No… bathing in that tub was the worst. She’d nearly bailed at that point. Surely Ira would’ve understood if she’d come running back with her tail between her legs?
But she’d persisted. It wasn’t so much her debt to the princess that kept her going, but rather the thought that she might disappoint the girl. Maiya couldn’t stomach the thought.
Why’d I have to go make friends with a princess, of all people?
That resolve had nearly crumbled again when her turn was up. She’d thought the priest in charge of her baptism of blood wanted to drown her—he’d kept her submerged so long—but she’d been wrong. When she emerged, he was staring at her with deranged awe.
Maiya was surrounded by psychopaths. And she’d be among them for the foreseeable future.
Her eyes landed on Yamal. Out of all the eyes in that room, his had been the toughest to bear. Thankfully, both he and the Silent One had looked away out of shame and respect, but even then, the experience stung.
She wasn’t quite sure what the man felt toward her, but it was fairly obvious by the way he treated her that he felt something.
I’m going to have to deal with this at some point, she thought, opening the door to an empty study room. But not today. She pushed the thought to the back of her mind. There was much to discuss.
“Orientation Camp?” Yamal asked, plopping into a wooden chair with a sigh. The tables and chairs seemed to be the only items not covered in blood. Either the Children understood what a hassle it would be, or the Sisters had some hand in it. Their influence within the organization was subtle, but once Maiya knew where to look, she saw their hand everywhere. From the timing, location, and frequency of the blood rituals, to handling recruitment and regulating the numbers of each branch, it was startling just how deeply entrenched they were.
“Orientation Camp,” Maiya replied, sitting down at the head of the table. As always, the Silent One chose to stand, his burly hands clasped in front of him in a parade rest.
“In two weeks, they’re gonna round us up and take us someplace,” Maiya said. “We’ll be joined by new Initiates from all over the Known World.”
“I truly fail to understand the point of all this,” Yamal said, scratching his rough hair. “We’ve been through two ordeals already. Heck, most militaries don’t have admissions criteria this strict. Is there some secret purpose they’re training us for?”
Yamal gave Maiya a look, though it was hardly necessary. This wasn’t even close to the first time he’d voiced his complaints.
“Go home, Yamal,” Maiya said softly.
“If I had one, I very well might,” he replied, unable to meet her gaze. “But as long as you’re here…”
“I don’t need your protection. You’ve seen my strength. Rather, aren’t you the one who needs to be protected?”
Yamal bit his lip, looking down sheepishly. “I know you’re strong. And I know you’re hiding something. I won’t ask what. It’s not my business. But still… I can’t leave you here with these madmen. If you leave, though…”
I’d follow, his expression suggested.
Maiya met his gaze. “That is not going to happen. If that’s what you’re hoping for, I suggest you leave now, or you’ll only be disappointed. If I’m right, Initiation Camp will be our golden opportunity to rise within the ranks.”
“Why?” Yamal asked.
“Why what?”
“What compels you to stay within this Ash-damned den of depravity, let alone ascend the ladder? You aren’t like them. You aren’t… broken. If it were only for the handouts, you needn’t have come this far. I’d know—they’ve given me plenty of those, and I was nothing but a prana leech.”
The Silent One scribbled something on the notepad he always carried, then showed it to Yamal and Maiya.
It said, ‘The Sisters of Gray.’
“That’s your goal, then?” Yamal asked. “You wish to rise within the ranks of the Sisters?”
Maiya went silent, nodded slowly. She couldn’t hide it forever, and unlike her status as a mejai, it served no purpose to keep that information from them. If they were going to accompany her, they deserved to know the truth.
“That’s right. I can’t say any more than that. At least, not for now.”
“What about you?” Yamal asked the Silent One. “If I leave, will you come?”
The big man shook his head.
Yamal slumped in resignation. “Then I’m here to stay. I don’t know why, but I feel like if you won’t give up, then neither can I. Call me a chal, but it is what it is.”
“Good. Then we’d better prepare. They haven’t told us much, but I have a few leads,” Maiya said, cracking a grin. “Let’s begin.”
72THE DEMONS WITHIN
Hours had passed since Vir, Cirayus, and Shan left Saunak’s tower. They’d each found the least uncomfortable positions atop the Automaton’s right shoulder. Cirayus stood, while Shan and Vir sat on its hard Imperium metal armor.
Unfortunately, Saunak hadn’t had time to retrofit the seats and cushions he’d mounted to his older unit, and as Vir soon found out, Imperium metal did little to dampen vibrations.
Still, the journey was quite pleasant, all things considered. That is, it would’ve been, were it not for the awkward silence that settled upon them.
Shan, sensing the rising tension, had sulked over to the Automaton’s neck and snuggled up against it, out of the way. As if announcing he wanted no part of what was to come.
The only speech that came between them was when Cirayus called out direction changes to their path as Vir led them deeper into the Ash.
They hadn’t discussed their destination or even their plans. They’d just… set out, without a single word said between them, and as the hours dragged, the thick, heavy atmosphere only grew more and more oppressive between them.
Several times, Vir’s thoughts drifted off to Maiya. To the horrific scene he’d witnessed in the Ink of Clarity.
What’s she gotten herself into? Is she safe? If only I could help…
Vir shook off the thought, forcing himself back to the moment. They were moving rapidly through some of the deepest, most dangerous parts of the Ashen Realm. Even with all their advantages, it was no place to let one’s guard down.
Yet try as he might, after spending several hours on guard, Vir’s attention began to wane. Not only was he monitoring his surroundings, but he had to frequently course-correct the Automaton, which required precise prana inputs.
“Lad, I told you to turn slightly right, not left!”
Vir cursed under his breath and corrected.
“How about we rest here?” Cirayus suggested, somewhat stiffly.
Vir looked up at the giant, but he refused to meet Vir’s gaze.
“Over there,” Cirayus said, pointing to a small valley nestled between the mountains they wove through. “It’ll be hard for anything to sneak up on us with all that open ground. Let’s make camp there.”
Cirayus moved in to scoop Vir up, but paused, awkwardly scratching the back of his head. “Er, maybe we oughta do this the normal way,” he said, jumping off.
Shan jumped onto Vir’s back, and together they followed Cirayus’ gracefully falling form. Vir’s was less so, but they both made it down to the hard obsidian rock, covered over by soot.
The valley that surrounded them might once have been a magma flow for the nearby volcanoes, but as with all else in this realm, it, too, was covered in innumerable layers of Ash.
Thanks to Balancer, Cirayus made short work of collecting firewood from the trees at the edge of the valley, and soon they had a small fire going. Enough to roast some oversized vegetables, but still small enough to stay hidden within the pit Vir had dug into the ash. Vir knew just how far fire light traveled—he’d made the pit to ensure no light leaked out.