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It took every ounce of training and every morsel of Maiya’s acting skills to maintain her composure. To clamp down on her facial muscles to avoid bursting into laughter at Yamal and the Silent One’s reactions as she led them closer and closer to Sonam’s castle. It was, perhaps the greatest challenge she’d ever faced.

Maiya could vividly imagine their thoughts—or Yamal’s, at least. The Silent One, he took in the surroundings with enlarged eyes, looked otherwise unaffected.

Whether his mind was truly at peace, or whether he was simply a master at hiding his emotions, Maiya couldn’t say. What she could say, though, was that Yamal should’ve gone into entertainment—people would’ve paid good money to witness the wealth of facial expressions he was making.

What had begun as skepticism had slowly evolved to brooding, and finally to outright shock as they passed each district in turn.

Now they were in the castle grounds—a place Maiya doubted either of her companions had ever dreamed of setting foot inside. Even the most prominent Sawai rarely ever got that honor.

Which, of course, prompted Maiya to consider why Ira wanted the two with her in the first place. Maiya had indeed vouched for them both, but from Ira’s perspective, it was simply too much of a liability to let them in on her plans.

The reward for blabbing about Ira’s plans for a royal coup would be… enormous. Enough, even, to shatter the loyalty of even the most devout allies.

The royal grounds consisted mainly of the keep and its gardens, but ringing the wall on the inside sat other structures belonging to persons of honor. Bodyguards, the royal priest… and Maiya’s abode.

It was both a point of honor and terror for her. Maiya knew little of how the rest of the royal family felt about her. Apparently, Ira had cleared Maiya’s house location with her family, but Maiya had yet to meet the Emperor or the Empress.

She genuinely hoped it stayed that way. Blood cults were enough to worry about. She didn’t want to add royal intrigue to the list.

Maiya turned a corner—away from the castle itself.

Yamal’s expression changed once again.

He must think I’m royalty or something… Let’s see what he thinks now!

“Are you sure you know where we’re going?” Yamal asked after Maiya had led them around for ten minutes.

“I could swear it was one of these,” Maiya muttered under her breath. There were manors here, just that they were all far too large. Maiya’s would be smaller. And yet, she couldn’t just barge up to their doors asking them if they knew where her place was…

Maiya was saved the embarrassment by an old friend.

“Awoooo!”

A brown-and-white bandy rushed across the yard of one of those very manors, chased by an ever-growing number of frantic attendants who tried desperately to get him to come back.

Neel sailed over the wrought-iron fence and crashed into Maiya, sending them both onto the ground, tumbling, as he licked her face with glee.

“Neel!” Maiya giggled. “I’ve missed you so much!”

She wrestled with the bandy for a moment, before suddenly feeling the judging eyes of her bodyguards on her.

Coughing awkwardly, she disentangled herself from the dog and stood up, brushing off her skirt. Neel continued to run circles around her.

“My sincerest apologies, miss, I—!?”

The attendants finally caught up, and at least one among them seemed to realize who Maiya was.

“Madam! I wasn’t—I didn’t! Please, forgive us!”

She went down on her knees, followed shortly by the handful of attendants beside her. Some appear confused, and others stricken.

Seeing a prime opportunity to recover from her embarrassing moment with Neel, Maiya sighed theatrically. “It’s fine. He’s difficult to control when he gets this way. Please, don’t punish him.”

“Of course not, madam!”

“Very well. Then I shall accompany you to my manor.”

“At once!”

The attendants snapped to attention—Maiya noticed their immaculate military discipline—and led her party through the gates.

This… is my home? Maiya wondered as she took in the structure.

While it’d been described to her via letters, her new three-story stone house was by far the largest building Maiya had ever lived in.

It sat on its own, surrounded by a well-manicured garden, which was in turn surrounded by the wrought-iron fence that Neel had bounded over, with the rear of the grounds running right up to the tall castle walls.

A gardener worked the land, while six ceremonial Balarian Royal guards stood at attention at the front entrance.

A bit overkill for a handmaiden’s residence, Maiya thought, walking up to them. Nor were these ordinary guards. They were the Balarian Royal Guard. Overkill… and wasteful.

Not that Maiya disliked the honor.

Despite her entourage, she was still required to show her badge in front of the stoic guards, who scanned it, looked her over, then nodded and opened the tall mahogany door.

While ornamental, like all Kin’jal construction, it served a defensive role as well. Standing half again as tall as Maiya, each weighed as much as an Ash’va, and Maiya knew that nothing short of a battering ram would defeat them.

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A maid came running up just as Maiya entered the house, and bowed deeply.

Good form, Maiya thought reflexively. She’s well-trained.

“Milady, please allow me to welcome you home. I’m afraid we were unable to organize a more appropriate reception on such notice. If you like, I shall—”

“No need,” Maiya said, thinking how truly ironic it was that she now had maids standing on her. Maiya was technically still a handmaiden, although her job description had deviated so significantly that the title was almost a joke at this point.

“This is my first time on the premises,” Maiya said. “I assume you’ll be the one giving us a tour?”

The maid flinched. “I… would love nothing more, milady. However, I’m afraid that you are called upon.”

Maiya raised her eyebrow, suspecting the identity of the one who’d called upon her. “Where?”

“I shall guide you to the veranda. Your friends, I’m afraid, will need to remain here. We shall see that they receive every hospitality.”

Maiya had thought Yamal would’ve taken offense, and was preparing an excuse when she saw his face light up.

“Does that include Sonamite royal wine I hear so much about?” he asked with a ravenous grin.

The maid smiled demurely. “Of course, ser.”

Well, that’s at least one less problem to deal with. Maiya thought, her mood souring. She began to see what was going on, and if she was right, Princess Ira had just made Maiya’s life far more difficult than it needed to be.

“Don’t get too drunk,” she said to Yamal. “I shouldn’t be gone longer than an hour.”

I hope…

Yamal held Maiya’s gaze for a long moment before replying.

“When you get back, you’re telling us everything. My head’s about to explode.”

Maiya smirked. “We’ll see.”

----------------------------------------

Maiya found Princess Ira sitting at the veranda on the second floor that overlooked the rear of the manor.

“Well?” Ira asked, setting down her mug of tea. “How’d you like your new home?”

Maiya’s lips went taut. “It sure is big.”

“Big?” Ira asked, giggling. “Is that all?”

“Well, I couldn’t say, seeing how I just arrived.”

A few months ago, Maiya wouldn’t have dared address the princess in such a manner. Lately, though, their relationship had deepened, growing past merely that of a business relationship. Budding, unexpectedly, into genuine friendship.

Ira dismissed Maiya’s gripe with a wave. “You’ll have plenty of time to wander after. It’s not often a princess visits people in their own homes, you know? Now come, tell me about your exploits! I want to hear about everything! Everything!”

At times like these, the princess sounded less like a genius mastermind, and more like the teenage girl she really was.

Smiling despite herself, Maiya took a seat across the princess, and after a handmaiden poured out some tea, began her tale.

She left nearly nothing out, summarizing her blood baptism—going into gory detail to hammer home just how terrible of an ordeal it was—and finally, the events of the Orientation Camp and the strange room. She had, of course, summarized most of this in her reports, but there was only so much that could be written.

Maiya did not, however, mention Vir or her communication orb. As much as she liked Ira, she didn’t trust the princess not to take the orb away for research purposes. For Ira, nothing took higher precedence than Kin’jal’s interests. Than overthrowing her father’s rule. Not even Maiya. If she could gain an edge, she would.

Frankly, Maiya couldn’t blame her. A part of her felt guilty hiding the secret of the orb from the princess. If trans-realm communication would’ve benefitted Ira’s cause, Maiya would have come clean. But it didn’t. And as such, she’d hold on to that secret just a little longer.

“Fascinating,” Ira said, her elbows placed on the table and her head resting on her interlocked fingers. “To think they had that buried under there! I wonder what it could be…”

“Me too,” Maiya said. “I’ve felt… different, ever since I touched that tree.”

“Different? How?” Ira asked with a frown.

“I dunno,” Maiya replied. “I feel like something within me’s changed, but can’t put my finger on what.”

“Would you like our Life mejai to examine you?”

Maiya bit her lip. “Maybe.”

“Consider it done.”

“Thanks Ira,” Maiya said. “This has all been a lot for me lately. The rituals. The whole Blessed Chosen thing… and I can’t help but feel like there’s more to the Children than meets the eye. I don’t think they’re just a crazy cult.”

“While I admit it is a curiosity, it is only a curiosity,” Ira said, dismissing Maiya’s concern. “You are now the Blessed Prophet. The Blessed Prophet, Maiya! You have accomplished what no one in recorded history ever has! You’ve infiltrated the Children and risen to the top! When I had you go undercover, I imagined it’d take you years, not months, and even then, I put your odds of success at fifty-fifty!”

“Gee, thanks,” Maiya muttered, sipping her tea.

Did she assume I might die along the way? Maiya thought it was a definite possibility, though she knew Ira would do everything she could to save Maiya’s life if it ever came to that.

“This is incredible!” Ira continued. “Thanks to you, I can put my plans in motion sooner than anticipated. Can you imagine what boons having the Children under my control will bring?”

Ira paused, taking a long, hard look at Maiya. Maiya knew that look. The princess was planning something nefarious.

“Don’t tell me you want me to kill someone?” Maiya asked.

Ira smiled. “Oh, no, no. Nothing of the sort. Just a small mission that will require your presence.”

“Ira, you know I can’t get away from the Children.”

“It won’t take long. Just one night, I think. Yes. With your actions, this would be a most opportune time for it,” Ira said, tapping the table. “We can discuss the details later, but don’t worry. It’ll be a nice change of pace for you.”

Maiya had known the princess wouldn’t have had her return to Sonam without a good reason. Yes, this was supposed to be a respite from the Children, but the princess was a schemer. Whatever this mission was, the details must have been too sensitive to communicate via letter.

“Just a bit longer, Maiya. Then you can be back among us.”

“That’s… honestly nice to hear.” Maiya genuinely longed for the safety and security of Sonam’s walls. She wanted nothing more than to lead a cozy, boring life, where her greatest worries were paperwork and boredom.

And yet, she couldn’t return. Not yet. Not until Ira had accomplished her plans. Defeating the Blessed Chosen was but the first step. Ira’s ambition would never relent until she donned the Empress’ crown. And that would be a long, bloody road. A road that Maiya would have to blaze.

“Don’t you think we should understand the Children?” she asked. “I just have this feeling that without all the information, it’ll be impossible to dethrone the Blessed Chosen.”

“Nonsense. The Blessed Chosen is just one man. One broken man.”

Maiya’s eyes narrowed. “You know something of him?”

“Nothing concrete yet. Nothing I can say without more investigation of my own. Regardless, you will soon be in command of the Children. Soon, they will be an extension of Kin’jal’s military might. Our might.”

Maiya pursed her lips in concern but didn’t pursue. She knew from experience that there was little chance of changing the princess’ mind on the matter.

Seeing Maiya’s distress, Ira sighed. “Look, you can dabble in whatever hobbies you like, so long as it doesn’t distract you or compromise your cover.”

Maiya cocked a brow. “Compromise my cover? Like bringing those two here?”

Ira grinned. “Oh, that. That’s nothing of the sort. You see, that’s insurance!”

----------------------------------------

Princess Ira nodded at the gawking Yamal.

“Y-y-y-your highness!” Yamal wheezed.

Ira threw him her most innocent smile. “It’s a pleasure… Yamal, yes?”

“Y-yes!” Yamal said, choking his words out. “For the princess to know my name. ‘Tis the greatest honor.”

Ira held Yamal’s shaking hands in hers. “Please, the pleasure is all mine. I hate to presume when we’ve only just met, but would you hear this frail princess’ selfish wish?” Ira said with upturned eyes, and Maiya had to resist the temptation to roll hers.

Yamal’s eyes went wide. “Whatever your wish, princess. Please, tell me!”

“Please, protect her. Both of you. Can I ask that of you?”

“O-o-of course!” Yamal squeaked, resembling a mouse more than a man at that moment.

“Oh thank goodness!” Ira said. “I truly feel better, knowing she has both of you to count on.”

Maiya didn’t fail to notice how the princess’ gaze lingered on the Silent One, who nodded subtly.

Why would she single out the Silent One? Yamal’s the flaky one here.

Maiya followed the princess out to the front lawn, where she gave Maiya a warm hug, to the bewilderment of Yamal, who peeked out from the manor’s door.

“Do stay safe, yeah?”

Maiya smiled. “I will.”

Princess Ira squeezed Maiya’s hand, then turned and alighted her carriage.

Maiya was alone at last.

She turned back to the house, where her two friends awaited.

Well, not alone… This is going to be such a mess. Curse you, Ira!