It was quite an involved process. One that she’d long ago mastered. This time, she worked off an incredibly detailed canvas painting of Princess Kira’s likeness that Ira had given her when she’d visited Sonam. Maiya would be on the move and it would be dark, so the details didn’t matter overly much, but the closer she got, the more likely it was that Ira’s plan would actually work.
There was little time. The operation was due to commence in just a few short hours—assuming Ira’s handmaidens managed to break Princess Kira out from her house arrest. Maiya wouldn’t know until she met Ira’s agent at the meeting spot. Jatan Forest was convenient in that it was both close to the Children’s Sanctuary and also offered an ideal location for clandestine meetings.
With her makeup applied, Maiya was now the spitting image of Princess Kira, Ira’s younger sister. Beautiful, silver-haired, and slightly deranged. While she’d never seen the princess in person, Ira had provided a detailed dossier summarizing her character and her past behavior. She was, by all accounts, an epitomal Kin’jal. Despite being a mejai, she lived and breathed combat. Her technique was said to be superb for her age, and though she had little actual combat experience, her instincts were nearly feral.
She was also somewhat deranged, picking fights seemingly at random, mauling nearby guards when she got the fancy. And, crucially, she possessed a lesser affinity for Ice magic. It was one of the reasons Ira had chosen Maiya for this operation, despite the risk.
A wild princess. Wonder if we’d get along…
Envisioning Kira’s character, Maiya did her best to approximate the princess’ facial expressions, ranging from creepy smiles to battle-crazed laughter. She was thankful her room’s stone walls were so thick—though if she was honest, she was likely at one of the only places in the Known World where deranged laughter wouldn’t cause anyone to bat an eye.
When she was satisfied, she donned a plain black robe—the armor she was supposed to wear tonight would be provided by Ira’s agents at their rendezvous point. It’d have been far too risky to deliver the clothes to Maiya while she was sequestered inside the cult’s sanctuary, after all, so this was the next best option.
As for why she stripped off her clothes before applying makeup, it was a lesson she’d learned the hard way, long ago. Face paint had a tendency to get on to clothing, despite the care taken. Under normal circumstances, it would be an annoyance. Here? It might very well compromise Maiya’s cover, should any of the cleaning staff discover any traces of her makeup.
Donning light shoes, Maiya swiveled the bookshelf at the back of her room. For once, Maiya was thankful for the cultists’ paranoia. They had insisted on assigning their most precious member a room with not one, but two secret exits. They told her to use the passage only during emergencies, and Maiya had happily lied that she would.
She’d already used the passages several times, though usually just to get some fresh air and privacy. Her position within the organization afforded her precious little free time. Annoyingly, her hectic schedule was the best insurance the cultists could have bought to keep an eye on Maiya at all times.
Even at night, she’d have attendants knocking at her door to ensure all was well.
Which was why she’d arranged a countermeasure.
When Maiya exited the one-way door at the end of her secret passage, she held it open. The Kin’jal handmaiden who appeared from the forest was almost the spitting image of Maiya herself.
“The operation is on schedule,” the handmaiden said succinctly before stealing into the passage.
Well, alright then…
Ira’s handmaidens were all… well, they were like Neeti, the head handmaiden. As disciplined as they came. With all the emotions of granite, too, Maiya noted.
She seemed to be the sole exception, and on more than one occasion, Maiya wondered if that was why the princess had taken a liking to her.
Shrugging, Maiya inhaled deeply, savoring the fresh scent of the forest. She peered up at the stars, peeking through the gaps in the canopy so high above, and took a moment to appreciate the sound of wind rustling through leaves.
Living underground was insidious. The absence of sunlight and natural sounds and smells eroded one’s sanity, to the point where she wasn’t sure what was worse—that, or the cultists.
Maybe that’s why all the Children are so kooky, Maiya thought, running easily through Jatan Forest, relishing the feeling of the cold air against her cheeks. Then again, maybe not.
The Lighten Load orbs slotted into her magical robe reduced the normally arduous trek into something that was nearly effortless, and she wondered why more wealthy people and mejai didn’t use them more.
She soon arrived at the designated clearing, where another handmaiden awaited beside an Acira. A very familiar Acira.
Frumpy!
Maiya ran up to the beast, hugging its snout. The great Acira purred in her arms.
At her request, Frumpy now belonged to her. She’d initially been ecstatic, but her happiness had been short-lived when she’d received word that Frumpy had fallen ill, being cooped up in her hangar all the time. Feeling bad for the beast, Maiya allowed the other handmaidens to ride her, on two conditions. Firstly, Maiya got top priority whenever she needed the beast, and Frumpy had to receive better care than all the other Royal Acira.
Maiya needn’t have worried. It seemed a competition of sorts had cropped up amongst the other handmaidens—Frumpy was the most in-demand and well-taken-care-of Acira in the entire royal hangar.
“Looks like they’ve been feeding you well, at least,” Maiya said, taking in the black beast’s muscular form.
Frumpy cooed in her ear, making her giggle.
“Milady, we must depart,” the handmaiden, a petite woman with a compact, muscular build and short black hair, said, handing Maiya her magical armor, as well as a sack containing her combat orbs. “Owing to the time-sensitive nature of your station, we have pre-positioned fresh Acira all along the route. We’ll be able to fly faster and without worry for our mount’s longevity. Frumpy will only accompany us for the first leg.”
And also minimize the downtime between stops. Smart. Ira’s really holding nothing back for this mission.
It was also how they’d reach Kartara—Sai’s capital—and return by morning. The journey of a thousand miles would ordinarily take a day or more, with breaks. With this strategy, they could be there in only six hours.
Six hours to cross half the Known World… Incredible.
Until recently, Maiya would’ve thought such a feat impossible. Depending on the route and season, it could take weeks to attempt such a journey on Ash’va.
Frumpy nuzzled Maiya, bringing her attention back to the Acira.
“You haven’t overworked her, have you?” Maiya asked, frowning.
“No, milady. We’ve seen to it that she’s been exceedingly well taken care of.”
“Good,” Maiya said, finishing changing into her armor and slotting her orbs—only C Grade Ice Affinity orbs this time, to emulate Princess Kira. “Then let’s be off.”
Flight without Magic Heat would’ve been torture at best, and deadly at worst. Frumpy’s thick scales might’ve protected the beast from the elements, but her riders were far less fortunate.
Luckily, Ira’s handmaiden had brought along more orbs than they’d need, and the nighttime journey was comfortable.
Maiya relished every moment as the forest fell away from beneath them and the city lights of the distant Sonam came into view. Even as far as they were, it shone like a beacon in the darkness. Humanity’s largest bastion of civilization.