67 Blood in the Water 2 (1/2)
Headquarters of the Knights of Tulosa, City of Bivon
Luther put his hand on the knob of the huge door that serves as the main entrance to the building. He then turned his head towards Centurion Lyn.
”What!?” Centurion Lyn frowned. ”Hesitating after you dragged me all the way here? Come on! If you don't want to go, then let me go back to the camp.”
”You know, that's not how a subordinate should talk to his superior. And I did not drag you, I ordered you to come with me” Luther then looked at the doorknob ”Besides, General Rickard said in his letter that I need to meet him as soon as possible. I can't go back now”
Centurion Lyn went to the door and opened it. ”There, opened it for you sir” he mocked Luther with a fake bow. ”Let's just go. Dragging me with you, what are you? A child?” he murmured.
Luther wanted to kick Lyn but he can't. This is the headquarters of the knights. Violence is forbidden here. So he just bit his lips and entered the building.
What greeted Luther's eyes was a sight worthy of the Omniscient's envy. The inside of the building was spacious. The walls were lined with gems and flakes of gold. The floor was paved with smooth marble tiles. But what captivated Luther the most was the ceiling. The domed ceiling of the building displayed beautiful paintings that melt the soul. It was as if Luther was being lifted into the heavens. Of course he had been here before, but he felt like this every time he enters the headquarters of the Knights.
”Tell me again Prefect, how much do they make each year?” Lyn asked him from behind.
Luther looked at Lyn and saw that the centurion was looking at the ceiling.
”Millions of gold coins Centurion.”
Lyn looked at him ”How?”
”Trade, loots and donation from the King and nobles. Also they own ten percent of all the land in Tulosa” Luther answered. He then started walking towards Rickard's room.
”That's absurd Luther!” Centurion Lyn exclaimed while following Luther from behind. ”How can we be sure that Tulosa is run by the King and not the Knights?”
Luther laughed. Centurion Lyn was naïve. ”The government is run by both the King and the Grandmaster of Knights, Centurion. On the outside it looks like that the King is the one ruling. But the truth is more complicated than that. The Grandmaster can veto any orders from the King. He also commands twenty thousand Knights that can demolish the capital if they want to. They have become a state within a state.”
Luther expected that Centuion Lyn would exclaim a curse or something, but the Centurion remained silent. Luther looked back and saw that the Centurion was staring at the floor while walking. There were large droplets of sweat on his forehead.
”Is that the reason why the faith of the Omniscient has slowly replaced that of the Great Rider over the years?” Centurion Lyn asked with a serious face.
Luther understood that as a believer of the Great Rider, Centurion Lyn had an animosity towards the Knights. It was the Order of the Knights which brought the religion of the Omniscient to Tulosa. The growing power of the Knights prompted many believers of the Great Rider to convert.
But Luther also hated the Knights. He's tired of seeing the way they look at him. It was like they were looking at an insect from a high pedestal.
”Yes Centurion. And they are also the ones responsible for the Tulosan Civil War. People always blame Castonia for the civil war, but the real culprit is in front of them. They opposed the last King and that lead to a division among the nobility. It is written in their book that Knights should protect the people, but they are the ones responsible for the death of thousands in the civil war. What a bunch of hypocrites.” Luther said. It's not that he cares for the people, it's just that he was tired of the Knights acting like they are sinless.
”It seems you have a history with them.” Centurion Lyn pointed out.
Luther smiled bitterly and remembered how he failed the examination to become a Knight. The Knights accept newcomers from both the nobility and the common people. To become a Knight, one must train for years and pass the physical, moral and spiritual tests. Luther failed in all three while commoners like Centurion Stan and the bastard Henry, passed. He couldn't accept his failure. It was an insult to his bloodline. Being defeated by a commoner was a bitter pill to swallow.
Luther shook his head. He didn't want to tell Centurion Lyn of his failure. ”I won't tell you, Centurion. We are not friends so why would I tell you about personal things?”
Centurion Lyn frowned. But after a while, he gave Luther a fake smile. ”You're right. We are not friends. Pardon me for asking Prefect”
After a while, the two of them reached Rickard's office. Since General Rickard was one of the three Masters of the Knights, he had his own office in the headquarters. General Rickard's guards first confirmed their identities before opening the door.
Contrary to the marvelous sight outside, General Rickard's room was dark and gloomy. The walls were not decorated and the floor was dirty. There were two swords crossed above the fireplace, but that's the end of the room's decoration.
Luther's eyes were still adjusting to the darkness when a cold voice sounded.
”Sit” General Rickard gestured towards the chairs