The Imperial System: Architect of an Empire

The dead man did not move again.

That should have been reassuring.

It was not.

Senn lay in the middle of the eastern road with his back twisted at an angle no living man could have survived. The blood on his sleeve had already dried. His eyes remained open, fixed on nothing above him.

No one crossed the distance between the barricade and the corpse.

Sir Darius Valen stood several steps ahead of Kael, sword lowered but ready.

Grom Ironfang had his spear leveled toward the trees where the black-purple vapor had disappeared.

Iris Hollow ignored both of them.

She studied the road.

Kael watched her move from one footprint to the next, never stepping directly into the trail.

Corvin Lask remained behind Leon Ashford and Julian Valcrest. His injured leg had been rebound during the return journey, but the sight of Senn had taken whatever color remained in his face.

Kael looked at him.

You are certain?

Corvin swallowed.

That’s Senn.

When did you last see him alive?

At the ruin.

Before we ran.

Did he leave before you?

Corvin’s eyes shifted toward the corpse.

I thought he did.

That answer caught Darius’s attention.

Thought?

The surveyor pressed one hand against his wounded leg.

It was dark. People were screaming. Jorek hit the wall. Something went through the chamber and the lantern died. I heard Senn shouting behind me, then ahead of me.

Victor Ravenshade frowned.

Ahead and behind?

Corvin nodded.

I thought it was the echo.

Darius turned his head slightly.

Iris.

She was already working.

One trail approached the road.

One trail leaves the body.

Kael looked toward the corpse.

Leaves how?

Iris pointed into the forest.

That way.

Victor stared.

The smoke didn’t have feet.

No.

Iris moved farther from the road.

But something does now.

That ended the conversation.

Darius sheathed his sword.

The motion surprised several soldiers.

Kael knew better than to assume it meant the danger had passed.

Orders came immediately.

Leon, take Corvin to the manor. Julian goes with you.

Leon nodded.

Yes, Sir.

Corvin looked alarmed.

Wait. I can help.

Darius looked at him.

You can barely stand.

I know the ruin.

You know enough to answer questions later.

Darius turned.

Captain Roland.

Roland stepped forward from the barricade.

Sir Darius.

Double the eastern road watch. Nobody travels alone until further notice. Merchants wait at the settlement until cleared.

Yes, Sir.

Osric.

The retired border captain approached with his roster tucked beneath one arm.

My lord. Sir Darius.

Darius pointed toward the central settlement.

How quickly can you account for every Black Dragon patrol?

Osric did not need to look down.

Twenty-two minutes if they answer signal horns properly. Forty if I have to send riders.

Do it.

Osric nodded.

I want village headcounts too.

Kael looked at him.

All eleven?

Yes, my lord.

That will take longer.

How long?

Before midnight for confirmed numbers if each village uses its runner station.

Kael nodded.

Start.

Osric left without another word.

Victor watched him go.

He’s frightening in a completely different way from Sir Darius.

Darius looked at him.

Ravenshade.

Victor straightened.

Sir.

You are with Iris.

Again?

Again.

Victor glanced toward the forest.

I should stop complaining before you make this permanent.

Correct.

Iris smiled.

Kael pointed toward Elias Thorn.

Elias, with them.

Elias nodded.

My lord.

Kael looked toward Darius.

You’re going too.

It was not really a question.

Darius gave him the expression Kael expected.

You are not.

Grom immediately looked at Kael.

Neither am I, apparently.

Darius ignored him.

Kael folded his arms.

It reacted to my Light.

Which is precisely why I am not taking you into a forest after something that recognized you.

That’s backwards.

No. It is inconvenient.

Kael frowned.

Those are not the same thing.

For you, frequently.

Grom made the mistake of laughing.

Kael looked at him.

You’re staying too.

The goblin’s laughter stopped.

Why?

Because if something reaches the settlement while Darius is gone, I want the former Spear King here.

Grom considered that.

Acceptable.

Darius looked at Kael.

Tavian Merrow examines the body.

Kael nodded.

Hugo stays with him.

Good.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Darius had already shifted completely into command.

The man who had been arguing about knight candidates that morning was gone.

In his place stood the commander who had built his reputation on battlefields far larger than Blackwood.

Kael lowered his voice.

Bring Iris, Victor, and Elias back.

Darius’s face did not soften, but something in his eyes did.

That is the intention, my lord.

Then he turned toward the forest.

Iris.

She rose.

Sir.

Lead.

The four disappeared beneath the trees.

Kael watched until the last movement vanished.

Only then did he turn back toward Senn’s body.

The corpse looked ordinary again.

That bothered him most.

Tavian Merrow arrived irritated.

He became interested before reaching the body.

By the time Kael explained what had happened, irritation had disappeared entirely.

He crouched ten feet from Senn and stared.

Nobody moved him?

No.

Touched him?

Grom’s spear almost did.

Grom grunted.

Almost doesn’t count.

Tavian pointed toward the ground around the body.

Keep everyone outside that circle.

There is no circle.

There is now.

Tavian took chalk from his coat and drew one himself.

Kael watched.

You carry chalk everywhere?

Yes.

Why?

Because rulers keep finding things buried under their land.

Kael decided not to answer.

Hugo Stone arrived carrying a wooden case from Tavian’s temporary workroom.

Unlike Tavian, Hugo wore forge gloves.

He set the case down.

What do you need?

Silver bowl.

Hugo handed him one.

Glass needle.

Another item.

Copper thread.

Hugo paused.

Which thickness?

Tavian looked at him.

The thin one.

Hugo gave him a look.

There are three thin ones.

Tavian sighed.

Third drawer. Left side. Coiled separately.

Hugo produced it.

Kael watched the exchange.

You’ve been working together too much.

Neither man acknowledged him.

Tavian stretched the copper thread between two small stakes beside the corpse.

Nothing happened.

Then he brought the thread closer to Senn’s chest.

It trembled.

Hugo leaned down.

Mana?

Residual.

What type?

Tavian did not answer immediately.

He moved the thread toward Senn’s head.

The trembling increased.

Kael’s expression tightened.

Tavian.

I’m thinking.

Think aloud.

That ruins thinking.

Do it anyway.

Tavian sat back on his heels.

His body contains traces of the same foreign energy from the western structure.

How much?

Less than the wolves.

Kael frowned.

Then why did it control him?

Tavian looked toward the corpse.

Perhaps it did not.

Grom tilted his head.

He bent backward until his spine broke and spat smoke.

What would you call that?

Not enough evidence for control.

Kael stared.

Tavian raised one hand.

Listen first.

The wolves changed physically over time. Their tissue carried contamination throughout the body.

Senn does not.

The foreign energy is concentrated here.

He pointed toward the skull.

And here.

The center of the chest.

Hugo’s expression changed.

So it entered recently.

Possibly.

Kael looked toward the forest.

At the ruin.

Possibly.

Tavian looked at him.

You hate that word.

I hate hearing it when people can die from the answer.

Then allow me a more useful certainty.

Tavian stood.

Whatever was inside this man did not belong there naturally.

That was enough for now.

Kael looked at Grom.

Nobody touches the corpse barehanded.

The goblin stared at him.

I wasn’t planning to hug him.

Hugo closed the case.

What do we do with the body?

Kael thought for a moment.

Separate stone room. No household servants. Two Black Dragon guards outside.

Names?

That question came from Hugo.

Kael appreciated it.

Not just two soldiers.

He looked toward Captain Roland.

Who do you trust to stand there all night without getting curious?

Roland did not hesitate.

Marcus Wintermere and Leon once he returns.

Kael raised an eyebrow.

Marcus?

He complains. He doesn’t disobey.

Fair.

And Leon?

Steady.

Kael nodded.

Use them.

Roland bowed.

Yes, my lord.

The settlement did not panic.

Osric made sure of that.

He did not ring bells.

He did not send soldiers running through the market.

He changed patrols.

One pair became four.

Two eastern roads were quietly blocked by wagons in need of inspection.

Village runners began arriving at the manor carrying population lists under the excuse of a new census.

By sunset, Blackwood looked busier.

Not frightened.

Kael found Osric in the guild hall surrounded by parchment.

The retired captain had taken over one unfinished counter.

Numbers covered everything.

Kael stopped beside him.

How many accounted for?

Osric did not look up.

Central settlement, manor staff, three closest villages, western refugee households, every Black Dragon member except Darius’s patrol.

Missing?

People or soldiers?

People.

Seventeen not yet confirmed.

Kael’s stomach tightened.

Osric finally looked up.

That does not mean missing.

Where are they?

Six shepherds.

Three charcoal burners.

Five laborers assigned to road crews.

Two hunters.

One peddler.

Kael looked toward the list.

Send someone.

Already did.

Kael paused.

Right.

Osric returned to writing.

You hired people for reasons, my lord.

I am beginning to notice.

Good.

Galahad appeared at the end of the counter.

He carried two quest parchments.

Kael looked at them.

No.

I haven’t said anything.

You’re about to volunteer adventurers.

Galahad placed the parchments down.

I was going to ask whether the eastern road closure affects guild work.

Yes.

How much?

No inexperienced teams east of the settlement.

Mara’s group?

Kael thought.

The lumber camp lay north, not east.

Let them continue. Make sure they know not to deviate from the route.

Galahad nodded.

Then he looked toward Osric’s lists.

Something serious?

Kael could have hidden it.

Instead he said enough.

Unknown threat. Possibly able to move through people.

Galahad’s face changed.

That is serious.

Yes.

Do you want guild volunteers?

Not yet.

Galahad nodded once.

No argument.

Kael noticed.

Galahad noticed him noticing.

What?

I expected you to push.

I was a mercenary before I was Guild Master.

Galahad folded his arms.

I know the difference between needing more blades and needing fewer fools in the way.

Kael smiled faintly.

Good.

The front doors opened.

Everyone looked over.

Mara Fen entered first.

Mud from her boots reached halfway to her knees.

One of her companions supported a young man Kael did not recognize.

The third carried an axe stained with blood.

Galahad’s hand immediately went to his sword.

Report.

Mara looked exhausted.

Found one lumber worker.

Alive.

Kael’s attention sharpened.

And the second?

Mara shook her head.

Not yet.

Galahad pointed toward the injured man.

He conscious?

Barely.

What happened?

Mara looked toward Kael.

Something scared the entire camp three nights ago.

What?

They don’t know.

The worker coughed.

Everyone became still.

His eyes opened.

Not purple.

Normal.

He looked around the unfinished guild hall.

Lord...

Mara lowered him onto a bench.

Save your breath.

The man ignored her.

Lord Kael?

Kael approached.

I’m here.

The worker struggled to focus.

Don’t go underground.

The room went silent.

Kael’s expression did not change.

What underground?

The man shivered.

Under the camp.

Something knocking.

Then he lost consciousness.

Galahad looked at Kael.

Kael looked at Osric.

Osric’s face said what Kael was already thinking.

Another site.

Maybe.

Kael hated the word more every hour.

Darius found the trail after the sun went down.

Iris found where it stopped.

That was worse.

The four of them stood in a shallow ravine five miles east of the settlement.

Moonlight barely reached the ground.

Victor held a hooded lantern.

Elias watched the ridge behind them.

Darius looked at Iris.

You’re certain?

She nodded.

Yes, Sir.

The copied footprints had led west.

Then suddenly changed.

Not faded.

Changed.

The final human-shaped print ended beside a tree.

Beyond it appeared marks from something much lighter.

Narrow.

Four points.

Victor crouched.

Animal?

Iris shook her head.

Too regular.

Bird?

Too heavy.

Darius scanned the darkness.

Direction?

Northwest.

Toward Blackwood?

Toward the northern farms if it holds.

Victor stood.

That’s worse.

Darius did not disagree.

Elias spoke from the ridge.

Movement.

Everyone reacted.

Victor extinguished the lantern.

Damien was not here, but Darius did not need to tell these three how to form.

Iris disappeared left.

Victor drew his sword.

Elias nocked an arrow.

Something moved between the trees.

Slow.

Crunch.

Pause.

Crunch.

Victor whispered.

Please be a deer.

It stepped into moonlight.

A deer.

Victor exhaled.

Then the animal turned its head.

Its neck rotated too far.

Elias fired.

The arrow struck the ground because the deer moved before the bowstring finished vibrating.

It came at them.

Fast.

Victor raised his sword.

Darius moved once.

One step.

One cut.

The deer’s body struck the ground in two pieces.

Victor stared.

Darius was already looking into the trees.

Black vapor rose from the severed neck.

Iris shouted from the left.

Sir!

The vapor changed direction.

Toward her.

Darius crossed the distance before Victor fully understood what happened.

His Aura did not explode outward.

No dramatic wave.

It gathered along the edge of his sword so tightly the blade seemed thinner.

He cut through the vapor.

Not around it.

Through it.

The black-purple mass split.

For an instant, a sound came from inside.

Not a scream.

Something closer to several voices breathing at once.

Then the vapor scattered.

Most dissolved.

One fragment escaped into the ground.

Darius drove his sword into the soil.

Aura spread downward in a narrow pulse.

The earth cracked.

The fragment burst back out.

Elias fired.

His second arrow carried Aura at the tip.

The fragment twisted around it.

Victor attacked from the opposite side.

Too wide.

Darius caught Victor by the back of his armor and pulled him away before the vapor touched his face.

Victor stumbled.

Sir—

Watch first.

Darius stepped forward.

The remaining vapor gathered itself.

For the first time, it formed something resembling a face.

No features.

Only an opening where a mouth might have been.

A voice came through it.

Shield.

Victor went still.

Iris emerged from the darkness.

It knows you.

Darius looked at the thing without changing expression.

Many enemies do.

The vapor surged.

Darius’s sword moved.

This time Victor saw nothing except the result.

The black mass divided into four pieces.

Then eight.

Each fragment trembled.

Darius turned his wrist.

Aura snapped outward from the blade.

Not much.

Enough.

The fragments collapsed.

Silence returned.

Victor stared at the empty air.

Elias slowly lowered his bow.

Iris looked at Darius’s sword.

No residue.

Darius wiped the blade anyway.

Victor finally found his voice.

You could do that earlier?

Darius sheathed the sword.

Earlier I didn’t know whether cutting it would work.

Victor looked at the dead deer.

You just tested it.

Yes.

On yourself.

Darius looked at him.

On my sword.

That was not what Victor meant.

But he decided not to argue.

Iris crouched beside the deer.

The body is warm.

Recently taken.

Darius looked toward the northwestern trail.

So it can move between hosts.

Elias frowned.

Then killing the host does not kill it.

No.

Victor looked toward where the fragments had disappeared.

Did you kill it?

Darius’s answer was immediate.

I killed part of it.

That worried them more than if he had guessed.

Darius turned.

We return.

Victor looked toward the tracks.

Don’t follow?

Not tonight.

Why?

Darius looked at him.

Because we have learned enough to know ignorance is dangerous.

He pointed toward the dead deer.

It changes hosts.

Recognizes people.

Copies movement badly.

Avoids some attacks.

And whatever I destroyed was probably not the whole creature.

He looked toward Blackwood.

We bring that information home.

Then we hunt with a plan.

Victor nodded.

For once, no joke followed.

Kael was still awake when Darius returned.

The manor study had become an unpleasant collection of maps, reports, and cold food.

Tavian occupied one corner.

Hugo had fallen asleep at the table with his arms crossed.

Osric had gone to coordinate the village runners.

Galahad had returned to the guild.

Grom refused to leave.

When the door opened, Kael stood.

Darius entered first.

Iris.

Victor.

Elias.

All alive.

Kael noticed that before anything else.

Darius noticed him noticing.

Report first.

Kael nodded.

Darius described the ravine.

The deer.

The host change.

The copied tracks.

The vapor.

He did not dramatize his own fight.

Victor did that for him.

He cut smoke.

Darius looked at him.

That is not a useful military description.

Victor pointed at him.

You cut smoke.

Tavian sat upright.

With what?

Sword.

Obviously with the sword.

How?

Aura.

Tavian stood.

What kind of Aura application?

Darius’s patience visibly declined.

Controlled.

Kael looked toward Victor.

You saw it?

I saw the deer die.

Then I saw Sir Darius cut something that shouldn’t be cut.

Elias added quietly.

It called him Shield.

The room changed.

Kael looked at Darius.

You didn’t mention that.

Because I don’t know what it means.

Grom leaned forward.

Maybe it knows your reputation.

Tavian frowned.

Ancient corruption beneath Blackwood follows Imperial military titles?

No.

Darius’s voice was firm.

We are not inventing explanations.

Kael almost smiled.

He had started doing the same thing.

Facts.

First.

Kael turned toward Tavian.

Can Light hurt it?

We know it recoiled from yours.

Can Radiance—

Tavian stopped.

Kael caught it.

Radiance?

Tavian’s expression changed by a fraction.

Darius saw it too.

What is Radiance?

Tavian was silent.

Too long.

Kael stepped closer.

Master Merrow.

Tavian removed his lenses.

For once, there was no arrogance in him.

Only calculation.

It is not Imperial magic.

Where does it come from?

Tavian looked toward the white-gold glow beginning unconsciously around Kael’s fingers.

Outside the Empire.

Darius’s gaze hardened.

From whom?

Tavian took a slow breath.

The Sanctum of the First Light.

No one spoke.

Kael had never heard the name.

Darius had.

And the moment Kael saw his expression, he understood that Blackwood had just acquired another problem.

Not beneath its soil.

Beyond its borders.