175: Agent of Change (Maiya) (Patreon)

“Your highness,” the Head Handmaiden said, bowing her head as she poured Princess Ira a cup of tea. The princess wore an elegant gown in the crimson-and-black colors of Kin’jal, which contrasted beautifully with her platinum blonde hair that sat proudly behind her head, raised into a bun.

“Excellent as always, Nee,” the princess said, sipping her tea. “Your preparation brings out the woody undertones, while maintaining the smooth profile of this tea. Well done.”

The Head Handmaiden nodded demurely.

It was another beautiful, temperate day in Sonam. The sun peeked out from the clouds, birds chirped, and a gentle breeze tickled the Royal Gardens. Maiya sat with the princess under a white trellis that looked as though a Kin’jal warrior had attempted to copy the flowing style of Altani architecture—and only partially succeeded.

Nee? That’s the Head Handmaiden’s name? Maiya thought. To this day, she’d never learned the witch’s name. Nor had she ever had the guts to ask.

Then, to Maiya’s horror, the teapot neared her own cup.

No way. No badrakking way! She’s not about to… She Is!

The teapot tilted, the Head Handmaiden glared, and Maiya’s eyes went wide. Hot, perfectly prepared Kin’jali green tea poured out, landing perfectly in her cup. Maiya knew then that she was going to die.

The mere thought of the Head Handmaiden pouring her tea made her squirm in her skin. It was all so wrong, like the sun failing to rise in the morning or the stars refusing to fall at end of night.

She’s gonna kill me for this.

“That’s just her nickname, by the way,” Ira said, casting a cheeky gaze at the stoic Head Handmaiden.

“Her real name’s—”

“Princess Ira! I’ve suddenly recalled a fond memory from a time when you were just a little girl. You’d hidden yourself out of embarrassment for a whole week after you’d wet—”

“Ahhh it’s quite a hot day, isn’t it?” Ira said in a shrill voice, the back of her palm against her forehead. “I fear I may have succumbed to heat stroke, for I’ve suddenly lost my train of thought! Pardon me!”

Sweat broke out on Maiya’s brow. Such was the tension in their words.

“Of course, princess. Please mind your weak constitution. You’ve pushed yourself too hard again.”

Ira nodded solemnly. “Thank you for your concern, Head Handmaiden. I’ll be more mindful of my poor health.”

Did she seriously just fight a princess? And she won!

The Head Handmaiden nodded, bowed, and left with her bar cart with absolutely perfect etiquette.

“Her name’s Neeti, by the way,” Princess Ira said, the moment the Head Handmaiden was out of earshot. At least, Maiya thought she was out of earshot, but when the woman turned and leveled a death glare at the princess, Maiya reaffirmed her opinion that she wasn’t human; she was an Ash Beast wearing human skin.

Maiya froze, feeling the Head Handmaiden’s gaze shift to her, like an all-seeing eye.

She can’t read your thoughts. She can’t read your thoughts. She can’t read your thoughts… Can she?

The mantra carried her through the ordeal, and the witch’s pressure dissipated.

Ira deflated. “Alas, It seems I’ve been vanquished.”

You brought that on yourself. Maiya sipped her tea. Wow, this is good.

“Princess Ira, I’m honored to have been invited by one as esteemed as yourself, though—”

“Maiya, please,” the princess scolded. “No formalities. Must I repeat myself so? Or are you only allowed to oblige if I chide you twice? Wait. Don’t answer that. The look on your face tells all.”

“Sorry,” Maiya muttered. “But Neeti, huh?”

“I know, right? ‘Tis far too cute a name for a straightlaced stickler like her. Though I suppose it is somewhat fitting. It means Justice in the old tongue.”

“Er, should you be saying that? Feels like you’re just begging for bad things to happen.”

Ira sighed. “You’re right. Nothing good comes from teasing that natural disaster, but that is precisely why it’s so hard to resist, is it not? Care for a walk?”

Maiya stood and followed—the princess hadn’t asked a question. She’d issued an order.

Sonam’s Royal Imperial Garden was almost a city unto itself. Surrounded by walls taller and thicker than the outer walls of most capital cities, it was entirely isolated, beautifully manicured… and completely empty.

“Princess? Are you sure it’s wise to climb to the ramparts?” Maiya asked, following the princess, who lifted her skirt to walk up the dozens of stairs that led to the top of the wall.

“Oh, hush. I come here often,” Ira said, huffing from the exertion. “The view is breathtaking, I promise.”

The view was incredible. The Royal Quarter’s prominence afforded a sweeping view of the whole city, which spread out beneath them like a fortress, except one that spanned all the way to the horizon. It made for a melancholic mood, which inevitably made Maiya think of Vir. It didn’t take much, these days.

Weeks had passed since Vir left. It was foolish, Maiya knew, to expect him to cross the Ash so quickly. She’d braced herself to wait months, and yet, each passing day caused her discomfort to swell. What if an Ash Biter had gobbled Vir up in his sleep when Cirayus wasn’t looking? What if they’d gotten separated and he’d lost his way? Was he roaming around the Ash, alone, at that very moment?

“Quite the view from here, don’t you think?” Princess Ira asked, the gentle breeze ruffling her platinum blonde hair. The guards who’d been stationed atop the ramparts quickly made themselves scarce upon the princess’ arrival.

“It truly is,” Maiya replied. “I’ve never experienced a better vantage. You can see all the way out to the Gauntlet from here, and even harbor.”

“There’s no better view in the whole city,” Ira said, nodding. “And yet, only the guards ever get to see it, though I suspect even they barely give it a passing glance. As with the castle grounds, it’s always only me, alone.”

“But so many live in the castle,” Maiya said. “How can it be so empty? I’d expect at least a few people to venture out here for a stroll?”

“Pity, isn’t it? Nobody cares. If they’re not working, dueling, or training their bodies, they’re wasting their time, apparently. Why would an upstanding Sonamite ever dawdle amid greenery or take in sweeping views?”

“Then why even have the gardens at all?” Maiya asked in confusion. It seemed like such an opulent waste, totally at odds with the Kin’jal ethic.

“Because it’s proper for a castle to have a garden. That’s all. When foreign dignitaries visit, they’ll be suitably impressed by Kin’jal’s awareness of the finer aspects of life,” she said sarcastically.

“Cast your gaze across this crown jewel of ours. What do you see?”

Maiya scanned the many tall walls, the ramparts wide enough for carriages, the warriors posted at every turn. She couldn’t see the civilians who shuffling about on the streets below—so tall were the walls.

“I see an impregnable fortress, only one that’s been enlarged to the size of a massive city.”

“Perhaps. You’re not wrong, though my eyes see differently. I see stagnation. I see a desperate desire to cling on to the only legacy Kin’jal has ever had—the strength of a bully. You’ve spent plenty of time in Sonam by now. Tell me, how many paintings have you seen, either in the castle or out in the streets? How many artists or artisans crafting exotic pottery or textiles?”

Maiya kept her silence, for she couldn’t recall even a single one.

“We have none of Rani’s arts, nor the rich history of Hiranya, and none of the sophistication of the Altani. Ours is a history of conquest—of nations shattered and assimilated, squashing what culture they once had. This empire values one thing and one thing only. Some say ‘strength’ is a virtue, but even water is a poison when consumed in quantity. But what about you? A copper for your thoughts?”

Maiya thought it over for a moment. How did she feel about Kin’jal? Initially, she’d been in awe of the city and Kin’jal’s wealth, viewing the world through the rose-colored lens of a village girl who didn’t know any better. She was still impressed, but she’d be lying if she said the sheen hadn’t tarnished somewhat.

Kin’jal was the most powerful country in the Known World in certain areas, but after having visited Rani, and even the Pagan Order, there was something lacking.

“There’s no soul,” Maiya said. “Even the strength Kin’jal’s obsessed with isn’t to better oneself or seek perfection of their art. At least, not as a goal. It’s just a means to an end. To expanding Kin’jal’s power.”

“Precisely!” Ira said, clasping her hands. “‘Tis the root of Kin’jali aggression. Would you believe me if I said this obsession was not organic, but a carefully crafted strategy by the Imperator to guide the country’s culture to his own ends?”

“Is that even possible?”

“Quite. Though my father is hardly the only one to blame. He’s merely the latest in a long line of torch-bearers. It begins with our education. From a young age, our schools ingrain the martial mindset, extolling our warriors, indoctrinating children to believe the Ash’va dung that is our gods-given right to conquer the world.

“It continues in the arena. Have you wondered why all Kin’jal cities have one? Even villages have a dueling ring—centrally located—where citizens are encouraged to fight for wealth and fame.

“It culminates in our military—the ultimate success for a Kin’jal. There is no higher calling than that of Warrior, no higher station than General. I won’t lie that such policy has served the country well, but it is this exact philosophy that leads us to poke sleeping wyrms. Our prior success in no way guarantees future victory, yet we seem to take this as a given even in the face of embarrassing losses like Banshy’s Folly and The One Day’s War.”

“I must admit,” Maiya said softly, “Kin’jal has been single-handedly responsible for ruining Hiranya. “

Don’t say it. Don’t say it, Maiya! Keep your mouth shut!

“Though I fail to see how that is a bad thing. Hiranya can burn to the ground for all I care.”

Maiya couldn’t remain silent. Her hatred boiled just as hot as it did the day she discovered Hiranyan knights had murdered her parents. Like a volcano biding its time, building pressure until it burst. One day, she would have her revenge, and if Kin’jal helped her obtain it, she’d support them right up until the day Daha’s palace burned to ash with the vermin infesting it.

Princess Ira furrowed her brows. “I know, of course, that you came to us from Hiranya. I am not, however, aware of your history with them. If it is corruption you wish to eradicate, changing Kin’jal will uplift Hiranya as well. Hiranyan nepotism is an unfortunate byproduct of our desperate times. When they no longer have war to worry about, military resources will flow back to the country, strengthening it. Kin’jal can aid in ensuring the ascension of competent rulers from the shadows.”

Maiya balled a fist. “They murdered my parents. I don’t want to uplift them. I want to burn them.”

Princess Ira turned to regard Maiya.

Great. I’ve really done it now. Maiya braced herself for a lecture.

“Who do you want killed?” the princess asked.

“S-sorry?”

“I assume your hatred is directed toward those responsible for the death of your parents, yes? Who were they?”

“A knight,” Maiya replied with a frown. This wasn’t the reaction Maiya expected. “Knight Captain Vastav and his men. And Princess Mina.”

Ira winced. “Mina Hiranya… You’ve no doubt heard what became of her?”

Maiya nodded. “I heard she was maimed. That not even healing magic can help her.”

“Yes, she lost some limbs. Quite gruesome. Hiranya has done their best to hide it, but there’s no concealing something like that. Mina is destroyed, Maiya. Fated to live out the rest of her days as a cripple, she has no power anymore. Her brothers have seen to that.”

“She still breathes,” Maiya said through gritted teeth. She knew this was no way to speak to a princess. Maiya didn’t have any right to demand anything from her. The opposite—Ira had given her wealth, power, and status. Everything she’d ever dreamed of. Yet, now that she’d spoken, she couldn’t stop herself. Like a levy that had ruptured, the words flowed—out of control. “That monster deserves a fate worse than death for all the tragedies she’s wrought.”

“Would you not say Fate has given her exactly that?” Ira asked. “Imagine how it must be for someone as highborn, as egomaniacal as Mina, to be brought so low. It must vex her every moment of every day. It must consume her, knowing she’ll never return to the person she once was. Tell me true, is that not worse?”

Maiya went silent for a long moment. When she spoke, her words were more measured. Calmer. The princess had a point.

“I guess I never saw it that way,” she mumbled.

“People like her think differently from you or I, Maiya. Believe me, you’d only be putting her out of her misery by ending her life. She’s best left alone. Let her be a black mark for Hiranya to bear.”

“The knights?”

“I’ll arrange to have Captain Vastav executed, as well as those directly responsible for your parents’ death. Is that acceptable?”

“I don’t know what to say,” Maiya replied, hanging her head. “I feel I’m overstepping my bounds. By a lot. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t even have mentioned this.”

Ira smiled sadly. “We all carry the demons of our past with us. Most are unable to do anything about it. I know well what it is you feel. You’ve plied yourself for our Empire. For me. If this allows you to move on with your life, then I’ll happily have those people killed.”

The princess had single-handedly resolved the darkness in Maiya’s heart. A darkness Vir partially quelled by killing Harak—Hiranya’s Royal Priest—but the storm remained. Until the guilty were held responsible, there would be no true peace in Maiya’s heart. She’d been prepared to sacrifice herself if need be. Now, with just a few words, she’d been freed of that burden. It felt wrong, somehow.

“Would you like to kill them yourself?” Ira asked, casting an appraising gaze at her, but Maiya immediately shook her head.

“It’s not really revenge that I’m after. That’s certainly part of it, but I know it won’t bring my parents back. I doubt it’ll make me feel much better; I’m not that naïve. But the thought of those vermin living their lives unpunished… I can’t stand it. I never have. Knowing they no longer tread upon this Realm is enough for me.”

“Consider it done.”

“Thank you for this, Princess Ira. I assume you’ll be wanting a favor in return? Whatever you like, please name it.”

Ira sighed, leaning over the rampart’s crenels. “That’s not it at all, Maiya. If I wanted an ignorant minion, I would’ve simply blackmailed you with treason for leaking sensitive intelligence to that mejai, Tanya. You will notice I never once mentioned it.”

Maiya went pale and her heart threatened to leap out of her mouth . “You knew?”

“I do my due diligence on all my handmaidens, Maiya. Especially those I take under my wing. I’ll admit, I was taken aback, at first, but my faith in you wasn’t misplaced.”

“You had faith? I committed treason!”

Were guards moving in to capture her? Had Ira led her here for that purpose? Maiya’s eyes darted around the ramparts, suspicious of a trap.

But no. The tops of the walls remained empty. It was just her and the princess, who stood with a hand on her hip, brows creased in pity.

“Maiya, I’ll never have a sliver of a copper’s chance at the throne without an eye for good character. I judged you thoroughly and concluded you would cast off whatever shackles that bound you if given a choice. If you didn’t, it would mean you deemed the danger too great to do so.”

“You assumed a lot,” Maiya replied, taken aback at how accurate Ira’s assessment had been.

“And? Were my assumptions not correct? You are hardly the first risk I’ve taken. I wish for my handmaidens to follow me willingly. To believe in my cause. For while help can always be hired, loyalty cannot be bought.”

“But you had a contingency, didn’t you?” Maiya asked.

“Of course. If you hadn’t stopped your spying before learning anything of value, I’d have had you executed in your sleep. Any of several nightshades would have done the task.”

Poison? Maiya’s blood nearly froze. I suppose that’s only fair…

Traitors usually endured far worse than a painless death.

“S-so, my training,” Maiya said, eager to move the conversation along. “It has something to do with the Children of Ash, doesn’t it?”

Ira walked along the rampart, and Maiya matched her pace beside her. She’d normally never have dared, but the princess insisted.

“I’ve sent you all over the Known World. To Hiranya, Rani, and the far corners of Kin’jal. What have you seen?”

“Poverty. Corruption. Strife,” Maiya replied immediately. “Hidden agendas and knives behind everyone’s backs.”

Maiya had shut down smuggling rings, strong-armed the Crown Prince of Matali, and helped the poor. There wasn’t a shred of continuity to her tasks, but she hadn’t complained. Ira’s ideals lined up near-perfectly with her own. Not only was she doing the world a service, she was being paid handsomely for it.

“‘Tis an ugly thing, is it not? “

Maiya nodded. “But what does this have to do with those cultists?”

“Why, I thought it obvious? In each of your missions, you had an opportunity to interact with their ranks. The smuggling rings all had at least one Children agent amongst them, preaching their twisted cause. Matali is rife with the Cultists, as is Hiranya. They even preach to the poor, handing out alms for those who will listen to their ways.”

“They’re just a group of harmless crazies,” Maiya said. “They might be everywhere, but they’re useless as informants.”

“That’s precisely the trouble. I wish for them to be.”

Maiya blinked. “You intend to radicalize them against another country? Others have tried. There’s a reason they answer to no one. They’re quite insane.”

“Oh, I’m aware. I want nothing as crude as that. The Kin’jal intelligence network is vast and deep, and yet there are places even we cannot penetrate. Dark corners, where the Children flourish. Mostly, they are loyal to my father. My goal is not to simply sway the the children—I wish to make them ours. Mine.”

“Er, how, exactly?”

Ira laced her fingers behind her back, upturned her eyes, and gave Maiya such a sweet smile that she came to a halt. The princess gazed into Maiya’s eyes.

“Why, by infiltrating their ranks, rising within the organization, becoming their leader, and turning them to our side, of course!”

Right! Of course!

“Any chance I could just fight Ash Beasts, instead?”

Ira’s grin broadened. Maiya’s hopes for the future crashed.

Vir, if I’m a crazy blood cultist by the time you get back… I swear it wasn’t my fault!