Katsi stood as close as possible, focusing in on the orbs, arms folded. Migo could tell immediately how much Katsi respected Adrina’s instructions.
Adrina continued speaking, demonstrating at the same time. “All it takes is a swipe of the finger to the right in a slight arcing motion.” She swiped across one of the glowing orbs. “That releases the sealing enchantment.” The light inside the orb flickered until a face formed from inside its glassy surface, that of a young man with dark brown skin and curly black hair.
“My emperor,” the figure said from inside the orb, startling Migo. “Please tell me you have simply released the enchantment binding Malahem and that you have not fallen? We’ve barely survived New Season as it is. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before the Reyganin forces nearby strike out in full. I will await your orders for a couple marks, but I fear for the survival of our people.”
The image winked out and the voice ceased.
“That is all?” Migo asked. “I’m assuming that man was not speaking at the exact moment we watched it, then?”
“That’s correct,” Adrina said. “The message is recorded on an orb possessed by the person on the other end and conveyed once again through the orb here on our end. The orb stores messages for a few cycles before they dissipate, thus the urgency.”
“Understood,” Migo said. “What about these Reyganin forces? Who are they?”
Adrina’s lips pursed before she spoke. “An ancient enemy. The Reyganin Tribe led one of the largest bleeder armies at the time of the tidal locking. Their main force was there at the center of the Scorched Waste when it happened. Most of them were wiped out entirely, but a fraction were halfway across the globe, and thus survived the heat.”
Migo scratched at his chin. “I feel as though I need a long history lesson as well.” He glanced at Katsi, but she didn’t seem to know about any of it either. He noted the word below the orb stated “Kusari.” It was a name. One of the other orbs had a label with the name “Alishara” as well.
Alishara.
The woman who’d issued the kill-order from Emperor Malrabia to Katsi’s mother. She was one of the contacts. Sands, it was that very orb through which Ranaz had issued the order that he’d seen in the vision.
“Are they in any trouble?” Migo asked. “What could we do to help them?”
“If they are in trouble,” Adrina mused, “then you should know this agent is situated on the opposite side of the Ring, near Wanay.”
“Wanay?” Migo said, trying not to seem too shocked as his jaw dropped lower than it should have. “This communication came from Wanay?”
“Indeed, which is why, as Lady Malrabia has pointed out, we are telling the shamanfolk to go into hiding. It’s the only way to secure their safety should an invasion happen.”
Another orb lit up once again.
Migo folded his arms. “What of the other communications? I want to hear them all.”
“They are all much the same, Your Excellency,” she said.
“But I am the emperor. Surely there must be some influence with the people of the cities in the more remote areas, is there not?”
Adrina inclined her head. “It is complicated. The communication orbs are possessed by seers in various locations. These seers have no direct ties with the monarchs of the individualized nations of the empire.”
“How did the emperor maintain control over the entire Ring if he had no direct communication with any of the monarchs?”
“I was not privy to all of his methods unfortunately, Your Excellency. I might have thought that you, as a king, would have had the opportunity to discover such methods.”
Migo shook his head. The seers may not have had direct connection ties with the monarchs, but he had no doubt there was a means of influencing them. If he was meddling so much in the affairs of Jehubal, then surely there was something.
Then again… Migo ran a hand through his hair as he thought. There was still a spy in Jehubal, unless Hatan had somehow rooted it out by now. Someone had stolen his father’s journal. Would that not have been the emperor’s agents?
He would investigate more, but he suspected these seers who were on the other end of these orbs had more influence than Adrina believed or let on.
“Let’s hear the rest of the messages. I intend to see them all. I want to supply a proper response that addresses all of their concerns, but, before that.” Migo paused to face Adrina fully. “I feel as though proper introductions would be necessary as I realize we have not yet taken the opportunity to do so.”
“Ah,” Adrina looked at the other two shamans with her. “I see you’ve adopted a more formal approach to conversation now that you’ve applied your new appellation.”
“Circumstances were different. I had just killed your emperor. I have now slept under the same roof as all of you, and nobody has tried to kill each other, so I must assume we have a mutual understanding that a peaceful resolution can be found.”
“You are wise for one so young,” Adrina said, clasping her hands behind her back. “Your statement could be true, but perhaps we are simply unsure whether or not we may be able to kill the Ashjagar.”
“Nevertheless,” Migo said, holding up his hand, “what are your names? I would also like to know what roles you play here.”
“Very well,” Adrina said. “I am Adrina. The emperor made a point of recruiting shamans of particular skill in each of the classes of magic. I am a master earthmelder, and I have served as the instructor and guide for the shamans he has taken in here at the castle. I have often assisted in special tasks, but all of the shamans who have been housed here at the castle hold no particular rank or title.”
“So you were advisors then?”
“Of a sort,” Adrina said.
Migo nodded to her then gestured to the other two shamans. “What about you two?”
“My name is Jafir,” said the first one to step forward. He had a thin black mustache and short, straight hair, skin a lighter shade of brown than Migo’s own. “I specialize in bewitchings. It’s the process of bestowing magical enchantments on or in objects and space. I worked with the emperor for the last four-hundred years.”
Migo raised his eyebrows. Did that make Jafir the oldest among them? Even Adrina was only two-hundred years old.
Only.
Migo shook his head. His perception was getting skewed. “Superb.”
“And my name is Geshan,” said the other shaman, a woman with deep, tired eyes and olive skin. “I am a seer. Commonly known for perceiving outcomes, but also for our expertise in combat. I have been with the emperor for only a few decades.”
No wonder Katsi had no idea what they could do. Migo still didn’t feel as though that helped to clarify anything. “A pleasure to meet you. I’m curious, why would seers have expertise in combat?”