AN- There will be a hiatus as i work on publishing a later version of this work. But, I will be posting the end of the book here, as well as book 2 once I have done some decent work on it. I'll post updates in my bio!
Chapter 52
Yatek recovered as quickly as I'd predicted, and we met with him before dawn in the governor's estate. I hadn't paid him that much attention when he was incapacitated, not his body at least, and so I was a little surprised at just how small and frail he seemed. It was a facade, of course. Any sorcerer of his power would be far stronger than he looked, and anyone with a plant based aspect was extraordinarily hale.
"Please, sit Esur'uk. You have my welcome, and my gratitude." I bowed my head, but couldn't quite suppress my wince as he addressed me. Myta and Tarun chuckled at my discomfort. Given the number of people attending this meeting, and the fact that it had been recognized by a member of Ramana's own court, I'd never shed that honorific now. Not that it mattered at this point, Yatek was the very embodiment of the attention I'd been avoiding all these years. My displeasure was just a reflex at this point.
"You are most welcome, Minister Yatek. I was honored to aid a servant of Ramana."
The minister's lips quivered, his face twitched, and for a moment I feared he was experiencing some kind of seizure. My alarm passed quickly when he burst into uncontrolled laughter. My worry turned to faint irritation, but even that was washed away by the genuine warmth of his outburst. Despite myself, I felt my own lips curling up in a small smile.
"Honored! Yes, I'm sure!" He trailed off into chuckles, slowly recovering his calm. "I will accept your pleasantries in the spirit with which you gave them. But know that I am indeed honored by your aid. I am well aware of how hard you have worked to avoid the king's attention. That you have put that aside to aid this city has been noted."
Having shattered my delusions of anonymity, Yatek addressed the group as a whole.
"We are still in a precarious position, but the king has confidence in us. We will not receive more support from Ramana City in time to make a difference, but the enemy is vulnerable to a counterattack, if we strike now.
"The enemy's main force has emerged from the tunnels at a nearby entrance, presumably they feared attempting to exit in the city, after having their nose bloodied so badly in those ruins. If you and your guards accompany me," he looked to Tarun, "we can defeat that force in the jungle."
"You can defeat the sorcerers and demons we suspect are with them?" Tarun questioning the minister was bold, sorcerers were not known for their humility or patience, but the minister just smiled.
"Yes, I can confirm the presence of two sorcerers and three demons. And I can deal with all of them, so long as we face them in the jungle. That is not my main concern, however. Someone must pursue their leader, and his allies." He looked pointedly at me, and my mouth twisted sourly.
"You want me to confront a group that stood against you, while you bore the blessing of Ramana?" I asked incredulously. But Yatek just nodded.
"You bear his blessing now, and I have taken your measure. As well as that of your... slave." He nodded respectfully at Myta, which softened my mood at least a little. His reminder that Ramana's spell still resided in my spirit wasn't exactly reassuring to me, but there was little I could do about it. I'd already tried to remove the strange sorcery. I didn't understand the god-king's aspect, and couldn't seem to interact with it at all.
"I don't know anything about that group. Not their composition, nor where they are, or are headed."
"There were two sorcerers, though you only need to concern yourself with one. And one demon. Both the sorcerer and demon are among the most powerful I have ever faced. There are also five warriors of great skill." Yatek delivered the news to me in an even voice, neither comforting nor dire. "But you must face them with only Mytan and your most trusted warriors at your side. Any who lack strong bonds to you may be turned against you.
"As for where, I can help you somewhat there as well. That group has headed south, toward the port. I suspect their intent is to take or destroy Punalit and its docks, depriving the kingdom of supplies for our conflicts elsewhere."
"There is war on other fronts?" I asked.
"Indeed, the tribes of Ootrin are gathering at our northern border. Not just ours either, but also those of our neighbors to the east and west. It seems unlikely that this plot is unrelated."
"Ootrin in league with the Pure," Tarun mused aloud. "It's not the strangest thing I've heard. Both groups hate Ramana and K'ratha fiercely, and the clans in Metic get along with no one. The horse tribes are always one poor season away from raiding us. The Pure wouldn't have needed to push them hard."
"There's more as well," I interjected. "I've told Tarun about this already, but the viridian contagion was a type of infected mana, spread by the demons the Pure have been using. I verified their aspect is the same. It hit the laborers of Kuru hard, and the Pure were waiting with new slaves to flood the markets there. I'm not sure what their actual plan was, but those slaves must be tainted, somehow."
"Undoubtedly," Yatek nodded. "The Pure created the slave bond ritual, after all. But that is a problem for tomorrow. The question for now is, will you assist us? If you eliminate the monk who headed this local conspiracy, you will be well compensated. And King Ramana would consider it to be a personal favor."
Another favor. The gods were certainly looking to push me along this path. First Kubek, and now Ramana.
"They fled, two days ago?" My question was met with a nod. I shared a long look with Myta, who had remained silent for this entire meeting. Behind her worry for me, I could feel her desire to end this. To punish those who had hurt her, and bring their plans to ruin. It was a desire in line with my own.
"We will pursue them, but it will need to be just the two of us if we want to catch up. I'm sure they are pressing hard."
*Take your vasra.* Ket's voice caught me entirely off guard. I hadn't realized she was anywhere near us, though now I could sense her clearly on the roof of the building. *Kubek's blessing will speed you through the jungle, and you will need their support.*
Yatek's eyes went wide at the interruption, but his lips curled up in a smile. "It seems the divines themselves must favor this plan, if two gods lend their blessings to you." I grunted in frustration, and his grin grew even wider.