3.34. Another Attempt (Patreon)

We waited a hundred breaths before looking out the door. There was no one. The corridor was devoid of both life and ghosts. If only that were of comfort. Ollie/Eight had had Silasenei in his eyes before he became aware of her presence. Would our combined consciousness do any better?

Slowly, we eased our way up the passage toward the third lobby, passing through the spirit boundary Ollie/Eight had encountered before. We had no new insights regarding it other than it felt like passing through a soap bubble.

Ahead, two world speakers leaned against a wall, their Statuses clear of anything suspicious. They gossiped about what they’d just seen, as well as the implications for those jockeying for Iseld’s favor. We lingered in case anything valuable dropped, but it was drivel worse than the telenovelas in Ollie/Eight’s memory.

Our spirit eyes wide, we spotted the ghost of a young woman in the corner spinning a top for her own amusement. She ignored us, and we ignored her. One day, if and when things settled down, we’d come back to help her move on. The evidence that her throat had once been cut remained on her shade’s body.

The corridor to the second lobby was busy with people traveling to and fro, so we slid in behind a group of three traveling toward the pyramid’s exit. They’d been assigned to bless a newborn in the Taakta district and given them an eisendon. The group vibrated with excitement. They expected good food and gifts beyond what was owed to the pyramid for the service.

We followed them, our eyes roving, looking for anything that might hint at Silasenei in hiding. There was nothing, however, even when checking the shadows and the open air with our Status camera. All the way to the exit, down the ramp, and around where our guards waited outside the pyramid—the immediate area was clear of threats.

Yuki’s attention was needed inside Tegen, so we separated our consciousnesses, and I fell back into myself with a soft-breathed sigh. Silasenei hadn’t seen me, or if she had, she’d let me off for my eavesdropping. Gods, maybe she even approved; hunters knew that information was power.

The idea sounded more and more plausible as I considered it. I’d only find out if it was true, however, if I asked the grandmaster, and I wasn’t about to do that. The silvered are scary, I thought. Then, with a grin: I can’t wait to hit Level 10 myself.

My guards stood a couple dozen yards off from the pyramid’s base. They looked to be conferring, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying until I was almost upon them.

It was more gossip—this time from the Soldier’s Lodge. Their grandmaster—a man named Ossul—had become a father again with his twenty-third child. For a moment, I thought I misheard, but no, the guards were all quite impressed with his astonishing fertility. The children were biologically all his, and the family also included another four from a different spouse.

I... well, I couldn’t imagine it. My own two children were hard enough to raise, but twenty-seven? There was no way he was involved in the daily lives of that many kids. Also, there wasn’t enough time in the day to get caught up in this kind of nonsense.

“I’m here,” I whispered.

The guards startled, but quickly settled back to normal. “All’s well?” Agath asked.

I got in between her and Moon before letting my spells lapse. “Well enough. Where’s Sheedi? I expected her to be here.”

“The world speaker stopped by, and asked us to tell you that she’s gone ahead to Imsiikila’s house. That she’ll inform him of what’s happening.”

“Did she say anything about what I should do next?”

Agath shook her head. “Only that she’ll meet with you and Ikfael later. She was very animated when including the spirit of the land.”

I signaled that I didn’t know one of the words, and Moon kindly pantomimed it for me. Then, he and the others stood around while I thought about next steps. Events in the pyramid had gone much better than expected, and faster too. I’d planned for it to take all afternoon.

Where can I do the most good? I thought. A meeting with Captain Sondo? I wasn’t a fan of his, but he clearly wielded power among the land soldiers, and I doubted Mumu and Haol would have time to get to him today. I should probably talk to Aslishtei. Even if she’s terrible, Ikfael’s Boon will definitely be of interest. There’s Crunei’s Garden too. I can see Wusta entering his whole family into the tournament.

And that was just two families out of who knew how many in the city. The tournament was going to be a smash.

Although... we need a good name. Something like... Ikfael’s Tournament of Magic. No, that’s too Boring. The Magic Games? I shook my head at the lack of pizzazz. Since the prize was a chance to strengthen and awaken magical powers, maybe something along those lines?

My guards fell in around me as I started walking toward the Geista district. Both Aslishtei’s and Wusta’s families lived out that way. It’d be the most efficient place to start. I kept an eye out for Silasenei, but didn’t really expect to encounter her. That just left assassins. Nothing had happened for several days now.

My spirit eyes caught a flicker of movement from between two buildings at the plaza’s edge; it was someone skulking. Their spirit flared, and I slammed an Air Shield up, the mana swirling and making the magic a reality. The air cracked in the distance—a Spiral Pierce spell—and the crossbow bolt targeting me deflected. It splintered as it hit the ground, gouging the stone. Then, the bolt’s remains caught fire and burned to ash in mere moments.

I took off after the lean form of the man I’d glimpsed. Dog’s Agility buzzed through me, and I was faster than my guards. My steps launched me across the stone pavers, the crisp fall air snapping my cloak.

My spear and bow were still with Agath and Moon, but I had my knives in their sheaths, as well as an intense desire to pay back the bastard who’d shot me through the heart. The anger roused Yuki’s attention, pulling them back to me.

Again? they asked.

Yes, but this time we’ll catch them.

I arrived at the space between buildings—it was too narrow to be an alley—and found the area blazing. There was a cake of cleansing fire at its center. People shouted in alarm from the adjacent buildings.

The flames ate at the qi in the area, but it’d do my assailant no good. He’d underestimated me; I could just pick up his scent on the fire’s other side. I backed up for a running start, while Yuki pumped qi into Bear’s Strength for me. Along with Dog’s Agility, I jumped and flew over the fire, tucking into a roll on the other side. Behind me, Moon blasted through the flames with his shield.

He tried to grab me—to get me behind him—but I slithered out of his grip. “Not yet, I need pick up his trail.”

The land was only a breath away, and I sank into it. Behind me, the guards tried smothered the fire with their shields and cloaks. The yelling nearby grew louder, and there was a commotion near the pyramid, as people noted the attack and our response to it.

And ahead—I brought my nose to the ground to inhale—I spelled mud and leather. There was a heaviness too that reminded me of oiled steel and discipline. The qi and spirit left behind were unfamiliar. Whoever it was, it wasn’t someone I knew.

“This way,” I said, leading the way.

“Let us get ahead of you,” Agath replied. Her voice was tense, worried.

“When the way opens,” I said. For now, it was too narrow for my guards to pass me, and I didn’t want anything to interfere with following the assassin’s trail.

The path ended in a T where another building stood in the way, and I took a right turn, then a left when we ran into another intersection. That led us to a crowded street, with groups of people walking past. Their voices were loud and rambunctious; there were others who were soft and serious. A cart rumbled past, its cargo covered with a tarp. My spirit eyes saw nothing alive hidden under it.

The trail headed deeper into Scathta, and I jogged after it. Agath and Moon ran to get ahead of me, while Kila’s guards brought up the rear. We drew looks, curiosity following us as we moved.

Within me, three different talents worked together to keep us on the assassin’s trail: Qi Sensitive, Uncanny Tracker, and Spirit Hunter. I tasted frustration from the qi left behind from the assassin—a pent-up anger and righteousness.

“They may be leading us to an ambush,” Agath said.

“I’m aware,” I said from within the land’s embrace.

“If there’s a fight, let us do our jobs,” she said.

“We’ll all do what’s necessary,” I replied.

My eyes flicked from person to person, hunting for anyone nervous or wary. In instances where I was suspicious, I used my Status camera. Ideally, I would’ve screened everyone on the street, but to do so would be to lose track of my surroundings. And, as Agath had said, an ambush was possible. That would’ve been my plan if I were in the assassin’s shoes.

We jogged through block after block, and the trail led on until we were practically at the center of Scathta. Turning a corner, a walled compound came into view. It was very much like Ithia’s fortress except shrunk down to... lodge size. The Soldier’s Lodge to be more specific. I recognized the tower emblazoned above the main gate. Around me, my guards stiffened when they realized the assassin's trail headed toward it.

There!

A lone warrior walked through the gate at a brisk walk. There was a crossbow on his back, and while he appeared to be a man with business to accomplish, his spirit was uneasy. Though he never turned around to look, his attention lingered behind him. Click.

Miklatsei the Steady (Human)
Talents: Valiant (Visible)/Cunning (Hidden), Well Trained, Defender

Agath’s voice was grave when she said, “Mikal... he is Otwei’s brother.”

“I need to get closer to be sure, but he’s probably the assassin.” I thought quickly, discarding plans as soon as they came to mind until I decided that the simplest solution was best. “Call him over. You said he wanted to me, right?”

Kila’s guards overhead us and objected, but not Agath. After a moment, her expression firmed. “I see, yes.” Then she bellowed toward the gate, “Hail there, Mikal.”

The soldier startled, but continued walking as if his name hadn’t just been called.

“Mikal. Mikal!” Agath yelled. “There is a surprise for you.”

Others turned to look. The Soldier’s Lodge was every bit as busy as the Hunter’s. One helpful fellow came up to Miklatsei and pointed him our way. Reluctantly, he let himself be turned around. His spirit unhappy, he put a smile on his face to greet Agath.

A hard grin on her face, she took the lead in approaching him. “What a lucky day for you. Here is the client you wanted to meet.”

Miklatsei was wiry like his sister—thin as a whip like mi abuelito used to say and just as tough. I was still wide open to the land, and there was a tenacious in his body. Something that spoke of endless training and survival. Physically, he looked a lot like Otwei, but this other sense reminded me of her too. What he lacked was her love of wicked mischief. His eyes were serious as he examined me.

“They told me you were young, but it’s different meeting you for myself.” He clapped twice. “I am Miklatsei, who was once a younger brother to Otwei. My soldier sister Agath kindly shared the story of her last days with me. I thought I might protect what Otwei once protected, but it was not to be. Still, I see you are in good hands.”

You wouldn’t know it from looking at him, but anger smoldered in his spirit. Well, I had my own lump of anger burning.

“Otwei’s death was a great loss for the lodge,” I said. “She was unique among hunters. You must’ve loved her very much to pursue her memory.”

Briefly, Miklatsei’s eyes flashed, but then he chuckled. “You mistake me. Otwei left the family when I was young. My asking after her was just curiosity—a wondering at what happened to the girl who had been mistaken for a soldier.”

“She never mentioned you,” I remarked.

His spirit shuddered, as if he’d been stabbed. Softly, he said, “I see. It was probably for the best.” Then, he shook his head to clear it. He licked his lips—they were dry, I noted, and chapped. “Perhaps... perhaps we can meet later tonight. There is a place I know. The food is good, and I’ve heard you like delicious things. It will be my treat. In exchange, you will share what you saw of Otwei’s last days with me.” Miklatsei eyed the soldiers around me. “Your guards are also welcome, of course.”

“Which place?” Agath asked.

“The Court of Earth and Blood,” Miklatsei said. “At dusk. The games will be over by then, but there will be food and drink well into the night.”

Agath sensed the question before I could ask it. “The game is called latchtei, played with a leather ball.”

“I’ve never heard of it.”

“Latchtei is a soldier’s game, and the Court of Earth and Blood is a soldier’s place,” Agath explained. “An out of the way one—most would not find it without a guide or already knowing the way.”

Miklatsei clapped my shoulder. “We will meet beforehand and walk there together. Here at the gate. At dusk.”

“It will be full dark by the time we arrive at the court,” Agath said.

Miklatsei laughed. “Your diligence is admirable, but with so many soldiers with him, this Eight will have nothing to worry about.”

###

My guards started arguing as soon we were far enough away not to be overheard. Uncle Kila’s contingent thought I should avoid the obvious trap, while Agath and Moon wanted to press ahead—to draw Miklatsei out and deal with him... permanently.

I, on the other hand, had a lot to think about. First and foremost was the notion that the assassination attempts on my life had been personal; it wasn’t the healers at all, and that required a shift in thinking that left me feeling wobbly. Their lodge’s antagonism was a pillar holding up my understanding of Albei, and it was suddenly gone.

Not completely: they were still a bunch of bastards with a monopoly on healing, and they caused trouble for me and my lodge, but they weren’t trying to kill me. Unless it was two separate assassins with two different motives? What were the odds of that?

Both attempts had used crossbows. One was poisoned, and the other... caught fire. So, there was no way to check.

“Do soldiers carry cleansing fire?” I asked.

Moon listened to the argument, but took a moment to sign, “Yes, when we go out of the city.” His expression turned thoughtful. “Miklatsei would have just returned to Albei today, so him carrying it makes sense.”

I thanked Moon, and decided it was likely Miklatsei was responsible for both assassination attempts. I’d hold onto the possibility they were unrelated, but the odds were smaller.

“Another question: is his team also involved?”

My question stopped the argument happening above me.

“I don’t believe so,” Agath said. “The people working with Mikal are—how to say it—they are very business-like. They do not do anything without money, and to go against another lodge would require a lot of taak.”

Moon added: “Mikal’s family is proud but not rich.”

The leader of Kila’s guards was a man named Grasset. He said, “Mikal might convince his team if it was a family matter...”

“But Otwei wasn’t family,” Agath said.

I rubbed at the spot on my chest where I’d been shot. “I don’t see him taking us all on in a direct confrontation, which means he’s probably going to use poison. We know he’s capable of it.”

The soldiers nodded thoughtfully.

“We should involve Mulallamu and the rest of your team,” Moon said.

“I was thinking the same thing. It’ll be overkill, but she’ll be angry if we do this without her.”

###

Agath led us to a large, covered communal eating area with a view of the Soldier Lodge’s main gate. The seats were crowded with people of various backgrounds and professions enjoying the wares of the food vendors stationed around it. We were able to mix right in.

One of Kila’s guards checked the lodge, but Mumu hadn’t shown up yet. The soldiers were supposed to be her first stop after the hunters, so she was obviously running late.

I was still full from the massive meal at Uncle Kila’s residence, but the smells from the stalls enticed me to walk around and check them out. There were grilled pork skewers lightly flaked with salt; tamales stuffed with chicken and peppers; vegetable casseroles of squash, beans, and potatoes; and steamed fish with wild herbs. They all looked delicious, and I planned to come back one day, when the huge debt hanging over the hunters was gone. There’d be no splurging until then.

Still, the people watching was good, and I appreciated the breather. It’d been an intense morning, the ramifications of which caused my thoughts to fly in a thousand directions; my head felt like a pinball machine full of bonus balls all in play.

It wasn’t just the revelation about the assassination attempts either. I was blown away by the fact that Silasenei worked for Ithia in a role that resembled some kind of spymaster. And Iseld was one of her contacts. The three of them—along with presumably others—worked to limit the influence of The Paramount Empire of Conjuncted Maltra.

The name was a mouthful, even in Diaksh, but it represented an amalgamation of cities bound together to form a larger empire. Inleio had talked about them briefly as part of our geography lessons, but I hadn’t paid too much attention. Ganas Hakei and Sugrusu Hakei were much closer, and those two coastal cities were part of our own Three-City Alliance.

The difference was: Ours was a loose partnership. Ganas’s, Sugrusu’s, and Albei’s governance were all independent of each other. Maltra’s was not; it’d been ruled dynastically for centuries.

I knew two other facts: Their capitol was located on a massive lake, and the empire's border was approximately three hundred miles west-south-west from Albei. Oh, there was a third fact: they also apparently had designs on the Three-City Alliance.

All of which was way, way above my paygrade. But at least it helped explain why Ithia, Silasenei, and maybe even Aslishtei did what they did. Not that it made my life any easier, or the lives of Voorhei’s hunters.

After an hour of waiting and small talk, I finally spotted Mumu and Haol approaching the lodge. Haol caught sight of me too, and the two hunters angled toward our table. The guards shifted to make room for them.

There was a buoyancy to Mumu’s spirit that I hadn’t seen since before Inleio’s murder, and Haol had a smug look on his face.

“Things went well, I take it?”

Mumu nodded, her own smile slipping out. “The chance to win Ikfael’s Boon captivated the hunters, as did the chance to prove their prowess. There were even some interested in the fighting portion of the tournament. You remember Kuros the Spear? He’d just come in from an expedition, trail ragged, but that didn’t stop him from asking question after question. Our Haol wanted to snub him for what happened between him and Susu, but we stuck to the plan—participation would be open to all people of good standing.”

Haol chimed in: “The grandmaster arrived while we were answering questions, and she stole Mumu away for a while—”

“—to ask more questions,” Mumu said, interrupting.

“That’s why we were delayed,” Haol added.

It was good to see life in Mumu’s eyes again; they shone brightly as she spoke. “More importantly, neither Silasenei nor any of Albei’s hunters were troubled by the entry fee. It seems that five eltaak is nothing much to these people. We should be able to raise at least an eistaak just from the Hunter and Soldier Lodges here, assuming the soldiers respond as enthusiastically. Add in the artisan’s contest, and we might make two to three eistaak. It’s a fortune, Little Pot. A fortune!”

“We will just have to carry the debt for a year, from this tournament to the next,” Haol said, “and then we will be free.”

“Right, right. Tell us, Little Pot: how did the meeting with Kila go?”

“I went well, and when I left him, he was going to take our offer to the family heads, but... ah... I ran into Sheedi at the pyramid. I need to catch you up on some developments.”

I glanced at Agath, and she took the hint, gesturing to the other guards. They moved away from the table and took up positions farther away. Then, I got up to scoot between Mumu and Haol, keeping my hands under the table. The rest of the conversation took place using Signed Diaksh, hidden from view, and I reported on Sheedi’s meeting with Iseld, as well as Iseld’s meeting with Silasenei.

Mumu’s and Haol’s joy at hearing about the world speaker’s willingness to back our loan request was instantly wiped away at the news of the grandmaster working directly for the land knight. The spirits of both hunters buzzed with activity, yet none of it showed on their faces. All I saw there was sober thought.

Then, I told them about the second assassination attempt, and they frowned as severely as I’d ever seen them, especially when I got to the part about Miklatsei. My teammates exchanged looks, then Mumu nodded to Haol, telling him to speak.

He said, “In the time since we last saw Kuros, he has replaced his bow with a crossbow. I saw it with his pack while he questioned me about the tournament. At the time, I thought it a shame that any hunter would give up the bow, but now I wonder.”

“Kuros was on the same expedition as Miklatsei,” Mumu observed. “They have a connection.”

“The first time someone tried to kill me,” I said, “I could’ve sworn the assassin was Camouflaged. It’s why I mistook them for a ghost, but it doesn’t look like Miklatsei knows the spell. I just assumed I was wrong about it, but from what I’m hearing from you... you think Kuros is involved.”

“Kuros knows you have Healing Water,” Mumu said, “and the poison on the bolt that struck you resisted healing.”

“Otwei was famous for her poisons,” Haol said. “She would surely have given her teammates some to use. Or told them where to get more.”

“My only question is why,” Mumu said. “Little Pot, have you done anything to offend either of Miklatsei or Kuros?”

“The only thing I can think of,” I said, biting my lip, “is that they blame me for Otwei’s death. The kalihchi bear targeted the two of us first because of Yuki. That was obvious to anyone watching.”

“I remember,” Haol said. “The hunters joked afterward that the two you looked the most tender for eating.”

I scoffed at the idea. “Otwei wasn’t tender at all, neither in body or spirit.”

Mumu nodded. “That she wasn’t, and her teammates knew it.”

A hypothesis began to form, and the more I poked and prodded the more reasonable it sounded. “So, remember how I mentioned that Otwei had a talent for decoys? That I suspected her and her team of using it against us?”

Both hunters’ eyes widened as they caught on. Mumu was a touch faster, and said, “You think that they think we arranged Otwei’s death as revenge for what she’d done.”

“Kuros and Banan know that it’s possible to lure creatures. It’d be an easy jump for them to assume we could do the same. For them to project their own willingness to behave like that onto us.” I shrugged. “At this point, it’s just a theory, but it lines up with what we know about the people and the crime.”

“Gods damn them,” Haol said, aloud.

I put a hand on his arm, and felt it tighten as he clenched his fists. His lips were white from being pressed so tight, and, if anything, Mumu was even scarier. There was hardly any tension in her; instead, the ferocity was in her eyes. They said that someone was going to die tonight.

“They are not of our lodge,” she said, her voice grim. “They will never agree to sit for truth-telling tea.”

“And I’d rather not bring this to the land soldiers. There’s too much that’s related to Yuki. I don’t want to risk anything that might reveal them.”

“Yuki—” Haol began.

But I shook my head. “Both Kuros and Banan are dawn. They’re impenetrable unless severely injured and their qi compromised. Miklatsei is feasible, and it’d mean tracking down where he lived, getting Yuki inside, and waiting for him to fall asleep. It’s just a night’s work, but—”

“—we already have a different opportunity,” Mumu said. “To counter-ambush.”

I took a long breath, and let it out slow. “I thought Miklatsei would try to poison me during dinner, but now I’m not sure. If Kuros and Banan are his accomplices, then it makes more sense for them shoot at me from hiding. It won’t matter how many guards I have, as long as they have line of sight and can run away in Camouflage. The strategy almost succeeded once.”

“So it’s both Kuros and Banan working with Miklatsei?” Haol asked.

I shrugged. At this point, the evidence pointed Kuros alone, but the two were close. The assumption was reasonable, but unproven.

“We’ll need to let the guards know. It’d be unfair to them otherwise.”

The hunters nodded in agreement, and as Mumu called the guards back over, I reached out to Yuki to catch them up on what was happening. They were at a delicate point in refining Tegen’s qi, but promised to find a way to be present. Their own anger at the attempts on my life demanded it.

The sun was about another hour from dusk, so they had some time, as did we to plan how we’d handle Miklatsei, Kuros, and Banan.