Unfortunately, the cover the forest afforded her was now gone, and Yamal spotted her immediately.
“You were here!” he said elatedly, stumbling over to her.
“You came all this way not knowing if I’d even taken part in this test?” Maiya asked.
“I knew you’d be here,” he said confidently. “Though I worried when I couldn’t find you. I thought you might’ve collapsed partway.”
“Right,” Maiya laughed.
“How was I to know you’d arrive without even a bead of sweat on your brow?” Yamal said. “How are you so strong, anyway?”
Maiya raised a brow. “Maybe it’s not that I’m strong, but that you’re not strong enough? I suspect the hardest is yet to come.”
Yamal turned pale, edging slightly closer to Maiya.
“So many of you,” the Rector said softly. “Yet so few. No matter.”
The cultist turned his back on the group and stared at the horizon.
Minutes passed, and Maiya and several of the others opted to sit on the lush grass.
“What do you think he’s doing?” Yamal asked.
“Who knows?” Maiya lied. It was obvious to her what the Rector was intending. He was waiting for an Ash Beast to make it past the Ash Gate. Either by spontaneously appearing, or by jumping over the Ash Wall. It certainly happened regularly enough that they had a decent chance of encountering one. It was why few dared tread this close to the Ash Boundary.
Maiya thought back to her days along the wall.
Ash Beasts didn’t favor the lower prana density farther away from the Ash, so they congregated close to the wall, making it simpler for Kin’jal soldiers to deal with. She’d know; she’d led one such squad not too long ago.
Unfortunately, not all beasts followed that behavioral pattern. Every so often, an errant beast would decide to press on, sometimes raiding a village or encountering a town. Such events represented major crises, so Kin’jal did everything in their power to stop them. It wasn’t a good look for the strongest military power in the world if their heavily manned wall failed to achieve its purpose, after all.
Or so Ira had said during one of their teatime chats, which had been happening more frequently as of late. Sometimes, Maiya questioned whether the princess really felt it that urgent to speak to her, or if she just wanted a friend to chat with.
“Sooo,” Yamal asked, interrupting Maiya’s thoughts, plopping down beside her. From the moment he’d spotted her, he’d never ventured more than a few paces away, clinging like a child.
Hard to blame him, Maiya thought. The safest place for miles was next to her, but that didn’t change the fact that he was still an annoyance.
“Why are you here, Maiya?” Yamal asked. “Forgive me for prying, but it doesn’t look like you’ve fallen on hard times…”
“I’m interested in the Ash,” she replied with her rehearsed response.
“So you believe them. You think the Ash is sacred? You… want to ascend?”
As much as Maiya resented the effort of correcting him, it’d be bad if he thought she wasn’t right in the head. The Children’s logistics and intelligence network was run by sane people. At least, relatively sane. If word got around that she was a zealot, it’d actually hurt her chances of infiltrating that cell.
“Not at all,” Maiya replied. “I just want to understand more about it. The Children have the most experience dealing with the Ash, so I figure they’ll have something I can glean.”
It wasn’t quite true—Kin’jal knew more about the Ash than most thanks to their scouting missions, but Maiya wasn’t about to divulge her privileged access to top secret military intelligence.
“Oh. Oh, I see,” Yamal said. “But that just begs the question of why you’re so interested in the—”
“OUR GOD’S MESSENGER HAS ARRIVED!” the Rector shouted, raising his arms to the sky. “Quickly! Up! Show their holiness the respect they deserve!”
The Rector prostrated himself in front of the incoming beasts.
There were six.
Maiya stood, discreetly palming a hidden orb, but soon exhaled. They were merely Greater Zards. Balar Rank 30 to 50 in the Ash—they’d be weaker here.
Maiya could dispatch them all alone.
Yamal hid behind her, cowering. She ignored him.
Wonder how this is supposed to be a test, though…
The Children’s cultists lacked military training. How were they expected to defend themselves against these beasts? And what if a single individual took them all out? Would she be the only one to pass?
Maiya brought out her daggers.
The priest whirled.
“No! No! What are you doing?” he wailed in panic. “Put away your weapons! Hurry, before you incur their wrath! Bow down! Prostrate! If you are worthy of our cause, the divine messengers of the One True God will protect you!”
Maiya froze.
No way.
“Er, did he just say we can’t defend ourselves?” Yamal asked, gripping his own dagger. “Because that’s what it sounded like… This is madness.”
Is he out of his mind!? Maiya thought. Nevermind. Stupid question.
Maiya’s lips grew taut. She agreed with Yamal. This wasn’t merely insane. It was suicide.
And yet, she had a job to do.
With great reluctance, Maiya sheathed her blades… and lowered her head to the grass.
Damn you to Ash, Ira.
55
THE TRIAL OF FAITH (PART TWO) (MAIYA)
This is suicide, Maiya thought, prostrating as giant lizard-like creatures ran past her. She prayed they’d pass the group by paying no one any mind… Except these were Ash Beasts. Such hope would undoubtedly be in vain.
She heard the first scream a moment later—the pained scream pierced the air until it was suddenly cut off. Then there was another. And another.
I have to do something.
At this rate, everyone would die. Maiya bore no obligation to any of these people, but watching as civilians were slaughtered before her eyes despite knowing she could help… Maiya couldn’t live with herself if she allowed it.
But what should she do, short of attacking the beasts?
“Y’know?” Yamal said in a shaky voice, prostrated beside her. “I never amounted to much. Truth is, I was supposed to get married, but my fiancée left me.”
He’s telling me his life story now? Maiya wondered through gritted teeth, only half listening. Her mind raced to formulate a plan that might avert this tragedy.
“Can’t blame her, really. Never knew what she saw in me in the first place,” he said wryly. “Then it got worse. Really became a deadbeat after that. I was a blacksmith, once, you know? Not the best, I’ll admit, but not the worst, either.”
“Is now really the best time for this?” Maiya asked irritably. Yamal’s words were distracting her from finding a way to avert this tragedy. Little time remained until the beasts finished with the others. Even now, she could hear them gorging themselves on the Initiate hopefuls they just killed.
“I’ve never done anything meaningful with my life,” Yamal said, turning his tear-stained face to her. “So at least let me die well.”
A Zard approached them slowly, licking its lips with its long, forked red tongue.
Yamal roared, springing to his feet and beating his arms against his chest.
Maiya’s eyes bulged. “What do you think you’re—”
“Save yourself! I’ll distract it,” he shouted, running away.
Maiya groaned. You grakking oaf… Yamal hadn’t sidled up next to Maiya seeking protection. He thought he was the one protecting her!