The princess could easily eliminate Riyan with the forces at her command. And then she’d owe Vir a favor. Using her vast resources, he could locate Maiya. Not only would he not be a criminal, he’d be a person of honor to Hiranyan royalty.
“This is still too dangerous. I can’t sacrifice myself for you, Riyan.”
Riyan regarded Vir for a long moment. “What if I told you that it was Princess Mina who put Head Priest Harak in power?”
Vir’s face went white.
“Yes, you recall, don’t you? Those knights who killed your father. Who killed Maiya’s parents. They were sent by Harak himself. I know you, Vir. You want revenge against those who have wronged you. Yet you have no means of striking back. Isn’t this your golden opportunity? Isn’t this the chance you’ve been waiting for?”
If true, that changed everything. How could Vir possibly work with someone who’d had a hand in the deaths of those he treasured?
But was it true? How much of what Riyan was telling him was a lie? The man could be spinning tales to get Vir to help him. After all, it wasn’t like it’d be easy for Vir to verify whether Mina had really put Harak in power, not without some solid connections to Dahan Sawai.
He’d first test the waters to learn about the princess. There was no need to decide right now.
And regardless of which path he chose—whether to kill the princess or not—it would be his decision, and not anyone else’s.
“How much time do I have for this?”
“I am in no rush. I have waited for this opportunity for years, after all. It will take time for you to build inroads in Daha. It will take time to come up with a plan,” he said, staring out the window into the sunset. “I think six months should be ample time.”
Six months? Vir’s stomach fell. He’d never been apart from Maiya for that long. It felt like an eternity.
“What about Maiya? How do I know she’s safe? How do I know you haven’t killed her already?”
“You don’t. I give you my word that no harm will befall her, but I don’t expect my word means much to you anymore. Tanya is with her. If anything, her task will have her growing even stronger. You need not fear for her safety.”
Easy for you to say…
Then again, time away from Maiya may not be the worst thing for his abilities. While Shardul had threatened not to help Vir again, there was a chance Vir could reason with him. If so, allowing himself to be possessed might lead to more power gains. And with Maiya out of the picture, he needn’t worry about Ekanai taking over and slitting her throat.
“Alright,” he said at last. “I’ll do it. But if the situation looks hopeless, or if I’m put in grave danger during the attempt, I won’t go through with it. The concession I’ll make is that if I fail, I promise to do as much damage in the castle as possible.”
“Acceptable,” Riyan replied, surprising Vir.
“You will head out as soon as you pack your supplies. You may take one of my Ash’va, as well as any provisions you require. Take what you need.”
“Right,” Vir said.
“Your expression says everything,” Riyan said tiredly. “Though you may not believe me, I am not an evil man. For years, I served as a general in the Hiranyan military. I have sent countless souls to their deaths. Trust me when I say that I do not enjoy seeing promising youths die. This task of yours is noble, whether you believe me or not.”
The revelation that Riyan had been a general came as a shock. Maiya had often stayed up late with him, gossiping about Riyan’s true identity, but they had always just assumed he was a fallen Sawai aristocrat. Never in their wildest dreams did they imagine he’d led entire armies. The man’s vast wealth of combat experience made sense now.
“Why? I understand she killed your family, but what else has she done?” Vir asked.
“I could tell you stories about her. Terrible stories that would make you sick, but I’m afraid they would fall on deaf ears. I see that look in your eyes, Vir. I’ve seen it in countless others. Nothing I say at this point will sway you. So learn about her once you arrive at Daha. Perhaps then you will understand.”
Vir suspected the real reason Riyan didn’t want to talk was on account of the painful memories they’d bring. On rare occasions, the man actually behaved surprisingly human.
“Uh, any tips you could tell me? Anything that would help?”
“You have never killed a human before, have you?” Riyan asked, stroking his beard.
Vir shook his head. While he may have been responsible for the death of that pirate back during the Saran trip, he couldn’t say for sure. Besides, that was self-defense. What Riyan spoke of was premeditated murder.
“I suppose you’ve killed your fair share?” Vir asked, not even wanting to guess how many lives had ended by his actions.
“More than I could count,” Riyan said calmly. “Your first kill is the worst, though you never truly get used to it. Not if you have a soul. But killing unarmed, unresisting civilians? Those haunt me the most, Vir. On occasion, I have been forced to slaughter innocents against my will.”
“Even as a general?”
“Especially as a general. As I said, this will not be easy for you. The one you are after has committed her fair share of atrocities—we will all sleep better at night knowing she is gone from this world. But killing is difficult for most. If you manage it, you will gain a… power, for lack of a better word.”
“You mean like a Talent?” Vir asked. This was the first he’d heard of such a thing.
The Ghost of Godshollow shook his head. “Nothing so tangible. Killing a human—and living with it afterward—requires a type of mental toughness that simply cannot be taught. It is the type of toughness that will serve you well in life. Such a thing is necessary in this world, Vir, no matter what anyone tells you. Especially for an Ashborn like you.”
“I… can’t say I understand, but I suppose I’ll know when the time comes,” Vir replied. “Do you know anything about the princess that might give me an edge? I’d hate to walk in with no information at all.”
“It is best that you do not underestimate that girl. She is far more clever than someone of your age. She is a Greater Mejai Sorcar for a reason.”
“What’s her Balar Rank?” Vir asked.
“About the same as you, as you currently stand. Around forty, last I heard. Though I would not be surprised if she is concealing her true might.”
Vir didn’t like the sound of that at all.
“Vir, listen to me. You may bear no love for the kingdom that robbed you of your father, but I very much do. If left alive, that princess will assassinate her brothers and see herself crowned queen. And I fear that the day she rules Hiranya is the day this country falls.
“If you thought life in Brij was difficult, life under her rule would be apocalyptic. Ashborn would be slaughtered on sight. Prana scorned, or those with weak affinities would be rounded up and sold into slavery. Thousands will die for no crime other than existing. You must eliminate her before that happens.”
Riyan took a breath to calm down. Vir had never seen the man this agitated before.
“I have a contact in Daha. He will approach you when the time is right. Leverage him to establish inroads within the city. By working together, you will have a far better chance of accomplishing your mission. Also, you might think of joining up with the Brotherhood of Mercenaries. Their information network is not to be underestimated—I imagine they will be of use to you.”
“You’re telling me to infiltrate the royal castle?” Vir asked incredulously. “That sounds impossible, even with my disguises.”