“How?” Migo asked. “How would a shaman be able to do such a thing?”
“Simple.” Ris removed one of her son’s rings and held it up. “He was quite powerful. Enhancers such as this are even more effective when wielded by the right shaman. He gathered and sacrificed dozens of earthmelders and stormcallers, using their blood to create these rings of his. After that, locking the planet was the easiest way to kill the bleeder armies. He succeeded, but obviously many of them survived.”
Katsi gulped. He’d killed dozens of shamans to steal their power? And she would have been next.
“In the process of locking the planet, didn’t millions of others die as well?” Migo’s eyes hardened.
“Yes. But if he hadn’t done it, everyone would have become a slave or a waheshi. It was the only way to save us.”
“Then why keep it locked?” Katsi said. “Why not let it resume after they died? And why summon the Maedari? It doesn’t make sense.”
“The Maedari targeted waheshi,” Adrina said. “Or at least, in theory. It was too sporadic for him to control it completely. But those storms were the only thing preventing a new bleeder army from rising up. They’ve been hiding this whole time, and you’ve effectively created an opportunity to unleash that same horror he worked to prevent.”
“Sounds lovely,” Katsi said, brushing back her hair.
“That is, if many of us survive the coming calamity,” Ris said.
“A different calamity than an army of monsters?” Migo asked.
“Yes. The Frozen Waste is covered in ice. Once the sun crosses over that, oceans will start to redistribute, as they did when the locking occurred.” Ris removed the rest of Alyssad’s rings. “I hope you don’t mind the rain.”
Katsi shared a look with Migo, but something about the way Ris spoke made Katsi nervous. “We’ll find a way to survive,” Katsi said.
“You will, I’m sure,” Ris said. “Not everyone will be so fortunate to have your skills.”
“Why are you sharing this with us?” Migo interrupted. “You’re his mother. I just killed your son. Why would you be offering any information to help me? I’m surprised the rest of you aren’t here to try and execute me or throw me in prison.”
“My son had lived much longer than he should have. I was quite sick of him myself honestly.”
Daraden chuckled, but Adrina was the one who spoke, her expression as serious as ever. “You two will probably be the best chance of survival for the entire Ring at this point.”
“How so?” Migo asked.
Ris answered. “The Ashjagar is meant to be the greatest bane against shamans, and a stormcaller is the greatest weapon against waheshi. You’ll probably both die or end up as slaves, but at least you’ll give the ringdwellers a fighting chance.”
“Mm, that’s the spirit,” Katsi said, rolling her eyes.
The shaking ground finally stopped completely.
Migo cleared his throat. His voice was still somewhat hoarse to the point that Katsi wondered if it would ever return to normal. “So if there’s a threat against all ringdwellers, then our best chance is to get the truth out there. Everyone needs to know what’s coming. If we unite together, we’ll have a better chance, but we’re scattered all over the world.”
“Yes,” Ris said. “You’ll need to do all that. You’d need to gather all the shamans together that you possibly can as well. I’m not sure you’ll have much time to unite anybody. My son was never able to discover all the different places the bleeder shamans were hiding, but if they were bold enough to create Ashjagar, then they must believe they have the strength to overcome all of Malahem.”
Migo shook his head. “No time to waste then.” But he stumbled even as he said that. Katsi grabbed his arm and helped him stand back by the bed so he could hold onto the bedpost again.
“Now might not be the best time,” Adrina said, looking Migo up and down.
“Who were all those people? Here in the castle—at that party,” Migo said.
“The entire nobility of Mazanib essentially,” Adrina said.
“Then now is the perfect time.” Migo took a deep breath. “I will address them, but first,” he paused to glare at everyone in the room. “I know you are all shamans. I can smell it on you. I can see it.” His voice took on a deeper tone. “I don’t have time to question everyone’s motive, I just need to know that if I try to unite everyone to fight against these so-called bleeder armies, that the people in this room would support me. If this threat is as real as you say it is, then I don’t have time for division.”
Ris brushed rubble off one of the chairs and sat down, a smirk on her face as she regarded the other six shamans.
“We don’t even know you,” Adrina said.
Migo shrugged. “You said it yourself. I’m Ashjagar. Katsi is the most powerful stormcaller. Whatever happens, we two will stand together. If we’re your best chance of survival, then we need your cooperation.”
A chill went down Katsi’s spine. Migo always committed wholeheartedly to every endeavor. The sudden realization hit her. He’d come true on his promise that he’d do anything to keep her safe—even defying the entire empire. He’d risked everything for her. Perhaps he was right. Maybe whatever did happen, the two of them would be united. That was one certainty she knew she could rely on.
She returned her hand to Migo’s elbow, giving him a squeeze. He nodded back to her, a subtle motion that reinforced his statement.
“Do you mean to insert yourself as the new emperor?” Adrina asked, raising an eyebrow.
Migo let out a long breath before responding. “If that is what is necessary, then yes. I will declare myself Emperor Rikaydian.”
Chapter sixteen
Loyalists
Hatan burst out from behind the curtain, sword drawn.
“Our soldiers are nearby,” Shanon said. “I will signal them.” Hatan nodded to her just before she disappeared into the secret passage.
Hatan was still in need of a good long sleep and some proper nourishment. Despite his love of pastries, he knew he should have eaten something besides three cakes since escaping the prison. But at least, if he died now, his stomach would be pleased with its last moments. Now was not the time for regrets.
It was time for blood.
