Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia

The king shook his head. “I will not be the king who was offered peace and passed it by, Leavenworth. I will not be a warmonger. If there is a chance at reconciliation … But we should speak of this someplace outside the public eye. Let us retire to my sitting room.”

My grandfather nodded curtly, then stepped aside and waved me over. “What do you think?” he asked quietly as I approached.

I shrugged. “He seems sincere.”

“Brig is nothing if not sincere,” Grandpa Smedry whispered. “He is a passionate man; those Librarians must have done some clever talking to bring him to this point. Still, he’s not the only vote on the Council.”

“But he’s the king, isn’t he?”

“He’s the High King,” Grandpa Smedry said, raising a finger. “He is our foremost leader, but Nalhalla isn’t the only kingdom in our coalition. There are thirteen kings, queens, and dignitaries like myself who sit on that Council. If we can persuade enough of them to vote against this treaty, then we might be able to kill it.”

I nodded. “What can I do to help?” Mokia couldn’t fall. I would make sure that it didn’t.

“I’ll speak with Brig,” Grandpa Smedry said. “You go see if you can track down your cousin Folsom. I put him in charge of Smedry affairs here in Nalhalla. He might have some insight about this whole mess.”

“Okay.”

Grandpa Smedry fished in one of the pockets of his tuxedo jacket. “Here, you might want this back.” He held out a single Lens with no coloring or tint to it. It glowed radiantly to my Oculator’s eyes, more powerfully than any I’d ever seen except for the Translator’s Lenses.

I’d almost forgotten about it. I’d discovered the Lens in the Library of Alexandria at the tomb of Alcatraz the First, but hadn’t been able to determine what it did. I’d given it over to my grandfather for inspection.

“Did you figure out what it does?” I asked, taking it from him.

He nodded eagerly. “There were lots of tests I had to do. I meant to tell you yesterday but, well…”

“You’re late.”

“Exactly!” Grandpa Smedry said. “Anyway, this is a very useful Lens. Useful indeed. Almost mythical. Couldn’t believe it myself; had to test the thing three times before I was convinced.”

I grew excited, imagining the Lens summoning the spirits of the dead to fight at my side. Or instead perhaps it would make people explode in a wave of red smoke if I focused it on them. Red smoke rocks.

“So what does it do?”

“It allows you to see when someone is telling the truth.”

That wasn’t exactly what I’d been expecting.

“Yes,” Grandpa Smedry said. “A Truthfinder’s Lens. I never thought I’d hold one myself. Quite remarkable!”

“I … don’t suppose it makes people explode when they tell lies?”

“Afraid not, lad.”

“No red smoke?”

“No red smoke.”

I sighed and tucked the Lens into a pocket anyway. It did seem useful, though after discovering it hidden in the tomb, I’d really been hoping for some kind of weapon.

“Don’t look so glum, lad,” Grandpa Smedry said. “I don’t think you understand the gem you hold in your pocket. That Lens could prove extremely useful to you over the next few days. Keep it close.”

I nodded. “I don’t suppose you have another pair of Firebringer’s Lenses you could lend me?”

He chuckled. “Didn’t do enough damage with the last pair, eh? I don’t have any more of those, but … here, let me see.” He fished around inside his tuxedo jacket again. “Ah!” he said, whipping out a pair of Lenses. They glowed with a modest light and had a violet tint.

That’s right, violet. I wondered if the people who forge Oculatory Lenses try to make us all look like pansies, or if that was just accidental.

“What are they?” I asked.

“Disguiser’s Lenses,” Grandpa Smedry said. “Put them on, focus on the image of someone in your head, and the Lenses will disguise you to look like that person.”

It seemed pretty cool. I took the Lenses appreciatively. “Can they make me look like other things? Like, say, a rock?”

“I guess,” Grandpa Smedry said. “Though that rock would have to be wearing glasses. The Lenses appear in any disguise you use.”

That made them less powerful, but I figured I’d come up with a way to use them. “Thanks,” I said.

“I might have some other offensive Lenses I can dig up later when I get back to the keep,” Grandpa Smedry said. “I suspect that we’ll deliberate here for another two or three hours before adjourning until the vote this evening. It’s about ten right now; let’s meet back at Keep Smedry in three hours to share information, all right?”

“All right.”

Grandpa Smedry winked at me. “See you this afternoon then. If you break anything important, be sure to blame it on Draulin! It’ll be good for her.”

I nodded, and we parted ways.

Chapter 5

It’s time for me to talk about someone other than myself. Please don’t be too heartbroken; once in a while we need to discuss somebody who is not quite as charming, intelligent, or impressive as I am.

That’s right, it’s time to talk about you.