The Imperial System: Architect of an Empire

Galahad refused to call it a rescue party.

Derrick Sorn disliked that immediately.

”They could still be alive.”

”They could,” Galahad said.

”Then what else would you call it?”

”A B-rank investigation with recovery authority.”

Derrick stared at him from across the Adventure Guild’s planning table.

”That sounds like something Edwin would say.”

Kael, standing beside the map, looked toward Edwin.

Edwin did not raise his eyes from the temporary mission authorization he was reviewing.

”I consider that an endorsement.”

”It wasn’t,” Derrick muttered.

Galahad ignored both of them.

Morning light filled the Guild hall through the eastern windows. The headquarters had opened normally despite the northwest investigation, though one section of the quest board remained conspicuously empty. Every contract leading into the closed western routes had been removed and transferred into a suspended file behind the counter.

The adventurers noticed.

They were trying not to stare toward Galahad’s office.

Most were failing.

Kael understood their curiosity.

The Guild had been operating only a short time, and already its first serious investigation had crossed into a rank none of its registered adventurers held.

That was not the kind of milestone anyone celebrated.

Galahad placed both hands on the table.

”Again. The objective is not to find the strongest thing in the western forest and fight it.”

Milo Renwick, leaning against the wall near the door, raised one hand.

”I appreciate the clarification.”

”No one asked you.”

”I felt represented by the concern.”

Sera Venn stood beside him with her longbow across one shoulder.

She gave no reaction.

Galahad looked around the table.

Sir Darius Valen.

Iris Hollow.

Milo Renwick.

Sera Venn.

Kael.

Edwin.

Derrick remained because Rellan Dorr’s missing party was the reason the investigation had begun, and Galahad had decided excluding him from every planning discussion would only encourage him to invent his own answers.

That did not mean Derrick was going.

Galahad had made that clear before breakfast.

Derrick had argued.

Galahad had made it clearer.

Now the D-rank adventurer sat with both arms folded and resentment radiating from him.

Galahad pointed toward the western edge of the map.

”We know the first rise.”

Iris nodded.

”We know a false Guild marker redirected Rellan’s party west.”

Another point.

”We know Derren’s lantern was placed upright beside the western stacks.”

Darius spoke.

”Likely deliberately.”

”Likely,” Galahad repeated.

He indicated the next location.

”We know Derren’s blood trail ends inside a stone depression without any reliable continuation.”

Then another.

”We know something large left fresh claw marks above shoulder height.”

Sera’s eyes remained on the map.

”Four grooves.”

Iris nodded.

”Four.”

”Spacing?”

Iris demonstrated with two fingers against the parchment.

Sera considered it.

”Something that could climb.”

Kael looked toward her.

”You think it was in the tree?”

”No.”

A pause.

”Could have been.”

Milo smiled.

”You and Iris should start a club.”

Iris looked toward him.

”What kind?”

”The ’Everything Could Be Something But We Refuse to Say It Is’ club.”

Darius turned his head toward Milo.

Milo straightened slightly.

”Useful investigative discipline.”

Kael hid a smile.

Galahad continued.

”We also have three unresolved disappearances from before Guild operations. Geographically relevant. Not yet evidentially connected.”

Derrick sighed.

”You really have to say that every time?”

”Yes.”

”Why?”

”Because the moment we decide every person who disappeared northwest of Blackwood was taken by the same thing, we stop investigating and start writing a story.”

Derrick looked away.

Kael understood the frustration.

He felt it too.

The evidence wanted to become one shape.

White marks.

Missing people.

Voices.

Blood trails that stopped.

Large claw signs.

Older disappearances.

The temptation was to push every uncertain piece together until something recognizable appeared.

Recognizable did not mean true.

Galahad tapped the mission authorization.

”Today’s search goes beyond the first rise.”

Derrick’s attention returned immediately.

”How far?”

”Until the team reaches one of three stopping conditions.”

Galahad raised a finger.

”First: the trail becomes too weak to justify continued movement.”

Second.

”Conditions change enough that the current team no longer matches the threat.”

Third.

”They find evidence requiring immediate return and reclassification.”

Milo frowned.

”What if we find Derren sitting beside a tree wondering why everyone is being dramatic?”

”Then you bring him home.”

”That is my preferred outcome.”

”It is everyone’s.”

Milo glanced around.

Darius looked at him.

Milo sighed.

”Most people’s.”

Galahad ignored him.

Derrick leaned forward.

”You said current team.”

”Yes.”

”Who?”

Galahad looked first toward Darius.

”Sir Darius Valen. House support.”

Darius nodded.

”Iris Hollow. Tracking and reconnaissance.”

Iris gave a short acknowledgment.

”Sera Venn. Ranged overwatch.”

Sera nodded.

”Milo Renwick.”

Milo raised one hand again.

”Still unclear why.”

”Mobility, judgment under irregular conditions, and because I have watched you avoid work with enough creativity to believe you notice escape routes other people miss.”

Milo stared at him.

Kael laughed.

”That may be the nicest thing Galahad has ever said to you.”

”I feel attacked.”

”You were complimented.”

”Exactly.”

Galahad pointed to himself.

”And me. Guild mission lead.”

Kael nodded.

That part mattered.

House Kael was providing strength the young Guild did not possess internally.

It was not taking the investigation away from the Guild.

Kael looked toward Darius.

”And me?”

”No,” Galahad said.

Kael frowned.

”I asked Darius.”

”And I answered.”

Kael slowly turned toward him.

”Why?”

”Because this remains a B-rank investigation.”

”I know.”

”You are the territorial lord.”

”I also know that.”

”Then act like one.”

Kael’s eyes narrowed.

Galahad pointed toward the table.

”If this team returns with evidence requiring A-rank escalation, House Kael may have to decide what resources it is willing to commit. I would prefer the person making that decision not already be somewhere beyond our last verified trail when it happens.”

Kael opened his mouth.

Then stopped.

Annoyingly reasonable.

Darius added, ”You are also the only person here who can authorize exceptional House deployment without delay.”

Kael looked toward Edwin.

Edwin finally raised his eyes.

”I can authorize ordinary expenditure and administrative support. Not an exceptional deployment involving Black Dragon command assets, territorial closures, or emergency requisition.”

Kael exhaled.

Milo gave him a sympathetic look.

”Responsibility. Terrible affliction.”

Kael pointed toward him.

”Go into the dangerous forest.”

Milo’s expression became wounded.

”See? Abuse of authority.”

Sera looked at him.

”You volunteered.”

”I was eating when Galahad asked.”

”That is not coercion.”

”I was vulnerable.”

Galahad gathered the mission sheets.

”Departure in twenty minutes.”

That ended the discussion.

Derrick stood.

”And me?”

”No.”

His jaw tightened.

Galahad met his eyes.

”You are D-rank.”

”I know.”

”This mission is B.”

”I know.”

”Then why are we doing this again?”

”Because Rellan is my friend.”

The room quieted.

Galahad’s expression did not soften.

His voice did.

”I know.”

Derrick looked toward the map.

”If you find him...”

”We bring him back if we can.”

”And if you find out what happened?”

”We bring that back too.”

Derrick nodded.

It was not enough.

Nothing would have been.

But he sat again.

Twenty-seven minutes later, the B-rank investigation left Blackwood.

No announcement was made.

No adventurers gathered to cheer.

The Guild posted one notice:

NORTHWEST INVESTIGATION ACTIVE

ALL EXISTING ROUTE CLOSURES REMAIN IN EFFECT

That was all anyone needed.

The five-person search team reached the charcoal camp before midday.

Darius noticed the difference immediately.

The western stacks were cold.

Not cooling.

Cold.

Workers had dismantled two smaller burn covers and were moving usable wood toward the eastern side of camp.

The foreman met them near the central shelter.

”You came back.”

Galahad nodded.

”Any changes?”

”No voices.”

”Tracks?”

”Nothing west because nobody went west.”

”Good.”

The foreman looked toward Sera and Milo.

Then Galahad.

”This is the team?”

”Yes.”

His eyes shifted to Darius.

Some tension left his face.

Then he looked toward the forest.

”Derren’s still missing.”

”Yes.”

”Bring him back.”

Galahad did not promise what he could not guarantee.

”We’ll look.”

They crossed the closed western boundary.

Iris led.

Sera followed several paces behind and to the left, checking the canopy almost as often as the ground.

Galahad held the center.

Milo moved on the right.

Darius took the rear until the terrain narrowed, then shifted wherever the formation needed him.

No one spoke unnecessarily.

The white-marked tree appeared first.

Iris stopped beside it.

The original slash remained.

The second mark on the opposite side remained too.

Galahad examined both without touching them.

”One visible from camp.”

”Yes,” Iris said.

”One visible only after entering the forest.”

”Yes.”

”A continuation marker.”

”Possibly.”

Milo leaned around the trunk.

”Very unfriendly trail sign.”

Sera looked farther west.

”Does it repeat?”

”That is one of today’s questions,” Iris answered.

They continued.

The thorn where Derren’s coat had caught.

The stone depression.

The blood.

Less visible now.

Still there.

The broken axe had already been removed as evidence, but Iris had marked its original location.

They reached the point where the blood trail ended.

Everyone stopped.

Galahad looked toward Iris.

”From here, you own the pace.”

She nodded.

Then began searching.

Not forward.

Sideways.

Darius watched her move twenty yards north.

Nothing.

Then south.

Nothing.

She returned.

Milo crouched beside the final bloodstain.

”Why no drag?”

Iris looked at him.

”Could have been lifted.”

”By the creature?”

”Could.”

”By a person?”

”Could.”

”Could Derren have walked?”

”Blood should likely continue.”

”Unless the wound stopped bleeding.”

”Possible.”

Milo sighed.

”This profession is deeply unsatisfying.”

Darius ignored him.

Sera had moved toward the large pine.

She stared upward.

Then said, ”Another.”

Iris joined her.

Sera pointed.

Nearly fifteen feet above the ground, another set of shallow marks scarred the bark.

Not identical.

Similar spacing.

Galahad looked up.

”Yesterday?”

Iris shook her head.

”I didn’t see those.”

”Could you have missed them?”

”Yes.”

Milo opened his mouth.

Iris turned her head.

”No.”

He closed it again.

Kael would have enjoyed that.

Sera moved around the trunk.

”The lower marks angle down.”

She pointed higher.

”These angle across.”

Darius examined them.

”Something climbing?”

”Or landing,” Sera said.

The forest became quieter.

Milo stopped smiling.

Darius looked into the canopy.

Whatever had made the marks might not have been confined to the ground.

That changed how they watched the forest.

Not yet what they classified it as.

Iris moved west again.

For almost forty minutes, they found nothing.

That mattered too.

No white marks.

No blood.

No clothing.

No tracks she trusted.

The ground gradually climbed out of the stone depression and onto a wooded ridge.

At the top, Iris stopped.

”This is where the first search ended.”

Galahad nodded.

The first rise.

Beyond it, the investigation changed.

He looked at every member of the team.

”From here, every step is new.”

Milo looked down the western slope.

”That is an inspiring way to say we have no idea where we’re going.”

”Yes.”

”Wonderful.”

Iris descended first.

The western slope was steeper.

Loose stone shifted beneath their boots.

Rainwater had exposed dark soil between roots and rock.

They had gone perhaps thirty yards when Sera stopped.

”White.”

Everyone froze.

She pointed toward a stone outcrop.

A pale slash marked the gray rock.

Iris approached.

Same rough width.

Same material.

Lower than the previous signs.

Near knee height.

Galahad looked around.

”Visible from where?”

Iris moved upslope.

”Not from the ridge.”

She descended again and shifted north.

Then stopped.

”Here.”

Darius followed her line.

From a narrow animal trail crossing beneath the rise, the mark was obvious.

From anywhere else, it nearly vanished against the stone.

Galahad frowned.

”A directional marker.”

”Possibly.”

They followed the animal path south first.

Nothing.

Then north.

Fifty yards later, another white slash.

Then another.

Milo looked behind them.

”They form a route.”

No one corrected him.

The marks curved northwest.

Away from the charcoal camp.

Away from the established road.

Deeper into terrain that grew rougher with every hundred yards.

Iris stopped beside the fourth mark.

”This one is older.”

”How much?” Galahad asked.

”Enough weathering to matter. Weeks. Possibly longer.”

Galahad’s expression changed.

”Before Derren.”

”Yes.”

”Before Rellan?”

”Possibly.”

That mattered.

The route had not necessarily been created because the Guild had started investigating.

At least part of it might predate the Guild entirely.

Darius studied the surrounding forest.

”Could hunters use these?”

”Possible.”

”Charcoal workers?”

”No reason this far west.”

”Bandits?”

”Possible.”

Milo sighed.

”Everything is possible.”

Iris looked at him.

”Yes.”

”That was not encouragement.”

”It was not intended to be.”

Sera raised one hand.

Everyone stopped.

At first, Darius heard nothing.

Then:

”Help.”

Faint.

Female.

Somewhere north.

Sera had an arrow nocked before the second call came.

”Help me.”

Closer.

Milo’s expression changed.

”That is unpleasant.”

Galahad slowly reached for his sword.

The voice came again.

”Please.”

No one moved.

Iris watched the ground.

Sera watched the trees.

Darius watched everything else.

Twenty seconds passed.

Thirty.

Then a man’s voice came from behind them.

”Galahad.”

Everyone turned.

Nothing.

Galahad’s face went completely still.

Darius looked at him.

”You recognize it?”

A pause.

”Yes.”

”Who?”

Galahad’s jaw tightened.

”A man who died twelve years ago.”

No one spoke.

That changed the investigation.

The charcoal worker hearing his sister had already suggested imitation.

But this was different.

The phenomenon had selected one person in their group.

Used his name.

Used a voice connected to his past.

Milo moved subtly closer to the formation.

For once, he made no joke.

The voice came again.

”Galahad.”

Same tone.

Different direction.

Galahad did not answer.

Then the forest spoke again.

”Sera.”

Her bow remained steady.

”Milo.”

His eyes narrowed.

”Iris.”

The tracker slowly turned.

Darius drew his sword.

The final voice came from somewhere above them.

”Darius.”

A child’s voice.

No one answered.

Silence returned.

Galahad looked toward Iris.

”Movement?”

”None.”

”Sera?”

”Nothing visible.”

”Milo?”

”Strong preference for another location.”

Galahad almost smiled.

”That counts.”

Darius looked toward the white-marked route.

”The voices know who is here.”

Galahad nodded.

”That changes the threat.”

”Not classification yet,” Darius said.

”No.”

Good.

They were not going to let fear write the report before evidence did.

Iris took one step toward the next mark.

Then stopped.

”There.”

A branch had been cut.

Not broken.

Cut cleanly.

She moved closer.

Another branch.

Then another.

A narrow corridor passed through the undergrowth.

Milo crouched.

”Old?”

”Mixed.”

Iris indicated one weathered cut.

”Older.”

Then another, pale wood still exposed.

”Recent.”

Galahad looked toward the white signs.

”A maintained route.”

”Looks that way,” Iris said.

That was stronger than possibly.

They followed it.

The route remained narrow enough that a wagon could never have used it.

A person could.

Something larger might.

White marks appeared irregularly rather than at fixed distances. Sometimes fifty yards apart. Sometimes twice that.

They were not meant for someone already familiar with the forest.

They were meant to keep someone moving in a particular direction.

After nearly half an hour, Sera stopped again.

”Ground.”

Iris crouched immediately.

There were marks beneath a layer of dead leaves.

Boots.

Several sets.

Old.

Recent.

Some crossing.

Others aligned with the marked route.

Galahad’s face hardened.

”How many people?”

Iris studied them.

”Cannot give you a reliable count.”

”More than one?”

”Yes.”

”Recent?”

”At least two sets are.”

Milo looked farther down the trail.

”So somebody is using this.”

Iris nodded.

”Yes.”

That was the first firm answer they had received since crossing the rise.

The route was not abandoned.

The marks were not random damage.

People had moved along it recently.

Then they found the rope.

It hung from a branch beside the path.

Short.

Frayed.

Nothing tied to it.

Galahad stopped.

Iris inspected the knot.

”Human-made.”

Darius looked around.

”For what?”

Iris followed the rope upward.

A second piece ran through the branches.

Then disappeared.

Sera stepped back.

”Do not pull it.”

Milo had not touched it.

”I enjoy being alive.”

Darius moved closer.

The rope was thin.

Too thin for hauling.

Too deliberately positioned to be discarded.

Iris followed its line several paces through the brush.

Then stopped.

”Bell.”

Galahad joined her.

A tiny metal bell had been wrapped in cloth and suspended beneath a branch.

Muted.

Not silent.

If the rope moved, someone farther ahead might hear it.

Milo stared.

”That is an alarm.”

”Yes,” Darius said.

Galahad looked toward the route ahead.

For the first time, the investigation had confirmed something beyond an unidentified creature.

Someone had prepared the forest.

Maintained markings.

Cleared passage.

Placed an alarm.

That required intention.

Galahad raised one hand.

”We stop here.”

Milo looked surprised.

”We just found the useful part.”

”Exactly.”

Derrick would hate the decision.

Kael might too.

Galahad did not care.

They had reached one of the stopping conditions.

Evidence had changed the mission.

Darius agreed immediately.

”We do not cross a warning line when we do not know who receives the warning.”

Sera lowered her bow slightly.

Iris marked the location on her field sheet.

Milo looked down the path.

”And the voices?”

”Evidence,” Galahad said.

”Not bait?”

”Possibly both.”

Milo frowned.

”You’re spending too much time around Iris.”

She ignored him.

They withdrew carefully.

No one touched the alarm rope.

No one crossed beyond it.

On the return journey, the voices did not follow them at first.

Then, halfway back to the first rise, a familiar voice called from behind.

”Derrick.”

Galahad stopped.

Everyone else stopped with him.

The voice came again.

”Derrick.”

Milo looked toward Galahad.

”Derrick isn’t here.”

”I know.”

The voice shifted.

”Rellan.”

Silence.

Then:

”Help.”

Galahad’s expression changed.

Not fear.

Anger.

Darius looked back toward the western route.

”It is testing names.”

”Or repeating them,” Iris said.

”From us?”

”Possibly.”

Sera looked toward the trees.

”Then we stop saying names.”

Milo nodded.

”Best idea anyone has had all day.”

No one used another name until they crossed the charcoal camp boundary.

Kael had spent most of the afternoon doing exactly what Galahad told him to do.

He hated it.

The Guild continued operating.

Three F-rank parties returned from minor work.

One E-rank contract was delayed because the client had incorrectly described the number of pests damaging a grain store.

Galahad’s deputy clerk refused to increase the reward without verification.

Kael approved.

Quietly.

He had learned Galahad disliked people congratulating him for procedures functioning the way they were supposed to.

Edwin continued organizing the older disappearance reports.

Derrick checked the Guild entrance approximately every ten minutes.

By the eighth time, Kael stopped pretending not to notice.

”They will return faster if you stop looking.”

Derrick looked toward him.

”That makes no sense.”

”I know.”

”Then why say it?”

”Because you’re making me nervous.”

Derrick almost smiled.

Almost.

The team returned before sunset.

Kael knew immediately they had found something.

No injuries.

No blood.

No one missing.

Good.

But Galahad entered carrying the expression of a man who had gone looking for one problem and returned with proof of another.

”Office,” he said.

Derrick started after them.

Galahad looked back.

”You too.”

That surprised him.

Inside, Iris spread her notes across the table.

Kael waited.

Darius closed the door.

Galahad began with the facts.

”White route markings continue beyond the first rise.”

Kael’s attention sharpened.

”Same material?”

”Appears consistent,” Iris said. ”Sample comparison still required.”

”Age?”

”Mixed. Some newer. Some significantly weathered.”

”So the route predates Derren.”

”Yes.”

”Rellan?”

”Possibly.”

Kael nodded.

No forcing certainty.

”What else?”

”Branches cut to maintain passage.”

”Natural?”

”No.”

”Recent?”

”Some.”

Kael looked toward Darius.

”Human?”

”Tools were used.”

Galahad continued.

”Multiple boot impressions along the marked route. At least some recent.”

Derrick went still.

”Rellan?”

Iris looked at him.

”I cannot identify them as his.”

He swallowed.

”What about the voices?”

Galahad’s gaze shifted.

Kael noticed immediately.

”What?”

Darius answered.

”They addressed us by name.”

Silence.

Kael stared at him.

”All of you?”

”Yes.”

”How?”

”We don’t know.”

”Voices you recognized?”

Galahad answered.

”One.”

Kael looked toward him.

”Someone dead.”

The room became very quiet.

Derrick stopped breathing for a moment.

Kael looked toward Iris.

”You saw nothing producing them?”

”No.”

”Sera?”

”Nothing.”

”Milo?”

”Also nothing, which was my strongest contribution.”

No one laughed.

Kael looked back toward Galahad.

”You continued?”

”Yes.”

”How far?”

”Until we found this.”

Iris drew a rough diagram.

A rope.

A branch.

A covered bell.

Kael understood before she explained.

”Alarm.”

”Yes.”

”Connected to what?”

”Unknown.”

”Did you trigger it?”

”No.”

”Did you cross it?”

”No.”

Good.

That was the correct decision.

Even though part of Kael wanted the answer on the other side.

Especially because part of him wanted it.

Galahad continued.

”On withdrawal, the voices used Derrick’s name.”

Derrick’s face changed.

”I wasn’t there.”

”We know.”

Then Galahad added, ”They also used Rellan’s.”

Derrick stood so quickly the chair scraped backward.

”What did it say?”

”Help.”

”Where?”

”Behind us.”

”Was it him?”

”I don’t know.”

”You know his voice.”

”I did not hear enough to say.”

Derrick looked toward Darius.

Darius gave him no easier answer.

The D-rank adventurer clenched both hands.

”Then we go back.”

”No,” Galahad said.

”If he’s alive—”

”No.”

”You heard him.”

”I heard something use his name.”

”That could be him.”

”Yes.”

”That could mean he’s right there.”

”Yes.”

”Then why are we standing here?”

Galahad stepped closer.

”Because something in that forest used my name in the voice of a dead man.”

Derrick stopped.

”It used the others’ names too. Then it used yours after hearing you discussed during planning, or after learning it some other way. I don’t know which.”

Derrick stared at him.

”If I decide that means every voice is genuine, I am not rescuing Rellan. I am letting something choose my route.”

That reached him.

Not enough to make the pain disappear.

Enough to stop him moving toward the door.

Kael looked at the evidence.

A marked route.

A maintained route.

Recent traffic.

An alarm line.

Voice imitation.

Missing people.

Unknown large creature sign.

He understood the question before he asked it.

”Still B?”

Galahad did not answer immediately.

That mattered.

Darius looked toward him.

Iris remained quiet.

Sera leaned against the wall.

Milo had finally stopped pretending none of this bothered him.

Galahad looked down at the classification sheet.

”B-rank investigation remains open.”

Derrick frowned.

Kael asked, ”Why not A?”

”Because we still do not know whether the intelligence behind the route and the creature signs belong to the same threat.”

He tapped the paper.

”We have evidence of deliberate human activity.”

Another tap.

”We have evidence of an unidentified creature.”

Another.

”We have a voice phenomenon we cannot explain.”

Then he looked at Kael.

”If those are one system, the classification changes.”

”And if they’re separate?”

”Then we may have several B-rank problems overlapping.”

Kael did not like either answer.

Darius folded his arms.

”The next search cannot proceed like today.”

Galahad nodded.

”No.”

”What do you need?”

”First, the white residue compared.”

Iris nodded.

”Second, older maps. Charcoal routes. Hunting routes. Abandoned roads. Anything that tells us where that marked path might lead.”

Edwin would have that.

Or would know who did.

”Third,” Galahad continued, ”we determine whether the alarm line is isolated or part of a larger perimeter.”

Kael looked at him.

”Without crossing it.”

”Correct.”

”And after that?”

Galahad’s eyes settled on the western edge of the map.

”After that, we decide whether Blackwood still has a B-rank investigation.”

No one spoke.

The Adventure Guild remained open downstairs.

F-ranks argued about a pest contract.

Someone laughed near the entrance.

A clerk rang the completion bell for a returning party.

Ordinary work continued.

Upstairs, the northwest investigation had just found the first undeniable sign that somebody had built something in the forest.

Not a den.

Not a trail.

A controlled approach.

And whatever waited beyond it now knew their names.