Damianos considered the criticism, measuring how reasonable it seemed. He supposed to an outsider, who didn’t believe in what the king and priest had to say, there would be plenty of doubt. There had been misgivings in Kalare at the time, but the results spoke for themselves, and hushed criticism among the Kalarian population. Achlys and Oreias would understandably be wary of the situation, which would prejudice them. But the Oreiasans were surprisingly moderate in their criticism, almost as if they were aware of their prejudices, and wished to be fair in spite of them. He could see this in Celena even today. So, in fairness, he needed to take the same approach.

  He began to consider what he knew of King, later Emperor Andronicus, and Father Isaurus. The priest had risen through the ranks of his profession quickly, which was indicative of either great talent, or great desire for power. The king had gained the throne after a civil war had killed off those who had a better claim. He hadn’t been expected to become king, and therefore, was in a rather precarious position when he did. But he was quickly able to solidify his hold on the throne, through key alliances with important families within Kalare, and important leaders in the army and navy. Some had accused the king of assassinations and sabotage during the war, and similar crimes afterward. The priest was accused of little better. Such words were immediately contradicted in Kalare, most of the time. But accounts from that time were rather vague, since the civil war had destroyed some records, and they were a convoluted mess to begin with. While that didn’t mean such crimes were committed, the rise of both king and priest was so remarkable, Damianos could see why some suspected foul play.

  He remembered that King Andronicus and Father Isaurus had met prior to the end of the civil war, with the holy man becoming the king’s personal priest. If there was going to be a coordinated deception, they could have begun to lay their plans then. He also read that neither had been particularly well thought of prior to attaining their positions, though that could only be discerned from the writings that came from before and during the civil war, not afterward, when such criticism would have been unwise. For that matter, the change in opinion was rather sudden and suspicious, and it was strange such works from those time periods were always locked up, as if there was a wish to hide the truth.

  He looked in his Bible, to the account that inspired the revelations in the first place. It suddenly struck him that the nations that were destroyed and conquered by the Israelites, were so evil, that there wasn’t much of a comparison to be made between them, and those that Kalare had subjugated, or wished to. God clearly spelled out the wickedness of the nations of Canaan by commanding the Israelites not to follow the same practices.

  Here, Damianos had to admit, his nation was in error. Kalare may be destined to rule the planet, but the methods used were not righteous. He would have to warn Nikolos of this. Celena had probably come to the same conclusion, considering that she didn’t seem to making any efforts to bring Oreias into the fold.

  He wondered how he would go about presenting his findings to Nikolos. It would be difficult to convince Nikolos, without he and others assuming that Damianos had lost his sanity during his imprisonment. He supposed he would have to say that he wasn’t absolutely certain of what was going on, since he, as a prisoner in Achlys, didn’t have access to the records he would have been able to get otherwise. He was Nikolos’s friend and personal spy after all. But Nikolos would have access, and Damianos wanted him on his guard. Damianos might be completely wrong in his suspicions, but the story in the Bible, and the sudden shift in public opinion once the Emperor Andronicus and Father Isaurus had sufficient power, suggested that something sinister had taken place. Damianos didn’t know how deep the deception was, but it was enough for him to question other things about the old policy too.

  He began composing his letter with the materials the first Kalarian scout had given him since his imprisonment. He concealed them under a lose tile in the wall next to his bunk. The next scout who came would take the message to Nikolos. But the letter was still hard to compose. How could he write it so as to warn his friend, without casting doubt on his own credibility?

  Chapter 17

  Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covert all sins.

  Proverbs 10:12

  It took a few days for Thespia, to finally be able to calmly accept that Achlys had acted horribly, and that the Kalarians had good reason for their anger toward the Achlysians. The initial plan might have had some merit. Kalare’s citizenry was key to its success after all. But it would have been better to simply capture the land and leave the people on it. Even if that didn’t work, the people should have been treated humanely once they had been captured.

  Looking further into the episode, it appeared that such instances of cruelty had also happened more than once. The Achlysians would be triggered by the Kalarians angering them. It was always over something big, because the Achlysians were easygoing to a fault, as she well knew. But once that event happened, the Achlysians were eager for blood and revenge. Achlysians had gone on rampages the likes of which were still viewed with shock and horror. Thespia had to admit herself that her own behavior toward Damianos was indicative of just how aggressive Achlysians could be when they were sufficiently provoked.

  The Kalarians were wrong in deciding to invade other nations, because they felt they had a right to. But that was no excuse for Achlys’s behavior. It wasn’t called for. She also concluded that Damianos, and other Kalarians, were justified in resenting them. It would explain why the rivalry had become so violent. Losing Roxanna to Vasilis, was probably just the cherry on top, concerning the humiliation and bitterness Kalare must feel toward Achlys.

  It was after reaching these conclusions, that Thespia sincerely wished the war over. If her beloved people could turn into coldblooded killers, how much worse it must be for those who were of more passionate tempers, those quicker to anger. Kalare had certainly evidenced this behavior a time or two, which was why the Achlysians loathed them so much. Somehow, Oreias seemed to have avoided these excesses. Thespia wasn’t sure how, but it probably had something to do with the temper of the people in general. While certainly capable of anger, they had restraint. Their outbursts were somehow controlled enough that they never did anything of lasting harm, as demonstrated by Roxanna. Of course, with someone as saintly as Celena on their side, and Thespia had reason to believe Celena wasn’t the only Oreiasan royal with such an angelic temperament, it was little wonder that the Oreiasans as a whole had such good characters. Somehow, the quiet Celena was proving to be quite strong in her own way, though her influence was subtle, it was significant. Thespia realized that in a way, Celena was a greater threat than even Roxanna, for the pressure Celena applied was so gentle, no one noticed it until it was too late. She began to see why Roxanna and Estella held their younger sister in such high regard.

  It was then that Thespia realized that Celena’s marriage to her brother would never happen. Celena was too complex a person for someone as simple, though not stupid, as Georgios. No, if it were possible, Thespia felt Celena would make a better bride for Nikolos, for she could bring the Kalarian Empire into a more peaceful era, without anyone being the wiser until the deed was done. But Thespia didn’t wish this fate on the poor girl. She wasn’t sure Celena’s nerves could take being married to a man whom Thespia still viewed as a monster. Nikolos had shown interest in Celena before from Thespia’s understanding, but he was not the sort to act on his affections when other considerations weighted heavily with him. No, while an interesting thought, Thespia didn’t think Celena and Nikolos would marry.

  But back to her original trouble, she was now convinced that war brought out the worst in people. No, that wasn’t entirely true. It had made Vasilis into a man willing to go after what he wanted, because he didn’t want to lose Roxanna to a loveless forced marriage. It had softened Roxanna, so she was less controlling. It had caused Theodoros and Estella to realize that their work was noticed, but that they should be humble too. It was even showing her that the enemy wasn’t always wrong. In a strange way, it seemed to be bringing out the subtle strength in Celena as well. Where would the war lead her before it was over? Thespia could only guess, but she sensed it would be something great. Celena had managed to convince her that the Kalarians weren’t the worst people in the world, only people laboring under deception and resentment, no worse than the Achlysians. If she convinced Damianos of something similar, Thespia doubted there was anyone Celena couldn’t reform given time. It was difficult to resist someone so unassuming and kindhearted.

  Speaking of Damianos, Thespia felt she should speak to him, so they could both work toward ending the war. She was eager for it to end now, for she didn’t want Achlys to have another opportunity to show its impetuous nature. But would he be willing to speak to her? He might if he had decided to listen to Celena, for it occurred to her that Celena was gaining some influence over him. But would that be enough? She doubted it. Celena needed time to convince people to see matters form her point of view, and Thespia didn’t think enough time had passed for Damianos to forgive her. Thespia wouldn’t blame Damianos if he chose to never speak to her again, which surprisingly, hurt her.

  But something must be done. She still believed Damianos was in some sort of contact with Emperor Nikolos. Come to think of it, that was probably why he remained imprisoned. She suspected the Kalarians would have gotten him out otherwise, considering how close of a friend he seemed to be with emperor. While it was doubtful Nikolos would risk his agents to rescue a mere friend, Damianos was nonetheless a valuable asset, who might know information that he hadn’t been able to pass along to his master, due to the circumstances he was in. Such intelligence could lead to the Kalarian Empire winning the war in spite of all, and this scared Thespia. It only added more urgency to her wish to make peace with Damianos.

  She didn’t know what to do. She prayed for guidance from God concerning how she ought to proceed.

  Chapter 18

  Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

  ~ Proverbs 12:22

  Damianos was also struggling with what to do. He wished to make right what had been the errors of Kalare over the years, and apologize for the contempt he had held Thespia in for her opinion of Kalare, which now proved to be well founded. But he doubted she would visit again. He doubted he would ever see her again except under troubling circumstances, either at the negotiation table, for one of her rank and position relative to the Achlysian crown, was bound to make an appearance, or through the victory of Kalare over Achlys and Oreias, which wouldn’t be pleasant circumstances for her, or him now for that matter. Yes, he would technically be the victor, but it would be a tainted victory after knowing that at least some foul play was afoot.

  He was surprised therefore, when Thespia and Thespia alone came to his cell a few days later, with a basket on her arm like Celena always carried. They were silent for a while, both feeling too awkward to speak. Finally, Damianos felt he must say something, due to a wish of not appearing fearful in front of her, and due to Kalare’s more assertive character when compared to Achlys.

  “I’m sorry for what I said to you before,” he said. “It was wrong. I see now that Achlys has some reason for resenting Kalare, even if I don’t know the full extent of it yet.”

  Thespia almost jumped with shock, but she quickly recovered herself.

  “I’m sorry too, for the crimes the Achlys committed against Kalare,” she said. “While I can’t change what happened, I can at least work toward establishing friendlier relations between our two nations in the future.”

  They were silent again. He was surprised that she had realized the truth, and she must be just as surprised he was willing to admit his nation’s fault.

  “So, what do we do now?” she asked. “I think we are both in agreement that this war needs to end, for the sake of both our countries, before something truly horrible happens. But how do we go about bringing peace? We are just two people, who though we have influence, it’s not enough to stop a conflict that has been raging for centuries, and probably won’t end within our lifetimes.”

  “I don’t know,” he admitted. “While my efforts will be toward fixing the wrong done by Kalare, and enlightening the nation of the deception it has suffered under for all these years, it will be uphill work. A culture that has believed for centuries, that it has been divinely appointed to rule the planet, can’t change that opinion immediately. It took me long enough to come to the right conclusion, and it was by no means easy. How much harder will it be for those who have more to gain from this malicious plot than I do? Nikolos for example, will be next to impossible to move. He is determined, obstinate even. Changing his mind will be like trying to move a mountain.”

  Thespia sighed. “I doubt Achlys will take well to what I have to say either. We are so used to seeing you Kalarians as the scum of the earth, that recognizing you have legitimate grievances will be impossible for some at first. It truly does feel like further conflict is inevitable.”

  It was now Damianos’s turn to sigh. “I don’t know what will stop them. I don’t know if there is any earthly thing that can. But I will do my best to stop the fight, that, as you believe, is coming. I don’t know for certain what Nikolos has in mind, but I know he won’t give up that easily. There will be no peace treaty, and if there is, it won’t be meant to last long. He won’t have it said that a war was lost during his reign. Having a father like Emperor Agrios will do that to you. But my influence will be limited. If the change in my sentiments is known, anything I say will be immediately dismissed. I may be exiled too. I can’t help but not want to hurt my friend either, even if I see he is in the wrong, though I suspect he has been deceived more than ourselves. Still, I’ll do what I can, though that will be precious little until more people come to our way of thinking.

  “My outright saying what I think now, will probably put us in a worse off position, since I won’t be able to influence Nikolos anymore, or those with him. Yet, I think we will have help when our two sides meet for negotiations. There are those in Kalare who are always looking to advance themselves at another’s expense. They will not be true friends, but they at least will be able to add numbers to our cause. I never much cared for them, but I think they will be willing to work with me should I prove discrete. They don’t want to suffer any backlash should this plan fail, and I get into trouble.”

  “It would be better if there were those we could actually trust,” said Thespia. “Surely there are some who disagree with the direction Kalare has gone in.”

  Damianos considered for a moment. “There are such people though they are difficult to track down. They have made their sentiments known. They weren’t deceived by Andronicus and Isaurus. But who they are, isn’t easy to say. They keep their true identities hidden, and with good reason. The imperial family has long been on the hunt for them, and Nikolos has proven no exception. I think he carries an extra heavy burden on him, since he isn’t naturally as ruthless as his father, and others who have come before him.”

  “He isn’t?” asked Thespia in surprise. “I always thought he was just as bad as his father, if not worse.”

  Damianos smiled a little. “No, Nikolos is a good man, far better than his father ever was. I think he is naturally rather compassionate, though that has been suppressed by his parents, and the circumstances he has been born into. It will be hard to undo that. But I’ll do what I can. He isn’t as heartless as he likes to pretend he is.”

  Chapter 19

  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

  ~ 1 John 3:18

  Thespia was good to her word, and began her efforts to bring peace between Achlys, Oreias, and the Kalarian Empire, as soon as she left the prison. There wasn’t much she could do at first. In fact, she was at a complete loss. She considered telling her brother, and the royal family, but such an abrupt change in her sentiments, would probably cause them to think she had lost her mind. The only one she could see taking her words the way she wanted was Celena, whom she did confide in.

  Celena was surprised and pleased that Thespia had come to such favorable conclusions.

  “I don’t think the Kalarians are entirely in the right,” said Thespia. “I still think they have done wrong by beginning the conflict in the first place. But I see why they dislike us, and hope to resolve this struggle peacefully, so we don’t bring out the worst in each other anymore.”

  Celena offered suggestions for how Thespia could bring this goal about.

  “Do what you can to soften criticism toward the Kalarians,” said Celena. “Bringing up the fact we aren’t faultless, and that they have been deceived, would help. Of course, you can’t really say everything that you have discovered without being immediately dismissed. But hinting at the truth, softly resisting efforts to harm the Kalarians, will contribute, without creating much cause for offense. We should also continue to visit the Kalarian prisoners, so we will have advocates among them for peace. As it says in Luke 6:27, ‘But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you.’ This policy already worked once. I believe it can again.”

  Thespia grimaced. “These suggestions aren’t going to get us very far, even if we succeed in bring every Kalarian prisoner over to our way of thinking. It’s frustrating how little our efforts will help.”

  “But even a little is better than nothing,” said Celena. “That little bit adds up after a while. I doubt you would have ever believed that you and Lord Damianos would come to agree, and yet look where we are now. God is at work. He will bring peace, one way or another, and He will use those of us who are willing, and even those who are not, to make it happen. I believe more people will join us as time passes. Damianos already said there are those in Kalare who haven’t fallen for the deception. I imagine it will be even easier to find likeminded people in Oreias and Achlys. They aren’t as hardened as the Kalarians are. The peoples of the countries still conquered by Kalare will be willing to help too, though how many will want to resolve the conflict peacefully, is another matter. Still, I think we will find friends in unexpected places. God uses people who, on the surface, don’t make sense for a job, like Peter and many of the other disciples.”

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9