Kingdom Reboot: Rise Of The Conquest System

Chapter 8: Shadows and Gold

The afternoon sun filtered through the moss-covered roof of the old hut. Aurelius sat on the wooden floor with his knights spread around him. They looked like what they were - desperate fugitives with nowhere left to run.

"We need to talk about what comes next," Sir Garrett said. His weathered face was grim. "Victor won't give up hunting us."

"What I still don't understand," Sir Roland said, rubbing his temples in frustration, "is how he managed all this. The timing was fucking perfect."

"Real perfect," Sir Edmund agreed. "We were supposed to leave for the eastern border yesterday. That supply mix-up was what kept us here long enough."

Sir Bradley's eyes narrowed. "You think that was also planned? We leaving for the eastern border?"

"Had to be," Sir Garrett said slowly. "Think about it. How many First Order knights were in the palace yesterday? Just us ten."

Sir William counted on his fingers. "Sir Marcus said the rest were all on assignment. Border patrols mostly. Said Victor had been sending them out for weeks."

"The Paladins too," Sir Thomas added. "Half of them left on pilgrimage to the northern shrines last week. Never seen that many leave at once."

Aurelius felt cold understanding wash over him. As Commander, he should have noticed the pattern. Should have questioned why so many loyal forces were being moved away from the capital.

"He planned this for months," Aurelius said quietly. "Got rid of anyone who might have stopped him."

"That's why we escaped so easily," Sir Joseph realized almost cursing out loud. "The palace should have been crawling with guards. Instead, we fought maybe thirty men total."

"Where was everyone else?" Sir James asked.

"Border duty," Sir Philip said grimly. "Emergency assignments to investigate demon raids. All perfectly reasonable orders."

"Until you add them up," Seraphina said from her corner. She'd been quiet for most of the day. "Then it looks like exactly what it was - clearing the board before making your move."

The weight of Victor's planning settled on them. He'd spent months positioning pieces like a chess master.

"We're all that's left in the capital," Sir Garrett said heavily. "The rest of the First Order is scattered across the kingdom."

"Or dead," Sir Edmund said grimly. "Victor's had time to deal with isolated groups."

The conversation died as they realized how thoroughly they'd been outmaneuvered. Ten knights against an entire kingdom.

"What about succession?" Sir James asked. He was the youngest, barely twenty. "With the king dead, what happens now?"

"Regency," Sir Philip answered. As the oldest knight, he knew palace law. "Victor will claim to rule until a proper heir can be found."

"But there is no heir," Sir Roland pointed out. "The king never married."

"Exactly," Sir Edmund said bitterly. "Victor could rule for years while searching for …distant relatives."

Aurelius looked at his men. They'd given up everything for him. Their homes, their families, their honor. Now they sat planning like common criminals.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "You shouldn't have to live like this because of me."

"My lord," Sir Garrett said formally. "We chose this. Every one of us."

The others nodded, but Aurelius could see doubt creeping in. They were brave men, but they were human. Fear had a way of eating at loyalty.

"We need to see what we have to work with," Sir Bradley said, changing the subject.

They emptied their pockets and laid everything on the floor. It wasn't much. A few silver coins between them. Basic swords from Seraphina's cache. The torn clothes on their backs.

"We look like beggars," Sir Roland said, staring at their bloodstained tunics.

"We are beggars," Sir William replied grimly.

Aurelius examined their equipment with a commander's eye. Every piece was wrong. Cheap steel instead of blessed weapons. Torn cloth instead of enchanted mail. No protective amulets at all.

"This won't do," he said finally. "We're completely vulnerable."

Sir Edmund fingered his torn sleeve. "I miss my mail already. Enchanted steel that could turn a blade. Now I'm wearing cloth that won't stop a kitchen knife."

"All our gear was blessed," Sir Thomas explained to Seraphina who stared at them. "Standard issue for First Order. Has to be when you face things that normal steel can't touch."

"Like what?" she asked.

"Cursed blades," Sir Gareth said. "Demon claws. Dark magic. The blessing protects us from supernatural attacks."

Sir Philip nodded. "My mail saved my life three times that I know of."

"Our weapons too," Sir Garrett added. "Silver inlay in the steel blessed by temple priests. Cuts through dark magic like butter."

Sir Roland touched the basic sword sadly. "This thing couldn't cut through leather armor, much less an enchanted shield."

"Don't forget the amulets," Sir William said. "Mine protected against curses and mind magic. Been wearing it since I took my vows fifteen years ago."

"Now we're naked," Sir Thomas said bluntly. "Magically speaking. Any hedge witch could spell us into dancing like puppets."

“Why wear them then?” Seraphina asked.

“We were not expecting much since our trip was delayed, so we wore common amour of the first order.”

Blue words flashed briefly in Aurelius's vision:

[MAGICAL PROTECTION DEFICIENT]

[ENCHANTMENT MATERIALS NEEDED]

[GROUP VULNERABILITY: CRITICAL]

The system understood their problem. In a world where enemies used enchanted weapons and dark magic, they were defenseless.

Seraphina moved to another loose floorboard and pulled out a small cloth bundle. Inside were dried herbs and a few glass vials.

"Healing draughts," she explained. "Not much, but they'll help with your wounds."

She mixed the herbs with water from her clay pots. The mixture smelled bitter but not unpleasant. One by one, the injured knights drank it down.

Aurelius took his share and felt the liquid work through his system. His cuts stopped throbbing. The faint ache in his muscles faded and he felt better.

"This is the last of my healing supplies," Seraphina said, corking the empty vials. "We'll need more if we plan to keep fighting."

"How much would proper equipment cost?" Sir Garrett asked.

Seraphina was quiet for a moment, calculating. "Enchanted mail for eleven men? Blessed weapons? Protective amulets? Travel supplies and provisions?"

She shook her head. "More gold than you'll see in your lifetimes. Hundreds of dragons, at least."