Enlightened Empire

Chapter 261

For the first time in years, the ghost warriors' hideout above the Stone's Throw chess shop had seen a real change in its décor. A soft hum rang through the room now, its source sat atop a large table that took up an entire wall. Where before, everything inside the room had been understated, now a complex machine of copper, wood and magic dominated the air.

The radio – a new invention from Saniya – had been installed here not too long ago, but it already felt familiar. No wonder, since someone always had to man the machine, and there weren't many people who had access to this space. As she had done ever since its arrival seven days ago, Inti sat before this machine and waited for a message to arrive. Although the radio had a value that was impossible to measure eve in gold, Inti was less than interested in the apparatus at this moment.

Two days ago had been the day of her sister's seasonal contact. On the fifth day of every season, Mellana would send out a regular status report from within her infiltration of the Ichilia household. This message would then be relayed to the ghost warrior's central hideout in Arguna, to be analyzed and summarized, before a report was sent to Saniya together with the other messages from all across the empire.

However, Mellana's message was several days late already. Such an important mission wasn't something her competent sister would be tardy on. As a result, Inti had found it difficult to concentrate on her work ever since the fifth of the season came and went without a message. At this point, her thought bounced between hope and worry. Maybe Mellana had only lost her interest in this harsh life and decided to run away by herself. While she had always been the strongest among the three sisters, she had been forced to live this false life behind enemy lines for far too long. In truth, Inti wouldn't begrudge her sister if she simply vanished to live in peace from now on.

However, even Inti couldn't deny that her hopes were no more than wishful thinking. Mellana wouldn't just disappear and leave her responsibilities behind. Not her sister, not without a farewell, not without a single word. Far more likely was Mellana's capture by House Ichilia. In that case, the warriors of the Ichilia household would be busy questioning, torturing or killing her right this moment.

Though prospects were grim, at least Inti wasn't without hope. Maybe Mellana would not be stubborn and instead confess to whatever Ichilia's torturers wanted to hear. Once her identity as a daughter of Antaya and Atoc was revealed, she would be important enough to keep alive and healthy for ransom or a prisoner exchange. Yet Inti knew how stubborn her sister had always been.

Her damn stubbornness may just get her killed this time.

In her frustration, Inti clenched her fists and tensed her shoulders even further than before. In the radio's glass tubes, she could see her own, distorted reflection, together with the dark rings around her eyes. A deep breath escaped her, and with it all her power.

As she slumped down in her chair, she realized just how tired she was herself. Almost five years had passed since Emperor Titu had died. Ever since then, their entire family had been forced into this sort of life, filled with endless ploys, and constant vigilance. Things had gotten better for her after the establishment of the Triumvirate of Kings. Since then, she had taken over more official positions and hadn't been forced to do as much spy work. Even so, the constant meetings and diplomatic games had been as complex and draining as her previous responsibilities. And since she still was the main contact for the southern kingdom's spies in Arguna, her burdens had only increased in the end. Maybe, she thought, it was time for her to take a break and spend some time on her own life as well.

However, who could possibly replace her here in Arguna? Her mother had to stay on the move, since she coordinated their efforts across the entire empire. Her brother Fadelio and sister Tama had tasks alongside their king and couldn't leave. Now, Mellana had disappeared as well and none of the ghost warriors could easily handle the enormous workload without extensive training.

For a while, she thought back to the chubby foreigner boy who had spent some of his time in Arguna over the past few years. Official Brymstock looked weak at a glance, but he showed an inhuman stamina when it came to handling the businesses the southern kingdom ran within Arguna's streets. By now, the Wonders of the East was the most desirable destination for rich nobles and commoners alike across all of Medala. Even more, Brym had proven himself a tough and clever negotiator, be it in Triumvirate Meetings or during secret backdoor negotiations with kings and governors.

That kid isn't half bad. Maybe I could ask him to take over, and take some time off.

A sudden buzz from the radio made her flinch and refocus her thoughts. While she had been distracted, the machine before her had begun to transmit a message. Her brows furrowed ever harder the more she read the words she wrote out, until her concentration reached its peak. She reread her writings several times before she held the piece of paper over a candle flame on the table and dropped it into her empty tea cup. As she watched the paper burn down into ashes, the lines in her face smoothed and her eyes turned sharp. No matter what dreams she had for the future, for now she was still responsible, not only for herself, but also for those around her. As always, she would fulfill her orders to the best of her abilities.

From within a hidden compartment inside this hidden room, she pulled an earthen vial, filled with a certain, white powder. A cold smile blossomed on her face as she thought about the contents of the vial.

Mercury-chloride. How fitting.

After she had left the secret room, she came to a ghost who waited on her outside, always at the ready. Once he had received his orders together with the vial, he immediately made his way out of the room, to disappear into the faceless masses that filled the maze-like city of Arguna.

As Inti watched the ghost leave, she felt some grim enjoyment for once. This was a war, and casualties were unavoidable. Even if they had lost her sister to the enemy, all they had to do was pay them back two- and threefold. Enough so they would never dare do it again. Today would only be a start.

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After days of lockup in an Arguna mansion, Itzali was finally allowed back into the light. However, before he could make his way out, he had to go through a series of humiliating investigations, another one beyond the countless he had already endured. A warrior from the Silver Palace, as humorless as he was thorough, patted down both him and his fake apprentice Naoka. Only when the warrior had confirmed that they didn't have any weapons or unknown substances on their bodies were they released out into the light.

The city of Arguna was a crowded mess today, like it had been ever since their arrival. Though of course, they hadn't seen much of the outside world beyond glimpses through the windows of their mansion since their arrival. The same was true today. Only on the short path between the mansion and the entrance to the palanquin before them could they watch the massive crowds for a few seconds.

Since the commoners of Arguna were well-trained to avoid the paths of the high nobility or face the consequences, all of them avoided their vehicle. However, some of them didn't have a choice. Before Itzali and Naoka could enter the palanquin that would lead them into the Silver Palace, a commoner was shoved out of the crowd and stumbled towards the doctor. Just before he reached Itzali, Naoka stepped between the two to defend his master. With a quick shove, the commoner landed on the ground, before he was dragged away by the palace guards that had come to escort them.

At least Naoka is good for something, Itzali thought. Though I do hope the commoner is fine.

Whatever he thought about the methods of the strong, he knew that he didn't have any say in the man's fate. So he never spoke up. After the short interruption, the master and apprentice duo entered and soon the palanquin began to move. At last, they had started the last leg of their journey.

Right after he had met with Ancestor Caelestis, Itzali and Naoka had been moved into this Arguna mansion. While they had expected to see their patient soon, it had taken almost an entire moon's time before they had been cleared to move into the palace itself at last. Throughout these days, they had been questioned and observed by multiple parties from within and without the palace.

No doubt, their backgrounds had also gone through a thorough check during this time. Somehow, it seemed like the southern kingdom's spies had managed to spin a convincing enough tale that the spies of Arguna were willing to believe them in the end. In fact, faced with such a thorough investigation, Itzali almost felt appreciation towards the strength of the southern secret warriors.

After all, even just moments ago, before they had stepped out of the building, their bodies had been searched one final time to make sure they wouldn't carry any weapons, hidden or otherwise. Even within the palanquin that was surrounded by warriors, they were still in the presence of a stern-looking palace official. Yet even to this point, he didn't know who they were supposed to cure in the first place. Whoever they were about to meet, it would be one of the great figures of the empire.

“Master, you should carry this medicine yourself. I don't want to drop it again like last time.”

The voice had come from Naoka. When Itzali looked towards his fake apprentice, he already held out a small earthen vial. Yet Itzali had never seen this vial before. Not to mention, his 'apprentice' had never dropped anything. How could he, when Itzali had never allowed him near the important medicine once he had learned of Naoka's true status.

Whatever this 'medicine' was, it certainly wasn't his. Confused, he looked over to the burly official who eyed them with interest. At last he understand, and it made his hairs stand up straight. All this time, they had been tested again and again. Even their medicine had been tasted by countless experts and doctors, to make sure they didn't carry anything poisonous into the palace. Yet now, Naoka had come up with medicine he had never seen before.

As soon as he thought this far, Itzali lost all sympathy for the stumbling commoner from before. Over the past moon, the commoner was the only person they had come in contact with outside of guards, officials and elders. At last, Itzali understood what the southern kingdom had planned for him, and it made him develop a deep frown. He wasn't the only one. Both Naoka and the palace official's looks became stern as well.

Before either of his watchdogs could do something the doctor would regret, he picked up the vial. Once opened, he found it half-filled with a white powder. Although he couldn't identify it on appearance alone, it was no medicine, of that he was sure. Whatever it was, his number one priority for now was to evade the piercing stare of the palace official. If he was caught with poison at this point, the most sincere denial wouldn't save his skin. Even so, he wouldn't play butcher for the southern kingdom, not after he had just decided on his future path, on his mission to fight disease and heal the ill.

“No Naoka, I do not mind,” he said thus, and handed the vial back to the spy. “You need to learn at some point, so you keep it. But do be careful.”

Although the spy stared daggers into Itzali, the doctor ignored him. Surrounded by enemies, his apprentice couldn't retaliate and risk his life and the entire operation, no matter how Itzali acted. Thus, he had to swallow his anger and stow away the murder weapon once again. In response to the spy's scowl, the doctor only smiled. Whatever they wanted him to do, he wouldn't play along. Not today, not anymore.

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