Thespia smiled. Celena was right. It didn’t seem like Celena had done all that much. She hadn’t commanded armies, persuaded her sisters to end the war, or anything else like that. Yet, she had managed to bring peace between two people who had hated each other before. Yes, God must be at work. There was no other explanation for such small acts yielding such big results.

  So Thespia followed Celena’s advice. She watched for opportunities to moderate people’s anger toward the Kalarians. One such instance soon followed. Her brother and Vasilis were complaining about how the Kalarian troops on the Achlysian border were scaring those who lived there. No one trusted the Kalarians to uphold the ceasefire.

  “To be fair, the Kalarians are probably concerned about what we will do to their people on the other side,” said Thespia.

  Georgios and Vasilis both gave her a surprised look.

  “I don’t doubt that they are, but I would say we have more to worry about than they do,” said Georgios. “The Kalarians are quite willing to use treachery to beat us, and Nikolos is in a tight spot right now.”

  “We are not as saintly as we like to think,” said Thespia. “We have hurt them before.”

  Again, another surprised look from Georgios and Vasilis.

  “Well, it appears all your visits to the prison have had an influence on you,” said Vasilis with a smile. “I would have thought you would be encouraging our suspicions after the row you and Damianos had, from what I heard anyway.”

  Thespia wasn’t sure if he was genuinely pleased by her words, or was concerned and was simply hiding it. Georgios was much easier to read. He did look troubled.

  “Are you feeling alright, Thespia?” asked Georgios.

  “I am,” she replied. “Damianos pointed out that in years prior, prisoners were taken from amongst the border people of Kalare, and were not treated as they should have been. I didn’t want to believe it at first, but after looking into it, with Celena’s encouragement, I found the tale was true. Whether everything the Kalarians hold against us can be viewed in same light, is another story. But they have good reason to resent us in this case.”

  The two men were astonished again, and shared a look as if asking each other if they were hearing the same thing.

  “Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if we have done things that would be frowned upon today,” said Vasilis thoughtfully. “War has a way of bringing out the hatred in all of us. I hope however, you aren’t switch sides and intend to join the Kalarians.”

  This last part was said jokingly, but Thespia rather wondered if Vasilis was half serious. Georgios certainly looked grave.

  “Oh no,” said Thespia. “I still think they were in the wrong by invading their neighbors in the first place. But seeing that we are at fault too, helped me see them, as Celena says, as human.”

  Vasilis looked as if he approved of this, but Georgios still looked nervous. Thespia half expected Georgios to ask her what was going on once Vasilis left, but he didn’t. Still, Thespia knew it would be awkward if he ever did demand to know why her sentiments had changed. She prayed she would do and say what she needed to if that time came.

  Chapter 20

  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

  ~ John 8:32

  Damianos began his efforts to unveil the deception of Kalare, by asking for certain writings from the capital, when the scout came to visit him. He also made inquiries as to any new information, concerning those who were against Kalare’s actions. The scout seemed surprised with these requests, but complied. When he returned a few days later, he brought copies of the materials, and news. Damianos listened to the news first, before starting his reading. The writings could be deleted from the electronic tablet he had been given, but the information about the dissidents was given through word of mouth rather than by written account. It was deemed unwise to write this information for Damianos, even in coded form, as it could be used against them. Damianos knew Kalare was at fault, but he was still loyal to his country. So, he was willing to memorize the news rather than take notes.

  “They are acting as usual, a poster here, a pamphlet there,” said the scout. “They aren’t doing anything unusual. No one has said so, but I don’t think they are allied with our enemies, any enemies, for that matter.”

  Damianos nodded. He understood who the scout was referring to, and it wasn’t Achlys or Oreias. To best of his knowledge, no one else outside of Kalare and the enemy itself, knew of this hostility, though he had reason to believe the royal families of Achlys and Oreias were starting to catch on. The guards had mentioned overhearing something about recovered tablets from important Kalarian generals. Vasilis also sometimes dropped hints when he interrogated Damianos. In fact, Vasilis had done that very thing during their most recent interview, perhaps in retaliation for Thespia’s recent change of heart. Damianos knew she was beginning to try to bring peace between the two sides. But Damianos couldn’t say for sure what Vasilis’s intention was. He may simply have been probing for information, or seeing how much influence Damianos actually had over Thespia. That was the problem with Vasilis. Damianos could usually figure out what someone was up to, based on who they were, and what they had to gain from their actions. Vasilis was too wily for such deductions to work. Only his wife Roxanna, and Celena, seemed to be able to figure out his true motives.

  “It’s not their actions that interest me so much,” said Damianos, “though that is important. I want to know who they are.”

  “To stop them?” asked the scout.

  “Not necessarily,” said Damianos. “As strange as it seems, they may prove useful to Kalare yet. But I can’t put my plan into action unless I know who they are.”

  The scout looked confused, but he trusted Damianos enough not to accuse him of becoming a traitor, like he might have with someone else. He promised to keep an ear out for further information, but doubted he would learn anything direct concerning their identities. This was what Damianos expected, so he was satisfied. The scout then left.

  Damianos could only guess how this interview would be reported to Nikolos. Nikolos might be concerned he had gone soft, or that he had some diabolical plan that would pull Kalare out of the grasp of defeat. Damianos rather hoped for the latter, though it wasn’t going to turn out the way most Kalarians expected.

  He starred at the tablet for a moment before beginning his reading. He was apprehensive of what he was about to find, even afraid. But Celena was right in believing that it would be better if he knew the truth so he could help his people, than continue to live in a lie. It crossed his mind that Celena would be the best person to persuade Nikolos of the truth when the time came. Her mildness was difficult to resist, and he suspected even determined Nikolos would have trouble denying her influence. A strange thought crossed Damianos’s mind that instead of Nikolos marrying Roxanna, Nikolos ought to have married Celena. But he quickly dismissed this idea. Celena was still too timid to be able to withstand the intimidating presence that was Nikolos, nor the deadly court that came with him. Though Nikolos had been attracted to Celena, for he had remarked on her looks to Damianos before, he was too logical to fall for Celena just because he thought she was beautiful. A marriage between those two, no matter how interesting it would be, seemed impossible.

  Damianos prayed that God would show him what he needed to know, and then began his search. It was as he feared. Emperor Andronicus and Father Isaurus were shown to be cunning and ruthless during the time of the civil war. Several people who had been in their way, died under questionable circumstances. After assuming power, those who opposed them often disappeared, or seemingly had a sudden change of heart. Anyone with half a mind could see that they had probably been threatened.

  There was an especially interesting piece, a letter and the reply from the then king and his priest.

  “We need a greater purpose for executing our plan, so it seems bigger than ourselves,” the king wrote. “Something along the religious lines would probably be the best, as then we can deflect the criticism when it comes.”

  The priest’s reply pointed out the story of Israel conquering Canaan.

  “We can say that the other nations are immoral as an excuse, since our people don’t have a lot of contact with them,” said the priest. “Oreias and Achlys will present the most problems, as we have strong trade relations with them, and friendly relations. But the only Kalarians who venture to them on a regular basis are merchants, and they can be brought into line.”

  Damianos checked the date of the letters. Sure enough, it was shortly before the new reform policies began being declared and put into effect. Among those policies, was the support of Kalarian manufacture and produce over that gained by trade. Accounts at the time mentioned the strangeness of this policy, when everyone knew Kalare was capable of self-sufficiency, and Achlys and Oreias were good allies. Had they been enemies like they were now, there might be some cause to discourage trade with them. But that was not the case. These circumstances sealed the deal for Damianos. Emperor Andronicus and Father Isaurus were corrupt, and they had used Kalare to satisfy their own ambitions.

  Damianos grieved over all the lives lost because of this, the sufferings endured. He despaired for some time that his nation was beyond saving. But then he snapped back. Not everything that had been done was bad. Kalare still clung to moral principles, and its productivity was beyond compare. There was some good to be had with the evil.

  Damianos was now convinced that Kalare needed to be reformed again, to be spared from a terrible fate that probably awaited it if it continued as it had. But how to do that? How could he convince his friend Nikolos, that they had all been deceived? Nikolos had been born and bred into this. He would have great difficulty changing his beliefs. Damianos sighed. He had no idea how he was going to prove to Nikolos that they were in the wrong. He didn’t think he could. This was in God’s hands now, and Damianos prayed the change would be swift.

  Chapter 21

  Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

  ~ Proverbs 16:3

  Thespia continued her efforts to create peace between Achlys and Oreias, and the Kalarian Empire. She tried to point out that the Kalarians were still people, and hint that the Achlysians had done wrong to them in the past, while assuring her listeners that she was still loyal to Achlys. She noticed that Celena was doing the same, along with encouraging others to act in a way to prove that they were better than the Kalarians whom they hated so much. Thespia didn’t realize just how clever Celena’s arguments could be. Celena knew how to adapt her explanations to suit her listener. If she didn’t know better, Thespia would have said Celena was playing on the vices of others to get the results she wanted. But Celena didn’t like these faults. She was just challenging others to prove themselves to be as good as they thought they were, in hopes the resulting failure would change them.

  Thespia tried to adapt these strategies into her own efforts, but it proved difficult. She didn’t have Celena’s sweet innocence, which made the tactic palatable. Thespia’s fiery temperament made such tactics seem manipulative. Instead, Thespia felt she did better by being more direct. It was probably why she was on such good terms with Estella, who was also a plainspoken lady.

  Finally, Thespia decided that to divulge a little bit of what she knew, was the best policy, and forget the softspoken sweetness of Celena. Thespia was more comfortable doing things this way anyway. Then if someone enquired further, she could reveal more of the truth. If they acted as if she was crazy afterward, she could at least point out that they did ask, and that she didn’t force her news upon them. She would have liked to, but she saw that Celena had a point in merely persuading people to go along with her wishes, rather than trying to force them. Resistance was much stronger when a person felt obligated.

  Still, the looks of shock, followed by disbelief and suspicion came. Georgios still didn’t seem satisfied that she was right, though he hadn’t said anything, being the milder tempered of the two. The day was probably coming, when he would either require her to explain her views in full, or would be gradually persuaded to think as she did. She hoped for the latter, as it would be less awkward. But it was up to him how matters would be settled.

  Vasilis seemed to take her speeches better, though his joking remarks led her to believe that he was testing her true motives. He hadn’t said that he thought she was a traitor. He didn’t seem to think that, or he would have had her removed from Achlysian Castle. But he seemed to think that she had been deceived, and was trying to make her see it by tripping her up. It was a strange game to play with her king. But he at least had the decency to consider her words sometimes, though not deeply enough to believe them, or at least, that was her impression.

  Roxanna was concerned by Thespia’s change in opinion, but paid more mind to what was said. Thespia rather suspected she would begin looking into the matter on her own soon. Thespia could have hugged her for it, for she had expected more resistance from Roxanna than Vasilis. But perhaps because the truth was more discreditable to Achlys than Oreias, Roxanna was easier to persuade.

  Theodoros was one of the first to take her hints seriously. He asked for the full account, and he didn’t act like she was crazy when she finished. She knew he was looking into the matter himself, and what he was finding didn’t seem to flattering to Achlys. Thespia wouldn’t be surprised if Theodoros found more than she was aware of, for he would research the history between the three nations thoroughly. He not only wanted to know the truth, but he probably wanted to learn from it, so their weakness couldn’t be used against them later.

  Estella was a little more resistant, though she came around as she learned what Theodoros had found, and as Celena persuaded her to do her own research. Her efforts were thwarted somewhat by the birth of her and Theodoros’s son, Leander, but she still investigated. What she found wasn’t pleasant, and it was enough to persuade her that some concessions were in order, to assure peace with Kalare.

  “I don’t think we should lose lands,” she said. “That will affect more than just ourselves. But monetary compensation shouldn’t be out of the question. It won’t make up for everything, but it will hopefully establish some good will between us.”

  Estella and Theodoros had frequent discussions about what they had found, for they were to lead in the negotiations between the two sides. They wanted a peace deal that would last, not just one that would remain in effect, until the Kalarian Empire had rebuilt to the point it could wage war again. They knew Nikolos wasn’t going to give up, even if this peace deal went through. From what Damianos had said, which Thespia passed along to Theodoros and Estella, Nikolos was under a lot of pressure to finish what his ancestors had started.

  “If we could convince Nikolos to change the ways of Kalare, without getting him killed, I think we would have a chance. But I have no idea how we would do that,” said Theodoros with a frustrated laugh.

  They all nodded. If they could do that, the war would well and truly be over.

  Chapter 22

  And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

  ~ Psalm 90:17

  Damianos continued his work from his prison cell. He read through the writings he had been given, making note of all the instances he could later use as proof that Kalare had been deceived. While few would believe his claims with only one or two instances, the mounting body of evidence was staggering. If permitted to tell the whole of it, he doubted anyone would be able to withstand its charges, without being utterly blind, or fanatical.

  It was the fanatics that worried Damianos the most. They wouldn’t allow him to share what he had discovered if they could help it. It was they who would try to silence him by whatever means necessary, be it threats, sabotage, or even murder. His position as the emperor’s close friend would buy him some time, but only for so long. Ultimately, they would wish to silence him. They wouldn’t want one of their own in the public eye, when they would believe he had fallen so far.

  Yes, he supposed he was a fanatic at one time. He would listen to the faults of individuals, but not of Kalare as a whole. Yet here he was, plotting to reform his nation, instead of upholding the ideals that he had once held so dearly.

  He sometimes considered how he would tell Nikolos about his changing sentiments. If he explained them too soon, Nikolos would probably believe he was suffering trauma from torture. But once Nikolos was certain that wasn’t the case, Damianos wasn’t sure what Nikolos would do. Nikolos had been a loyal friend for years. Damianos felt that he could trust Nikolos not to backstab him. But Nikolos may feel that Damianos was backstabbing him, and Damianos had seen how Nikolos dealt with that kind of treachery. Damianos shivered at the remembrance. It was at those times that Damianos was reminded that Nikolos was indeed Emperor Agrios’s son, even if at other times it seemed hard to believe. Perhaps Emperor Agrios, or Empress Metisa, had at one time shared Nikolos’s compassion. But life as the rulers of the Kalarian Empire had beaten it out of them. Would the same fate await his friend Nikolos? Damianos hoped not, and prayed that it wouldn’t be so. But he didn’t know if that fate could be avoided.

 

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