“There are worse things to be in need of.” She looked to the door. “I apologize. I’m sure you have plenty of things to get back to.” She rose to her feet, and he stood with her.
“Thank you, Penym. Truly.” Hatan placed a hand over his heart. “Your bravery for standing up to everyone is commendable. I never would have thought that you’d be the one getting me out of prison.”
She laughed. “No apology necessary. I’m only glad you survived. I feel responsible for getting you there in the first place.”
Hatan shook his head and stepped forward to stand in front of her. “Do not blame yourself. It was my choice that led me into that trap. I could have stopped it before when I came upon all those mercenaries the first time.” He looked deep into her eyes, sparkling in the candlelight. “I should have listened to you.”
“True, but it was my fault you couldn’t trust me.” She looked to the side.
Hatan’s jaw twitched. “Well, it’s going to be a new day. Quite literally, in fact. When the sun comes back up, we can look to a brighter future, for all of Jehubal. Come what may, we’ve tested this entire nation so that it might withstand greater threats.”
“Right,” Penym said, taking a faltering step toward the door. “I wish you a… brighter future then, Hatan.”
Hatan nodded. “Good night, Penym,” he said, and she turned to depart, but he couldn’t help feeling a stirring within him. Was it a sense of loss? But what was it he had lost?
He wiped his lip and shook his head. He was weary. That was all.
“I think I’ll get some sleep now, Rivar,” Hatan said. Once he got back to his room, he needed to see if he could find that ring.
Chapter twenty-one
Orbs
Migo awoke to the sound of footsteps and a door closing.
“Migo? What are you doing?” Katsi asked, standing over him.
Migo’s eyes shot open as he quickly got to his feet, trying to wipe the sleep from his face. They were just outside Katsi’s room on the top floor. “I’m keeping watch.”
“Of the back of your eyelids?” Katsi couldn’t stifle the laughter that overtook her. “Were you out here all night?”
Migo looked around, seeing that the light had indeed been returning. After Katsi left him on the roof of the castle last night, he’d had to find his own way through the castle, eventually locating her rooms. He didn’t trust for a moment that she would be safe by herself. He wouldn’t dare risk the same mistake he’d made at Yavasu’s home when they’d tried to kill her in her sleep. “Yes,” he said. “All night. I had to ensure you were safe from all those flying, magically impervious monsters.”
She breathed a laugh. “Well, we’d best make a quick breakfast. I just remembered all those communication orbs that were shining in the emperor’s room. There should be communications from shamans throughout the entire Ring. They’re no doubt panicking.”
Migo cocked his head. “Communications? Through the orbs? You may need to elaborate on that for me.”
Katsi smiled. “It sends messages a great distance in mere moments. You will see. Come.” She hurried on without pause as Migo stretched his back and followed.
The castle was more alive than Migo had ever seen it. People were bustling about, many of them working on cleaning up the debris, but some of the halls seemed completely restored already, which had to have been some work of magic. No doubt an earthmelder could do wonders in that area, and if Adrina was as skilled as Katsi claimed, then perhaps it was her who’d done the restoration. It was a good sign. It meant that perhaps she still had faith in a good outcome for the empire. And if not the empire, then at least Mazanib.
That gave him the glimmer of hope he needed. With or without her help, he would still seek to maintain a united Malahem. Katsi’s alliance alone would possibly be enough. Equipped with those artifacts, her power would be unrivaled anyway.
Katsi’s urgent pace kept him hurrying forward. Whatever was contained in those communication orbs must have been important.
When they arrived at the emperor’s old room, it was not as empty as Migo would have preferred.
Adrina and two of the other shamans were present, as well as Ris, sitting in her usual chair to the side of the room. The rubble was cleared away, and the ceiling was even restored, though it lacked the intricacy and decorations that existed prior to the battle. The three shamans stood by the cabinet upon which rested all the communication orbs, as well as the remaining artifacts that the emperor had left. Migo had been foolish enough not to secure the artifacts, especially now that he understood their value. He’d been too distracted by Katsi, and there was nobody else around that he trusted. This was completely foreign territory.
“Katsi. Your Majesty,” Adrina said to them as they entered.
“What have you been doing in here,” Migo said, hand on the blade of his sword as he came to stand behind them all.
Adrina clasped her hands in front of her and said, “All of the late emperor’s contacts across the world have been asking after him, seeking an update regarding the planet’s motion resuming as before. We wanted to ensure that they did not get divided.”
“Have you listened to all of the communications, then?” Katsi asked.
“Not yet,” Adrina said, regarding Katsi coolly.
Migo noted that three of the orbs were still glowing, and a fourth started to shimmer with a dull orange light even as they spoke.
“They’ve been informing their contacts to go into hiding if you’re curious,” Ris said from her seat.
Migo narrowed his eyes at Adrina. “You’ve been communicating with others through these orbs? Have they been informed of the emperor’s death, then?”
“Yes,” Adrina said. “We’ve been frank.”
Migo nodded. Now was not the time for anger. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I understand. They deserve to know the truth. I was not made aware of these orbs and their capability until just recently, otherwise I may have suggested doing the same earlier, though in the future, you will consult with me before doing so. I would like to ensure that messages are going across clearly.” He held up his hand. “Not that you are trying to undermine me or my new role as emperor, but I understand you have no reason to be loyal to me, and thus your communications may deviate from my own. A consultative approach would be more feasible.”
Adrina’s head tilted ever-so-slightly as she assessed him up and down as if seeing him for the first time again. “Shall we proceed, then?”
“I’d like to see what everyone has to say,” Migo said, gesturing to the orbs. “So how do they work exactly? You’ll have to excuse my lack of education regarding shamanic artifacts. They aren’t the sort of thing I’ve had much opportunity to learn about.”
“No, I’m sure you haven’t,” Adrina said. “Your studies regarding shamanfolk have probably been more focused on how to eradicate us.”
“This is true,” Migo said, stepping up beside her. “A talent that I have no doubt will still be necessary in the coming days, especially if all the ill omens come about as predicted.” It was still hard for him not to say cycles, but it was certainly harder to forget that day and night had returned for good.
“As with most magical enchantments, it requires no magic to activate,” Adrina said.
