CHAPTER ASHBORN 455: EMERGENCY AID (ONE)

Maiya shivered, pulling her fur coat over her shoulders despite the large fire that futilely attempted to warm Kartara’s even larger war room. The frigid north of Sai was always cold, but these days, in the lull after Vir’s Asuras decimated Andros’ strike force, cold seemed to seep in from everywhere, and it wasn’t just the weather.

Kartara was safe for now, but anyone who knew the Imperator knew he would not accept this defeat. No, he’d be back for more, despite all being quiet in Sonam—something that concerned everyone.

Maiya had to agree. She vastly preferred an open mobilization to this. What was Andros planning?

Maiya glanced at the two handmaidens that stood quietly by the doors, looking decidedly grumpy.

The only silver lining to all this was that Maiya both Neeti the Head Handmaiden and her aide Hema had made it out alive and had recently joined them in Kartara, though neither had made it out unscathed.

Both wished to return to spy duty immediately, but Maiya and Ira had struck down that idea. Neither dared to risk the lives of those two again, and especially not so soon after such a traumatic experience, despite their claims.

“I fail to see how the princess will be anything other than a puppet should this new world order come to pass,” Riyan gestured with his chin to the princess as he paced across the long rectangular room. “And from the look of things, I cannot see how it won’t.”

“Vir’s not that sort of person,” Maiya said for what had to be the dozenth time. Assuaging Riyan was becoming tiresome, and she doubted the crusty old man would trust Vir even if he made Riyan Imperator of the Known World.

“And we’ve no choice in the matter, besides,” Riyan completed. “Yes, yes. I understand. I still say we should maintain as much autonomy as possible, lest we find ourselves shackled.”

“Er, you do realize I’m his queen-to-be, yeah?” Maiya said, raising an eyebrow in amusement. “Vir’s not exactly into that sort of thing. Rather the opposite, actually.”

“Even you!” Riyan pointed at Maiya, ignoring her joke. “Mark my words. You will find yourself losing autonomy. A messenger of his will, and nothing more. Is that all your ambition has amounted to, Maiya?”

“It won’t come to that,” Maiya said with a sigh. And even if it does, is it such a bad thing if it means making the realms a better place?

She hadn’t a shred of doubt in her mind that a Human Realm ruled by Vir would be a far gentler, more peaceful land than it had ever been. Not that Vir would ever entertain the idea, and Maiya knew better than to try and convince him. He could be oddly stubborn about these things.

“Rajni,” a scratchy voice called from one of the many shadows that danced under the firelight.

Riyan lunged toward it without a second’s hesitation. A talwar had somehow appeared in his hand.

Maiya scarcely had the time to sigh before the Talent Wielder blurred beside her, thrusting his sword into the darkness.

It, of course, met nothing but air.

“Show yourself, demon!”

Maiya tried and failed to stop herself from rolling her eyes.

“Honestly, Riyan. When are you going to get the memo that we’re on the same side? And didn’t I tell you that the Iksana can sink into the shadows nigh-instantly?”

Riyan’s eyes darted left and right for a moment before clearing his throat and sheathing his Talwar. “One can never be too cautious.”

Across the room, Princess Ira giggled softly.

“Yes?” Maiya asked no one in particular. “I’m assuming you’re from Ekat’Ma’s detachment?”

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“Indeed,” came the alien voice. Despite looking at the source of the voice, Maiya saw nothing. Nothing but darkness.

“Your presence is urgently requested at Samar Patag.”

“What is it?” Maiya asked. “Has the battle gone awry?”

She couldn’t fathom the Chitrans putting up much of a fight. Especially not after Vir had already taken the city. It was no Sonam, but its walls and keep would offer an immense advantage. Not that Vir needed it. His Asuras were like a force of nature, annihilating anything in their path. 𝖗àΝȎᛒĚs

“The Akh Nara and the Ravager fight Raja Jagath of the Aindri,” the voice said. “But trouble brews within the city walls. Annas’ agents slipped past our net. Now, the city burns. Your presence is urgently requested.”

All of Maiya’s casual demeanor vanished. “I’ll be right there,” she said, already moving to the room’s exit. Ashani’s permanent Ash Gate that connected to Samar Patag was nearby. Only a few knew of its existence, and fewer still were allowed through, but as Vir’s betrothed, there wasn’t a single location barred to her.

“I will bring you,” the Iksana said, rising from the shadows to embrace Maiya. She let her. At least, Maiya thought it was a her. It was difficult to tell with the Ghael sometimes.

Maiya only wished she could preserve the expressions of pure shock and terror on Ira and Riyan’s faces as she sunk into the shadows.

“I’ll be back in a bit,” Maiya said with a wink. “Try not to let the city fall until then, yeah?”

“Wait,” Ira blurted at the last moment. “Take me, too!”

----------------------------------------

“I fail to understand what I am doing here,” a grouchy Riyan said, eyeing the halls of Samar Patag’s audience chamber as though they might grow arms and strike out at any moment.

“You’d be all alone if we left you back in the Human Realm,” Ira said with a teasing smile. “And let’s face it. You get moody when you’re alone.”

“I will not dignify that remark with a response,” Riyan said.

You kinda just did, Maiya thought, but said nothing. Levity had a time and place, but this was not it.

“What’s the situation?” Maiya asked Greesha, who stood at the center of a whirlwind of demons, barking out orders and directions. “And, er, how can we help?” Maiya added, scratching her cheek. The old demoness seemed to have the situation well in hand.

“The fires are not a concern,” Greesha said, sparing not even a glance at Maiya and the others. “What we do need help with are Annas’ demons. We’re underhanded with most of the Warriors out fighting the enemy army. The Chits, meanwhile, are spreading through the city, nearly unimpeded.”

Maiya frowned. “I’m sorry, Greesha, but I’m unsure what the three of us can do in that situation. We might be able to fight off a couple of Annas’ demons, but that would be a drop in an ocean.”

This time, Greesha did turn to glare at Maiya, sending shivers down her spine. Maiya was not easily cowed, but this woman had the sort of presence kings and queens would die for.

“The Akh Nara felt you could help. The boy might be young, but foolish he is not. So stop standing there and think of something!”

Maiya took a full second to recover from the stunning effect of Greesha’s words. It had been a long, long time since anyone had instilled such fear in her, and while Greesha might not have been a Warrior, Maiya thought she’d do just fine in that role with a commanding voice like that.

“She’s old, that one,” Riyan said with a perplexed frown. “Far older than she looks.”

“Yeah, she’s a demon,” Maiya replied. “Probably lived half a century.”

Greesha was busy talking to others, but the death glare she shot Maiya told her that she’d heard everything.

“Maybe we head somewhere else?” Maiya asked in a voice far higher than usual. “For, er, privacy.”

“So?” Ira asked, once they’d moved some distance away. “What’s our plan of action? As much as I wish to help, I fail to see what just the three of us can achieve here.”

“We need an army,” Maiya replied. “One capable of dealing with demons. That rules out any human army, maybe with the Altani excepted, but I somehow doubt we’ll have much luck there.”

“Which leaves us but one option,” Riyan said, sounding like he’d swallowed a lemon.

“The Pagan Order,” Maiya replied. “Riyan? Ask the Order demons assisting you if they’d be interested in helping out over here. Chances are, the vast majority will jump at the opportunity to travel here, regardless of what we ask. And before you argue, just think of how much rapport you will build with both the Order forces aiding you and the Order itself.”

Riyan, who looked about to reply, shut his mouth and fell into a scowling contemplation.

“As for myself, I will take a Gate to Balindam and inform the Pagan Order directly and request more troops. Time is of the Essence. Every moment wasted risks innocent lives, so let’s—”

A cry from nearby interrupted Maiya, and the group rushed back to the audience hall to check up on the commotion.

“Greesha! Greesha, have you seen this?” A woman that Maiya recognized as Janani, the orphanage mother, was thrusting a piece of parchment at Greesha, who read it with a deep frown.

“This is… Hiya?” Greesha asked, her frown giving way to an expression Maiya had never seen on the old woman’s face. Terror.

“It’s horrible. Annas has recruited several of the children. She says he’s outfitted them with some sort of explosive art that will detonate the moment they approach any of us.”

Beside her, Maiya saw Ira stiffen and heard Riyan grind his teeth.

For Annas to resort to using children… Maiya wanted to kill this chal herself.

“Nonsense,” Greesha scoffed, gripping the parchment so hard her red knuckles turned white. “Such an art is impossible.”

“Regardless,” Janani said, looking distraught. “We cannot take this risk. And with the Asuras off fighting the Chitran, we’ve no one left!”

Maiya stepped up to the demon women. “We may be able to help with that. Please, tell me everything. Spare no detail.”