Emil

  “We need to make a decision.”

  The sun had barely emerged above the horizon when they all reconvened inside of Emil’s dwelling. Everyone was shivering as the frosty air of the desert morning wormed into their bones, unimpeded by the thick blankets provided by the Dhazara. It would take another hour or two before the Saar returned to its usual blistering heat.

  Having a meeting this early was rather obnoxious given the insanity of the previous day, and everyone would have been inclined to ignore the rollcall if it hadn’t been Anna who initiated the meeting. She was the one who was notorious for being unable to function in the mornings. But with her calling the shots this time, no one had any grounds to voice their complaints.

  Tired of the chilly air, Emil activated Blaze, producing a small flame at the tip of his fingers to reignite the firepit. He didn’t miss Kai and Liesel recoiling as the flames blossomed onto the charred wood. As expected, a wary night of sleep wasn’t nearly enough to help them get over his revelations. He would be lying if he wasn’t devastated by the guarded looks on their faces and the distrust in their eyes. There was an intangible wall between them that hadn’t been there before.

  And truthfully, he could understand their apprehensions. Steiger was infamous within Ardair. They were undertakers. If the Lionhearts were the virtuous light of the royal family, then Steiger was its wicked shadows. Its members possessed a reputation of being ruthless, sadistic killers who were indifferent to status and age. The truth was obviously more nuanced, but the fear and nebulous mystique shrouding the organization was what allowed it to be effective at its job. Hortensia even encouraged and cultivated this image. Affairs involving Exalted were messy and unpredictable. Casualties were a constant. And so, having the ability to strike fear and panic into their opponent’s minds at the mere mention of their presence was an invaluable advantage.

  Unfortunately for Emil, that reputation didn’t help with earning back the trust of his friends.

  “Let’s review everything we know,” Anna said, pretending that the tension in the room didn’t exist, “Nabil wants our assistance to seize this new Azurite mine in exchange for food, shelter, and an eventual escort back to Cereza. The Azurite mine is currently under Zal’Khari control. All three major Gharian tribes are trying to contest this asset causing the Saar to be in a state of heightened tensions. We’ve fought against the Zal’Khari. We’ve met the Dhazara. We haven’t encountered the Shiraza yet.”

  Emil felt eyes lingering on him.

  “…I don’t have any information on them if that’s what you’re asking. Everything that I know about our situation I’ve already shared last night.”

  “Really?” Kai questioned snidely, acid thick on his tongue.

  “Yes.”

  “Anyways!” Anna cut in quickly before the discussion could get sidetracked. “The alternative is that we try to navigate back to Cereza ourselves. I think we can all agree that’s not exactly a viable possibility given our severe lack of…well, everything.”

  “We could raid the Dhazara storage for supplies. And maybe even find a map,” Liesel suggested half-heartedly.

  “Sounds like suicide. It would be doable if they were all Ordinary, but they have Exalted in this camp too,” Anna replied.

  “They’re also monitoring us nonstop as well. There were guards posted outside earlier when Liesel and I left our tents,” Kai added.

  Flames flickered as everyone fell silent to weigh their options.

  Liesel was the first to speak. “I suppose we don’t have a choice but play to along. But assuming that we don’t die in this raid and successfully help the Dhazara take control of the mine, what comes next? While Nabil claimed that he would grant us safe passage back to Cereza, I’m hesitant to trust him. Azurite mines are affairs of national security and it doesn’t seem like he’s keen to report this mine’s existence back to the royal family. House Ulster also seems to be deliberately left in the dark despite their supposed allegiance. Would he really let four people who know the secret back so easily?”

  “You think he might dispose of us after,” Kai stated.

  “Very likely. We’re liabilities. The best alternative for us is that he keeps us as political hostages. But that’ll just paint a target on his back. As much as he tried to threaten us, I doubt he wants House Belle and the royal family’s attention.” Liesel turned to Emil. “Thoughts?”

  “I agree.” Liesel’s read of the situation was the exact same as his. “There are really only two options for us. One, we try to sneak away during the chaos of the raid on the Azurite mine. Identify a navigator amongst their group, steal their supplies, maps, and camels, and then make a getaway while everyone is distracted. Otherwise, we’ll have to convince Nabil that we’re better alive than dead to him.”

  “I’m sure Mr. Steiger Cleaner has something for us to make the latter happen.”

  “Kai,” Anna said curtly.

  “What?”

  “Drop it. Stop mentioning things that are clearly meant to stay a secret.”

  He sneered with an amused exasperation. “So you’re on his side now?”

  “We’re on the same side, you damn idiot.”

  “Are we?” Kai snarled, looking incredulous, “Maybe it’s because you’re smitten with him or maybe it’s because you weren’t there, but this guy nearly killed Charlotte and I at House Nacht!”

  Anna snorted, her eyes steeling with a razor glint. “Oh, enough of that. We all heard what happened. Just because you got your ass kicked doesn’t mean he was trying to kill you. After what you saw against the Zal’Khari, did you really think Emil would have any difficulty disposing you if he wanted to?”

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Kai shot up to his feet. Anna met him head-on, electricity snapping across her body as Volt activated.

  “We’re all trying to survive here,” she whispered with barely concealed anger, “We’re trying to figure out a way to get the four of us out of here safe. What are you doing with your useless comments?”

  “You—”

  “Emil saved you, by the way. Twice. Once from House Nacht’s inevitable fall. And two, from getting frayed to death by sand by the Zal’Khari Exalted. Did you already forget?” Anna snapped, “Maybe you’re the one who’s not aware of the stakes here, but last time I remember the two of you—” She pointed her fingers at Kai and Liesel. “—are fucking dead weight right now.

  “So either figure out how to make your Gifts work in the desert or shut the fuck up and stop whining.”

  She glared at him one last time to drive home the point.

  “Useless people don’t get a say at the table.”

  ***

  In the end, they had a semblance of a plan, but they needed more information. Emil took it upon himself to speak with Nabil to better understand his intentions.

  The leader of the Dhazara was watching over the training field within the Dhazara encampment. Despite the early hours, the field was already crowded. Sweat soaked the arid sand and the sounds of steel rang over the silent Saar. The cacophony was loud, but disciplined. The warriors of the Dhazara moved with purpose and precision, like parts of a machine working in tandem for victory. It was a stark contrast to the savagery and madness displayed by the Zal’Khari who reveled in their animalistic bloodlust.

  “Good morning,” Nabil greeted them after Inaya called for his attention, “Just Emil this time, huh?” There was a curious gleam in his eyes as if he suddenly had an idea. “What do you think about my warriors?”

  The training field was divided into three sections. The section furthest away from them were occupied by Dhazara crossbowman. Scarecrows were positioned at various distances from the front of the field—some marked with red, other marked with blue, likely to indicate the difference between enemy and ally. The crossbowman had to strike all red targets, first stationary, then while on the move and without hitting any of the blue targets.

  The middle was packed with warriors wielding shields and spears. They were currently going through a regimented routine, emphasizing strength and endurance before delving into fighting in formation.

  The last section was composed of only eight individuals. All Exalted, Emil divined based on the heightened ambient mana in their vicinity.

  This is what we would have had to fight against if we decided to break out of the Dhazara encampment.

  An unpleasant ordeal. It might have been worth considering if Liesel and Kai had full control of their Gifts. In their current state, it would have been a death sentence.

  “They look competent,” he remarked with indifference. Nabil tilted his head with a look of anticipation.

  “Come on. I’m sure you have more thoughts than that.”

  He decided to be honest then. It didn’t seem like Nabi was going to let him off the hook with another meagre response.

  “The crossbowmen need to be trained on moving targets. The warriors look strong and disciplined, but they’re too rigid in their formation. That might work against a conventionally trained army, but if the enemy has Exalted, then that tight phalanx-like formation is going be a death sentence. As for your Exalted…” He glanced at the eight Exalted who were sitting in a meditative pose with their eyes closed. It would appear that they were training their visualization. “I don’t know the extent of their abilities so I’ll speak generally. They need experience. Experience exploring the absolute limits of their Gifts and experience keeping a level head while under immense stress. Gifts are powerful, but conversely, they could be extremely dangerous and self-destructive if used improperly. An Exalted in the midst of battle needs to be able to keep a clear mind and judgement above all else.”

  Nabil nodded his head in approval, appearing to absorb every detail.

  “Thank you. See, this sort of insight is exactly why I vouch for integration with the Ardairans. The other tribes might call me a traitor to our people’s culture, but I see it as learning.” His voice suddenly rose with impassionate anger. “The Ardairans conquered us. Why did it happen? Why did we fail to defend our independence? Why were we weaker? The core ideal of the Dhazara is to learn from our enemies. Engage with them. Obtain their knowledge. Steal their secrets. There’s no shame in confronting our foolish present if we can create a better future.”

  A noble and admirable belief, but Emil failed to see how this was relevant. “Why are you telling me this?”

  Nabil flashed him a knowing smile. “Just as I know a warrior when I see one, I also know an inquisitive mind when I see one. You have questions. I’ll provide answers, just as you’ve provided me your invaluable insight. So go ahead, ask away.”

  An equivalent exchange. In a situation where he held all the initiative, Nabil willingly handed him agency. Emil couldn’t comprehend it. Just what is this man thinking? Was he hoping to win him over? Did he already foreseen the concerns that his group had about his proposal? Or was he just terribly na?ve?

  “You speak of integration with Ardair and yet you want to seize control of this Azurite mine. Which will undoubtedly place you in hot waters with the royal family. Why?”

  Nabil hummed with understanding. “It does seem like a contradiction, doesn’t it? Well, the difference is time frame. I don’t need to hold the mines forever. My goal is to seize it from the Zal’Khari and use its resources to unite the Gharian tribes under a unified banner,” he explained, his eyes taking on a distant gaze as though he was envisioning the future, “The mistake that led to our annexation was because we were fragmented. Too separated. Too isolated. Too ideologically different. But together as one race, we have power. We can negotiate with House Ulster for better treatment. More investment. A better deal for Gharians. To me, the Azurite mine is simply an asset for negotiations.”

  Emil was starting to see the big picture now.

  “And where do the four of us fit into this vision? You promised to grant us safe passage back to Cereza after we help you take over the mines. But that directly conflicts with your goals. We’re liabilities. One word to House Ulster and your hope for unification could go up in flames.”

  Nabil smirked. “You think we might tie up loose ends.”

  “It’s an obvious concern.”

  “Fair.” Nabil scratched the side of his neck, feigning a sheepish look. “My exact words yesterday were that I’ll grant safe passage after the conflict has stabilized. The Zal’Khari will be neutered once we seize the Azurite mine. Then there’s the matter of absorbing the Shiraza. Only then will we be ready to confront House Ulster.”

  Confront House Ulster. These were the words of an intelligent and charismatic man who was well-aware of his own gifts. The selection was deliberate. And so, were the statements left unsaid.

  He wants to keep us around until he unifies Gharia. And then make use of us as political hostages for leverage in the negotiations.

  “You fucking rat.”

  Blaze flared in his hands. Emil immediately felt something sharp on the surface of his skin. Inaya. She had a dagger pressed against his throat. A small stream of blood trickled down his neck. Her movements were instantaneous.

  “Technically, I didn’t lie.” Nabil’s hands were extended and the tips of his fingers glowed a radiant blue. Mana. “But I suppose you have a right to call it deceit. Regardless, I did present you all with a choice.”

  “Yeah, an illusion of a choice,” Emil said as he dispersed his flames, “Navigate to Cereza on our own? You know that’s a death sentence!”

  “Just because the choices are difficult doesn’t mean you don’t have the freedom to choose,” Nabil drawled, “So then, what say you? Have you made up your mind yet?”