CHAPTER NINETEEN

Narhta Inaz waited.

He didn't mind. Most of his career had been spent waiting endless hours between moments of not waiting. It was those brief moments that Inaz didn't care for. Those moments tended to carry a high risk of not seeing the next one. Next to those, waiting was almost pleasant.

This particular instance of waiting, unfortunately, wasn't as peaceful as in times past. For perhaps the first time, Inaz was unsure of what it was he waited for, but he'd know it when he saw it. This wait also came with the knowledge that he was, technically, disobeying a direct order from the knight-marshal. Rather, the First Knight, seeing as that was the title Inaz answered to now.

Much to get used to in this new assignment, and he'd only had three days thus far to acclimate. Between this new bond, primers in the fundamentals of arcanology, choosing from aviators to join his crew, and learning more of the state-level dealings of the empire, Inaz had to admit he was having difficulty adjusting.

But difficulty wasn't anything new. Nor was adjusting to enormous changes in his life.

So, Inaz waited. Not in his home, as he'd been ordered to. Not with Xira, who he'd been told to go "see to", as the marshal put it. Inaz waited alone at his customary post outside the empress' private chambers.

A pair of Pearls left the war room several dozen paces ahead. Inaz noted their faces and recognized them as first and second officers on the Maelstrom's crew. They'd been through earlier the day before, citing the assignment of several new crewmen to their indigo dragon as their reason for spending so much time in the palace as of late. It was a plausible reason, and no one appeared to question it. Everything above board.

Inaz watched the Pearls leave and felt anxious. Gods, but he hadn't felt anxious before speaking to a superior in years. Why now, when all he needed to face was a girl of nineteen? The answer came in the same instant he asked himself the question.

She's the empress, Inaz thought. I've been paid to fight, ordered to fight, and forced to fight. Never been inspired to fight before. It's different this time.

The realization made him wonder why, if this stint in a noble house's service was exceptional, he'd jeopardize it by annoying the young woman he was sworn to serve. That answer didn't come so easily. It was just what Inaz needed to do, and he'd just have to live with being annoying.

Because if he didn't, Her Majesty could die.

The clocktower rang eighth bell while Empress Enfri finally returned to her chambers. The poor girl looked exhausted, and the Lady Storyteller and the Guardian escorted Her Majesty to her rooms. The empress' eyes were on the floor in front of her as she walked, and her expression was difficult to read. A little worry, a little sorrow, and more than a little distraction.

Though Her Majesty hadn't noticed Inaz standing by the doors, little got past Mevek. Just the most important things, but that wasn't Inaz's place to say.

"Is it that late in the morning already, love?" Mevek asked. "I didn't expect you on duty for another two hours."

The empress looked up from her study of the floorboards and finally noticed Inaz. Her steps slowed but didn't stop as she narrowed her eyes in bemusement.

Best to avoid misunderstandings, Inaz thought. Say it plain, and say it honest.

"I have not yet left duty, Lady Guardian. I reported here upon being relieved by the First Knight. I assume all went well?"

The empress' lips parted as she squinted at him, trying to figure him out. "Of course everything went..."

"Why are you here?" the Storyteller interrupted. She concealed a hand behind her back, likely already forming somatics. Her head leaned back, and she stared down her nose at Inaz.

Throughout the brief interrogation, Inaz didn't keep his attention on any of them. He stared past them all at the corridor behind their backs. There wasn't sign of another soul, save for those two Pearls. He'd have hoped that Princess Jin would've accompanied the empress, but it didn't appear to be the case.

"Champion," the Storyteller said, sharply so to draw Inaz's attention to her. "Explain yourself."

Inaz ignored her.

The Pearls, as was only natural, stared at the empress since the moment she came into the corridor. Their feet stilled, and they gaped at her like two men entranced. Their awe was obvious, but that was a natural reaction to being in the presence of the Dragon Empress. Completely natural for anyone, unless they were an officer of the Arcane Knights.

Inaz pulled steel and threw himself towards the empress.

The Storyteller's hand came from behind her back, completing the final gesture of her somatic. Inaz's sword flashed out, and he smacked the inside of her wrist with the flat of his blade. The spell was ruined, her hand was momentarily stunned, and Inaz had the momentum.

With his free arm, Inaz seized Her Majesty and flung her behind him. Just in time, because the Pearl first officer had just come up behind her with an inhuman burst of speed. His hand crackled with dark energy, but before he could slam an ensorcelled fist into his victim's back, Inaz was there to catch the blow on his gauntlet.

Heat seared Inaz's forearm. He didn't flinch and kept the momentum. The metal of his gauntlet sparked as it shattered. White hot pain stole away his thoughts, and bits of his gauntlet were flung away as molten slag. Without needing to think, Inaz's body knew what to do. He thrust his blade forward, piercing through the stomach of this creature masquerading as a Pearl aviator.

The false Pearl howled with a mouth lined with uneven teeth. Dark blood bubbled up from its throat along with a thick, black vapor. Inaz twisted his sword in the proteurim's guts and ripped it out.

"Guardian," Inaz shouted. "Spellfire! Before it recovers!"

He shoved the creature off its feet and ran towards the second Pearl. Behind him, Inaz heard the Storyteller calling for the empress to stay low to the ground. He also heard the hissing roar of unleashed fire magic and the squealing howls of a skindancer's agony.

The other Pearl staggered back, eyes wide with apparent shock. He didn't seem to heed anything as Inaz slammed into him and pushed his back against the corridor wall. It wasn't until the point of Inaz's longsword was pressed to his chest that he seemed to notice him.

"My lord?" the Pearl gasped. "I... What's happening?"

Inaz narrowed his eyes. He didn't take his eyes off the Pearl, not even when Mevek and the Storyteller came running after him upon dispatching the other.

"Stay back," Inaz barked. "No closer, Guardian."

The dragons pulled up short, and the empress picked herself up off the floor. Her Majesty's eyes went from the dead and charred skindancer to the aviator Inaz held pinned to a wall.

The Storyteller needed a moment to find her voice. "You... Champion, that was a skindancer!"

"Yes, ma'am."

"How did you know?"

"I didn't, ma'am."

"I hope you mean to explain yourself!"

"Not as of yet, ma'am." Inaz used his sword point to knick the Pearl across the cheek. His blade came back red.

"Agh." The Pearl flinched and stared at Inaz as if he'd taken leave of all senses. There came a glimmer of understanding, and he touched at his cheek with his fingertips. He looked at the blood on his fingers as if he'd nearly worried it'd come out black. "Th-there. You see, my lord? I'm still me."

Inaz scowled. "I'm no lord," he said, and he drove his blade through the imposter's throat.

The Pearl dropped once Inaz pulled his sword free, and as he fell, his body reverted to its natural state. It was a large fox with red fur and seven tails.

"Wasn't another skindancer," Inaz grunted, tapping his boot against the corpse. "A kits. Xira said there weren't supposed to be kits with the thralls."

Mevek came closer to look down at the corpse. "Kits are uncommon even in Shan Alee. There aren't any of their race among the Arcane Knights. This definitely wasn't one of ours."

"Winds and storms..."

Inaz turned his head to see the empress standing five paces back. She held a hand to her breast and stared at the bodies. She gave little notice to the alarm bells clanging throughout the palace, or to the swift response of her crewmen pouring into the corridor.

"We took every precaution we could think of," she said as if to herself. "Wards, interdictions, divinations, and even fey sneaking around and sniffing people. We did everything we could. They still found a way in."

The Storyteller intercepted the soldiers charging in and explained the situation. As she spoke to them all, a few peered around her to gawk at the dead shifters decorating the floor. A few also gaped wide-eyed at Inaz when the Storyteller told them how they came to that state. Before it'd been a full minute since Inaz drew his sword, armsmen gathered up the remains and hauled them away.

"I want triple the guard," the Storyteller said to the assembled armsmen. "No one moves about the palace alone until further notice. That includes the staff. Summon Dragon Lord Rav and inform him that everyone coming in or out of the palace, including the empress herself, is to submit to a full screening."

Inaz nodded. Fair precautions.

Mevek cleared her throat. "Err... love?"

"Yes, ma'am," Inaz replied.

"It bears mentioning that one of the proper forms of address for the Imperial Champion is, in fact, 'my lord'."

Inaz snapped his head to look at her. "It is?"

Much to get used to.

Mevek sighed. "Please, I beg you, love... Tell me that wasn't the only evidence you had to go on when you..." She gestured toward the dead kits being dragged off.

"No, ma'am. He also failed to salute the empress."

The Storyteller came to stand alongside Mevek. Together, they gave Inaz a pair of incredulous glares.

"Furthermore," Inaz continued, "his stated reasons for being in the war room was unlikely, given that it's eight in the morning."

The Storyteller grimaced.

"Also, his reaction to being cut was abnormal."

The dragons exchanged looks.

"All put together, I was confident in my assessment, ma'am."

The empress pushed her way between the dragons. She looked at Inaz in a way she hadn't done yet. This was the first time she'd looked him in the eye. "However you figured it out, thank you. You just saved my blustering life."

"There is no need to thank me, Majesty," Inaz said. "It is my duty."

The Storyteller came closer. "Tell me, Champion, did you know there would be an attempt on Enfri's life?"

Inaz spoke as he cleaned blood from his sword with a spare rag. "I presumed with the current situation, including the arrival of Princess Jin, that any thrall agents within the palace would receive orders to act."

"You expected thralls to already be here?"

"Yes, ma'am." He returned his sword to its scabbard. "I must expect them to be anywhere Her Majesty is."

"Blustering demons," the silver snarled. "Waited long enough, I wager, so now they've gone and finally decided they want our beloved dead."

"With respect, ma'am," Inaz interjected, "Her Majesty was not the target."

The Storyteller looked startled. "Pardon?"

"You were, ma'am. I acted when I saw a potential threat to the empress, but the skindancer was attempting to use its magic on you."

The empress hissed through her teeth and came towards Inaz. She snatched his left arm and pulled it down to where she could get a better look at it. The gauntlet was ruined— the broken edges were still hot to the touch where the metal had melted— and the flesh beneath was cracked and blackened.

"What are you waiting for, love?" Mevek said, sounding shocked. "I didn't even see you get injured. Heal, you blazing dolt."

Inaz blinked. It honestly hadn't crossed his mind that it was an option. He'd been planning to visit a surgeon after giving his report. He did so now, marveling at how his skin turned back to normal right before his eyes. He had to shake his head clear to continue his testimony.

As it healed, the empress let out a soft sigh of relief. She didn't let go.

"Another thing, Your Majesty. Skindancers are incapable of spellcraft. I would advise searching the corpses. A theurallurgic device must've been the source of the magic it attempted to use on the Lady Storyteller."

The empress pursed her lips and got an angry look in her eyes. "Winds take me. I didn't even think of that."

"It happened quickly, Your Majesty," Inaz said. "These are possibilities I've previously considered, so..."

"Winds and flames, boy," the silver scolded. "Pry the iron stick out your arse, if you please." She pointed at the empress and then herself. "That's Enfri, and I'm Deebee. We haven't the time to wait on protocol, so just use our blustering names."

Inaz blinked in confusion. "Is... that an order, ma'am?"

"Just you call me ma'am one more time and find out!"

"As you say, Deebee."

"Winds, but that shouldn't have been so hard." Deebee took note of Enfri holding on to Inaz's healed arm. "It's over, love. I'm unhurt, and now your champion is, too. There's no need to look so pensive."

Gingerly, Enfri released her hold on Inaz. She kept her eyes lowered. "Forgive me, Narhta. Or... Inaz."

"Of course." Inaz stopped himself from calling her Majesty, but he wasn't about to use the empress' given name. A soldier could only bend so far. "There's nothing to forgive."

"There really is," she sighed. After a moment, she met his eye again. "I don't suppose you managed to deduce why they were after Deebee?"

Inaz shook his head. "No. My apologies. It may have been wiser to take the kits into custody."

Enfri seemed to deflate. "It kills me to say this, but no. I don't think we'd have gotten anything out of him, and I'm not about to sanction torture. Thralls are too dangerous, but I don't have to like it."

"You must never allow yourself to grow to like killing," Inaz said, his tone grave. "Even when killing evil."

Enfri seemed surprised to hear him say that. "You were a sellsword. Doesn't that mean you like fighting?"

Inaz shook his head. "No. I don't like fighting at all."

"So..." She looked confused. "Why aren't you a farmer?"

"I was, once I'd earned enough to try it. Goblins burned my farm. Altieri took what was left. Only way to survive was to fight for pay again, because it's the only thing I was ever much good at."

She drew her mouth into a line. Inaz couldn't be sure, but he thought he saw shame moving around behind her eyes. She bowed her head to him in thanks and walked to Deebee. They went further down the corridor towards Enfri's chambers.

"Winds take me," Inaz heard Enfri mutter to her dragon. "I've been doing him and half my armsmen a disservice. I was holding on to some really wrong-headed notions."

He watched them walk further away until coming to a stop outside the door into Deebee's rookery. They waited there until Dragon Lords could arrive and be briefed on this latest development, and Inaz assumed the marshal would come the minute he was told what happened.

More and more Opal aviators from the empress' crew came into the corridor, most spoiling for a fight against anything threatening the Lady of Opals. Around twenty Peridot aviators as well, his new crew. Inaz was thankful for the reinforcements, and he directed them all to take posts guarding the stretch of hallway between the war room and Her Majesty's chambers. He imagined there would be an increased number of bodies between Enfri and danger for the foreseeable future.

Once all fifty members of the royal guard were in place and on high alert, Mevek sidled to stand alongside Inaz. "You did well, love. I'm most impressed."

"Thank you, ma'am."

She sighed. "Enough. That's not how a bound knight is supposed to address their dragon. I chose you as my Peridot, love. Not my subordinate."

Inaz furrowed his brow and wondered if Mevek realized the paradox she'd just presented him. If she wasn't his immediate superior, then she didn't have the authority to choose how he addressed her. By the same token, it wouldn't be appropriate to address her as he'd been doing.

In the end, Inaz chose to see it not as an order, but as a request. He could adhere to a simple request. His mother taught him to be polite.

"As you say, love."

"Flames, but you're an odd one. Then again, I suppose most bound knights are, one way or another. You're fitting right in." She watched him sidelong. "Which isn't to say I haven't figured out what makes you tick. You're an open book, Narhta Inaz."

"How so?" he asked. He was curious of how a dragon would see it.

"You value order, and a legion's chain of command is the only true order you've ever known. When you're separated from it, you don't know what to do with yourself, and so you crave it."

Inaz considered that.

"Am I off the mark?"

"No," Inaz said. He faced her direct. "That's an accurate assessment, love."

Mevek looked annoyed. "You say love, but I'm still hearing ma'am. How do you manage that?"

"I couldn't say, love."

She frowned. "I don't know how Xira puts up with you."

Inaz thought about it. He didn't think he was anything that needed "putting up" with, and Xira had yet to say anything to that effect. Still, Inaz's father taught him that if a woman told a man something about himself, he'd be best advised to consider that it could be true. He made a mental note to bring this up with Xira when he saw her next.

He occupied himself with wondering how he was going to afford a new gauntlet for his kit until an unexpected arrival put him and the full royal guard on their toes.

It was Elise Alinwé, and she came alone except for the cadre of Amethyst aviators conducting her along. She wore her first summit raiment, dark red and gold today, but accessorized it with a strange sort of garment that seemed half cape and half sarong. It started at her shoulder before wrapping around her waist, and Inaz wondered if she was feeling a chill to be going about more covered.

"Enfri," Elise called out. She held out her arms as if to receive an explanation. "What's this? I hear you were attacked?" She stormed past Inaz, Mevek, and the glares of fifty aviators without sparing them a glance. "It was your assassin. Admit it."

Enfri squinted at Elise, confused by her arrival. She then blinked rapidly. "Oh! Right, it's the Eighth today."

"You forgot my audience?" Elise demanded. "Flames take you, girl. As if it hasn't been enough gettin' what time I had taken by that Althandi tramp."

"Her name's Maya, and she's the crown princess of Althandor. And she certainly isn't a... a tramp! Winds and storms!" Enfri drew into herself a little. "She's actually... rather sweet, once you get to know her."

Deebee looked like she heard Enfri say the old masters were just misunderstood.

Elise walked right up to Enfri unchallenged. She flicked her wrist in dismissal, but the Amethysts didn't leave until Enfri nodded to them to confirm it.

"I don't mean that one," Elise snapped. "I meant the other one."

Enfri exhaled in an overly patient sort of way. "I see you've heard."

"Are you daft? She came to me, you fool girl. Let that sink in." She growled at how Enfri maintained an even expression, then changed the subject. "Beside the point. It obviously wasn't your traitorous lover, so who did try to kill you, and where are they? I'll rip them to shreds."

"They were stopped, and it seems they weren't after me." Enfri was taken aback by Elise's vehemence. "You know, talk like that might make me think you care."

"Of course I care," Elise snapped, even harsher than before. "You're the blazin' Dragon Empress. You rule this empire. An attack on you is an attack on all Aleesh."

Enfri pursed her lips, and Inaz thought she didn't buy that explanation any more than he did. The logic held, Inaz even agreed with it, but he wasn't born yesterday. Elise was the maternal sort—in the same way a pit viper on fire could be the maternal sort, granted— or Inaz would eat a peach pit. He'd only seen Elise one time before, but she made her motivations clear to anyone paying attention.

Sighing, Enfri put a hand on Elise's arm to move her aside. She addressed her bodyguards in a suffering tone. "Inaz, Mevek, my apologies, but I'm supposed to speak with my aunt today. This is Elise Alinwé First Summit, who I'm sure you've heard of."

"Of course, Majesty," Inaz said. "We've met."

Enfri looked befuddled, but it was Elise who addressed him.

"Have we now? Can't say I remember."

"Rude," Enfri muttered.

"I don't imagine you would, my lady. We met in battle in Moran Valley, but I well remember your skirmish with Her Highness, Princess Jin."

Elise glowered. "Who is this, anyway?"

Enfri managed a smile. "He's Narhta Inaz, my Imperial Champion and Peridot Knight. Beside him is Mevek the Guardian, the hellebore Eldest's daughter."

Elise's gaze swept over the full length of Inaz. It made him feel like he'd been placed on a jeweler's scales and put under a lens. "Bodyguards?"

"Yes, among other things. Inaz also fights duels on my behalf, and together they command the royal guard."

"I'll give you one thing, girl," Elise said. "You've an eye for fine specimens for your knights."

Inaz narrowed his eyes. He didn't know how to take that comment.

Elise noticed his broken and half-melted gauntlet. With a guarded expression, she looked up into his face. "There's a surprise. You got hit by somethin' nasty, didn't you?"

"It was a fell magic of some kind," Deebee said. "It was similar to the magic Rodrik Karst used, and Inaz believes it was theurallurgic in origin. I'm inclined to agree."

Elise regarded Deebee before looking to Enfri. "Thralls?"

"Proteurim," Enfri confirmed. "At least, one of them was. A skindancer and a kits."

Elise frowned. "Kits don't often become thralls, or so the shifters among my knights say."

Enfri shrugged. "Inaz said the same thing, but here we are."

"Yes," Elise said thoughtfully. "The more things happen, the more I think you might be right. The demons are more pressin' than the Althandi." She ignored how her admitting that rocked Enfri and Deebee back on their heels. "But that's not why I'm here. We got a conversation to finish, and there's more to say than I can tell you in the time you're givin' me."

Enfri rubbed tiredly at her forehead, but she nodded her consent. "I best get used to this sort of thing. I can't put the empire on hold every time there's a hiccup."

"It appalls me that you haven't figured that out already."

Enfri turned around and made her way to her chamber door. "Oh, shut up. I'm not in the mood to get talked down to." She paused on her way into her rooms. "Inaz?"

Inaz snapped to attention. "Yes, Majesty."

"Keep our crews at their posts for the time being. Please tell Rav and Ban everything about what happened, but my aunt and I aren't to be disturbed."

Inaz saluted. "Again and forever, my empress." He glanced at Elise and her careful scrutiny of him before thinking better of it. Inaz wouldn't trust that woman with just the Storyteller between her and Enfri. "With your permission, I would prefer to have someone with you. At least until the First Knight rescinds the high alert."

She looked like she was about to protest, but Enfri didn't refuse. She considered it only a moment before nodding. "In that case, please accompany us, Champion. Mevek can take command of the guard."

That hadn't been his aim, but Inaz would take it. He looked to Mevek and received a nod in return. Then, facing the empress, he saluted once more.

Enfri paused a second time before going inside. "Oh, and make sure everyone knows to let Odjualla through when she gets here. And Reyn, if she comes by. Reyn and Odjualla. No one else."

That went without saying, but Inaz passed the order along anyway. The first minister was always to have access to the Dragon Empress, and it would just be rude to interfere with a handmaiden's duties. Inaz followed Enfri, Deebee, and Elise into the empress' private rooms.

"As you command, my empress. Again and forever."