Continued Carnival Fantástico
The Defiant Press
A letter from Ignacio Valerio—Formerly Ignacio Olivera, son of Comandante Olivera
Today, just past the break of dawn, my father, Comandante Olivera, revealed to be Héctor Valerio, walked into the king’s hall and turned himself in to the high court.
He also stood as witness to the wrongdoings of his late brother, ángel Valerio, formerly known as ángel Veracruz, ringmaster of Carnival Fantástico.
Their wrongdoings in question:
Murder.
Theft.
Colluding with a god of ill intent.
War crimes.
With King Amadeo’s permission, the commander of the Blackbirds started the conflict with Dos Palos.
Some of you may remember that up until twelve years ago, there had never been tensions between the countries before. So why did they start after my father took the position of commander from his recently departed wife? It wasn’t because Dos Palos started a needless trade war.
But because my mother warned their leaders that my father and his brother were stealing a weapon of evil from their country.
Landowners had accepted payment for some time until the brothers dried up their lands.
The brothers were then cast out and, therefore, decided to take what never belonged to them.
The mineral held power. Enough to enchant the carnival. To give the Blackbirds incredible weaponry as well. It was also beneficial to the king, for he sold it in small quantities to the nobles and elites in the island kingdoms to the west.
Both King Amadeo and Héctor Valerio were taken into custody by the personal guards of the queen—who, unbeknownst to most, had been in direct communication with the Defiant and was funding their cause.
The war, the loss of thousands of innocent lives, it benefited only these three men. But mostly ángel Valerio, who sacrificed the lives of his performers to continue his own charade as a young and charismatic ringmaster.
If you went to the carnival and ever felt fatigued afterward, it was because of this man. He has died with his circus.
The comandante has confessed his sins to dozens of witnesses who watched the carnival fall. It is now up to the queen and to the people whom she serves to do what is right. To make the changes necessary to mend the wrongs of three greedy men.
I, as a Valerio, will forever hold guilt in my soul for what they did as well as my own role in the war. And I will strive to ensure any injustices committed will not be hidden by smoke and mirrors. I will bring to light anyone who has played a part in the terrors they inflicted.
We cannot return what was lost. I cannot have my mother back. She too was a victim of the Valerio brothers. I don’t know how one fixes so many wrongs. I may never know. But I can start by doing one right thing. And that is telling the truth.