“Our best hope for victory is to unite all ringdwellers, shamans and marems alike,” Migo said. “I am the one most capable of defending our people, which is why I, King Rikaydian of Jehubal, declare myself emperor of Malahem.”
“You have no right to the throne!” A man shouted from the crowd.
More jeers followed but Migo regarded the crowd impassively, turning his head in the direction of the voice. He knew its precise location as he walked straight toward it. The man stood a couple rows behind, but everyone parted as Migo approached until he stood face-to-face with the man who’d shouted out against him. The man looked young, but had the lightest shade of blonde hair Migo had ever seen. He was built thick, with a square jaw and a scar across his temple. Probably a noble who had served in military leadership.
“What’s your name?” Migo said, his voice cold, quiet.
The man clenched his fists at his side and said, “Donal. Of House Essad.”
“Donal, have you ever fought against the waheshi?”
Donal’s eyes narrowed. “I have not.”
“Have you even heard of them before now?”
Donal set his jaw and let out a long breath before answering. “Some soldiers have mentioned monsters after running missions for His Excellency, but it was meant to be confidential.”
Migo nodded. If Ranaz had been fighting against the bleeder armies for the last 500 years, then there had to be at least one person here who had seen a waheshi. “Come out here with me, Donal,” Migo said, half turning to see if Donal would follow.
He did not.
Very well.
Migo turned back and grabbed Donal by the collar, jerking him behind him as he strode back to the middle of the ballroom. Donal punched at Migo’s arm and kicked him in the legs, but to no avail. He may as well have been an insect trying to move a mountain. Migo had never felt stronger or more resilient in his life. He hadn’t anticipated such a change even in the form of a human.
Migo only let go of Donal once they’d reached the center of the room.
Donal ripped a dagger out from beneath his suit coat. “For the emperor!” he shouted, lunging it at Migo’s torso.
Migo grabbed the dagger by the blade with his bare hand, wrenched it from Donal’s grip, and struck him on the side of the jaw with the base of his palm.
Donal flopped to the floor with a groan, landing on his back and blinking up at the ceiling, completely dazed. Migo was surprised he hadn’t blacked out.
He tossed the dagger across the floor. His hand barely even felt scratched. “Has anybody here ever seen a waheshi?” He shouted to the crowd, ignoring Donal’s prone body.
A moment of hesitation passed before two of the soldiers raised their hands. They stood together near one of the shattered entrances of the ballroom. “Aye, sir,” one of them said.
Migo beckoned them and they hurried over. Both were heavily armed in silver-studded platemail and halberds, a rarity of wealth. He’d killed four soldiers just like them on his way through the palace. Such a waste.
“Tell me,” Migo said as they halted in front of him, “that giant black beast that came charging through the castle, was that a waheshi?”
They both shook their heads. “No, sir. We’ve never seen anything like that. Waheshis are about the size of a fully grown rangola. That thing was quite large in comparison.”
“What if I told you that black beast that came through here was me.” As he said the words, the burning in his chest flared, humming with a deep, resonant sound that made his very skin vibrate.
The two soldiers shifted uncomfortably as they shared a look. The whole room watched with bated breath, as if Migo would transform right before them. “I am no slave,” Migo growled. “I am what the shamans call Ashjagar. I’m the best chance we have of defending against any invasion, and the shamans are our best chance of surviving the incoming changes to our very environment. Without an emperor, the nations will crumble. We must unite to weather the coming storms. Unity is what has allowed ringdwellers to maintain order in a world with little resources. As emperor, I swear to maintain that unity and to protect this people from any threat, but I will need your help. The entire world will need your help.”
Migo turned to Donal who sat up on one of his elbows. He’d be the first to swear to him. “Swear to me,” Migo commanded.
Donal sneered and slowly got to his feet, but his glare remained.
“I will need officers, Donal,” Migo said. “I have no intention of hurting anyone unnecessarily. Swear to me, and we can go on ensuring that our people survive.”
Donal looked over his shoulder to the crowd he’d been pulled from, as if seeking their opinion, but everyone else watched in complete rapture. They knew the fate of the empire hung on this moment. He stared back at Migo, chest heaving for a few more breaths before he dropped to one knee. “I swear my loyalty to you, Emperor Rikaydian.”
The two soldiers standing beside him also dropped to their knees and Katsi shouted to the crowd saying, “Hail Emperor Rikaydian!”
The rest of the soldiers kneeled and the crowd slowly joined them, repeating the phrase. Eventually the entire room had gotten to their knees with the exception of the shamans from Ranaz’s entourage. They stood together by the door, arms folded or feet tapping, watching the events with apparent apprehension.
But the smell in the room was beginning to change. The fear was diminishing, though not entirely. He’d at least provided some semblance of security, however minimal and fleeting. He’d have to deal with the shamanfolk later.
Migo raised his hands to let the people know that they should get back to their feet. He spoke to the two soldiers who’d stood beside him. “Who is your officer? Did the emperor keep a commander? I need to speak with them so we can assess current circumstances.”
They both nodded. “That would be Lord Suresh Edanel. He worked directly with the emperor.”
Migo looked out over the crowd. “Is he here?”
“Here, lord,” a man said, emerging from the crowd. He was an older gentleman wearing a crisp green uniform with silver lacing along the cuffs and shoulders. He, like a few other nobles present, was armed with a sword at his belt, though Migo now suspected that each of these were soldiers or officers.
“Lord Edanel?” Migo said, greeting the man with a level gaze. For a man in charge of the security of the castle, he’d seemed surprisingly scarce until now.
“At your command,” Suresh said, dipping his head. He had shiny brown skin that reflected almost like well-polished bronze, and his scent hinted at nervousness and anxiety.
“Is there a headmaster as well?” Migo said. “We’ll need to review everything with all supervisory rolls. Let’s get the rest of these people off to their homes and let the word spread. We have a lot of work to do.”
“Understood,” Suresh said, dipping his head again. “I’ll help deliver the word.” He rushed off to fulfill the order.
People started filing away as soon as Suresh and his men began ushering them out. He knew they were eager to rush home to their families. If he remembered correctly, Mazanib was near the northernmost tip of the Ring, so it would soon be dark, which would throw the rest of the city into panic, if it wasn’t already there. The people of Mazabin needed to know there was a plan in place.
