The Imperial System: Architect of an Empire

Archdeacon Malrec arrived without bells.

Kael had expected at least one.

Not because the Church letter promised ceremony, but because nearly every important visitor to Blackwood seemed determined to announce importance through horses, banners, guards, attendants, luggage, or enough polished metal to blind anyone unfortunate enough to stand in sunlight.

Malrec arrived shortly before noon with one enclosed carriage, six mounted Church guards, two clerks, a physician, and three wagons carrying records, travel supplies, and what Edwin later informed Kael were ceremonial materials intended for Solmara rather than Blackwood.

No choir.

No line of priests.

No white-robed procession.

The only banner was a narrow Church standard fixed beside the carriage.

Kael stood near the manor entrance with Edwin, Darius, Elias, Marcus, Lily, and several Black Dragon soldiers as the small procession climbed the final road.

Brother Caelen stood slightly apart from them.

He had been impossible all morning.

Every time Kael asked what Malrec was like, the clerk gave him answers that somehow contained information without being useful.

Experienced.

Careful.

Direct.

Patient when patience was deserved.

Kael had eventually asked whether Malrec was pleasant.

Brother Caelen had thought about it far too long.

That had answered the question.

The carriage stopped.

One of the Church guards opened the door.

The man who stepped down was older than Kael expected.

Malrec was perhaps in his early sixties, tall without being imposing, with closely cut gray hair and a narrow beard that had gone almost entirely white. He wore no elaborate ceremonial robes. His clothing was dark, layered for travel, with a pale stole folded neatly over one shoulder and a small silver Church seal at his chest.

His eyes went first to the manor.

Then the people.

Then the road behind them.

Kael noticed that.

Malrec had looked at Blackwood before looking at its prince.

Brother Caelen approached.

”Archdeacon.”

Malrec nodded.

”Brother Caelen.”

”No delays?”

”One wheel threatened rebellion near the Arven road.”

Kael glanced toward Edwin.

Edwin remained expressionless.

Brother Caelen asked, ”The wheel?”

”Reconsidered.”

That was not the first sentence Kael had expected from the Regional Examiner of Knightly Conduct.

Malrec turned toward him.

Kael stepped forward.

”Archdeacon Malrec. Welcome to Blackwood.”

Malrec bowed appropriately.

”Your Highness.”

Not deeply.

Not disrespectfully.

Exactly enough.

Kael liked that immediately.

Malrec’s attention shifted toward Darius.

”Sir Darius Valen.”

”Archdeacon.”

”I have read your service record.”

Darius’s expression remained neutral.

”My condolences.”

Malrec’s mouth moved slightly.

Kael looked between them.

That was definitely humor.

Then Malrec looked toward Elias and Marcus.

Both men straightened.

Malrec studied them for perhaps two seconds each.

No introduction had been made.

He already knew.

”Elias Thorn.”

”Yes, Archdeacon.”

”Marcus Wintermere.”

”Yes, Archdeacon.”

Malrec nodded.

Then walked past them.

Kael stared.

Elias stared.

Marcus looked almost amused.

Malrec stopped near the edge of the manor courtyard and looked down toward Blackwood.

The Guild headquarters was clearly visible from the hill.

So was the clinic.

The forge smoke.

Newer houses.

Work crews along the eastern road.

Malrec stood there for nearly half a minute.

Kael eventually joined him.

”Looking for something?”

”No.”

That was all.

Kael waited.

Malrec continued looking.

Kael tried again.

”What do you think?”

”I arrived four minutes ago.”

Kael smiled faintly.

”That has not stopped most visitors.”

”Then most visitors are undisciplined.”

Darius was standing close enough to hear.

Kael did not look toward him.

Malrec finally turned away from the view.

”May I see where I am staying?”

Edwin stepped forward.

”Of course.”

”And afterward I would like food.”

Lily nodded.

”We prepared lunch.”

”Simple?”

”Yes.”

”Good.”

Malrec looked toward Elias and Marcus.

”You may eat too.”

Elias blinked.

”Thank you?”

”That was not a test.”

Malrec started toward the manor.

Marcus leaned slightly toward Elias.

”I think that was a test.”

Malrec spoke without turning.

”It was not.”

Marcus immediately straightened.

Kael looked toward Brother Caelen.

The clerk showed absolutely no sympathy.

Lunch produced no examination.

That somehow made Elias more nervous.

Malrec asked about weather.

Then road maintenance.

Then whether the clinic had enough healers for Blackwood’s current population.

Then he asked Lily whether the manor kitchens had become more expensive to operate as the territory grew.

Lily answered honestly.

Very honestly.

Edwin added numbers.

Malrec listened.

He did not ask Kael whether he was governing well.

He did not ask Darius about military readiness.

He did not ask Elias why he had broken a nobleman’s nose.

By the time lunch ended, Elias looked as if he would have preferred an interrogation.

Malrec drank the last of his tea.

Then looked directly at him.

”You are waiting for me to ask.”

Elias stopped.

”Yes.”

”Why?”

”Because that’s why you’re here.”

”No.”

Elias frowned.

Malrec folded his napkin.

”I am here because the Imperial Church has been asked to witness your oath, examine your suitability for consecration, and enter your name into a record whose value depends upon the names inside it meaning something.”

The room quieted.

Malrec continued.

”The interview is part of that.”

Elias nodded.

”But?”

”But you believe the interview is the dangerous part.”

Elias said nothing.

Malrec looked toward Marcus.

”You too.”

Marcus answered more carefully.

”Yes.”

Malrec leaned back.

”The dangerous part occurred years ago.”

Neither man moved.

”The interview merely determines whether you understand it.”

Kael became still.

Malrec looked between both candidates.

”I have no interest in discovering whether you can produce the correct words after three days of preparation.”

His eyes shifted briefly toward Kael.

Kael frowned.

”I did not coach them.”

”I did not say you did.”

”You looked at me.”

”I am capable of looking at people without accusing them.”

Darius lowered his cup.

Kael could feel the betrayal.

Malrec continued.

”Official interviews begin tomorrow morning.”

Elias looked surprised.

”Tomorrow?”

”Yes.”

”What happens today?”

Malrec looked at him.

”Today I learn where you live.”

That answer bothered Kael enough that he immediately understood why it mattered.

A knight did not emerge from nothing.

House.

Commander.

Territory.

Neighbors.

Responsibilities.

Habits.

Expectations.

Malrec was not only examining two men.

He was examining what surrounded them.

Kael had wondered yesterday whether that was his intention.

Apparently it was.

Malrec rose.

”Brother Caelen.”

The clerk stood.

”I would like the candidates’ records this afternoon.”

”Prepared.”

”The House statement?”

”Prepared.”

”Military files?”

”Prepared.”

”Local disciplinary records?”

Brother Caelen glanced toward Edwin.

”Received.”

Malrec nodded.

”Good.”

Then he looked toward Kael.

”Your Highness, I would like to walk.”

Kael stood.

”Where?”

”Blackwood.”

That answer was too broad.

Kael noticed Brother Caelen almost smiling.

Of course.

The first place Malrec chose was not the manor chapel.

Blackwood barely had one large enough to impress anybody anyway.

He chose the clinic.

Kael walked beside him down the manor hill while Darius followed several paces behind. Brother Caelen came as well, carrying a small notebook Malrec never once asked him to open.

Two Church guards followed at enough distance to avoid intruding on conversation.

Elias and Marcus were ordered to remain at the manor.

Malrec had been explicit.

They were not to accompany him.

Kael understood.

He wanted Blackwood without the candidates shaping it around themselves.

The midday roads were busy.

Workers moved lumber toward the newer housing district.

A grain wagon waited while road crews shifted paving stones near a drainage channel.

Two children ran past without noticing either prince or Archdeacon until their mother called them back and nearly dragged them into a bow.

Malrec stopped her.

”No.”

The woman froze.

Malrec pointed toward the children.

”One of them is about to fall.”

She turned.

The smaller boy had indeed climbed onto the side of the grain wagon.

The mother shouted.

The child dropped immediately.

Malrec continued walking.

Kael looked toward him.

”You could have let her bow first.”

”Yes.”

”That was a joke.”

”I know.”

Kael studied him.

Malrec seemed less ceremonial the longer they walked.

Not casual.

Never that.

But focused on practical things in a way Kael had not expected from a senior Church official.

At the clinic, Liora Benn recognized him instantly.

That disappointed Kael because he had hoped to watch Malrec deal with someone who did not.

Liora bowed.

”Archdeacon.”

”Healer.”

”Apprentice.”

Malrec glanced at her clothing.

”I know.”

Liora’s expression suggested she had expected correction.

Instead Malrec asked, ”How many treatment rooms?”

”Six.”

”Full?”

”Two currently.”

”Permanent healers?”

”Two apprentices based here. Senior specialists visit.”

”That is not what I asked.”

Liora hesitated.

”Then none.”

Kael frowned.

Malrec looked toward him.

Kael immediately understood.

Blackwood had a clinic.

That did not mean Blackwood had enough permanent medical capacity.

The distinction sounded unpleasantly familiar.

Liora continued, ”Healer Tessa Wyn comes when needed. Others travel through. We are still expanding.”

Malrec nodded.

”Most common treatment?”

”Work injuries recently.”

”Before that?”

”Farm accidents. Infection. Fever. Monster wounds less often than people assume.”

Malrec glanced toward Kael.

Kael smiled faintly.

Vessa had said something similar.

Most suffering was less impressive.

Malrec asked to see no patients.

That surprised Kael too.

Instead he inspected the waiting area, medicine storage, treatment station, water source, and records desk.

At the door, he asked Liora one final question.

”Do Elias Thorn or Marcus Wintermere come here?”

She blinked.

”Yes.”

”For treatment?”

”Sometimes.”

”For others?”

Liora looked toward Kael.

Malrec noticed.

”Do not look at him.”

Liora looked back.

Kael nearly laughed.

”Elias has helped carry injured people in.”

”How often?”

”Several times.”

”Marcus?”

”He repaired part of the rear drainage channel with the labor crew last month.”

Malrec nodded.

”That is all.”

They left.

Kael waited until they were halfway down the road.

”That was about them.”

”Yes.”

”You said you were learning Blackwood.”

”I am.”

”You asked about them.”

Malrec looked toward him.

”They live here.”

Kael understood the rebuke.

Separating a person completely from the place around him would be artificial.

Still, he asked, ”What if Liora had said neither ever came?”

”I would know neither ever came.”

”And that would matter?”

”Perhaps.”

Kael frowned.

”That word should be banned.”

Malrec almost smiled.

”Then governance would become impossible.”

They visited the forge next.

Hugo was working.

Garrick was arguing with a merchant over the quality of imported iron.

Neither stopped immediately.

Malrec waited.

That earned Garrick’s respect before anyone introduced him.

When the argument ended, Kael made introductions.

Garrick looked Malrec over.

”Church?”

”Yes.”

”Here for the knights?”

”Yes.”

”Hm.”

That was all.

Malrec seemed delighted.

Kael wondered if the Archdeacon collected difficult people.

Hugo wiped his hands.

”You need something repaired?”

”No.”

”Then I probably can’t help.”

Kael covered a smile.

Malrec looked toward the forge.

”You make weapons?”

”Yes.”

”Armor?”

”Yes.”

”Tools?”

”More tools than weapons.”

Malrec nodded.

Then asked Garrick, ”Would you make chains for prisoners?”

Garrick’s expression changed.

”Depends.”

Kael became interested.

Malrec waited.

Garrick continued. ”Transport restraint? Maybe. Slave collar? No.”

”Why?”

”Because I don’t.”

Malrec looked toward him.

”That is not a reason.”

”It is mine.”

The two men stared at each other.

Kael expected conflict.

Instead Malrec nodded.

”Fair.”

Garrick seemed almost disappointed.

Malrec turned toward Kael.

”Does House Kael compel craftsmen to accept military contracts?”

”No.”

”Could you?”

”Under emergency authority, probably.”

”Have you?”

”No.”

”Why?”

Kael looked at Garrick.

”Because forcing someone to make something they morally refuse to make creates other problems.”

Malrec’s expression remained neutral.

”Always?”

Kael stopped.

”No.”

”Good.”

Malrec walked toward the exit.

Kael followed.

Outside, Darius said quietly, ”You almost turned it into doctrine.”

Kael glared.

”I corrected myself.”

”That is why I said almost.”

Malrec heard them.

”Does this happen often?”

”Yes,” Darius said.

Kael answered at the same time.

”No.”

Malrec looked between them.

Then continued walking.

The Guild headquarters came next.

Galahad was waiting near the entrance because apparently news of an Archdeacon walking through Blackwood traveled faster than horses.

Kael introduced them.

Malrec looked at the building.

”This is the Guild.”

”Eventually,” Galahad said.

”Not open?”

”No.”

”Why?”

”Because the building being almost finished does not mean the institution is ready.”

Malrec looked toward Kael.

Kael pointed at Galahad.

”His answer.”

Malrec returned his attention to the Guild leader.

”What is missing?”

”Registration procedures. Capability assessments. Contract standards. Record systems. Complaint handling. Payment disputes. Missing-party response. Medical coordination. How much standardization is useful without pretending every kind of specialist is identical.”

Malrec became noticeably more interested.

”You are building a secular order.”

Galahad frowned.

”No.”

Malrec waited.

Galahad continued. ”We’re building a professional institution for specialized civilian work.”

”Which will issue recognition.”

”Yes.”

”Standards.”

”Yes.”

”Records.”

”Yes.”

”Public trust.”

Galahad paused.

”Yes.”

”Discipline?”

”Eventually.”

”Then you are building something the Church understands very well.”

That quieted him.

Kael felt something click.

The Church had spent centuries dealing with titles, oaths, records, legitimacy, misconduct, and public trust.

Not the same institution.

Not the same purpose.

But related problems.

Galahad recognized it too.

”That does not mean I want Church control.”

”I did not offer it.”

”Good.”

”I would refuse.”

Galahad blinked.

Kael smiled.

Malrec walked inside.

He examined the unfinished registration hall, maps, training spaces, treatment station, and records area.

Near the second-floor gallery, Milo Renwick was sleeping.

Of course.

Malrec stopped below him.

Kael closed his eyes.

Milo lay on a bench with his staff across his chest and one boot hanging partly over the edge.

Galahad looked toward Kael as if this were somehow his fault.

Malrec looked up.

”Is he dead?”

Milo answered without opening his eyes.

”Not currently.”

Malrec nodded.

”Useful distinction.”

Milo opened one eye.

He saw the Church clothing.

Then Kael.

Then Galahad.

”Am I in trouble?”

Galahad answered immediately.

”Yes.”

Malrec said, ”No.”

Milo sat up.

”I prefer him.”

Kael sighed.

Malrec looked toward the staff.

”Mage?”

Milo hesitated.

Then looked toward Kael.

Kael realized what he was waiting for.

He smiled.

”Among other things.”

Milo looked genuinely impressed.

”You remembered.”

”I hate you.”

Malrec watched the exchange.

”What else?”

Milo shrugged.

”Complaining.”

Galahad rubbed his face.

Malrec asked, ”Useful?”

”Very.”

”Dangerous?”

”When motivated.”

”Frequently motivated?”

”No.”

Malrec nodded solemnly.

”A tragedy.”

Milo stared.

Then laughed.

Kael had not expected the Archdeacon to win that exchange.

Neither had Milo.

Sera Venn appeared from the training yard carrying her longbow.

She paused when she saw the gathering.

Malrec noticed the weapon first.

Then her.

”You shoot that?”

Sera looked down at the bow.

”No. Mostly decoration.”

Kael turned toward her.

That was new.

Milo grinned.

Malrec studied Sera for a second.

”Good.”

Sera looked mildly confused.

”So you do shoot it.”

”Yes.”

”How far?”

Kael almost laughed.

Milo looked toward him.

Kael whispered, ”Not me.”

Malrec heard.

”I assume this is relevant.”

”No,” Kael said. ”Continue.”

Sera answered with a distance.

It was longer than Kael expected.

He immediately wanted details.

He said nothing.

Milo noticed and looked almost proud.

Malrec asked Sera whether she had ever used the bow to enforce Kael’s orders against civilians.

”No.”

”Would you?”

”Depends on the order.”

”Good answer.”

”Not really.”

Malrec raised an eyebrow.

Sera continued. ”Too broad.”

For the first time since arriving, Malrec smiled fully.

It changed his face.

”Excellent.”

Kael looked toward Darius.

”Why does everyone like complicated answers except when I give them?”

”Because yours usually become projects.”

That ended the Guild visit.

They walked toward Blackwood Hollow next.

Kael became suspicious.

”You planned a route.”

Malrec looked at him.

”Of course.”

”You asked Brother Caelen about Blackwood before arriving.”

”Of course.”

”You already knew about the clinic.”

”Yes.”

”The forge.”

”Yes.”

”The Guild.”

”Yes.”

Kael frowned.

”Then this isn’t just walking.”

”No.”

”You lied.”

”I said I wanted to walk.”

”That was technically true.”

”Yes.”

Darius spoke behind them.

”You should appreciate precision.”

Kael ignored him.

Blackwood Hollow was busier than it had been even a month earlier.

The main market street had expanded beyond its old boundaries. Temporary stalls stood near newer permanent shops. A wagon loaded with timber blocked half the road while two laborers argued about where it belonged.

Malrec stopped several times.

Not to inspect Church buildings.

There was only a modest local chapel anyway.

He watched commerce.

Asked about rents.

Asked who maintained the public well.

Asked where complaints about merchants were filed.

Asked whether nonhuman travelers could rent rooms at the same inns as humans.

That last question caught Kael’s attention.

”Generally.”

”Generally?”

”There have been problems.”

”Resolved?”

”Some.”

Malrec looked toward him.

Kael continued before the Archdeacon could ask.

”We do not have a rule forcing every innkeeper to accept every traveler. We do prohibit certain forms of discriminatory contract interference in House-controlled facilities, and public services cannot exclude people based solely on race.”

Malrec listened carefully.

”Why solely?”

”Because someone can still be excluded for violence, nonpayment, threat, disease risk, capacity, or other legitimate reasons.”

Malrec nodded.

”You thought about that.”

”Yes.”

”Good.”

They passed Walter near a produce cart.

Walter saw Kael.

Then Malrec.

Then the Church seal.

His expression became wary.

Kael smiled.

”Walter.”

”Your Highness.”

”Archdeacon Malrec.”

Walter bowed reluctantly.

Malrec nodded.

”Farmer?”

Walter looked offended.

”Among other things.”

Kael almost choked.

Darius turned away.

The infection had spread through the entire territory.

Malrec looked toward Kael.

Kael shook his head.

”Do not ask.”

Walter pointed toward a wagon.

”I sell produce too.”

Malrec nodded.

”Then merchant.”

”Not enough to pay merchant fees.”

Edwin would have appreciated that.

Malrec asked, ”What do you think of the two men seeking knighthood?”

Walter frowned.

”Elias and Marcus?”

”Yes.”

Walter looked suspicious.

”Will this get them in trouble?”

”That depends what you say.”

Walter did not appreciate the answer.

Kael waited.

Finally Walter said, ”Elias thinks too much until he gets angry. Then he stops thinking entirely.”

Kael covered his mouth.

Malrec showed nothing.

”And Marcus?”

”Marcus thinks while he’s angry.”

Walter paused.

”Sometimes too much.”

Malrec nodded.

”Useful.”

Walter crossed his arms.

”Are they getting their names in the book?”

”Perhaps.”

Walter frowned deeply.

”People keep saying that.”

Malrec looked toward him.

”What would you prefer?”

”Yes or no.”

”So would I.”

Walter stared.

Then laughed.

”Maybe you’re not terrible.”

”High praise.”

Walter looked toward Kael.

”He can stay.”

Then returned to his cart.

Kael watched him go.

”You wanted ordinary opinions.”

”Yes.”

”Why?”

”Because titles affect ordinary people.”

Malrec nodded.

That answer apparently satisfied him.

They continued.

Near the edge of Blackwood Hollow, they passed three children fighting with wooden sticks.

One wore a cooking pot as a helmet.

Another had tied a red cloth around his shoulders.

The third had no armor but had somehow acquired a shield made from a barrel lid.

The one in the red cloth shouted, ”I’m Champion Victor!”

Kael stopped.

Darius stopped.

Malrec looked toward him.

Kael closed his eyes.

Victor had been gone two days.

Already immortalized by children.

The barrel-shield child yelled, ”You’re cheating!”

”Champions can cheat!”

”No they can’t!”

”They can if they win!”

Darius started walking toward them.

Kael watched.

The children froze when they recognized him.

Darius looked at the red-cloaked boy.

”Champions cannot cheat.”

The boy swallowed.

”Yes, sir.”

”Again.”

The children restarted their duel.

Darius returned.

Kael smiled.

”That was surprisingly gentle.”

”They were children.”

”You terrify adults too.”

”Adults should know better.”

Malrec looked between them.

”Victor is the Imperial prince who won the Swordsman Division?”

”Yes.”

”And he serves here?”

Kael considered the word.

”He spends significant time here.”

”Where is he?”

”Third Legion administrative rotation.”

Malrec looked interested.

”After winning?”

”Yes.”

”Whose decision?”

”Adrian arranged it.”

Malrec nodded slowly.

”Good.”

Kael raised an eyebrow.

”Why?”

”Because applause teaches very little about responsibility.”

Kael smiled.

”Adrian said something similar.”

”Then Prince Adrian has occasionally had sensible thoughts.”

Kael looked toward Darius.

”Can Church officials insult Imperial heirs?”

”No,” Darius said.

Malrec continued walking.

”I did not insult him.”

”You said occasionally.”

”I lack evidence for constantly.”

Kael decided he liked Solmara slightly more.

By the time they returned to the manor, nearly four hours had passed.

Malrec had visited more of Blackwood than some nobles accomplished during three-day stays.

He asked to rest for one hour.

Then requested the House statement.

Kael met him in the study shortly before evening.

This time only Darius, Edwin, and Brother Caelen attended.

Malrec sat near the window with House Kael’s written answer in his hands.

He had already read it.

Several times, judging by the small marks along the margin.

Kael did not like the marks.

Malrec read one section aloud.

”’Conduct worthy of the trust carried by his title.’”

He looked toward Kael.

”Your words?”

”Partly.”

”Whose?”

”Blackwood’s.”

Malrec’s expression changed slightly.

”You asked the territory to write Church doctrine?”

”No.”

”Good.”

Kael leaned forward.

”You asked what House Kael believes.”

”Yes.”

”I asked people within House Kael and people affected by the knights it produces what they believed a knight owed them.”

”Why?”

”Because I did not want the answer to be only mine.”

Malrec looked toward Darius.

”Did you contribute?”

”Yes.”

”Edwin?”

”Yes.”

”Elias and Marcus?”

”Yes.”

”Farmers?”

”Yes.”

”Blacksmiths?”

”Yes.”

”Healers?”

”Yes.”

”Soldiers?”

”Yes.”

Malrec looked back toward Kael.

”Then who decided the final answer?”

”I did.”

That answer came immediately.

Malrec nodded.

”Good.”

Kael frowned.

”You keep saying that.”

”Because you keep narrowly avoiding bad answers.”

Edwin looked down.

Kael suspected amusement.

Malrec placed the statement on the desk.

”If you had told me Blackwood voted and therefore the statement became correct, I would have rejected the reasoning.”

”Why?”

”Truth is not created by counting hands.”

Kael nodded.

”But listening mattered.”

”Yes.”

”Why?”

”Because leadership without listening becomes ignorance with authority.”

Malrec studied him.

”You have thought about this recently.”

”Repeatedly.”

”I can tell.”

Kael was not certain whether that was praise.

Malrec tapped the statement.

”You say a knight owes restraint where strength creates inequality.”

”Yes.”

”What if restraint gets someone killed?”

”Then restraint was probably the wrong choice.”

Malrec raised an eyebrow.

Kael continued.

”I don’t mean passivity. I mean not using power merely because you have it.”

”Better.”

Malrec moved to another line.

”’Offer aid where duty and judgment permit.’ Very safe language.”

Kael frowned.

”It is accurate.”

”It protects the knight.”

”Sometimes the knight needs protection from unreasonable expectation.”

Malrec leaned back.

”Explain.”

”A knight cannot answer every request. Cannot abandon a military post because every civilian problem feels morally urgent. Cannot promise protection he cannot provide. Cannot assume the person asking is truthful. Duty can conflict with compassion.”

Malrec looked toward Darius.

”Your influence?”

”Some.”

Kael added, ”Iris too.”

”Scout?”

”Yes.”

Malrec nodded.

Then he asked, ”What does the helpless liar deserve?”

Kael paused.

”Consideration.”

”Not belief?”

”No.”

”Protection?”

”Depends.”

”Respect?”

”Basic respect, yes.”

”Justice?”

”If justice is relevant.”

Malrec continued.

”And what does the powerful man falsely accused by someone weaker deserve?”

”The same serious consideration.”

Malrec nodded.

”Good.”

Kael sighed.

”There it is again.”

Malrec ignored him.

”Your statement says no person is beneath consideration because they lack power to demand service.”

”Yes.”

”Would you extend that beyond Imperial citizens?”

Kael thought of Elias asking almost the same thing.

”Yes.”

”To criminals?”

”Consideration is not acquittal.”

”Enemies?”

”Consideration is not surrender.”

”Foreigners?”

”Yes.”

”Nonhumans?”

”Yes.”

”People hostile to House Kael?”

”Yes.”

”People hostile to the Empire?”

Kael paused longer.

Malrec noticed.

Kael answered carefully.

”They can still be enemies.”

”Yes.”

”They can still be dangerous.”

”Yes.”

”They can still deserve whatever lawful consequences their actions require.”

”Yes.”

”But being an enemy does not automatically make cruelty virtuous.”

Silence.

Malrec watched him.

Kael suddenly wondered how Seraphine would answer.

Or Augustus.

Or Cassian.

Or the Church itself.

Malrec looked down at the statement.

”Then you believe knighthood contains obligations beyond political loyalty.”

Kael frowned.

”I believe political loyalty is part of knighthood.”

”That is not what I asked.”

”No.”

The room remained quiet.

Kael continued.

”I think the title means something even when nobody is watching and nobody can punish failure.”

Malrec finally smiled faintly.

”That is closer.”

”To what?”

”The question.”

Kael looked at him.

”You already have your own answer.”

”Of course.”

”And you made us do all this anyway.”

”Yes.”

”That is terrible.”

”It was useful.”

Kael could not argue.

Malrec folded the statement carefully.

”I approve of this.”

Kael blinked.

The Archdeacon continued.

”I do not agree with every implication.”

There it was.

”But I believe House Kael has treated the question seriously.”

Kael looked toward Darius.

Darius gave him nothing.

Edwin asked, ”Will the statement enter the candidates’ records?”

”Yes.”

Kael became more attentive.

”Permanently?”

”Yes.”

”Why?”

”Because Elias Thorn and Marcus Wintermere are being consecrated under House Kael.”

”Assuming you approve.”

”Assuming.”

Malrec looked toward him.

”The institution that presents a knight matters.”

That sentence stayed with Kael.

Malrec continued. ”If a knight later commits serious misconduct, investigators do not examine only the individual. They ask who trained him. Who commanded him. What behavior was tolerated. What House benefited from his service.”

Kael’s expression changed.

”Collective responsibility?”

”No.”

Malrec answered immediately.

”Context.”

Better.

”A House is not guilty because one knight fails.”

”Good.”

”But if ten knights from the same House fail in the same way, pretending each failure appeared independently would be foolish.”

Kael thought immediately of Guild rankings.

Institutions.

Patterns.

Malrec noticed.

”Do not build anything.”

Kael stared.

Darius looked away.

Even Edwin smiled.

”This is becoming disrespectful.”

Malrec stood.

”It is becoming accurate.”

The meeting ended.

Official interviews remained tomorrow.

Separate.

Elias first.

Marcus second.

No Kael.

No Darius.

No Edwin.

Only Malrec, Brother Caelen, and one additional Church recorder.

Kael disliked that.

Which was probably another reason it was useful.

He found Elias and Marcus after dinner in the Black Dragon training hall.

Neither was training.

Elias sat against the wall cleaning a sword that had already been cleaned.

Marcus was inspecting the same length of leather strap for what appeared to be the sixth time.

Kael leaned against the doorway.

”You both look terrible.”

Elias looked up.

”Thank you.”

Marcus set the strap down.

”What did he ask you?”

Kael smiled.

”Nice attempt.”

Elias frowned.

”You’re not allowed to coach us. That doesn’t mean you can’t tell us what happened.”

”Brother Caelen would disagree.”

”You hate Brother Caelen.”

”I do not.”

”You complained about him yesterday.”

”That is different.”

Marcus looked toward him.

”Did Malrec like the statement?”

”Yes.”

Both men relaxed slightly.

”He disagreed with parts.”

The relaxation disappeared.

Kael laughed.

Elias glared.

”You could have stopped after yes.”

”That would be dishonest.”

Marcus asked, ”Which parts?”

”No.”

”Kael.”

”No.”

Elias leaned back.

”I hate the Church.”

”You are about to ask it to consecrate you.”

”I hate the process.”

”Better.”

Kael entered the room.

For a moment he considered saying something reassuring.

Then remembered Malrec’s warning about prepared words.

So instead he sat against the opposite wall.

Nobody spoke.

That seemed to help more.

Eventually Elias asked, ”What happens if he approves one of us and not the other?”

Kael had considered that.

”Then one goes to Solmara.”

Marcus looked toward Elias.

Elias looked back.

Neither liked the answer.

Kael continued.

”And the other stays.”

Marcus asked, ”No delay for both?”

”No.”

”Why?”

”Because you’re not one person.”

That quieted them.

Kael thought of the Blood Dragon soldiers he had once tended to think about as units.

Knight candidates.

Blacksmiths.

Scouts.

Mages.

Archers.

Components.

Cassian’s warning remained annoyingly alive.

”One of you succeeding does not become an insult to the other.”

Elias smiled faintly.

”That sounds easy to say before tomorrow.”

”Yes.”

Kael nodded.

”It probably is.”

Marcus leaned his head back against the wall.

”Do you think we’ll pass?”

Kael could have answered.

He wanted to.

Instead he said, ”I think both of you are capable of becoming knights worthy of Blackwood.”

Elias frowned.

”That was political.”

”No.”

”It sounded political.”

Kael looked at him.

”I said capable.”

The room quieted.

”That means I think you can.”

Kael continued.

”It does not mean I know what Malrec will decide.”

Marcus nodded.

That answer seemed to satisfy him more.

Outside, footsteps crossed the corridor.

Milo appeared in the doorway carrying a plate.

He stopped.

Looked at Kael.

Then Elias.

Then Marcus.

”This feels serious.”

”It was,” Elias said.

Milo looked at his food.

”Should I leave?”

Marcus shrugged.

”You can stay.”

Milo considered.

”Dangerous offer.”

He sat beside Kael.

The plate contained half a meat pie.

Kael looked at it.

”Where did you get that?”

”Kitchen.”

”Did Lily give it to you?”

Milo took a bite.

”You ask questions with painful answers.”

Kael sighed.

Elias laughed.

The tension broke.

Milo looked between the two candidates.

”Interviews tomorrow?”

”Yes,” Marcus said.

”Nervous?”

”Yes.”

Milo nodded.

”Reasonable.”

Elias looked toward him.

”You have nothing stupid to say?”

”I have several things.”

”Why aren’t you saying them?”

Milo took another bite.

”Because you’re actually nervous.”

That surprised Kael.

Milo shrugged.

”I can be annoying later.”

Marcus smiled faintly.

”Thanks.”

”You’re welcome.”

Then Milo added, ”If you fail, I get Elias’s room.”

Elias threw the cleaning cloth.

Milo raised one finger.

A small burst of pressure caught the cloth in midair and dropped it neatly onto Kael’s head.

For half a second, nobody moved.

Then Marcus laughed.

Kael removed the cloth slowly.

”Milo.”

”Yes, Your Highness?”

”Run.”

Milo was already gone.

Elias laughed hard enough that the interview disappeared from his mind for at least a minute.

Kael decided the mage had earned the stolen pie.

Later that night, Malrec stood alone on the manor’s northern balcony.

Kael found him by accident while returning from the administrative wing.

He almost continued walking.

Then Malrec spoke.

”You can ask.”

Kael stopped.

”How do you know I have a question?”

”You are eighteen steps into pretending you do not.”

Kael frowned.

”That is disturbingly specific.”

Malrec looked north.

The sky was clear.

Beyond the manor, the Imperial road disappeared into darkness long before reaching the routes that would eventually turn toward Aurelia and then Solmara.

Kael joined him.

”My question is about Solmara.”

”I assumed.”

”What is it actually like?”

Malrec looked toward him.

”You have maps.”

”I have maps of Blackwood too.”

”And?”

”They don’t tell you what Bram thinks about knights.”

Malrec nodded.

”Fair.”

He rested both hands against the balcony stone.

”Solmara is old.”

”Brother Caelen said that.”

”Then he has learned something.”

Kael smiled.

Malrec continued.

”South Solmara is mostly farmland, river settlements, religious estates, market towns, and roads carrying pilgrims and goods toward the interior. The farther north you travel, the older many institutions become.”

”Orinth?”

”Large. Busy. More secular than outsiders expect.”

Kael raised an eyebrow.

”Really?”

”People imagine a city full of priests praying continuously.”

”That was not exactly what I imagined.”

”It was close.”

Kael did not deny it.

Malrec continued. ”Orinth has bakers, thieves, lawyers, bookbinders, taverns, hospitals, schools, merchants, beggars, aristocrats, laborers, pilgrims, soldiers passing under treaty, and enough Church administrators to make all of them miserable.”

Kael laughed.

”Church territory sounds remarkably ordinary.”

”Of course.”

Malrec looked at him.

”Religion does not prevent roofs from leaking.”

That sentence Kael remembered.

”What makes it different?”

Malrec thought longer.

”Memory.”

Kael waited.

”Solmara remembers everything.”

”What does that mean?”

”Old grants. Old oaths. Old disputes. Old saints. Old betrayals. Old compromises between emperors and bishops. Old families who believe a document signed three centuries ago explains why they should still control a bridge.”

Kael smiled faintly.

”That sounds terrible.”

”It is.”

”And useful?”

”Sometimes.”

Malrec looked north again.

”You are building quickly in Blackwood.”

There was no judgment in the statement.

Kael answered anyway.

”I know.”

”Solmara will show you the opposite problem.”

”Institutions too old to change?”

”No.”

Malrec shook his head.

”Institutions so old that people forget which parts changed already.”

Kael became still.

Malrec continued.

”People speak of tradition as if it descended whole from the sky. Most traditions were arguments once.”

That was good enough that Kael immediately wanted Edwin to write it down.

He did not.

Malrec looked toward him.

”When you come to Solmara, do not look for a perfect Church.”

”I wasn’t.”

”You were.”

Kael sighed.

”Everyone keeps telling me what I’m thinking.”

”You are expressive.”

”Apparently.”

Malrec turned toward the door.

”Tomorrow I speak with Elias and Marcus.”

Kael nodded.

”And after?”

”If both are suitable, we leave for Solmara two mornings later.”

Kael looked toward him.

”We?”

Malrec stopped.

”My party is returning.”

”I assumed Elias and Marcus would travel separately after approval.”

”They could.”

”But?”

Malrec looked toward him.

”House Kael submitted them.”

Kael waited.

”You should see where their names will be entered.”

That surprised him.

”Is that required?”

”No.”

”Then why invite me?”

Malrec’s expression became difficult to read.

”Because one day you may present more knights.”

Kael thought of the Black Dragon.

Fifty originals.

Future soldiers.

Future commanders.

Perhaps others who would pass examinations years from now.

Malrec continued.

”And because princes should occasionally see institutions they do not control.”

Kael smiled slowly.

”There it is.”

”What?”

”The real reason.”

”One of them.”

Malrec walked inside.

Kael remained on the balcony.

Two mornings after the interviews.

If both men passed.

Blackwood to the Imperial Province of Aurelia.

Then north.

Across the Arven River.

Into Solmara.

For the first time, the journey felt close enough to become real.

Tomorrow would decide whether Elias and Marcus were ready to carry the title Blackwood had already begun giving them in conversation.

And for once, Kael would not be in the room when the decision was made.