Asterith’s POV
As Sindie stepped out of my conjured portal into Riselia she stumbled into Thorne.
“Was it too much?” I asked, already knowing the answer. I’d known before I’d asked it of her, but there was no other way.
“No,” she said, straightening herself. “I’m fine.”
Her breathing was fast and short, but that was to be expected.
Thorne looked over his shoulder at me and I could tell from the set of his jaw what he was thinking. Still, I allowed him to speak his thoughts. “This privilege shouldn’t be given to a hume. Even our kind struggle under the burden of your powers Lady. It is a miracle she made it back here at all.”
I smiled, understanding his perspective, but seeing the folly in it. “She will do better with practice, and Sindie has been a loyal soldier her whole life, despite spending much of her childhood in that cursed territory. She remains hume by choice in order to fulfill our objectives. Do not mistake this for weakness again.”
Thorne didn’t argue.
“Sindie,” I said, turning to her, “You’ve done everything I’ve asked of you and even found the boy, though he is not as he should be, I feel I owe you a great debt. Ask anything of me, and it shall be yours.”
Sindie nodded, “Thank you, Lady, but I require nothing. I live to serve.”
I smiled. “As you say, but if you should ever change your mind, remember that I will do anything to repay you.”
She nodded again, “Thank you, Lady.”
I dismissed her and turned to Thorne, my smile turning into a frown. “I believe I have a task for you, something entirely too cruel to ask of Sindie.”
Thorne bowed his head. “Lady, I live to serve.”
“Good, then I want you to return to the Humes and show the lower lords who really controls their fate. I have no doubt that Lord Asher will pull some stunt to remind them of his power…” I turned away from Throne stepping up to one of the grand windows running the length of the hall. I looked out over a vibrant landscape of rolling green hills dotted with crystal branches spreading mana like water across the land. “However, it would do us well to remind him that we are watching, and that we have already laid the groundwork of a new world order, one where no lord will stand over us, and where we shall not bow to any.”
“Yes, lady, I’ll arrange it right away.”
I nodded, dismissing him. Once Thorne left I allowed the façade to drop, and my shoulders sagged. I was exhausted. Using my power to travel to Krell, while maintaining an awareness of both places, had taken a lot out of me. Suppressing Lord Kastin was a more challenging task than I’d expected, he seemed almost stronger than our previous encounters while simultaneously being obviously weakened. It was a paradox I could not quite work out.
The journey back, teleporting myself, the guard, and Sindie over several thousand miles took the last of my strength. Something had changed. The crystal's blessing was weakening—or it was shifting away from me.
Perhaps my situation was not all that different from Lord Asher’s, but unlike him I was aware of why and I was not fool enough to believe the boy could be eliminated or controlled. Soon, the age of judges would end and the slumbering crystal guardians would awaken. Before then, I needed to learn more about the great beasts. Could they be trusted? Or did they need to be destroyed?
If only the field of oblivion was not in Krell, I could visit the site and possibly learn more about the creatures and the wizard that sealed them.
----------------------------------------
Talent’s POV
“This isn’t necessary, I’m fine.” The attendants didn’t listen, each one imbuing healing magic into my limbs. “I’m fin—”
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Magistrate Sandra shoved a heal crystal into Talent’s mouth. It tasted so strongly of copper and salt that it made him gag.
“Stop fighting,” Sandra snapped, forcing the crystal down his throat. “You almost died, you idiot. How are you going to help anyone if you’re dead?”
Talent choked and coughed. He wanted to tell her that he would rather die than face his father after such an embarrassing defeat. He had been completely overwhelmed by the girl who might have been a number, how else would the ant know her? His words stuck in his throat as the crystal dissolved, easing his nerves and soothing the pain in his body.
The attendants eased off the magic as Sandra fed him another Crystal and Talent gave in to the treatment. He lay in the bed, feeling his limbs slowly regaining strength, and his skin regrowing where it had been burned away. His pride wasn’t so easily healed. He was the strongest mage in the territory, but he couldn’t defeat a girl, a number.
His greatest fear had finally been realized, and Talent finally understood why he always hesitated in combat. He wasn’t afraid to die, and he wasn’t afraid of pain. No, he was afraid of defeat, of being proven weak.
After the attendants finished their work Talent’s body was whole, but he still felt broken. Sandra sat beside him, her eyes staring down at him with a stoic coldness. “Did you learn something today?”
Talent nodded. “I’m not strong enough.”
Sandra shook her head. “You could be, if you’d stop acting so recklessly. You’re a lordling, you have no need to risk your life to prove your strength.”
Talent laughed. “You sound like my father, ‘I have no need to prove my strength.’ Strength is all that matters in this world.”
“You’re wrong,” Sandra stated plainly.
Talent glared at her. “Whatever.”
She sighed and shook her head.
Talent closed his eyes and let his head sink into the pillow. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so exhausted. His body felt weak and heavy and his mind was slow and muddled. It seemed like he could only focus on one thought. “How the hell did he do it anyway?”
“Who? Do what?”
Talent turned to face Sandra, but kept his eyes shut. “The ant. How did he beat me?”
Sandra snorted, “I think the better question is how he got out of bed.”
Talent sighed, rolling over and pulling his blanket over his head.
----------------------------------------
Lord Akiru’s POV
Lord Akiru took a long inhale from his cigar, enjoying the sour taste of tobacco and mana. He let the smoke roll from his lips, savoring it, before he spoke. “You’re absolutely sure about this? Asher and that Bloodclaw bitch are fighting?”
Kaji nodded. “Yes, my lord, there can be no doubt. The drakess, Asterith, used the beast blood slaves to attack Krell, and Lord Kastin was woefully unprepared. I’m told the Lady even infiltrated his castle and nearly killed your grandson before she returned to her own territory.”
Akiru smiled, the news was better than he’d expected. If Asher and Asterith were fighting, and his grandson had been hurt, there would be no one left to interfere with his plan. The time to strike was now. “What if the tunnel? Has it been completed yet?”
Kaji winced as if the question were a blade in his ribs. “No, the events at Ashil set us back greatly..”
Akiru frowned and stubbed the cigar into an ashtray. The lord stood to his feet with ponderous effort, the corner of his lip twitching as his eyes narrowed.
“However,” Kaji added, “we should be on track for completion by the end of next week.”
Lord Akiru growled. It was not the news he’d wanted. “Kaji, I am patient, but what do you think Lord Asher will do now that Asterith has made her move?”
Kaji’s gaze shifted, his eyes darting around the room as his thoughts spun, “He…he would… I mean, if I were him…I think he’ll try to bring down Stellanorte, or perhaps he’ll try to draw Lady Asterith into a war and force her to overextend her reach. Or, maybe…”
Lord Akiru raised a hand, silencing the man. “Enough, Kaji, if you don’t know then just say so.”
“I’m not sure what he will do, but I know that Lord Asher is not someone we can predict or control.”
Lord Akiru nodded. “The first thing that Lord Asher will do, is ensure every minor lord knows who they should fear most. Asterith will know this as well and she will respond accordingly.” He took a pause as he looked a map of Aria.
Stellanorte was the third largest territory and it bordered both Astallos and Krellestin. Even Kaji could understand the strategic implications of geography. It was more than that though. Lord Akiru was like a leader to the minor lords. They trusted him to negotiate on their behalf with both Asterith and Asher. Lord Akiru was well liked and he was respected for his knowledge and wisdom, not his strength.
“If Lord Asher comes for Stellanorte, the minor lords will know that Asher had their fates in his hands, and that he could take their lands with as little as one ruling.”
Lord Nevlan shook his head. “That man doesn’t want my lands or any others. If he did, he would already have them. What he wants, is my life.”
Kaji nodded, “Yes, that is probably true, but he is set to send us a peace delegation. My informants insist that he emphasized the importance of making peace with us. Perhaps his embarrassment today has finally made him see sense.”
“Wishful thinking,” Nevlan snorted. “No, if Asher is coming here, it’s not to make peace, but we will play along, buy time for completion of the tunnel and prepare to make our move.”
Lord Nevlan turned away from the map. “See that there are no delays. If I have to die to ensure this works, then so be it. But it will work, even if we have to rip the sky to pieces to bring down the heavens.”
Kaji nodded.