Hatan entered with Emil and Penym. He kept a hand over his weapon in case she tried anything. “How do you have word from Migo?”
“There is much you do not understand, Regent Padarro, though if you are to become king and start making alliances with shamanfolk tribes, you ought to be educated.”
Hatan couldn’t help but grow more and more suspicious. How had this woman gained entry to the palace? Had they become so lax already after obtaining peace that they’d started allowing people to roam freely? He’d have to have a word with Falshon about palace security. He’d play along. “Educate me then.”
“Humble,” she said, sounding surprised. “There is wisdom in this one.”
The way she enunciated words had Hatan’s mind spinning. It was almost like she had an accent, but it was a tone of voice that made him think of an older person toying with a child. Perhaps she was not what she appeared to be. He waited for her to continue.
“Migo Rikaydian has established himself as the new emperor of Malahem.”
Hatan could barely keep his jaw from dropping. He forcibly clenched it shut, but nothing could prevent his eyes from growing wide.
Alishara’s lips grew thin as she paused. It was almost like she was angry to be delivering the news. “Emperor Rikaydian has killed Emperor Malrabia. This is why the planet has resumed spinning in its previous rotations and why the Maedari have ceased to protect us.”
“I see,” Hatan said. “Emperor Malrabia was somehow responsible for the tidal locking and the Maedari?”
“Yes, that is what I said.”
“And how did you come by this knowledge? I understand King Rikaydian was here in Jehubal not even three months ago. Didn’t Emperor Malrabia reside in Mazanib?”
Alishara blinked at Hatan, shoulders sagging. She seemed tired to even have the conversation with him. “He is accompanied by Shaman Katsi Danan. It is most likely that Katsi is responsible for helping him travel quickly. I suspect that she has mastered flight, seeing she is a stormcaller. It was only a matter of time. She was always adept at making connections.”
Hatan wasn’t sure exactly what Alishara meant, but there was something else that worried him. “You mentioned that the Maedari protected us.”
“Ah.” Alishara nodded at Hatan, looking him up and down more appraisingly. “Jehubal may very well be in good hands, for all the waste that may be.” She took a deep breath and he again had the feeling that she was annoyed to even be having this conversation. “The Maedaris were the one thing protecting cities like Jehubal from the waheshi—magical creatures that are impervious to everything except silver.”
Hatan looked at Emil. That was exactly the thing he and Rivar said they’d fought with Migo and Katsi.
“There are more of those?” Emil said.
Alishara regarded Emil for the first time, eyes lingering on his silver imbued weapons. “You’ve seen them?”
“I have,” Emil said. “We killed a few just about a month ago.”
Hatan held his hand up to silence Emil. He didn’t want to give away too much information unless he understood who this woman was.
“Hm,” Alishara grunted, looking off to the side in thought. “Perhaps I have misjudged you. There may yet be hope for Jehubal. These economic agreements you seek with the shamanfolk tribes are insufficient. Without their full support, the city will fall. They will abandon you and go into hiding. That’s all they would be good for, but I can perhaps reign them in. Make a stand. They do not have as many skilled warrior shamans as would be necessary, but they could provide services that may give Jehubal a fighting chance.”
“You speak as though we’re on the verge of war,” Hatan said.
“Oh, but it is much worse than that,” Alishara said, tilting her head at him. “You are on the verge of utter annihilation. All your citizens will either die or become slaves. There is no alternative.”
Emil placed a hand on Hatan’s shoulder before he spoke. “His Majesty spoke of this. After we fought the waheshi, he said that even a couple dozen of them would potentially be able to overrun the entire city.” He stepped beside Hatan and addressed Alishara. “Are you saying there are more of those out there?”
Alishara looked down her nose at them. “I am certain there are enough to overrun the entire world. Every village, every city that falls is more fuel in an unquenchable fire.”
Hatan shook his head slowly.
Penym stood silently beside him, one hand pressed over her heart.
“And how did you come by this information, if it is to be believed,” Hatan said.
“I am a seer in possession of an artifact called a communication orb. It allows me to communicate back to the office of the late emperor. Now that he’s dead, it communicates to the office of Emperor Rikaydian, if he has any intention of ruling from there that is.” She saw Hatan’s expression and paused. “You are still confused.”
Hatan couldn’t fathom the idea that Migo had traveled to the capital and murdered the emperor, somehow claiming the empire for himself. “It does seem a stretch. Why would my cousin have done such a thing?”
Alishara leveled her gaze at him. “He set out to get revenge for his father’s murder, did he not?”
“Justice, not revenge. But yes.”
“Well,” Alishara said, flicking her hand dismissively. “He has gotten it.”
Hatan lost his breath for a moment. He shook his head and scratched the stubble on his chin. “Emperor Malrabia killed King Kidem Rikaydian?”
“Obviously. The emperor passed the order to me, I passed it to Katsi’s mother, Katsi’s mother helped call up the storm while the boy was outside, and then she killed Kidem.”
“Katsi Danan’s mother was a stormcaller?”
“Yes, not nearly as powerful as her daughter. Katsi has her father’s potency to thank for that.” She noticed Hatan’s slack-jawed expression and hurried to say more. “Don’t worry, the girl had no idea of her mother’s activities. For all she knew, they were pacifists.”
“Well,” Emil said, looking at Hatan. “If Lord Rikaydian is now the emperor, I suppose he won’t mind you taking his throne as king of Jehubal then?”
“No, I don’t suppose he will,” Hatan said, mind still spinning. “Is there any way we can communicate with Migo?”
“I’m nobody’s messenger.”
“You were Emperor Malrabia’s messenger, were you not?”
