I thought it was downright unfair how, of all the places I’d been in the last year, Saria had the nicest view of the sunrise. Even so far south in winter, where the sun would only be visible for a short time, it dyed the streets and buildings of the city in warm colors and made the decorations and different materials used in building the city stand out. Light sparkled off a river in the distance, and the fields around the city reflected a riot of color from different crops, helped along by cultivators.
Well, I wouldn’t complain about having a nice view to round out what had been a very long night.
“I hope you’re not thinking of jumping. Not that this balcony is high enough to harm you even without your shapeshifting.”
I glanced down at the ground several stories beneath me, realizing that Tenira was probably right. The estate we currently occupied had housed a branch of the Zarian government previously, although it didn’t really look like it with the nice courtyard, landscaped garden, and historic manor. It was also nicely in the center of the city while still having a defensible clear space around it, which helped to explain why Aston and the others had chosen it.
“Don’t worry, I’m not nearly that frustrated yet,” I answered, turning to my girlfriends. Yarani followed Tenira onto the balcony, though I didn’t sense Kajare anywhere.
“Your husband is talking to Elis,” Tenira said, apparently guessing what I was thinking.
“Let’s hope they keep to talking.” Yarani grinned.
Tenira sighed at her, but still smiled a little. “I’m quite sure they will. So.” She turned back to me. “Elis.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “Yes. I’ve been wanting to talk to you about him, but we haven’t had the time. Still, I haven’t really promised him anything yet, so if you object …”
Tenira and Yarani shared a glance. “I certainly won’t stand in your way,” Yarani said. She flounced over and leaned against another part of the balcony. “And it might do Kajare some good. You know, help him unwind a little. Not sure I really want to wish this on Elis, though.”
Both Tenira and I rolled our eyes as Yarani grinned again. I didn’t comment on her teasing, though. It was obviously in good fun.
Instead, I looked at Tenira. She shook her head slowly. “I don’t have any objections, either. From what I understand, he’s not going to be around much, anyhow.”
I smiled at her. “Thank you, Tenira.”
She snorted softly and moved closer, leaning against the balcony beside me. I relaxed and enjoyed the nice morning and their company.
After a while, Tenira spoke up again. “Although I do have to admit I was a little surprised. That it’s Elis, I mean. I thought maybe Ceion …”
“Ceion? No way. I’d rather share a bed with Isuro.”
Yarani snorted a laugh, while Tenira just raised an eyebrow.
“Okay, maybe not.” I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. “Not that I dislike him, it’s just -” I shrugged. “I don’t think that would be a good idea. We’re too … I don’t know, we wouldn’t be good for each other.”
Yarani nodded seriously. “I understand what you mean. That could too easily lead to obsession or unhealthy relationship dynamics.”
I pulled a face. But she wasn’t wrong.
“How long are we going to stay here, anyway?” Tenira asked. “I know you’ve been wanting to go back north and see your siblings, among other things, but there is still a lot to take care of here.”
“You’re right.” I frowned thoughtfully. “I do want to go back, so, not long? Kiyanu can get some people here who will help with actually administering our new territories, now that it’s reasonably safe. And it’s not like we can’t be in contact even from Thousand Lights City. Plus,” I smiled at Tenira, “I seem to remember promising someone a wedding after the war.”
Tenira laughed. “Now that’s the best reason of all. But are you sure? We haven’t conquered the entire Storm Continent yet.”
I sighed a little. She wasn’t wrong. Parts of the army were already leaving to sweep south. But with those we had to leave here, and especially taking into account our losses, we didn’t have the numbers to roll over any entrenched resistance we might encounter. There might be a few holdouts we’d have to take care of later.
“I get the feeling the Empire is going to remain hungry for soldiers for quite a while to come,” I said. “But it’s really only a matter of time until we’ve secured everything that used to be the Dominion. Minus the parts other powers are swallowing up, of course. To be honest, I don’t think I’m really needed here, anymore. Our generals should be more than capable of dealing with the military situation.”
“But there’s still the political side to take care of,” Yarani pointed out. “We need to make sure things are stable here.”
“Of course, and that’s not going to be easy.” I raised an eyebrow at them. “Someone was against me killing the people most likely to pose a threat or problem.”
Yarani and Tenira didn’t look particularly perturbed at that comment.
“Anyway,” I continued, “I do intend to involve them in governance at least to some extent. Something like an advisory council, which would be composed of representatives of Zarian society.”
Tenira nodded slowly. “That could work. You just need to be careful not to have it lean too heavily towards protecting the old elites.”
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“I imagine it’s going to be dominated by the Basement.” I smirked a little. “But the former high-tier citizens are going to have a voice, at least. And I’m not sure how much power this council will have, anyway. That’s something to hash out with the Imperial administrators who are going to be in charge of these areas.”
“Administrators for the central government, not nobles,” Yarani murmured.
“Exactly.” I smiled at her. “A lot of the land confiscated from the great families will go towards public institutions, like new universities. And we might have some noble clans here, too, but I don’t want them to dominate the region like they used to back home.”
Yarani looked very pleased. I rolled my eyes, but didn’t comment. I approved of her attitude, generally speaking, and I was feeling good about this prospect, too. If we could make this work - and while there might be problems, I didn’t doubt that - this could mean a major step forward not just for the people of the Storm Continent, but the Empire as a whole, too.
“Have you heard anything from Mior?” Tenira asked. She didn’t seem as relaxed.
I hesitated. “Not since the battle, no,” I said. “I’m sure they’re busy. I mean, there’s probably all sorts of stuff to sort out between Rijoko and Jideia. I’d like to know how things have gone for Isuro, too.”
They both nodded, though they shared a glance that seemed a little worried. I didn’t mention it, and I could hardly blame them. It would probably take a while until I was no longer looking out for hostile moves from the shadows.
Unless something happens.
And even if not, would that be a good thing? I frowned despite myself, and the thought dissipated the last of my good cheer from before. I didn’t think I was in danger of becoming complacent, but wasn’t there some quote about how victory could be worse than defeat?
“Let’s not borrow trouble,” Yarani finally said. “The guards aren’t going to relax their vigilance any time soon, anyway.”
“And now that spirits are no longer a big concern, there might still be mundane assassins, too,” Tenira added. “There’s still a lot of people that could want Nari dead.”
Yarani and I both gave her a look. “Thanks for that cheerful thought,” I said. But in truth, I wasn’t too worried. If Rijoko’s protections, indirect or not, had held out against the Storm’s attempts, I doubted he’d let some random cultivator succeed. Besides, I had complete faith in Aston.
“Well, I need to go,” Yarani said. “There’s a meeting between some of the nobles with the army and some Basement leaders that I wanted to sit in on.”
Tenira winced. “Yes, it would be good to make sure they don’t kill each other. I have to get going too, I need to manage the disposition of your household for the coming days.”
I nodded and waved them off. Once both of my girlfriends were gone, I stretched and looked back out over the city. There seemed to be a little more life in its streets now. Then I turned to face the building.
“Aston?” I asked.
I hadn’t raised my voice much, but he appeared in the door a few seconds later. “Yes, my lady?”
I gestured at him to come closer. “You know, I never asked if you actually listen in during those conversations.”
Aston gave me a fleeting grin. “Yes and no, my lady. For the most part, I listen without actually processing what I hear, it’s a skill all guards are well-advised to learn.”
I returned his smile and leaned against the balcony railing. He already seemed a little more relaxed, which was nice to see. Aston had appeared pretty tightly wound for the last few months.
“How are you doing?” I asked. “We haven’t really had time to talk in a while, and I know the past few days had to be stressful for you.”
Aston looked at me for a moment, then snorted. “You could say that.” He came closer and leaned against the wall, obviously shifting out of bodyguard mode. “Watching you talking to powerful spirits and then setting off to fight others without so much as a warning, let alone any chance for me to keep up… Sometimes, I curse having taken this job.”
“I’m sorry,” I said quietly.
He shook his head. “Don’t be. I realize you did what you had to do and that I couldn’t have helped. Mior and the Moon wouldn’t have been careless with your life, and are much better qualified at protecting you than I am, anyway.”
“Still. I feel a little bad about it. But at least this shouldn’t happen again.”
He smiled slightly. “I certainly wouldn’t complain about that. But I don’t think we’re going to be able to return to a relaxed stance on your security until we’re back in the Imperial palace, if at all. Not that this should affect your plans overmuch. It’s my job to worry about that while you do yours.”
I nodded. “You’re being really reasonable for a bodyguard. I guess it helps to know that I’m almost immortal, doesn’t it?”
Aston flashed a grin. “That certainly helps. I still try not to be too cavalier about it. If nothing else, your consorts are still mortal, and I prefer to keep my head firmly attached.”
I laughed. Then I had to consider for a moment whether he only meant that he would be in the line of fire for any assassins who came calling, or whether he was making an ironic joke about me having him beheaded if his failure lead to the death of someone I loved. On second thought, I decided it didn’t matter, asking about it would be weird, and I’d rather move the conversation along.
“How are the rest of the guards doing?” I asked.
“Well enough, all things considered. I think I need to do a few reassignments once we’re back, but there are no critical issues. It depends on how you might like to have things arranged with regards to your siblings and the balance of strong cultivators.”
I considered that for a moment. “They still have high priority,” I decided. I was, as we’d just pointed out, a lot more survivable. “And I’d like to get proper details in place for my companions. But for now, we can leave things as they are. I think it’s working pretty well, and we’re all staying closer together, anyway.”
Aston nodded. “Understood. That would include Prince Kajare, Lady Tenira, and Lady Yarani, I assume? Also Lord Lei and Lady Elia? Perhaps Lord Elis?”
“Definitely, when he’s there,” I decided. “And we should probably have guards assigned to Ceion, too. What do you think?”
Aston hesitated. “My lady, you are aware that Ceion has left, right?”
“What?” I jerked upright. “What do you mean, left?”
Now that I looked for him, I really couldn’t sense Ceion anywhere. I hadn’t given that much thought. I couldn’t sense Lei either, but I knew he was across the city. From the way Aston looked, I got the feeling Ceion didn’t just go for a stroll through Saria.
“I assumed you knew,” he said with a small sigh, and bowed his head. “I got a message from Mior about it, about three hours ago. Given that it seems they are going to watch over him, I didn’t feel too concerned. Although …” He frowned slightly. “If they didn’t tell you, there might have been more to it.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “Great. Did you see Ceion? How did he look?”
“Tightly wound, but to be frank, that’s hardly unusual. He did seem to pack quite a number of weapons, though.”
I narrowed my eyes. “So he’s preparing to fight someone. Wait. If Mior’s involved, I doubt he’s just hunting down some old acquaintances from the templars.”
Aston cursed softly. “There’s only one potential target of his that Mior would be interested in, or would want to use him for in the first place.”
“Exactly,” I agreed. “The Auditor.”
We looked at each other for a moment. Aston bowed his head apologetically, but I just turned around and strode from the balcony. I picked up speed as I hurried through the corridors of the mansion. It didn’t seem like Mior had actually wanted to keep this from me, or they wouldn’t have let Aston know.
I could probably just sit this one out, but I really didn’t want to. It wasn’t just that I considered Ceion my responsibility or that I wanted to help Mior. I didn’t just want them to stay safe, I wanted to know when they went after their target, to be there and see to it myself.
It was time to go destroy a spirit.