gifts, I'll call them."

Jacob already knew this, having felt his approach from miles away. "Indeed you have. I can practically feel your new Authority rolling off of you - its youth and potency a refreshing breeze in a world bereft of wonder," Jacob admitted. "However, you are still a deserter and oathbreaker, Arthur. Even with Anais' blessing, and even with your relationship as being my brother-in-law, you cannot return to civilization without being branded as such and being arrested for discarding your former oaths, despite Anais providing His blessing. So the question stands - why are you risking so much to be here, especially in my own study - where my Talons will not hesitate to murder you should they see you here right now?"

The concern that Jacob held for him softened Arthur's heart - the rumors that the Invisible King was indeed heartless were proven to just be baseless accusations, perhaps planted by the propagandists of their common enemy. "I followed the trail of those who attacked us, brother. Like a hellbent bloodhound, I trailed them and found out who they were, and more importantly, why they chose to attack us." He gestured over to a nearby chair, to which Jacob nodded, allowing him to sit. "I would recommend warding the study - what I bear is not pleasant news, and I worry that even your own staff have been infiltrated. Most likely none of your Talons, and definitely none of your retinue or your wife or even dearest Kaylee - but I cannot say the same for your courtiers and clericals." He finished this, even as he felt the sharp tips of fan blades threatening to pierce his nape and sever his head from his shoulders. "Are you here to silence me because I escaped even your eyes, Miss Belfour?"

"How dare you waltz in here and threaten my King, you worthless piece of-" Rachel was just about to perform her execution, but stayed her hand as Jacob waved her off. The instruction was obeyed, though she was left confused: in front of her was a clear traitor, and he was armed to the teeth - but yet her beloved Jacob entertained the man. "My lord?" she asked, uncertainty evident in her voice.

"Rachel, please set up a ward enclosure - triple line, double-stack, one-way out - and gather the other three, as well as Iris and Kaylee. Take my Feathers if you must, but ensure your movements are discreet - use my Etherspace corridors if you must. Move with haste, my Talon," Jacob instructed her, giving her no time to process what was happening. As dirty as it felt to manipulate her, Jacob knew that she would do anything so long as he said it, and knew deep down that her loyalty was absolute, even to risk death and dishonor by her own family in his service. Sealing his command with a smile, he nodded as Rachel returned an affirmative nod, and quickly set to her feet, performing his instructions without pause. As she left to gather the ones he had instructed, he poured himself a new cup of dried berries tea, and offered a cup to Arthur, who took the glass and expressed his gratitude.

As Julian was the last to set foot within the ward boundary, Rachel sealed it from the inside, closing them off from inside world. Iris and Kaylee sat beside Jacob on both of his sides, with Kaylee greeting her uncle with an excited smile, while Iris laid her head on Jacob's lap, smiling as her husband combed her hair with his fingers. Julian and Zoey took up positions behind Jacob, while Jason and Rachel stood in front, as the true core of the Royal Court was now assembled before Arthur. "Say what you need to say, brother," Jacob allowed, as he awaited the news of Arthur's discoveries.

"As you will, my King," Arthur stated, before standing up and pulling out several scrolls. Zoey nodded, feeling faint ether and nothing indicating a trap. Arthur then unfurled the first scroll, revealing a large map of all of Louthia, with several crosshairs stamped over it. "This was recovered from the insurgents' handler, once I managed to track them down to the Thaxtedian Strait, before they hopped onto a boat westbound for the Thaxtedian free territory. The cell that murdered our family," he stated, looking at Jacob and Kaylee the entire time, "was not acting independently - it was merely the most front-acting cell of a larger conspiracy - nay - hidden state."

Julian's eyes went wide at the exact wording of Arthur - there were rumors of a hidden state that formed centuries past, but none of them could be confirmed until now, with a piece of intelligence in their hands. "You don't mean..."

"Lord Anais confirmed it Himself," Arthur affirmed, with both Rachel and Julian's eyes going wide at the implication. Jacob's visage remained steady, his face otherwise expressionless as Arthur continued his explanation. "The Louthian Empire of Ernest's days did not die, but have instead gone underground, taking the time to regrow itself and gather its strength." Arthur allowed his pale blue eyes, trickling the essences of his newly-appointed Authority, to gaze over the group, and all the adults of the group met his gazein return. "The Louthian Empire lives on as the Neo-Louthian Movement, and their goal is to reinstate the so-called 'glory' of their long-dead Empire. And they have already started by seeking to eliminate the Authority lineage that spelt the original Empire's doom - the Mitfield House, and all affiliated with them."

With his proclamation, all looked at Jacob, who kept his gaze level with Arthur. To the Invisible King, the situation has just upgraded itself from an isolated incident, to now one that threatens the stability of Vinesia as a whole - but now he could put a name and a face to the group that was brazen enough to attack the Kingdom's core. With a target for his vengeance, now he could begin properly strategizing and mobilizing, instead of wasting precious time trying to hunt the figments of history's ghosts. "What else do you know about this Movement, Arthur?" Jacob's eyes closed and opened once more, his normally hazel irises now alight in an amethyst glow, as his Authority began to be gathered around him.

"What I do know is that they have cells and syndicates all through Vinesia, but are beginning to consolidate in the Thaxtedian Plains, where the Monarchy of Cleolinia's hold over the area is tenuous at best, and non-existent at worst. They are moving to destabilize the area in order to properly conceal the tracks, as well as to provide a staging point for assaults on the Kingdom of Saini," Arthur began, unfurling another scroll with invocation formulae and chemical formulations - the exact wording immediately caught Zoey's eyes, who pointed out the areas of greatest concern on the parchment revealed before her.

"Mavirsil... that is a powerful mana antagonist, and one that is outright banned for production because of its potency and lethality. Are you suggesting that they are going to engage in chemical warfare?" Zoey asked the former Knight, with Julian also studying the parchment and making his own notes. Jason's eyes narrowed with silent concern, while Rachel studied the parchment for anything else out of the ordinary. Iris paid attention to Arthur and Jacob, while Kaylee rested her head on Jacob's shoulder.

"Produced in tonne amounts, and delivery options via drone and Etherspace translation strikes," Arthur answered, with everyone's expression at the table going grim. "That is the opening barrage, targeted particularly against the sprites and elves of Saini, and clearing a way through the former Withambian territories for Neo-Louthian agents and assets to directly strike at Mithambe through the Swanzionzan flank. In such amounts, I would imagine their chemical weapons would also significantly damage or destroy the Forest of Dasev."

"How much time do we have before the commencement of their operations?" asked Jacob, who could no longer remain still and contemplative; not when the fate of hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of innocent lives now hung in the balance. "How new is this information, and if we act on it, will we be able to perhaps catch them off-guard, and at the very least, maneuver them into a conflict that can be managed on my terms?"

"These documents were retrieved the other night, after a few mercenaries affiliated with me captured Neo-Louthian sympathizers attempting to sneak back into Mithambe along the Fiverby highway," Arthur replied. "You have about two weeks, as Neo-Louthian assets will be transporting cargo, men, and materiel from their cells and safehouses in Sherlandic Territory through the former Extedgian wildlands into the Thaxtedian territory."

With the time now set in Jacob's mind, he stood up, and his retainers looked to him. "Then we cannot waste what time has been given to us." Looking to his brother-in-law, he nodded once. "Arthur Tomas Wisteria, by the Authority invested in me by Amarise and Anais, I hereby clear any accusations leveled against you, and clear you of any charges of desertion or disloyalty." As words were spoken, the rondel on Arthur's belt was slowly changed to a pearly white, as Jacob's Authority altered the ethereal-sensitive enamels on it, establishing a new order and rank. "I hereby commission you, with the Retainers of the 9th Court as my witnesses, as my special operative with respect to curtailing the curs known as the Neo-Louthian Movement. Do you accept this commision?"

"I accept your commission, and express my gratitude for your mercy, my Lord," Arthur replied, bending one knee before Jacob. It was clear that Hector's influence on Jacob persisted, and Arthur was happy to be back with the family that he easily adopted as one of his own.

"Rise up, my Knight," Jacob commanded, and the Retainers nodded towards a now-exonerated and a newly commissioned Arthur. "Jason, take Arthur to the armory via Etherspace corridors, and ensure he is sufficiently equipped for the tasks at hand. His mercenaries and sellswords may require additional armaments as well, I'd imagine." Jacob reached out and patted Arthur on the shoulder, smiling at his safely returned brother-in-law, before nodding to Rachel for her to dismiss the wards. "Let us meet in the morning, and gather the Royal Court - we may need to do some cleaning of house."