Lost Ones - A False King

Chapter 17 - Secret Underground Passages

Emmod and Novel are not exactly sure what to expect the next day.
They told their mother that they would be out all day.
Emina sighs heavily as she closes the door behind them. The dark rings under her eyes and her tired gaze reveal the sleepless nights since Ko's death. The tensions in the family weigh on her. She hopes that yesterday's events helped the boys sort out their thoughts after spending the last week as prisoners in their own home.

Upon arriving at Korbach's place, Novel rushes into the house, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Korbach, the secret passages—what exactly are they for?"
Korbach, still half-asleep, rubs his eyes.
"What got into you?" he asks. "And why do you both look so exhausted? It's still morning.", he adds, before closing the door behind them. 
"The secret passages. Why were they built, and why does no one know about their existence?" Novel continues probing.
"Your grandmother and former queen, Naoma Wynfre, built them before the Four Crown War," Korbach begins. "They were primarily meant to serve as a security measure," he adds.
His eyes narrow as he studies Emmod.
"You're not wearing your bandana again," he quickly notes. "Is everything okay?"
"I'm fine," Emmod replies irritably.
But Korbach senses that there's more to it.
"You can't run away from who you are," he says.
"I know who I am," Emmod retorts, almost angrily.
Korbach snorts.

"The secret passages were meant to be escape routes in case something happened to the city," he continues. "If the city were to fall, people could escape quietly to the outer part of town," he explains. "However, your father's and your uncles' wildness and curiosity were too great. They used the passages to escape their daily noble lives and roam freely in the city," he elaborates. "When soldiers from Londe once invaded the city, they captured the young princes who had sneaked out earlier," he continues. "Fortunately, they were rescued, but this incident tipped the scales between Londe and Rilgohin and eventually led to the Four Crown War."
"The Four Crown War?" Emmod asks, surprised. "I thought the complete destruction of the library of Narakoid in Santaria was the trigger."

"Where did you—?" Korbach starts, but Emmod just shrugs.
"Sometimes we pay attention in history class."
Korbach clears his throat.
"Rilgohin wasn't entirely uninvolved, but what I was actually getting at is... these passages should be accessible to anyone who needs them."
"Then why aren't they?" Novel presses.
"Because it was too late before that thought could bear fruit," Korbach replies wearily.
He then leaves the brothers for a moment to fetch the large, rolled-up parchment from upstairs.
"Why weren't they used during the war?" Emmod asks directly when Korbach comes back down the stairs. "I mean, when the city was taken."
"Only the princes and a few select individuals knew about the secret passages. By the time the city was conquered by the three other nations, all those people had already been captured or killed."
Through Korbach's kitchen, they reach a back door.
"And you, Korbach?" Emmod asks. "You have knowledge about these secret passages. Where were you when they took the city?"
Korbach's hand hesitates on the doorknob, and a dark cloud passes over his face.
Memories of the war's events crowd his thoughts.
No one had ever accused him of this until now. But was it even an accusation? Or was it a simple, unbiased question from a curious child?
"I had other priorities at that time," Korbach replies plainly before opening the door.
From there, they enter a tiny courtyard, which leads them into the adjacent barn.
"And why does no one know about this?" Emmod now speaks much more accusingly. "At that time, it would have certainly been helpful to use those passages."
"The main problem was the arrogance of the princes," Korbach finally says. "After they had gained their abilities, they considered themselves invincible. Their arrogance formed a thick wall around them, shielding them from reality," he recounts. "They didn't see the need to devise a plan that could have been implemented in a worst-case scenario. Until, as you know, that very scenario occurred. However, by then, it was too late for any action," he says ruefully, opening the side door of his barn.