They met at dusk and Fermin led them to the edge of Zuhaxea. He looked at Ilargi and then at Corbin.

“You two are the only people I can trust in this place,” he said. Corbin’s mouth opened, but Ilargi remained perfectly still. “Please tell me if you are able to keep this between us, otherwise just leave. No hard feelings. But if you stay, we are in it together.”

Corbin looked at Ilargi, she was calm, and he knew she didn’t even need to think about it before she decided. He looked back at Fermin and nodded. Fermin gave a sigh of relief.

“Good, I knew I could count on you two. Now come here and listen closely,” Fermin said and they huddled together. “When I left to find Amane, I did find her, but she said she must stay alone to keep a low profile. She was investigating something important that could turn Errautsuen Herria on its head. I’ve just received a note from her, saying that we must meet, which can only mean that she has results that she needs to share.” They all stared at each other. “I want you two to come with me.”

They left that same night under the cover of darkness riding on horses that Fermin brought along.

“I hope it doesn't bother you too much, that we are leaving like common thieves in the night,” Fermin said.

“Now that you are here, there is no longer any reason for me to stay,” Ilargi said.

“Yes and Kemen is here too,” Fermin said and winked at Corbin.

They moved towards the city of Odolgor, which was one of the cities that was more firmly under the control of the Kingdom of Zikinar, despite the fact that most of the inhabitants were still Erraskarians.

“Come on, hurry up, she told me to be there in three days or less and you know how she is,” Fermin said with a smile, that seemed a little forced. When their horses tired, they ran along with them, so they could cover more ground. Corbin groaned at the strenuous pace. “Don’t worry, we won’t have to climb any mountains,” Fermin said. “Well not any high ones anyway,” he added after a brief reflection.

The city of Odolgor was bustling with activity. Their cider festival dwarfed anything they were able to do in Zuhaxea. There were so many apples, that the smell of them was heavy in the air.

“What’s wrong?” Ilargi asked. Corbin jumped a little at her question, but saw she was looking at Fermin. “You’ve been acting strange this whole time.” He glanced around.

“It was her note. There were some coded messages. I’m afraid she might be in some kind of trouble. Come on we must find her; we can discuss this later,” Fermin said.

They hurried though the busy city with Fermin leading the way. He was getting more anxious with every step he took and even began parting the crowd more roughly as he went. Corbin looked at Ilargi and saw that her hand was already resting on the handle of her messer. He took a deep breath and felt for his own. He almost crashed into Fermin as he stopped dead. The town square was right in front of them. Corbin looked around Fermin and saw her. Amane was standing in the middle of the crowd and was waving at them while smiling widely. Corbin was dumbfounded at the sight. She had always been very strict and except for her soft spot that she had for Fermin and his antics.

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Fermin continued on his way to meet her. She stayed still. For a moment she was obstructed by the crowd but appeared just moments later. Then her expression changed. She brought a hand towards her throat. Crimson blood stained her throat and hand. She extended her other arm towards Fermin, then collapsed.

“No!” Fermin roared and sprinted to her, forcibly shoving away anyone that got in his way. Amane was sprawled on the floor. The blood now pooled around her head. She tried to breathe but only choked on her blood which was also coming from her mouth. Fermin took hold of her and pressed his hand over her throat. It was also soon covered in blood. She lifted her shaking arm towards him, but only got halfway there before her strength left her and she laid dead in Fermin’s arms.

Corbin collapsed to his knees and emptied his stomach over the cobbles. Ilargi was pale as a ghost and tears stained her face, but she was already looking around for the culprit, ready to run at the first suspect, but there were too many people. The crowd was so dense, that even many nearby people didn’t even notice the murder happen right before their eyes.

They were unable to do anything except rage and cry. The corpse bearers along with the city guards took her away. A coroner asked them a couple of question, but it was obvious enough that little to no action will be taken to bring the murderer to justice.

“They will inter her at the city cemetery. They won’t let us take her away,” Fermin said. Over the last couple of days he began looking a decade older than he had just weeks before. There was an emptiness to him, as if something had left his soul.

“Do you want to take her anyway?” Ilargi asked. Her eyes were red, but Corbin had almost never seen her cry since the murder. She is crying alone again.

“No, we should just leave it. I arranged for a good grave.” He was staring off into the distance for a long while. “We need to find what she has left.”

“What?” Ilargi asked.

“I told you about the coded messages. She referenced a secret hiding place that only we two know. She must’ve left something there. Come on, let’s go.”

The hiding place was behind an inn, where an old plank from the wall came away easily. Fermin stuck his hand into the opening and rummaged around. He pulled out a folded piece of paper. His hand shook a little as he unfolded it. He began reading the contents right there.

Her letter read:

Dearest Femi.

If you’re reading this, it means that I am probably dead. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you what I have been doing these past weeks. I’m not done yet, but I fear the end is coming for me. Ever since we were captured in the Empire, I had a feeling something was wrong. Now I’m certain that I am right. Either Luken or Oihan works for the Empire. The other likely works for the Kingdom. We were sold out to the Empire. They knew exactly what we planned to do and then just followed us from afar until they ambushed us. It doesn’t end there. Even at Aizertz pass the battle was decided in advance. The only unforeseen event was that the wizard was able to show up. Otherwise that part of the army was composed of dissidents, undesirables and the unarmed, who were political prisoners from the Kingdom.

I have failed. I played right into their hands. They drove me to take an extreme position and encourage chaos and killings. I should’ve seen through it, but I was blinded by all that was going on and also my lust for power. But I will say that I looks like I was justified in trying to gain control over the uprising. I just need to spend a little more time to figure out which one it was. I will come back with an army and evidence of what one or both of them have done.

You brought me out of my daze Femi and know that I love you more than anything in the world. You and this small life of ours that I’m now carrying. If I take too long, I might have to wait until it is all done, but hopefully no one will even notice for a while more.

But in case I really am dead, you should leave. No, keep reading you oaf, I’m not done. They are planning a purge in Zuhaxea. Everyone who has ever closely supported me will be in danger. They will pin all kinds of crimes and betrayals on me. Possibly even accuse me of the crimes I’m investigating right now. I’ve arranged for the people to already start to move out. They will go to Itsiria. I don’t know what they plan in the city, but it’s far enough away from their influence.

You are in my thoughts every moment, awake and asleep. I will always love you.

Yours forever,

Ami

Ilargi picked up the letter as it fell from Fermin’s hands and read it. Corbin peaked over her shoulder, straining to see. They were both interrupted by heart-wrenching wailing. Fermin slid down the wall with his back and sobbed uncontrollably. He had raged after the murder and then he was empty. He hadn’t cried at all. It felt as if all that collected grief of the past days came out all at the same time. Corbin felt tears sliding down his cheeks and Ilargi wept and convulsed. She stumbled into Corbin, who caught her and she took him closer to Fermin, where she put her arms around the both of them. They all cried together in a long and hot hug.