“Then I hope you watch carefully,” Vir said, locking eyes with Thaman. “Because I’m going to win.”
Thaman’s smile grew. “Good. Now, will you humor me a moment? I have something I wish to discuss. In private.”
84A MEETING OF LORDS
When Thaman, Raja of Clan Baira, wished to speak in private, Vir hadn’t expected the demon to ask him to meet at a location in another district in one hour. And he certainly hadn’t expected to meet the demon alone. Thaman had emphasized that not even Cirayus ought to attend.
After seeing Tara off to her carriage and returning home, Vir consulted Cirayus, who said that he should absolutely meet with the Bairan Raja.
“If that brat’s wanting to see you, it can only be a good thing. Surprising, though. He mentioned nothing like this to me,” Cirayus said, stroking his beard.
“You’re not worried he explicitly didn’t want you there?” Vir asked.
“Not one bit. Knowing him, he has something planned. Something I’m quite certain I’ll like.”
While Vir may not have known Thaman, if Cirayus vouched for him, that was good enough for Vir. He stripped out of his fancy silk clothes and donned his battle armor, covering it with a hooded black cloak.
The cloak also hid his seric katar and Artifact Chakram under its fabric.
“I don’t know when I’ll be back, but in case I don’t return…”
Cirayus snorted. “Don’t worry. If Thaman’s gone for more than a few hours, the entire city will be out looking for him.”
Vir supposed that was a fair point. It was unusual for heads of state to go anywhere on their own. Which only made Vir wonder what the Bairan Raja had planned. If he wanted to speak to Vir, why not organize a private meeting with Cirayus?
What could he want from Vir that couldn’t be said in front of Thaman’s mentor?
Dawdling would get him nowhere, so Vir set out, leaving Shan behind with Cirayus.
As Vir bounded across the city, he couldn’t help but admire it. Camar Gadin was like Samar Patag in its architectural cues, but that was where the similarities ended.
The city was not only oversized; it was far more populous. This, despite Bairan longevity and low fertility rates.
It just showed how decrepit the Chitran’s rule had been. Only those who absolutely couldn’t leave stayed, while people flocked to Camar Gadin from all over the realm.
Its streets were cleaner and its people more energetic, even at this late hour.
Vir arrived at the spot, helped along by directions Cirayus had provided him earlier. It was on the outskirts of the city, and instead of the Bairan giant, Vir found nothing but an empty street.
An empty street with an oddly strong prana signature emanating from a bench on the sidewalk. Nothing else came nearly as close. Intrigued, and growing bored with waiting, Vir walked over and reached under the bench, finding a metal cylinder beneath it.
Opening the cap, Vir found an orb that looked awfully familiar.
It was the same type of orb that Cirayus had used to navigate them safely through the Ash.
Vir peered through the small hole on its surface and found an arrow, pointing a certain way.
“A lot of song and dance just to meet,” Vir mumbled, following the orb’s guidance. He didn’t Leap, but he moved faster than a normal sprint. With so many Warriors here for the Tournament, nobody would pay such a figure any mind, so he felt safe in doing so.
As Cirayus had said, Thaman had little time, and Vir didn’t want to keep the giant waiting.
Vir arrived at the city wall and realized his destination was outside somewhere.
A Prana Vision scan showed no one around, and neither did his Life Chakra detect any presences nearby.
Satisfied, Vir vaulted the tall, sturdy wall, soaring just above its wide rampart and landing gently on the other side.
Once out of the city, Vir didn’t hesitate to Leap to his destination.
He arrived ten minutes later at a location far closer to the Ash Boundary. Though not quite visible, Vir could feel the prana density. He was close.
And waiting for him was none other than the enormous giant.
Vir landed in front of Thaman and dusted off his clothing.
“Is all of this precaution necessary?”
“It is the bare minimum, I’m afraid. A Raja does not easily disappear, even when preparations have been laid well in advance.”
“So, you were planning this?” Vir asked. “What did you need to tell me that required Cirayus to be absent?”
“Tell you? I didn’t ask you here to tell you anything, boy. I need a favor.”
“A favor?” Vir repeated, genuinely surprised. “What can I do for someone of your stature?”
Thaman chuckled. “Humble, eh? Not a trait I’d have expected. But, well, allow me to show you. Follow me.”
Thaman bounded off, leaving Vir to follow. As he did, Vir analyzed Thaman’s movement art.
It was, without a doubt, Balancer of Scales. And yet, Thaman’s movements were more… mechanical. Jerkier than anything Vir had seen from Cirayus.
He hasn’t mastered the ability… Vir realized after a while. The revelation darkened Vir’s mood somewhat.
Thaman was centuries old. Perhaps not as many centuries as Cirayus, but if even this Bairan Raja hadn’t yet mastered the ability to the same extent as Cirayus, what hope did Vir have?
His rumination was cut short when Thaman arrived at an Ash Tear.
Vir’s interest was immediately piqued, for this was no ordinary Tear. It was among the largest Vir had ever seen.
“Been a thorn in our side ever since it opened,” Thaman said, looking through the flickering portal. “It’s big enough to let larger Ash Beasts through, and stable enough that too many who try succeed.”
“I see,” Vir said. “Cirayus told you, did he?”
“That he did,” came Thaman’s muted response.
What was the Bairan Raja thinking? Was he coming up with ways to get Vir to use his Gate powers for Baira? Or was he simply jealous?
“You want me to collapse this Tear?” Vir asked, inspecting the gaping portal. It was easily twenty paces across, and ten high. “I admit, I’ve never attempted that on a Tear this large, though it shouldn’t be much of a problem. Destruction is far easier than stabilization, after all.”
“You misunderstand me, boy,” Thaman said, a grin creeping up on his face. “I don’t want you to destroy it. I want you to stabilize it!”
Vir gave the giant a hard stare.
“And why in all the realms would you want to do such a thing? If I do this, even more Ash Beasts will pour through. You just said how much of an issue they’ve been.”
“True, true. But it’s nothing we can’t handle.” Thaman’s grin had grown until it spread across his whole face. “Especially when we have hundreds of Tournament hopefuls surging through.”
Why would Tournament fighters…
Vir’s eyes widened. “The prelims. You want the culling to take place in the Ash!”
“You can sense the prana on the other side, can’t you?” Thaman continued. “Tell me, how dangerous is it?”
Vir stared at the portal, looking beyond.
“Not especially,” Vir said with a shrug. “But only for someone like me. For an average demon…”
Thaman laughed. “Good thing there are no average demons participating, eh? I think this will do. Yes, I think this will do nicely.”
Vir was beginning to wonder if this giant had a stable head on his shoulders. When he thought of Cirayus and his teachings… Vir came to the inevitable conclusion that Thaman was perhaps not the most sane individual around.
He was a battle junkie, just like Cirayus and Vir’s own father, Maion Garga. That Baira had thrived under Thaman for over a century felt like nothing short of a miracle to him.