《Battle Maidens》


 Dancing on the Edge of a Blade

    Shahzadi Rouya danced on her heels, letting herself glide over the patio as she spun the scythe above her head and brought it down in a swift motion. The blade silently cut through flesh and came out the other side. She held her stance and breath, readying herself to continue with a follow up chain of motions. Her opponent gave in first and separated down the center where she''d cut a clean line through. The melon fell to the sides and dropped from the stand, spilling its innards across the patio.


    Rouya smiled to herself and hefted the scythe against her shoulder as she strolled over to the crate of melons. The mid-morning sun beat down on her from an angle the canvas couldn''t quite shield her from. She''d already opted for the sleeveless training outfit to keep cool and grant her more maneuverability. It also revealed the lashne, wings of the divine eagle, tattooed on her arms. A slow clap snapped her attention to her rear where someone had snuck up on her. She instinctively readied the scythe to defend herself but relaxed as she recognized the crimson-haired woman leaning against a pillar.


    Only a few people could have gotten past her guards and even fewer would manage to sneak up on her.


    "I admire your skills," Evelyn said, easing away and dropping to the patio beside Rouya. "I''m sure your father could get you a position as head chef in the kitchens."


    "Save your mockery for another day. Tell me why you''re here but don''t come with my father sent you. I don''t need his watchdog monitoring me," Rouya said, rolling her shoulders as she prepared to practice a few stances she read about last night.


    Evelyn''s smile widened. "Then I''ll have to lie to you, princess. I came to watch you fight against melons and must admit I''m rather impressed."


    "If it impresses you so much, then why not raise your glaive against me and see just how smooth I am."


    "What kind of guard would I be if I attacked the person they meant me to protect?"


    Rouya readied her scythe, aiming it at Evelyn. "What better way to look after your protege than by testing their limits? Unless you''re beginning to doubt your own chances against me."


    "Don''t humble yourself, princess." A dark mist formed around Evelyn, replacing her modest clothes with armor and chain-mail. She held her hand out and snatched a glaive out of seemingly thin air. "I''ve bested every enemy your father sent me against."


    Rouya smiled, sliding her right foot back as she prepared to launch her attack. "Is it true you wiped out an entire army of the pretender on your own?"


    "I''ve fought many armies but none of them have been an even match."


    "Then I shouldn''t be much of a challenge for you." Rouya dashed forward, spinning her scythe in front of her in an eight-motion that formed a protective shield against any direct attacks.


    Evelyn took a step back, launching herself to the side as she darted around Rouya. The princess reacted immediately, shifting her footing to cover the flank and block the tip of the blade. Evelyn grinned as she recognized the motion and tipped the pole around, hurling the shaft over the scythe and tapping the princess on the head.


    Silence returned to the gardens otherwise used for relaxing walks and tea parties. Both women stood fixed, staring at each other. Evelyn actually struck out against her and while the Battle Maiden couldn''t be killed, Rouya could still have her punished for the deed.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    "Again," Rouya said with determination, leaving no room for debate. She took her stance once more and grinned. "I won''t let you win that easy again."


    Evelyn strode across the marble floor, flexing her arms. "Perhaps but for every time I best you, you must answer me truthfully."


    "And if I land a strike?" Rouya asked, raising a brow.


    "Then I''ll let you off the hook."


    Rouya lashed out, hoping to catch the woman off-guard but her reflexes were heightened and merely walked out of range. The princess gritted her teeth and chased after her, leaping forward in a strike that would cut down anything in front of her.


    Evelyn caught the blade with her pole and twirled around, slamming the shaft into Rouya''s back. She screamed as she toppled forward and tried to regain her footing.


    "Stop playing with me!"


    "Sorry but I''d hate to scratch such a pretty face."


    Rouya halted mid-step to find her heart racing, not all of which stemmed from her exertion. She straightened her shoulders and held her chin high. "Leave it to me. I''m more than capable of taking care of myself."


    The ground began to tremble, streaks of light rippled in the air surrounding Evelyn followed by a gust that shoved Rouya to the edge of the patio. She steeled herself, centering her weight as the pressure continued to pick up. If Rouya ever wanted to fulfill her true potential, she''d have to prove to her father that should stand on her own and be able to face any opponent. Only then could she become a real summoner and venture into the Shadow Realm.


    Evelyn moved to the princess with measured steps, each one increasing the pressure around her. Rouya struggled to lift her weapon against what felt like a hundred hands holding her down. The muscles in her arm quavered as Evelyn leaned forward, her lips coming to her ears as she whispered, "Give up yet?"


    "This is hardly fair."


    All at once the pressure ebbed away, catching her off balance and falling into Evelyn''s arms. "Life''s not fair, but I take it I won this round."


    Rouya sparred against the Battle Maiden two more times before ceding her defeat. Several bruises on her arms were reminders of just how deadly Evelyn could be if she took the fight seriously. She strapped the scythe to her back and wiped her forehead. The weather on Aequilla was mild, but that didn''t stop her from breaking a sweat when up against someone in a league for themselves. "Just wait, I''ll get you next time."


    The glaive burst into a cloud of dark smoke and vanished with the winds. Evelyn brushed her hair out of her eyes and perked her lips. "We''ll see about that but you still owe me a few answers."


    "I haven''t heard the questions yet," Rouya said. She marched down the small flight of stairs leading through the garden behind the palace. She''d have to cross the garden and make her way into her chambers with none of the guards noticing her. Of course, Evelyn already knew what she was up to and could just as easily rat her out to the emperor.


    Evelyn leaped forward, landing on a hedge in front of Rouya. She crouched down, with her hands on her knees. "Why are you avoiding the celebration?"


    "I''m not av--"


    "You''re just not going there?"


    "You could say that. He doesn''t need to have me around for his celebration and he shouldn''t try to mask his orgies by calling them celebrations either."


    Evelyn frowned. "He did have a child."


    "With another woman," Rouya pointed out, raising her chin. She pressed on through the maze, already familiar with every twist and turn for the swiftest route to the exit. "That''s two, by the way."


    "Then I better make the last one count." Evelyn landed beside Rouya and flexed her hands behind her head as she kept pace. "Why don''t you come with me? The Emperor can see that you''re in safety and I can help ... distract you."


    Rouya narrowed her eyes and gave the warrior a sidelong glance. It was the first time anyone had actually asked to do anything with her. Most people were too intimidated by her position to even speak to her, let alone ask her a question. "Well, I suppose since you gave me a better challenge than any of my tutors."


    Evelyn paused suddenly and stared at the palace entrance where a couple made their way inside.


    "What''s the matter, you change your mind about going with me now all of a sudden?"


    She shook her head. "That was Satrap Markus Relius."


    "So? He''s an old friend of my father''s."


    Evelyn chuckled. "He was my master during the magi wars. It''s strange seeing him married to one now."


    Rouya nudged her in the side with an elbow. "Don''t let him spoil the mood. Let''s get changed and start drinking!"


    "I can''t get drunk."


    "Let''s put that theory to the test."

 A Candle in the Wind

    Markus crumbled the slip of paper together and held it to the candle flame, marveling as it caught and became fully consumed by the fire.


    "That bad, huh," came from the viper sitting across from him. Adelaxia happened to be his wife but her love poison to his ears. She crossed her ankles over his lap as she arched herself back over the chair to reach for the platter of fruit on the table. Her little stunt seemed awfully complicated for the fact that she wanted to eat a grape. She plucked a single purple ball from the vine and tossed it into her mouth, smirking at him as she chewed it.


    The grape was only a means to an end of what she intended and from his vantage he had a perfect view of her petite breasts only barely concealed by linen. The message didn''t go unnoticed by Markus but shoved such lustful thoughts aside for the time being.


    "Much worse," he began and brushed her feet off him. "It appears our suspicions all these months have been correct."


    The playful look in Adelaxia''s eyes dimmed as his words finally dawned on her. She averted her eyes to the map tapestry hanging from the wall, a remnant of the old empire and the borders they once shared through the universe. "What are you going to do about it?"


    "We," he corrected. "I''ll have to mobilize my Bannermen at once."


    "And Justinian?"


    "We''ll be seeing him today to congratulate him on his renewed fatherhood." Markus massaged his temples to ease away the pain of having to deal with yet another war. It appeared peace would elude him forever. Only a swift and decisive victory could prevent a year-long bloodshed. He went to the dresser and changed into his most lavish robes and weighed himself down in gold trinkets, rings and necklaces.


    Adelaxia came from behind and slipped her arms around his waist as she studied him in the mirror. "We''ll get through this. Just as we made it through everything else in life by taking one step at a time."


    Markus solemnly nodded, aware that their lives were at stake if he failed and troops stormed their world. After finishing getting dressed, he instructed his scribe and sent out messages to the commanders within his satrapy and joined Adelaxia once more. She considered herself a free spirit and didn¡¯t bother changing into anything more presentable to the Padishah Emperor, Justinian I. There were two things he loved about her that kept him from seeing other women. The first, her skill and talent to challenge him in bed, and the other her innate ability as a realmwalker magi to open up portals to other worlds. Both saved him a good deal of coin.


    Adelaxia''s sun-kissed skin shimmered as she accumulated magic and drew a spell in the air. A tear formed where she slid her fingers and ripped open. Untamed energy sizzled through and would threaten to devour the city if she didn''t contain the portal. She gritted her teeth and clasped her hands together as she began to stabilize the magic. Her chest heaved as she finished the process and turned to Markus, holding her hand out and waiting for him to take it so they could enter together.


    They drifted through the void between worlds for a sparse few heartbeats in which he felt weightless. Streaks of light shot out from every which way as they passed through the other side and appeared outside the Imperial Palace on Aequila. Portals required prior knowledge of the destination, making ventures into the unknown dangerous which was why realmwalkers spent the first three years of their apprenticeship traveling the known routes with a master. Markus could trust her enough to not get them stuck inside of a wall.


    Despite all the training, Adelaxia became a master by the age of seventeen. Eager as she was, she constantly strove for new heights and soon had her sights set on him. Markus couldn''t and didn''t want to resist her for long and let her sink her nails into him.


    Markus moved to the doors leading to Justinian''s court when a guard stepped forward and blocked his path with a spear. "His Imperial Majesty is celebrating and doesn''t wish to be disturbed at the moment."


    "Lower your weapon. Do you know who you''re speaking with?" Adelaxia snapped. "This is Satrap Markus Relius!"


    "Satrap? I apologize, my lord, but the Emperor does not wish to be disturbed. He-he''s celebrating the birth of his son." The guard shied away, lowering his gaze out of fear he may make the wrong decision and end up on the Emperor''s bad side.


    "It''s quite all right, he''s only doing as he''s been instructed. Why don''t you go on ahead and tell the Emperor I need to speak with him urgently."


    The guard looked from him to Adelaxia and nodded, slipping behind the doors while they remained behind.


    "We don''t have to wait."


    "Calm yourself. A few minutes aren''t going to turn the tide here now," Markus said, resting his hand on the pommel of the khanjar.


    After a few moments the doors swung inward by servants and he was greeted by the Emperor sitting atop his throne.


    "Markus! Come in, come in and take a seat at my side."


    They did as he said and strode across the carpet laid out through the center of the great hall. Lavish curtains hung from the pillars. Flutes played from a corner while a half dozen burners gave off incense into the air. Young, barely clad women roamed the hall as far as the eye could see. The longer he looked, the more certain he became of the deadly assassins amongst them.


    Battle Maidens. Legendary Daeva bound to ancient relics and forced to heed their master''s will. Each was a specialist for a particular weapon type but they were all equally lethal.


    Padishah Justinian beckoned them closer and indicated to a pair of pillows by his throne. Markus couldn''t help but notice the eyes of his friend wander to Adelaxia and the smile that formed as he marveled her body. He giddied on the throne and clapped his hands. A serving girl stepped forward with a pitcher but Markus shook his head and declined.


    "Please, allow me to introduce Adelaxia."


    Adelaxia took the pitcher from the girl and filled up the Emperor''s goblet.


    "Ohh, I see you''ve got yourself a nice one." He eagerly emptied the goblet to keep her at his side. "I''ve never been one to part with what I like. It''s been ages since I''ve seen you. You should really come and visit me more often."


    "Yes, well, that''s because I''ve been busy ruling the satrapy you so generously gave to me."


    "I understand. Ever the dutiful one but come, you must celebrate with me. It''s not every day one becomes a father after all."


    Markus clanked goblets with Justinian but sipped on his wine while the latter downed the drink in a single go. The news from earlier still troubled him and he needed to confront Justinian about it as soon as possible. "I apologize in advance for tipping the mood but matters are urgent. The former Shah has rallied an army of fifty thousand, mostly mercenaries and bandits from the Frontier and Outer Realms. I''ve put my forces on alert but they won''t be able to hold off such a large-scale attack for long."


    Justinian stopped drinking, his eyes cresting the rim of his drink as he took him in. His expression soured, and the musicians stopped playing while silence spread throughout the hall. "So the old crow''s come out to die after all. Was wondering if the elements already got him or if he''d face off against me one last time."A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    The former Shahs had ruled over the Outer Realms for centuries with a decades-long war against the empire. Justinian, with the help of Markus, managed to crush the army a year ago which allowed Justinian to take on the title of Padishah.


    "It appears he''s been biding his time to recruit an army. His forces threaten my satrapy but they won''t get far without a fight against my guard units."


    Justinian grinned, playing with the rings on his fingers. "No matter. He who controls the maidens rules the universe. Where is it their forces are gathering?"


    "Khyam. I''d be willing to lead an army there myself."


    "Nonsense. You should stay and celebrate with me. The Battle Maidens will make short work of their continued rebellion." Justinian smiled at Adelaxia and beckoned her closer. "You got yourself a fine husband. A good friend of mine."


    "You''re too kind, Your Majesty," Adelaxia said, her cheeks blushing ever so slightly as she filled his cup with more wine. "I''m the fortunate one for him to take me."


    Justinian grabbed her ass and barked a laugh. Markus bit his tongue not to speak out against him. He lowered my gaze to the floor and accepted it for what it was. Adelaxia knew what she was getting herself into when she accompanied him inside the palace. She could have waited outside for him to return but seeing him lay his hands on his wife spurred an anger in him he never usually felt. The calm he wore so dignified trickled away.


    "Attia ... I want you to go to Khyam and bring me the head of the pretender. His skull should adorn these halls to remind anyone who refuses to submit of the consequences."


    "Very well," Attia said, rising from her cushion behind the Emperor. She glanced at Markus before vanishing in thin air.


    Out of the seven Battle Maidens Justinian possessed, three remained on watch inside the Great Hall but wore more casual clothing to fit in to the guests. Markus knew each and everyone of them during his time with Justinian battling the lords, and later the Pashwa Empire, that held them.


    "What about you, when will we get to celebrate the birth of your child?" Justinian asked, smiling as Adelaxia refilled his goblet. "And don''t come with any lame excuses like you haven''t found the time to nail her to the bed. One can always spare five minutes."


    "Soon enough, I hope. We''ve only just married and would like to enjoy the time we share before having to split it between a family. Isn''t that right?"


    Adelaxia perked up, quickly putting a smile on her face as she realized he''d been referring to her. "Oh, mhm. Surprises usually come when you least expect them and at the most inopportune time. It''s what makes them a surprise after all."


    "Ohoho," Justinian growled, slapping his knee. "Sounds like she has a confession to make."


    "Speaking of which, I have one of my own to make." Markus flashed a grin as the doors to the Great Hall burst open. In poured dozens of Raksha guard units followed by a handful of magi wielding fire and setting the lavish curtains alight.


    Guests screamed as they attempted to flee but were caught in the middle of a battle.


    In that very moment, Justinian sent the maidens out to confront the enemy. They whisked past Markus, drawing their weapons at breakneck speed. The Raksha redirected their attention to the oncoming women but their movements and strikes were slow in comparison and left them astonished as the maidens cut them to pieces.


    Markus gripped his khanjar, pulling the ornamental dagger out its scabbard. He had the blunt blade sharpened just for the occasion and thrust it up beneath Justinian''s jaw and into his skull. His friend''s eyes widened as he lashed out futilely.


    "Shh, it''s okay. You may find peace at last." He twisted the dagger and ended the rule of the Padishah Emperor Justinian I. He slumped over and the fighting died out almost immediately as Justinian was no longer able to supply the Battle Maidens with magic and keep them in the world.


    "You''ve done it." Adelaxia''s voice trembled. She swiftly moved in and embraced Markus, kissing him on the neck as she squealed with joy. Not even his desire to have her on the spot could mask the stench of death and smoke building in the hall.


    "It appears we underestimated your dedication," came a voice from the entrance. Kalim, the richest satrap in all the empire stood with a silver dragon perched on his shoulder. His eyes narrowed onto Markus. "I''ll be needing the relics now."


    Markus shoved Adelaxia aside and rose. "We need to find the child first and foremost."


    "Of course," he said. "I''ve already sent my men to deal with that. Now if you''d be so kind."


    Markus turned back around to where Justinian''s body laid slumped over to find Farid plucking a ring and slipping it over his own finger. A dark cloud appeared in front of him and took on the form of a young woman with short lavender hair and a bow in her hand. The blue tint under her eyes gave her a defiant appearance.


    Farid burst out into laughter as he fumbled around his waist. "It worked. You''re actually mine now and have to do whatever I command you to."


    "As you wish, master." Mitra narrowed her eyes at her summoner. He gripped her shoulder and brought her down to her knees in front of him.


    Markus fumed as he stormed over, turning Farid around and effortlessly snatching the ring out of his hands. "Give me that you fool. We''re not here to pleasure ourselves but to liberate. Find the Library and the child too. We can''t allow them to escape."


    Farid eyed the dagger Markus held and gulped before raising his trousers once more. "I''ll get right on it."


    Markus nodded, watching him go before he turned his attention to the ring. He put it on and channeled some magic to the item, feeling it vibrate under his influence. He smiled and gave it some more. Adelaxia approached him, laying her hand on his arm as she watched in anticipation.


    Mitra reappeared, sizing up her new summoner with a raised eyebrow. She kneeled before him and pressed a fisted hand to her chest. "At your service, master."


    Adelaxia''s grip tightened. She jumped on the spot and let out a yelp. "Quick, grab the other relics and become the Grand Summoner. You can finally rule the universe."


    Kalim stepped forward, interrupting their celebration. "I don''t think so. It''s better if we abolish those ideas and return to a more decentralized way of life."


    "I can''t let you do that. We need to align our forces, if we''re going to defeat the Darkness."


    "There will be enough time to deal with fairy tales once we all have our fair share of the reward."


    Markus held his khanjar to the side, blocking Kalim from accessing the Emperor''s corpse. "We already went over this. There are more urgent matters at hand."


    "I didn''t help you overthrow the Emperor just so you could crown yourself as the next," Kalim said. He held out his right hand, a dark mist seeping out of his grip and onto the floor. It piled up, taking on a human form. A Daeva captured to fight for him. Not just one but three of them appeared heavily armored with helmets concealing their faces.


    Even so, Markus could still make out their dark faces and dangerous weapons at hand. "We shouldn''t be fighting but it appears you leave me no choice but to determine the best course of action for all of us. Prepare for defeat."


    Mitra threw her hands to the floor, creating a smokescreen around her and Markus and moved them to a safe distance before redirecting her attention to the Daeva roaming the halls. She pulled back on her bow, loosing two arrows in quick succession into the smoke. A soft clank gave away the fact that she managed to hit one of them and Mitra pounced on the opportunity, pulling the string back further and applied magic she received from Markus into her arrow. It flew across the great hall at a lightning quick pace, bursting through the armor and sending the Daeva flying back against the wall. He grunted out in pain and slid to the ground unmoving.


    "You''ll pay for that," Kalim said and in that moment Markus realized the mistake Mitra had made in bringing him away and leaving the remaining relics undefended.


    Sure enough, Kalim rushed forward and used his summons as a shield to block Mitra''s attacks and help pin her down. The dragon perched on his shoulder leaped into the air and soared along the ceiling, eying them all. Kalim reached Justinian and pulled a ring from his body.


    "Concentrate on taking him out," Markus said, channeling more energy to her. Mitra worked efficiently, quickly mopping up the summons using their bodies as shields and focusing on Kalim. She pulled back on her string, bundling the excess energy into her arrow as she loosed it. The arrow darted across the hall before taking a sharp turn and burying itself into a pillar with an explosion. Chunks of rock and wood scattered through the hall as someone managed to deflect her attack.


    The dust slowly cleared away, allowing the nimble form of Attia to appear with her dual blades held at the ready. Markus gritted his teeth, focusing all his effort into ending the conflict before it spread. Justinian sent Attia away but with Kalim in possession of the relic, he could summon her right back to the scene of battle without delay.


    The remaining separatist summoners entered the hall and joined Kalim with their Daeva. Their combined strength would easily overcome his own. Mitra pulled another arrow out of the air and notched it. He didn¡¯t need to speak in order to communicate with her and he could tell she felt the tip of balance as well.


    "You don''t have to die here," Kalim said. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and grinned as Attia drew Adelaxia out from cover. "You helped relieve us of the tyrant. Take your maiden and go back home so we may live as equals."


    Markus glanced over at Mitra and combed his hand through his hair in resignation. All of them gained the power of a Battle Maiden but lost all the same. The Darkness would snuff them out like a candle in the wind.

 Fort Larcin

    Helodion leaned over the parapet and gazed over to the city of Kyrarae in the distance. A bustling city just out of reach and a position in the military going nowhere. Kyrarae was the seat of the empire on Aequilla and home to hundreds of thousands of people. Fort Larcin used to be part of the city¡¯s outer defense ring but armies became obsolete in the wake of Battle Maidens.


    ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll see any women today?¡± Kaspar asked as he sharpened his sword for the fifth time in a week. ¡°I mean, we¡¯re allowed to have families but how are we supposed to create one if we never happen upon women in the first place?¡±


    Captain Helodion gave him a sidelong glare. ¡°Use your imagination. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s a woman out there who¡¯d take you even if you had all the time in the world.¡±


    Kaspar frowned and sheathed his sword. They knew each other for the past three years since being stationed at Fort Larcin along with a hundred other men. Kaspar hadn¡¯t been a part of the Magi War and even Helodion only joined at the end of it. By then his job became that of a peacekeeper in the newly conquered territories. For his service in the Outer Realm they awarded him the position of Commander and sent to Fort Larcin. Kaspar picked up the spyglass and examined the royal road leading out of the capitol and passed the numerous farms. The temple of Ahmun lay by the riverside whose priests worshipped the divine fire Ahmun.


    Helodion didn¡¯t believe in such nonsense even if the maidens were real, higher beings were a step too far for him. ¡°Have Xeras ring the bell and prepare for lunch. Let the men stuff their bellies and then we¡¯ll head out for a forced march up the mountains.¡±You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    ¡°What do you know, I¡¯m in luck. There¡¯s a woman heading right our way.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s probably just heading to the temple,¡± Helodion said with a roll of his eyes and straightened out his uniform. They never received visitors from anyone else but the farmers bringing them their weekly supplies but they weren¡¯t due for another two days.


    ¡°Nope, definitely coming to us but I¡¯ll leave her to you,¡± Kaspar said with a grin. He set the looking glass aside and moved to the railing overlooking the inner court where the battalion was busy training and a few stable boys grooming the horses. He gave Xeras the signal followed by the ringing of the bell.


    Helodion watched the woman approach with a sense of unease. Today would differ from any other day, if only because a woman of class came out to the fort.


    ¡°Take care of lunch. I¡¯ll see what our visitor needs of us,¡± Helodion said and made his way down the flight of stairs before crossing over to the wooden gate. A huge plank sealed the gate with a small door built into the right side which he was able to open without assistance.


    ¡°Captain Helodion,¡± the woman said, already standing right in front of him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to be disturbing you and your men but you¡¯ll all be needed at the Imperial Palace.¡±


    She brushed by him and held a small child, perhaps even a newborn wrapped in a blanket to her chest. He glanced down at her feet and the pair of shoes he wouldn¡¯t be able to afford in a lifetime of service but looked awfully uncomfortable to be walking the eight miles between the palace and the fort.


    ¡°Excuse me, but how is it you know who I am?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s not a lot of time to explain. Suffice to say, I am Lady Calisma and the Emperor and his family are at great risk. A group of traitors have snuck inside the palace and vow to dismantle the empire.¡±

 A Leap of Faith

    "Ugh, it''s too tight. It won''t fit!"


    Rouya winced as she tried to squeeze her lithe body into an even smaller dress. She had it made by a Pashwa tailor known for his more eccentric designs. A single strip of silk fell from her shoulder to encompass her breasts and then wound down her right side and waist before widening and covering her intimate area. It left little to the imagination but accentuated her blessings.


    Evelyn raised an eyebrow as she examined the princess. The Maiden opted for a more traditional dress befitting those on Aequilla. "You could just slip on the dress you wore at your birthday."


    "Easy for you to say. You just shift into whatever you like and it fits perfectly." Rouya turned to look in the mirror and attempted to reach for the strap again. "Besides, I already wore that dress. You can''t go to a celebration with the same outfit twice, that''s a crime against fashion."


    "As you say princess. By this rate, I''m sure you''ll manage to avoid most of it anyway."


    Rouya scowled, puffing her cheeks as she gave up and crossed her arms. "Don''t just sit there, be useful for once and help me fast the lock."


    Evelyn rose from the bed and crossed the room. Rouya watched her set to work and bit her lip as she pulled back on the strap and fastened it tight. Several men already commented on Rouya''s long legs but Evelyn still loomed a few inches higher. She met Evelyn''s gaze in the mirror and held her breath in to where all she could hear was the thumping of her heart.


    "We-we better get going now. I''m sure they''re already waiting for us."


    "Are you all right, princess?"


    "It''s nothing, I just thought, uhm, maybe it might be a bit too revealing after all."


    Evelyn stepped back and took in the princess. Heat flushed into Rouya''s cheeks as she fought to restrain her emotions. Evelyn only made matters worse by smiling. "You look beautiful."


    "I know that." Rouya noticed Evelyn''s fingers trailing along her arm and let out a gasp. It was technically forbidden for anyone, even a Maiden to touch a member of the royal family.


    "You seem a little distressed."


    "No, it''s fine." Rouya shook her head and marched towards the door with her chin raised high. "I''ll let you know that I plan on holding you to your word. These celebrations are more taxing than they are refreshing."


    "Then I''ll do my best to keep you occupied." Evelyn joined her and they went out into the corridor together.


    "You know how to dance? I find it hard to imagine a Battle Maiden performing such an art."


    They passed by paintings of family members she knew little to nothing about. Most had been simple lords ruling over Aequilla until her father and Markus expanded to other worlds. Of course Justinian did his best at polishing the image and making their ancestry greater than it was. The corridors were bare of people and despite most of the servants being occupied with the celebration, Rouya noticed a complete lack of guards. On any given day there''d be at least a guard at every door to hold it open for her and prevent unauthorized people from entering the wrong wing of the castle.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Something''s not right," Rouya said as she glimpsed the vacant post outside the Great Hall. She immediately regretted having put so much effort into looking breathtaking when she could have been wearing her training attire. She moved to a window and gazed out over the courtyard leading to the palace gates. Everything outside appeared in the ordinary with guards on patrol and the gates closed.


    "Go back to your chambers and lock the door," Evelyn said. Within the blink of an eye she shifted into her armor and ventured on ahead while Rouya took a few cautious steps back.


    At that moment dozens of armored men accompanied by a handful of magi marched down the halls and burst through the doors of the Great Hall. It took Rouya a moment to place them. They weren''t the Imperial Guard but guard forces belonging to an unmarked satrapy. Three of the stragglers took position outside the door when they noticed the two women. Evelyn pulled her glaive from the air and charged forward. The soldiers unsheathed their swords and struck in unison, their blades tearing through Evelyn.


    Rouya stood perplexed while her body trembled. She couldn''t comprehend what she just witnessed. Battle Maidens were the strongest warriors to ever exist but Evelyn had been defeated with a single blow. It was only as the Maiden began to dissolve into smoke did she realize that they hadn''t actually hit her but through her fading form.


    The princess stumbled back, bracing herself against the stone walls as she attempted to find her balance and raced down the corridor. Fear spurred her on with blows as sharp as a whip. The quick sound of boots followed her every turn of the way. She darted into her room and locked the door behind her, pressing her back up against the door. Thumps shook the frame, and she knew the hinges wouldn''t keep them out forever. Rouya dragged a nightstand to block the doorway and let her dress fall to her ankles. She briskly redressed into her training outfit but never kept her scythe stored in her chambers. It would be stored in the armory with everything else.


    The padlock snapped free, and the door opened a crack with a man''s face peering inside. Rouya rushed forward, slamming the door shut on him with a resounding crunch of his nose. The only way out of her room was through the window. The only issue with her being located on the second floor, making it more difficult for intruders, or as her father believed for men, to sneak into and for her to escape. She squeezed herself through the small space and held on to the ledge outside.


    Rough winds battered against her but she held herself steady. A small garden pool rested a few yards away from the palace. She used to refer to it as her little moat. The guards broke through with a crash and made their way after her. Arms shot out of the window, latching on to her legs and trying to drag her back inside. Letting herself get captured would resign herself to a fate worse than death.


    Shazadi Rouya leaped from the ledge and flailed as she fell. Her hair fluttered in her face and she closed her eyes to keep herself from bearing witness to her own demise. She plunged into the depths with her feet striking the bottom all too soon and the snap at her ankles accompanying it. She screamed at the top of her lungs and tentatively probed her foot, only to have the pain flare back up.


    The men chasing her peered out of the window but refrained from pulling off the same stunt she did when they spotted the patrolling guards notice her.


    "Shazadi," one of the men called out as he recognized her. All three of the guards stood around her as she crawled out of the pool. They reached out but pulled away before helping her in any way and instead began to debate amongst each other etiquette.


    Once she was out of the water, she crumbled up against the facade and looked to the senior of the three men. "Don''t just stand there, help me up. There''s a coup in progress."


    "A coup, my lady?"


    "Time is essential and things would go a lot quicker if you don''t question me on every matter. There is a coup. I need you to set the Guard in alarm and bring them to the palace immediately." Rouya winced, gritting her teeth to keep the pain at bay. "Bring me to a physician at once. They aren''t going to get me to roll over and die that quickly."


    "At once, my lady." The guard passed on orders to inform his senior of the situation while he and the third remained with Rouya and helped support her across the palace grounds. They entered a guard post where two of the guards controlling the gate jumped out of their seats in surprise at seeing the princess.


    "Lock the gates," Rouya said, collapsing into a chair. She sighed, easing the pressure off her pulsing feet. "I don''t want any of these traitors coming out of here. Where the Pillars is the physician?"


    "I''m sure he''ll be here soon, my la--"


    The Captain of the Imperial Guard was cut short by an arrowhead protruding from his neck.

 Power of a Leader

    The guard slumped to the floor when a whole shaft of arrows poured in through the window. The remaining guards drew their weapons but were struck down before they could react.


    Rouya could hardly stand let alone run and dropped to the ground. She knocked the table to the side and crawled into cover as hundreds of arrows continued to mark every inch within the guard post. She held her breath, afraid that her racing heart would give her away.


    After a few minutes the arrows stopped coming in but Rouya couldn''t trust herself to move just yet and listened in hope for help to arrive. Her heart went heavy thinking of what might have happened to her father. In all her childhood years he''d go out campaigning each season but she never once felt as much fear as she did now. Of course he''d win and come back, he had the support of the Battle Maidens but now that they vanished, she could only assume the worst.


    Voices drew her attention outside and she risked peeking over the edge of the table. Rouya spotted a group of men leaving the palace. She couldn''t claim to know all of them, she hardly cared enough to remember every satrap or official her father employed. Whoever they were, they were far too relaxed for what was going inside.


    A realmwalker began opening up a portal in the courtyard when she recognized the women accompanying the men. Battle Maidens. She only counted six of them. It didn''t appear to her as if the separatists had the numbers to take control of the entire planet but were instead concentrated on isolating the palace. The portal collapsed, leaving behind a single satrap with Evelyn at his side.


    Their eyes locked for a moment but rather than sending Evelyn over to attack her, he began to casually stroll to the guard post.


    Rouya felt her heart twist in her chest as his whistling drew nearer. She''d come to the end of the line and failed her family. Her eyes searched the room for a place to hide or flee when the shine of the blade belonging to the Captain drew her attention.


    She scrambled along the floor, hoisting herself up on the blade and biting down on the pain threatening to seize control of her body. Swordplay wasn''t her strongest suit, but it was all she had to defend herself against Evelyn.


    His feet came to a halt just outside the door, she tightened her grip on the hilt and readied herself. Instead of entering, he began talking in an ever increasing volume until an explosion silenced the argument. Metal scraped against metal and in-between the noise she could make out the struggle between two people.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    The door burst open, and he stumbled backward inside. Rouya swung out of instinct, catching him off guard and slicing through muscles and bone.


    He turned with a ferocious look on his face and charged her as she spun the sword between her fingers and brought it down on his skull. Blood splattered onto her face with a sickly warmth.


    His body still twitched.


    Rouya eyed the necklace dangling from his neck. Her father''s relic. Her knees weakened for a moment as the tears welled in her eyes. She took the Nazar and marveled at the blue glass before shifting her attention to the person he''d been fighting.


    Satrap Markus Relius'' face lit up as she recognized him. "Princess, you''re alive. I''m so glad to see you unharmed."


    The archer Mitra appeared at his side with her fingers on the string of her bow. She too once belonged to her father which put Rouya on alert despite Markus'' surprise. She moved back and slipped the Nazar around her neck, calling upon the power of the Maiden inside to join her. Evelyn appeared beside her in full armor and readied her glaive.


    Rouya felt the connection between her and Evelyn. The magic they shared felt natural to her. "You have three seconds before you wind up with him."


    Markus sheathed his dagger and dropped to his knees. He pulled the ring from his finger and held it out to her. "I''m no murderer but yours to command, Your Highness."


    Rouya narrowed her eyes, sizing him up. He could have struck out against her at any time before she''d called upon Evelyn but he held back and had been fighting the man outside before. She decided to give him a chance and took the ring from him. "Oh, yeah? What happened and why should I trust you?"


    A frown crossed Markus'' face. "Because I''m one of the few people you can still trust. Kalim and his supporters launched a coup against your father and killed him on the throne. They took my wife. I managed to take away one of the rings before being driven off."


    The truth settled in with the force of a kick to her head. Her suspicions were true. "It can''t be."


    Markus frowned, the sadness evident in the shine of his eyes. "I failed protecting my dearest friend. The only thing left for me to do is protect his children."


    Rouya twirled the ring in her hand, the ember stone glinted in the sun''s light. A strong force resided within, awaiting her command. Thousands of years worth of memories locked within a simple ring. "I plan on bringing them to justice. All of them and I don¡¯t need any failures holding me back."


    "I beg your pardon?"


    Evelyn shifted forward, lowering the glaive at Markus.


    Rouya clenched her hand around the ring and clenched her jaw. "Take your life here before me. If you find yourself lacking the courage, I''ll be more than capable of helping you find your end."


    Markus'' jaw fell open as he began to fumble for the dagger. His hands were unsteady as he lifted the blade to his neck, eyes meeting hers in a desperate plea.


    Rouya reached out, snatching his arm before he drew blood.


    "That''s enough," she said, holding the relic back out to him. "The power of a true leader doesn''t come from doing everything themselves but delegating tasks to the most skilled. I''ll be relying upon you to help me exert justice."

 An Image of Death

    "My dear. I thought the worst when I saw the bodies outside." The physician crossed the room, pausing as he noted Markus and Evelyn standing between him and the princess.


    "I''d hardly require your services if I were dead, now would I?" Rouya sat up in her chair and planted her feet on the table still ridden with arrows.


    "Lucky to be alive," he said going down on a knee as he inspected her ankles. He snapped the bone in place, tearing a scream out of Rouya before she slumped her head back and panted. "Thought that might hurt."


    "Then why didn''t you warn me?"


    "Wouldn''t have changed anything," he said opening his bag. "I''ll need to apply a binding and then infuse some magic to help accelerate the healing process. You''ll be able to walk again soon but I need to warn you not to overextend yourself and definitely no running."


    "You make it sound so easy after what just happened."


    "No, I''m saying this because it''s hard. What''s important is that you stay alive."


    Markus nodded and added, "Running out there now will only get you killed for nothing. You''ll probably even be doing the separatists a favor."


    Rouya lowered her face, balling her hands to vent off the steam building inside of her. "You expect me to just sit here and let them get away with attacking my family. I want the separatists captured for interrogation. They are all going to pay for what they did."


    The physician raised his hands, trying to calm Rouya. Markus went to the window and gazed across the courtyard. He''d sent Mitra out to scout the area for any remaining separatists.


    "I have a hideout in the mountains of my satrapy. You''ll be safe there and can fully recover while I rescue my wife."


    "I understand your concern but this is something I have to do. I can''t abandon the people of Aequilla. They need to know that I am unwilling to backdown and will continue to protect them from the people that wish to tear the universe apart. We''ll find a way to get Adelaxia back together."


    <hr>


    Shazadi Rouya led Markus through the corridors littered with paperwork, clothing and gemstones inside the palace. She recalled her mother mentioning an appointment they had to celebrate the birth of the new child. She''d despised the affair but father insisted on creating a new family portrait and to include the bastard.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "You know who''s responsible for this," Rouya asked as they cut around a corner and entered the waiting room in the section of the palace that the Emperor slept in. He never slept in the same room twice in a row but settled into whichever room he found after wasting away for the night.


    "I do," Markus said in a low voice and she couldn''t help but hear the sorrow in his tone. "Kalim is orchestrating the affair, and he''s being supported by the former Shah. Most of his allies belonged to the lower caste of nobility. I assume he gave most of them promises to rise through the ranks when this is over with."


    Rouya paused as she passed by the tables still set up with drinks and snacks. Her younger brother was particularly fond of cookies shaped after creatures from the Shadow Realm. He may have only been seven, but he knew he wanted to become a summoner and step in father''s footsteps.


    The room was empty with the painting still resting on the easel. Rouya moved in closer, searching for signs of where they might have gone. The Guard Post where she was at was overrun and the nearest garrison was Fort Larcin located outside the city.


    Evelyn and Markus followed her inside, keeping a watchful eye on all points of entry as they moved. Mitra startled Rouya as she took form beside the easel and pointed to the painting.


    The unfinished painting depicted her mother sitting on the couch in front of her in center with her hands on her lap. Her brother Bartel and sister Lilya each rested their heads against her shoulder from either side. It wasn''t until she looked closer at the image did she recognize the oddity. What she assumed to be a smear on the canvas was located across the throats of all her family members. Red.


    Rouya turned away, feeling the blood drain from her face and a chill sweep over her as she glanced the sofa.


    "What''s the matter?" Markus asked as he approached her.


    A dust cover hung over the sofa but three pairs of shoes were still visible beneath it. Markus lifted the cover and gasped at the sight of the bodies. They were all sitting in the exact position of the painting with blood coating their shirts. Lilya''s lips were parted ever so slightly and appeared as if she might whisper at any moment.


    Rouya stumbled back, holding a hand to her mouth as she held in her breath. Emotions welled up underneath her skin and threatened to crush her under a wave of which her only option to escape was by moving into action. She fled to the nearest door and into the corridor.


    Evelyn appeared in front of her and Rouya ran right into her embrace, shedding the tears she''d been holding back all day.


    "I''m alone. They''re gone and I haven''t been able to help anyone."


    Evelyn brushed her hair back and held her chin up to look at her. "You''re not alone. I''ll keep you safe. Wherever you go, I''ll be there with you for the entire way. I want you to be my master."


    Rouya marveled at how certain Evelyn sounded. She wanted to trust and give herself fully to her. In the darkness engulfing her, a simple Battle Maiden proved to be her only light of hope.

 A Fair Maiden

    "They''re coming," Markus shouted as he stormed out of room and nearly collided with Rouya. "More of Kalim''s soldiers are marching on the castle. We have to escape from here at once."


    Rouya reached for the sword at her hip when a storm of boots echoed down the corridors. Infantry cut off both exits, folding their shields together to form a steel wall.


    "Looks like they''ve come to finish me off," Rouya said. She raised her arm and pointed to the shield wall. "Evelyn, break through their pitiful defense."


    The glaive appeared in Evelyn''s hand as she raced ahead. Sections of the wall pulled away with crossbows peering out from within. The arrows loosed, sizzling through the corridor but Evelyn struck aside any that might have touched her.


    Rouya snatched Markus and leaped back into her father''s study, narrowly avoiding the steel tips. They huddled on the floor with their hands on their heads. Evelyn crashed into the wall and from the sound of it was causing quite a stir followed by the cries of those unfortunate enough to be in the path of her blade.


    Mitra flew overhead, loosing a volley of arrows as she joined in the fight.


    Rouya felt the connection she shared with Evelyn being strained as they Maiden demanded an increasing amount of magic from her. She could almost sense Evelyn''s every movement, the way she spun about knocking back men and slicing through the armor of others. They continued to fight but were overwhelmed by her superiority and not even their numbers could tip the balance to gain an edge from which to strike.


    Kalim had either been foolish enough to send his forces against a Battle Maiden or was as yet unaware of her situation. Whatever the case, she couldn''t count on any more easy victories.


    Once the fighting was over, Rouya rose and joined the two Maidens. Neither of them had so much as a scratch and even their weapons and armor were in pristine condition.


    "It''s been a while since I had to fight more than one opponent," Evelyn said with a grin. "We need to move out of here. The other summoners will know something has gone wrong."


    Mitra nodded. "We should attack the weakest of them now while they are separated. It would be impossible for us to win against them unified."


    "We can''t just go and attack anyone," Markus said, resting his hand on the khanjar. "Kalim''s still got Adelaxia. I''m not going to put her life at risk."


    "I want to get her back safely as much as you do but I can''t let the vultures snip away at my father''s legacy."


    "Do you feel that?" Mitra said, notching another arrow.


    Rouya focused on her senses, trying to hear and feel what she might mean. A gentle tingling of the skin. A simple caressing of the wind were it not made of magic.


    "Show yourself, Attia," Evelyn said.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "You had to go and spoil all the fun." A figure merged out of the shadows leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. She flicked her eyes opened and glared right at Rouya. Her target. The bronze-skinned woman moved closer, tossing her long hair back over her shoulder.


    Rouya knew better than to underestimate her and readied herself, taking on a defensive stance with her sword. Attia was her father''s assassin used to eliminate threats before they became a nuisance.


    Even if they were to kill Attia, it would be nothing but a setback for Kalim who could simply summon her back to him. The only way to win was by gaining control of the relic or by taking out the summoner possessing it.


    Markus and herself would therefore be the obvious targets to take out early in a fight. As for Kalim, she saw him leave through a portal. He could be anywhere in the palace or in the safety of his own home for all she knew.


    "This isn''t between us," Rouya said, raising her blade. "It''s between me and Kalim. Where is he or is he too cowardly to come and face me as well?"


    Attia grinned, glancing at each of them in turn. "You''re right about one thing; it''s not between us but between Evelyn and myself."


    "Aren''t you forgetting something?" Mitra added, tapping her bow.


    "You stay out of this. Our final encounter was inconclusive. It''s about time I set the record straight."


    Evelyn placed herself between Attia and Rouya, hefting the pole against her back and aligning her weight for a charge. "We already know how it ended. What makes you think this time will be any different?"


    "You''ll find I''ve learned a few things over the years," she said, her grin widening. "Why don''t we take this outside? I''d hate to lay waste to the place after all the fond memories I''ve collected here."


    Despite her better judgment, Rouya went out into the courtyard with them. A part of her wanted to remain in relative safety but the other wanted to stay close to Evelyn and be there to help her.


    "Don''t play her games," Markus said in a low voice. "She''ll be testing your strength just as much as that of Evelyn''s."


    "I''m not going to back down. You saw what they did to my family!"


    The two women stood opposite each other while Rouya drew up some spells enhancing Evelyn''s abilities. She collected as much magic as possible to channel it to Evelyn when the time was needed. It didn''t only take magic to summon but also to keep a summon in the physical world and the more power they used the stronger the drain on magic.


    The aura of their power continued to grow in opposition to one another without either of them attacking. Rouya stood with clenched fists bracing herself against the pressure building in front of her. The tug on her magic by Evelyn increased and it became increasingly difficult for her to naturally channel magic from the Nether to the Maiden. her skin prickled as she raised her hands and reached into the Shadow Realm, drawing upon the fresh sources of magic stored there. Raw and untamed the magic seeped through her body electrifying and sending her heart into a frenzy.


    Even with her additional magic, Attia could still match Evelyn''s strength and began pushing back against her aura.


    Meanwhile, Mitra stood on the sidelines watching the competition between them with a bemused look on her face.


    Rouya reached deeper, sinking her entire arm into the Shadow Realm. The power surging through her took its toll. She''d never required as much magic before in her life and felt her muscles twitch under the duress. A pair of hands grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her away from the breach.


    She overcame Evelyn''s defense in an instant, snapping her off the ground and hurling her across the courtyard until she slammed against the wall with a thud.


    "Are you insane tapping into that much magic? It was going to devour you," Markus said, holding her in his arms. "Mitra, get rid of her."


    "With pleasure," she said raising her bow.


    "A minor victory for the time being. It''s the small things in life that are worth the most," Attia said, strolling away from them. "I''ll see you soon and then we can get around to playing dirty."


    Mitra''s arrow pierced the grinning form as she vanished into thin air.

 A Host of Emotions

    "You''ve got talent and the will to become a great empress one day," she heard her father''s words echoing in her mind. He said it only a month ago, and she thought nothing of it at the time. The magi war ended a year prior and it seemed as if peace could finally weigh into the land.


    Rouya clenched her hands into a fist, tightening her grip until she felt her nails dig into her skin.


    "I can imagine what you''re going through," Markus said. "I knew your father for a long time. We''d been through much together and I hate seeing him go this way. As much as we''d all need to grieve, I''m afraid there isn''t any time for it."


    Rouya perked up and studied the man across from her. A group of soldiers carrying a body outside passed them, creating a moment of awkward silence. "I''ll be the one to judge that. Aequilla is ours and the rebels have retreated to their holes."


    "They still hold a combined five Maidens against our two," Markus pointed out, ruffling through his graying hair. "They still have my wife and I''m not willing to put her life at risk until I know we''ve taken every precaution available."


    Rouya nodded, glancing over to where Evelyn stood on guard. "Thank you for your dedication. I''ll be holding a two-day mourning period so we can properly burry the bodies. I need some time to myself now to think. We''ll speak in the morning and I''ll let you in on any plans I might have come up with."


    Markus inclined his head and placed his hand to his chest. "Very well, your majesty."


    Rouya stiffened at the title. Something she''d still have to get used to from now on. She nodded and walked back to her chambers where she let herself fall back onto the bed and spread herself wide as she stared up at the ceiling.


    Life seemed so much easier only a few hours ago but now she was responsible not only for herself but for every soul in the empire and the forces threatening to tear them apart.


    The faces of her family came to mind. The way she found them bloodied and covered in rags. They never hurt a person in their lives and didn''t deserve what they did to them.


    A knock sounded at the door stirring her away from the troubling thoughts washing against her mind. Rouya side and sat on the edge of the bed. "Come in."


    The door opened a crack and Evelyn peered in before tentatively stepping inside and closing the door behind her. "I''m sorry for disturbing you but I don''t think I can leave you alone when my previous master died because of my absence."


    "It''s not your fault," Rouya said. "You did what he commanded you to do. You were protecting me and I''ll be forever thankful for your support."


    "I''ll be more comfortable here knowing you''re safe."


    Rouya sat back down and laid her hand on the space next to her. "You don''t have to stand there all night."The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Evelyn remained put in the center of the room, glaring at the bed. "That''s all right. I don''t need sleep as you do. Besides, I''ll be keeping watch."


    The shimmer of hope fluttering in her chest gave away that moment and she let her shoulders slump. "Very well, I''ll see you in the morning then," she said and snuffed out the candle on her beside stand.


    <hr>


    Rouya awoke to the slightest shift in her room and rolled over to the edge of the bed. It was only when she lowered herself to reach for the scythe she kept beneath the bed did she notice Evelyn stirring from under the covers. Her eyes fluttered awake under the strands of disheveled crimson hair covering her face and a smile quickly formed.


    "I hope you don''t mind me taking up your offer," she said, holding a hand to her mouth as she let out a huge yawn. The sheets dropped to her waist but she didn''t seem the least bit disturbed to be wearing only a thin night-shift.


    "Not at all," she quickly replied and felt her cheeks warm up at the thought of having spent the night next to a beautiful woman. Rouya lowered her gaze to the Maiden''s rosy lips and hung there for a moment before feeling awkward enough that she decided to rise and entered the bath chambers.


    Pitchers of water were placed by the tub but had gone cold overnight and it wouldn''t be for some time until the servants came to replace the pitcher. She considered ringing for them to come right away but then thought otherwise about it. Plenty of servants lost their lives the previous day, not just nobility. They didn''t need her nagging about cold water on top of all it. Rouya let her nightgown drop to the floor and climbed into the tub. She held her breath, overcoming her fear of the discomfort as she raised the first pitcher over her head.


    Chills formed down the length of her body, further spurred by the slight breeze she suddenly felt from her broken window. Her breath shook as she released it and forced herself to reach for the next pitcher when she noticed Evelyn standing under the doorframe.


    "We''re in my room and you''re ten feet away. I think I''m perfectly safe to take a bath on my own."


    "Can''t be too careful in these times."


    Rouya washed herself and rubbed scented oils onto her skin, refraining from looking at the Maiden. Afraid of what she might see or feel. "You''ve been through this before. What''s it going to take for me to reunite all the relics?"


    "Everything. Those who hold themselves to any form of morals or honor are usually the first to fall."


    "Meaning I''ll have to become a cold-blooded murderer?"


    Evelyn raised a brow, studying her as she rose and dried herself off. "This isn''t a matter of simply finding the relics. We''ll have to fight each and every summoner holding one. It''s not a one on one either, lots of people are going to get killed in the process with many of them being innocent bystanders."


    Rouya steeled herself, clenching her jaw as she considered the words. "I''m going to burry my father today and my mother, brother and sister. You don''t need to tell me about innocence, there''s been enough loss of that already. What I need to know is how to defeat them."


    "Surprise works best," Evelyn said. "Fighting another Maiden is risky. You''ll want to take out the summoner as soon as possible. Additional summons or the army will come into play here to attack the summoner directly while I keep their Maiden engaged."


    "You mean you''ll act as a decoy? I didn''t think armies played a role anymore."


    "Assassins, armies, a bolt to the heart. It doesn''t matter as long as the summoner dies. The longer any fight drags out between Maidens, the more dangerous it becomes. We''re each the best at our weapon but that brings with it a certain set of advantages and disadvantages depending on who we''re dealing with."


    Rouya nodded and proceeded to dress back up in her leather armor. "I couldn''t help but notice your reaction when I gave Satrap Markus Attia back. You served with him before, is there anything I should know about him?"


    "He fought with a passion for your father and believed in his vision of saving the universe. When Justinian collected the sixth Maiden, Markus handed me over to him without any hesitation."


    "I understand. With him on our side, we should have the upper-hand when dealing with the rebels."

 Hearts and Minds

    The dignitaries from throughout the empire settled in at a snail''s pace and even after an hour of waiting, over half the seats remained vacant. Rouya should have expected as much from the warlords on the Frontier but most of the outer worlds decided not to show.


    Only the officials from the interior worlds showed up fully, most of which were elder men loyal to her father or grandfather at some point. She''d have to rely on their continued support in keeping order while she retook the relics stolen from her.


    Evelyn took form beside her and bowed her head. "He''s not coming."


    "Not coming," Rouya repeated, tapping her foot. "I asked Markus to join me for the first meeting and he leaves me."


    "I can press the matter and bring him."


    Rouya raised her hand. "That won''t be necessary. I''ll speak a word with him once this is over. For now, I''ll have to work on containing the damage and securing our future."


    "I believe in you. You''re a good person and they will see it too."


    "Excuse me, Your Highness," came a striking voice from underneath the archway. Strands of blond hair slick with sweat hung in front of his eyes. He had his helmet tucked under is arm and waited for her to spare him some attention. Evelyn was much more defensive and sized him up as she moved ahead of Rouya.


    "And you are?"


    "Captain Helodion of Fort Larcin." He removed a slip of paper from his glove and held it out to her. "A message for you, Your Highness. I apologize for not going through the proper channels but it required a measure of urgency and confidentiality."


    Rouya cocked a brow and unfolded the paper. She didn''t have time for games and secret messages but the fact that he came all the way just to deliver a message intrigued her. Her heart fluttered at the words and she glanced up to meet his eyes. "They got away? I can''t tell you how glad I am to hear they''re all right. When are they coming back?"


    "Not at all. Lady Calisma decided to leave and took the child with her. We don''t know which world she went to." Captain Helodion rubbed the back of his head. "She also wanted me to wish you a speedy recovery."


    "A speedy recovery¡­" Rouya began, laying her hand to her thigh as her thoughts returned to her ankle. "How thoughtful of her. Well, she''ll be welcome here any time if she changes her mind. You''re free to take a rest and regain your strength. Be my guest for the day."


    "Too kind, Your Highness. I await any further orders you have before returning to the fort." Helodion took a curt bow and gave Evelyn a nod before he stepped away.


    Rouya marveled his grace but shifted her attention back to the Great Hall and the matters at hand. Silence swept through the hall all she entered and marched to the head of the long table. She went to sit at her usual spot but stopped herself in the last moment, hand resting on the back of the chair. It was no longer her place to sit beside her father but in the shadow of his massive portrait ordaining the wall. The empire needed her to fill his seat and let everyone know she was in control and would be able to restore order.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    Evelyn moved on ahead to pull back her father''s chair and help her get seated in front of some twenty officials.


    "It''s good to see familiar faces here," Rouya began. "Yesterday marks a tragedy which we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. We''ve all lost much and are filled with grief, hatred or can''t find the words to describe what''s going on inside of us. You don''t have to explain yourselves to me. Being here in this time of need is enough. I will do everything in my power to bring justice to those responsible. I''m counting on your services for which my father held you all in such high regard."


    A governor from one of the interior worlds rose. She''d seen Nicon plenty of times and at his high age was still loyal to her family. "My sincerest condolences, Your Highness. Unfortunately, this does bring back dangerous times for us all. I don''t wish to be too intrusive but how many of the relics do you currently possess?"


    "The Nazar."


    "Just the one?"


    Rouya nodded, holding her hand out to Evelyn. "She''ll be more than capable in dealing with any situation we may come across. I''ve also trusted Satrap Markus with Mitra to help locate the remaining relics."


    "A single relic leaves the empire in a precarious situation." Nicon pressed his lips together, fumbling with his hands as he waited for some assurance from her. Better to hear it from them directly than have them work against her.


    "We just spent twelve years campaigning for Justinian," Governor Lans said before looking around the table. "My people will be difficult to convince to sacrifice their loved ones for another war."


    "Nobody''s said anything about war," Nicon said.


    "Don''t blind yourself. The war''s already begun and as we speak villages all across the galaxy are in turmoil."


    Rouya signaled for silence. "I understand what both of you are saying but arguing will benefit no one. I''m very much aware of my father''s tactics in the Magi Wars but can guarantee you all that I will not follow the same course of action."


    Lans coughed a laugh but quickly held a fist to his lips when the other members shot him disapproving glares.


    "I''ve crafted a plan that will allow me to honorably restore control over several relics and gain a clear advantage over the separatists."


    "Honorably?"


    "We''re going to challenge each of the summoners individually to a duel," Evelyn said.


    "As if any of them would be foolhardy enough to gamble their Battle Maiden away."


    "While my intentions are to minimize the loss of life, I''m quite certain they will accept my offer," Rouya said. "Who would they be to decline the power of two Battle Maidens? It would put them in a position of power over the others. The ego that propelled them to murder my father will be their undoing."


    A moment of chatter broke out amongst the dignitaries. They all wished to have secure homes, far away from any battles with the potential to destroy entire cities. She let it carry on and help ease the tension inside them before wishing to continue.


    "Silence," Evelyn said, kicking her heels together.


    Nicon rose once more, cocking his head to the side while he tapped his fingers on the surface of the table. "I don''t wish to be naysayer amongst us¡ª"


    "Then don''t," Evelyn said but Rouya signaled her to calm down and let him speak his mind.


    "You''ve never taken part in battle before and your skills as a summoner haven''t been tested before. What faith do you have in succeeding and not just giving our enemies another Maiden?"


    "You''re free to test my abilities at any time but I can''t guarantee you''ll be unscathed by the demonstration. Out of all the separatists, Kalim is the most skilled summoner. I''m not going to walk into his court first thing tomorrow and challenge him. I''ll take out his allies one by one until he''s just as alone as the day he sent his goons to kill me."

 A Word

    Rouya entered the council chambers where her father would hold daily meetings with his ministers to find it bustling with activity. She took in the sight and felt caught off-guard as if she didn''t quite belong there, even after having already met with the lords and governors in the Great Hall.


    Maps of the universe were sprawled out on tables with figurines on top of them and men on all sides deeply locked in what could have been a game.


    Satrap Markus looked up, stroking his chin and smiled. "Princess Rouya, it''s good to see you back on your feet, Your Highness."


    Rouya approached the six men and gave them each a curt nod before turning her attention back to Markus. "I called for you."


    "So you did, but as you can see we''re rather occupied at the moment," Markus said, removing a figure from the map and tossing it over his shoulder. "I trust you did well in cementing the nobilities faith in the crown."


    "It would have been more convincing if you''d been there alongside me. What''s all of this and how can I help?"


    Markus chuckled for a moment before realizing she meant it. "I''m not sure there''s much you can do here. It might be for the best if you continue nursing our diplomatic ties."


    "You don''t think I can fight?"


    Silence creeped into the room as everyone stopped what they were doing to listen in on the conversation.


    "You''ve been through a lot and I don''t think you should be burdened with any of this. I''ll remedy the situation."


    "Out," Rouya said, clapping her hands. "I want you all out! We need to have a word in private."


    Markus'' face hardened as the people around them flocked to the doors. He took the initiative once they were alone. "That was an unnecessary loss of face."


    Rouya pressed her lips together and studied his face. The creases and graying hair of a middle-aged man. "I believe you''re suffering from a misunderstanding. That I might have not made myself clear enough. I cherish your service and respect your loyalty but I''m not a bystander in all of this. We''re talking about protecting my father''s achievements and the people I represent."


    "With all due respect, you don''t have any experience as a military commander and haven''t participated in any past battles."


    "Then teach me," Rouya snapped. "You''re my advisor, so advise me. You just took a piece off the map. What was that?"This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    "The garrison at Alamash. Only fifty men there so it doesn''t surprise me that they were overrun in the night."


    "And what are you going to do about it?"


    "Do about ... Alamash?" Markus raised his brows, his lips twisting into a slight grin. "Nothing at the moment. It doesn''t hold any strategical value. I''m reforming our units out on the Frontier by pooling them together."


    "That''s unacceptable," Rouya said in a firm voice. "What impression would it give to our people if we abandon our positions to the enemy?"


    Markus scratched the back of his neck, frustrated by her reprimands. "Very well, and when the next garrison falls or the next twenty? What will the people think when the bodies and defeats are piling? Avoiding defeat is sometimes the only victory one can hope to achieve. Land can be recaptured but the loss of life weighs more heavily."


    Rouya, fearing another defeat solemnly nodded and wandered around the council chambers. Lush carpet maps hung from the wall in the various styles of the local people. Rouya herself was only half Aequillan. Her father sacked the city of Bailong and took the princess as his wife nearly twenty years ago.


    The Aequillans saw themselves as the center of the universe and the other races as increasingly barbaric and left a stain on her claim.


    "How am I going to restore order when I can''t even get people to attend the meetings I arrange?"


    Markus came up to her and laid his hand on top of hers. "If it were easy, then everybody would do it. Give them time to warm up to you and you''ll win them over soon enough. I could be of even more service to you if you were to lend me your Nazar so I may launch a counterattack to help stabilize the situation."


    "Give you Evelyn?" Rouya glanced down at her chest and fumbled with the circular piece of glass. "I''ve grown accustomed to her presence and I don''t think I''ll be able to find a good night''s rest without her watching over me."


    "I understand. I''ll just have to make do with the resources given to me."


    "I promised the lords I''d challenge the other summoners to a duel to fight over the Battle Maidens one by one rather than a full scale invasion."


    Markus slowly set the papers back down on the table and met her gaze. His eyes were fixed on her with a fire hidden behind them. "That would be a very foolish mistake and one I hope you aren''t actually thinking of making."


    Rouya felt taken aback by his words. It made perfect sense to her for a leader to save the lives of their people by minimizing the conflict. Summoning was still very much new to her, but she intended to give herself enough time to train until she was at Markus" level. Which was why she brought the topic up with him at all.


    "You can either criticize me or help me increase my chances of winning. Either way, I''ll do what I think is right."


    "What makes you think any of the other bearers would be willing to fight you in the first place? I''ve seen some of the most noble fighters out there die because people don''t win playing by the book. If you decide to step within their reach, they''re going to send everything they have at you."


    Rouya raised her brows. "Sounds like security around the prison cells would be lower in such an event. I promised you I''d help get Adelaxia back and haven''t forgotten my word. Besides, I''m denting their honor when I challenge them. They''ll be sure to accept in order to show me who''s the better."


    "No offense but Kalim would best you within a matter of seconds."


    "Then it''s your job to make sure it doesn''t come to that. I''ll be counting on you to help uphold the family honor."


    "I''ll need time to think it over and you should be preparing for your coronation once the mourning period has ceased. You''re to be the Empress and I can''t stress how important it is for you to convey the message with certainty to all."

 An Evening Intrusion

    "It''ll take more than just myself to win against another summoner," Evelyn said. "Many spent years fighting in wars without a Battle Maiden and have already accumulated a sizable force of daeva. Even if you decide to go through and challenge another summoner, and they in some unlikely case accept, you''ve still got to deal with being numerically outnumbered."


    Rouya sprawled on the bed, letting herself sink into its softness. The nobles, Markus and even Evelyn, it appeared, didn¡¯t believe in her standing a chance at defeating the traitors. If it were up to them, she¡¯d spend the entire day cooped up in some secure location and only brought out on special occasions like a holiday ornament. It didn''t change the situation for her, the other summoners would hardly be content for long knowing she was still alive and in possession of a relic. They''d come for her, eventually. Best if she took the fight to them early on. She rolled onto her stomach and crossed her legs. "I''ve never been into the Shadow Realm before."


    The thought alone gave her the creeps now. The sensation she felt at the tip of her fingers when she reached into the realm. Still, it was the only way for her capture more daeva.


    "Not after what you''ve just been through. We should give it a few days to let yourself settle down."


    "A few days are''t going to change anything but leave me in a more desperate situation. Who knows, I might not even have a court next week if I keep expecting other people to do everything for me."


    A noise outside drew both of their attention to the door. A spy or assassin sent to finish her off by chance. Evelyn immediately shifted into her battle gear and stormed out.


    Rouya gripped the bedsheets, anticipating any sudden changes.


    "Don''t hurt me."


    Evelyn returned, carrying Helodion by the collar of his shirt. "An eavesdropper. What''ll you have me do with him?"


    A sense of unease crept into her as she studied his surprised expression and wailing. It wouldn''t do him any good. He couldn¡¯t escape Evelyn. "Did Markus send you to spy on me?"This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "No! Of course not," he said, wringing with the Maiden¡¯s grip. He wasn¡¯t wearing his uniform from earlier and from her casual glance, she didn¡¯t detect any weapons on him. At least he didn''t plan on killing her in her sleep. "I was hoping to see you again before I left tomorrow morning."


    "At this time of night," Evelyn pressed.


    "It''s okay. Let the captain go," Rouya said. "If he tries anything, I''ll be sure to deal with it myself."


    Evelyn hurled him to the ground and position herself at Rouya¡¯s side. She wouldn''t need the glaive with him.


    Helodion got on to all four and glanced up at the princess. "I overheard your conversation with Satrap Markus earlier."


    "You don''t have any sense for privacy do you?"


    "By chance. I didn¡¯t mean to but when you said you wanted to fight the other summoners, I felt I needed to speak with you before I left. It might not be a good idea, I don''t know the details but wanted to thank you for helping us." He stood up and ran his hand through his hair. "We''re heading out into the Outer Realms tomorrow and I''m not sure any of us will be returning. Knowing you''re putting yourself at risk to end the war as quickly as possible gave me some hope."


    "Still doesn¡¯t explain why you¡¯d visit a lady this late," Rouya said and waved her hand. "Very well, your welcome. Now be gone before I lock you up for inappropriate conduct and lack of etiquette."


    "Actually¡­" Rouya raised a brow and studied him as he struggled to find words. "The astrologers said there''d be a meteor shower tonight and were preparing to interpret it as an omen to your reign."


    "Great, more critiques before I¡¯ve even officially begun."


    "I wouldn''t take it too seriously but it might still be nice for us to see."


    "Captain," Rouya began in a serious tone. "Are you attempting to court me? Because I''ll have you know that I''m in no mood for such nonsense."


    Helodion shook his head and eased back. "No, I just thought you might like something nice for a change. They can be quite pretty¡­ much like yourself."


    Rouya narrowed her eyes. "You did it again."


    "I''m hopeless, Your Highness. Please forgive me," Helodion said. "I''ll excuse myself outside and wait for you in the gardens."


    With those parting words the captain bowed and escaped out of Rouya''s chambers before either of them could react. Rouya laid a hand to her chest and looked over to Evelyn for advice.


    "It sounds like a trap. Crossbowmen, men lurking in the hedges. I wouldn''t do it."


    "Please, if it were up to you everything in life would be a trap. I won''t become a competent ruler if I¡¯m afraid to trust the people around me and am too frightened to step out of the palace." Rouya rose from the bed and pulled her blouse up over her head. "Help me find something appropriate to wear."

 A Shower of Stars

    ¡°You came,¡± Captain Helodion said as he turned to Rouya.


    ¡°Don''t get your hopes up, I''m not here because of you. I''m interested in seeing if this star shower is as good as you say.¡±


    She decided to wear a simple crimson blouse with golden embroidery and long trousers. A small knife was tucked away under her belt just to be on the safe side. Evelyn still didn''t trust him and Rouya didn''t want the court to believe she was seeing anyone. He''d be a mere distraction to get her mind off the hardship of the past two days.


    The official funeral rites would be held for her family the next day followed by her coronation. A lot of people were still superstitious and wanted to believe an unrelated natural occurrence, such as a star shower, having something to do with their lives and the empire.


    The warm summer days gave way to a fresh night. The palace was situated on a small height overlooking the city in the valley. Tall mountains stretched up and blocked most of the night sky but that didn''t stop her from marveling at the bright specks on the dark blanket above them.


    Rouya moved through the garden with Helodion at her side and Evelyn watching from a distance. The scent of deadly trimmed green filled the air.


    ¡°So where is this great shower supposed to take place? Unless you made the whole thing up just to get me outside alone.¡±


    Helodion slowed his pace. ¡°I would never lie to you, Your Highness, but I can''t pretend I don''t enjoy getting to meet new people. The only new people I usually get to meet in my line of work are the ones that wind up on the pointy end of my sword.¡±


    ¡°So you did take me out to try and kill me.¡±


    ¡°Uhm, that''s not what I meant.¡±


    ¡°Relax.¡± Rouya smiled and lifted her face up to the heavens.¡± I''m not as helpless as you or Markus might believe. I''ve killed before and I''d do it again if necessary.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°So would I but it''s nothing I enjoy doing.¡± Helodion frowned and for the first time since meeting him, Rouya thought she recognized a familiar weakness. ¡°It''s all about the excuses we tell ourselves to sleep better at night, I guess. I''ve just held peace and the royal family in such high regard but that''s different now.¡±


    Rouya stopped in front of the maze and faced the young captain, barely older than she was. Her hands fell to her back and fumbled at her belt to feel the steel of the blade she kept tucked away.


    ¡°You''re not as divine as I once believed. Just normal people trying to command others. Anyone could try and do it,¡± he said, moving closer. ¡°But I''m glad it''s you. You seem more open to reason and cautious about those around you. Did you really think I was going to attack you here?¡±


    ¡°There is no safety anymore.¡±


    ¡°Well that''s good, you''re learning.¡± Helodion laughed. ¡°I''m not going to hurt you, Your Highness. I''d pledge my sword, life¡­ anything you need to keep you safe and make the universe a better place.¡±


    ¡°Well I''m glad at least somebody thinks so. You don''t need to go quite that far, it''s enough if you stay loyal to me.¡± Rouya smiled and turned away to continue her walk through the garden when she noticed movement in the sky.


    A group of people from the royal astrologers society roamed the edge of the grounds and pointed upwards. Thousands of stars shone brightly from above but when she expected to see some of them passing by her world, one of the stars went dark and was soon followed by another and another.


    Rouya¡¯s jaw fell open, not quite sure what to make of the situation. Within the span of a few minutes, more than a dozen stars went dark before the situation stabilized.


    ¡°I was expecting a light show. What was that?¡±


    ¡°I''m not sure, but I''m going to find out,¡± Rouya said as she moved towards the group of astrologers. ¡°I trust you all have an explanation for what just happened.¡±


    ¡°It could be nothing, a mere shift in the universal tables with some of the subs now being blocked.¡±


    ¡°They were in plain sight and vanished instantly,¡± said another, more elderly gentleman. ¡°What''s troubling is that they all belonged to the royal belt. We''ll have to conduct further research in the coming days but it''s safe to say the universe took notice of what happened here.¡±


    Rouya raised her brows in disbelief. ¡°How could there be any connection between the two? You shouldn''t be encouraging speculation.¡±


    ¡°The Padishah Emperor reigns over both the physical and shadow realm. His power could be felt across the universe and now it''s been extinguished. We should focus our efforts on reuniting the relics as soon as possible. There might not be time for a prolonged conflict as with the Magi War.¡±

 Blades and Arrows

    The doors to the governor''s mansion blew open, carrying with it the pair of guards barring him entry. Markus strode threw the dust cloud at ease, appearing on the other side in front of Kalim''s court.


    The satrap sat up in his chair, nails digging into the arms. The shock playing out in the occupants¡¯ faces quickly dispersed when they saw Markus alone and unarmed. Grins took their place as the two guards standing between Markus and Kalim saw their chance. They approached at an angle and drew their swords.


    Markus moved in and snatched the man''s wrist. Bones crunched as he applied pressure and twisted, knocking the sword out of his hand. The other tried to use the distraction to his advantage and charged forward from behind him. Markus leaped up, kicking himself off the guard he held and launching himself into the chest of the other guard.


    They tumbled to the ground with Markus on top. He pinned the Kazari man down with his knees and struck him in the throat. His larynx snapped, and he wrung for air. With all the guards taken out of the picture, Markus rose and turned to the satrap.


    Attia stood beside Kalim, leaning against his chair with narrowed eyes. Her long dark hair came to her waist. Sun-kissed skin revealed itself through the scarce light armor she wore and was accompanied by dual blades held in the scabbards at her hips. She gave Markus a curt nod before hopping off the rise and landing in front of him.


    "You made a mistake coming here," Kalim said. The frost dragon curled up on his lap woke up and leaped into the air, soaring above them. "I thought we had an agreement. It pains me to have to take it out on a hostage but I must be a man of my word."


    "What makes you think I dared come alone?" Markus raised his arm into the air and a twinkle of metal in the distance signaled the position his daeva took up. Moving ahead on his own was risky but he wanted to talk, only then could the rest of his plan succeed. "I don''t want to fight you, but there are larger threats I can no longer ignore."


    Kalim remained silent for a moment, each of them staring at each other and anticipating the other''s move. The seconds dragged on in which Markus could feel the beating of his heart. The way Attia circled him like a vulture closing in on its prey.


    Markus spun on his heel and drove his elbow into Attia¡¯s side, catching her off-guard and reaching for the sword at her hip. Just before he could clasp his hands around the grip, she vanished and appeared behind him. Arrows whisked across the city followed by the clanking of metal as they parried each and every one of Attia''s blows before she could cut a hair off him. Markus stood at ease, letting her come at him from all angles, only for an arrow to knock her weapon aside and have her come again.


    As long as Markus kept himself in clear view of his daeva, they could provide him with an invisible shield against any and all attacks. The only reason he dared set foot in Kalim''s mansion in the first place.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "You could have asked nicely and I might have given her to you freely but if you''ve come to lecture me on your fantasies, then I''m afraid I don''t have the time," Kalim said.


    "It''s not a fantasy," Markus said, striding by Attia without paying her any heed and taking the first step to Kalim. "Another fourteen stars went out last night."


    "Hardly concerns either of us. Those were out past the Frontier and we don''t even know for sure what lies beyond those worlds."


    "We know and the only way to stop it is by uniting all the relics. Justinian stopped paying heed to my warnings and sought to silence my voice by giving me a satrapy but I won''t stop until we have defeated our enemy. We have to find the Library. Just ask Attia if you don''t believe me," Markus said.


    Kalim''s gaze lazily wandered from Markus to his Maiden. "Well? What do you know of his wild claims?"


    Attia licked her lips, hands rolling off the pommel of her swords. She itched to end the fight but was still being held back. "There''s only one creature older than the daeva. One who is said to be there from the beginning to the end, an alpha. I''ve never fought her but the outcome of every battle is already known to her."


    "You mean there''s someone out there more powerful than a Battle Maiden?" Kalim asked, leaning forward in his chair. The dragon returned and let itself get pet by him. The presence of the dragon alone cooled the entire room with each of its breaths. "And you just expect me to hand you everything over because of this, maybe even join you to the furthest reaches of space?"


    Markus nodded. "The longer we fight, the weaker we become. Only the Padishah Emperor will have the strength to oppose such a powerful being."


    Kalim broke out into a fit of laughter. "All it takes is a word and your wife are dead. Even if you manage to escape, I could tell the other lords of your rendezvous with the princess. How long do you think she''ll last when we all decide to end her?"


    "Don''t do this. You''ve already let the bastard escape. Leave her to me."


    "Why would I do that? Even if this fairy tale of yours is real, wouldn''t it be better if I become the Emperor? You''re not the youngest anymore and I''d hate to see you break a hip."


    Markus snorted. "You''ve never bloodied your hands before and the fact that you haven''t warned the others yet tells me you won''t."


    "Enjoy the final moments in your life. You can rest assured, your wife will follow you in the the afterlife soon enough and Mitra will serve me." Kalim snapped his fingers, sending Attia into a frenzy as she assaulted him, appearing and vanishing within heartbeats as she sought a lapse in Mitra''s judgement and an opening to drive her blade into him.


    Markus eased back when the hairs on the back of his neck prickled and he turned around to see a portal ripping open. Adelaxia''s face appeared in the center and she smiled when they looked at each other. Her hand reached out to him and Markus gladly accepted, allowing her to pull him through the portal and onto their homeworld. He took her into his arms and held her close.


    Rustoji, the daeva he sent to free Adelaxia while he distracted Attia and Kalim, stood nearby and gave him a polite bow.


    Adelaxia pulled away and smiled as she gazed up into his face. "Kill him."


    Markus nodded, channeling magic halfway across the universe to Mitra waiting in the hills outside the city. She gathered the energy into her arrow and loosed it upon the palace. A rupture exploded, followed by a pressure wave blowing its way through the city as the entire structure went up into flames.

 Enter the Shadow Realm

    Rouya stormed into her study chambers, nails digging into her palms to contain the fury building within her. Apparently the entire universe was out to sabotage any effort of order she tried to establish. The time for etiquette and words had ended, and she was determined to set her will through by any means necessary.


    Evelyn appeared beside her desk in her combat dress but without the glaive. "You should take some time to relax and clear your mind. Don''t act out of haste. I''ve seen enough summoners over the centuries lose their lives during a rage."


    "I''m not raging," Rouya said, snatching three books off the shelf and spreading them out across her desk. She flipped opened the first to a segment she had bookmarked, quickly scanning the sheet before moving over to the next. "I''m tired of people taking advantage of me and telling me what to do. I''m going into the Shadow Realm and I''ll find daeva."


    "The coronation is tomorrow, you should rest yourself. You''ve never been there before and I''m afraid to see what it will do to you."


    "Do to me?" Rouya paused to look up from her books. Father kept her out the Shadow Realm to keep her safe but there were hundreds of summoners with captured daeva captured. It couldn''t be that dangerous or else they wouldn''t have gone.


    Evelyn laid her hand on top of hers and gently squeezed, momentarily distracting Rouya from the pressure she felt around her. If Rouya gave it a few days, people would blame her for the weather. Evelyn served her because of the Nazar but she couldn''t help the feeling that there was more than just servitude to the maiden.


    "Let me make you a tea to help sooth your nerves and we can talk about it," Evelyn said. She moved to the silver platter and poured the amber drink. The warm scent of chamomile quickly came to her.


    Rouya eyed the cup Evelyn offered her, brushing aside the craving tingling inside her. She shifted her attention back to the books and began memorizing the lines she needed to draw with magic for her to enter the Shadow Realm. Unlike Realmwalkers that could open up portals to anywhere in the universe with magic, she''d be following the trail back to its origin. She let her head hang.


    "I''m sorry but I have to do this. You said so yourself and discussions aren''t getting me anywhere. What kind of summoner would I be if I couldn''t even capture a single one?"


    "You still have me," Evelyn added. "That''s more than most people could ever hope to achieve. The Nazar binds me and prevents me from entering the Shadow Realm on my own."


    "I''ll just have to summon you when I reach the other side. It shouldn''t be a problem as long as we work together."


    Evelyn gave in and agreed with her.


    Rouya practiced drawing magic and performing the spell a few times before she moved into her chambers and dressed into her training gear and light leather armor. She kept her scythe under her bed out of fear someone might attack her in the night.


    Hours had gone by since the stars disappeared from the night sky and the sun announced itself on the horizon. She didn''t have much time but needed to show results before the coronation ceremony.


    "Be strong and don''t lose focus," Evelyn said. "You might know several summoners that made it back but there are plenty that ventured forth and never returned."


    Rouya nodded and moved to the center of the room so she would have enough space. The princess finished readying herself and had her long blue hair tied back into a pony. She reached into the Shadow Realm, drawing upon the magic there and letting it wind through her body. She tore her hands to the side and swiftly imitated the motions she practiced before. The lines she traced flared up bright in front of her, casting a blueish light over her once she finished the spell.


    The hairs on her arm tingled and stood up as she leaned in and activated the spell with the touch of her finger at the center cross-lines. The lines vanished with the magic being burned up and left a portal hanging mid-air.


    Rouya eased back to give herself some space before leaping in. Fragments of her world drifted with her through space before dissolving into a burst of sparkles in an otherwise gray world. She landed exactly where she was before. After glancing around and wondering if she''d actually gone through the portal or if she''d made a mistake in casting the spell, she rose and brushed off her knees.


    It took her a moment to realize that her surroundings appeared dimmer than they had before and Evelyn was nowhere to be seen. Every breath she took was brimming with magic and filled her with adrenaline. Her carpet, trays and books were all positioned exactly the same. The study desk looked just like the one she had in her own room, with the same engravings and material but lacked the personality of her cluttered papers and ink vials. She moved closer, stroking the surface and sighed at the familiar touch. Rouya reached for the Nazar around her neck, her fingers brushing against the smooth glass when a screeching noise drew her attention back around. She hefted the scythe in both hands, preparing for a fight and noticed the man standing in the center of her bedroom.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Her heart fell, and she felt her entire body grow cold at the sight. He had his back turned to Rouya but even so it was enough for her to recognize the white silk and dark hair. The man stiffened, and apparently noticing her now as well, began to turn around. He held a picture, the one she kept on her desk. It had been made from happier days before the Magi wars when Justinian had only been a king and spent more time with the family. She was seven then and carried in his arms.


    "Rouya, my little moon," Justinian said. His hands trembled and he dropped the picture onto the floor. "I thought I''d never see you again."


    Rouya''s eyes welled up with tears she only just kept from spilling free. She ran ahead and into his embrace. "Wh-what are you doing here? You''re not a daeva. You don''t belong here."


    "A question I haven''t entirely managed to answer myself," he said, rubbing her back. "I can''t quite remember how I got here. It''s all just so fuzzy in my head."


    "I never believed in an afterlife but I''m so glad to see you again, father."


    "Afterlife. I think," Justinian began, pulling away from her. He furrowed his brows, lowering his gaze to the ground. "I think I died. Yes, I remember it now. Can still feel the pain." He touched his jaw, probing the underside.


    "What are you doing, father?"


    Justinian stiffened. Droplets fell onto the carpet, staining it red. His expression darkened, deep creases forming on his face. "You''ll never become half the king I was! Death is coming for you too," he said before bursting into a cloud of ash.


    Rouya crumbled to her knees, body shaking and mind growing numb. She remained there, motionless for what felt like five minutes but could have easily been five hours. The sun never rose, and she was perpetually surrounded in a gray haze. She lifted the picture off the ground and brushed away the shards of broken glass.


    "Such a sad girl," a voice whispered in her ear she could practically feel the breath on her neck. Rouya spun around, waving the scythe in the direction, only to find it empty. "Always trying to prove yourself others that don''t accept you for who you are."


    Rouya leaped to her feet and readied her scythe. "Who are you? Show yourself."


    "A friend in need is a friend indeed," the woman said appearing out of the shadows from the corner of her room. Her sharp eyes immediately fixed on Rouya. "I''m Mah and I can be your friend."


    "You''re a daeva," Rouya said, pointing out the woman¡¯s gray skin. She was surprised that she came unarmed and wore a dark harem dress with a narrow hem. "Get back, I''m going to fight you."


    "I don''t want to fight you," Mah said, moving closer and ignoring the fact that she was within striking distance of Rouya''s scythe. She laid her hand on Rouya''s hip and pulled her closer.


    Rouya shuddered at the mix of emotions raging on inside of her. She raised her a chin a little higher and forced her breath to steady, only for it to rush out of her at the daeva''s renewed touch.


    "There''s nothing back there for you," she said, leaning in. "Only sadness and betrayal. Stay here and let me show you a whole new world."


    "I have to go ..."


    The daeva moved in, her lips gracing Rouya''s and shattering the last of her resistance. "I care about you Rouya. Don''t want to see you get hurt again."


    Heat rushed into her cheeks and while she felt ashamed for an instant, it soon became replaced by a longing to kiss her again. Her first kiss was taken from her by a stranger, a daeva no less and she thoroughly enjoyed it.


    "Sounds," she breathed, "great."


    The daeva smiled, twirling her finger in between Rouya''s hair. She never let anyone touch her hair but made an exception this once. She bashed her eyes and said, "All you have to do is draw this and we can be together." She slipped her fingers through Rouya''s and lifted her hand. Light emerged where their fingers passed and magic spurred through Rouya.


    A spell took form in the space between them, the contours growing in strength as she diverted more magic and came closer to completion. Rouya recognized some of the shapes and jumped back, studying the entire piece as it slowly began to fade again.


    The daeva rose with her brows knitted and approached her. "You don''t have to make this harder than it needs be. I can give you a happiness you won''t find elsewhere."


    Rouya snatched up her scythe and readied herself for a fight. "You tried to trick me into binding myself to you."


    "That''s not important. You light people always come here demanding of us but never the other way around."


    "I''m looking for supporters to avenge the death of my family. None of your kind actually die. They just come back here."


    Mah rolled her eyes at Rouya. "So you might think but that''s only partially true. In between battles we might return to our homes here but if the light person perishes, we cease to exist. You see, the connection is a lot more intimate than just reciting a spell or drawing a fancy shape in the air. You take a daeva and they are bound to you for the rest of their lives."


    "I never heard of that before," Rouya said. She knitted her brows, considering what Mah just told her. It didn''t change the fact that she needed the daeva to help her in the upcoming battles. "There''s got to be a way to undo the spell. Once I achieve victory, I can set you all free."


    "I''ve never heard of a daeva being set free. Not sure it''s even possible," she said. Mah shrugged and strode through the mirror image of Rouya''s chambers and headed for the door.


    "Wait," Rouya shouted and dashed after her. "You said you care about me. Were you just saying that to bind me to yourself?"


    Mah paused and glanced over her shoulder. "We may live in the shadows of your world but we aren''t entirely separate from it. I''ve watched you grow as a young child into the woman you are today. No matter what the light people did here, I couldn''t help myself from admiring you. In fact, I thought we¡¯d never meet but I¡¯m glad we did."


    "Will I see you again?"


    "I already told you we¡¯re friends," Mah said turning back around. She held Rouya¡¯s hand, rubbing her fingers with her thumb. "Friends are with you to the end."


    Rouya flinched at the sudden burn on her hand and pulled away to inspect the wound. An intricate weave appeared ingrained around her ring finger.


    "Something for you to remember me by and call upon when in need."

 The Cleansing Flame

    The flames burned high around the altar with nearly a hundred people in attendance. Coronations weren''t a simple matter of putting a crown on but a ritual monitored by the priests of Ahmun, the flame god.


    The rite took place on the temple grounds outside the city. The Imperial Guard stood watch and Rouya kept Evelyn close by in case of any surprise attacks.


    Rouya stood by the gates of the temple and a bed of coals laid out before her, stretching all the way to the temple steps. She wore a simple white shift with nothing but the Nazar. The priests and witnesses were there to bear testimony of her crossing the Cleansing Flame. Only the righteous and pure could become King or Queen of Aequilla, the flames would turn all others to ash.


    "Shahzadi Rouya, daughter of the great unifier Padishah Emperor Justinian I, you seek the crown and title of Queen of Aequilla," the high priest announce to the crowd. He held his hand out to Rouya and indicated to the crown on the pedestal beside him. "It is here for your taking. Prove your worthiness to Ahmun and those here before you."


    Rouya rose her fist into the air, bringing about a silence in the crowd around her. "I am my father''s daughter but we must each find our way in life. Those that seek to harm our people in a moment of weakness will be punished and order restored. My father''s vision of peace and union throughout the universe will live on with me. I vow to be just and bring justice to those in need."


    Rouya felt the heat coming off the coal bed as she approached and kicked off her sandals. She held her chin high, eyes moving from the high priest to the tiara fitted with jewels, most notably the red ruby at the center. She took her first step, slowly lowering the flat of her foot on the uneven surface. Pain flared through her body but she couldn''t afford to wince or pull back, lest she fail before them. She sucked in air through her nose and steeled her mind in an attempt to buy herself some time. All she had to do was take twenty paces. She moved more swiftly, lingering only briefly to prevent onlookers from thinking she was rushing.


    All eyes were on her, studying her every movement for any signs from Ahmun that she was not meant to be their sovereign.


    Rouya ground her teeth together but forced herself to look poised as she continued striding down the path. She could minimize the pain but it still affected her body. Sweat trickled down her legs and the heat made her feel dizzy.


    As she reached the end of the bed, flames erupted around her and cut her off from the rest of the temple witnesses. Rouya balled her hands and shut her eyes, letting the flames wash over and sing her skin.


    The crowd gasped as she lost sight of them and forced herself to continue onwards. Her mental barricades broke down one after the other allowing the pain to sweep through her. She took another step forward and planted her feet on the smooth pavement and realized she had come across the end of the bed and hurriedly went through all the way.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The pain vanished instantly, and she held her hands up, taking in her unblemished skin. A moment earlier it had felt as though she were melting but no traces of the burns remained.


    "Your crown awaits you, your grace," the high priest said, taking a step to the side and holding his hand out to the tiara.


    Rouya blinked, still perplexed by the sudden shift in her senses and still felt the adrenalin from near death running through her veins. She set her jaw and reached out, cupping the tiara on both sides as she gently lift it off the podium. The gold circlet and jewels shimmered in the light. She turned around to the crowd and held it higher for all to see before setting it on her head.


    Within a heartbeat the gathered nobles fell to their knees and held fists to their chests. Even the priests and high priest bowed before her with their hands to their chests.


    "Long live the queen of queens, bambisnan bambisn, Shahbanu Rouya!"


    Rouya glanced over the heads of those loyal to her, a mix of exhilaration and sadness setting in over what happened for her to have come thus far.


    Amongst all those gathered, one person remained standing and met her gaze. Evelyn. The Battle Maiden gave her a curt nod to which Rouya smiled. Rouya was already her master. Titles and nobility didn''t play a role in the relation the two of them shared. One she planned on deepening.


    "By the light of Ahmun, we have our queen."


    "I stand before you, not to dictate your lives but to improve the lives of all. When we all work together and put our minds to the task, we can achieve greatness. The light of Ahmun will show us the way and I will guide us along the path," Rouya announced and indicated for the crowd to rise. Her heart fluttered at seeing them do as she wished. "I ask of you only what I would do myself. To prove this, I shall venture forth and challenge Parsa for the crimes committed and to hand over the relic."


    Rouya turned and nodded to the High Priest who wished her good luck before she ventured out of the temple grounds. Evelyn held the reins to her horse ready and helped her saddle up.


    The Noda River ran along the banks of Aequilla with a bridge crossing protected by the fort from which the temple still stood a mile away. The distance gave the priests the freedom to practice their faith without distractions from the common folk and only those truly dedicated would come out to see them.


    "Congratulations, your grace," Markus said as he stepped out of a portal in front of her along with his wife. "I apologize for my tardiness but I freed Adelaxia from Kalim''s grip and dealt him a significant defeat."


    "You killed him?" Rouya asked in disbelief. She looked to Adelaxia and smiled. "Excuse me, it''s great to see you back in good health. You''re more than welcome to be my guest and rest after such an ordeal."


    "Too kind, your grace," Adelaxia said with a bow. She drew in magic and opened up another portal leading to the castle. "Allow me to be of service. We can''t be too careful in times such as these."


    "She''s right. I might have taught Kalim a lesson but I doubt I''ve killed him. He''ll be seeking vengeance which I hope to use to our advantage."


    "I see. We can talk about it during the council meeting this afternoon. I''m sure you two have some catching up to do."

 Service

    Rouya needed the short break between her ordeal at the temple and the council meeting. She might be new to politics but it occurred to her that there seemed to be an abundance of bad news while good came in short supply and usually followed by a disclaimer.


    The queen let herself dip under the water of her bathtub and inspected the marking on her finger. A connection to her daeva. The image of Mah kissing her flashed through her mind, catching her off guard. She gasped, still underwater and found herself choking on water and quickly rising back up, coughing it back out.


    "Do I have to start worrying about you drowning in your own bath?" Evelyn asked, raising a brow.


    Rouya lowered her gaze from the woman and felt a sense of shame overcoming her. "No, I was ju¡ª Well, yes actually you should."


    "I should?"


    "There''s no reason for you to sit over there and watch me when you can join me. I''m sure you''d enjoy a nice bath as well."


    Evelyn knitted her brows. "I don''t require baths. With a bit of magic I''m able to restore myself to peak condition."


    Rouya pulled her legs back up against her chest, making space for her. "Come now. It''s human to do things we don''t require."


    Evelyn stood and glanced from Rouya to the water before unfastening the straps of her clothing and letting them drop to the floor. Her clothes, being created out of magic, vaporized in a blue cloud and left her in the nude. The sight of her pristine smooth skin and gentle curves sent Rouya''s heart racing. She even envied her for the larger breasts, even though she told herself size would only get in the way during a fight.


    The maiden dipped her feet in the water and paused. "It''s warm."


    "That''s the point," Rouya added and beckoned her closer. "Turn around let me wash your back. It''ll feel nice."


    Evelyn did as she said and sat with her back to Rouya. They''d been together plenty of times but never this close and without clothing.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Rouya dipped the sponge into the water, gulping as she eyed the maiden''s bare neck. She lifted it over her back and squeezed, allowing the water to drip down her curve and start rubbing her back gently. "Doesn''t that smell fresh? It''s lavender and works wonders."


    "You haven''t told me anything about your trip to the Shadow Realm," Evelyn said, slowly. She glanced over her shoulder and met her eyes. "I thought you were going to summon me when you arrived. What happened?"


    "I saw my father, but that can''t be, he''s not a daeva."


    Evelyn nodded and turned around to face her. "The Shadow Realm is a reflection of the physical universe with its own inhabitants. People we believe to be dead can still exist there as a shadow of their previous selves. It''s why people shouldn''t go there during uncertain times. That and the magic will get to your mind."


    "I understand but I did bind a daeva," Rouya said, holding her hand so Evelyn could see the mark around her finger. "I''ll introduce you two later so you can get to know each other."


    "Introductions aren''t required. What are her talents?"


    Rouya sighed, tilting her head to the side. "I''m not sure but she''s quite persuasive and attractive."


    "Attractive?" Evelyn asked, raising her brows. She rose up from the bath and moved to step out but Rouya quickly caught her hand.


    "Stay, please. I think you''re beautiful as well but you''ve been treating me different since I took the Nazar."


    "You''re my master and I''m just a servant, your Battle Maiden. Nothing more and nothing less."


    Rouya''s heart sank at hearing the emotionless words come from her. "Is that all I am to you?"


    Evelyn pressed her lips together and sat back down, eyes no longer looking up to meet Rouya. She appeared distant, lost in her own memories Rouya could only imagine. The Battle Maidens were thousands of years old and must have seen a lot during that time. "Masters die, sooner rather than later. It''s best for me not to get attached. We should concentrate on the upcoming fights. Our opponents aren''t going to make it easy for us to defeat them."


    "There''s got to be more than just fighting," Rouya said, leaning closer. She brushed a strand of loose hair aside and smiled. "I''m so glad that I have you on my side. I don''t think I could fight you."


    "Master--" Evelyn was cut off when Rouya moved in and pressed her lips against hers. The maiden briefly resisted but returned the kiss with renewed vigor. "We shouldn''t. It only ends badly."


    "I''m not going to hide my emotions any longer," Rouya said and pulled her in so they could continue the kiss. She wrapped her legs around Evelyn''s waist and pressed their bodies together. Evelyn''s hands explored the curves of her waist and gentle breasts, cupping them in her hands. A breath escaped Rouya''s lips as she began trailing Evelyn''s chest with her tongue.

 The List

    The day became more beautiful as it dragged on, unaware of the lives and destinies swaying on the surface. Summer wouldn''t last forever but the winters were mild and favorable to many people dwelling in the Outer Realm.


    Rouya doubted she''d be seeing any of the usual guests that winter. If they didn''t come to her, then she could at least visit and remind them of the pledge they gave her father. She gently stroked the stem of the bright dahlia flower, admiring the beauty and variety of colors present in the flower garden. The tension she felt hours before vanished and was replaced by a new calm she enjoyed for the time.


    "Shall I bring it to your room?" the head gardener asked.


    Rouya smiled but shook her head. "That won''t be necessary. It belongs out here with the others. Justinian needed the dahlia for his sugar illness but now they deserve they garden."


    The gardener bowed and returned to working on the seeds he was planting.


    "We need to learn a little more about each other before we leave. I still need to introduce you to Mah," Rouya said, rising from a crouch. She reached for the scythe and strapped it onto her back.


    Rouya reached for magic, concentrating it on the connection she shared with Mah swiftly drew up the three pointed symbol for summoning. The magic spurred within her and she felt the warmth around her ring finger increase. It lasted a mere heartbeat until it vanished and Mah stood in front of them.


    Mah looked to Rouya before tilting her head to take a glance at Evelyn. She crossed her arms in front of her chest. The hems of her dress caught fire, slowly burning away but a long red blouse, black vest and tight trousers replaced it. "I was hoping we''d get to spend some time alone before we get to the action but I guess it''ll have to wait until later."


    "An elementalist, how practical. I''ll let you cool me off when the fightings done," Evelyn said. A grin curled up along the edges of her lips as she crossed in front of Mah and took her place at Rouya''s side with her glaive on full display. The blade alone was twice the size of her head and would require a great deal of strength to wield.


    "Correct, but I prefer fire. At least we''re well rounded for any eventuality. I''ll stay with Rouya and lay waste to our enemies and you can go on ahead and wrestle or whatever it is you maidens do."


    Rouya pulled Evelyn behind her and placed herself between the two arguing women. She needed to become a team with both of them and not have them start a competition to see which daeva was the better. "Stop it, both of you. If either of you starts bickering again, I''ll dismiss you and won''t summon you again for a week."


    Mah pouted her lips but shrugged. "Very well. I''ll do what I can to support you, my lady. Evelyn might have bad taste in hair styles but I''m sure she''s more than capable to handle her knife."


    "What''s wrong with my hair? It''s practical!" Rouya laid her hand on Evelyn''s to help calm her down. "I''m fine. Let''s just see what you got."


    "I''m sure you won''t be able to lay a hand on me," Mah said with a smirk. She balled her hands and began siphoning off magic from Rouya. Her gray hands glowed orange and became brighter as she took more magic from Rouya. A wave of heat washed over her and intensified as she continued to build up. Mah had gone completely red and was even partially translucent but showed no signs of pain.


    Rouya stepped back, breathing in more warm air and wondering just how far Mah would take her demonstration. The scythe strapped to her back became hot and winced when her fingers brushed the staff to remove it. Even the garden began to take a beating with the flowers losing their petals and beginning to wilt away. "That''s enough, I get the point. I trust you''re able to wield fire as well?"


    The heat broke off immediately and Mah sprung forward with a fist into the air. "Sure thing. It depends on the situation but you can count on me to keep you safe."This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    A rummage of feet drew Rouya''s attention to the side, and both daeva moved in front to shield her. Rouya sensed a build up of magic swiftly approaching and prepared herself to fight. The presence grew as it drew closer until it was directly in front of her.


    "Ah, it''s you," Markus announced as he came to a stop and dispelled the magic he''d been gathering. Mitra was with him, bow at hand, and her sharp eyes met Rouya. The blue around her eyes slowly faded away as she released the magic. "You should have told me you''d be out here. Got me really worried when I sensed the power levels building up. We can''t be too safe at times like these, Kalim is probably still out there and he''ll be itching to get back at me."


    Rouya gave him a curt nod and relaxed. "Thank you for your concern but I can''t continue waiting around for the other summoners to make a move. I already decided to challenge Parsa this afternoon. I''ve done my research on the list of names you gave me. He should be the easiest."


    "Nothing''s easy when it comes to a fight. He may be the least experienced of the summoners but they''ve all got a head start on you."


    "You''re trying to persuade me not to fight again," Rouya said with a frown.


    "Not at all, your grace. If I were in your position, I''d go after him as well. I wouldn''t bother challenging him though," Markus said, moving to a table where beverages had been set up for her. He poured himself some water and sipped from the cup. "I''d make it quick and easy. Parsa is young and likes to get drunk with his harem. Catch him in the act and retrieve the ring."


    "Out of the question. I refuse to stoop to such lows. I want to defeat my enemies in broad daylight so that everyone can be a witness to their failure on even terms."


    Markus set the cup down and planted his hands on the edge of the table. Mitra was no longer in sight. "If that''s how it''s going to be, then I have to accept it. In that case, I''ll accompany you to guarantee your safety."


    "As long as you don''t interfere in the duel and stay out of sight. If we both appear, he''ll never come out to fight me."


    "That''s true. Before we depart, you should get a taste for what lies ahead of you."


    A prickle of energy on the back of her neck made Rouya aware of the impeding danger. She leaped back an instant before Mitra''s night arrow bore into the ground. Night arrows were a stealth attack that could almost entirely mask the magic of her arrows before it was too late. She reached for her scythe and plucked it from her back strap in anticipation of another attack she could sense building up.


    "Evelyn, go take care of Mitra while I deal with Markus!"


    "On it," Evelyn said, dashing into motion. Arrows whizzed by her, landing at her feet. They became increasingly dangerous as she got closer to the archer.


    Mah flashed her hands out at her sides and began drawing in magic for two balls of fire. The strain became evident to Rouya as she halted her attack on Markus in order to diverge more magic to the daeva.


    Markus seized the opportunity, moving in on Mah barehanded. She flung a fireball at him but he simply pivoted on his toes around and brought the side of hand down on her wrist.


    Rouya felt the snap echo into her being before she heard it. The connection she shared with Mah passed on a base level of sensation with it. Mah twisted, swinging her right hand in a flaming punch towards Markus but only struck the flat of his arm he held up to protect his face. The punch was still enough to shove him several feet back, his boots dragging long marks into the ground as he attempted to keep his balance.


    "Damm it," Rouya snapped as she raced forward to join in the fight. At least Evelyn was doing her part in keeping Mitra distracted but hadn''t managed to land a strike on the daeva herself yet.


    Mah snapped her wrist back into place and began heating up her entire body again as she approached him. She sucked in air and let out a fiery breath in a cone before her.


    Markus'' eyes widened when he saw the flames and with both direction being covered by the fire he leaped over Mah, twisting mid air to land directly behind her.


    Rouya was there to block any attack he might have used against her and brought her scythe down on him full force. Markus moved in closer to her, using the palm of his hand to strike against the shaft and send her off balance. It lasted only a heartbeat as she watched his movements and adjusted herself to his trajectory. His follow-up attack missed, and she locked his arm with the staff and brought the tip of her scythe in between his shoulder blades.


    "Got you," she said with a smile at the look on his face. She considered Markus to be one of the best summoners serving her father and the fact that she managed to best him gave her morale a much needed boost. "I''m leaving in the hour. You''re free to come and watch but keep your distance."


    Markus shut his eyes and smiled right back at her. "As you wish, your grace. I will, however, point out that I didn''t summon any additional daeva into the fight and went easy on you. Your opponents won''t be as forgiving as I am."


    Rouya released him from her grip and strapped the scythe back. "Sounds like an excuse a sore loser would make. Thank you for your advise, I''ll be sure to heed it. I might be young but not quite as foolish as you may think."


    The flower garden laid in ruins, petals from the dahlia were scattered across the grass. It would take time for her to rebuild and improve upon what her father had set in place.


    Parsa was the first one on her list.

 The Gates of Elad

    Rouya and Markus arrived at the marketplace in Elad, the central hub for realmwalkers arriving and departing. They dressed themselves in large cloaks to conceal their combat attire underneath. It would only giveaway that they were looking for a fight and had enough coin to purchase finer craftsmanship.


    Elad itself was located in a mountainous region and profited heavily off the sale of raw metals and refined precious metals. The marketplace was abuzz with commotion as craftsmen and salesmen from vendors attempted to pitch their wares while customers tried to haggle down the price. The Mage¡¯s Guild maintained the centerpiece, and they were quickly waved over by an official to make sure the area would be clear for further portals.


    "Names?" the man asked, dipping his feather into the ink vial. His tone suggested a no non-sense attitude but the bags under his eyes told Rouya that he''d been at it for quite some time.


    "I''m--"


    "Dorian Andai," Markus said, interrupting her and placing himself in the foreground. "And my serving girl, Arezoo."


    The mage quickly jotted down the information before returning his gaze on Markus. "Where are you from and what''s the purpose of your visit?"


    "Commerce, I''m looking to purchase iron and coal for sale at the markets on Indrina. I heard the prices here a quite competitive."


    "Very well, then here''s your two-day city pass," the man said, finishing the paperwork and stamping it off. "Keep it on you at all times and hand it over before departure at the customs desk."


    Markus thanked him and handed the passes to Rouya. "Keep a good eye on these. I don''t want you losing them like the last time. Sometimes I question where your head is."


    Rouya rolled her eyes put played along and showed the guards the passes before stuffing them into her pocket. "Better not get a taste for this."


    He grunted and they made their way through the market and past the stalls cramped together with wares from all over the universe on her left while the local merchants were on the right. Rouya stuck to Markus and let him lead her through the maze and towards the castle overlooking the city.


    Aequilla had fewer heights with most buildings level to one another and a city layout which foresaw plenty of space between the structures.


    A few curious eyes strafed while others bumped into her but she made sure not to carry and coins on her. She kept the Nazar under her armor and out of sight. The last thing she needed was for some fool to steal it off her. She could sense Evelyn''s spirit lurking inside the amulet, waiting to be released. Doing so in the middle of the city would attract unwanted attention to themselves and waited until they reached the ramp leading to the castle gate.


    "Hold on," the heavily armored guard said, raising his gauntlet. His companion remained behind with his hand gripped around the shaft of his sword still hidden in the scabbard. "What do you two want here? Got lost or something?"


    "I have an urgent reminder for Lord Parsa," Rouya said. She smiled at him when he cocked a brow and studied her.


    "Oh, yeah, and what might that be?"


    Evelyn, Mah and Mitra suddenly appeared with a flash of light standing beside them in full battle attire.


    "Of an oath he swore to my father." She lunged ahead, snatching his arm down and planting her knee into his face. He instantly fell unconscious but his companion still remained and he didn''t hesitate to draw his sword and storm down the ramp.


    Mitra let an arrow pierce him in the throat before he took five steps towards them. He spit blood, swaying where he stood as he choked before finally tumbling over the edge and onto the cobbled road.


    "I told you I didn''t want anyone to get killed!"


    Markus glanced at Mitra before returning his gaze onto the queen and shrugging. "People are bound to get killed. Imagining this as a bloodless conflict is extremely na?ve. We better hurry before reinforcements arrive and we have to take even more lethal action."


    The bells sounded from a watchtower on the walls, alarming the garrison of the intruders. By the time they made it to the gates, dozens of men were flocking out of the barracks and forming a line between them and the palace. The sun reflected off the crisp shields and spears wedged between their arms. Rouya could see the determination in their faces to uphold their duty.


    "Have you ever heard of the fight-or-flight instinct?" Markus asked, taking in the buildup of forces in front of them with archers mounting the battlements. "How a person reacts when confronted with danger says a lot about the individual. Play the deck given and attack or flee to live another day."


    "Are you suggesting I pull back?"


    Markus clasped his hands behind his back and walked casually down the ramp. "Perhaps but I''m also interested in Parsa. The Mage¡¯s Guild is sworn to neutrality but he could still attempt to reach their office and wander off-world. Anyhow, I brought you to the gates and will let you do your thing. I''ll be over here in case you need me."


    "Are you abandoning your queen?" Evelyn snarled, shifting her glaive towards the retreating satrap.


    Rouya laid her hand on the pole and turned her away from him. "Let him go. He did as I asked. I''ll finish this my way."


    Evelyn hesitated but accepted her command. "You should go to safety. Let me deal with these scum."


    "Soldiers of Elad, I admire your courage but the woman you see before you is a Battle Maiden who knows no defeat. I doubt you would be little more than a nuisance for her, but I don''t want her to end your lives. You have families waiting for you to return home, just as I had, but they were taken from me by the man you protect. My grudge lies not with you but with Parsa and so I challenge him to settle the dispute with me."If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The archers loosed their arrows and cast a dark shade upon her. Evelyn moved in, brushing hundreds of arrows in one fell swoop away and hurling them to the ground.


    "I don''t appreciate the hostility," Rouya added. "But I''m not leaving until he''s come out to face me for the man he is. If you all wish to lay your lives down in his name, then come and meet our blades."


    The line held still with not a single member breaking formation and prepared to fight her if she attacked.


    Minutes passed in which the three women merely stood against the two hundred soldiers and the intense silence that played out between them.


    "He''s not coming," Mah said, mindlessly drawing animal shapes in the air.


    "I could easily make my way around them without injuring any of them," Evelyn said. "But I don''t want to risk you being harmed."


    "We''ll wait. It''s his honor he continues to tarnish by leaving us here at the gates."


    Rouya hoped he''d show himself eventually but couldn''t rule out the possibility that he had already left the scene. She knew she couldn''t wait indefinitely. Word would spread of the summoner and other summoners might try to take advantage of the situation.


    Parsa revealed himself after an hour of standing in the sun. However, the cool mountain breeze made it tolerable. He came out to the balcony of his mansion and spoke to his soldiers. "Why haven''t you all slaughtered her by now? Can''t you see that you easily outnumber her? They couldn''t possibly fight you all at the same time. As your patron, I command you all to press the attack!"


    The front row soldiers wavered, glancing at each other hoping to reach a unified decision.


    The line moved.


    Soldiers formed up in a dual column on either side of the pathway with their spear tips raised, granting Rouya entry into the mansion.


    Parsa growled from the balcony and tossed his wine at them. "None of you are getting paid for your insolence. Press the attack now or punishment will be dealt." The line locked their shields together in unison. "Very well then. Tassia, dispose of these cowards at once."


    ¡°As you wish, my lord.¡± The pale maiden brought her fist to her chest and bowed. Her delicate frame and the blue and white dress were at with her presence as a Battle Maiden. She began casting a spell.


    "This can''t be good," Rouya said. "Let''s move now!"


    Rouya rushed towards the mansion, catching Parsa off-guard. The thin man stumbled back, pressing himself against the wall. Light burst out from Tassia''s spell in a powerful beam and vaporized half of the force gathered within an instant until not even the ashes remained. Only the faint image of the army scorched the floor as shadows would.


    "By the Pillars!" Rouya shook her fist at Parsa. He was willing to sacrifice his own men for nothing. "You''ve got nerves. Come down here and let''s see how tough you really are."


    "Your Battle Maiden means nothing. The empire is history and you''ll join it soon enough," Parsa said. "Tassia, erase the princess off the face of this world!"


    "With pleasure." Tassia raised her hand and began casting the next spell. Magic crackled around her as it built up. "Light of the divine!"


    "I gave you a chance to come and play nice. Evelyn, you know what do to."


    Evelyn nodded, twirling the glaive before bursting into a frontal charge. Within a matter of heartbeats, she reached the mansion and sprang into the air.


    "That''s not possible," Parsa shrieked as he turned to flee. His maiden appeared less fazed and adjusted the trajectory of her spell. What she failed to account for was Rouya.


    Rouya slipped in under her sights, flashing the scythe upward and slicing through her wrist and cutting off a hand. The spell broke off immediately, her eyes widening as she found herself completely defenseless. Evelyn roared as she came upon her and pierced through her chest with the blade coming out on the other side.


    Blood trickled out of the corner of Tassia''s mouth while her lips curled into a smile. She pointed her finger at Rouya. "Checkmate."


    A small beam of magical energy burst out of her finger and pounded into Rouya''s shoulder. The blast knocked the air out of her lungs and flung her over the railing but she still managed to hang on with a single hand and keep herself from falling.


    Evelyn finished her off and Tassia blew up into a cloud of blue smoke before hurrying to help Rouya back over. "Are you all right? I''ll get us out of here," she said in a pitch.


    "No, we need to finish the job before he summons her again." Rouya put pressure on the wound, flinching when the pain shot through her body. She walked to the balcony door and entered the room where Parsa had fled to.


    Mah fought against three of his daeva, dodging their blows but being steadily pushed back and unable to counter them. Rouya had sent her in a flanking move to cut off his retreat. The daeva noticed their approach and shifted to the new threat.


    Parsa scowled, covering the ring around his finger. "You can''t have it. It''s my right as lord of five worlds to have a Battle Maiden serve me. You-you''re not even a king."


    Evelyn and Rouya each took on one of the daeva attacking them. Sparks flew as she blocked the attack and tore at the wound in Rouya''s shoulder. She screamed and eased back, avoiding the diagonal slash of the sword.


    "I never said I''d be king. I''m the queen!" She pivoted, knocking the daeva in the waist with the stump of her scythe before twisting it around and going for the man''s head.


    He reacted quicker than she had hoped, swiftly back-handing her and cutting off her attack.


    Evelyn made quick work of the daeva she fought against, disarming and then destroying her. She turned and befell Rouya''s attacker from behind and ended his presence in the realm with a clean slice.


    The dagger-wielding daeva going after Mah gave up and retreated out of the room after his master. All three chased after him but it was Mah''s fireball that punched him to the ground and incinerated him.


    "You''re running out of options, Parsa. Hand over the relic and I''ll let you live out your days in the dungeon."


    Shifting shadows in the parlor alerted Rouya of where he was trying to hide. They may have defeated his daeva but unless they captured him, he still posed a threat. He moved around the pillar to keep out of sight but his heavy breathing and loud feet gave him away just as easily.


    Rouya passed the pillar and faced Parsa directly. He jumped back, bumping into Evelyn.


    "The ring. Yes, yes. Here you can have it, it brought me nothing but bad luck. Just promise to let me go, okay?" Parsa began fumbling with his hands.


    "Your crime is unforgivable but we can see about the measure of punishment when we return to Aequilla."


    "I see but, uhm, I have information," he said. "I know about--"


    "Get down," Markus shouted from behind and soon after a body hauled her to the floor.


    The pain in her shoulder flared up again. She let out a scream before grinding her teeth together as she heaved him off her and rose to a knee. She paused at seeing Parsa on his back in front of her. Three arrows protruded from his chest and his eyes were glossy, staring up at the ceiling while his lips mumbled something incomprehensible for her.


    "By the Pillars, Markus. What got into you?" Rouya fumed, dabbing him in the chest with her finger. "He was about to tell me something."


    Markus narrowed his eyes on her and straightened out his clothes. "He was about to kill you, that''s what. He was buying time while getting ready to perform a spell. I just saved your life."


    "I had the situation under control. We''d have had him before he could have tried anything." Rouya moved over to his body and shut his eyes, whispering a prayer to Ahmun for his soul to find its way to the Pillars of Eternity. She then took the ring and held it to the window, allowing sunlight to pierce through the diamond. "At least we have what we came here for. Let''s get back to Aequilla before we cause any more of a mess here."


    Rouya saw enough death for one day and she despised each one. Nobody should be forced to have their life cut short, not even the traitors who killed her family. She moved towards the gates when she noticed Markus lagging behind.


    "Go on ahead. With Parsa dead, I should see to a smooth transition back into the imperial fold and appoint a transitional governor."


    Rouya nodded and beckoned Evelyn and Mah to accompany her through the city. "We''re not finished yet, Markus."


    Once out of the mansion, Rouya turned to Evelyn and lowered her voice. "Keep an eye on him and report anything suspicious. I think he''s hiding something from me."

 Intermission

    The streets of Ryhad were bare. All the doors and windows barred up but in between the cracks, Helodion could still make out the curious gazes of the inhabitants.


    People on the Frontier weren''t the purest of souls and had plenty of reasons to distrust an imperial soldier but for the entire population to shut themselves away seemed out of the ordinary. They no doubt heard about Justinian''s fate and perhaps they feared the repercussions or being made a scapegoat.


    Helodion waited for the rest of his company to arrive through the portal at the square. A total of a hundred heavy cavalry men made it and took to the streets. The garrison wasn''t far off and he might be able to discover more answers there. His orders were clear, to rally with the remaining forces on the Frontier and prevent the luxurious city of Ryhad from falling into enemy hands. A hundred thousand people were meant to be living there, more than anywhere else on the Frontier.


    As they continued down the cobbled street, he noticed even more of the sandstone buildings were barred as well. A barricade of carts and stools stood at a street corner blocking their path.


    Helodion signaled for his men to a halt and turned to his second in command, Kaspar. "I want the men to dismount and remove the barricade. Send a party out ahead and find out what happened here."


    "Looks like the place is geared up for battle."


    "The question is; against whom?"


    Kaspar pointed to one of the closed up homes on the corner. "Why don''t we just go and ask these people? They''re bound to know a tad more than us."


    "Let''s not make things worse by barging in there. We don''t want to escalate the situation. We''ll wait for the scouts to return from the barracks."


    An uneasy mumbling broke out in the line behind him and whether they were walking straight into an ambush. They wore heavy armor and could fend off most volleys of arrows but an ambush with dozens crossbowmen would still take down a few good men. Helodion silenced them all by having them take up a defensive formation on the street until they had pushed aside the barricade.


    It took five men to shove the cart off to the side of the street. It had been heavily laden with everything the people could find and the wheels broken.


    After a few minutes a group of magi came running down the road ahead. "Are you the reinforcements we requested?"


    "Yes, yes, we are. You mind telling me what''s going on?"


    "Of course but I think it''s better if I show it you myself." The mage pulled back her hood revealing herself to be a woman in her late twenties with shoulder long dark brown hair. She leaned to the side and gazed at his company. "There are more on their way?"


    "This is all I''ve got, but we were told others would rally here as well."


    "I see," she said lowering his gaze. Her shoulders slumped as she turned and beckoned for Helodion to follow her. "I¡¯m High Mage Helen Taviar. Come to the tower and I can show you what we''re up against."


    Helodion followed her into the upper district where the Mage''s Guild was set up including the highest tower in all Ryhad. A handful of magi milled about at the gate and eagerly opened it for Helodion and Kaspar to enter before shutting and locking it again.


    "Just this way, please," the mage said, holding out her hand. Her voice was sweet but firm and he imagined she must have been a nice woman before venturing out to the Frontier. They entered the tower with its spiraling staircase of what appeared to be over a thousand steps to get to the top.


    Helodion froze and stared at the gigantic task ahead of him when the Helen cleared her throat and opened the latch of a lift to carry them to the top.


    "We''re hardly as barbaric as you might assume. Our troubles began the other day when word first arrived of the Emperor''s death. The tribes of the desert heard of this almost as soon as we did and rallied behind the warlord Djarius," Helen said as it carried them to the top. They stepped off the lift and wandered through a tidy office filled with books and maps on the Frontier. Helen opened the door to the balcony.


    Darkness bathed the city in black with Helodion having trouble making out the various structures. His heart sank when he realized the circle of torches surrounding the city weren''t part of the wall but belonged to a force outside the city. He gave up counting and turned to Kaspar. "It looks like we came just in time. I''ll have to speak to the commanding officer and get a strategical overview of the situation."


    "I''m afraid that''s not possible," Helen said. "The imperial soldiers abandoned their position when Djarius arrived to join him. They pillaged the city and opened the gates to pledge themselves. We were able to secure the gates and seal them but lost our Realmwalker in a skirmish."


    "You mean to tell me that the force we were meant to reinforce is out there?"


    Helen nodded. "A quarter of them, yes, the desert tribes killed the others and took their armor and weaponry off the bodies. When can we be expecting the rest of the army to arrive?"Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Helodion moved back inside and shut the door behind him. "We''re all that was left to join in. All other forces are occupied elsewhere. I need to get back and report the situation."


    "Unless you have anyone else opening a portal here soon we''re stuck here for the time being. We only had the one Realmwalker stationed here."


    Helodion raised his brow. "And how often do portals open up? I mean, there''s got to be interplanetary trade."


    "Yes, of course. Once a week we''d have traveling merchants come by but I''m not sure how the war will affect their timetables. I rushed down as fast as I could when I felt the portal opening up in the square."


    "Lieutenant, set up a watch at the arrival terminal. We need to get a message through and have a Realmwalker sent to us as soon as possible," Helodion said. "Have they made any attempt to breach the walls?"


    "When the soldiers deserted, they attempted to keep the gates open and storm the city but ever since it''s been closed, they''ve encircled and showered us with arrows."


    Helodion peered out into the darkness. Djarius attempted to break their morale with the sheer number of men and torches set up but it also showed off what was going on inside his camp. "They''re assembling battering rams and ladders. They know they couldn''t starve us out of here and time would only play to our favor. He''s going to attack us as soon as he''s ready because he thinks he only has to deal with a few magi defending the city. We''ll have to prove him wrong and make him pay the price. There are supposedly a hundred thousand people in Ryad, let¡¯s turn them into soldiers."


    "High Mage," came a cry from the lift as it slowly came into view. "A message just came in with one of the arrows. You better have a look at it."


    Helen took the slip and unfurled it, scanning the lines before nodding solemnly and handing it to Helodion. "Looks like we have until dawn to give them our answer."


    "We can''t hand over the city."


    "They promise to spare the lives of the people if we give it up without a fight," Helen said. "We don''t know when the next portal is going to open up or if we could even hold out long enough. It''s a difficult decision but I can''t play with their lives if I know we won''t be able to protect them."


    "You just told me what happened to the garrison when they surrendered. What makes you think they''ll treat civilians any different? Our only hope is to keep them off the walls for as long as possible and if I were Djarius, I''d attack before the deadline runs out."


    Helen raised a brow. "He gave us until dawn to reply."


    "Which would make an attack before then even more of a surprise." Helodion scratched his chin and glanced back at Kaspar. "Prepare for an early morning assault and make sure we''re ready to move through an open portal at a moment''s notice."


    "That''s not for you to decide. The people have a right to know and determine their own future."


    "Not in this case they don''t. The Mage''s Guild is a neutral party and I''m the highest ranking official in service to the Empire here. I say, we hold for as long as possible and await reinforcements or a chance to retreat."


    <hr>


    Markus sat at his desk, steadily working his way through the tomes stacked high on the table. Not that he found administrative work or even study to be of entertainment but out of necessity.


    "Can''t you put that away and spend at least the evenings with me?" Adelaxia asked as she sat on the corner of the desk and shoved the books aside. She sighed and ran her fingers through Markus'' hair. "You hardly even notice me anymore."


    "As much as I''d love to have you on your back right now, it must wait for the time being. I''ll be sure to dedicate myself to you once this whole ordeal is over," Markus said. He jotted down some notes on paper and glanced up at his wife. The urges twisted inside of him, to let go of his objective for just an hour or two but he couldn''t let go of the reins at such a critical moment. "I''m going to suggest Rouya to make me the Defender of the Realm. It''ll give me widespread authority to put through the necessary measures."


    Adelaxia let her shoulders slump and moaned aloud at Rouya''s name. "Why are you playing this game? Just kill her and be done with it. She''s got two relics which would bring us up to three. That''s more than enough to take on the rest of them."


    Adelaxia was correct. Numerically and in terms of experience he could take the initiative and create facts.


    "Rouya is Queen of Aequilla," Markus said solemnly. "As long as she rules there is a sense of legitimacy to the undertaking. If I become Defender of the Realm and she passes away, it would pass the crown on to me. Killing Rouya would just make me one of many traitors."


    "What about the bastard boy?" Adelaxia asked, wedging herself onto Markus'' lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and locked him in close to her. "Wouldn''t that just make him king?"


    Markus eyed the slender figure directly in front of him and reached for the paper knife on his desk. He set the point down on her neck and moved it down between her breasts, tearing through her blouse and exposing her breasts to him. "As far as I''m concerned, Jamie died earlier this week. The good captain and everyone else with knowledge won''t be around much longer to say otherwise."


    The space between them continued to shrink until Adelaxia had her chest in front of his face and he felt his member stirring beneath her.


    "Let me hear it from you."


    Markus caught her wrists and bound her arms behind her back. "Let''s not get ahead of ourselves here."


    "A pity. Empress sounds so much more fitting when it¡¯s me carrying the title."


    <hr>


    Hours passed since Markus Relius'' attack on the mansion left the entire property in ruins. For over a hundred years the ya-Vahn family ruled over the lands from the mansion and served under the former Shah. It wasn''t until Justinian''s campaign that Kalim''s family home was set ablaze and his father taken prisoner. It took five years for him to be released and make Kalim the new head of the family and governor under the rule of the Padishah Emperor.


    Kalim slowly regained his consciousness, slipping in and out of memories from all across his life and the shame he had to bear.


    The rage built inside of him and he drew upon his connection to Attia through his ring to bring her to him. The rubble around him burst away in a magical explosion and Kalim was able to take a breath of fresh air and glimpsed upon the wasteland of hundreds of gold and thousands of silver coins. Nothing remained intact of the once highly regarded mansion that so marvelously combined art and function. He crumbled to his knees, releasing the anger inside of him in a thunderous roar. Scratches and bruises marked his body. His clothes lay in tatters with only threads hanging from his shoulders. Attia protected him in the critical moment but failed to bring him outside of the collapsing building on time.


    "I should bring you to a physician," Attia said, drawing him out of his thoughts. "Your well-being is my top priority."


    "He''s going to pay for this. That double-crossing rat is going to pay thrice over for what he did here. I''m going to destroy everything he loved."


    "Master, you''re still in shock."


    Kalim waved her concern aside and balled his hands. "I want every Realmwalker in the universe rounded up and detained. It''s about time I speak with the rest of the confederation."

 Brief Respite

    "Inter-planetary commerce has dropped by 75% with shortages of grain--"


    Rouya rubbed her temples as she struggled to pay attention to the reports of her council members. They''d each give off ten minute speech on what''s going wrong in their specific area and then expect her to pull a solution right out of her arm. Whenever she made a suggestion, it immediately brought up objections by other members which would point out shortcomings in other fields that made it impossible for her to achieve what she suggested.


    She always saw her father as the supreme ruler who could do whatever he wanted and she wondered if he had to deal with the same attitudes.


    "Redistribute grain and other necessities from the imperial stockpiles to the planets in need and remind them from who the support is coming from," Rouya said. She rubbed the ring on her finger, eager to meet the newest daeva in her service and get some answers out of her. When she arrived back on Aequilla, her advisors immediately dragged her away to the endless meetings.


    "That would dry up our reserves, your grace," Lord Palin, the chief commerce advisor, pointed out. "The past few years have seen harvests decline by ten percent. We''ll need the reserves in the coming year if things don''t get better."


    "We''ll worry about that when the time comes. For now, we should consider taking care of our people so they may live to see next year."


    An odd silence took hold of the chamber as none of her advisors voiced their agreement but also withheld their criticism. Apparently they were all more concerned about their own well-being in the coming year if things went sour again.


    "An alternative on my side, perhaps," Palin suggested. "Lifle in the Rion sector is one of the highest agriculture worlds we lost in recent time. A military expedition to re-secure the planet would greatly increase our production."


    "Impossible," Satrap Irul snapped. As minister for war he knew all there was about the military capacity of her empire. "Our forces are already hard-pressed to hold on to territories we control. Rebel activity, ambushes and dissatisfaction are at an all-time high. We need to consolidate our forces on key worlds until Shahbanu Rouya is able to bring the remaining systems back into line."


    "Enough of this arguing," Rouya said, rising from her chair at the end of the table. "I''ve already won a first victory and will follow this up with another duel once I have familiarized myself with the maiden''s abilities. For now, let''s redistribute half of our stock and begin a recruitment drive to retake Lifle. Now if you''ll excuse me, I need some privacy."


    The council members glanced at each other but took their leave in silence. She waited until they were all gone before slumping back in the chair and letting out a sigh. Ruling was proving to be harder than she thought. She never received the training necessary for the position, that fell to her younger brother whom she found with her sister and mother in the foyer.


    Rouya pushed aside the darker thoughts and concentrated on reaching for magic as she summoned Tessia. Parsa knew something he thought would spare him her wrath. He could have been trying to buy time to strike back against her but didn¡¯t appear apt enough to try such a move.


    Tessia appeared beside her in a stream of light. Her long curly white hair flowed over her shoulders. She gave a slight bow, bringing her hand to her chest as she moved. "You summoned me, master."


    "You don''t seem surprised to see me," Rouya pointed out. The maidens were only loyal to those that held the relics but she still expected them to show some signs of loyalty or remorse.


    Tessia flung her hair back and smiled. "He failed to supply me with magic and coordinate with me. Running away only finalized his defeat. I hope you know how to treat me right."


    "I plan on reuniting all seven relics and becoming empress."


    "Don''t they all?"


    "What do you mean?"


    "Parsa believed he could live out his days with me at his side and rule over his little domain. That all the separatists would respect each other and live in peace. Envy is something you can always count on. Eventually somebody would try to regain complete control and take me from him. I''m glad a more capable, and attractive, summoner has already presented herself."


    Rouya stood and moved in front of her, peering into her stormy gray eyes. Tessia lacked the muscles Attia or Evelyn had, her body more ample than either of the other maidens while still being a head taller than Rouya. "Parsa begged me for his freedom and offered me information before Markus killed him. I was hoping you might have been privy to any of the secrets he might have been keeping."


    Tessia raised her brows and leaned in. "He was a simple man and just as easy to please. He had no secrets worth keeping."Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    "Is that so?" Rouya mused, steeling herself from being intimated by her presence. She was the master and in control. "What about Markus Relius? You must have been there when the traitors stole the relics from my father. What was his role in all this?"


    Tassia cocked her head and tapped her chin playfully. "I was off world when it happened but when Parsa summoned me Kalim and Markus were already at each other''s throats battling. Kalim ended up taking Adelaxia as a hostage but let him live."


    "So they were fighting but instead of ganging up on Markus, they retreated?"


    "Yes, it appears as if Kalim were trying to win him over to his side but I can''t say for sure. Parsa was eager to return home and show me off."


    Rouya frowned and thought over everything that had happened these past few days. His defiance to her wishes and the way he just killed Parsa instead of taking him prisoner raised suspicions but Tassia couldn''t lie to her master and from what she said it appeared as if he told the truth and was loyal to her father. She felt a burden release from her shoulder at the thought of having one less rival to deal with and looked forward to spending the night with Evelyn again.


    "Thank you for your information. I''m going to return to my chambers and rest for now. You''re free to do as you like in the palace, just don''t wander off too far."


    Tassia stared at her with a blank expression and blinked several times. "What? You want me to guard the perimeter?"


    "No, the guards are in place and Eveyln will take care of my protection for tonight. You''re free to do whatever it is you like. The gardens are nice and there''s usually a concert playing during dinner if you''d like to listen to music."


    "I, uhm, don''t know what to think about that but I''ll do as you wish, master."


    "Just call me Rouya, there''s no need for master. We''re friends from now on."


    "Friends ..."


    <hr>


    Rouya wandered towards her chambers with a sense of exhaustion creeping into her. She hadn''t used that much magic in her fight against Parsa but the shoulder injury made every movement, including breathing, painful. All she wanted to do was let herself fall back in her bed and sleep, hoping the next day would suddenly appear better. The council meetings weren''t helping in that regard but pointed out just how much rested on her shoulders.


    It all came down to her and her ability to restore order. She decided to go over the information she''d gathered on the other summoners the next day and pick out her next target for after she recovered. Practicing with Markus would also be for the better in order to help her keep from getting injured again. Her luck wouldn''t last forever.


    The two guards standing watch outside her chambers opened the door for her and held their spears at attention. She dismissed them for the evening and entered. If another summoner did attack her, the guards would only be casualties on their way inside.


    "I need to enjoy the time given to me," she said to herself and caressed the Nazar dangling from her neck. A tinge of magic spiked Evelyn''s interest and she appeared a moment later. Her alarm quickly faded when she noticed Rouya wasn''t in danger but that they were alone in her room. "It''s been a tough day. Have you found out anything about Markus?"


    "Not yet. He only just retired with Adelaxia to his chambers. Should I conceal myself and continue the observation?"


    Rouya shook her head and went over to the serving table and filled herself a cup of tea. "I never figured you to be the voyeuristic type to spy on others during their intimacy." A brief smile crept across her lips before she became serious again. "Tassia''s already filled me in on what happened in the Great Hall. I think we can trust him for the time being but I''m not sure he''ll respect my authority forever. He''s proving to be more difficult to handle, as is everything else in the empire."


    She sipped from her tea and eyed Evelyn over the brim of the cup. The maiden appeared more at ease when it was just the two of them and they weren''t in public. While Rouya couldn''t deny a level of attraction for Mah, her bond with Evelyn far outweighed that. They''d only just met and while the daeva knew Rouya well, she couldn''t say the same the other way around.


    "I understand your concern. It''s important to be wary of anyone that might wish to take the relics from you. Summoners could use even commoners as a means to steal from you." Evelyn crossed the room and took Rouya''s hand, helping her over to the bed. "You really shouldn''t exert yourself with the amount of injuries you have. You need time to properly heal. Here, lay down and take off your shirt. Let me have a look."


    Rouya sat down on the bed and undid the straps of her armor and letting Evelyn help her ease it off. She winced as the leather brushed over bandaged wound and laid down on her back.


    Evelyn laid her fingers on Rouya''s chest, probing the area around the wound before slowly removing the bandages and inspecting it directly. She pouted and eyed her master. "You''re lucky Tassia missed your heart. A few inches more and you''d have been dead on the spot."


    "I think it''s fair to call the amount of luck I have skill by this point."


    "I''m being serious," Evelyn said, raising her brows. "I can''t take care of you, if you''re killed. We need to be more careful and take less risks."


    "You''re starting to sound a lot like Markus." Rouya cocked her head to the side. "I don''t know how I can possibly do everything while also doing nothing at all and just hiding. It''s as if I can never satisfy others. I''m just trying to do the best I can."


    "Shh." Evelyn silenced her by placing the tip of her finger on her lips and moving her body over hers. She leaned in and kissed the gaping wound leftover from Tassia and watched the skin regenerate at an expedited pace. "That should help but the muscle underneath will need more time to fully heal. You''re still worrying about others too much. It would really help for you to clear your mind and relax. When you enter a fight, you need to be focused in order to make the best decisions. I can''t have your thoughts drifting to matters we can''t influence."


    "I know but the people deserve better and they expect me to give it to them."


    "You will. I know you can but you can''t do it if you go into your next battle with old injuries still flaring up and your mind in the wrong spot." Evelyn brushed Rouya''s blue hair aside and let her lips brush against hers and enticing her to want more before she gave it to her.


    "Your Grace," came a cry from the halls as the minister of war burst into her chambers and caught them both in a state of undress. He blushed and swiftly turned on his heels but it could not be unseen. "Your Grace, our scouts have just spotted a Battle Maiden outside the city. What''ll you have us do?"

 Ride of the Dragoon

    "What, a Battle Maiden?" Rouya jumped to her feet and hastily redressed. She tapped into the magic to strengthen herself and turned to Evelyn. "Alert Markus and have him meet me there. I''ll be needing his assistance on this one."


    "Very well," Evelyn said and disappeared from sight.


    "Which one is it?"


    "We''re not sure, it''s too far away but we assume it may be Azhi," Palin said. He pointed up at the night sky where a red dot stood but was too small to make out. "We''ll go to the observatory. From there we should be able to get a closer look at who it is."


    "The dragoon," Rouya said under her breath and immediately felt chills run down her spine. "Ahzi is the most dangerous of the maidens. I can only hope you''re wrong."


    Rouya summoned Tessia at her side to help guard her as she followed Palin to the observatory. The equipment there was used to detect habitable planets within the Inner Realm and helping establish routes for Realmwalkers to traverse. After a few moments guards appeared and brought with them the staff running the facility and they readjusted the glasses to focus on the maiden in the sky.


    Palin took the first look and appeared paler when he stepped away. "It''s only one and we have three on our side, so it shouldn''t be a big deal."


    Rouya peered through the glass and caught sight of the Battle Maiden standing hovering in midair on her chariot drawn by a thousand horses. Her long fiery hair billowed in the wind partially masking the pair of horns protruding from her skull and her expression appeared disinterested in the people beneath her. Her glance flicked up and met Rouya''s glare. She knew she was being watched. Her arms were crossed in front of her golden plate armor with dragon heads adorning her shoulders. Ahzi didn''t need to fear the other maidens and it showed.


    "She''s not attempting anything," Rouya began. Markus arrived with Adelaxia and Mitra. "It appears as if Ahzi is scouting us from a distance. Her summoner could be anywhere but we need to find him before it''s too late."


    Markus took a brief glance through the glass and frowned. "I don''t think she''s scouting. She wouldn''t need to reveal herself in such an open position to do that. It''s an open challenge for anyone to come and oppose her."


    "Our combined strength should destroy her." Rouya summoned Mah in addition to Evelyn and began reinforcing their attack powers.


    "Defeating Ahzi wouldn''t serve us anything but it would give her master a glimpse of our abilities," Markus pointed out. "We need to search for her master and retrieve the dragonglass from him."


    "I agree. He might be in the hills outside the city. It would give him an overview of the battle while also keeping a safe distance." Rouya turned to her daeva and looked at each of them in turn. "Start sweeping the city for any trails of magic leading to Ahzi and then proceed outside with caution."


    "She''s getting ready to attack," Mitra said, readying her bow in her hands.


    Both summoners spun around to see Ahzi gathering large amount of magic. Streams of red energy swirled around her figure, steadily growing in size. Rouya felt the intensity of her strength from over three miles away. The most likely target would be the palace. If she unleashed her full potential, it would destroy a quarter of the city with a single blow. She recalled reading texts from the war and the casualties involved in her father obtaining the dragonglass.


    "Mitra," Markus snapped. "Target her and see if we can interrupt her attack. We need to buy the maidens some time to locate him."


    "With pleasure," she said, notching three arrows at once and pulling the string back. A quick spell cast the arrows in darkness and she released the night arrows with the aim of catching Ahzi off-guard and potentially wounding her. The arrows darted across the night sky and vanished from sight. Only the faint glimmer on the horizon let her know that they''d met their target.


    Rouya peered back through the looking glass only to find Ahzi undamaged and entering the final phase of her spell. She wove her hands through the air, collecting the magic into her blunderbuss and aimed it at the ground. A burst snapped and shattered windows. Rouya pressed her palms against her ears but still felt the shock pass her by. When she lifted her hands the silence in her head faded to a throbbing and high pitched ringing.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Markus came into view, moving his lips to words she couldn''t make out. Frustration played in his face and he quickly pulled her to her feet and took her inside the palace.


    "What''s going- why didn''t she hit the palace?" Rouya asked but her mind was still reeling. She swayed to the side and had to support herself against the wall. Evelyn and Tassia drew near to where Ahzi positioned herself but hadn''t yet detected her master.


    "She''s making a statement." Rouya heard the words come from Markus but it sounded as if he were speaking from underwater with her. "That she can defeat us at any time. We should consider going into hiding on my world. There are plenty of safe zones in the mountains from where we can launch attacks against the other summoners."


    ¡±I¡¯m not going to abandon the people of Aequilla and leave them to their fates!"


    "Staying here is only going to draw their attention here in the first place."


    Rouya felt her skin to prickle at the build up of magical energy again. She raced to the window and gasped as she realized Ahzi was preparing to unleash her ultimate strike again. For a brief moment she wondered just how far Ahzi would go and how much magic her summoner could channel to her.


    Another shock wave washed over the city, shaking the foundations of the structure. Paintings fell off walls and furniture were tossed over.


    Rouya steadied herself and moved to the window. None of the attacks destroyed the palace. A single attack would have been enough to seriously damage it and the second to flatten it entirely. Large dust clouds billowed up on the horizon from around the maiden but the city was nearly intact. None of her strikes had hit them, a fact which raised more questions Rouya hoped she''d get answers too soon.


    Evelyn and Tessia drew closer to Ahzi.


    <hr>


    "She definitely got up on the wrong foot today!" Tessia cried, bracing herself against the explosion.


    Evelyn dug the butt of her glaive into the ground and held on tight and dirt and debris struck her armor. Even with Evelyn moving as she did, Ahzi wouldn''t have missed by such a large margin. It raised her suspicions that Ahzi wasn''t targeting her in the first place.


    But why waste so much magic on a miss?


    "Look out," Evelyn cried as the storm cleared and she caught sight of the maiden hovering above them. She began to collect magic again would release it upon them anew. It was then that Evelyn noticed the giant crater where a mountain range once stood. "See you if can take a shot at her and distract her. We need to discover the trail of magic and pinpoint her master."


    Tessia agreed and held up her hands to the skies, letting out thin rays of light and having them burst on impact against Ahzi. The dragoon didn''t take kindly too their interference and had her chariot dash away. She didn''t get very far before she unleashed the second shot out of her blunderbuss. The shot burst through the air and struck against the crater, cracking the earth and sending chunks of rock out their way. Tessia had to destroy three of the larger ones to prevent herself from being knocked out.


    Evelyn weaved in and out to avoid the rocks coming her way as she raced follow Ahzi. "She''s trying to get away. See if you can take out the chariot. That''ll annoy her!"


    Tessia was specialized in long range combat while Ahzi was a close to mid-range fighter and had a great deal of mobility with her chariot.


    Evelyn on the other hand could only rely up the reach of her glaive and the strength of her own legs to get her where she needed to. She drew upon more magic from Rouya and diverted it to her legs to increase her speed as the distance between her and the chariot slowly diminished. The nerves on her neck prickled up in warning and she instinctively raised her glaive up in a defensive stance.


    Two curved blades slammed against the shaft where she would have been a moment later. The weapon in her hand rattled as she forced herself to hold back against the strength of the blow. A pair of narrowed eyes peered deeply into Evelyn''s and forced her on edge. She quickly spun her glaive around, attempting to knock the blades out of Cemri''s hands and lunge at her exposed gut but Cemri went along with the movement, allowing herself to be spun only to take the initiative in the final moment and bring her arm down in a strike.


    Evelyn didn''t have the time to block her attack and was forced to leap back, ceding ground to the nimble warrior. "You''re interrupting me. I was just in the middle of something. Why don''t you just go and wait your turn? I''m pretty sure I can take you on in just a minute."


    "I''m not going to wait for you. I still have a bone to pick and I''m going to rip it out of your ribs!" Cemri gave Evelyn a wicked grin. The moon crested blades in Cemri''s hands were excellent weapons in offense and allowed her to strike from and pose. Cemri didn''t wear plate armor and relied only on thin strips of leather to protect her chest and legs while giving herself enough flexibility to maneuver swiftly.


    "That''s not a very lady-like thing for you to say. I''m going to have to teach you some manners."


    While Evelyn faced off against her new opponent, Ahzi and Tessia were coloring the horizon in a storm of hues as they each launched deadly volleys at one another and laying complete waste to farmland outside the city.

 Unleash the Fury

    Both warriors stared at each other with weapons hefted and ready to strike. Evelyn made sure to keep a safe distance from Cemri. Her blades had a short range, but she was a fury class daeva and could tap into a great amount of strength and speed. She wore only a light leather armor over her sun-kissed skin and long raven black hair with two braided strands. The grin on her face widened as she recognized Evelyn''s hesitation.


    "What''s the matter? I used to remember you enjoying a good fight. The flow of bodies, art of sparring and the taste of victory. A pure thrill."


    Evelyn needed to pinpoint the location of both their summoners and strike before they did the same to Rouya. The only alternative would be for her to pull back and hope she could protect Rouya upfront. A fight against Cemri would only bog her down but it could also be beneficial in discovering the trail of magic leading to her. She twirled the glaive in front of her, creating a powerful gust of wind and brushing the Cemri''s braids back. When she felt she''d collected enough energy built up into weapon with it brimming under the palm of her hands she stopped and took in her opponent one final time.


    "I''m fighting for someone I care about that''s what''s changed. Now I''m going to end your presence here and give you some time to consider your own reasons for fighting." Evelyn dashed ahead with the tip of the glaive trailing behind her. She covered the half mile between them in a matter of moments and came within striking distance of her.


    Cemri gave her a bemused smile as she approached and leaped into the air once Evelyn moved in to attack her. She twirled in the air, flashing her blades in a cross at where she anticipated Evelyn would be only to find it vacant. "What the¡ª where did you go?" She quickly glanced about and her eyes widened when she found Evelyn had repositioned herself several feet away where Cemri would land.


    "I''ve seen you fight enough times to know how you''d react," Evelyn remarked, shifting her stance and bringing her glaive up for an overhead strike but just as her blade fell Cemri somehow managed to narrowly avoid her and touched down on the ground. The failure didn''t last long and Evelyn quickly shuffled around, slapping the pole against Cemri''s chest.


    The fury flew back several hundred yards and collided against the walls of Aequilla with a loud rupture. Pieces of the wall became unbalanced and toppled over creating a billowing dust cloud. Evelyn didn''t wait for her to get on her feet and immediately went back on the offensive. She stormed through the cloud but as the dust settled she could no longer spot Cemri. Evelyn halted and immediately braced herself for an attack and turned.


    Cemri lashed out with both blades, trimming part of Evelyn''s crimson hair with one and the other grinding against her chain-mail but not penetrating it. She scowled and followed her attack with a roundhouse kick dislodging Evelyn and forcing her to put some distance between the two. "Don''t get your hopes up. This match is already settled. You just haven''t realized it yet."


    "We''ll see about that when I send you back to your master."


    Cemri bent her knees and brought her arms to her sides, chanelling all the magic she could from her summoner and into her next attack. The muscles in her arms and legs bulged and Evelyn felt her intense power press against her own. Her eyes flared as she let out a deafening roar and hurled a chunk of the crumbled wall at Evelyn.


    Evelyn sliced through the stone with ease and spotted the fury bursting through the rubble right at her. They fought each other four years prior but the fight then had been heavily in Evelyn''s favor with two allies supporting her. She dug her feet into the ground and kicked up dirt, swiftly following the motion by spinning on her toes as she brought the glaive around. One of Cemri''s moon blades scraped against the backside of the glaive with sparks flying as it rolled down but was blocked by the hold.


    "Ugh." Cemri spat blood after landing on the tip of glaive. The moon blades slipped out of her grasp and her eyes widened but were still locked on Evelyn.


    Explosions for the wild magic Tessia and Ahzi fired at each other rained down around them, shattering buildings and sending people fleeing.


    The relief was only temporary as the anger inside Cemri fueled her strength. She screamed and brought her hand down to snap the pole in two. She stumbled to her knees and smiled back at Evelyn with blood spilling out of the corner of her lips. She pulled the glaive out of her gut and tossed it aside, laughing as she neared the defenseless Evelyn.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Evelyn was an immortal daeva and fought in countless battles but she felt fear for the first time. It dug itself deep inside her and gnawed on her from the back of her mind. Fear of losing Rouya.


    Cemri hurled a punch at Evelyn but she deflected the blow with her arm. Her knuckles penetrated Evelyn''s bracers and left a deep dent. A flurry of blows erupted, going for Evelyn''s face and torso and steadily increasing in speed as she put more and more of herself into the fight. For every time Evelyn managed to deflect or block an attack, Cemri exploited the opening with a swift move, cracking her armor and bruising the body beneath it.


    It took a lot out of Evelyn to withstand the barrage of attacks and she knew she needed to take control of the fight. She injured Cemri, but it wasn''t enough to knock her out of the fight just yet. Evelyn swooped to the side and linked her foot to Cemri''s. With a solid kick, she dislodged her and immediately followed up by thrusting her elbow into her back and knocking her to the ground. Evelyn dropped on top of her, trying to pin her down with her knee and latch on to her arms.


    Both sides wrestled with each other, rolling in the mud as they attempted to gain the upper hand and pin the other down.


    "You want to play dirty? I can do that!" Cemri shouted as she rolled onto her back and backhanded Evelyn across the face. She grabbed Evelyn''s skull between her two massive hands and brought her face up to Evelyn''s. "Say good night to your princess."


    Badum


    Evelyn head-butted Cemri with all the strength she had left and freed herself from the fury''s grasp. Her power was diminishing and the stream of magic supplied by Rouya was growing weaker by the minute. She rose onto her shaky legs and searched, trying to focus on Cemri and where she was getting her magic. People wouldn''t be able to magic in the same way daeva could. The way it encapsulated beings and dripped from them like sweat.


    Cemri wasn''t getting her magic from Aequilla. Her summoner was off-world, relegating their fight as meaningless unless she discovered his whereabouts. The fury crawled forward and grabbed Evelyn''s ankle.


    "I''m not finished with you. We''re just starting here," Cemri growled.


    Evelyn wasn''t having any of it and jumped aside before making her way back to the palace with all the speed should get muster. It took her moments, but she still felt as if it had been an eternity. She crossed the grounds to the small castle located behind the palace. A remnant from the olden days when armies still fought, but it still remained one of the most heavily fortified positions in the capitol.


    Mitra stood on the ramparts and watched Evelyn''s approach while still delivering a volley of arrows out in support of Tessia against Ahzi. They''d been successful in pushing her further away from the city and damaging her chariot. Faced with the prospect of defeat, it appeared as if she opted for a retreat when she disappeared into the horizon.


    They may have won the evening skirmish, but the battle was long from over.


    "I like your makeover. It''s a real improvement to before," Mitra chided, eyeing down the bloodied and dirtied maiden. "Any luck in locating the summoners? All it takes is one of my arrows to end a fight."


    Evelyn looked at her crossly and gathered some magic to renew her armor to mint condition and shine as well as healing her wounds. "You''re free to join me next time. I''ll give you something to remember me by."


    She brushed passed the archer maiden and entered the castle, swiftly maneuvering through the narrow corridors until she found Rouya and Markus in the armory. She looked stunning all dressed up for a fight and the scythe resting against her shoulders. If only they had the luxury of spending more time together.


    "Evelyn," Rouya said, lighting up and rushing into her arms. "I''m so glad to see you''re all right. Did you find them? I was getting worried after what I saw happened to the lower half of the city."


    "It''s horrible but we should leave this place. Javed is coordinating his attack from off-world. It''ll take a joint effort and attacking him directly before he groups up with more of his allies." Evelyn held Rouya at a distance and looked into her eyes. "We need to move now, before it becomes more difficult to follow the traces of magic."


    "That won''t be necessary," came a voice from the shadows. Evelyn instinctively placed herself in front of Rouya and prepared to fight the new arrival. "I''ve come to finish what we should have finished more thoroughly days ago."


    "Well then, you''re even dumber than I thought," Rouya said, crossing her arms. "I''ll be more than willing to pass on my sentence for your betrayal."


    "You''d have to get by me first," Cemri said as she appeared out of thin air beside Javad. She glanced at Evelyn and licked her lips. "We were in the middle of something when you just up and left. That''s very rude of you, you know."


    Ahzi took shape a moment later, cocking the lock of her dragon pistol back. "I''m here to claim this world in the name of my master, Lord Sameh and do with it as I please. First, I have to get rid of you maggots."


    "Hey, that''s unfair," Cemri snapped. "You can''t just claim Aequilla. This world clearly falls into the jurisdiction of my great and powerful summoner."


    "You''re both fools to believe you can win this fight without my support," came another voice from the other side of the armory. Evelyn spun around to face the new threat only to feel herself exposed on more than one side. Attia brushed her hair back and gave off a long bored yawn as she walked over to join the other maidens. "Evelyn and I already made arrangements. Let''s not let this date end the way it did last time. I want to see your full strength and revel in your defeat."


    The three maidens, Ahzi, Attia and Cemri, stood opposite the three maidens protecting Markus and Evelyn. The intensity of magic building up had only started and only one side could claim the relics. In the end, Evelyn knew there could only be a single Padishah Emperor.

 Battle Royale

    Rouya stared at Kalim with an intent not aligned with her usual way. The leader of the rebellion and the reason her family was murdered. She pulled the scythe off her back and balanced the weight in her hands. He might be the exception to her rule.


    "So you''ve finally come to show yourself. I was wondering when I''d get to hold you accountable for your atrocities," Rouya said.


    Kalim shut his eyes and smiled. He clasped his hand over his face but even then couldn''t prevent himself from breaking out into a hysterical laughter.


    Attia perked up, lowering her guard as she turned around to regard her master. "Hey, we came here to fight not chit-chat. Let me have my revenge."


    "I''m sorry, my dear. Let the adults talk for a moment. There''s still plenty of time to kill them," Kalim said. He held his hands to the side revealing that he was unarmed and his silver dragon wasn''t in sight. The little beast was a child but still capable of wrecking havoc with its breath. "I''m surprised you lasted this long, even went so far as to kill my less capable allies Farid and Parsa. I come to you now to bring an end to the war and offer peace. I''ve seen the destruction of my home and I saw what happened outside. You care for your people as much as I do and only together can we stop further bloodshed."


    "Don''t listen to him," Markus snarled. "We can end this right now by defeating them. Isn''t that what you want?"


    Rouya''s heart fluttered at the memory of her father, mother, brother and sister. The horrible deaths they suffered at his hands. Her body trembled, and she balled her hands to keep composure. "Surrender your arms and the relics and I''ll see to it you get a fair trial. It''s the same offer I gave Parsa."


    Kalim nodded solemnly. "I see you blame me for acts I did not commit. It''s true that I lead a rebellion against your father but it was for independence. I''m a man of reason, looking out for the best interests of my people. We are of like mind which is why I offer myself to you in marriage. To unite the Inner and Outer Realm for peace and not domination."


    "You¡ª you want to marry me?" Rouya was at a loss of words. She''d never expected a marriage proposal, least of all at a time such as this. They knew each other only fleetingly, and all she felt for him was hatred. He was a murderer and no amount of sweet talk could have her overlook that fact. She turned to Evelyn and smiled. "I''ll have to decline your offer and give you one last chance to surrender yourselves. I''m not up for grabs and neither are my ideals."


    Kalim cocked his head to Javed. "I really do despise bloodshed but I''m afraid you''ve given me no choice. It''s funny that you would prefer Markus Relius'' company to my own. We could have lived as equals."


    "That''s enough from you," Markus snapped, holding his arm out. "Mitra, finish him this time."


    "With pleasure." Mitra loosed the first arrow at Kalim and followed it up with a second but Attia moved in front of him and deflected both attacks with ease. "You again. You''re nothing but the dirt under my boot."


    Attia grinned, holding her scimitar into the lantern light. "At least I made an impression but we can talk over it when I''ve slain your master and have you join our side."


    Mitra leaped onto the wall and ran across the stone surface, loosing another volley of arrows as she went. Rouya could hardly follow Mitra''s speed, let alone Attia''s deflects which turned into a blur.


    "Look out," Evelyn said, charging forward and slicing through Javed''s crossbow. The summoner jumped back, holding his arms up in surrender. "Get out of here!"


    Cemri tackled Evelyn to the ground and plummeted her moon blade into Evelyn''s side. Evelyn gasped, grabbing her wrists and slowly raising the blade out of her. She looked to Rouya and voiced something she couldn''t hear over the fighting going on around her.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Ahzi and Tessia destroyed the north side of the room with the building beginning to collapse in on itself.


    Rouya jerked to attention and dashed out of the armory and headed towards the fortress''s gate. Explosions rang out as the fighting transferred to the other rooms. The primal struggle between maidens of equal skill trying to overcome each other. The screams as they landed a blow and the groans of their exertion. Rouya could no longer tell friend or foe apart, she just ran.


    Aequilla burned and lay ruined. People fled from their homes in search of safety but even Rouya, as their queen did not know where to find it and for how long. She left the fortress and slowed down to catch her breath. She glanced over her shoulder to see if anyone was following her but all she heard was destruction.


    "Evelyn ... Tassia," Rouya called out but no reply came. She struck out her hands and tapped into the magic as she began to draw up the summoning spell for Mah.


    "My dear, you''re hurt. Wh--" Mah glanced around, taking in the collapsing building and the ruined city. Her features softened when she looked back at Rouya. "I need to get you far away from here. Somewhere they won''t find you, where you''ll be safe."


    Rouya felt the tug on her as both maidens demanded more magic from her. She reached into the Shadow Realm until she was in up to her elbows and diverted as much magic as she could to the daeva. "I can''t leave them. They need me but I need you to help the people below. Save as many as you can and get them out of the city."


    "You''re asking me to leave you in a moment of need alone? What if something happens to you, I can''t let that happen?"


    "I''ll be fine, just get the Mage''s Guild to bring out a realmwalker. I want to try to lure them off of Aequilla." Rouya pulled out of the Shadow Realm and cast a buffering spell to help increase Evelyn''s defense.


    <hr>


    The battle wasn''t going as well as Evelyn hoped but at least Rouya was out of harm''s way for the time being. Every time she freed herself from Cemri for a moment and charge Javed, another maiden would tumbling her way. The strict confines were limiting her maneuverability. The injuries she had were taking a toll, and she didn''t have the magic or time needed to mend herself.


    Evelyn caught sight of Javed hiding against in a corner with his back pressed against the wall. he wasn''t participating in the fight like Markus and Kalim were with both of them engaged in hand to hand combat. Kalim may have been younger and more agile but Markus was clearly more gifted and landed several blows.


    The distance between them was too great for her to make it to him in time and Attia kept guard over Kalim from her being able to flank him. A stone loosened from the ceiling and fell down right in front of Evelyn. She glanced up and took in the fortress''s interior architecture and its crumbling state.


    "Tessia, target the pillar!" Evelyn shouted and when Tessia paused to direct her next attack at the stone pillar in the center of the room, she turned and hammered her fist in to the wall. Stones flung free from their holding, causing a rippling effect throughout the room and bringing the ceiling to fall on Javed.


    "Nice call," Tessia shouted with a wave to Evelyn but jerked up with the clack of fire behind her. Ahzi shot her in the head at point blank range and sent her body toppling over before vanishing in a bright light.


    With Javed either dead or unconscious, Cemri began to dissolve as well but not before hurling herself at Evelyn once last time. She raised her arm, the blade at hand glinting as brought it down.


    Evelyn gasped, anticipating the excruciating pain of being stabbed another time only to find the last remnants of Cemri being blow away in the breeze. She reached for her glaive and jumped back on her feet, swiftly moving ahead and dodging another shot by Ahzi.


    The maiden scowled and jumped through the window with a whistle. The chariot appeared beneath her, allowing her to make a safe escape.


    Markus slapped the palm of his hand against Kalim''s face, crushing his nose. Blood rushed from his face before he applied pressure and eased away from the fight.


    "You''ll pay for your treachery, Markus. I''ll destroy you next time for what you''ve done." Attia swept Kalim off his feet and dashed out of the fortress, leaping from rooftop to rooftop to get him out of the city.


    Evelyn rushed to the pile of stones concealing Javed and slowly unearthed him. He was injured but alive and unconscious. She removed the armband from his wrist and hoisted him up, deciding to hand him over to Rouya to deal with his punishment. The fight was a close call and it didn''t come with a great loss to the innocent people. Their chances improved but the fight wasn''t over until they secured all the remaining relics.


    "I''ll be taking that," Markus announced as he moved to block her path.


    A trio of arrows whizzed into her chest. Evelyn''s eyes widened as she gasped for air and felt her grip on the physical realm dwindling.


    "Make sure she doesn''t get far. By all accounts, Rouya perished in the battle tonight. She died a hero, fighting for her people."


    Evelyn needed to warn Rouya, but all she saw was the light as her form took to the winds.

 A Knight in Shining Armor

    Vida gazed upon the wreckage that was Kyrarae, the once proud capitol of Aequilla. The walls of the city were in shambles and fire spread from house to house, its endless appetite consuming the ancient structures. She arrived late to the scene of battle but early enough to catch sight of Kalim and the two maidens fleeing the city.


    ¡°It¡¯s not too late for us to return,¡± Vida said, removing her helmet and letting it vanish in a burst of magic. Blond hair fell to her pauldrons as she faced her master. In her left she carried a greatsword by the sheath. The blade was too long to be worn at the hip and wearing it on her back would be practically impossible to retrieve.


    Telium remained firm, watching their allies approach. Despite his high age, Telium would train regularly to keep his body in shape. Even so, he knew the upcoming battle would be too much for him. ¡°I¡¯ve committed enough shameful acts in my life. I don¡¯t intend on ending my life with another.¡±


    Attia came to a halt in front of the knight and set her master down. "Look who decides to finally show up. No wonder Markus managed to kill Justinian if you dragged your feet."


    "That''s enough," Kalim said, holding his hand out to silence his maiden. He turned to Vida with a sense of authority as if she recognized him as her master. Only the bearer of the opaque earring could be her master. "Javed''s been slain. We must avenge his loss and retake the initiative. Rouya refuses any attempts at negotiation, it''s time for us to take off the gloves and up the stakes. Do it."


    "You''re aware of the consequences of what you ask of me?" Vida asked, holding the sheathed sword out in front of her. She met Kalim''s eyes to see into the soul of the man who would have her unleash her ultimate. Not even Justinian had her do the same during the Magi War.


    "It''s the only way to snuff out any future conflicts. We need to erase all traces of the empire and the family that built it."


    "Drawing the Zweihander would kill my master. I can only accept such a command from him and even so I do not wish to unleash the potential of my weapon. Please, master, have me seek out Rouya and end this fight by traditional means so you may return home."


    Telium took a step forward on his uneasy legs. At nearly sixty years of age he was the oldest of the separatists. He removed the earring and held it in the palm of his hand. "I want you to do me a favor and see to it my grandson is made heir and receives his relic. I¡¯ve seen my share of war for the Shah only to be defeated and serve the Padishah. I want my grandson to grow up a free man and rule our people with dignity."


    "Of course. Once we''ve brought this to an end, I''ll go there directly and tell him of your heroic deeds today," Kalim said.


    "Swear by your life!"


    "What''s the matter my friend, don''t you trust me?" Kalim grimaced. "Fine, I swear. By this time tomorrow, your grandson will be the new lord."


    "Vida, I expect you to hold Satrap Kalim to his word. As your master, I order you draw Zweihander and strike down our foes."


    "It was nice knowing you, master. Farewell," Vida said, unclasping the lock and pulling back on the handle. A blinding light burst off the surface of the blade accompanied by the chants of a thousand daeva as it came free of the sheath. Night turned to day, and the light bathed the land in gold. Intricate inscriptions were engraved into her sword in the old dervish tongue, a curse. It had been centuries since Vida saw the elongated blade the last time. She whirled it around so the tip faced the ground and plunged it down. The tip sliced through the earth with ease, expunging built up energy.


    An eruption sounded dozens of miles beneath them in the planet''s core where her strike landed. Cracks emerged all around them, small at first but swiftly growing and deepening as they spread towards Kyrarae. Trees became uprooted and fell over. A swath of farm land broke free and plummeted to the depths below. Entire planes shifted and crumbled. Kyrarae slowly crumbled as the cataclysm spread across the world.


    Vida moved the sword back into her sheath and clasped the lock shut.


    "So this," Telium took a final breath, "is freedom." He toppled over, the earring still clutched in his palm.


    Vida turned to Kalim and hardened her expression even as she began to lose her form. The wind carried away trails of magic. "You may have been able to fool my master but I''ve seen plenty of men like you before. I don¡¯t expect you to hold your word but I¡¯ll remember this day for eternity."


    Kalim shrugged and took the earring from Telium. "Once it''s all over, I''ll see to it you find your place at my side."


    Vida disintegrated, returning to the earring with an uneasy feeling for what she had unleashed.


    <hr>


    Helodion drew his sword from the corpse and wiped the blood off the shirt of the tribesman. More and more of the tribesmen were getting by his defenses and attacking the rear. He''d already slain over forty enemies but they kept flocking up.


    The tribesmen were attacking the wall on three locations. Helodion did his best dividing his men into three groups of thirty to cover those areas of the wall with another ten in reserve. He depleted those reserves within the first hour of battle.


    Helodion swung his sword down, breaking the hold and kicking the ladder back to fall on their own troops before rushing to the nearest foe. They all wore little to no armor with only the wealthiest having full gear.


    "Come with me. We need to do what we can to support the line," Helodion called out to his remaining men. The handful that were left. He moved down the length of the wall, slashing at every man he saw until his sword clanked against metal and halted him in place. He glanced up at the men and peered through the slits of his helmet. His disproportionate body looked almost comical with wide shoulders and bulky arms. The man held on to a large round shield and a sword in his other hand. "Well, aren''t you just charming?"


    "I''ve had enough of you," the man grumbled and swung with his sword. The desert heat did little to wear him down but Helodion managed to move himself just out of range but he kept going and gave chase, swinging his sword left and right. Helodion''s breastplate saved him several times, but he knew it only took a direct hit and he''d be dead.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Helodion saw an opening with the next swing and stepped in, slicing his sword against the backhand of the man and drawing blood. He groaned and pulled his hand away. It took him a moment to go back on the offensive, storming after him. Helodion let himself fall, sliding forward and drawing his sword up from under him. With blood spilling over him, Helodion quickly rolled to the side and wiped his face before getting back onto his feet. He may have defeated one of their warriors but at least ten more made it up the walls and cleared the ramparts of his men.


    "Kaspar, I think it''s time to fall back," Helodion shouted, turning on the spot and leaping off the wall and landing on a canvas. The sheet tore but slowed his descent before he crashed down on the ground with a smack and nearly broke his tailbone. He squinted at the pain, easing himself back up and running down the street. "Sound the horn, we''ll move back to the marketplace and hold as long as we can."


    "I told you it was a bad idea coming out here," Kaspar said, suddenly arriving from a side alley with a host of pursuers. "Don''t mind if I hitch a ride with you?"


    "No problem," Helodion said with a grin and halted. "Let''s just get rid of the extra baggage first."


    Helodion and Kaspar raised their shields to protect themselves from the storming soldiers, letting them hurl themselves against the shield and finishing them off with a swift slice into the liver. They repeated the process until their arms grew tired and a mound of bodies lay strewn in front of them.


    "Time to get moving," Kaspar said, turning back around and making his way to the Mage''s Guild.


    By fighting on the walls, Helodion and his men had given the citizens of Ryhad some time to pull back into the center of the city but he feared it would do little but delay the eventual massacre that would ensue. He wondered for a moment if the offer Helen received would have actually saved them but he had his orders and did his best to fulfill them, even if that meant laying down his life.


    A string of soldiers joined him in the retreat but out of the hundred that arrived with him, only a handful were left to put up a last stand at the arrival square.


    "Move the carts back into position and get ready to set them alight," Helodion said, taking in the arrival square. There were two narrow entry points the guard would normally control to stop criminals from coming or going which he now intended to use as a bottleneck and hold out a while longer.


    The five of them heaved the cart into the gap while Helodion struck a flame to a broken plank and held it in front of him. Kaspar moved to the other side of the square and set up benches in front of the entrance there. Once the enemy broke through, they wouldn''t have any further lines of defense.


    The sound of boots and war cries drew closer followed by the screams of the unlucky few that decided not to leave their homes and paid the price for Helodion''s gamble.


    Djarius had enough troops to throw at him all night and so it surprised him when their forces slowed down upon seeing their makeshift barricade. Djarius shouted to his men, two of which moved forward with caution to inspect the cart. Just as they drew closer, Kaspar sprang in from the side and drove his sword into them.


    "You''ve made a fool of yourself," Djarius said. "You should have accepted my offer and returned to your homes. None of you needed to die here on a world you don''t know or belong to. These lands belonged to my forefathers. Paid for with our blood and we are here to reclaim it."


    "That''s not for me to decide. What we can decide upon is sparing our people and fighting one on one. Winner takes the city, and the defeated can return to their home," Helodion said in an attempt to stall his enemy.


    Djarius laughed heartily. "I''m sure you would love to improve your chances. Anything is better than the situation you are in now. Here''s what I can do for you, I''ll let you live in there long enough to watch my men take the rest of the city. I''ll line up all the Off-worlders right here in front of you and slice their throats open one by one."


    "They are innocent people. It''s me who declined to surrender the city. Your fight is with me, not them."


    Silence passed between them as Djarius glared at him with a blank expression. Even his troops were confused as to what was going on and whether they should attack or not. Helodion kept himself prepared for whatever move Djarius made with his left hand resting on the hilt of the sword at his side.


    Come on. There''s got to be someone still wanting to come here, Helodion thought, glancing over his shoulder to the empty space.


    Day already broke along the horizon with the sun cresting the walls. He had to rely upon traders and merchants to get off world and morning was always the best time for them to arrive, though time varied from world to world. Experienced travelers would keep notice of their destination in order to get the most out of their stay.


    "I don''t negotiate with men in hiding," Djarius finally said. "Lay down your arms and let us in and we can discuss an honorable end to you and your men."


    "What could be more honorable than giving your life in battle to defend others?"


    Just then a streak of fire washed down the street, engulfing Djarius'' detachment in flames. They cried out in pain and dropped to the ground, rolling around to put out the fire but it was too late for most of them and their pleas soon fell silent.


    Djarius shouted to his men further in the rear, organizing them to form up and ready themselves for the new opponent. Balls of fire and ice flew against their shields, battering the line and knocking a few of them away but the initial surprise soon wore off.


    Helen and two other magi stood further uphill, casting their magic onto the army below them and drawing their attention away from Helodion.


    "You''re supposed to be defending the guild," Helodion called out, stepping onto the edge of the cart and leaping over to sally out and strike against Djarius'' forces while she distracted them.


    "You can''t tell me what to do," Helen said, preparing the next spell. Fire lit up the determined expression on her face. The army, recognizing that they were all ranged fighters, began advancing forward in a compact formation. They were an easy target for the magi but most attacks bounced off their shields. "Well, looks like I did my part. Good luck and don''t think about dying today, there''s still a lot of work ahead of us."


    "Thanks for the advice!" Helodion charged forward, pulling his sword out and targeting Djarius in the back. He noticed Helodion approaching and turned, brandishing his scimitar and catching Helodion''s attack with the crossguard. "Looks like I''ll have our fight now anyway."


    "You''ll find nothing but death here." Djarius launched a frenzied attack, aiming for the chinks in his armor. He was faster than he appeared and Helodion struggled to match his blows in his heavy armor. Every parry wore him down further.


    Catching the next attack with the length of his sword, Helodion moved in and hammered the pommel into Djarius'' chest. The blow knocked him back and gave Helodion some breathing space. Djarius held his ground, letting the flood of his reserves sweep the streets and move in on Helodion.


    Faced with insurmountable odds, Helodion leaped back over the barricade and set it alight.


    Kaspar came up to him and they watched the fire together. "Looks like this is the end, but I just wanted you to know I was right behind you. If I''d actually managed to get over those damn carts in the first place."


    A crackling sound spurred to life behind them and they both turned around in disbelief. A portal opened up, followed by a group of four men with eyes wide enough to let Helodion know they weren''t staying for long.


    "Keep them busy for as long as you can. I''m going to speak with the queen and get some help out our way," Helodion instructed.


    Kaspar pressed his lips into a firm line. "It''s too late for that. Even if you do get through to her, we''ll be overrun by the time anyone arrives."


    "You can still pull back."


    Kaspar shook his head and smiled faintly before stretching out his hand and clasping Helodion''s arm. "You go on ahead. I quite like it here. There''s a sense of comfort I haven''t felt in a long while in knowing how my fate will end."

 Shattered

    Rouya watched in horror as the fire continued to spread throughout the city. Waterwells were planted in each section of the city and the river hugged it but most of the people appeared to be fleeing for their lives and not combating the fire. She glanced around searching for members of the guard she might have available to get out of range from any of the maidens fighting within the fortress and go help the citizens below but the palace appeared largely deserted.


    The fortress collapsed in on itself but when Rouya spun around her heart lifted. Markus managed to make it out of there alive. She ran across the lawn and hugged him tightly, pressing her face against his chest.


    "I''m so glad you''re okay," she said, glancing up at him. "What happened to the separatists?"


    "You don''t have to worry about them any more."


    Rouya frowned, pulling away. "I don''t? Did you beat them all? I thought I saw Ahzi flee a moment ago."


    The bond to Evelyn and Tassia disappeared and she could no longer feel their presence in the world. She reached into the Shadow Realm, gathering magic to summon the maidens once more. She could use their abilities to help save the city from collapse.


    "There''s a darkness out there. Beyond the Frontier, slowly encroaching on us," Markus said solemnly. Rouya cut off her summoning to regard the man nearly twice her age. He appeared to be troubled by something but of what she couldn''t quite piece together. "Your father never believed me when I told him about the great leviathan. The devourer of worlds."


    "Are you feeling all right? I think you might have been through a little much tonight," Rouya said. She hooked her arm in his and led him towards the palace. She needed him in a right state of mind if she were to make it through the night. "Just take a seat here and rest for a moment. Do you know what happened, Mitra?"


    The maiden sharpened her gaze on Rouya. "The separatists have been defeated but Kalim managed to get away. The other matter is a legend passed down from generation to generation. I recall it in its original form."


    "A legend, you mean that of the Padishah Emperor?"


    Mitra nodded. "That''s a part of it but the other half is darker in nature by dealing with the end of the universe."


    Markus gripped her wrist and pulled her close. "It''s not a legend but nobody believes me. I''m the chosen one destined to defeat the leviathan."


    "I''m glad to see you''re still around then. We have bigger issues at stake right now and the city needs our help. Do you know where Adelaxia is?"


    "If you knew what I did, you''d do the same. You would understand," Markus said, his eyes focusing once more. He gave her a slight smile and nodded. His hand shot out, gripping Rouya by the throat and hoisting her into the air. He patted her chest and reached into her pockets before pulling the ring from her finger. "You may find your peace and know that I''m going to take care of humanity. With me, we stand a chance."


    Rouya struggled, wailing about and kicking with her legs. She clawed at his hands, trying to gasp for air but his fingers dug deep into her throat.


    A bright flash lit up the night sky followed by a thunderous cacophony in the distance, steadily drawing nearer. A burst rippled in the air and knocked both of them off their feet.


    Rouya gasped and sucked in as much air as she possible could. The pain throbbed in her throat as she steadied herself on wobbly legs. She quickly searched for the Nazar, only to find Markus dangling it off the chain in his hand. Rouya reached for her scythe and prepared to attack her former ally. She''d been wrong to trust him and put her faith in his words. Just how much of what he told her was false and how could Justinian and Evelyn be so wrong about a man they trusted for years?Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "I''ll be taking that back," she screamed as she raced ahead and hefted the scythe to the side in preparation to strike Markus down.


    Evelyn appeared in front of her, blocking her path to Markus. Her eyes opened as if she''d just woken from a deep slumber and met her bewildered stare.


    "As much as I''d like to, I can''t get myself to kill you. I appreciate what you''ve done this past week and admire your courage, albeit recklessness. The universe is in need of a more talented and skilled leader,¡± Markus said. He held out his hand and pointed to Rouya. ¡°I¡¯ll leave her to you, Evelyn. Kill Rouya and join me in my noble quest to save the universe!"


    <hr>


    Mah arrived at the Mage''s Guild set up in Kyrarae and entered the lavish building nearly the size of the palace. It had its own wings for each of the magical fields and an open courtyard in the center of the building where portal services were processed. The lanterns were out and making it difficult for Mah to make out what happened as she strode past a registration desk.


    An eerie silence contrasted the noise outside of people crying and screaming for help. An evacuation appeared to be the easiest solution in getting the people to safety but she despised the idea of leaving Rouya behind. With the battle raging on, she should have joined in and helped protect her but Rouya insisted on sending her away to help others.


    The sooner I get the magi to help, the sooner I can get back, she mused. Her foot dug into a bag laying out in the middle of the floor. She held her hand out to the side, channeling a string of magic to light a flame in her palm. The soft glow was enough to help her navigate the room and to notice that it wasn''t a bag she had stumbled into but a body. Dozens more laid sprawled out on the floor.


    Mah bent a knee and turned over the body in front of her, revealing a single slash across the man''s throat. A clean cut frightened people or looters wouldn''t be able to pull off. She inspected the remaining people and sighed. "Show yourself, maiden."


    Attia appeared by the entrance, wiping her blades clean of blood on a curtain. She glanced over her shoulder at Mah and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you here. I was afraid my master wasn¡¯t going to let me have any more fun tonight. Are you up for a dance?¡±


    ¡°You killed the realmwalkers. Why would you do that? Don¡¯t you see what¡¯s going on outside?¡± Mah conjured up a ball of fire in each hand in preparation to deal with Attia.


    The ground beneath them shook, knocking down the paintings from the wall and testing the foundations of the structure. It held for the time being but dust already swirled in the air between them.


    ¡°If I had to make a wager, I¡¯d say the people here didn¡¯t have much time left to begin with. Let¡¯s give them the quick and painless death. The death of cowards.¡±


    ¡°What do you know about death?¡± Mah spat. She hurled a ball at Attia, only for her to dodge the blow and watch it burst against the wall. ¡°Even if I defeat you, you¡¯d just come back whenever your master summoned you again. There¡¯s no consequences to your actions.¡±


    Attia approached her, elegantly avoiding every burst of fire Mah sent her way. She proved to be far too nimble for Mah to hit her directly.


    ¡°There¡¯s always a consequence. Can you feel it?¡± Attia whispered into her ear. ¡°The tingle deep down inside of you. The stress your master feels when they are in danger and life slowly ebbs out of them. You¡¯ll know soon enough.¡± She pressed the tip of her short sword against Mah¡¯s gut, slowly pushing the daeva back. ¡°You¡¯ll never compare to the likes of us. Always be relegated to the role of aides.¡±


    Mah grimaced, clenching her hands into fists as she tapped into all the magic she could get. Her body heated up and suddenly became engulfed in a searing flame. She lunged forward, throwing a punch at Attia that caught the bewildered maiden off-guard. Mah struck her on the cheek and quickly followed that up with a low blow into the gut.


    Attia reeled back, readjusting her footing as she attempted to regain composure. ¡°You¡¯re going to wish you could die when I¡¯m finished with you.¡± She spun the blades in her hands and went on the offensive, charging after Mah with a battle cry.


    Mah took a step back and hurled a kick at Attia which she managed to block with the blunt of her arm. She wasn¡¯t a warrior but went along with the flow, trying to keep herself out of harm¡¯s way while also searching for an opening to attack.


    The tide swiftly turned against Mah as she struggled to avoid Attia¡¯s lethal cuts. She risked taking a jab at her only to catch the grin of Attia as she realized her mistake. Attia leaned to the side and swung her sword down in front of her, slicing through Mah¡¯s arm. She didn¡¯t stop there, quickly dismembering Mah¡¯s other hand before driving her sword into Mah¡¯s shoulder and pinning her to the wall.


    Mah trembled at the pain roaring through her body, wanting to let go of her presence in the physical world and return to the Shadow Realm. That¡¯s when she felt it and could practically see Rouya struggling against Markus. The way he touched her body and stole the relics from her.


    The fire went out and all that remained was the ashen husk clinging to the wall of the Mage¡¯s Guild.

 Downfall

    Dread coursed through Rouya¡¯s body as she stared at Evelyn. Up until a few minutes ago, she¡¯d belonged to her and could trust upon her unwavering loyalty but now the tables turned on her and she was left without a single maiden. A part of her still wanted to believe that Evelyn could look past her current master and recognize her for who she was.


    All around Kyrarae homes and buildings were collapsing to the fire and the spreading cataclysm. She wondered what in the pillars could possibly have caused such destruction and, more importantly, when it would stop?


    The ground stirred beneath her feet as another tremor shook through the city. Rouya reached out with her right hand, taking in magic and drawing up the spell to bring Mah to her. The return spell failed, shattering into a spray of blue dust before her. Rouya furrowed her brow in confusion. She sent Mah to get help from the Mage¡¯s Guild and a return spell would bring Mah back to her. Which meant that something happened to her.


    ¡°It looks you''re all alone little princess,¡± Markus said, stepping away. He straightened his jacket and brushed off the dust from the fortress. ¡°Enough dallying, finish her!¡±


    Evelyn turned away from her master and faced Rouya, glassy eyes reflecting in the firelight. ¡°Please run. Get out of here.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to leave you behind,¡± Rouya said, sliding her foot to the side as she took on a defensive stance with her scythe. She began twirling the scythe in front of her in a figure eight, steadily increasing her speed. ¡°Let¡¯s play a game of truth.¡±


    Evelyn smiled and raised her glaive. She kicked off and hurled herself forward at a lightning pace Rouya could hardly track. A blur appeared to her side, and she quickly stepped back, readjusting her swing to cover her left. The scythe caught the blade and deflected the attack but Evelyn pivoted on her toes, sweeping around and whacking Rouya in the gut with the pole.


    Rouya felt the air rush out of her lungs with the blow knocking her back several feet. She winced and shook her head to clear her mind as he focused on the maiden wandering around her. ¡°I understand what you have to do and it doesn¡¯t change what I feel for you.¡±


    The maiden froze and clenched her jaw. Apparently Rouya¡¯s words still managed to get through to her. She cast her gaze to the ground and gripped the glaive with both hands as she charged forward anew.


    Rouya cast all her training aside and went on the offensive as well. She struck with an overhead blow but Evelyn caught the blade with the pole and with a twist knocked the scythe out of Rouya¡¯s hands. It skidded along the grass where the blade snapped off and left Rouya unarmed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry, little princess,¡± Markus said as he kicked the remnants of the scythe further away. ¡°You¡¯ll be reunited with your family soon enough. To give your soul some peace, let me just tell you that it was me who killed him. I did what was necessary.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a cowardly murderer. You knew you couldn¡¯t beat my father.¡±


    The whining of horses drew their attention to the sky where a chariot rode. Ahzi, Attia and Vida were aboard, with Attia dropping down and drawing her twin swords.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think we¡¯re letting you off that easily,¡± Attia said and raced towards Markus. Evelyn jumped away from Rouya and into Attia¡¯s path, blocking her sword with the glaive. ¡°Ugh, you just keep getting in my way, don¡¯t you?¡±


    With everyone¡¯s attention drawn away from Rouya, she saw her moment to escape but also the glint of metal in the grass. The broken tip of her scythe still laid beside Markus. A shot by Ahzi drew Markus further away from the fragment and Rouya began to creep up to it.


    Adelaxia appeared from a portal and beckoned to her husband, shouting over the fighting, ¡°Come now Markus. Take what we got and let¡¯s leave this place. Can¡¯t you see what¡¯s happening?¡±


    Markus turned away from Adelaxia and drew up a summoning spell, bringing out Cemri and Tessia as well. ¡°It ends tonight for tomorrow I shall be the new Padishah. You three, engage the maidens. Evelyn, find Kalim and bring his body to me. I¡¯ll deal with Rouya.¡±


    With the command given, the maidens set to action and engaged the new arrivals while Markus shifted his attention to Rouya. He marched to her, rolling up his sleeves as she drew closer.


    ¡°Nightgaze, it¡¯s time. Pierce the armor of our foes and bring them to their knees.¡± Mitra raised her bow, channeling magic into her next attack.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m not fit to rule,¡± Rouya said. Markus slowed his pace, studying her movements. She went down onto her knees and lowered her head. ¡°I don¡¯t stand a chance against you. All I can hope for is that you spare my life in the same way I spared yours before.¡±


    Markus came to a stop and loomed over her, hesitating to strike and enjoying the praise given. The fighting behind him drew more intense as the maidens unleashed every ability they had and further contributed to the destruction around them. ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯ve come to the right conclusion. Unfortunately, I can¡¯t let you get off that easy. Did you know the Shah¡¯s of the old kingdom used to strangle their siblings to death upon ascending the throne? They knew not to spill royal blood. It¡¯s the honor I give to you for coming through.¡±If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Rouya wrapped her fingers around the shard and looked up to Markus as he indicated for her to rise. She slowly got up, concealing the blade in her hands as she met his gaze and aimed her thrust at his throat.


    She put all her energy into the strike, already feeling the wear and bruises of her body protest every action she took. Markus shielded himself with the blade piercing the hand he held up. He screamed out in rage, backhanding Rouya and sending her to the ground before plucking it out and watching as the blood pooled in his palm.


    Another tremor shook the ground, stronger than the previous. Cracks formed along the surface, gently spreading across the entire garden followed by a roar and rush of air as the plane the palace rested on broke free and soared into the air. Rouya¡¯s body stiffened, her heart racing as the scene unfolded before her.


    Chunks of rock split off from the ridge showering them. Markus punched a boulder flying his way, splitting it into dozens of pieces with one striking him across the forehead. He fell unconscious and landed right in front of Rouya. He was completely at her mercy. The man who murdered her family. She wrapped her hands around his throat but hesitated before releasing her breath and letting her shoulders slump. Killing Markus wouldn''t bring them back but it would change her. Make her more like the rest of the summoners out there. Willing to go over lives to reach for the ultimate power.


    Rouya couldn¡¯t get herself to kill him in cold blood. What she could do was retrieve the relics he stole from her. She pulled the Nazar free and placed it around her neck once more. Evelyn¡¯s presence inside the Nazar became aware of her and made her feel joyous.


    ¡°Get away from him!¡± Adelaxia stormed over and slapped Rouya across the face. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare lay your hands on him. This is all your fault.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to hurt him but he must face trial for what he did,¡± Rouya said, reaching for the ring. Just as her fingers brushed against his, the ground gave away and Rouya plummeted, crashing into the side of the ridge several times on her way down before collapsing onto a platform.


    Fire loomed on all sides, burning with an intense heat and the planet¡¯s core even further below. The world was breaking apart and beyond repair. She needed to leave as quickly as possible.


    Rouya was still winded by the fall with her ribs aching at every breath she took. Ghastly figures of her forefathers emerged around her, the disappointment evident in their faces.


    "Look what she''s done to our home."


    "I told you the girl was no good."


    "A great shame in the family tree," said another.


    A silent figure among them kneeled beside her. Rouya couldn''t trust her eyes for any of it to be real. Ghosts weren''t real, but she recognized her father''s softer features and neatly trimmed beard from before the alcohol. He smiled and kissed her forehead. "I left a mess behind and ruined your chance to shine through. You''d have made a better Shah than any of us."


    "What are you talking about," Cassius said. "I unified all of Aequilla and reformed the military."


    "It doesn''t end here. People still need you," Justinian said, reaching out to her but as his fingers drew near, his shape faded and disappeared along with the others.


    Rouya pushed herself up onto her elbows but as she tried to rise to her feet, an odd numbness came to her awareness.


    ¡°What?¡± Rouya reached for her legs but couldn¡¯t feel her own touch. No matter how hard she strained herself, she could get either of her legs to nudge an inch. ¡°No, no, please no.¡±


    ¡°Ugh. Gah!¡±


    Rouya heard Adelaxia¡¯s struggle nearby and saw her fingers on the ledge. She crawled over to the edge and glanced down at the hapless woman barely holding on with one hand.


    ¡°Look, take my hand,¡± Rouya said, leaning in as far as she could and offering her help.


    ¡°Pah! I, ugh, don¡¯t need your help.¡± Adelaxia used her free hand to begin conjuring up a portal beneath her. Magic hissed around her and mixed with the flames deep down. Rocks crumbled and her grip suddenly slipped free, flailing as she attempted to hold on to anything. Her fingers brushed Rouya''s, just barely missing each other before her descent.


    ¡°Adelaxia!¡± Markus stood on a higher platform and jumped in after her but even as they both fell, he wouldn¡¯t be able to catch up to her.


    Adelaxia must have seen the desperate situation she was in as she could no longer form a portal beneath her. She drew in magic once again and split open a pathway to another world between her and Markus. He slipped in, calling her name all the way through. Adelaxia closed her eyes for a brief moment of serenity and vanished in the liquid flames.


    With the situation further deteriorating, Rouya reached into the Shadow Realm to gather magic and began tracing the symbols to summon. The spell snapped together, despite her shaking fingers and hummed with magic. Evelyn appeared moments later and rushed over to pick Rouya up. With the platform crumbling, she leaped from ledge to ledge, fire washing up around them, until they reached the surface.


    The relief was only short-lived with more land crumbling around them. It was only a matter of time before they no longer had a place to run to.


    "I guess this is as far as we go," Rouya said, holding on to Evelyn tightly. Being with her was enough to lighten her spirit. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up with the prickling of magic nearby. Evelyn noticed it as well and turned around where they spotted a portal opening up and a knight stepping through.


    "Shit. I should have taken my chances on Ryhad," Helodion said, ushering the two of them over before the portal would close. "So this is what happens when I leave the place for a day? I''d like to offer you someplace better but it''s nasty on the other side."


    "Anywhere is better than here."


    All three of them leaped back through the portal winding through space before landing in the arrival square of Ryhad. Helodion was true to his word. Ryhad was under attack with the streets flooded by soldiers and only a handful of troops holding on to the square.


    "Where''s the backup?" Kaspar called back to Helodion. He and three others were holding a cart in place while another two were lashing out at anyone who dared climb over.


    "This is all we got for now, but it''s more than enough," Helodion said as he joined Kaspar.


    Kaspar recognized her and did a stiff bow. "Your grace, I apologize for not recognizing you. Damnit, he''s actually going to do it."


    A brute of a man stood on the road, waving his sword at the line of people being herded down to them. Men, women and children all bound together. "You''re forcing my hand here. We could have made this so much easier for everyone." He snapped a woman from the front and pulled her hair back, holding his blade against her neck.


    Rouya pursed her lips and met Evelyn''s eyes. "Stop him."

 The Mages Guild [Season Finale]

    Rouya woke up in a soft bed and felt the warm light caress her cheek and for the first time in a long while felt well rested. Last night was all but a nightmare caused by the recent stress.


    What she needed was to eat a nice meal and start taking care of herself more. She stretched herself in bed and began noticing the differences. At first it was just the bed curtains but soon after it was the desk and chair and even the window. None of it was hers. She moved to the edge and tried to get out only to tumble to the ground. She couldn''t feel or use her legs anymore but the door was only a few feet away and so she began to crawl.


    The door swung open in front of Rouya and a young woman in blue robes stepped in. She looked at Rouya with a sense of bewilderment before turning her gaze back to the bed.


    "Oh, you''re awake. You should have just rung the bell if you needed some help. Let me get you up," the woman said, offering to help Rouya get into a nearby chair. "I know you''re used to better, but it''s all I could muster on such short notice.


    "Th-thank you," Rouya mumbled, realizing that it hadn''t all been a dream but reality and she still couldn''t walk. She didn''t sense any immediate danger from the woman but noticed she was a mage. Rouya closed her eyes, trying to recall what happened but could only recollect shadows and screams after arriving on Ryhad. "Sorry for asking but who are you?"


    "You don''t recognize me, do you? I don''t blame you. We were both only teens when my father was overthrown and Justinian brought me out in front of all his followers, gave me a new name and wanted to make me his Arch Mage." She took a seat next to Rouya and folded her hands over her lap. "How rude of me. My name''s Helen and I suppose you know just as well as I do of the burdens a child can sometimes inherit."


    Rouya''s memory slowly returned, reaching back five years to when the war against the magi and the Pashwa Empire just ended and celebrations echoed across the Inner Realm. "You''re the Shah''s daughter aren''t you? Why am I still alive?"


    "You''re alive because of the fierce daeva accompanying you. She routed the entire army and captured Djarius. I released him to his people, they''ll judge him more harshly than I would. The daeva saved us all and I''m grateful for her support." Helen raised her hand, bowing her head to kiss her thumb in respect.


    The images of Aequilla being torn apart and Adelaxia plummeting to her death resurfaced, stabbing her with renewed guilt. "They all died because of me. I couldn''t protect them," Rouya said in a soft voice.


    "The Battle Maidens are stronger than we imagined and carry a deadly potential," Helen said. She stood up and removed the brakes from the wheels and began pushing Rouya out into the corridor. "I''m sure you did everything you could, but it''s nothing that can be taken lightly. You still have one of the relics and as long as another summoner can sense the presence of the relic, you and the people around you will be in danger."


    Rouya clutched the Nazar in her hands. "I can''t just toss it away."


    "No, but there are other ways you might find helpful. Sealing the power of the relics away would make it untraceable and give you the time you need to recover from your injuries."


    "Seal the Nazar away? How long are you talking about?" Rouya thought of Markus and Adelaxia. The other relics were still out there and she realized how dangerous it could be if she continued pursuing them. What happened on Aequilla could happen on any other number of worlds as well.


    Helen pushed her chair out onto the balcony overlooking the city. On the one side there was an ocean with a river flowing into it with a long stretch of dried plains on the other. Ryhad wound along the banks of the river on either side, following it upstream. Small nests of vegetation popped up here and there but, unlike on Aequilla, Rouya couldn''t make out the farms that were needed to keep such cities alive. Either supplies were brought in from a more distant place or transported from off-world.


    "It could take months," Helen finally said. "Maybe even years but you need to know that you saved thousands of lives yesterday and the people here won''t forget you for that. You''re more than welcome to stay here as our guest until you''ve fully recovered."


    Rouya felt her heart sink at the thought of not seeing Evelyn for such a long time. She''d become much more to her than just a servant. Evelyn deserved to have a life as much as she did. What Helen said made sense and Rouya wasn''t in any condition to continue the fight or certain if she intended to at all. "I need some time to think matters over."


    "Of course," Helen said, placing a bell into Rouya''s hand. "Just ring if you need anything. We''ll be nearby dealing with the repairs."


    <hr>


    Rouya sat for hours contemplating on whether or not to do as the High Mage suggested. She failed numerous times to try to get up ¡ª to force her legs back into action. In the end it left her feeling more lonesome than she ever had before in her life.


    She didn''t need to stay in Ryhad. There were plenty of worlds out there where she could go into hiding as Markus suggested from the beginning. Desolate worlds where she would be amongst herself but she needed to heal and walk again for which she needed the magi.


    Rouya clenched her hand, reaching out and pulling back in before finally deciding to draw a summoning spell. Her heart pounded against her chest the entire time but went through with the spell.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    The crimson haired maiden appeared in a crouch on the balcony railing. Her eyes fluttered open and met Rouya''s gaze. A smile curled across her lips. "I''m glad to see you''re up again. You passed out during the battle and I wasn''t sure you were all right."


    "I''m glad to see you as well," Rouya said, lowering her gaze to the floor. She didn''t know how to convey what was going on inside of her in the right way or put it in words Evelyn could easily understand. The exhaustion drowning her every day and the worries plaguing every waking moment. "I think I needed the rest but Helen''s already told me it''s going to take a long time before I can walk again."


    The smile faded from Evelyn''s lips. She must have realized how serious Rouya was acting. "There''s no rush. We have all the time we need and can figure out how we want to proceed."


    "A million people on Aequilla are dead because of me. I don''t know how much more of it I can take. At what point do I stop because I realize I''m doing more harm than good?"


    "That''s something only you can answer but you didn''t kill them, the other summoners did."


    "So I go on over to Halemsum and destroy their world. Would that set matters straight?" Rouya let her shoulders slump and tapped her head against the wall in search of an easy answer. "I don''t want more innocent people to die but on the other hand the separatists need to be served justice and held accountable."


    "Stealth operations are a possibility. Seizing them in their sleep and bringing them to you might take a while but it could be a clean solution."


    "It sounds wrong, all of it. I''m beginning to think there is no right answer and the only way to win is by not allowing the others to collect all the relics."


    "What you''re saying is--"


    "Helen said she could perform a spell which would seal you away and mask your presence. This would allow us to operate undetected by any of their scouts searching for you. Keeping you out of Markus'' and the separatists'' hands might be the only good thing I can do right now."


    Evelyn took a step back, shifting into her armor. "There you have your answer. I''m just a daeva in your service, free to command and do with as you please. You don''t need my permission."


    "But I do¡­ need you."


    Silence passed between them in which Rouya forced herself to hold back tears welling in her eyes and quench the emotional war raging inside of her.


    "I can be and do many things but you''ll be my master." Evelyn brushed her out of her face and looked out over the city, her form beginning to fade. "If sealing me away is what it takes, then so be it. Wouldn''t be the first time and it probably won''t be the last."


    <hr>


    A spire loomed over the entire grounds of the Mage''s Guild. It served as a berthing space for the magi dwelling in Ryhad with the main complex being for studies and services offered to the public. What Rouya didn''t realize was that the guild kept a secret chamber in the tower''s basement.


    Helen pushed Rouya onto the lift and sealed the gate, allowing for the servants to lower them into the basement. Barriers reinforced the stone walls and even though they were cast years ago, Rouya could still feel the strength emanating from them. Shelves lined the wall, filled with trinkets and dusty tomes no one had bothered with in ages. Perhaps the barrier itself served to mask the Nazar¡¯s magical radiation and hide it from other summoners. Deep down, she wished it were so that way she could still frequently visit Evelyn.


    They stopped in the center of the room where an empty pedestal stood.


    Helen picked out a jewelry box from the shelf and returned to Rouya. "You''re doing a noble deed here. Most summoners would never give up the power you have but let themselves be corrupted by it."


    "Please don''t speak that way about Evelyn. She''s dear to me and not some corruption. I''m only going along with this until I can walk again and won''t be a threat to the people here." Rouya''s voice trembled, and she found herself repeating the same phrase she told herself a hundred times before as if it would justify her actions.


    "Of course not. I''m grateful for what you and Evelyn did in saving Ryhad." Helen set the box down on the pedestal and moved to a bookshelf, sliding her finger over the dusty titles until she stopped and let out a gleeful sigh. She pulled the book out and flipped it open. "Technically summoners are magi and were so for many centuries. It wasn''t until legends of the Battle Maidens were discovered that they were expelled and persecuted by my great-grandfather."


    Helen held out the open book for Rouya to see the illustrations of summoners together with other schools of magic.


    "I didn¡¯t know that," Rouya said, but it made sense considering both magi and summoners could reach into the Shadow Realm for magic. "Is this part of the ritual?"


    "Nope." Helen shut the book and held it to her chest. "As leader of the Mage''s Guild here on the Frontier, I''d like to extend an invitation for you to be the first summoner amongst our ranks in the past hundred years. It''s not easy but we devote ourselves to obtaining knowledge helping advance society."


    Rouya froze with her mouth open and unsure whether she should laugh or cry at what the High Mage offered her. Becoming a member of the Mage''s Guild was a step down from being queen but a queen without a world was nothing but an empty title to begin with. "Are you trying to get me to give up Evelyn by joining?"


    "I''m not going to force you to give up the Nazar in order to join but we can''t support you if you decide to continue your fight against the other summoners. We need to work on establishing peace, not deepening the conflict between parties."


    "It''s for the best of we seal the Nazar but I made a promise and I intend on keeping it."


    Helen set the book aside, opening the jewel box and holding it out for Rouya.


    The sight of the empty inside made her heart sink. Rouya''s fingers fumbled with the Nazar and she could still sense Evelyn''s presence inside the relic as she lifted it over her head. The black and blue glass reflected the torchlight as it twirled in the air before her. The evil eye glared back at her. A simple amulet meant to protect the bearer from ill will. It fitted Evelyn''s role as a warden.


    With the relic inside the box, Helen shut it and sealed the lock but these were physical barriers and wouldn''t prevent someone searching for the relics from discovering them. Helen set the box on the pedestal and took a step back.


    Rouya bit down on her lip, holding herself back from reaching out and taking Evelyn but the thought of more innocent people losing their lives plagued her.


    Helen glanced at Rouya before beginning to cast the spell. Each segment she drew bristled with magic and even as she conjured up the final aspect of the spell and it snapped shut, the Nazar appeared to fight back. The spell pulsed in the air with a vibrant hum, jolts of energy flaring as the spell expanded and retracted appearing as if it might burst at any moment.


    "The Nazar is more powerful than I thought," Helen shouted, holding her arms off to the side to form a barrier.


    Rouya tightened her grip on the chair''s arms. Even with the barrier in place she felt the power press against her chest. She squinted her eyes, trying to peer through the whips of magic rushing through the air.


    Resistance cut off as the spell dispersed and Rouya could no longer sense the contents of the inconspicuous box.

 League of Independent Worlds

    In the wake of Aequilla¡¯s destruction, the league went their own ways for several days without any communication. Most summoners returned to ruling their worlds while Kalim continued his work, launching several scouting and espionage missions to gather intelligence from across the universe. He decided to call in a conference with the other members and present his findings as a way to maintain the unity.


    Out of the six who founded the league, only three remained. Kalim decided it was best for them to meet on Khyam where the young lord Arturo resided after Telium¡¯s death on Aequilla. Kalim¡¯s estate was still in disarray with construction of a new mansion in progress but would take several years to complete.


    ¡°Are you proud of yourself?¡± Bijan held his hand out to the vacant seats around them. Bijan served as a summoner in the Shah¡¯s army and helped organize the defense of the Outer Realm in the final years of the war. His service to the Shah received recognition from Justinian who had him made a satrap. ¡°I told the others not to follow you to Aequilla but you managed to blind them into your little suicide mission. We should have lured the Maidens outside the city and then struck down both Markus and Rouya before they could react.¡±


    Kalim stiffened at the harsh words of his companion. No matter, they still needed each other if they wished to continue ruling their respective worlds. He pulled out several slips of paper and slid them in front of Bijan. ¡°What happened on Aequilla was not optimal for any of us. The loss of Lord Telium and Javed is going to take time to heal but we need to think about the future.¡±


    Bijan knit his brows as he began skimming through the reports Kalim pulled together. He leaned back and caressed the dragon glass Jikka containing Ahzi¡¯s spirit. ¡°So you had me come all the way out here just to tell me that you can¡¯t find Rouya.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no trace of her,¡± Kalim added. ¡°I had my scouts visit every habitable world in the Inner and Outer Realm as well as the Frontier. It¡¯s safe to assume she perished on Aequilla.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like assumptions,¡± Bijan said. ¡°They lead to surprises and surprises bite you in the ass. We took a risk letting Markus have a Battle Maiden and it¡¯s only come to haunt us.¡±


    ¡°Which is why I¡¯m suggesting we pool our resources and attack him right now. He¡¯s holed up in his residence. Some of the servants say he doesn¡¯t leave his chambers for days. This is our chance to bring an end to the conflict and return the four Maidens to our fold.¡±If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Bijan remained silent, leaning back in his chair. He gazed over to the young lord at the end of the table and smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t like it. If the attack fails, we put all our families at stake. You said it yourself, he has four Maidens. We no longer have the numbers to wage an offensive.¡±


    ¡°Are more people going to die?¡± Lord Arturo asked, speaking for the first time in their company. He was only eight and not in a position to rule over Khyam. His mother would be regent for the time but she refused to meet with Kalim after what he did to Telium. ¡°Let¡¯s talk to Markus and cheer him up. Maybe then he¡¯ll no longer be sad and will stop fighting with us.¡±


    ¡°No, we need to strike him down while he¡¯s weak. A surprise attack by all three Maidens would be enough.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯d detect our Maidens once they step foot on Kesan and then he¡¯ll be coming for us. Fighting an untrained woman is one matter but against an experienced summoner is entirely different.¡± Bijan rose from his seat and gave Arturo a curt bow. ¡°I¡¯ll look into opening channels of negotiation with Markus.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to just roll over and give up like that? Let a setback dictate how we should live? It¡¯s no wonder the Shah lost the war.¡±


    Kalim¡¯s trust in his allies vanished entirely. He still maintained a large network of spies and assassins. Even without the other summoners¡¯ support, he¡¯d find a way to finish Markus off. He tried being reasonable but life taught him better and he wouldn¡¯t make the same mistakes twice. ¡°Bijan, I apologize for my words. These past weeks have been taxing on all of us. Let me know when you¡¯ve received word from Markus Relius.


    ¡°Best of luck, Kalim. This¡¯ll be the last time we see each other on friendly terms.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± Kalim said with a frown. ¡°Kian, be so good as to help Lord Bijan with his cloak.¡±


    Kian retrieved the flashy gold cloak from the wardrobe and moved in behind Bijan. With a whisk, he flashed the cloak in front of his face and brought it around his neck. The lord struggled, flailing and kicking around him but Kian kept his grip until he slackened and slumped to the floor.


    ¡°Why did you hurt him?¡± The young Arturo grew pale and pressed his palms to his face.


    ¡°Everything¡¯s all right, Lord Bijan is merely sleeping. You want your people to love you and sing songs about you? You want to make them happy and I promised your grandfather I¡¯d help you.¡± Kalim smiled to himself and took a sip from his wine. ¡°Good, now Kian, bring me the Jikka.¡±


    His brother crouched down and fumbled the corpse before stiffening. He remained perfectly still for several moments in which Kalim was forced to stare at his back.


    Kalim dug his nails into the arm of the chair. ¡°Give it to me!¡±


    Kian slowly stood and turned around, the Jikka in his hands and a fire in his eyes. The Dragoon Maiden Ahzi appeared in a burst of dark matter.

 Bad Terms [S2]

    ¡°There¡¯s quite the crowd,¡± Kian said, peering in between the curtains to get a glimpse outside.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you for your opinion. The people came to hear me, so of course they would fill the plaza.¡± Kalim rolled his eyes. Alas, it fell to him to look after his younger brother and see to it he made something of his life. In a few weeks, when the whole affair settled, he could send him off to the province where he could rule over farms and the like. Real men, leaders, seized an opportunity when they saw one.


    Markus proved to be a perfect opportunity when his network of informants let him know of the satrap¡¯s displeasure with the emperor¡¯s rule. A few shared words and promises were enough to sway him over.


    People liked to believe they were destined for greatness. As long as Kalim played along, he could use the man¡¯s beliefs against him.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you do something useful for a change and help me fasten the cloak,¡± Kalim said, admiring himself in the mirror. He kept his dark hair neatly trimmed and enjoyed breaking women¡¯s hearts with his smile.


    Kian obeyed him and helped fasten the white cloak with the hawk-styled brooch to his shoulder. He bowed and cowered back to his corner.


    ¡°Stay behind me and don¡¯t you dare interrupt me,¡± Kalim said, moving to the curtain. He narrowed his eyes at his younger brother to make sure he drove the point in before stepping outside.


    The sun blared down with an intensity that would keep animals away until darkness. Most people wouldn''t leave their homes at this time of day either but Kalim knew how to draw a crowd. He picked up a bowl he had prepared on the balcony and began showering the crowd with handfuls of coin. It was important to him that the people saw him give out the coin and not someone in his service.


    "We served the Shah and spilled our blood in his name," Kalim said, raising his voice. He clenched his hand in the air as if he were squeezing a fruit dry in front of the crowd. "We listened to what the so-called emperor had to offer and I tell you it was not in our interests! The only people who care about the Ruz are the Ruz themselves. Gone are the days of our servitude. We don¡¯t intend to push anyone in front of a carriage but we have all earned our place in the universe. From this day onward we serve none but ourselves and act as equal partners with our friends with whom I have forged a powerful pact."


    Attia appeared beside him and gave the crowd a curt bow for which she received ample applause. The bronze-skinned warrior glanced over her shoulder at Kian and gave him a knowing smile.Stolen story; please report.


    Kalim frowned but quickly drew the attention of the crowd to the skies where his silver dragon circled above them. He was still small but in a matter of months he¡¯d be fully grown and become a further piece on Kalim¡¯s board.


    Today he ruled over Ruz, tomorrow Sumhara and the rest would be up to his imagination. He shared a smile with crowd and waved to them.


    <hr>


    With the public announcement ended and Kalim turned his attention to politics. As much as he waned to be in complete control of everything, he still relied upon others to help carry the burden.


    The League of Independent Worlds was his solution to the empire. They could have their liberty while also holding a united front against imperial forces. Once the empire was pushed aside, they could mop up the rest of the worlds.


    ¡°Come take a seat and be my guests,¡± Kalim said to the other members. He sat opposite Lord Bijan with Kian sitting beside him.


    As servants went to work distributing the food and filling up drinks, Lord Telium turned to Kalim.


    ¡°Farid and Parsa haven¡¯t responded to my messages. I¡¯m beginning to worry about their well-being.¡± Telium folded his hands and looked to the other members. ¡°This pact you¡¯ve made with Markus is on bad terms. I can¡¯t imagine any man letting another take away his wife. He¡¯ll come for us.¡±


    ¡°Bad terms?¡± Kalim repeated. ¡°I let him keep Mitra, by the Pillars. He should be happy we let him live after he turned against us. We¡¯ll give him some time to cool his mind and come to terms. It¡¯s better to have him on our side, than against us. Adelaxia is merely a guarantee he doesn¡¯t begin to second-guess  his decision and I¡¯ll return her to him once the transition is completed.¡±


    ¡°Very well, but I don¡¯t approve with any of these methods. They are without honor.¡±


    Kalim began slicing an apple into pieces. ¡°I understand your concern but look how far it has gotten us. We hold all the power in the universe and even if Markus should dare raise a hand against us once more, we will finish him off with ease.¡±


    ¡°We should have finished him off on Aequilla,¡± Lord Bijan said in a firm voice. As a military commander in the Magi Wars, he had an air of authority to him and valuable insights Kalim intended to use in their second phase of operations. ¡°Allowing him to live will grant him time to rally his forces and position himself as a victim. He has not pledged himself to the league.¡±


    ¡°The empire has been mortally wounded. If he decides to stake his life to the old system, he¡¯ll go down with it,¡± Kalim said. ¡°We are fighting for freedom and best interests of our people. Markus Relius is the traitor who killed his emperor. The Inner Realm will never allow themselves to be ruled by one of us, which is why it¡¯s better to have Markus rule as our ally. One we can control.¡±


    ¡°I trust you,¡± Javed said, leaning forward with an eager expression crossing his lips. ¡°The question is, what are we going to do with all the worlds we have just liberated?¡±


    ¡°Spread the good word, of course,¡± Kalim said, he turned to Kian and told him to retrieve this material from the study. ¡°There are plenty of records dating back before the Shah¡¯s conquest. They reveal an entirely new perspective on the universe and the boundaries of the olden days. We should take these worlds back into our care and rule them as guardians for the time being. A fair share between all of us present.¡±

 Discovery [Legends]

    Ardeshir plummeted through the sky. An icy wind slapped against his face and stirred his eyes open. The ground became larger as the distance between swiftly dwindled. Fear surged inside of him and sent his heart racing as he glanced around in search of Ervin. The blasted mage was nowhere in sight, and Ardeshir quickly assumed he backed out at the last moment and would let him fall to his death.


    Instincts took over as Ardeshir spread his body apart as best he could to increase the resistance and slow his descent. He reached out for magic in preparation to cast a spell, but he wasn''t sure which one would actually be useful in such a situation. He wasn''t a realmwalker or elementalist who could control such matters. Ardeshir was a summoner and as such constantly relied on others to the dirty work. He gathered magic into the palm of his hands and drew up the six lines needed to summon, but the spell misaligned and the power dispelled with a crackle.


    With only a few moments left until he struck the snow-covered cliff, he noticed the ripples in the air underneath him. The tear of magic splitting open the world. Ardeshir slipped through the crack and landed face first in a pile of snow. His body trembled, unsure whether he was truly alive or on his way to the afterlife. He popped his head out of the snow and broke into a hysterical laughter as he began to brush himself off. After all that effort, he actually made it in one piece.


    "I''m glad to see you''re enjoying yourself," a voice called out from behind. A man loomed over him, arms cradling his body as he attempted to pull the cloak tighter. "That makes at least one of us."


    "Ervin, you nearly got me killed!" Ardeshir scrambled to get up and slipped on ice. He held his arms out and balanced himself against the snowstorm beginning to pick up.


    "Ac-actually, that''s all on you," Ervin countered. "You''re the one who pointed at some cave paintings and thought it would be a good idea to travel to the unknown reaches of space. They''re unknown for a reason, because we don''t know anything about them."


    Ardeshir frowned and glanced around in search of any markings that could indicate life on the world. "It''s only unknown until you make it known but you could have at least landed me on my feet."


    "Look, the universe is in constant motion and I did the best I could. The alternative would be to risk putting us both underground. What makes you think this is even the right direction?"


    "Trust me. I got a feeling we''re on the right path." Ardeshir closed his eyes and slowed his breathing, concentrating on the flow of magic. The average human would feel nothing but the cold, but Ardeshir could sense a drift off to the side. It felt stronger than it had on Salehir, as if he could reach out and grab the source. He opened his eyes and pointed in the direction.


    "Excellent, let''s get this over with before we both catch our death out here. You may be my friend, but I''m still charging you extra for this."


    "Don''t worry, anything we find will be worth more than any coin I could pay you with," Ardeshir said as he began trekking up the slope.


    Ervin hesitated before following Ardeshir through the knee-high snow. The path they took was slow and the bitter cold soon seeped through their clothing. Ardeshir would have brought an elementalist along if he''d know their destination would have been so inhospitable.


    Mountains came up on both sides of a narrow valley with plenty of trees growing along the base, but a complete lack of paths or animal tracks, with not even a single bird in sight. The tug on his senses grew, proving that they were drawing near to their final destination.


    No more portals to potentially dangerous worlds.


    "I think there might be something down there," Ervin said as they reached the top.


    A handful of odd shapes peeked out from under the snow. Ardeshir assumed at first glance that they were part of the rugged landscape, but the surface appeared unnatural.


    "Hold on, I think I can get us there." Ervin drew up a spell in mid-air and opened a portal, allowing them to cross the three miles without any further trouble.


    They needed to be careful in how they moved forward. There wouldn''t be any rescue teams coming after them if they failed to return to Salehir.


    Ardeshir waded forward, counting the objects as he went. They were triangular in nature but most of the structure appeared to be buried under the snow. Whoever built it hadn''t returned in a long while. "Take a look and see if you can find any openings. There''s got to be a way inside."


    "I''ve never heard of anyone living this far out," Ervin said. "Might be some locals that see us as intruders."


    "Perhaps. You''re more than welcome to wait outside while I go ahead."


    Ervin placed his hands at his hips and frowned. "I don''t like it but it''s better than the damn cold."


    They split up and moved around each of the nine structures in search of any windows or doors they could use when Ardeshir noticed a crack in the frame. He moved closer and peered down into the darkness. "Come over here and get out the rope. This might be our chance so I''ll scout ahead and let you know."


    "What if something happens to you and I don''t notice or better yet what if something happens to me?"


    "Relax," Ardeshir said, taking the rope out of the bag and tying it around his waist. "Just tug three times if we need the other''s help. You''ll be fine. I got us through everything else, didn''t I?"


    "I got us out of them. Without me, you''d still be stuck on some backwater planet," Ervin said as he reluctantly helped lift Ardeshir to the crack. "I still think this is a bad idea."


    "Only one way to find out." Ardeshir tapped his forehead and climbed inside. There wasn''t much for him to hold on to as he kicked off and gently lowered himself deeper. As the light grew dimmer, he reached into the pocket of his cloak and pulled out a pair of lightstones. He tapped them against each other, illuminating them before dropping one down to gauge how far he had it.


    The stone plopped onto a mound of snow some twenty feet below him, and while the room he appeared to be in was quite high, it wasn''t very large.


    Ardeshir reached the ground and glanced around until he found what appeared to be a hallway. The way out was largely blocked, but he held his stone out in front of him and felt fairly certain he could still manage to get through.


    The rope wouldn''t be long enough for him to go any deeper, so he took a step back and tugged gently on the line. "It''s safe. Come on down and have a look with me."


    Ervin bound the rope and climbed down. He had his scarf pulled up over his mouth and rubbed his hands as he gazed around the room. "So what''s so special I had to come and look?"


    "Shh." Ardeshir raised his hand and held his breath. "Did you hear that?"


    "No." Ervin widened his eyes and stepped back.


    Ardeshir turned in the direction he heard the sound and moved to the corridor. The soft, rhythmic tone to it resembled a woman''s voice. "I think there might still be someone here. Get out your stones and follow me."


    "Wait, if there''s someone here, they might consider us intruders and attack us. Let''s just head back for now and live to tell the tale."


    Ardeshir shook his head and got onto his knees to crawl through the opening. His back rubbed against the ceiling but he managed to squeeze himself through before turning back around to help pull Ervin join him. They only had the soft yellow glow of the lightstones from there on out.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    The corridor was only five feet wide but steadily gave them more height as the mound of snow decreased. They came to a crossing a few yards ahead with both options leading into the unknown.


    Ardeshir raised his stone and examined their surroundings but failed to notice anything that might give them any clues as to where they were going. He could only rely on his instinct and the magic coming from within the building. That and the woman''s voice only he could apparently hear. "This way, we''re almost there."


    Ervin glanced the other way before turning and following him down a long stretch until the way they came from was out of sight.


    A wall blocked their path and at first Ardeshir thought he forgot to take a turn somewhere until he noticed that they''d only been able to go straight for the past ten minutes.


    "So much for following you. It''s a dead end," Ervin said. "I''m beginning to think there''s nothing here, but a trap meant to lure in fools as ourselves. We''re going to get lost and never find our way back out again."


    Ardeshir scowled and looked around for anything he might have overseen. He pressed his hands against the wall and felt around. The ahura wouldn''t have constructed a hallway that led nowhere unless they''d been unable to finish construction. So far he hadn''t seen any remnants of the ahura. Where were the rooms and furniture, decoration and scrolls of their history he was expecting? A race doesn''t just disappear without leaving any signs of their existence, and there were plenty of records throughout the galaxies that told of the ancient race that came to them but then disappeared.


    Ardeshir assumed the information had gone lost during the dark generation and that the ahura had simply died out. Even so, they had to have come from somewhere and if only he could retrace their steps, he would have access to the knowledge left behind.


    "I know you¡¯re desperate for answers, but we can always come back better prepared," Ervin said. "There are still plenty of buildings and pathways here for us to discover but I want us to be smart about it and not rush into anything."


    "Just give me a moment." Ardeshir ran his fingers along the grainy surface. It was difficult to see in the dim light, but there were etchings engraved into the stone. They were unlike anything he''d ever seen before. All knowledge they had about the ahura came from human sources, and so they never got a chance to study their language. He tried pushing each of the symbols, hoping that they''d react, but they didn''t move an inch. He slammed his palms against the wall in frustration and moved to rise when a spark went through his mind. He leaned in closer and inspected the three sets of symbols he expected to mean something when in fact they much more closely resembled a set of patterns students at the guild would use to learn magic.


    "Have you finally come to your senses?"


    Ardeshir stepped back and drew in magic. "It''s a spell."


    "Oh, in that case just go ahead. Don''t stop to think of the consequences or anything. It''s not like you listen to me."


    "Thanks, I knew I could count on you."


    He drew up the first set of lines and felt the hum of magic as the pieces locked into place. The other two sets were each drawn on top of one another to create a single spell. The lines radiated as he completed the last line and began to take effect.


    The ground trembled and dust drifted through the air as they both held in. A wall dropped behind them, cutting off their way back and began to inch towards them with a rumbling sound. Ardeshir and Ervin only had a few minutes before they¡¯d both be pressed out of existence.


    ¡°Great, look what you did. Just had to go ahead and do it, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Ardeshir glanced at Ervin, narrowing his brows. As much as he disliked his friend¡¯s pessimistic outlook, he was right on the occasion. ¡°Can¡¯t you get us out of here?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t even know exactly where here is and it¡¯s going to take a lot more time if we don¡¯t want to find ourselves walking into space.¡±


    Ardeshir needed to buy them some time for Ervin to create a portal, so he quickly drew up a spell and summoned a dungir, a boar from the Shadow Realm. He flung his hand out and pointed to the wall. ¡°Go for it and see if you can break it down.¡±


    The dungir glanced up at him, scratching its claw on the ground and kicking up dirt as it prepared to charge and stormed ahead. The boar was four feet tall and weighed over fifteen stone but it crashed against the wall and fell back injured. Ardeshir needed a new plan and quick but the tingle of magic on the back of his neck, had him turn back around.


    The dead-end wall blocking their path faded out of existence. As if it were a mere illusion cast to stop them. Ardeshir felt the surface to know it had been real but he was now able to pass his hand through the space unhindered.


    "That''s a neat trick," Ervin said as they both tentatively moved ahead.


    Once they passed the barrier, it reappeared and blocked their path. Ardeshir tried to move through the wall but it was very real and nothing they could get through without destroying the wall or casting the spell again.


    "Well, now I know why they wanted to keep this room a secret," Ervin said, holding up his light stone.


    The chamber walls were bathed in gold with large statues in each of the corners. They were each holding weapons and appeared to be a set of guards meant to protect the room. Ardeshir instantly recognized the similarity between the statues and the paintings of ahura which were often depicted as god-like beings gifting magic to humans.


    "What is this place, some sort of burial chamber?" Ervin''s voice was laced with awe as he moved forward and took in the room. He rested his hands on the chest at the center. "Let''s see what''s inside, shall we?"


    "Wait, it might be a trap," Ardeshir said, reaching out. "This looks a little too inviting to be true."


    Ervin grinned with a gleam in his eyes. "This place was hidden behind a magic door and nearly got us killed. We made it this far and now we have our prize."


    He unlatched the locks and lifted the lid, sucking in a deep breath as they both took in the pile of coins and gemstones. Enough to build a city and finance a small army on the side.


    Ardeshir moved away as he turned his attention to their situation. They couldn''t return the way they came and the length the ahura went through to keep the room a secret signaled that they were hiding more than just gems.


    The ahura did not cherish such items, but viewed their knowledge of magic as their most valuable asset. They decided what forms of magic to share with mankind and how to wield it. He figured a distant world with a secret room might also contain with it a deeper knowledge of magic.


    He moved to the gold-plated walls and stroked his fingers along the smooth surface. There were no symbols or magical instructions engraved into it and left him feeling disappointed. Perhaps the chest was really all there was to the room. It could, of course, be that there were many different types of ahura, as there were humans and that some valued gold and gems more heavily than others. Ardeshir sighed, closing his eyes to concentrate on the flow of magic that led him there. The pull turned him around before he could open his eyes again, and he faced one of the statues. He let himself be guided by his senses, wandering forward and holding his hand out in front of him.


    Upon closer inspection, he realized the statue was that of a woman, but it wasn''t the entire piece that was magical but a fragment. The statues were made of solid gold with an earring that didn''t quite fit into the rest.


    He brushed his finger along the glass and felt a jolt of energy rush through his body.


    The room grew dimmer despite the fact that the lightstones could last for days of use before going dull. He turned to Ervin, only to find the chamber empty. Ardeshir felt vertigo as the room appeared to shift around him until he was shrouded in darkness. He took a careful step forward, attempting to retrace his steps to the entrance when a bright light burst above him. He gasped and stumbled back.


    A wide plain with green rolling hills and a meadow in the distance surrounded him, completely contrasting where he''d been a few heartbeats prior.


    Ardeshir felt his heart thumping against his chest and his hands become moist. The earring must have been the source of magical energy he''d felt and transported him to another place he did not recognize. He reached out to gather magic and perform a summoning spell, only to find himself slack-jawed as his fingers whisked through the air and were unable to draw a single spell. He knew how to conjure ever since he was a young lad. Not having it made him feel even more vulnerable in an already less than ideal situation.


    He went out in search of Ervin. There was a slim chance his friend had been taken along with him. At least then he''d have a way of returning home. He noticed a figure standing atop one of the hills but couldn''t make out the features with the sun looming directly behind.


    "Ervin, is that you?" Ardeshir called out but grew anxious when no reply came. he decided to take his chances and wandered up the hill with caution. He could no longer count upon the help of his summons to protect him. He reached the top and leaned over, panting.


    A woman faced him with her eyes shut. Strands of short blond hair blew in the wind, accentuating her soft face that appeared at odds with the plate armor she wore. She held a sheathed longsword across her lap in both hands and gently opened her eyes.


    Ardeshir felt taken aback by her beauty and quickly averted his gaze to keep from staring. He didn''t need an enemy on top of his problems.


    "You''ve come a long way to disturb my meditation. How can I be of service, master?"


    "Master?" Ardeshir furrowed his brows and dared take a step closer. As a summoner, he encountered plenty of daeva during his travels to the Shadow Realm but the terrain and woman in front of him were unlike anything he''d ever witnessed before. Her cream-colored skin did not match the gray of the daeva. "You don''t seem surprised to see me. Could you possibly be an ahura?"


    The woman cocked her head to the side and looked him over. "An odd question. Your lack of knowledge is a bad omen, but I''ll do my best to serve you as I once did the ahura. My name is Vida and I''m a Battle Maiden."


    Ardeshir repeated the words under his breath. "You served the ahura. You''d be my link and be able to give me first-hand knowledge, but wait. If you''re here, where did they go?"


    "Bahamut. He will be drawn to my power in the same way you were."


    "Bahamut? Who is that, another mage?"


    Vida''s expression darkened while thick clouds moved in front of the sun. "The devourer of worlds. Tell me now and be prepared to take full responsibility; are you my master?"

 Darkness Falls [Legends]

    Ardeshir found himself in the tomb once more. He quickly glanced around to make sure he wasn¡¯t hallucinating. Ervin stood by the chest, still gleefully running his hands through the gold. Apparently the realmwalker hadn¡¯t noticed his departure. Ardeshir raised his hand to gaze into the opaque glass and rub his thumb over the smooth surface.


    Vida


    ¡°Vida,¡± he repeated, hearing the name in his mind as he recalled the events. It seemed unnatural for him to have traveled between worlds and Ervin not to have noticed. The stress must have been getting to him, causing him to imagine the whole thing.


    A black fluid seeped out of the earring and trickled to the floor. Ardeshir¡¯s heart thumped in his chest at the sight and he nearly dropped the relic. The liquid pooled together, steadily growing higher until it stopped a few inches taller than himself and took on the form of a young woman clad in armor.


    ¡°Er-Ervin, are you seeing this?¡± Ardeshir stammered as he reeled back. The woman had to be a daeva because of the way she appeared and the slight dip of magic he felt. He hadn¡¯t cast a summoning spell. Her name, he quickly pieced it together.


    Vida dashed forward, shoving Ardeshir behind her as brought her sheathed sword up to strike. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, master. I¡¯ll take care of you.¡±


    Gold slipped between Ervin¡¯s fingers and clanked on the floor. Ervin grew pale, backing up against the wall. He began to whine and beat his hands against the stone to get out. ¡°No, please don¡¯t hurt me.¡±


    ¡°Let him be. He¡¯s a friend,¡± Ardeshir said, reaching for Vida¡¯s arm to get her to lower her sword. ¡°I thought you were a hallucination but you¡¯re real.¡±


    ¡°Of course I¡¯m real. I thought we established this fact before you accepted me as your Maiden. This is going to be a lot more tiring than I anticipated.¡±


    ¡°You know her?¡± Ervin asked, slowly regaining some composure. Ardeshir could still sense him drawing in magic to possibly use and create a wild portal ¡ª even if that meant risking his own life. ¡°What am I missing here?¡±


    Ardeshir held the earring for Ervin to see. ¡°I found this on the statue. It appears to be linked to¡­ her. I¡¯m still not entirely sure what exactly you are.¡±


    Vida pulled off her helmet and shook her head, letting her blond hair fall loose over her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m a Battle Maiden and yours to command for as long as you possess the anachiti. We won¡¯t be safe here for much longer. I sense a strong presence closing in on our location. We should vacate the premise while we still can.¡±


    ¡°Strong presence? I know many women find me attractive, but never quite in those terms,¡± Ervin said with a satisfied grin.


    ¡°She¡¯s talking about a monster. Do you think you can open a portal from in here and get us back?¡±


    Erving furrowed his brows and shrugged. ¡°I can try but the chances are pretty good we¡¯ll miss and wind up dead in space.¡±


    Ardeshir turned to Vida for answers. ¡°You were locked away in here. Is there any other way out?¡±


    Vida folded her arms in front of her chest. ¡°I¡¯ve never been to this outpost before but walls are hardly and inconvenience for me.¡±


    Ervin grabbed the handle of the chest and tugged, trying to get it to budge, but the weight kept it firmly in place as his arms bulged.


    ¡°Leave it,¡± Ardeshir said, moving towards the entrance. A pressure built, distant but dominant, and slowly approached him. The power level had to be immense for him to sense it over such a distance. He licked his lips and turned to Vida as she rammed her shoulder against the wall and burst through. The wall gave in with a crunch hand a small dust cloud followed in its wake.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°You know how much this is worth? Ugh. We need to bring some of it back or they aren¡¯t going to believe us. We could be heroes.¡± Ervin gave up on the chest and began filling his pockets with coins and trinkets until they came spilling out.


    Ardeshir didn¡¯t have time for his dallying, but needed the realmwalker to open up a portal and be focused on their escape. Vida was worried about what was coming, and Ardeshir didn¡¯t want to risk finding out just how big of a threat it really was.


    Ervin moved away from the chest and finally took off after the two fo them. They made their way down the corridor and turned left at the junction, heading back the way they entered. Waist-high snow still covered the door, further slowing them down.


    They had to get back on their knees and crawl through. Ardeshir scraped his back against the ceiling but forced himself to continue wading forward in near darkness. Only the small pillar of light ahead from the opening in the roof let them know how close they were to escaping. ¡°We¡¯re almost there, hurry.¡±


    The mound of snow grew in the hour since they¡¯d been away, but the hole in the ceiling was too far away for them to reach out of on their own. Ardeshir began climbing while Ervin held the rope steady. The line suddenly gave in and Ardeshir felt weightless for a moment as he fell back and dropped on top of Ervin.


    They both let out moans as they rolled to the side and Ardeshir inspected the end of the rope. ¡°The line snapped free. What did you attach the rope to when you came down?¡±


    Ervin scratched the back of his head. ¡°I wound it around a post sticking out of the ground. It was the only thing I could find on such short order. I can try creating a portal to get us up there. Might be a little rough, but doable.¡±


    ¡°Allow me,¡± Vida said, joining them. She grabbed both Ardeshir and Ervin, one under each of hers, and then kicked off, hurling herself up and through the hole to land outside the structure.


    Ardeshir felt his stomach churn at the amount of wild motions he¡¯d been through that day and wasn¡¯t sure he¡¯d be able to take much more of it. The presence of the leviathan grew in his mind and when he concentrated on the magic, he could sense its grip reaching out to where he stood. ¡°Get on with the portal. This thing is unbelievable.¡±


    The sheathed sword appeared in a burst of blue energy in Vida¡¯s hand as she broadened her stance and prepared for a fight. ¡°We need to get as far away from here as possible and we have little time before he claims this world. The further away, the safer we are that he won¡¯t be able to detect me that easily.¡±


    Snowflakes danced in the wind, slowly rising. Ardeshir held his hand out in front of him, watching as snow detached itself from the ground and drifted through his fingers. ¡°What kind of monster is this? Don¡¯t tell me it can affect gravity as well.¡±


    ¡°I already warned you before claiming me. Behemoth is an ancient creature of immense power. You should not underestimate his strength because when we come into contact with him, we only have two choices. Defeat him or die. So far, none have managed to do the former.¡±


    ¡°What makes you think he can even be defeated then? Even if I collect al seven of the Battle Maidens, what¡¯s to say we stand a chance against him?¡±


    Vida shrugged and put on her helmet. ¡°Those are the concerns of mortals.¡±


    Ervin finished drawing the lines and filling them with magic. The spell took effect, bursting to life as the magic ran along the lines and created the portal back to Tasbir. ¡°Enough sightseeing for one day. By the pillars, let¡¯s get out of here.¡±


    As the portal finished taking form, the sunlight faded and darkness swooped in over the world, except for the haze of light stemming from the portal. Ardeshir rushed ahead and leapt through the portal, landing on the pavement of the arrival square on Tasbir. Rain drizzled in a rhythmic beating around him.


    Ervin strode through the portal and closed it with an annoyed look on his face. ¡°Great. This is a heartwarming return. There¡¯s a lot you need to tell me about, but it¡¯s not just me who needs to hear it. We need to go to the High Mage and present this discovery.¡±


    Ardeshir rose and brushed his slick hair to the side. ¡°This could be the greatest discovery we¡¯ve ever made, but the worst one at the same time. We must tread carefully, I just hope it can¡¯t find us here.¡±


    Vida appeared next to them, drawing the attention of the magi emerging from their posts. They were in charge of controlling all incoming and outbound traffic from the planet and collecting any due fees but with Ardeshir and Ervin both members of the guild, they were exempt.


    ¡°Dismiss your daeva,¡± the mage said, cupping his hands to shield his eyes from the rain. ¡°No casting permitted inside the city. You two should know better.¡±


    Ardeshir glanced at the relic he still held clutched in his hands and wondered whether he¡¯d be able to summon and dismiss her as he would an ordinary daeva. ¡°I¡¯ll call you back as soon as possible. The High Mage is going to be curious to see you for himself once I tell him about you.¡±


    ¡°As you wish, but a word of warning not to blindly trust others. Power can overcome any sense of loyalty. I¡¯ve seen it all in my years of service.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± Ardeshir said. He considered whether Ervin would turn against him, but quickly dismissed the idea. Ervin wasn¡¯t a summoner and would have no use for such an item. Ardeshir drew in a sliver of magic and dispelled the Battle Maiden before turning back to the Magi. ¡°We need to see the High Mage and deliver a warning.¡±

 The High Mage [Legends]

    ¡°So you went off on another one of your expeditions,¡± High Mage Bayat said with a frown. He closed the tome on his desk and rose to place it back on his shelf. He let his fingers glide over the spines of the many books he held in his private library.


    ¡°We discovered a set of directions engraved on the walls of Salehir showing the ahura and their journey,¡± Ardeshir said. He pulled out his bundle of notes and slid it across the table for the High Mage to see for himself. On it he had the images and symbols traced that he found on Salehir. He felt foolish for not having taken the time to copy the many pieces he saw at the ahura outpost and wondered if he could safely return there in the near future. It wasn¡¯t clear to him what the leviathan¡¯s intent was. Did he wish to wipe out all life-forms on the planet or destroy it all together? ¡°The outpost contains many more pieces of information I haven¡¯t recognized in any of the previous lectures. We could learn a lot there, but I also discovered something none of the scholars have ever mentioned previously.¡±


    ¡°We should respect the ahura and not go meddling their past. We owe them a great debt for the lessons in magic they taught us. Without them, we¡¯d still be living in a dark age and wholeheartedly ignorant of the magic at our fingertips.¡± Bajat looked over the notes and grimaced. ¡°You think you¡¯ve made a discovery no one in the past hundred years has come across? If there really were such things, then we would have heard from it earlier. The ahura themselves would have warned the Arch Mage when they taught him the schools of magic, but alas there is nothing.¡±


    Ardeshir held his hand out with the earring resting in his palm. ¡°As it turns out, this belonged to one of the ahura princes. Apparently they could capture daeva and bind them to items rather than to an individual summoner. I¡¯m not quite sure what type of daeva a Battle Maiden is, but she¡¯s unlike the others I¡¯ve encountered in the Shadow Realm. Once we arrived at Turat, it was her voice that guided me to the chamber and the relic. She warned me of a great danger and we only narrowly avoided confrontation.¡±


    High Mage Bajat stroked his beard, eyeing the earring. ¡°I don¡¯t appreciate your foolishness. It would be for the best if you handed over everything you collected from the ahura.¡±


    ¡°Of course, but did you not hear what I just said? The leviathan or Bahamut as she referred to it has a power that intimidated me. I could feel its presence long before it arrived. We need to prepare and pool our resources to deal with the threat.¡±


    Bajat remained silent for a moment and moved to the window overlooking the town. It was a small mining town built up over the last decade on the Frontier. They had enough dangers as it was so far away from civilization, and the Mage¡¯s Guild protected the people working out there. ¡°Turat is far from here and I felt nothing out of the ordinary. I¡¯m not saying there is or isn¡¯t any danger out there. There¡¯s a lot we have yet to learn of the outer reaches of the universe and must be careful where we tread. This is why I didn¡¯t grant you permission to go on an expedition, but no matter. We¡¯re safe here and as long as there are magi, we will be able to keep it that way. Now, hand over your findings, so we may study them further. I¡¯ll send out a team to inspect Turat and report back in. If we require any further information from you, we¡¯ll be sure to let you know.¡±Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Ardeshir nodded solemnly and handed over the earring. He didn¡¯t have any right to refuse a wish of the High Mage. ¡°You¡¯ll bring it up with the Arch Mage? He might know more about the ahura than we do.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll inform him when the time is right and there is ample evidence to back such a bold claim. It¡¯s entirely up to him if he wants to get involved in the matter.¡± High Mage Bajat waved him off. ¡°Be gone and report to Yazdan for work details. And one more thing, don¡¯t disobey me again or it¡¯ll be the last time you perform magic.¡±


    Ardeshir gave up arguing. It wouldn¡¯t do him any good and only get him into further trouble. He needed to find another way. He rose and gave a curt bow before moving to the door and letting Ervin enter for his own round of punishment.


    Ervin would be able to tell his side of the story and give him further credibility. Perhaps then some measures would be taken.


    Ardeshir returned to his chamber and hung his cloak on the stand before letting himself fall into the armchair. He let out a sigh and reached into his breast pocket, pulling out the earring and setting it on the desk. The piece he gave Bajat was a normal piece of jewelry. He would have shown the real one to the High Mage had he shown interest in dealing with the matter, but Ardeshir was convinced he¡¯d let the topic die. He put his finger on the glass and reached out to the spirit within.


    Vida appeared beside him and studied her new surroundings. She tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear and moved to the window that gave her a view of the guild grounds. ¡°A lot has changed, but I¡¯m still not accustomed to your architecture. There¡¯s too much excess instead of concentrating on the necessities.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s what gives them a personal touch and makes them feel more comfortable to be around.¡± Ardeshir rubbed his temples, still feeling the sore from his day of travel and the revelations presented to him. ¡°My meeting didn¡¯t go swell. I will have to keep you a secret for the time being. What, uhm, size do you have? I think I might be able to get some apprentice robes for you to try on.¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± Vida said, holding her arms out to the side. She glowed brightly, her armor becoming transparent until Ardeshir could see her in the nude and a new form appeared to cover her. It was a traditional dress, but the design reminded him of someone else. ¡°How do you like it? I recreated it from your fond memories.¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s where I recognize it,¡± Ardeshir said. He felt his cheeks grow warm as he noticed how beautiful Vida looked in the velvet dress and quickly averted his gaze. ¡°It¡¯s not polite to snoop other people¡¯s mind. What other skills are you keeping a secret from me?¡±


    ¡°Depends on what you want to know. I¡¯m knowledgeable in many fields but most have been limited to combat.¡± Vida crossed her arms and turned around to face Ardeshir. ¡°I¡¯m immortal and while my physical body in this world can be destroyed, my spirit would return to the relic. There is also one more thing you should know; only the person possessing the relic can give me orders. No matter how long I serve you, no matter how well you think you know me, don¡¯t lose the anchiti.¡±


    ¡°I thought as much.¡± Ardeshir rubbed his thumb across the small jewel. It felt so small and insignificant, and yet it contained a powerful spirit within. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to probe, but did the ahura create you? You don¡¯t look like any of the other daeva.¡±


    ¡°No, they did not. We came into being at the same time, as part of the trinity. Light, Shadow and Darkness. It was the ahura who mastered control over us with the anchiti. The drawback of being bound to an item amplified our strengths. This is why I¡¯m urging you to focus on the goal ahead of us.¡±


    Ardeshir ruffled his hand through his hair and considered what she¡¯d said. ¡°What happens when I gather all seven anchiti? What exactly happens when someone become this padishah?¡±


    ¡°If a person were to combine all of our strengths into a single entity, he would become the most powerful mage in the universe. The padishah is the only one who can defeat the leviathan.¡±

 Den of Thieves [Legends]

    The Tipsy Penguin was a tavern on Jameh and required Ardeshir to fall back on Ervin for his support in reaching the place. Yazdan, the mage Bayat sent him to see for his punishment, asked for him to meet him at the tavern and be in his leisurely clothes and not the guild robes.


    The tavern showed signs of glory days in its past, but fights as well as the usual wear and tear brought it down to a level Ardeshir didn''t think Yazdan had fallen to. He shrugged and entered, hoping the offerings were at least palatable.


    Music and jeering drowned out everything else as they made their way through the crowds. Ardeshir headed for the counter and a sweet drink when he caught sight of Yazdan sitting at a table with two women at his side. He raised his hand and beckoned him over, dropping a coin in the palms of each of the ladies before he arrived.


    "I see the fun''s already started," Ardeshir said. He took a seat and glanced around for any of the servers. "So what''s the special here, anything that won''t destroy my gut?"


    "Well, I''m glad to see you''ve finally found the time to join me. It''s been, what, two years? I''ve already taken care of your orders. But tell me, who''s your friend?"


    "It''s Ervin, and I''m only here because he keeps getting me into trouble."


    "Trouble?" Yazdan raised an eyebrow and smiled. "I didn''t know you''d become such a troublemaker, but I received the message from High Mage Bayat. Unauthorized expeditions and crypt robbing are serious offenses."


    "It was my fair share of what he owed me," Ervin said, rolling his eyes.


    "It''s been too long but I''m afraid I''ve been caught up with my work retracing the origins of the ahura. We actually made a discovery, but Bayat isn''t believing in a word of what I have to say."


    "Still trying to uncover those hidden magic secrets you think the ahura were keeping from us, I see. If you want to help people, you should start working at the guild academy and train the next generation of magi."


    Ardeshir had considered staying at the academy and taking on a position as a teaching assistant but he''d be stuck on a set path for the rest of his life without making any truly groundbreaking discoveries that could change the lives of thousands of people for the better.


    The woman from earlier returned, placing three jugs on the table and slipping a small piece of paper into Yazdan''s hand.


    "Thank you, love. I''m sure it''s delicious."


    Ardeshir eyed the foamy brew with an uneasy feeling and the uncertainty of whether it was a drink or food. It definitely didn''t smell like a sweet ale he''d been hoping to get. "So is this our punishment or what''s it going to be? Salt mines or perhaps construction on the Frontier?"


    "Oh, this is just a little bit of foreplay. Our objective is nearby, in a side room to be exact. We must be quick once they''re finished and leave."


    "I''ll just wait outside then and keep the portal running for when you need to flee," Ervin said and began to rise.


    Yazdan quickly grabbed him by the sleeve and tugged him back down. "Stay. I don''t want you drawing unnecessary attention to yourself. We''re up against a particularly skilled group. Thieves plaguing the continent with hit and run strikes on caravans."


    "Magical thieves?"


    "Not from what my sources gathered but they are working with black market realmwalkers on occasion to get their goods off-world." Yaz nipped the drink, eyes glancing over the rim. "They''ll split once the trade is over. I expect your friend to follow the traders while we trail the thieves."


    "This sounds dangerous."


    "Then let''s hope we''re drinking courage," Ardeshir said and risked taking a sip of his own. The brew was awful and had a rancid taste but kicked in almost as fast as his stomach could puke it back out onto the floor. He coughed and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "You''re trying to kill me."


    Yazdan shrugged, tilting his jug. "It''s a local specialty mixed with spices. I was told it wakens even the most tired of spirits."


    Ardeshir caught sight of the back door opening and three men leaving whereby one wore the insignia of a trader and the other two wore simple sleeveless vests, revealing dark twirling tattoos along their arms.


    "Elvin, big chance for you here. Don''t let him know you''re following and don''t engage. Just make sure you find out where he''s going and if he''s talking to anyone else."


    "It''s Ervin."


    "Of course it is," Yazdan said, no longer paying attention to the realmwalker.


    They stood and left their unfinished broths on the table as they made after the men. The trader and thieves split outside, each taking a different road. Ardeshir and Yazdan went after the thieves, keeping a brisk pace while blending into the crowd. The day was ending, and many people were returning home. The thieves took several turns and ended up leaving town through one of the smaller gates where they mounted up and rode into the desert.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    "Quick, we can¡¯t lose them," Yazdan said, he went over to the stall and purchased a mount for both of them to share. A mule was all he could afford on short notice, but the thieves didn''t know they were being followed yet.


    Ardeshir remained in place, staring at Yazdan with a sense of disbelief. He actually expected them to chase the thieves down on a mule. Yazdan halted in front of Ardeshir, holding his arm out for him to grab and help hoist him onto the mount. He spurred the mule into action, nearly dropping Ardeshir off the back as he was forced to hold on to Yazdan. They settled in at a steady pace several hundred yards behind the thieves but keeping them within sight for most of the way.


    It wasn''t until they ventured deeper into the desert and with a lack of lighting that they lost them as they crested over the dune.


    "Should we keep going? We might still catch up to them," Ardeshir suggested.


    "They couldn''t have gotten that far ahead of us. Unless ..." Yazdan brought them closer to the small rock formation breaking the desert. "They''re hiding inside. All we have to do is find the key to opening it up."


    Ardeshir grinned and hopped off the mule. He rubbed his chin, inspecting the side for any visible cracks. "Can you help me out with the magic words, I didn''t bring any children''s books with me?"


    "This isn''t a game but serious work. You''d be able to get so much further if you took the guild more seriously and worked on helping them."


    "What''s serious is the giant snake blocking out the sun but maybe I just got my priorities upside down." Ardeshir summoned Indara, his daeva he captured from the Shadow Realm during his study at the guild academy. He had a bit of a crush on her back then but became good friends despite the master-servant relationship they shared. "Let''s do it my way. You gotta stir the nest to get the bees to come out."


    "What? There''s got to be a switch or entrance around here."


    The daeva combed her fingers through her snow white hair and met Ardeshir¡¯s gaze with a grin. She placed a hand on her hip, and the other held out to the rock formation. "You need a hand with something?"


    Her tight-fitting dress had never proved to be a disadvantage for her. The light blue design encompassed her full breasts and left her shoulders bare for all to take in. Her presence was both exhilarating and also extremely chilly, but Ardeshir quickly became accustomed to the cold temperatures accompanying her. Indara was a frost elementalist and liked to tease him whenever she could.


    Ardeshir gulped and began channeling magic to her. "A nice frost coating should bring out any thieves lurking inside."


    Indara laid her hand on a rock, a cold frost seeping out of her in a wave and slowly turning everything to sparkly ice. She drew on more energy from him, digging deeper.


    A chunk of ice snapped and fell to the ground a few feet away. A section began to rise in a low rumble followed by screams. There were several of them echoing inside and slowly drawing nearer. Indara flexed her fingers in the air where a mace out of solid ice appeared and her body became encased in a protective sheet of the frost.


    Ardeshir grabbed his knife from his belt and summoned Vida while Yaz brought his daeva Tethali out of the Shadow Realm. "Guess you were right. Let''s hope we don''t have to deal with forty thieves."


    A cloaked figure ran out of the opening, screaming with his sword at hand. Both Indara and Vida prepared to fight, but the thief stopped when he saw them. His face remained hidden behind the shawl, but Ardeshir could see the blood coating him. The sword fell to the ground and he shortly after dropped to his knees, head slumping to his chest while coughing blood.


    Ardeshir cocked his head to the side and gazed at Indara. "Just how cold did you make it in there?"


    "We need the thieves alive, if possible. They need to be punished accordingly and all connections they may have had contact with traced back." Yazdan pushed the thief''s head back and removed the shawl. "It wasn¡¯t frostbite that killed him. Poison, by the looks of it."


    "Poison? They might have turned against each other."


    "Only one way to find out. We should inspect the lair in case they have any escapes we might not be aware of."


    They entered the cave at a careful pace, wary of any traps or thieves lurking in the shadows. Torches hung at regular intervals from brackets in the wall and lighted their path forward. It also revealed the rest of the band. Strewn about in unnatural poses, but all of them unmoving.


    "Wait here," Vida said, pressing ahead of the group. She wore the thickest armor out of all of them and from what he understood could be resummoned after death.


    Indara waved her hand, creating an ice barrier between them and Vida, but kept it transparent so they could still see what happened on the other side.


    The knight pressed deeper into the cave, nudging the bodies with her boot to see if any of them were still alive. They all appeared to be dead but Ardeshir couldn''t tell for how long. It had only been a few minutes since the two riders had vanished from their sights. He wondered if the others were already dead by the time they arrived or if there had been an argument because of the spoils.


    One of the bodies rolled over when nudged by Vida. It had been sprawled over something Ardeshir couldn''t see so far around the corner. He balled his hands, hoping there wouldn''t be any stragglers coming in late and finding them with a bunch of their dead kin around.


    "It''s a dead end over here.A few tents but nothing dangerous," Vida said and went to her knee. "That''s odd. There are eggs here."


    "Okay, that''s enough. Indara remove the barrier and let''s see for ourselves what happened here." She nodded and did as Ardeshir asked of her. A crunch sounded from under Ardeshir¡¯s boot as he took the first step. He halted and slowly raised his boot. Shattered egg shells still clung to the underside.


    "Try not to tamper with any of the evidence," Yazdan said. "There has to be a payroll or something we can use to identify them all and see who their clients are."


    "There are more inside the crates. This must be what they''re trading with now."


    "Eggs aren''t worth the hassle. Keep looking and be sure not to touch them. We don¡¯t know what''s inside."


    Rocks clanked behind Ardeshir, drawing his attention around. He raised his knife, slowly venturing back towards the entrance. A cold shiver ran down his spine just before something wrapped around his body. It squeezed tighter, knocking the air out of his lungs before he could scream. The creature hoisted him up to the top of the cave in between the stalactite where sharp yellow eyes gazed into his. His heart heat leaped at the sight and he tried to muster the strength to break free of the embrace. He felt his head grow dizzy by the second as his lips moved to silent words. Ardeshir wriggled, striking at the side with his knife. The blade snapped against the scales before slipping out of his grasp.


    A girl''s face pushed out of the shadows. She opened her mouth, a long tongue slithering out and trailing his throat. Her grin widened as she leaned in and sunk her teeth into his neck.


    Ardeshir trembled as the warmth seeped into his body and made him feel as safe and secure as a child nuzzled against their mother. Magic rushed through his body and was sucked in by the creature as she grew in size. Her feminine beauty and deadliness matured just before Ardeshir lost his grip on consciousness.

 Snake Bite [Legends]

    Ardeshir woke up with a massive headache. His eyes burned just by opening them a slit, forcing him to squeeze them shut right away again. His memories were all astray, events from the past few years mixing together to form a pot of pain. One moment he felt as if he were still sitting in class listening to Master Tabun lecture about the nature of summoning but when he turned to look at his seat partner, Yazdan was gone and a girl sat at the desk. The face looked cute and innocent enough, but he couldn¡¯t recall ever having seen her before or if she shared the same study as he did.


    "Ardeshir! What happened?" he heard Yazdan say, but it was the girl''s lips that were moving.


    His gaze snapped to the front where Tabun had vanished and his father stood. The old man turned and noticed Ardeshir. His expression soured and he raised a discipline stick, charging down the aisle. Ardeshir shifted to run away, but the girl placed her finger under his chin and lured his attention back to her. She began to untie her apprentice robes and grinned as she revealed her petite breasts.


    "Do you like what you see?" she asked in a sing-song voice, lulling him closer to her. She brushed her lips against his before moving down and tenderly kissing his neck. Ardeshir giggled and nodded while he felt his body grow hot. He''d never been that intimate with another person before. Her hand moved behind his head, fingers lacing between his hair. The light-headedness grew with every sensational kiss. His hairs prickled upright.


    "Mhm, you''re so good. I love the fresh taste of magic." The woman pulled back, her face drenched in blood before wiping it clear with the back of her hand. Her tongue snuck out and licked the rest clean and she giggled before tightening her grip. "I kinda want to keep you for myself, but I''m supposed to share."


    Ardeshir screamed, jolting upright in bed and knocking his head against a jug. He pulled away and rubbed the sore spot as he swiftly plotted his escape route.


    "It''s okay. You''re at the Guild," Ervin said. He moved to the bed and held Ardeshir''s hand while dousing a cloth in water. He noticed the bulge in the blanket and raised a brow. "Looks like you had a lot of fun without me."


    Ardeshir frantically glanced around the room, searching for any signs of the creature that attacked him in the cave. His heart lurched against his chest as he tried to calm himself and sort through his memories. Pain flared in his shoulder at the sudden movement and he tentatively probed the bandaged wound. He couldn''t remember how much of what he dreamed had been real but something attacked him.


    Ervin pressed the cloth against his forehead and eased him onto his back again. "Gave me a little fright there, screaming out of nowhere. You want to tell me what happened out there? Yazdan said you just disappeared along with the two daeva. Took him an hour to find you curled up in a corner."


    "Sn-snake with yellow eyes."


    "A snake, huh," Ervin pressed his lips together and poured a cup of water for Ardeshir. "Nasty fellows. Glad I got the easy task this time. Followed the trader all the way back to his warehouse. Yazdan went on ahead with the city watch to arrest them."


    Ardeshir reached for the cup but as his fingers grazed the ceramic, images flashed through his mind of the grinning woman and the cup shattered on the floor. His stomach churned and he felt bile rise to his throat. "What about the eggs?"


    "Eggs?" Ervin narrowed his brows and stood. "I don''t know anything about that but I can look for Yazdan and tell him to see you when he''s finished. As far as I know the cave was empty but he confiscated all the belongings of the dead thieves."


    Ardeshir nodded solemnly while piecing the information together. The screams of the dying men inside the cave. The cracked egg he found under his boot and the strange woman biting him. Yet, he was alive, unlike the others they found. He considered whether the woman was real or just a figment of a delusional mind under the influence of an animal bite.


    The eggs must have been valuable for thieves to be dealing with them, or another band had already struck out against them and taken their loot, leaving behind only the eggs.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    "I need to see the items taken in from that cave," Ardeshir said as he moved to the side of the bed. His shoulder burned and his legs trembled under his own weight but he couldn''t be one to sit back and wait. Vida made it clear to him that he needed to find the other anachiti and awaken the Battle Maidens but he needed the support of the Guild and Ervin if he ever wanted to find where they were and how he might get there.


    "You really shouldn''t be getting up but it''s not like you ever listen to me so go ahead." Ervin grabbed Ardeshir''s belongings from atop the drawer and handed them to him. "Yazdan brought everything over to the Guild storehouse for safekeeping until the Watch could come to pick them up. You think we might find a clue there? Oh, I''m always open for a treasure hunt, but I''m keeping my share this time. My time doesn''t come for free."


    The hospice was brimming with people who came to get treated by the Guild. Life outside the Guild grounds was harsh and people needed to get mended just as much as the equipment they handled. Frontier worlds gave people a new chance at life, but they had to build everything from scratch. They didn''t have the same comforts and establishments those inside the Realm got to fall back on.


    They crossed the Guild grounds to the storehouse, only to find the doors locked. Only the head of the kitchen and the High Mage would carry a key.


    Ardeshir had to rely on Ervin to get him inside undetected and gave his friend a knowing look. Ervin caught his meaning quick enough and started to back away.


    "No, not with me. Rules exist for a reason and I don''t want to get stuck."


    "It''s just a few feet away. You don''t even have to alter the elevation. A small push."


    Ervin raised his brows and frowned. "A small push is what you give to someone you want to see fall over the edge. Portals are much more painful. Just imagine coming out inside a rock and being unable to move while our bodies are crushed by our surroundings. There''s no coming back from that."


    "Guess I''m going to have to do it the traditional way," Ardeshir said as he pulled his dagger out and pummeled the hilt against the lock. The clanking was loud enough to draw the attention of passers-by who gave them both curious looks, but Ervin still had his robes on and managed to ease their worries long enough for him to break it open.


    "I have a feeling my days off are going to be canceled for the rest of the month. Really hope it''s worth it."


    Ardeshir shut the door behind them and lighted the lantern, holding it up to reveal the dozens of crates stocked full with produce and sacks of grain. They split up, searching every row until it was Ervin that called out and ushered him over. He held a shirt in one hand and a pair of boots in the other.


    "All they found was a bunch of clothing and stored it here. Maybe we should check the pockets for any notes on where they might have hidden the treasure."


    "It''s not a treasure we''re looking for. When we entered the cave, Vida said she''d found a bunch of eggs."


    Ervin shrugged and put the clothing back into the crate. "This is all I can show you. Maybe the eggs belonged to a bird, or something and they left them in the cave. Are you sure there''s no treasure involved? I mean, these are thieves we''re talking about. Don''t they always keep a secret stash in case of emergencies?"


    Ardeshir gave him a long glare until the realmwalker raised his hands in surrender. he noticed a white fragment on his dark robes and took it for a closer look. An egg shell, but only a small fragment, not large enough to have been an entire egg. Ardeshir crouched down and rummaged through the clothing until he found the remnants of the egg splintered into dozens of pieces tucked between the fabric.


    "By the Pillars, there really were some. So what does any of this have to do with the thieves or the trade bust your friend is currently leading?"


    "I''m not sure," Ardeshir said, examining the pieces and searched for the body. "Either it was pure coincidence the two were in the same place or the thieves were dealing with them."


    Ervin didn''t respond while Ardeshir slowly lifted and moved the crates around. He felt a tingle on his neck and paused, slowly looking over his shoulder.


    "Hold still," Ervin said as he approached Ardeshir from behind. He reached for the snake curling up around Ardeshir''s neck when it lashed out and bit Ervin''s finger. It didn''t take long for chaos to break out with Ervin screaming and dangling his hand in front of him. The snake refused to let go while he kept backing up. Ervin tripped over a crate and fell headlong into a sack of flour. The sack burst into a white cloud.


    Ardeshir rushed after his friend but couldn''t resist the grin at his overreaction. He grabbed his arm and held him still as pinched the snake at the head and pulled it away. It wriggled in his hand, trying to free itself from his grip. "Hard to imagine this little guy taking out ten grown men."


    "I don''t want to die! We need to get to the hospital before the poison kicks in."


    "Relax. Panic would only speed up the process besides I don''t think he''s poisonous. I''ll take him back to the office and show him to Yazdan when he returns. We need to figure out what''s so special about this particular specimen."

 The Librarian [Legends]

    Tasbir came to life on the eve of Freeday with people taking to the streets to escape their families and daily lives or make new experiences. A wandering group of entertainers, known as the Keyif, would travel from world to world and set up for a single night to offer the people a taste of the exotic corners. Men and women of all types could be booked by the hour. Delicacies that would melt on the tongue and the best herbs to make the desperate forget how much they hated their lives were only a few of the services offered.


    Ardeshir watched from the Guild gates and listened to the music and cheerful cries coming from within the tents. He visited the Keyif once before with Yazdan who left him alone in a tent. Sirin danced in front of him and closed in on him, slowly removing what little clothing she had on until Ardeshir stopped her. They talked for the rest of the hour and he grew to liking Sirin. She told him of all the worlds she''d been to and the many wonders she came across. Live and dead worlds and worlds broken apart it was a miracle people could still survive on the shattered plates. The sands of the hourglass ran dry and he had to leave for the night but Sirin gave him a kiss on the cheek before he stumbled out of the tent.


    With a letter in hand, he visited the field the Keyif had set up on the next day only to find it empty and all traces of Sirin gone. For two years, whenever the Keyif visited, he''d go in search of Sirin to relive the excitement he felt in a single hour.


    Vida appeared at his side in a new outfit. She modeled it after a dress one of the Guild elementalists wore heading to the fest. "Is there a cause for celebration? I''m not accustomed to your human traditions."


    "It''s nothing," Ardeshir said, crumbling the letter in his hand before stuffing it into his pocket. He turned his back on the Keyif and strode down the road. "I''d like to do some research and with everyone distracted, you shouldn''t draw too much suspicion."


    "I understand, but you shouldn''t isolate yourself from life. I''ve seen what can happen when a summoner goes into hiding."


    "I said, it''s nothing. Besides, you''re the one warning me of our doom." Ardeshir paused while a group of magi passed them by on the way to the fest. Not every mage got to travel, most stayed on the world they trained on in order to help community expand and maintain order.


    They arrived at the large structure on the west side of the grounds. Lanterns still burned on the outside, signaling they were open.


    "Ah, you''ve returned. How was you''re trip? I see you''ve brought back a woman this time," the librarian said as they entered. She climbed down from the ladder and fixed her hat to sit firmly on the center of her head again. She made sure to keep her uniform in crisp order, as was everything else inside the library.


    "This is Vida, she''s helping me on some research I''ve been doing lately. I promise we won''t get in your way."


    Calisma set her hands on her hips and sized Vida up. She didn''t tolerate nonsense, even though she was significantly shorter than Vida.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    "I just want to help," Vida finally said.


    "Very well. Just make sure you put everything back from where you took it and I don''t want to catch you two doing any funny business in my library."


    "Don''t worry, we''ll behave." He moved to the door but paused and glanced over his shoulder. "Have you ever heard of a leviathan?"


    Calisma slowly turned around. "An interesting topic you bring up at this time of day. I didn''t figure you to be the type interested in fairy tales. Don''t suppose your new found friend has anything to do with it."


    "It''s just something I came across off-world."


    "The leviathan isn''t something you just stumble across. It''s a relatively new tale, about as old as our understanding of magic. A group of magi believed they were the apostles of the ahura and were destined to fight the ultimate evil in form of a leviathan. It''s not an uncommon phenomena. There have been plenty of messiahs and chosen ones over the generations. Magic can still get to people''s heads."


    "What if it''s not a fairy tale but reality?" Vida asked, drawing the librarian''s attention to her.


    "Vida, that''s a beautiful name." Calisma clasped her hands together and smiled. "Then I''d wish you both the best of luck and point you to aisle seven. You might find what you''re looking for there."


    "Thank you for your time Lady Calisma," Ardeshir said and nudged Vida to follow him. He broke her trail of thought and she followed him. They proceeded to aisle seven where he trailed his finger across the spines of the books, searching for any volume that might shed some light on the leviathan or ahura. "I don''t understand why she sent us here. These are all outdated realmwalker study material."


    Vida perked up and removed one of the books from the shelf and flicked it open. "These are star maps."


    "Yeah but they''re at least fifty years old. The realmwalkers can''t use them anymore without missing their destination."


    "The universe is in motion, which is why I didn''t recognize the maps you kept in your room. These should better align with my knowledge of when we first arrived in this galaxy. See if you can find the oldest map available."


    Ardeshir went along the bookshelf, flipping through the titles until he came across a second edition Introduction to Realmwalking. It was printed five years after the discovery of magic and the ink had largely faded over the past hundred and ten years. The words didn''t matter to Vida who couldn''t read their language but the diagrams and maps could help.


    Vida glanced at the content over his shoulder and turned it over in his hands. "The scale is too small. I don''t recognize any of these places."


    Ardeshir pointed at the center system. "You don''t recognize it? That''s Masad where Ahmun taught the first magi and the Guild was founded."


    Vida shook her head. "I never heard of a prince by that name. It¡¯s possible he took on a new name for your kind."


    "But the ahura taught us magic to help better our lives."


    "Perhaps he did but the ahura are not all alike. The outpost you found me in was built by human slaves my master captured when we first came into contact with your kind. It''s how I learned to speak your language."


    They spent the next few hours going through the old volumes and Ardeshir rowed them up chronologically. As the years went by, so too did the maps grow in scope. The worlds became connected to each other through the help of the Guild realmwalkers and people pushed out to discover new frontiers.


    Vida dabbed her finger at a blank spot on the page of the Third Edition. "This is where Ashi built his outpost."


    Ardeshir furrowed his brows and gazed into her eyes. "There''s nothing there."


    "You''re not looking correctly. The system is listed in these two later editions but then left out of all following editions. I was able to retrace it''s pathway and it''s there and our best chance at finding more of the anachiti."


    Ardeshir grinned and snatched the book. "Then all we need to do is find a realmwalker brave enough to explore territory where no one has been in over sixty years and I know just the man."

 A Close Encounter [Legends]

    "We about ready to make the jump?"


    Ervin scowled, glancing away from the lens to scribble down a few notes. "Don''t rush me. You know full well what nearly happened the last time. There haven''t been any teams out there for years."


    "Yeah, well just let me know. It''s not like we''ve got an ancient evil stalking us or anything."


    "Pressure isn''t helping," Ervin said.


    Yazdan watched them from the sofa nearby with a bemused smile. "I''m surprised you both haven''t already killed each other. How long have you been working together?"


    "We''re not," Ervin interjected. "He keeps getting me into this and I''m just too kindhearted to let him down."


    Ardeshir frowned as he continued to apply the ointment meant to mitigate the effects of extreme weather conditions. "We''re supposed to be friends. Besides, I pay you for all your troubles and don''t act like I didn''t see you stuffing your pockets with gold the other day."


    Ervin shook his head, finished scribbling down coordinates and slammed his pen onto the desk. "It''s my fair share of the find. You got yourself an ancient weapon of mass destruction and I got a few nights of paid pleasure. You still owe me for that trip, by the way."


    "Well, no worries. I''ve seen to it that our little expedition has been signed off by the council of Grand Magi. I can only hope we are able to retrieve further evidence of these claims, so I may present them," Yazdan said. He noticed the jar by the window and moved over, holding it up. ¡°Didn¡¯t think you were the type to keep pets.¡±


    Ardeshir took the jar from him and examined the snake. He appeared larger than when he found him the day before and wondered just how fast they grew before setting it back down. ¡°We found the bugger in the store house and it attacked Ervin. You didn¡¯t happen to see any snakes or eggs at the merchants warehouse?¡±


    ¡°Forgeries, drugs and even a handful of women they kept chained to the looms in the back but no snakes. Whatever the thieves were dealing with, they already moved the goods to another location. So what made you decide to pick this world for your next expedition?¡±


    "Vida located the planet the outpost is supposed to be on but it''ll be up to us to find the anchiti.¡±


    Yazdan stroked his chin in thought. "You say you felt the relic?"


    Ardeshir nodded and rubbed the earring. "It was as if it were calling out to me. I''m not sure if all of the relics do the same but we''ll have to look for any magical traces that''ll lead us to it."


    "That should be enough." Ervin stood up and shook himself off before drawing in magic. His hands glowed a soft blue as he channeled the magic to his fingers and began to draw up the spell. Within moments he had the first set of lines ready and added on the additional three layers one atop the other until the spell locked into place with a hiss. The circle grew smaller and was replaced by a portal in mid-air. "After you, I insist. If this is another death trap, then I want to at least see the look in your eyes first before I die."


    Yazdan raised an eyebrow. "He''s quite the optimist."


    "Hey, you don''t get to live as long as I have as a realmwalker unless your careful. The universe doesn''t care about us and it''s just waiting for one little mistake to snuff us out."


    "I''m going already," Ardeshir said as he stepped up in front of the portal. It was silent and loomed innocently before him without drawing him in ¡ªthe signs of a stable portal. He took the step, letting the dry liquid sensation run over his face as he passed through. Ardeshir felt weightless for a moment as he drifted through to the other side and stepped on firm ground.


    Yazdan and Ervin followed him soon after and bumped into him for standing in place.


    "You''re supposed to clear the portal once you go through," Ervin growled and crossed his arms.


    Ardeshir couldn''t move out of fear. The land was basked in a soft dark substance with red rivulets gleaming beneath. He couldn''t see the sky through the thick cloud cover but at least they could breathe. "Are you sure this is the right place?"


    "Not again. You said you wanted to go here, so this is where I took us. The last report from here is over a decade old but it doesn''t mention anything about this."


    "Then we should be on our way and hurry back," Yazdan said. He turned to Ardeshir and gripped him on the shoulder, stirring him away from the mountains. "Do you feel it, is this the place?"


    Ardeshir blinked and met Yazdan''s eyes. "I-I don''t know. I''ll try."


    Each breath burned his lungs and left behind a thick slime in the back of his throat that felt as if were going to choke on it any minute.


    Bat-like creatures swarmed ahead and flew toward the mountains with high pitched screeching. They were nearly three times their size and had humanoid bodies with claws for feet.


    Ardeshir closed his eyes and concentrated on his surroundings, reaching out in all directions as he searched for any traces of magic. Only magi could tap into the magic in the Shadow Realm and use it in their world but it appeared as if the relics had a magical aura in themselves. Nothing but the hot air against his face. He reached out further, going as far as he could and brushed across a soft tingle in his mind. Ardeshir opened his eyes and pointed in the vague direction he felt the presence. The sensation was too soft for him to tell how far away it was.


    Vida, come forth. I need your help. He channeled some magic into the earring and felt her take form beside him.


    "You called, master."


    "Yes, I thought we might need your help once we get closer to the outpost. This place isn''t exactly inviting."


    The group kept closer together with Ardeshir at the front, leading them and Vida in her battle attire at his side. The bats were out of sight but could come back at any minute and he didn''t want to wager whether they were friendly or not. As they drew closer to the mountain pass, more unnatural objects began to appear around them. Chunks of rock that might have once belonged to a wall and signs of an abandoned settlement with rotted wood.


    "A realmwalker camp," Ervin said as he moved ahead and inspected the remains. He lifted up pieces of wood and tossed them aside. "These must have been the ones that first discovered and reported the world. No wonder their reports stopped coming in."


    "They died?" Yazdan asked as he wandered around the fallen heaps.


    "They could have escaped to another world but there would have been records of them abandoning the camp. All I found out was the initial scout report from twelve years ago and then silence.¡±


    A sense of dread churned in Ardeshir''s stomach as he glanced around the camp sheltered in between the mountain pass. The day already grew darker by the minute which meant they wouldn''t have much time before night settled in. He concentrated on the faint magical presence ahead to verify they were going in the right direction. "We should carry on. I don''t want to wait and find out what happened to them."


    Ervin gulped and took a step back, nervously eying the crevices in the mountains around them. "Yeah, I think you''re right. Let''s get it over with."


    They continued on down the passage and were getting close to the source when an even larger presence made itself known to Ardeshir. he stumbled forward, pressing his hands against his head as he tried to rid himself of the dark influence. The leviathan stabbed into his mind, steadily blocking his senses outside of his body until he became engulfed in the leviathan''s mental grip.


    "Argh! What is this?" Yazdan growled and brushed by Ardeshir aimlessly.


    "It''s Bahamut," Ardeshir cried as he attempted to steel himself and look ahead. A forgotten ruin carved out of stone laid there. ¡°He must have been able to sense the relic as well. We need to hurry before he arrives."


    Together, they struggled along the path and slowly grew accustomed to the mental grip blocking their senses. Ardeshir would no longer be able to reach out and help guide the way to the artifact.


    The ruins were built in a similar style to what he had witnessed on the frosted world but here he was able to see those parts of the building that had already been covered by mounds of snow. As they approached the first building, Ardeshir noticed that there were no pieces to the triangular structure but rather it was molded out of what had once been a chunk of the mountain. The fine craftsmanship and detailed work hinted the ahura had used magic in the construction that would have taken human workers decades to finish. Alone the central step-pyramid towered over them and nearly came as high as the mountains looming on either side.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    "We should keep going," Vida said, undisturbed by the leviathan. "The ahura grew paranoid over the years and would have kept the relic hidden away inside but I can not detect its location."


    "What about the writing on the wall?" Ardeshir suggested, pointing to some markings by one of the open entrances.


    Vida cocked her head and studied the writing. "I''m afraid the ahura never saw value in teaching us their written language. I suggest we split up and search each of the buildings individually."


    "Splitting up is a bad idea," Ervin said. ¡°You all got daeva and whatnot to protect you but I''m just... myself."


    "Here, take this," Ardeshir said, handing his dagger over. "Bahamut''s coming, so let''s get this over with and meet back here in fifteen minutes."


    "Wait, what are we even looking for? Are all the relics earrings?" Yazdan asked.


    "No, they were all various forms of jewelry. Rings, bracelets and necklaces," Vida said. "Coming in contact with the relic will have the daeva reveal itself to you."


    With everything settled, they split up with Ardeshir taking the route left of him. It lead to the smaller of the three structures as Yazdan had already dashed off for the central tower. Vida stayed with Ardeshir and together they crossed the pathway mostly reconquered by nature and entered. The building lacked a door in the space but Ardeshir wasn''t certain if there had ever been one.


    Small corridors went off on either side of him, with the path forward leading to a large space that took up most of the interior. He gasped at the sight and slowly made his way down the flight of stairs. Dozens of bookshelves coated in thick dust and overgrown with vines lined the floor.


    "An archive," Vida pointed out as she joined him. "This must be the entire collection belonging to one of the princes. A lot of work was put into bringing these over here from the other galaxy.¡±


    "Amazing,¡± Ardeshir said, reaching to pull one off a shelf. They were all only half an inch thick and quite light. He opened it up and frowned.


    There was hardly anything inside of them. No pages full of text and history. In fact only the left side of the book had any writing on it all with the right side kept entirely blank, except for a small square drawn in the center of the page. It didn''t make any sense to Ardeshir and he couldn''t quite piece together what it meant.


    Was it a map or a construction design? It could be anything or maybe just an ahura calendar.


    "The reading apparatus is there," Vida said, and pointed towards the center of the room where a small circle was etched into the ground. A pedestal, as high as Ardeshir was tall, stood in the center. "You can access the information stored by putting the block into the apparatus but I don''t think we will find any information on the relics there."


    "This could be what I was looking for all this time. I might have actually found a collection of ahura records on magic." He took a step towards the pedestal and stopped. There were thousands of books on each shelf and no time to spare. He needed to continue his search for the relics, if he wanted to defeat Bahamut and save mankind. "Check and see if you can find any drawers or additional rooms. I''ll have to come back for this another time."


    His heart craved to go through every volume and learn the minute secrets the ahura kept. To learn of their culture and way of life, but he had to leave that behind for the moment. Ardeshir needed to save mankind''s legacy first.


    Bahamut''s strength was growing as he got closer and would only give them a quarter of an hour at most.


    Ardeshir set the book back in its place and targeted the pedestal, moving up to the smooth marble design and searched but couldn''t find any openings where the relic may have been stored. He rose back up and went down the corridor, quickly glancing left and right for any clues that might have been hidden on the walls and would open up a chamber but he only bumped into Vida.


    "We might have better luck in the other buildings. There has to be a chamber belonging to the prince we can search. He wouldn''t keep the anchiti out of sight," Vida said. She swooped Ardeshir off his feet and into her arms with a grin. "This would go a lot faster if I do the walking."


    Ardeshir wrapped his arm around her and held on tightly as she darted out of the room. Two forms plopped down in front of them, just as they were about to leave the building. Ardeshir instantly recognized them as the creatures he saw flying away earlier but noticed they were more human than he thought at first. Their soft faces appeared almost innocent but heavily contrasted by the sharp red irises and long ears. The one on the right whisked their wings back, revealing the feminine body covered only in light strips of hide. She raised her claws and took a step towards them, licking her lips.


    "Yes, these are the ones. Soft and juicy."


    As the bat-like creature came closer, more of the swarm landed on the ground and buildings behind them.


    Vida reached for her sword with her free hand and removed it from her back. "Step away, lilitu or I''ll have to plow my way through you all."


    Lilitu, Ardeshir repeated in his mind. He''d never heard the term before but he wished he still had his dagger on him to help Vida. Hopefully the lilitu hadn''t gone after them as well.


    The swarm broke out into hysterical laughter, inching their way closer as Vida slowly moved back towards the library. There were over twenty of them, more than Ardeshir figured Vida could take on at the same time.


    Vida set him down and placed herself in front of him, raising the sword with both hands while keeping it in the sheath. "Whatever you do, don''t leave my side."


    Ardeshir nodded silently and drew up a summoning spell, bringing out everything he had captured over the years but mainly for Indaria''s support. The daeva would help keep his flanks secure and prevent the lilitu from breaking through. He controlled the boar to remain in the rear as a reserve. "We''re not interested in fighting. Let us go and we''ll leave this place without anyone having to get hurt."


    "Why leave when we want you to stay and be our guest?"


    "Stay. Feast upon the flesh," another giggled.


    Indaria and Vida took up positions at the entrance, blocking their way inside the building. The two women were a stark contrast to one another with Indaria''s light armor and ice magic and Vida''s heavy armor and two-handed sword.


    Ardeshir channeled more magic, drawing up spells to help increase defense and stamina. He had no offensive magic of his own and had to rely on supporting the two fighters.


    The lilitu sprang into the air and dived ahead with their claws outstretched. Vida whirled her sheathed sword around, knocking the creature mid-air with a deafening blow that snapped bone and slammed it against the wall. More swept in to take its place and lashed out at Vida. They clawed at her armor and tried to disarm her while she shook and hurled them to the ground.


    Indaria wielded her mace, slamming it into the skull of the lilitu before quickly raising her free hand and conjuring up an ice spell to freeze the next one swooping in. The lilitu dropped to the ground and splintered into a dozen pieces.


    "Yes!" Ardeshir jumped on the spot, cheering for them but even in that moment of hope, he saw that more were joining and it would only be a matter of time before they broke through. "Look out!"


    It was too late. With Vida on her knees, two lilitu dove in simultaneously with each grabbing one of Indaria''s arms. She struggled, tugging against them as she attempted to conjure up a spell. Gusts blew into the library as the lilitu slowly dragged her out.


    "Dungir, it''s your turn," Ardeshir said, raising his hand and pointing to the hybrid creature. As long as they were still inside, they''d be low enough for Dungir to charge. The boar grunted in acknowledgement and stormed ahead, leaping against one of the lilitu and bringing it to the ground with a thud. "Great work, now the other!"


    The boar whizzed around, preparing to help free Indaria when a group of lilitu pounced upon him. He let out a squeal as they clawed at him to the point where he burst into a dark cloud and returned to the Shadow Realm.


    Ardeshir clenched his hands into fists and felt a tear roll down his cheek at the sight. The pressure from Bahamut was intensifying and by his guess, he only had minutes until he arrived.


    Indaria reached for her mace, fingers brushing against the straps as she managed to get ahold of the stock to wield it around and smash it into the lilitu. She rose to her feet, cradling her bleeding arms and was joined by Vida who had finished taking on two other hybrids. Vida still hadn¡¯t drawn her sword from the sheath.


    There were still over twenty hybrids outside but they no longer blindly stormed inside. They adapted and waited patiently for them to leave. Ardeshir didn''t have the time to waste with them but he couldn''t go out there without immediately getting picked off. He glanced over to Vida and considered if she''d be able to carry him to the other building fast enough when he held in and felt the ground stirring.


    The lilitu noticed it as well, gawking from one to the other as they came across the unknown. They gazed over to the mountains, perhaps anticipating an eruption but Bahamut must have been much bigger and more dangerous. He blocked out the sun in his approach to the world and the lilitu finally scattered in every direction but the truth was they wouldn''t be safe no matter which way they went.


    "He''s arrived. We need to find the anchiti and leave immediately."


    The three of them darted out of the library and into the opening. Ardeshir slowed down, gazing up into the sky. The clouds had parted but only to be replaced by a giant mass filling in most of the sky. Vida told him Bahamut was big but it wasn''t until he saw it for himself did he believe that there could be something that massive in the universe.


    "Time to go. I''ve had it with these life and death situations, Ardeshir. I want out of your little group. It''s caused me enough trouble these past few weeks." Ervin reached into the Shadow Realm for magic and began to conjure up a portal to get them as far away from there as possible.


    ¡°Is this an earthquake?¡± Yazdan asked as he joined them. He froze mid-step and held his hands out to the side, instinctively reaching for magic but Ardeshri already knew through Vida that they wouldn''t be enough to stop him. "So it is true. We should continue our observation in order to adequately report everything to the Arch Mage when we return."


    "That''s not a good idea. Did you find any clues about where the anchiti could be?"


    Yazdan shrugged and summoned his daeva beside him.


    "You can stay for as long as you want, friend but I''m getting out of here," Ervin said as he finished the second layer of the spell.


    Ardeshir closed his eyes and concentrated on his surroundings, attempting to break out of the stranglehold Bahamut had put around him. It proved too strong and every time he tried to push outward his mind recoiled back inward and left him feeling dizzy. The relic was still out there, close by but he couldn''t tell in which direction he''d have to go. He glanced around the ruins, trying to pinpoint any abnormality that might indicate to him a hidden area but the world had seen a drastic change from when the ahura had built the outpost there.


    "I''m going to check one last time. Don''t let him close the portal on me just yet," Ardeshir said and raced towards the larger structure in the center. He wasn''t sure whether the item was located inside or if it might even be hidden somewhere else a little further along but he had to try again. He needed all seven pieces to stand a chance.


    Bahamut roared as he entered the orbit at a high speed. He had a long snake-like body albeit with an odd grey skin and shimmering snout. He came down a few miles away with a thunderous crash. A gust of wind rushed across the horizon and carried with it tons of earth and rock in a gigantic wave that would soon wash over the valley.


    With only moments between the impact and the devastating wave, Ardeshir turned on his heels and made for the portal. He didn''t want to give up on the anchiti but getting killed in the process wouldn''t serve anyone. With any luck, they would be able to draw the leviathan''s attention away from the world once they left and be able to return at a later time.


    Ervin had already finished the portal but the elements of the spell were still taking effect, slowly opening at the center.


    "Don''t worry, the Arch Mage will hear of this. He''ll be able to defeat this creature," Yazdan said and together they all leapt through the portal.

 Lord of Light [Legends]

    Ardeshir''s body tensed as he stood outside the chamber along with Ervin and Yazdan. Yazdan had managed to secure a meeting with the Council of Grand Magi and the Arch Mage. He''d only ever been in contact with local level magi and the managers of the regional guilds, the High Mage.


    The Grand Magi were said to be the best in their field, with the Arch Mage being the strongest mage alive. Kyros was the grandson of the mage who came in contact with the ahura and was introduced to the ways of magic.


    "You know, I don''t really have anything to do with all of this. I just got you guys there and back, so I''ll just wait outside for you."


    "You''re coming with," Yazdan said in a firm voice. "He''ll need to hear every aspect of what occurred. If there''s anyone who can help us locate the remaining relics, it''s the Arch Mage."


    The doors opened and High Mage Iraj stepped out in front with a scowl. "They''ll see you now and I can only hope they dismiss these claims as soon as possible so we can turn our attention to important matters. Trade is still at an all-time low because of the thieves attacking merchant lines. We need to root out every last bastion of these rogues."


    "With all due respect, High Mage," Ardeshir began. "The leviathan is a greater threat to all our safety than the thieves will ever be. We need to find a solution before he comes across a settled world."


    Iraj narrowed his eyes and turned away. "You''ll get your chance to convince them, but I know what you young folk are up to. Fame."


    The doors opened wider as Iraj stepped aside and allowed them entry. Ardeshir had never been on the High Mage''s good side, but this was a novel experience for him. They stepped inside the room with its high ceiling and fire burning in a nearby pit. The Grand Magi sat at a half-circle table facing the entrance with the Arch Mage at their center. Most of the Grand Magi were elderly, but the Arch Mage was still in his prime, having taken on the mantle when his father died two years prior. Kyros¡¯ robes were black with a golden trim but he kept the hood down, unlike the Grand Magi which wore white robes with golden trim. Some of the magi whispered amongst each other as they approached and remained standing before them.


    Kyros followed their movements with interest and indicated for the others to settle down. "Thank you for coming in person to enlighten us on hostile activity on the Frontier. Please tell us what you experienced."


    A moment of silence echoed in the room as Ervin looked to Ardeshir. He took it upon himself to start and recollect their search over the past few months and the discovery of the anchiti. Ardeshir tried his best to explain how he came into contact with Vida and the warning she gave him. The threat he witnessed on two occasions when the leviathan approached a world he was on.


    The Arch Mage nodded, stroking his chin. "I understand. So this lizard is following you because you removed an ancient relic from an ahura outpost?"


    "That''s correct," Ardeshir admitted, almost regretting having taken the item in the first place. "From what I understand, it''s not after the anchiti but seeks to prevent the Padishah-i-Gazi from appearing once we have reunited all the relics. The Padhishah will be the one to defeat the leviathan."


    "What he says is true," Yazdan said. "I wished it wasn''t, but I saw it in the skies with my own eyes and felt its power wrapped around me. We must unite the remaining anchiti and destroy this threat before we lose innocent people to its rampage."


    "Quite the tale you bring to my attention. I trust you imagine yourself to be this legendary hero?" Kyros asked, rising from his seat. He moved around the table of his council members and joined them. He smiled at Ardeshir. "It was in jest and wise of you to do so. I¡¯ll send out a team to investigate and confirm this leviathan immediately. You must be the troublemaker Bayat told me about. That you tricked him by giving him a meaningless piece of jewelery. Come and walk with me. I''d like to learn a little more about your experiences."


    "Of course, anything that can be of assistance. I''m just a little worried about finding the other relics before Bahamut pushes deeper into the galaxy."


    Kyros held his arm out toward a side door that lead to the back of the Guild grounds where he kept a garden in mint condition. Hedges, flowers and even a small corner for growing vegetables and herbs.


    "There''s something I want to show you, it''ll be our little secret," Kyros said as they approached a garden shed. "This is the site of the first guild house built many years ago. Much has changed over time, but there is a place here where my great-grandfather was taught magic by Ahura Ahmun."


    "He was taught in a shed?"


    Kyros raised an eyebrow. "For someone who spent the past year exploring the galaxy, you don''t seem to be open-minded enough."


    They went inside, where the head-gardener kept all the gardening tools stowed away with nothing out of the ordinary. Kyros moved past Ardeshir to the table and pushed the chair over so it fell on its back. A soft click sounded as a piece of the wooden floorboard jumped up a notch.


    "Neat trick, I''ll have to remember to build one like it for myself."


    The Arch Mage held his open hand out. "If you please. I think we might find what you''re searching for here."


    Ardeshir studied his face, trying to tell whether he was playing a trick on him. He decided to trust him and look for himself and opened the hatch by pushing it to the side. A winding staircase went into the dark depths, but Kyros already took the lantern hanging inside the shed and indicated for him to go ahead.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    "My great-grandfather used to practice every day with the ahura down here in order to master his skill of magic and learn the many ways it could be used. One day Ahmun vanished, leaving behind a few pieces of heirloom which my family kept safe down here in case he were to ever return. We never thought they were anything out of the ordinary but cherished them because of who they belonged to."


    It made sense for Ahmun to have been in possession of an anchiti but Ardeshir couldn¡¯t imagine him leaving it behind. It appeared more likely that he was killed off-world and therefore never returned to reclaim the relic.


    The staircase ended in front of a thick door that creaked as Ardeshir shoved it open. The door was heavy from lack of care to the hinges and the air musty inside the stone dungeon. Arch Mage Kyros followed him, revealing the path forward. Tapestries of Ahmun hung on the walls with a small pedestal planted in front of each one. Ardeshir could feel the power now that he was this close. It astonished him that the Guild was able to keep the relic a secret for so long. He couldn¡¯t sense the anchiti from the Hall which led him to believe there could be a barrier in place protecting the relic.


    ¡°My theory is correct? I can see it on your face; you know what they are.¡±


    ¡°They?¡± Ardeshir approached the stand, glancing down at the marvelous piece of jewelry but there were more. Ahmun had collected five anchiti, bringing him so close to reuniting all of them. ¡°This is incredible. After all these months of searching, the majority of relics were right in front of my nose.¡±


    Kyros nodded and held up a ring fitted with dragon glass. The black mass inside seemed to swirl around with the motion but appearances were deceiving. ¡°I¡¯ve always been fondest of this one. Tell me, what secrets does it hold?¡±


    ¡°Let me have a look,¡± Ardeshir said, reaching for the ring. His fingers brushed the glass and a jolt of magic sparked between them as his surroundings dimmed.


    The Arch Mage and the dungeon were gone, replaced by a serene mountaintop shrouded in clouds. Ardeshir¡¯s heart raced as he peered over the edge at the deep misty depths hundred of feet below him and the small ledge he stood on. It wasn¡¯t the same place he¡¯d first encountered Vida and the wind brought with it a bitter chill.


    ¡°You dare disturb the tranquility of my humble abode?¡± A voice echoed off the sides of the mountains. A rustling sound followed by the clattering of rocks as they broke off the ledge and rolled down the side. ¡°We¡¯ll see how determined you truly are.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Ardeshir and I¡¯ve come to free you from your slumber. Your aid is needed in the noble great ahead.¡±


    ¡°There are no more great fights. It¡¯s why I rest,¡± she whispered from behind into his ear. Ardeshir spun around but found the space empty. The voice had first come from above but then from behind him. He couldn¡¯t see into the distance, but only the few feet around him as the ledge wound around the mountain.


    Ardeshir balled his hands and walked along the broken pathway. The places the anchiti took him when he came into contact with them had to have a meaning if they were different from one daeva to the next. He walked for what must have been miles, growing weary as the air thinned.


    The gaping hole blocked his path. A portion of the mountain must have come loose earlier, creating a twenty foot gap to the other side. For a moment he wondered what would happen if he were to fall. He peered over the edge, gazing down. Would he return to Kyros or perish in unfamiliar lands? It was too big of a risk, but he needed to press on if he wanted to win the daeva for himself.


    Ardeshir went back and took off in a dash, leaping over the hole and landing near the edge where his balance wavered. He quickly leaned forward and moved to safety. He could see the top from there and raced up the last leg.


    A click gave him enough warning to spin around and come face to face with the barrel of a pistol. "You''re dead but since you took to the effort of coming all the way, I''ll give you the luxury of letting me hear your last words."


    Ardeshir gulped, feeling his heart pounding in his chest and the cold sweat forming in his hands, but he still held his ground. "You won''t kill me. You had plenty of chances to already but you didn''t. I know what you are and what you''re capable of. Killing me wouldn''t bring you any honor."


    "It would give me peace of mind." The woman had a sharp chin and dark full dark lips. Her armor was made of thin gold plating and a pair of horns peered out from the back of her skull, twisting ever so slightly inward. Her gaze lowered as she must have been caught in thought. Ardeshir remained still, aware he didn''t want to appear taking advantage of her distraction. Finally, she uncocked the dragoon and smiled. "Fortunate lies in your favor today. You are a guest in my home and come unarmed. Killing you would soil my reputation."


    Ardeshir let out a sigh and dared to take a step closer. "You know my name but I don¡¯t know yours. I¡¯ve already met Vida and come in contact with the great leviathan you call Bahamut."


    The daeva pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him. She indicated to the small stone building a few feet away, and he followed her there. There she set water over the fire and prepared a tea for them both. She sipped the strong herbal mix and waited for him to finish his cup before eying him again. "If you¡¯ve encountered Bahamut, then there¡¯s little I can do to save you. Bahamut is no opponent one can defeat but a force of nature, like trying to best the wind with the edge of a sword."


    "That¡¯s not true. The Padishah-i-Ghazi has the power to defeat Bahamut and end the destruction."


    "Hardly. What you speak of was a legend the ahura created to inspire hope amongst their people but all it did was fragment them further." She rose and held her hand out to the path Ardeshir took up. "I¡¯ve shared tea with you and spared your life. Return home and cherish the days gifted to you."


    Ardeshir took a step in the direction but stopped and turned back around, resolved to not give up so easily despite the chance of landing on her ill side. "I have six of the anchiti. I guess I will have to rely upon a greater daeva than yourself to see the deed through. Vida¡¯s strength must be immense if she holds herself back in every fight. You seemed to be a worthy fighter but now I¡¯m not so sure."


    The daeva¡¯s expression hardened before she charged across. She leapt into the air, bringing her leg around to kick him over the edge when Vida appeared to deflect her blow with the vambrace. "You? You¡¯ve actually become this human¡¯s servant?"


    "Ahzi, stop your foolishness. Our chances might be slim but we need to seize the chance to work together. We didn¡¯t always fight against one another."


    "No, we didn¡¯t," she admitted, lowering her voice. "We were tricked and enslaved by the ahura who mistook our generosity for weakness. I will never be weak again."


    "You¡¯re not. Which is why we need you to work with us."


    Ahzi snarled, aiming her pistol at Ardeshir. Her arm quivered as her finger grayed the trigger. She suddenly raised it at the sky and discharged it. "It appears I have no choice. The power of the anchiti remains strong enough to condemn me. As long as you hold the Jikka, I¡¯ll be in your service, master."


    The wind picked up strength, encasing Ardeshir and lifting him off the ground. Within a few heartbeats, he returned to the dungeon under the garden shed and toppled to the ground.


    "Uneasy on your legs?" Kyros said, peering down at him.


    "You didn¡¯t see me just arrive¡­ or leave?"


    The Arch Mage shook his head and helped him rise back to his feet. ¡°You took the relic from me and fell over. Apparently you believe you went somewhere which means they are able to influence the bearer¡¯s state of mind through magic. Interesting.¡±