The giant had him and they both knew it. Vir set his jaw in determination. “The Boundary. When do we leave?”
“Well played,” Ekat’Ma commented to her companion, who was also covered in a hooded black cloak.
“For an overlander, anyway,” the Iksana Ghael rasped back in a slightly deeper scratchy half-whisper. “It was right to keep tabs on the Ravager. Who would have known he’d brought such an interesting individual from the Ash? Shall we intervene?”
“No,” Ekat’Ma replied. “We fulfill the intelligence bureau’s purpose, and return to Jallak Kallol to inform Raja Sagun’Ra of all that has transpired.”
The Akh Nara had returned. Had she not seen it with her own Sight, Ekat’Ma may never have believed it. What lay ahead, she could not be certain. Years of demonic avarice had made her apathetic to the plight of the other clans.
And yet, she couldn’t seem to suppress the quickening of the beats that thumped within her chest.
The times may be changing. At last.
32TO DISTANT SHORES
“Ijust feel like I’m abandoning them, Maiya,” Vir said, speaking into the communications orb. He sat on top of the orphanage, gazing fondly at the children playing in the yard below. It was one of his favorite spots in the whole city, and he’d spent hours up there before, either meditating or talking with Maiya.
“What game are they playing now?” Maiya asked.
“Some sort of tag. Except the person doing the chasing is wearing a Vaak mask,” Vir said exasperatedly.
There was silence for a moment as restraint fought a losing battle, then the dam broke, and Maiya burst out in giggles. “Ah yes! Vaak, the vaunted Warrior of Ash. The enigmatic demon who ushered forth an era of peace and prosperity!”
“Shut up.” Vir’s retort was lost over Maiya’s deluge of laughter.
“Except it’s all true, isn’t it?” she said after finally coming back to her senses. “You said it yourself. Janani’s getting paid again. The kids have shoes, and they’re eating better than ever before. The slums are getting cleaned up and everyone’s happier. I… really wish I was there to see it.”
Vir grunted begrudgingly. “Still, I ought to be here to oversee the change. There’s bound to be abuse, and if Vaak isn’t present…”
“Except that’s the beauty of the symbol you’ve crafted, isn’t it?” Maiya asked. “Everyone is Vaak. Sure, maybe the rebels don’t have your strength, but they do have magic. They will fight back if anything goes awry. The looming threat of you returning will keep Asuman in check. That, and the other clans who support you. And Shan’s presence. Don’t worry. Besides, it’s not like you’re going back to the Ash or something. You can always hop over if anything comes up.”
“I know,” Vir said. He’d repeated the same line of reasoning several times in his own mind, trying to convince himself he was doing the right thing. “I just wish I could finally settle down in one place someday. I’m sick of saying goodbye.”
When Cirayus had given him a week, he’d thought it would be all the time he’d ever need. Now, just hours before he had to leave, he was fraught with second thoughts.
“That’d be nice,” Maiya said wistfully. “I’d like that too. Maybe once you’ve restored your clan. Until then, trust Cirayus. Has he ever led you astray?”
“No,” Vir admitted. “But what about you? At least I have Cirayus and the Gargans. You don’t have anyone you can trust. I can’t imagine how hard it must be for you.”
“Well, I do have Ira. And Yamal and the Silent One, though they’ve been more distant of late,” Maiya said, her expression falling. “Ira gave me a new mission. This feels bold, even for her.”
“What, is she planning on having you kill Imperator Andros or something?” Vir asked, his brow knotting in worry.
“What? No!” Maiya said. “I’m not an assassin, Vir! I don’t kill people like… that.”
Vir had been sure she was about to say like you, though could he blame her?
“Right. Sorry,” Vir hastily replied, shuddering at how quickly his mind had gone to assassination. When did I start thinking killing people like that was okay?
He’d have to be careful of such thoughts from now on.
“But honestly?” Maiya continued. “What she’s having me do may not be any easier. For Ira to stage her coup, she needs to destabilize Andros’ power base. Which means ridding him of his allies, both inside Kin’jal and out.”
“Sounds like a tall order,” Vir said. “Isn’t Andros one of the strongest Kin’jal Imperators in recent history?”
“He is,” Maiya agreed, her head drooping. “Which is why this is so hard. He’s also a notorious warmonger.”
“But Ira’s trying to prevent the war, isn’t she? Inciting one seems like it only serves Andros’ plans.”
“Right. She wants to avoid a war at all costs. Which is why she’s sending me to Sai, who’s historically been Kin’jal’s ally. If I can… stage a conflict in Sai and ensure they know it was Kin’jal who precipitated the assault…”
“Then their faith in Kin’jal, and in turn, Andros, will be destabilized. Won’t that paint a target on Ira’s back, though?”
“Not if I’m disguised as Princess Kira, Ira’s younger sister.”
“Really?” Vir asked. “A princess personally raiding another country? A bit farfetched, don’t you think?”
“Actually, it’s perfect. Kira’s a battle junkie, through and through. Even better, she’s pulled stunts like this in the past with Matali. The Matali incident went largely unpunished, but when she went and slaughtered a company of Ranian soldiers, Andros was furious.”
“She sounds unhinged,” Vir replied, thinking of a certain mad Thaumaturge.
“She absolutely is. Which is why she’s been under house arrest ever since. But Ira’s going to arrange for the princess to conveniently give her guards the slip one night.”
“And that’s the night you’ll raid Sai,” Vir said.
“Look at us! You, off to incite a rebellion at the Ash Boundary, and me, sowing the downfall of the most powerful ruler in the Known World. We’ve come so far, haven’t we?”
Maiya wiped a nonexistent tear of pride from her eye, but there was an element of truth there as well.
“You’re right about one thing,” Vir said. “I never imagined we’d end up here. Makes me wonder where we’ll be in another year.”
“Hmm, let’s see. You’ll be Demon God Vaak, supreme ruler of the demons, and I’ll… hmm. I think I’ll be a saint! The most powerful mejai ever to live, revered and loved by all of humanity. Wouldn’t that be poetic?”
Vir snorted. “More likely that we’ll both be dead. Or imprisoned. But we can dream, I suppose.”
His wistful expression darkened into something more sinister.
“Are you gonna kill anyone on this mission for Ira?”
“Nah,” Maiya replied. “I’m just gonna burn a few warehouses in the Sawai district and give them a few good fights. The Sawai there might find themselves without fine wine for a few weeks, but they’ll live. Maybe it’ll even do them some good.”
“I don’t like this, Mai,” Vir said. “Ira already has you infiltrating a crazy cult. Now she’s making you go on raids. It’s too dangerous.”
“Just like it’s too dangerous to cross the Ash?” Maiya shot back. “Or to rebel against an entire realm?”
“That’s different,” Vir said. “I had help. I had Cirayus.”
“Yeah, well… I have the Silent One… and uh, Yamal,” Maiya said, hanging her shoulders. “Yeah, I know. Not the most reliable help in the world, but hey! Better than nothing! Though, they’ve been more distant with me, ever since they found out about my connections with Ira. They think I’m her personal attendant now. Or at least, Yamal does. I can never tell what the big guy’s thinking.”