Liberi Reader

(Snores)

(Scratches ear)

Medjehtiqedti!

......

As if it wasn't enough that you went off by yourself first thing in the morning, now you're slamming doors and disturbing my nap! Have you repaired the harp, or have you been enjoying Athenius so much you forgot about your job?

There's no use trying to repair the harp...

Giving up so soon? You can't fix a tiny crack like that? What were you doing in all those classes you took in Columbia?

Just filling in the crack and painting over it isn't hard. But it's not just the harp that was damaged—

It was also your fragile bleeding heart?

It was also Sargon's reputation.

What?

Kereseira's harp was one of the best-preserved relics I've ever seen.

Wooden instruments are highly sensitive. The slightest blemish on the body could change its sound.

That was why we were very careful during the appraisal process and avoided any destructive tests...

I've heard it a million times at the museum—

'The ornaments, string materials and lacquer are typical of the Minoan style. Historical records indicate that it very likely belonged to Kereseira herself.'

But something didn't feel right when I was repairing it last night...

The wood chips that fell from the crack indicate that the material was mountain firs, the kind that ancient Minoans often used, but something was off with the cross-section texture.

The weapons of the heroes are made from ancient trees. They'll have some pretty deep texture.

No, it didn't look like the natural texture of wood. It was reminiscent of a certain moisture retention technique developed in Sargon.

I read about it in old books about instrument-making. Minoan plants are rich in moisture, while the climate in Sargon is generally dry.

Wood imported from Minos had to be specially treated to prevent them from cracking due to the dryness.

The cross-section I saw showed signs of such treatment.

You mean this was not Kereseira's original harp, but a replica made by Sargonians using Minoan wood? You sure you're not overthinking it?

I didn't want to believe it, but I just took the wood chips to a lab.

Testing revealed the presence of Sargonian resin, dating back about a hundred years...

Oof...

The harp looked perfect. It was virtually impossible to tell that it was a replica without destructive testing. I doubt Padishah Khery knew anything.

I have to tell the Astynomos. We can't give the Minoans a fake harp under the eyes of Kereseira's statue!

The exchange ceremony must be stopped!

Ambassador Medjehtiqedti's mission was to 'carry out' the exchange ceremony.

Behnui Effendi...

We made an oath to the padishah before we set out. How can you continue to call yourself the ambassador of Sargon, if you fail to retrieve the engineering data from the construction of the Three Poleis?

......

Yes, I have my duties as ambassador. As an archaeologist, however, I can't overlook such a mistake, much less intentionally participate in a lie.

That's why I say you have no political acumen. You see yourself as a museum curator, not a diplomatic envoy.

The important thing about the relic exchange ceremony is not the relic, but the exchange. Who cares if the harp is a replica? It still makes a sound.

You want to offer up a fake harp at the ceremony?

Absolutely not!

And what is your bright idea, Medjehtiqedti, without the authentic harp and a ceremony right around the corner?

In the halls of Menat-Ha'mait, you told Padishah Khery that you loved the legends of Minos, and wanted to see true heroism with your own eyes.

Is your idea of heroism clinging to your obsessions and bringing shame to your country at the very first cultural exchange between Sargon and Minos since the establishment of diplomatic relations?

Are you and your useless father one and the same?

He ruined your family, turned the name Nasutu Mashayer into a high society joke.

In his obsession with literature, he abandoned his duties, even his duty to his daughter, forcing her to chase the shadows of heroes in books, failing to find any heroism in her father.

This has nothing to do with him! I only love Minoan stories because—

'As emissaries of Sargon, our priority is to carry out the exchange ceremony successfully—not our own obsessions and interests.'

Your words, verbatim.

......

I'll find a way, before the ceremony, no matter what it takes. I can't let a fake...

Obstinate fool.

Very well. You can meditate while I act on your behalf and carry out the duty that the Sargonian ambassador was supposed to perform.

It not as if it changes anything. To the Astynomos and the guests, you're nothing more than a curious girl, an enthusiastic volunteer for the temple project while I negotiated with the Astynomos—

I am, for all due intents and purposes, the true ambassador of Sargon.

......

Hello. Maybe you don't remember me, but I've visited this ranch quite a lot lately. The herder, Melitta, knows me.

Please, stop leaning on the fence and let me through.

(Opens sleepy eyes)

It was not my intention to interrupt your nap. Perhaps you will enjoy this grass. The dew is still fresh on it.

......

I also brought some berries.

......

Well, I'm out of bribes. In that case...

Would you like a dream interpretation? Kýrios... maybe kýria.

(Brushes teeth on the fence)

......

Cauliflower is a girl. Berries are too sweet for her, and grass isn't filling enough. You need carrots to draw her attention.

If you find a burdenbeast has a fever and not even its favorite food can coax it to move...

Just scoop some water with a leaf and spray it on its horn to cool it down!

You really know your burdenbeasts, Melitta. I didn't know there were so many tricks to getting a burdenbeast to move.

Of course. They're not like beckbeasts, which are used to taking commands. A herder needs a hundred tricks to coax burdenbeasts into doing what you need them to.

It's this understanding that builds a bond between burdenbeast and herder.

Am I right, Cauliflower?

(Sways tail)

(Gets up and leaves)

......

Maybe it's a talent, to know one more way to get burdenbeasts to move than other herders.

Thanks for getting Cauliflower to move, Melitta.

No problem.

The priestess of Endymion Temple gracing us with her presence means that this place is blessed by the heroes. We couldn't be happier.

As long as it doesn't cause any trouble for you.

Of course not! All you do is admire the sights and look at the fence.

A little while back, I was concerned that a foal could slip through the cracks in the fences. A few days later, you filled the gaps with strong threads.

Just doing my part.

It was a very kind deed. I won't disturb you anymore; I have a few hooves to trim.

......

Of course it wouldn't make a sound. Not even a burdenbeast running into it did...

There isn't much time. When will you sing again?

I know what you're here for, Kýrios Behnui.

Rest assured that the relationship between our two nations is the highest priority. A little incident will not be allowed to affect it.

A little incident?

Xanthos came to Athenius five years ago, working as ferryman and manager of the crossing. He took in an apprentice, Lykeion, a former priest school student.

They are accused of attempting to steal from the room of Ambassador Medjehtiqedti. They are being held in custody, pending trial in accordance with the law.

Since the ambassador has elected not to press charges—

A justification to comfort the ignorant people by a naive girl moonlighting as supervisor of the rebuilding of the First Temple, not the decision of the honored ambassador of Sargon.

I see your views differ from Kyría Mashayer's.

I will, of course, take full responsibility for this matter as Astynomos. However, I would ask that the two of you come to an agreement as to how we deal with it.

You know what I mean, Astynomos. My view is that of the Sargonian delegation.

This tragedy, the theft and destruction of the harp, would never have happened if the exchange ceremony was not repeatedly delayed.

I have reason to suspect that you have intentions other than promoting the relationship between our two nations, that you have intentionally delayed the ceremony, and everything that took place did so on your orders.

I hear the position of Astynomos was newly created following the administrative reform of Athenius, and you were rewarded with the role because of your contributions to said reforms.

If something goes wrong with the first cultural exchange between our two nations since the establishment of diplomatic relations...

Then I congratulate you on being the only Astynomos who the people of Athenius will never forget.

......

The exchange ceremony is certainly my most important task. I admit I was negligent for not arriving at the scene promptly due to a busy schedule.

In that case, how would you define this incident... this 'theft and destruction of the harp'?

The brutal, barbaric, ignorant, baseless hatred of the perpetrators... the robbery and destruction of this symbol of friendship between Sargon and Minos was a most despicable act.

In my thirty years overseeing culture in Menat-Ha'mait, Sargon has received many letters from Minos requesting the return of the cultural artifacts that were removed during the occupation.

Shouldn't these plunderers of Minos's national treasure be severely punished, if you Minoans truly value it so much?

They will be tried according to Minoan law. As far as the punishment is concerned, though...

I have no intention of leaving the impression that Sargon is trying to bully the people of Athenius. We are emissaries of peace, after all.

This is a most sensitive time, however. Just because Sargon and Minos signed a truce five years ago doesn't mean that all is peaceful and well.

The padishahs are used to solving problems with force of arms. I would not give them a reason to get angry, if I were you.

......

Xanthos and Lykeion conspired to steal and deface a national treasure and sabotage the exchange ceremony...

Their actions are tantamount to treason.

......

They will be put on death row immediately.

Thank you, Astynomos. I look forward to the exchange ceremony in a few days.

Get in.

What's going on? It's not normal to transfer prisoners so suddenly, before we're officially sentenced.

I'm just following orders. Move quietly and behave yourselves... maybe there'll be a chance for clemency.

......

You really believed the Sargonian ambassador would protect the Minoans who tried to steal the harp.

We heard what she said to the officer. It would have been easiest to make the accusations while everyone was watching. But she didn't do it.

You can never tell what someone is thinking. Submit an official assessment of the damage, put pressure on the Astynomos and peace officers... there are many things that the Sargonian delegate can do.

Death row, eh? We're getting the royal treatment.

You should regret it, Lykeion. Destroying a hotel kitchen is nothing compared to the charges we now face.

All the more reason we had to take what's ours back from the bandits. The harp of Kereseira sings only for the stories of heroes. It will not, and must not, sing for a false peace.

I know your past, Master Xanthos. I may not have experienced war for myself, but I respect your decision. I couldn't let you risk everything by yourself, having known about your plan.

You saved my life two years ago.

It was your classmate from priest school, Hekádemos, who carried you down from the archery range after you were injured by an Originium shard.

I just took in a former student who wasn't willing to continue in the priesthood, that's all.

An Infected can never become a priest. It's divine work, communing with the heroes and guiding the way for the people. I couldn't do it.

As for Hekádemos, all he wants is someone to debate him...

Do not fool yourself, Lykeion. It will only make the pain worse, when you finally have to face it.

Master Xanthos?

My friend brought technology from the nomadic cities when he came to my homeland after receiving divine revelation. He built a village in the barren swamps with us.

The people in the village respected him a lot, but he always had a dark look on his face, late at night.

I lied to myself and tried to convince him that the river in his dreams wasn't red with blood; it was red because of iron that the river brought from upstream, and that the revelation was supposed to bring him to us.

But he didn't believe it...

He was prepared to go to war from the beginning. I was fooling myself.

......

River... hah... young people these days are foolish enough to fight the Sargonians to the death because of a dream like that?

And the two of you are here because you stole things from the Sargonians?

The harp of Kereseira belongs to the Minoans.

Even less worth it...

What truly belongs to the Minoans these days, after the Sargonians invaded a hundred years ago?