“You’re really going to fight me,” Vir said, clearly in denial. “You’re willing to kill me?”
Tia didn’t reply, instead backing several paces to retrieve a red orb.
“Tiyana, don’t you dare use Fire magic in here,” Maiya shouted. “Do you mean to destroy Kin’jal property?”
“I’ll compensate Kin’jal for damages incurred.”
A part of Maiya’s mind recognized this as advantageous. Perhaps Princess Ira would’ve allowed it—having Tia in her debt would be more valuable than any property damage incurred.
But Maiya wasn’t Ira, and this wasn’t acceptable.
“We will consider this an act of aggression against Kin’jal. Fight if you must, but you will do no damage to this garrison. Is that understood?”
Tia didn’t reply, and Maiya only relaxed when the princess pocketed her orb.
“Vason, Haymi. Back me up. Haymi, support magic. Now. Vason, pressure him.”
Maiya stole a glance at Vir, who stared back, looking like he’d been abandoned.
‘Why aren’t you helping?’ his expression seemed to say.
Maiya bit her lip and averted her eyes, maintaining her head handmaiden chalface.
“Fine,” Vir spat. “If this is how it’ll be, then I’ll do what it takes. I’m not leaving without these demons.”
Vir’s words ripped like an arrow through Maiya’s heart. For, while he’d directed his gaze at Tia, Maiya knew.
Those words were meant for me, too. I gotta say something. I have to—that’s it!
Vir was embroiled in his fight against Tia, but Maiya spoke loud enough to make herself heard.
“The fighters of Saran stick together!”
Both Tia and Vir turned. Tia, looking like Maiya had just gone crazy, and Vir, who frowned in confusion.
He didn’t get it, did he?
Vir’s actions were no longer lethargic. He’d made his resolve, and now he put pressure on Tia, Vason, and Haymi at the same time, though he kept stealing expectant glances her way. A detail the princess didn’t fail to miss.
“What’s wrong? Can’t keep your eyes off the redhead? Why don’t you keep your eyes on me, instead!”
Maiya couldn’t keep her lips from turning up.
He certainly has good taste.
Tia launched a flurry of attacks, hoping to capitalize on Vir’s distraction, but to no avail.
Vir was a black blur, moving from enemy to enemy, striking and leaping away before they could engage. Vir had instantly shifted the tide of the battle, but what now? Maiya didn’t truly believe he’d kill Tia. Nor would she ever allow it.
Winning isn’t his goal, though. He’s only trying to get those demons out. The moment they are, he’ll disengage. I can help with that!
Based on how the battle was going, she doubted it’d be resolved anytime soon—only Tia was actively trying to harm Vir. Haymi hung back, powering Tia’s armor and weapon, but launched no offensive magic of her own. Vason stepped in halfheartedly to block strikes, but Maiya could tell the warrior wasn’t fighting anywhere near his full potential.
When Maiya slipped out of the room, only Haymi noticed, giving her a slight nod.
Maiya ran the moment she was out, traversing the hallway adjacent to the jail room. This particular room sat at the corner of two hallways, which meant its walls, while thick, weren’t impenetrable.
And Maiya had the perfect tool for cutting things. She rounded the bend, only to come face-to-face with Order raiders who stormed down the hall.
Maiya raised her hands. “I mean you no harm. We have a bit of a problem. Demons are trapped in the chamber on the other side of this wall and a battle rages there. Do not interfere—you’ll only make things worse.”
“What would you suggest?” a demon asked.
Thank the gods they’re reasonable. Maiya didn’t fail to note the irony of how she was able to negotiate with an enemy more easily than a princess on her own side.
“I’ll cut open this wall with my magic. Free the prisoners and bring them to safety. I’ll ensure no one interferes.”
“Acceptable, but please move quickly. We are short on time.”
Wow, he’s even polite…
Maiya produced three precharged C Grade Wind Blade orbs and unleashed her magic upon the stone wall.
A half dozen Wind Blades would ordinarily be sufficient to destroy most stone walls, but of course, Kin’jal walls—even internal ones—were far from normal.
Maiya quickly recharged her orbs, taking only a handful of seconds. The sounds of battle could be heard even out here, with strained shouts accompanying the clang of seric and steel.
Come on! Faster!
It took twenty attacks to break the wall open, nearly saturating Maiya’s blood.
“Go! Hurry!”
The Order demons snuck through the rectangular hole she’d gouged with professional efficiency, surprising her with how effortlessly they maneuvered their bodies through the small space.
Hard to even tell they live in a prana-starved land. Just goes to show that training can overcome even the worst impediments.
Maiya didn’t linger, rushing back to the fight to find it’d devolved into a shouting match between Vir and Tia.
“They slaughtered my parents! Why don’t you understand? You can’t negotiate with demons! Look at the way that one stares at me! He’d kill me now if he could.”
“You’re Ash-damned right I would!” a four-armed demon said from behind Vir.
“You’re not helping!” Vir snapped.
Tia swept low, and Vir jumped to avoid it. Using the opportunity, she thrust, catching Vir in the chest with a magically enhanced attack.
His seric armor protected him, but Vir was thrown flat on his back. Tia brought her spear down to skewer him, but he sunk into the shadows before he could.
“Tia, I get it. Demons did horrible things to you,” Vir said from an unknown location, his voice coming through distorted. It took a few seconds for Maiya to find his upper body popping out from behind Haymi’s shadow.
“Where are you? Come and fight! Where’s your honor?”
Maiya kept shifting her attention between the battle and the escaping prisoners. Come on. Come on. Just a little longer!
“I don’t know what they’re like in Matali, but they sound pretty bad. Look at me, though. Am I that kind of person?”
“I don’t know what you are! Tell me true, Apramor! Was everything we had a lie?” Tia seethed. “I was going to tell you I was a princess, y’know? Someday. But you? You never even planned on revealing your secret, did you? You’d have kept us in the dark, laughing at my human stupidity all the while.”
“I was about to tell you after we met! But then you had to go and say you hated demons. I’d have to be daft to tell you after hearing that. Who in their right mind would?”
“Someone with backbone, at least. Coward!”
Tia finally found Vir’s hiding spot, but her attack found only cold stone. He’d disappeared again.
“No!” Tia shrieked, making Haymi flinch.
“Erm, Tia?”
“What?”
“You might not want to hear this, but those prisoners? They’re, um, gone.”
Tia whirled in horror. Where there had once been a prison filled with shackled demons, now there were none.
Tia’s face warped. “You did this!” she screamed, pointing at Maiya.
“Are you accusing a Kin’jal royal handmaiden of treason?” Maiya said calmly. “I do hope you have ample evidence to back such slanderous claims.”
Ha! Take that, you little brat.
Panic flashed across the princess’ face, and she rounded on Vir. “I’m gonna make you pay.”
Tia redoubled her attacks, coming at Vir with everything she had. Vir matched her blow for blow, and the situation devolved rapidly.
He’d improved more than she’d imagined. His blows were heavy and fast, and whenever Tia countered, he’d slip into the shadows.
Why isn’t he breaking off? The demons are gone!
They were lost in their own world, exchanging blows, shouting insults at each other. Even their verbal battle had broken down into something more fitting for children than fully grown warriors.
“Why won’t you just stop!”
“I’m gonna kill you, filthy demon!”
“You couldn’t kill me if you tried, Tia.”
“Shut up, chal!”
Maiya cringed. This is so embarrassing.
Haymi and Vason apparently felt the same—the warrior wasn’t even interfering anymore.
Then it happened.
Tia deflected Vir’s katar and feigned a retreat. Vir pursued, and Tia reversed course, driving her spear forth. It found the small gap in Vir’s armor between his leg and torso, and penetrated, plunging deep into his abdomen.
Vir roared in pain, and the room froze.
Maiya expected Vir’s injury to force him to retreat. But instead, his anger redoubled. He drew back his katar, and Maiya could almost feel his bloodlust.
If Maiya was honest, she’d sleep alright at night even if Tia died here. She’d be happy to stand aside and let it happen.
But there were two reasons why she couldn’t. For one, she knew Vir would never live down the guilt of having acted in rage. Whether justified or not, he’d feel like he’d done something wrong.
The other, more pressing concern was that if Maiya allowed Princess Tiyana to be injured here, it may very well spark an international incident. It could undo Kin’jal’s plans for Matali, turning them from a pawn into an enemy. Moreover, it would thwart Princess Ira’s efforts.
Not happening.
Maiya rushed in, shielding the princess with her body and deflecting his katar with her dagger—at least, it should have deflected it. But this was no ordinary attack. Empowered by some invisible Talent, Vir’s katar sliced her dagger in two.
Where did he learn that? He’s way too strong. I can’t stop it!
Time seemed to slow as Maiya watched the blade touch her armor—and then effortlessly pass right through. Handmaiden armor wasn’t designed to be especially thick, favoring mobility over pure defensiveness.
It stood no chance. The katar punched through, and pain bloomed in her stomach.
Vir froze in horror, realizing what he’d just done.
“I… I didn’t. No!”
“You’ve made your point, demon,” Maiya choked out through the pain. “The prisoners are gone. Retreat, or suffer the full consequences.”
She could have explained herself, but that would reveal his connection to her, and for his own sake, she wouldn’t let that happen.
Vir backed away, nearly stumbling. Tears welled up in his eyes. “Why?” he asked, eyes flitting between Tia, Vason, Haymi… and Maiya.
Please! Don’t look at me like that. If it was anyone else, she might’ve borne it. But not Vir.
Then he was gone, escaping through the hole in the wall.
I want to cry… Though she didn’t, despite the pain. But she did fall to the ground. Blood flowed from her body, staining her gambeson skirt.
“Haymi!” Vason cried.
“On it!” Haymi replied, kneeling beside Maiya to administer her Life magic.
“Where do you think you’re going, my liege?” Vason said, barring Tiyana’s path. The princess looked about to storm off after Vir.
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m going after him.”
Maiya was just about done with this overgrown child.
“Miss handmaiden,” Vason said, “would you consider ordering your Balarian Guard to restrain our princess, should she step outside this room?”
“I would.”
Tia halted in her tracks. “Vason? Don’t you dare.”
“And, in your report to the esteemed Princess Ira, will you mention how Tia disobeyed orders, actively working to foil Kin’jali plans?”
“What in the realms are you trying to pull?” Panic crept into Tia’s voice.
“Absolutely,” Maiya replied, understanding Vason’s intent.
“And,” Vason continued, locking eyes with Tia, “will you mention how her reckless behavior led directly to Princess Ira’s right-hand incurring a mortal wound?”
“But of course.”
“You’re serious. You’re both abandoning me?” Tia said in disbelief, turning to Haymi.
The mejai—her friend—looked away.
“Only doing what we should’ve done a long time ago, princess. Because you’re too blind to see for yourself.”
Tia dropped her spear, allowing it to clatter to the ground, before sitting cross-legged. “Fine. Whatever. I see I have no friends here. Have it your way.”
You truly are blind. You can’t even see how much they care for you.
“I gotta go,” Maiya said, rising to her feet. “I gotta make things right.”
“You’re not fully healed, handmaiden! Please, rest!”
If she wasn’t drowning in a million thoughts, Maiya might’ve realized her chalface voice had dropped, and that her face showed her emotions like an open book.
“Go where?” Vason asked. “Make things right with whom?”
The warrior never got an answer. Maiya was gone.