“Against those monsters? And people who can tear down the walls with a gesture?”
“We have to leave,” Katsi said, interrupting them. “If Migo and I weren’t able to stop them, nobody can.”
That was a highly negative comment coming from Katsi. Migo turned back to look at her once everyone had climbed down. She looked worse than he’d expected, her eyes suddenly deep set, cheeks hollow. Her skin was singed along her arms and her fingers.
Steam issued from Migo’s nose, but he fought to suppress the burning in his chest.
“And go where?” Vasash said. “I cannot abandon my people. I’m the only—” her voice cut off as she placed a hand over her mouth.
“It’s alright,” the middle-aged woman said. “We must survive.” She brushed aside her frazzled brown hair. “Hundreds of soldiers died defending the palace, Your Highness, with the intent of keeping you alive. We must honor their death by taking the opportunity for you to escape.”
Vasash covered her eyes, taking a deep breath, her jaw tight as she tried to come to terms with the loss of her entire city.
Migo could sympathize for her, but now was not the time for mourning. Not until they were safe. He could sense magical energy nearby, growing closer. It seemed the Reyganins weren’t going to let them off easy.
Now he had to figure out a way to change back into his human form. He couldn’t very well appear back in the castle as a giant lizard. He was bigger than that entire room, and it would squish everyone else that went with him. He locked eyes with Katsi and she nodded back at him with understanding.
“We have a way to get to safety, but the emperor here needs to change back into human form,” Katsi explained to the others.
Migo ignored their shocked expressions and instead focused on Katsi as he rested his head down before her. Katsi placed a trembling hand down on the end of his snout, running her fingers across his scales. His fiery heart calmed, lowering to a dull simmer. He closed his eyes, letting his mind hold onto the feeling of Katsi’s fingers, and all the rest of the world faded away. With the calm, a shiver ran down his spine and his body shriveled.
“Grab those clothes,” Katsi said to somebody.
The middle-aged woman grabbed them and hurried over to Katsi, her eyes wide as Migo glanced at her. He brushed the hair from his eyes. He was human. That was fast. He nodded to Katsi and snatched his clothes from the woman. Everyone turned away from him as he threw the cloak over his shoulder before tugging the pants on.
“They’re close,” Migo warned. He could still sense them. It wasn’t as strong now as it was while he was Ashjagar. “Coming for us. You remember the words?” he said to Katsi.
“Mmhm.” She pulled the small brick from within a pouch. “Everyone, you must grab hold of this brick. Do not let go. Understood?”
They all affirmed. Vasash seemed to have recovered from her distress, her expression now settled into a sturdy resolve. Migo knew that feeling well. Acceptance.
He gripped the brick with just two fingers so everyone had enough room to grab it, though he gritted his teeth as he tried to ignore the wounds on Katsi’s fingers.
Katsi spoke the phrase, “Fid-kabal dof.”
In the same moment, Migo felt a firm tugging on his arm, his grip tightening on the brick as though he were connected to it. His vision stretched, everything blurry until it suddenly came into focus again.
They were in the small, dark room in the emperor’s castle.
The three new guests all gasped, stumbling around with hands on chests.
“It’s alright,” Migo said. “You’re safe here. This is the castle in Mazanib. We just used a portaj. It’s a magical enchantment that allows instant travel across long distances. It’s how we were able to reach Wanay and save you.”
“You’re back?” a voice said from the doorway.
It was one of the shamans Migo recognized as Daraden. The potion mixer.
“Katsi is in need of medical attention,” Migo said immediately.
“What happened?” Daraden said, shuffling through his pockets. “Who are they?”
“Survivors,” Katsi said. “Wanay is lost.”
“There were too many of them,” Migo said. “The soldiers of Wanay were eradicated before we could offer assistance. These three were the only survivors we even made contact with, though I sensed that some people fled the city.” Migo felt increasingly foolish for any time he’d spent delaying leaving. He’d spent too much time deliberating with the court shamans when he should have left sooner. Even a minute or two might have meant saving the Wanay palace from destruction.
Lady Vasash stood with arms folded against the relatively cool temperature of the small, dark room.
“Get help, please, Daraden,” Katsi said as she wiggled off one of the rings.
“Right, sorry,” Daraden dashed up the stairs, shouting for help.
“Come along,” Migo said to the three traumatized Wanay citizens. “You’re safe here.” For however long that might last. What if Mazanib were attacked that very instant by a different tribe? Would the soldiers here be enough to hold back the tide? Would Migo or Katsi be able to help at all? Would the shamans simply retreat without offering any aid? He ground his teeth.
His hands were clenched in such a tight grip when his eyes settled on Katsi. Now was not the time for anger. He placed a gentle hand on her elbow, gripping her palm with his other hand to help her up the stairs. The other three followed behind, whispering meaningless comforts to each other.
Adrina was right to be angry with him for killing the emperor. He had no idea this would be the consequence. He was not ready for any of this. He could destroy one man, not entire armies, even with Katsi’s help.
Katsi squeezed his hand, her eyes soft as she looked back into his. “It’s alright,” she said, voice soft, her words only for him. “We did the best we could. You can still do this.”
Something cracked in Migo, a sad acceptance washing over him. If he’d been alone, perhaps he would have allowed himself to cry, but instead he nodded. He was the emperor. He would unite the people. He would defend them from these bleeder armies. One way or another, they would find victory. If Katsi believed in him, then he’d let that be enough. He nodded back to her, and she offered a brief smile.
At the top of the stairs they found a group of people rushing up the hall to greet them, Adrina among them. “What happened?” she demanded.
“Wanay is lost,” Migo said, “but perhaps with a good earthmelder, we may have saved it.” There was more venom in his tone than he’d intended, but shouldn’t Adrina feel guilty? She was here repairing this meaningless castle while he and Katsi were trying to save lives.
Adrina’s eyes hardened. “I can assure you, Your Excellency, that I would not have been much use against waheshi.”
“Then perhaps the shamans who were there locally could have done more,” Migo said. He gestured at Vasash. “We saved three people. Three! Of however many thousands resided there.”
