When I reached the foyer, I found Richter, Orlon, and three other knights waiting.

At my appearance, one of the knights—Teg, I noted—swung around to face the knight-captain. “Him? Really? We have to pretend he is a knight.”

The second knight snorted. “He’ll be spotted as a fake from a mile away.”

“This is a bad idea,” the third added.

“Enough,” Orlon snapped. “It’s been decided. The Triumvirate themselves have given their approval.”

I looked at him curiously, surprised by this latest development. When had the knight-captain spoken to the Powers? The other knights had more to say, though, and continued protesting, leaving me with no chance to question Orlon further.

Stepping forward, the constable pulled me aside. “You seem to be struggling,” he said.

I bared my teeth in an unfriendly smile. “This thing is bloody heavy.” While I technically met the requirements to equip the armor, its weight was another thing. With every step I took, the armor dragged me down, and I was unsurprised to find I was losing stamina just by wearing it.

Richter chuckled. “I thought you might have some difficulty. That’s why I brought this along,” he said and handed me a slim object.

You have acquired a rank 4 strength enhancement crystal. It contains a single-use enchantment that increases your strength by +8 for 1 hour.

Realizing the purpose of what I held, I wasted no time in crushing the crystal and activating its enchantment.

Your Strength has increased to rank 10. Current modifiers: +8 from enchantment.

Immediately, my shoulders straightened, and I breathed easier. “Wow,” I exclaimed. “That’s much better.”

“The extra strength makes it easier, doesn’t it?” Richter said, looking me up and down. “Now, you look like a proper knight,” he pronounced in satisfaction.

“Thanks,” I said, nodding at him in renewed respect. “I must admit to being a bit surprised though. The knights are going further than I expected to pull off this deception.”

The constable shrugged. “You heard the knight-captain. The Powers have approved the scheme.”

“Did they really?” I asked in a low voice, studying his face closely. “I thought perhaps…”

“Orlon was stretching the truth a bit?” Richter finished for me.

I nodded.

“The knight-captain spoke truly,” the constable confirmed. “The Triumvirate liked the idea. The law is upheld, the knights’ honor remains intact, and, at the same time, they rid themselves of an unwanted headache.”

I grunted. “How convenient,” I muttered.

Richter beamed. “It is, isn’t it?” He glanced over his shoulder. The raised voices had died down. “Come on, it looks like they’re done.”

“All set?” Orlon asked as we rejoined the knights.

Richter nodded.

I glanced at Teg and his fellows. Anger still clouded their faces, but after the stern lecture they no doubt received from their commander, they stayed tight-lipped.

The knight-captain studied me for a moment and gave a curt nod of approval. “These three,” he said, gesturing to the other knights, “will be leading the detachment. Obey them at all times and they’ll get you out safely.”

“Understood,” I replied.

“Sergeant Teg,” Orlon barked.

Teg stepped forward and held out his hand. “Give those to me,” he said, gesturing to the two belts and swords I carried.

I looked at him blankly.

“Those are not knightly weapons,” he explained. “I will stow them in my bag.” He eyed ebonheart’s black hilt with grudging respect. “Have no fear, they will be returned to you.”

Reluctantly, I handed over the items. But for the longsword buckled across my hip, I was weaponless now. Still, I had to admit, I looked the part of a proper knight.

“One last thing,” the knight-captain said. Laying a hand on my shoulder, he chanted the words of a spell.

Orlon has cast Mydas’ sheltering hand on you. For the next hour, you are immune to all player abilities of tier 4 and lower. Warning: taking hostile action will break the effect of this spell.

My brows rose as I read the spell’s description. It was a powerful if somewhat strange buff.

“All the other knights are similarly warded,” Orlon explained. “The mantises will not be able to analyze you. To them, every knight in the detachment will be faceless and unknowable.”

I smiled in understanding. “Thanks.”

He nodded curtly. “Now, close your helms and get going. It’s time.”

~~~

Exiting the citadel, I found a contingent of a hundred knights waiting in the bailey. Teg pulled me into the middle of the formation, while the sergeant’s two companions—officers, by the look of them—moved to the head of the column.

“Move out,” one of the officers roared a moment later.

Almost as if they were a single entity, the knights marched forward, in lockstep with one another. “Follow my lead,” Teg growled from beside me as I stumbled.

Doing my best, I mimicked his stride and soon got the hang of it, well enough to withstand momentary scrutiny anyway.

As the detachment’s pace increased, merchants and other players in the courtyard scampered out of the way. The two officers led us unerringly towards the citadel’s north gate and in the formation’s center, I relaxed. I was just one knight amongst many and safe from prying eyes.

The contingent marched through the gate without pause, and despite being tempted to search the shadows on either side, I kept my gaze fixed straight ahead just like the other knights around me.

Still, even without looking, I couldn’t help but notice the line of silently watching green-clad figures. Richter hadn’t exaggerated their numbers. By my counter, there were nearly two dozen near the gate.

Feeling the assassins’ probing gazes, sweat broke out across my brow and dripped unseen down my face. Neither Orlon nor Richter had mentioned what the knights would do if the mantises spotted me. Would Teg and his fellows aid me?

I doubted it.

I was not blind to the risks I was taking. If I was discovered, there would be no hiding or fleeing. Paradoxically, the mountain of armor encasing me had made me more vulnerable—not less.

I’d placed my faith in Orlon and Richter, and if they chose to betray me… I was dead. Quite simply, I was betting my fate on how well I’d judged the two men. Nothing about either had smelled of betrayal, and the knight-captain in particular seemed a poor liar.

Really, I’d been out of options. Going along with Richter’s scheme was a risk. But so too was everything else I would do today. My only consolation was that if I died, my losses would be minimal.

Despite my worry, the mantises let us pass unhindered.

With the tramp of heavy feet underscoring our steps, the column of triumvirate knights marched northwards. Little by little my tension dissipated as the distance between me and the assassins widened.

I wouldn’t feel truly safe again, not until I took off the ridiculous armor, but the further we marched, the less I feared betrayal or discovery.

Reaching a crossroads, the column of knights turned right. My helmed head creaked left, wondering if now was the time to part ways with them.

“Wait until we get to the rift!” Teg hissed, catching the drift of my gaze.

I hesitated then nodded imperceptibly. I’d trusted the knights this far, a little longer wouldn’t hurt.

The detachment kept marching. It attracted plentiful whispered comments and stares, and forced more than a few passersby off the streets but was itself unhindered.

A few minutes later, the officers called a halt. Floating in the air before the column was a void of nothingness. The rift.

“Fallout, people!” the officer yelled. “Battle positions everyone.”

The formation disintegrated as the knights separated themselves into squads and began positioning themselves around the rift. I stayed where I was, having no intention of venturing into the nether.

More players were also flooding into the street, I noted. Sensing that a rift dive was about to commence, they gathered around the knights, supplementing their numbers.

Before my own inaction could be noticed, Teg clamped a hand on my shoulder. “Follow me,” he whispered. Swinging about, he strode towards an abandoned-looking house, and I followed on his heels.

Before entering the hastily vacated building—the door was lying open and food still lay on the table—I unfurled my mindsight. I might have placed my faith in the knights, but I hadn’t altogether thrown caution to the wind.

I detected no one but the sergeant inside, and I ducked within. Teg closed the door behind me. “This is as far as you go,” he said in a clipped tone. “Now, remove the armor.”

Relieved that I could finally rid myself of the armor, I ignored his rudeness and undressed.

Teg watched mutely, making no move to help. When I was done, he gathered up the gear and returned my swords. Then, without saying another word, he strode out the building, leaving me alone.

I didn’t bother waving goodbye.

Setting the knight out of my mind, I pulled my sword belts over my shoulder to lie in their usual place across my back and looked down at myself.

But for my swords, I was in newbie gear.

An involuntary chuckle escaped me at my strange appearance. If I went out like this, I was sure to be noticed. A problem easily rectified, I thought, casting lesser imitate.

A moment later, appearing to all the world like an elven ranger, I opened the door and stepped outside. No one paid me the slightest heed.

Now, I thought, let’s find out how wide a net the mantises have cast. Turning north, I headed towards the safe zone’s south gate.

I remained on high alert but was still more relaxed than I’d been as a knight-in-disguise. My fate was in my hands alone now.

Reaching the walled boundary of the safe zone, I drew to a halt. Just as I’d suspected, the south gate was blockaded. A squad of mantises was barring the way, inspecting everyone closely before letting them through. There would be no getting past them.

I was trapped.