CHAPTER ASHBORN 446: SPARKS IN THE ASHES

Maiya was soon flying high above the northern Kin’jal countryside—not on an Acira, as she’d done so many times, but on Vir’s airship.

She was surrounded by no less than forty Acira. The Pagan Order had been busy breeding the expensive creatures and apparently had nurtured a whole flight of them. Their purpose was hardly a mystery—had Maiya and Ira not come along, they would have one day been used to slaughter humans to eke out a territory for the demons of the Pagan Order.

A plan that would have resulted in untold bloodshed, and that would have ultimately ended in failure by Maiya’s estimate. People didn’t take kindly to mass purges, regardless of how remote and prana-starved the Voidlands were. And that was with humans killing other humans. If demons were to do that?

Maiya couldn’t see anything short of a united effort to wipe out the Pagan Order down to the last man, woman, and child. All that would be left were burned and salted fields.

Of course, Maiya didn’t dare tell the tribunal that. She wondered if even Vir or Ashani had the ability to convince them they were out of their minds. The Pagan Order had always been known as a bunch of loons, and while they’d carefully crafted that image, Maiya had to say that there was at least a kernel of truth buried in there.

Regardless of her true thoughts, neither Maiya nor Ira let even the faintest hint slip, and so, they’d managed to gain the support of a thousand of the Pagan Order’s finest.

Forty Acira were in no way sufficient to ferry that many demons, even if they didn’t need to regularly stop to rest—which they absolutely did—but such concerns were just minor inconveniences when one had a being from the Age of Gods with the ability to open Ash Gates on hand.

Their goal was simply to land in Kartara and inform Riyan of the situation. Once relations had been established, Ashani would open a Gate to Balindam, thereby ferrying the rest of the Pagan Order’s forces. Whether because the Tribunal doubted Ashani’s capabilities or if they just preferred doing things the traditional way, the Acira accompanying them were more for looks and a show of commitment on the Pagan Order’s part than anything. Only a fraction would arrive with them, but the others would trickle in shortly after.

Maiya had several ideas about how to best employ Ashani’s unique abilities. From moving troops to behind enemy lines to opening Gates leading directly into the Mahādi Realm as Vir had in the conquest of Samar Patag, the possibilities staggered the mind.

Part of the reason Ashani had accompanied them was to allow her to travel to various locations in the Human Realm to create Gates as needed in the future. The havoc they could wreak was so incomprehensible it made Maiya shiver.

She wasn’t the only one, though her friend shivered for different reasons entirely.

“It’s far too cold this far north,” Ira grumbled, pulling the fur the Tribunal had given her tighter around her frail body.

“It’ll only get worse,” Maiya said. “Brace yourself, because Kartara is about as cold as anywhere you’re ever bound to go.”

“I’m well aware,” Ira said bitterly. “It’s why I’ve avoided going there my entire life. Do you think Riyan will be amenable to the Pagan Order helping him?”

“Would anyone?” Maiya asked.

Ira went silent for a moment. “How would he react to knowing the Pagan Order were actually demons?”

Maiya leaned against the airship’s railing and gazed off into the distance. Dawn was just about to break, and it honestly couldn’t come sooner. While it did little to actually increase the temperature this time of year, the psychological aspect alone was immense.

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“Tough to say,” Maiya replied, glancing at a nearby Asura. The Pagan Order had painted the faces of Vir’s demons before they left. “The topic never really came up, though he was aware of Vir’s status as an Ashborn, of course. He didn’t seem to pay it much mind, though I don’t know if he really ever knew that Ashborn were just demons.” ꞦÀℕ𝐎ΒÈṥ

“A general of his station?” Ira replied. “I’d be shocked if he wasn’t. Regardless, his willingness to bend will be directly influenced by the direness of his situation. With the Altani breathing down his neck from the north and Andros from the south, I daresay it couldn’t be any direr.”

“You’re not wrong about that, but you underestimate how stubborn a man like Riyan Savar can be.”

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“I would rather die than be indebted to those lunatics,” Riyan spat.

The man had seen better days. Even with the metal mask covering half his face, a heavy bag weighed down his good eye. His bronze skin was wrinkled, and Maiya could swear he paced around the room with a slight stoop.

She couldn’t exactly blame the man’s immediate refusal. His eyes had lit up at the sight of her landing in Kartara’s castle courtyard along with a dozen Acira full of soldiers, and they’d grown even brighter when Maiya had pointed out that more were coming.

Yet it seemed the man still thought he had the luxury of being picky about his allies. Maiya would have to convince him otherwise.

Upon landing in the windswept land, they’d been quickly ushered through the castle’s stone halls to this low-ceilinged stone. A fire burned in the corner, providing warmth, while sconces with Magic Lamp orbs provided the lighting. The room had been emptied of all but the most essential personnel for this meeting—Maiya’s party, Riyan, a few of his most trusted guards, and a handful of Asuras.

“I care not if they bring a thousand Acira and ten thousand men,” Riyan said. “Better to die than to work with that country. Can you even comprehend the trust I stand to lose once this fact becomes common knowledge?”

“I certainly can,” Ira replied. “I can also imagine your head skewered on a pike once Andros breaches Kartara’s walls and ravages your castle. The only reason he hasn’t is because he’s unsure of the Altani’s plans. That state will not last long, I assure you.”

“Ah yes,” Riyan barked. “The Altani. So much for their non-expansion rhetoric. The moment they see an opportunity, they seize Hiranya. Disgusting imperialists, just like the Kin’jal.”

“And one or the other will end up in control of Sai if you sit here on your ass, doing nothing,” Maiya said. “Then you’ll be dead and this realm will be even worse off. The thing is, if you want Vir’s help, you’ll take the Pagan Order’s as well. It’s a package deal.”

The ex-Hiranyan general grumbled and scowled at the map that had been hastily hung on a nearby wall.

“I suppose I should not be surprised you two ended up together,” he said after a while. “I suppose congratulations are in order.”

Maiya was at a loss for how to react, blurting out a simple, “Thank you.”

“His army. You say they’ve been tempered in the Ash…”

Riyan left the implication hanging, and Maiya decided not to beat around the bush any longer. “They’re demons, Riyan. Only demons can survive in that realm, though even then, it’s a huge risk for them. Thanks to Ashani, we now have a way to navigate the Ash, creating Ash Gates at will. Believe me when I say that his troops are not only unbelievably powerful, they will be here as soon as Vir annihilates the clan that opposes him.”

“So, the young whelp fashions himself a king,” Riyan scoffed. “And yes, I know he’s a demon.”

“You’ve… always known. Haven’t you?”

Riyan’s silence was all the answer Maiya needed, yet instead of relief, it was anger she felt. “You knew, and yet you never sought to tell him who he truly was. Do you have any idea how long he suffered, not knowing?”

“It was… not relevant at the time,” Riyan said, avoiding Maiya’s gaze. “Regardless, he knows now. I am pleased he is with his people. I am pleased to hear the rumors proven wrong. That they are not the mindless scum most paint them out to be. I admit, I had my doubts.”

Maiya was tempted to tell him he was in a room full of them right now—she’d brought in a half-dozen Asuras, as well as Yamal and Bheem—but decided against it. Riyan might not hate demons and he might’ve been the only one in the realm not to immediately prostrate in front of Ashani, treating her with skepticism and suspicion, but she doubted he’d take kindly to such a revelation. He’d learn when the time was right, and no sooner.

“So?” Maiya asked. “Can we begin deploying troops? Or would you rather wait until Andros’ army of twenty thousand tears down Kartara’s walls?”

“Fine,” Riyan spat, muttering a curse under his breath. “But I expect total and overwhelming victory. Nothing less. I also demand that the princess use her powers to support my country once she unseats Andros.”

Maiya smiled patiently. “Anything else?”

“Yes,” Riyan said. “Hiranya must be returned to its people.”

“You do realize that would be an undertaking of realm-shattering proportions, yes?”

Riyan grinned. “You apparently have divinity on your side. Such a thing should be simple, no?”

Maiya ground her teeth. The thing was, with Vir’s full support, it was possible. And if played right, maybe even without shedding a single drop of blood.

She suppressed a sigh. It seemed her days of politicking were only getting started. That was alright; this time, she had Vir by her side. And if she had understood Janak’s words correctly, then this time, maybe her Fate would not be set in stone.