Bane of Gnosis: Chapter 4 – Royalty and Rogues

Chapter 4 – Royalty and Rogues

Bane and Andreas come to the kingdom of Regium after two days of travel.

With the capital of the kingdom in sight, Bane says, “Try not to make this look stranger than it already does.”

“How can I not?” Andreas legitimately asks.

Bane’s fairytale prince looks with his golden hair and deep blue eyes contrast Andreas brooding appearance with his dark long hair and beard. Both appear to be so different that it’s as they were from different stories and this contrast strikes the citizens of Regium who see both of them in their carriage as some citizens become worried and question why the two are riding together. Those in the kingdom who are used to being friendly with their political enemies accept this and think as positively as they can as they continue celebrating the arrival of Bane with music. At the castle, Bane and Andreas are met by the council high ranking royalty in the kingdom with most of them talking to each other and only one of them silently thinking about what he should do.

“Uncle,” Bane says as he knees and bows.

Bane hits Andreas’ arm so that he bows similarly to show respect. This brings a smile to his uncle’s face.

“It’s good to see where your loyalties lie. Do you see this? My nephew is still with us.”

“Uncle, I must bring an urgent manner to your attention.”

“Besides the fact that you’ve tamed this wild beast?”

Bane sees that Andreas is aggravated and touches his shoulder to calm him down before saying, “An assassin almost took my life and we managed to make them confess that they came from here, despite saying at first that they were from Virtus.”

“What method did you use to make the assassin confess? Was it the black rose?”

“It was.”

“That flower can make people tell the truth, but it also makes them act drunk, so they may lie like a drunk. Let’s talk more about this manner in private.”

Bane, his uncle, Andreas, and the council go to a courtroom where people from the outside are staring at them from.

“Is all this attention really necessary, uncle? I thought you said that it would be private?” Bane says.

“This is private. The crowd nor the council behind me can intervene in our discussion. Unlike the politics of other kingdoms, we are very transparent in our affairs. The criticism we get is one of the reasons why we are the kingdom where the knowledge of business and statecraft shines the brightest.”

“It’s also one of the reasons how father was able to build his own kingdom.”

“Scitus…my brother loved fantasy and fairy tales so much that I thought that he’d never amount to anything when he said that he would build his own kingdom that cherished all forms of knowledge and save the world. Now, I think that he was more realistic than I was, but what isn’t realistic is the idea that someone from this kingdom would try to frame Virtus for an attempted assassination on your life. As you can see, we are completely transparent even in matters such as this.”

Bane and Andreas look outside to see this is true as people talk to one another and send out people to confirm the claim of the attempted assassination.

“You can trust me on this, uncle. I wouldn’t have come here with this claim otherwise.”

“Why did you bring that animal of a man with you then?”

“This animal can speak for himself,” Andreas says.

“Andreas!”

“No, let the animal speak.”

“I came here to know why my kingdom was being framed for an attempted assassination after being humbled by defeat and my attempts to redeem our name.”

“You will find nothing here. What redemption is there for your kingdom other than letting your people live lives of penance? Your kingdom has always been a savage one for its reliance on the knowledge of battle and violence.”

“My kingdom has also been known for honor, transparency, and strength. We have been the slaves and soldiers for all kingdoms in an attempt to show our worth.”

“Tell me, how did it start, uncle,” Bane interjects, “Did Virtus start as slaves to other kingdoms or as a kingdom of domination and violence?”

“I would say that they started as savages, but to be fair, that knowledge is unfortunately lost to time.”

“Why make an assumption then about them?”

“Because of the way they act, their punishment, and their past deeds speak for themselves. Your father too said to not assume anything about them. It’s why he included some of their people in your kingdom and tried to change their minds.”

“I have made assumptions about the other kingdoms as well,” Andreas says, “But I am trying to move beyond them by working with other kings such as King Bane whose father was my brother’s killer and who brought my kingdom right back down to where it was before. Making assumptions about other people is what my brother did and you are no different than him if you do the same.”

“How dare you compare the ruler of kings to a tyrant!” a queen from behind Bane’s uncle says as the rest of the room becomes rowdy.

Bane then says as loud as he can, “You’re proving his point!” This silences the council as Bane’s uncle attentively listens to his nephew, “The only reason my father managed to overthrow the tyrant was by understanding other fields of knowledge and bringing everyone together to stand up against him. Even though King Andreas and I hardly understand each other’s ways, we are willing to put aside our differences so that both our people can prosper. Shouldn’t you do the same? Isn’t knowledge, isn’t the truth the most valuable thing we cherish?”

“It is,” Bane’s uncle responds confidently and proud of his nephew’s boldness.

“Then act like it. Help me find the people who tried to frame Virtus for an assassination attempt on my life and together we can all gain greater knowledge and understanding together.

The room is silent before Bane’s uncle claps for him along with the rest of the council.

“I agree to help you. Your father would be proud of you,” Bane’s uncle says with a smile.

The council then plans what to do with many in the council begrudgingly working with Andreas. Some arguments break out because he gives them advice and suggestions. After one particular argument that lasts longer than the last, Bane’s uncle notices that two of the council are missing. His question of their location is quickly answered as a group of kings and queens enters the courtroom with their servants with them and the two missing council members among them.

“What is the meaning of this?!” Bane’s uncle says.

“You have lost your way and become blinded by your familial bonds, King Callidus. Arrest that dog of a king or have him killed on the spot. This is your chance to avenge your brother,” one of the royalty demands.

“Are you the people who planned the assassination of my nephew?! Lie, and your lives are forfeit and your families disgraced for generations.”

“What is the harm in doing no harm in a fake assassination attempt especially when they’re coming from orders from our wise superiors?”

“I did not order you to do this!”

“No, but his brother did along with the other members of his family and the council.”

“What?!” both Bane and Callidus say.

“It’s true,” another royal confirms.

“We’ve been keeping an eye on you through our spies,” yet another says, “You did give him some power over your kingdom and he wisely used it.”

“Stand down! All of you! This will not solve any of our problems!” Callidus commands.

“If you’re on the side of your brother’s killer, then we don’t take orders from you. Take their heads!”

The royals approach them with weapons along with their servants. Bane and Callidus draw their weapons, but Andreas steps forward without one.

He says, “Do you really think that you are different than my brother who you call a tyrant? You use subterfuge and violence to force your way onto others just as he did, and there is also you who are from Virtus. Would you turn against your home just because you’re accepted by these people who turn against each other? You are nothing more than traitorous fools, but you can be redeemed if you fight with us.”

Andreas’ speech rallies some of the royalty and servants to his side as they turn against each other. Word of what is going on spreads like wildfire through the capital and even beyond as messengers are sent to other kingdoms to inform the others of what is happening. Sides are taken, arguments are had, and blood is shed as a small civil war happens within the kingdom.

“I didn’t know that you could make your brother sound so bad without saying anything bad about him,” Bane points out.

“I knew comparing them to him would get under their skin especially since it’s true, and no, I wasn’t trying to make him sound bad,” Andreas says.

“What do we do now, uncle?”

“We should rally our forces and try to stop as much violence as possible by setting up debates.”

“I have allies in all kingdoms, but I haven’t visited the worker’s kingdom, Honestus.”

“Then you should go there this instant while I rally my supporters here.”

“I have many friends in Honestus,” Andreas mentions, “They’ll definitely join our side when they see us working together.”

“That doesn’t surprise me since they were integral in your brother’s plan in starting his war just like how Astutia was integral to ours, but I digress. Bane, if you happen to see your brother again, try your best to change his mind.”

“I will, uncle.”

Bane and Andreas are transported by Bane’s and Callidus’ guards out of the capital and to the kingdom of Honestus where Bane’s brother just happens to be going at the same time.