14 - The Only Way

 

With no time to waste, Bernhart and Luitold headed back into the keep and quietly slipped through the halls toward the Guest Wing, where Rudolf’s private quarters resided. Bernhart was still processing the information Quintus had just told him, though he knew his only option was to continue forward with a stoic face and consider the details later. The Count, a man he looked up to only a week prior, had now been exposed as his greatest enemy, a man willing to destroy, manipulate, and corrupt himself all for the sake of power. 

Luitold seemed to be taking the news quite hard as well, though perhaps for a different reason. Quintus said something else disturbing relating to him, that he would die in a matter of weeks from Novum Verum sickness. He didn’t want to believe it was true. Luitold still looked perfectly healthy. In fact, he had been looking his very best in the past few days. His frequent nutritious meals at the dining hall had certainly played a part in that, as well as his access to the bathhouse. Seeing Luitold in such a healthy state made him yearn for the boy to live a long and happy life. All they had to do was surpass the one hurdle before them in Dietrich’s plan and everything could carry on peacefully. Bernhart imagined if his own life had ended at fourteen. He would have never become a respected fighter, never grown into a man, never met Agnes. It was a cruel thought. He saw himself in the young Luitold. Losing him would maybe be the greatest tragedy of all.

There was no time to dwell on this, however, as the baron’s room was now in reach. It was now nearly bedtime for the people of the castle, so upon entering the Guest Wing, the two of them slowed their footing and continued onward with light and graceful steps against the cold cobblestone floor. Any exterior light was blocked out in this part of the castle, with infrequent lanterns on the walls being the only source of navigation. The flames of the lanterns cast long shadows from Bernhart and Luitold’s bodies both in front of and behind them, their warped figures serving as the only company they had in this rogue and treasonous mission.

A shocking sight appeared before the two as they turned a corner, as Rudolf himself stood directly in front of them, stopping in his tracks as he walked with a candle in his hand. His eyes were tired and his posture was slouched and beaten, despite showing no signs of any physical altercation.

“Rudolf!” Bernhart exclaimed in a hushed voice, “We were looking for you.”

“You two? Just what brings you to the Guest Wing so late at night?” Rudolf asked.

“We can’t explain out here,” Bernhart told him, “Please, take us to your room. There is much to say.”

Rudolf rose from his tired stupor, his face lighting up with adrenaline as he began to infer the intensity of the situation.

“Come with me,” he said, turning around and leading the others down through the hall.

Before long, Rudolf stopped at a door that looked precisely the same as all the others, though he looked at it with certain familiarity. He grabbed the door’s handle and pulled it out, revealing a room within. It was slightly larger than Bernhart and Luitold’s rooms, with a larger and softer looking bed as well as the addition of patterned tapestries hung along its walls. Rudolf held the door open for the two to come in and shut it firmly behind them once they had entered.

“There shouldn’t be anyone else occupying the adjacent rooms to mine, and even so, the walls are quite thick, so tell me all you wish for me to hear,” he said.

“There’s a lot to cover,” Bernhart said, “I suppose I’ll start from the beginning. When I came to the Guest Pavilion today, Dietrich was standing there. He relieved me of my guard duty, saying it wouldn’t be needed any longer.”

“Dietrich?” Rudolf asked, “What do you mean?”

“He’s back,” Bernhart told him, “His trip to Vandemar was a lie, but I can explain that more later. What I need to tell you first is that he’s mastered control of his own beast, and is using it to force Princess Agnes into marriage.”

Rudolf was mature and collected enough to let Bernhart finish speaking before he said anything of his own, but his face clearly demonstrated a sense of shock and intense disturbance in his mind.

“I listened in by the door of the pavilion, and I heard him break a jar. He used the power to threaten Agnes’s life if she didn’t obey him,” Bernhart continued, “It seems he’s already sending word to the capital to arrange their marriage. As soon as I heard, I ran to tell Luitold, and we broke into the laboratory to learn more about what was happening.”

Again, Rudolf did not say a word, although his face became noticeably more pale when the lab was mentioned.

“We held Quintus at swordpoint, and he told us everything about Novum Verum—or, I suppose Heaven’s Blessing as some call it. May I ask, why do you choose to call it by that second name?” Bernhart asked.

Rudolf sighed and walked to the edge of his bed to sit down. Bernhart pulled out a chair from his desk and sat as well, with Luitold choosing to lean against a wall.

“All this time, I’ve known that magic is fake,” the baron said, “But through all of it, I wished I didn’t. In truth, I hid the common name of Novum Verum from you because I don’t like what it represents. While Heaven’s Blessing reflects the material’s original purpose, Novum Verum is the name given to it by those who wish to use it as a tool for control. I miss the innocence I once had in the days when I knew less. Still, I’m sorry for hiding so much from you. It was the wrong choice.”

“I have no ill will towards you in this matter,” Bernhart said, “Quintus told us it was only very recently the two of you came to a more robust conclusion on Novum Verum’s true property.”

“You mean its connection to the realm of beasts?” Rudolf replied, “Yes, I still have trouble accepting that aspect myself.”

“Quintus also told us about Dietrich’s greater role in all this,” Bernhart said, “He said the war with Alemannia was orchestrated by the Count to apply pressure to the King. The dragon attack we experienced in Rheinmark was all part of his plan. He was willing to kill all of us just for a bit of leverage.”

“What?” Rudolf exclaimed.

“I know. This was the part most shocking to myself as well,” Bernhart said, “The nice thing is it means we have no reason to hold back.”

“When you say that, do you mean..?”

“I want you to help me kill him.”

“I see, and how do you suggest we do that without getting ourselves killed?” Rudolf asked.

“That’s what I’m here to ask you,” Bernhart told him, “I imagine this will have to be a militaristic effort.”

“But if the marriage is happening so soon, we won’t have the time to acquire men,” Rudolf said.

“If we strike soon, Dietrich won’t have time either,” Bernhart said, “I doubt he’ll be able to mobilize the castle staff. All he’s got is twenty or so guards and five knights. If Luitold uses what he’s learned in training, I think the three of us can handle a small-scale invasion ourselves.”

“Are you serious?” Rudolf asked, leaning in from his seat, “Even with the element of surprise, three versus twenty-five sounds like a horrible plan.”

“Again, that’s why I’m asking you,” Bernhart said, “Is there anything at all we can do?”

Rudolf closed his eyes and lowered his head close to his chest, seeming to be considering the situation carefully.

“If this is really what we’re doing—this insurgency—there’s only one way I can foresee it working,” Rudolf said, “Tell me, what condition is Quintus in?”

“We let him live,” Bernhart said, “I expect he’ll be contacting Dietrich very soon if he isn’t already. It’s almost certain he knows we’re planning against him.”

“Then this is indeed the only way,” Rudolf continued, “I believe if we are to kill Dietrich, it has to be right now, this very night. Even waiting for the morning would make it impossible. Right now, all of the knights are off duty, likely getting prepared for bed with no armor or weapons at the ready. Any guards throughout the castle will have no forewarning of our attack, with Dietrich having no time to tell them to be on alert. If the three of us move in unison, we can take down Dietrich with ease before anyone even has the faintest idea of our motive. If he uses the beast against us, we will simply have Luitold do the same in return.”

“I see,” Bernhart said, “I can’t believe this is really happening, but there’s no time to dwell on it. I’m ready, brother.”

Bernhart rose from his chair with determination in his spirit. Never once before had he done something so rebellious, something born so exclusively from his own desires. He was about to kill the man that he once owed the world to. All it had taken was a week with some different faces to change the way he saw everything. More than anyone else, the person he now owed his loyalty to was none other than Agnes, the Princess of Avaria and rightful heir to the throne that Dietrich was threatening to take.

Just as Rudolf began to rise from his seat as well, he paused as Luitold started to speak.

“Rudolf, do you know about Novum Verum sickness?” he asked.

“Huh? I’ve never heard of such a thing,” the baron replied.

“It was another thing Quintus told us about,” Luitold said, “He said those exposed to Novum Verum over a long period of time become ill, and they get caught between the two realms until they die. He said I’ve made the process quicker by doing my training, and that I only have a few weeks to live.”

“What?” Rudolf exclaimed, bolting from his bed and approaching Luitold with terror stricken on his face. He put his hands on Luitold’s shoulders and stared into his eyes, “T-this can’t be true, he doesn’t know that for certain!”

“Lower your voice!” Bernhart said to him as he stepped close, speaking softly despite his intensity.

Rudolf’s face had grown disgruntled, with tears forming at the lids of his eyes and his nose scrunched inward.

“He doesn’t know that…” he murmured.

“I don’t know if it’s true either,” Luitold said, “I feel fine right now.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t come along for this operation,” Bernhart said, “I don’t want to risk you getting worse if this sickness is real.”

“No,” Luitold replied firmly, “I want to help. I’m the only one that can.”

Rudolf’s face stiffened as he looked back up at Luitold, his brows furrowed with a paternal and protective anger.

“I can’t let you die, Luitold,” he said, “I made a promise.”

“Huh?” Luitold replied.

“To myself, I mean,” the baron told him, “I can’t have a brother die.”

“And I could say the same thing,” Luitold said, “If Dietrich uses the power of the beast, you have no hope in stopping him. I don’t know how well he’s been trained, but his beast could be stronger than mine because of his age. All of us need to be there.”

Rudolf stepped away and exhaled through his nostrils aggressively.

“Very well,” he said, “I won’t stop you, just this once. But you will only use a jar if it’s absolutely needed.”

“I understand,” Luitold replied.

“Now, let’s go,” Bernhart said, stepping between the others as he headed for the door.

Luitold and Rudolf followed behind him and they left the room without another word. This was truly it. If threatening Quintus wasn’t the point of no return, there was no denying that this was. Even now with his agency in this mission, Luitold couldn’t help but feel he was still living his life in a passive role. Nothing was concrete. Was Dietrich his true enemy? Did the fate of the kingdom matter to him? Could he trust the intuition of Bernhart? All of these questions would have to wait for another time, for now was the beginning of the midnight battle.