Lynnette noticed that the Queen never mentioned anything about Hector’s whereabouts or the fact that she was giving him the Gray Warren. Whenever someone asked where he was now, she would plainly refuse to answer, saying instead that he was well and would no doubt return to keeping people safe very soon. Hector would probably appreciate that, Lynnette thought.
The omissions didn’t stop there, however. There were several things that the Queen never told the press. She said nothing of her own powers as a servant, attributing all her success in the past conflict to her subordinates. She never even brought up the existence of reapers in the first place--nor that of aberrations, Abolish, or the Vanguard. No doubt, the Queen felt these things would not only complicate the public narrative but also prove dangerous.
As for the origins of the Darksteel Soldier’s superhuman abilities, that was actually not much of an issue for the press. Everyone already knew that powerful individuals existed in the world, so the Queen could get away with saying that Hector was simply born with his gifts. Even before Hector and Abolish had started making waves in Atreya, everyone had heard the ominous stories from abroad about terrible wars among the international superpowers, about their soldiers of insurmountable strength. It was always a kind of muted, distant tale, one that people told each other with an awful sense of hopeful doubt and weary helplessness. It was an unassailable constant, one that people simply learned to live with. Because there was no other choice. The world was big and frightening. There was no changing that.
Lynnette knew that she couldn’t claim to be much different, herself. And after everything that had happened over these past few months, it seemed obvious to her that Atreya was still in immense danger. The immediate threat might have been gone, but the country was still in a state of flux, and the bigger perils out there now seemed even more imposing.
And behind closed doors, Lynnette could tell that Her Highness thought so, too.
A dark serial novel. Set in a modern fantasy world called Eleg. Mature language. Updates every day at noon PST by ~400 words.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Page 602
Over the course of the week, the Queen held a large press conference every single day, inviting a different batch of reporters each time. Lynnette attended all of them, as Her Highness wanted her to be a constant presence in the background. A few times, the media directed questions at Lynnette, but she decided to remain quiet and let Her Highness do all the talking.
The topic of Hector Goffe proved to be one of the most difficult. The Queen explained, repeatedly, that he was no longer a fugitive, that she considered him a national hero. Instead of trying to explain how the people Hector was accused of killing had been dead already, the Queen chose a simplified version of the truth: that their deaths were not his doing. Furthermore, she went on to flat out lie, saying that the people who falsely accused Hector were trying to prevent him from aiding her. And as the conferences continued and more detailed questions were asked, the Queen’s tale grew rather elaborate. By the end, Lynnette wasn’t sure she understood it all anymore, but apparently, Hector had been working under the Queen the whole time. The public never knew, of course, because it was a state secret, a matter of internal security.
“I gave him a mission,” Helen was saying, “to discover who the architect of the plot against me was. He was unfortunately a bit too successful. They attempted to frame, imprison, and subsequently silence him. But obviously, they underestimated young Mr. Goffe. In spite of his age, he is not only strong--as you all well know--but also, intelligent and courageous, which is of course why I hired him in the first place. And after all that he has done for his countrymen, all that he has sacrificed, I want his true nature to now be made clear to all. I hope every single one of you--”
This would go on for a while. If nothing else, Lynnette had to appreciate the woman’s ability to weave a tale.
Some journalists ate the story up. A horrid villain secretly being a noble hero certainly made for an exciting headline. Others were rather understandably more skeptical.
The topic of Hector Goffe proved to be one of the most difficult. The Queen explained, repeatedly, that he was no longer a fugitive, that she considered him a national hero. Instead of trying to explain how the people Hector was accused of killing had been dead already, the Queen chose a simplified version of the truth: that their deaths were not his doing. Furthermore, she went on to flat out lie, saying that the people who falsely accused Hector were trying to prevent him from aiding her. And as the conferences continued and more detailed questions were asked, the Queen’s tale grew rather elaborate. By the end, Lynnette wasn’t sure she understood it all anymore, but apparently, Hector had been working under the Queen the whole time. The public never knew, of course, because it was a state secret, a matter of internal security.
“I gave him a mission,” Helen was saying, “to discover who the architect of the plot against me was. He was unfortunately a bit too successful. They attempted to frame, imprison, and subsequently silence him. But obviously, they underestimated young Mr. Goffe. In spite of his age, he is not only strong--as you all well know--but also, intelligent and courageous, which is of course why I hired him in the first place. And after all that he has done for his countrymen, all that he has sacrificed, I want his true nature to now be made clear to all. I hope every single one of you--”
This would go on for a while. If nothing else, Lynnette had to appreciate the woman’s ability to weave a tale.
Some journalists ate the story up. A horrid villain secretly being a noble hero certainly made for an exciting headline. Others were rather understandably more skeptical.
Page 601 -- LXX.
“That is not quite what I had in mind,” said Luther.
“Well, okay. I’ll give you a whole bar--but only if you really promise to tell the truth.”
“I wonder if you will still be so funny once you figure it out.”
“I hope so,” said David. “I like to think that an unbreaking sense of humor is the pinnacle of human integrity. Or at least useful for annoying one’s opponents.”
“I want a television,” said Luther.
David almost said no immediately. The most dangerous thing about Luther was his political mind, so granting him access to a news source would be a mistake. But after debating it in his head a little more, David decided that he could work around that problem. With a deliberate bit of reluctance, he said, “I can do that.”
Luther eyed him a moment, probably skeptical of how easy that was. “Television first. And a written agreement of exchange.”
“Of course. I will speak to your lawyer and have everything sorted.”
Chapter Seventy: ‘O, abiding blade...’
Click to display entire chapter at once -- (mobile link)
Following Her Highness around all day long was more exhausting than she thought it would be. It also didn’t help that she still wasn’t feeling her best, what with her ribcage throbbing whenever she took too large a breath. She tried not to let it show, though, and as far as she could tell, she succeeded.
The promotion to being the Queen’s personal bodyguard had taken Lynnette by surprise. Moreover, Her Highness wanted her to continue wearing the white cloak as a symbol of the position, as the media had already latched onto it when she and Hector kidnapped King William--an act now known to the public as one of liberation. They’d taken to calling her the White Sword. Lynnette wasn’t really sure what to make of it, but seeing as the Queen had already spun it to their advantage, there wasn’t much left to do but just accept it. She wondered if it had felt this weird for Hector when people started calling him the Darksteel Soldier. She’d have to ask him whenever he woke up again.
“Well, okay. I’ll give you a whole bar--but only if you really promise to tell the truth.”
“I wonder if you will still be so funny once you figure it out.”
“I hope so,” said David. “I like to think that an unbreaking sense of humor is the pinnacle of human integrity. Or at least useful for annoying one’s opponents.”
“I want a television,” said Luther.
David almost said no immediately. The most dangerous thing about Luther was his political mind, so granting him access to a news source would be a mistake. But after debating it in his head a little more, David decided that he could work around that problem. With a deliberate bit of reluctance, he said, “I can do that.”
Luther eyed him a moment, probably skeptical of how easy that was. “Television first. And a written agreement of exchange.”
“Of course. I will speak to your lawyer and have everything sorted.”
Chapter Seventy: ‘O, abiding blade...’
Click to display entire chapter at once -- (mobile link)
Following Her Highness around all day long was more exhausting than she thought it would be. It also didn’t help that she still wasn’t feeling her best, what with her ribcage throbbing whenever she took too large a breath. She tried not to let it show, though, and as far as she could tell, she succeeded.
The promotion to being the Queen’s personal bodyguard had taken Lynnette by surprise. Moreover, Her Highness wanted her to continue wearing the white cloak as a symbol of the position, as the media had already latched onto it when she and Hector kidnapped King William--an act now known to the public as one of liberation. They’d taken to calling her the White Sword. Lynnette wasn’t really sure what to make of it, but seeing as the Queen had already spun it to their advantage, there wasn’t much left to do but just accept it. She wondered if it had felt this weird for Hector when people started calling him the Darksteel Soldier. She’d have to ask him whenever he woke up again.
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