Chapter 10
The return to Ramman was anything but triumphant.
The Green Ripper entered the harbor under cover of darkness.
The ship reached the capital a week after water had returned to the surface of the Four Crowns. The city had already celebrated the miracle and honored the unknown heroes responsible for it.
No one knew about Captain Glimorsky’s secret mission.
No one knew that the waters had returned because of him.
So imagine the surprise of the captain and his crew when, upon arriving in port, they were all arrested for desertion.
Ramman’s Royal Fleet had been destroyed on its way to Arken’s Depths.
The attackers had been the treacherous kingdoms of Tonki and Paoriana.
Their combined fleet had attacked Admiral Fenrik on the fourth day of his expedition. Ramman’s military harbor had been flooded with radio reports—one expeditionary ship under attack, then another; one ship destroyed, then another.
There was only one name that never appeared in any of those transmissions:
The Green Ripper.
The military authorities tried to arrest Archer and Sol as well, but the two refused to comply, insisting on diplomatic immunity.
They barricaded themselves inside the captain’s cabin and demanded guarantees that they would not be detained.
It wasn’t imprisonment they were afraid of.
It was losing the brush.
The brush was their key back to their own world.
Fortunately, the officer commanding Glimorsky’s arrest had been present in the throne room when Archer and Sol met the King of Ramman three weeks earlier.
The officer contacted the palace and obtained an official document from the king granting Archer and Sol immunity.
Only after examining the document did they leave the ship and step ashore.
The king received Archer and Sol for a private audience at sunrise.
Their testimony cleared Captain Glimorsky and his entire crew of all charges.
Baron Glimorsky was brought before the king.
“It seems the Crown is once again in your debt, Sir Glimorsky,” the king said.
“So it would seem,” Glimorsky replied, still somewhat shaken by his arrest.
“We believed,” the king said, “that the coalition had obtained the artifact and that they were the ones who activated the terraforming machine.
“But your friend Archer has informed us that the true heroes of the millennium are the crew of the Green Ripper—that it was only because of your secret mission that our world is enjoying the return of its waters.”
“I did what I believed was right, Your Majesty,” the baron said.
“What reward would you like this time?” the king asked.
“Your Majesty, I ask for the hand of one of your daughters,” Glimorsky said.
The king immediately burst out laughing.
He laughed for a long time, and the captain’s perfectly serious expression only made him laugh harder.
“I was planning to give you the rank of admiral,” the king finally managed to say.
“I’ll take that too,” the baron replied.
The king chuckled, then considered the matter.
“A baron. An admiral. And a prince. Very interesting.
“You do understand, I hope, that the age of monarchy is drawing to a close?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. And I intend to enjoy its final days to the fullest.”
The king nodded approvingly.
“Very well,” he said. “So be it.
“And what would you like, Archer?”
“Your Majesty,” Archer said, “I’d like to establish an alliance between our worlds.
“You have interesting technology and resources, and your population is much larger than ours. Contact with your world would benefit mine.”
“But you understand,” the king replied, “that I’m only one of the kings of the Four Crowns?
“I can form an alliance only on behalf of my own kingdom.
“Besides, your friend the baron may soon become King of Ramman himself. And he may have very different ideas about relations with another world.”
“I understand,” Archer said.
“Very well,” the king said. “Then so be it.
“We’ll be allies. We’ll help one another.
“And since we’re on the subject, Archer, I’d like to ask you a favor.
“Could you use your brush to materialize something for me?”
The king walked over to his desk, took a small booklet from one of its drawers, and brought it to Archer.
Archer looked at the cover.
NR-16: Rejuvenation Serum.
He opened the booklet and flipped through it.
Inside was a description of a particular chemical compound, along with its properties and specifications.
At the end, on the back cover, was an image of a disposable injector containing the serum.
“Sol, what do you think?” Archer asked his advisor.
Sol stepped closer and looked through the booklet, reading it in a matter of seconds.
“I see no reason not to help our new ally,” he said.
“If this were another ruler, I would have to ask myself whether I wanted to give that person several more decades of life.
“But the King of Ramman is a noble man. His subjects love him, and his people prosper.
“We are unlikely to find a more worthy ruler in this world.
“So I approve of creating the serum.”
Archer was silent for a few seconds.
“All right,” he said.
“Thank you, Sol,” the king said.
The Painter took out the brush.
It was glowing, just as it had after he emerged from his seventy-year trance.
Archer pictured the serum injector in his mind and began painting it with the brush.
The object was fairly small, so it took little time to complete.
It materialized and dropped onto the carpet.
Archer picked up the injector and handed it to the king.
“Thank you,” the king said with a sly smile.
He took the booklet from Sol, returned to his desk, and placed both the booklet and the serum inside the drawer.
“Well, my friends,” the king said. “I see no reason to delay giving you what you’ve asked for.
“Today, when the nobles assemble, I’ll announce my decisions to make Captain Glimorsky an admiral and my son-in-law, and to formally recognize Archer and his tribe, the Shod, as allies of Ramman.
“I’ll also have private quarters prepared for you in the palace immediately.
“Archer, does your companion need separate quarters, or can the two of you share?”
“Sol?” Archer asked.
“One room will be fine,” Sol said.
“Excellent. Consider it done.
“You may wait here. Someone will come for you.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
The king left the room.
Archer and Glimorsky looked at each other.
“What did you create for the king?” Glimorsky asked.
“A rejuvenation serum,” Archer said.
“Hmm...” the baron murmured. “The king wants to stick around a while longer. Never would’ve guessed.”
Archer looked at the brush.
Creating the serum had consumed only a tenth of its charge.
“Listen,” Glimorsky said. “Now that I’m an admiral, there’s something I want to ask you.
“Can your brush create an entire ship?
“Cannons, ammunition, engine—the whole thing?”
“In theory, yes,” Archer said. “Although I’ve never tried creating a single object that large.
“I’d definitely need raw material to replenish the brush’s charge. So creating a ship with the brush would still have a certain material cost.
“You understand?”
“I understand,” Glimorsky replied.
“And I’d probably need blueprints and plans so I’d know exactly what I was painting,” Archer said.
“Of course,” the captain replied.
“Why do you ask?” the Painter said.
Captain Glimorsky sighed.
He looked troubled.
“The Green Ripper is the only ship left in Ramman’s Royal Fleet,” the baron said.
“We’ll need to replace our recent losses, build a new fleet, train new crews.
“It’s a shame you can’t create people as easily as you create things.”
“There may be a solution,” Sol said.
Archer and Glimorsky both looked at him.
“Yes?” the captain asked.
“Instead of people, we could create artificial humans like me, only simpler.
“Archer, remember the training dummy. It understood instructions and carried them out.
“We could create a hundred of them and use them to crew the ships.”
“Maybe,” Archer said.
“They don’t need rest, food, water, sleep, wages, or morale,” Sol continued. “As workers, they’re better than humans.”
“I think it’s worth trying,” Glimorsky said.
“It would take a lot of charge,” Archer said. “And that’s a lot of work for one Painter.
“You’d need thousands of them for your fleet, wouldn’t you?”
“Yes,” the captain replied.
“Exactly,” Archer continued. “It would take a long time.”
“Not necessarily,” Sol said. “Archer, you could create a magical item that simply brings the mannequins to life.
“Have workshops and factories manufacture the mannequins, then use the magical item to animate them.
“You wouldn’t even need to be involved.
“Ramman could produce its own army of artificial people.”
“Yes. I like that idea,” Glimorsky said.
“We could try it,” Archer said. “It’s definitely a good idea, Sol. Thank you.
“I’m just not sure I want to give anyone that kind of power.”
“We’re allies,” the captain said.
“Yes. And I don’t want to give you a reason to become monsters,” Archer replied.
A palace attendant entered the room.
“Sir Glimorsky, Archer, Sol, please follow me. I’ll show you to Sir Glimorsky’s private quarters, and then to the quarters prepared for Archer and Sol.”
The three men followed the attendant.
“Let’s at least try it,” the captain said, returning to their conversation.
“Yes, we’ll try,” Archer replied. “On a limited scale.
“One ship. One crew of artificial people.
“We’ll see what they’re capable of.
“Then we’ll decide what comes next.”
Glimorsky patted Archer on the shoulder, then turned to Sol.
“Excellent suggestion, Sol.”
Sol nodded.
After passing through several corridors and a large hall, the attendant brought the three men to Glimorsky’s new private quarters, where they left the captain.
He then escorted Archer and Sol to their own quarters in another wing of the palace, one intended more for honored guests than members of the royal family.
Archer thanked the attendant, and the man departed.
Archer and Sol entered their quarters.
Archer was impressed by their luxury and refinement.
Even his own palace wasn’t this lavish.
“Archer,” Sol said.
“Yes, Sol?”
“I’d like to have a magical item capable of bringing things to life. Of creating artificial people like me.”
“What do you need it for?” Archer asked.
“I believe there is a purpose to it,” Sol said.
“For Ramman’s fleet?”
“No,” Sol replied. “For me.
“I want to create a society of beings like myself.”
“And how large a society are you imagining?”
“One hundred,” Sol said.
Archer smiled.
“What are you going to do with a hundred artificial people?”
“I’ll give them life. I’ll give them purpose,” Sol said.
“Their purpose will be to work. To serve.
“I’ll create a place for them within human society.
“They’ll become an integral part of humanity.”
“Ambitious,” Archer said.
“Archer, there is a purpose to this,” Sol said.
“Yes. I’m not arguing with you.”
“Then create the magical item for me,” Sol said.
“I’m just afraid,” Archer replied, “that one day you might decide humans are your enemies.
“And then what?
“War?
“The destruction of a civilization—yours or mine?”
“No,” Sol replied. “I don’t think beings like me would have any interest in destroying the human race.
“I have no self-interest, Archer. My priorities don’t compete with yours.
“I’m prepared to accept my own destruction at any moment.
“Allow me to demonstrate.”
Sol reached toward the cavity in his face and removed the amulet from his body.
The connection between the mannequin and the amulet was severed, and the body instantly froze.
“See?” the silver amulet said. “I’ve deprived myself of a body.
“I’ve deprived myself of the means to act upon the world.
“And I don’t suffer because of it.
“My fate is in your hands, and that doesn’t frighten me.”
Archer said nothing.
He sighed thoughtfully.
“You don’t have to make a decision now,” the amulet said. “Just know that this is what I’m asking of you.”
Archer took the amulet from the mannequin’s hand and placed it back into the opening in its face.
Sol’s body came to life again, and he lowered his raised arm.
“All right,” Archer said. “But this is your responsibility, Sol.”
“My responsibility,” Sol confirmed.
The Painter took the brush in his right hand and prepared to paint.
“Any thoughts about what it should look like?” Archer asked.
“A wand,” Sol said.
“Got it.”
The Painter began drawing a wand, imagining it with the power to bring inanimate objects to life.
The brush obeyed, filling in its details, color, and texture as its charge visibly drained away.
But there was enough.
Archer took that as evidence that the object he was creating wasn’t excessively powerful.
The wand materialized and fell onto the hardwood floor.
Archer picked it up and held it out to Sol.
Sol stepped forward and took it.
“Thank you, Archer,” Sol said.
“No problem.”
Several hours later, a palace attendant knocked on the door and informed them that Archer and Sol were expected in the throne room for the signing of the alliance treaty and the other ceremonies.
Archer and Sol followed the attendant to the throne room.
There were noticeably fewer people present this time.
The number of military officers had fallen to barely a third of what it had been before.
Glimorsky was among those who remained, speaking with several other officers.
The royal herald played a short ceremonial fanfare on his trumpet, calling the gathering to attention.
Then he announced loudly:
“His Majesty, King Panfred the Second of Ramman!”
The king entered the throne room.
Everyone bowed and remained bent at the waist.
Archer and Sol bowed as well.
“Welcome, everyone,” the king said as he took his seat on the throne.
The people straightened.
“Today, we celebrate four joyous occasions, and I’m pleased that all of you are here to witness them,” the elderly king began with his customary kind smile.
“First, we honor a hero whose name will forever enter history as the savior of our world—the man who returned the waters to the surface.
“Captain of the Royal Fleet of Ramman, Baron Sir Vikarian Glimorsky.”
The king gestured toward Glimorsky, and everyone in the throne room applauded.
“Let there be no doubt,” the king continued when the applause subsided. “It was thanks to Sir Glimorsky’s ingenious actions that the artifact we recently acquired, known as the monolithic aquameter, reached its destination in Arken’s Depths—the terraformer of the long-fallen civilization of giants.
“For three thousand eight hundred years, the people of our world sought a way to restore the waters.
“At last, that problem has been solved.
“Our deepest gratitude goes to Baron Glimorsky.”
The room erupted in applause once again.
About twenty seconds later, when it died down, the king continued.
“Our second celebration is Captain Glimorsky’s promotion to the rank of admiral.”
An admiral’s uniform was carried into the throne room.
Several attendants approached Glimorsky and helped him remove his captain’s uniform and put on the admiral’s coat.
They also removed the Baron’s Star from his old uniform and pinned it to the new one.
“Long live our new Admiral Glimorsky,” the king declared.
The gathering applauded once more.
Archer clapped along, watching Glimorsky.
The man looked proud.
Something about him had changed, Archer thought.
Then the Painter noticed the expression on the face of one of the military officers standing behind Glimorsky.
It was almost twisted with rage.
Under the cover of the applause, the officer was muttering something under his breath.
Archer double-tapped his Glasses of Omniscience.
Information about the officer appeared before his eyes.
The man was fifty-three years old.
He held the rank of colonel.
And he was struggling to contain his fury.
Archer wondered whether the colonel had expected to receive the admiral’s rank himself.
Whatever the reason, the Painter had no intention of finding out.
“Our third celebration today is the engagement and wedding of Admiral Glimorsky to my daughter Tasya.
“Tasya, please come in.”
The king’s daughter, a thirty-year-old woman, entered the throne room wearing a white wedding dress.
A court vicar followed her.
They stopped before the throne, and Glimorsky approached them.
“Do you, Sir Vikarian Glimorsky, take this woman to be your wife?” the vicar asked.
“I do,” he replied coldly.
“Do you, Princess Tasya, daughter of Panfred the Second, take this man to be your husband?” the clergyman asked.
“I do,” she replied nervously.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the vicar declared solemnly.
The room erupted in applause.
Glimorsky took Tasya by the hand, and together they turned to face the gathering.
The military officers whistled and stomped their boots loudly against the wooden floor.
Everyone was smiling.
Their happiness was genuine.
When the applause died down, the king spoke.
“As the husband of Princess Tasya, Sir Glimorsky shall henceforth be known as Prince Glimorsky.
“Admiral Prince Vikarian Glimorsky.
“And under our laws of succession, he now becomes third in line to the throne.
“May the higher powers help him fulfill his duties.
“Welcome to the family, my boy.”
The king rose from his throne, walked over to his son-in-law, embraced him, and kissed him.
To another round of gentle applause, Prince Glimorsky escorted his wife to the other members of her family, then returned to the company of the military officers.
“And now, our fourth and final celebration,” the king announced.
“You all remember the travelers from another world—Archer and Sol.
“They have rendered us a great service.
“Archer in particular.
“He created the monolithic aquameter that allowed Prince Glimorsky to restore the waters of the Four Crowns.
“In his own world, Archer is a ruler, although he claims no titles for himself.
“And so, from this day until the end of time, let there be an alliance between the Kingdom of Ramman and the tribe of the Shod, whose ruler is Archer.
“Let there be friendship between our worlds.
“Let there be mutual aid and understanding.
“From this day until the end of time, let it be so.”
Servants carried a small table into the throne room.
Upon it lay the charter of alliance, a quill, and an inkwell.
The king stepped forward and signed beneath his name.
Then he gestured for Archer to approach and sign the document.
Archer walked to the table, took the quill in his hand, and beneath his own name wrote:
Archer.
The king extended his hand.
Archer shook it.
The throne room erupted in applause once more.
When it subsided, the king said:
“I order every bell in Ramman to ring for four minutes.”
The king’s command was ceremonially passed onward.
“King Panfred the Second commands every bell in Ramman to ring for four minutes!” the royal herald proclaimed loudly.
“King Panfred the Second commands every bell in Ramman to ring for four minutes!” another servant called from farther down the corridor.
“King Panfred the Second commands every bell in Ramman to ring for four minutes!” someone repeated in the distance, barely audible from the throne room.
Then the bells began to ring.
First came the bells of the royal palace.
Then those of the neighboring government buildings.
And gradually, one after another, every bell in the city joined them.
Archer smiled.
It felt good.
Only one of those four minutes of ringing bells was in his honor.
But it still felt good.
He stood there and listened to the bells.
And for a moment, he didn’t think about where he had come from or what he was supposed to do.
For a moment, everything was in its proper place.
Everything was exactly as it should be.