Geshan’s teeth glimmered like fangs as she smiled. “We can sense the move somebody will make before they make it. It allows for simple counter strokes before they ever come.”
Migo nodded. “I can see how that would provide an advantage. It must be remarkable to fight in such a way. Was the emperor capable of doing that as well?”
“He was,” Geshan said.
“Perhaps that is why he was so easily bested me when we dueled at my first arrival,” Migo mused.
Geshan shook her head. “Impossible. You are a shroud. He would not have been able to use seership to predict anything. That was merely his raw talent.”
“I see.” Sands. It was a shame the emperor had been a genocidal maniac or Migo might have enjoyed learning a thing or two from him. “Let’s proceed, then. I figured I should know with whom I am sharing all this information.”
“As you wish,” Adrina said, turning back to the orbs. She activated them all one by one. Each message was essentially the same—the seers worrying over the planet’s resumed rotations and the potential implication regarding the emperor’s condition. Though none of them would question it so directly.
They ought to know the truth—that Emperor Malrabia was dead and that Migo was the replacement. “How do I send them a message?”
“Simple,” Adrina said. “Trace the same pattern on the orb but in the opposite direction. Keep your finger connected until you’ve completed your message, then remove your finger. That is all.”
“Will it work for me as a shroud or Ashjagar?”
Adrina shrugged. “Only one way to find out, Your Excellency.”
Migo conceded and reached out to the orb that would communicate back to Kusari, the one from the first message he’d heard. He couldn’t help but feel a little awkward with several people watching him try to do something for the first time, and the idea of talking to an orb instead of to an actual person seemed like such an odd thing to do. But he was the emperor. Confidence is what people needed.
He stretched out his hand, repeated the motion with his finger, and spoke. “Emperor Malrabia is dead. I am Emperor Rikaydian. The war against all shamans is over, but waheshi slave armies are still a risk. Inform the locals of the potential threat so that they can be on the defense. Cities will also need magical reinforcement if possible against potential weather adjustments. Further communication is forthcoming as we continue to assess the new climate. Report back so we can ensure that Wanay is still secure.”
Migo looked over at Katsi as though she might have more to say. She simply shook her head and gestured for Migo to remove his finger. He dropped his hand. “That’s all?”
“That is all,” Adrina said.
He realized they could have lied to him about the proper function, but even Ris, who seemed to enjoy calling Adrina out on any hidden detail, said nothing from her seat across the room. So Migo continued through each of the orbs repeating a similar message. He immediately disliked the idea of communicating in such a way. At least with letters there was something tangible to it.
“Some of them may never reply again, just so you are aware, Your Excellency,” Adrina said.
“Never?”
It was Ris who responded. “Two of them were under blood oath to Ranaz. They will most certainly evacuate whatever role he’d forced them to fill.”
“Then how are we to restore communication with those areas?” Migo said, his voice taking a dark edge.
Ris smiled. “You could always lead an army around the Ring.”
Migo pressed his fingers to his eyebrows. “Not an option.”
“What about those enchanted artifacts that allow instant travel across long distances,” Katsi said. “We’d be able to establish ourselves that way.”
“I’m surprised you know of those,” Jafir said, folding his arms.
“Alyssad and I used one to travel to Habkamal and back,” Katsi explained.
Migo shook his head and held up his hands. “Let me make sure I’m understanding clearly. There is a magical device that allows a person to travel instantly across long distances.”
Katsi gave Migo a knowing look. “Magic has long been able to do far more than even I thought possible, Migo,” she said.
Migo felt as though he’d been a fool all his life. If the shamanfolk had been properly using magic, the Marems would never have stood a chance against them alone. It was only the emperor’s magic that kept them from being overrun. He was only just now beginning to see the bigger picture. One of the orbs started glowing again. The same one from Kusari.
“Well that didn’t take long,” Migo said, gesturing to the orb, happy to draw attention away from his own ignorance. Without further question, he activated the message.
Kusari’s face appeared once more, though already more haggard and seemingly aged from before. “Emperor Rikaydian, I am pleased to hear from you. Forgive me for not conveying more information, but we are not familiar with your name. Wanay is in grave danger. People are already fleeing the city. It will likely fall within the mark. Perhaps we may have been able to prepare more efficiently had we known that the protection of the Maedaris would be gone so suddenly. I, for one, am relocating immediately. I will report again once I reach—” the message ended abruptly.
“Sleet,” Geshan said, her jaw muscles twitching. “This war will be over before it even starts.”
“No,” Migo growled, his voice laced with a bestial edge. “Katsi and I will go there.” He pointed at Jafir. “Those transportation artifacts. Do you know how to operate them?”
“Of course I do,” Jafir said, folding his arms.
“Katsi,” Migo gestured at the artifacts on the shelf before him, “now would be an appropriate time to try those on and see what you’re capable of.”
Katsi set her gaze on them, her expression dark and serious. “Absolutely.” She stepped in front of the group and began placing the armlets on her body as well as the necklaces and rings.
“Do you all know how such artifacts are created?” Migo asked.
Jafir’s gaze remained steady. “Of course. If I must confess, I assisted the emperor in crafting them myself.”
“And if I understand correctly, the more powerful the shaman it’s made from, the more potent the artifact will be?”
“That is correct,” Jafir said, sparing a glance over his shoulder at Ris.
Migo pointed to Ranaz’s body, which still lay at the center of the room. “Then perhaps the emperor may yet assist in saving his people.”
