“Camas?” she whispered. “What are you doing here?”
“Your presence has been requested,” Camas replied flatly. “Please do not resist.”
His tone left no room for debate, and soon, allowed them to march her out of her room. She’d taken Camas down once before and could easily do so again, but once more, the importance of maintaining her cover barred her from overt violence. She’d have to handle this as delicately as possible.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked, fully expecting silence as her answer. It was silence she received—her guards may as well have been as mute as the Silent One.
She felt a sudden pang of nostalgia for her old friends… Until her guards led her into a room, quickly sealing the door behind them.
Then, nostalgia turned into confusion.
Waiting for her, and dressed in the Blessed Chosen’s personal guard armor, was none other than Yamal himself. “Quickly,” he said. “Put these on.”
Maiya recognized the clothing. It was the unassuming robe she’d worn countless times on missions for Princess Ira. Worn when she was trying to stay hidden.
“Where did you get this?” Maiya asked.
“From us.” The voice came from a tall man who stood beside Yamal. From his ramrod-straight parade rest to his chiseled jaw and powerful frame, he looked like a fish out of water.
Maiya whirled, her eyes narrowing. “You’re Balarian Guard.”
“Balarian Royal Guard,” he corrected.
No… Grakking… Way.
“I’d tell you just how special this operation is, though it appears you already know.”
Maiya nodded vigorously. The Balarian Royal Guard could only be commanded by Kin’jal royalty directly, and they rarely ever left the royal family’s side. If one was here, it meant Ira had gone to mind-boggling lengths to have Maiya rescued.
And even greater lengths to keep the details secret, Maiya thought. What price the princess had paid for this, Maiya couldn’t even begin to imagine. That worried her. And yet, for the princess to have done all this just for her made Maiya’s chest warm with pride.
What’s more, this operation represented a joint venture between Ira, the Sisters, and, Maiya’s own cadre, which now included Camas’ gang, Yamal, and a handful of others.
So that Sister had known…
Riyan’s rebellion, the Blessed Chosen’s revelations, the Sisters working with Kin’jal… There were so many moving pieces it made her head spin.
“Lead the way,” Maiya said exhaustedly, ready to be done with her prison at last.
47
OF REBELS AND KINGS (PART TWO) (MAIYA)
The Kin’jal pilots had landed a half dozen Acira at different locations around Jatan Forest. Overkill, by all accounts. Just about right for the Royal Balarian Guard.
They claimed it was to ensure sufficient air cover in case the Children pursued, though Maiya wondered if they’d simply used the mission as an excuse to conduct a field training exercise away from the castle. Or rather, whether Ira had gotten them out by assuring it could be used as such.
It was a wholly unnecessary precaution, as it turned out. They’d taken to the air with no one being the wiser, and it stayed that way the entire trip. The cover of night certainly helped, though Maiya doubted things would have played out any differently had it been done under broad daylight. The Royal Guard were easily stronger than Ira’s handmaidens, and many boasted Balar Ranks in the hundreds.
The strategy had another benefit—it allowed some of the other Acira to race ahead to Sonam with advance warning of Maiya’s impending arrival. And Maiya felt there was indeed a great need to warn Ira.
The truth was, after learning of the Blessed Chosen’s powers, Maiya was no longer sure whether she ought to meet with Princess Ira in person. Ever again. The Blessed Chosen might only be able to track the locations of the cultists, but it wouldn’t take a genius to figure out who she might be interacting with if he learned she was frequenting the Royal Quarter.
Then again, she had already done exactly that, so she figured the damage had already been done. Rather, she couldn’t understand why the Blessed Chosen ignored her Kin’jal affiliation. Was he simply too deranged to care? Or, as he claimed, was he working under the influence of some greater power?
He certainly seemed to believe so. If that was the case, and Maiya was being handed power, the question became why. Nobody granted such powerful gifts without strings attached. Least of all gods.
Maiya’s turmoil was abruptly cut short when their Acira landed in one of the stables for Sawai—outside the Royal Quarter.
I suppose that’s one way around it, Maiya mused as she gracefully alighted. Meeting outside the castle grounds won’t give anything away to the Blessed Chosen.
Yamal approached the moment they landed.
“I was beginning to think we’d never get you out of there,” Yamal said, visibly relieved.
“Kin’jal forces would’ve had to work with someone on the inside. I take it that was you?” Maiya asked.
“Well, I just put them in touch with the Sisters. If not for your groundwork, none of this would’ve been possible.”
Maiya gave Yamal an appraising look. He was useless in a fight, but it seemed he had other talents she’d overlooked. She’d remember that.
“And Camas?” Maiya asked.
“Surprisingly helpful. You seem to have gained quite a posse with that group,” Yamal said, his lips taut.
Maiya guessed the man was thinking of the demonstration she gave Camas’ little gang. True to her word, she’d been putting them to good use, getting them to squash cultists who didn’t quite agree with the idea of a new member ascending the ranks so quickly. She’d initially expected little, but they’d done a decent job.
About time he atoned for all the evil he’s wrought.
“This way, madam,” a Balarian Royal Guard said, gesturing for Maiya to follow. “Your friend is welcome as well.”
A look of surprise passed over Yamal’s face, though he fell in beside Maiya as they walked the wide Sawai streets.
“Any words from the Silent One?” Maiya asked. “I feel like he disappeared off the face of the realm.”
Yamal shook his head. “I put feelers out as well. No luck. No one knows what happened to him.”
Maiya suppressed a frown. What would he do if he learned I killed his brother?
She only hoped the princess could shed some clarity on this murky situation. If she couldn’t, Maiya doubted anyone could.
Princess Ira Kin’jal was seated alone in a private room on the third floor of an upscale Sawai lounge. She wore no disguise, though she wore no lavish dress or makeup either, and that was almost as good.
Ira was naturally beautiful, but she was as thin as a needle. Those who knew of her reputation would never expect her to leave the castle without guard, and those who’d seen her with her puffy gowns and masterful makeup would never guess she was as frail as she really was.
Though, in her case, the frailty was a carefully crafted deception. Ira purposefully ate little and kept her frame slim, precisely to maintain her image.
Which only made her scarier in Maiya’s mind.
The princess rose from her table and embraced Maiya in a tight hug.
Maiya, who’d never grown accustomed to Ira’s casual behavior, stood awkwardly, waiting for the moment to pass.
“Would it kill you to reciprocate, even just once?” Ira said, pulling away with a pout.
Maiya simply raised her brow.
“Hah, fine. This room is secure,” Ira said somewhat irritably, gesturing for Maiya to take a seat across from her. “We have much to discuss, so tell me everything.”