C. 6 days, 15 hours from the forging of the Remnant

C. 7 years, 1 month until projected Exodus Date.

Come in."

Othaashle Mestari, Champion of the Imaia, stood at her raised desk and put down her cup of steaming tea to study Mnene Folonja as he entered her office. After the unexpected attack on Djeduu, she'd been expecting a report from him.

The Samjati man, one of Skadaatha's people, was a tall, handsome man with a full gemcrest sparkling at his brow. He wore a long coat and trousers reminiscent of a military uniform.

Though Mnene tried to hide it as he approached her desk, Othaashle sensed his nerves. He glanced over at Yndlova, who sat at her desk off to the side. She watched him, but said nothing.

Is that because of me? Or does Skadaatha not take bad news well, even from her most loyal followers?

It could be either. Though she hadn't been able to figure out why, Othaashle knew that Skadaatha didn't like her. It was something more than their political rivalry, but so far, she'd come up with nothing concrete. Whatever it was, Othaashle felt it whenever she dealt with Skadaatha's people, no matter how polite they were. Mnene, however, displayed it the least of all of them.

Othaashle almost felt a strange familiarity toward the man at times, but knew that was impossible.

"What do you have to report, Mnene?"

The man swallowed and wet his lips before answering.

"I believe our mole has been eliminated," Mnene said, straightening. "She reported some chaos within the rebels, but…" He sighed. "That last card has been played, and we didn't get what we'd hoped for. I’ve had no further contact in over a week.”

Othaashle frowned, but nodded. "Did she provide any information on the motivation behind Djeduu?"

He shook his head. "I believe she was… eliminated either during or before the attack. The last report I received indicated her intention to move on the Frozen Phantom faction after disrupting their raid of Memfoso. She planned to frame their leader, Estingai, for the murder of one of the other faction leaders and throw the factions into chaos. She wanted more assurances of aid once she took power. I assume she was caught during the attempt."

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Othaashle mulled on that for a moment, then nodded. "Thank you, Mnene. Anything else to report?"

The man shook his head. "Only a lack of activity on the continent since then. We've left open a few vulnerabilities while repairing the damage done in Memfoso and Djeduu, but no bites. I believe it will stay that way for a while."

"You are dismissed, then."

Mnene saluted, then turned on his heel and walked out the door.

Othaashle looked after him for a moment before turning to Yndlova.

"What do you think? How much did he leave out?"

Her adjunct thought for a moment, then shrugged. "I doubt he had any reason to leave much out aside from any details that might make the situation more embarrassing. If it had worked, then we would have to worry about him holding things back to share with Skadaatha."

Othaashle nodded.

"Do you think Skadaatha had anything to do with this? With the mole's elimination, I mean?"

Yndlova blinked, but then considered. "I don't know. I wouldn't put it past her, but she wants the rebels eliminated as much as we do."

Othaashle agreed with that. She'd expected some sort of difficulties when she'd taken over the operation after Epekoro hadn't returned from cleaning up the rebel bases, but Skadaatha had been surprisingly quiet over it.

"Even if she did," Othaashle said, "if nothing else, this operation ensured that Epekoro is no longer a problem."

Yndlova blinked, cheeks darkening, and Othaashle frowned. She knew she shouldn't speak of other Redeemed like that. Doing so for anyone else would be tantamount to treason. Epekoro had been nearly as close to her as Itese for a time. Unlike Itese, however, he’d begun to try and wield power that wasn't hers these past few months. Taizak had done a fine job of getting Epekoro’s people back on Othaashle's side, blaming her death on Skadaatha's incompetence without saying so outright.

And he did it all while training Katamori.

Things were back on track. She might have to think about promoting Taizak now that Epekoro was out of the picture. His loyalty to her and the Redeemed as a whole was unwavering, and he was doing a particularly fine job of bringing their newest member up to speed.

"I think I may ask the God King for one last dispensation," she said, half to Yndlova, half to herself.

Her adjunct blinked. "For who?"

"This… Estingai," Othaashle said, leaning back in her chair as she brought her desk back down to its lower height. "This 'Last Knight' that managed to kill one of our senior Redeemed single-handedly, if Mnene's mole is to be believed. Once I kill her, the last of the Night Mother's threats to the Imaia will be gone, and this one will serve us."

That wouldn't end it completely, of course. There were a few Knights left somewhere out there, but they weren't a problem. Othaashle hadn't taken their lives, hadn't been able to bring their souls to Ynuukwidas to be Redeemed, but she'd broken them, shattering their ability to stand against the Imaia.

The rebels would stay in hiding if they knew what was good for them, and if they peeked out from their caves again, they would be dealt with.

The last thing Othaashle had to worry about, besides this Last Knight, was something she'd heard whispers of from those who kept tabs on Skadaatha and her people. Something Skadaatha had started researching, that Othaashle hadn't thought of before. Not a priority, but something to pay attention to.

Somewhere on Efruumani, Kweshrima cowered, wounded, a shadow of her former self. And with her, would be the source of her power. The Throne of Darkness.