Page 44 of Red Demon
“I can just as easily do my part for the Bend and the empire by keeping weapons and tools sharp,” I said. “Asher and Galen hold me to high standards, although Ash has the steadier hand for some of the more intricate work.” I nodded to my brother, who grinned.
The Governor’s features softened as my words sunk in. “A commendable sentiment, young man. You aren’t afraid of hard work, even menial work, and I respect a man who knows his place.” He took a moment to chew his meat. “Humility is a virtue often overlooked these days.”
“Thank you,” I said, uncertain what else to say.
Governor Solonstrong cleared his throat. “The way I see it, nobility is humility, at its core.” He chuckled. “Take me, for instance. After years serving Queen Azara in Ea Shadohe, at the heart of the empire, I admit I felt humbled when offered this position. But it was a necessary lesson. Sometimes, we must trust our immortal leaders have a plan, even if the details are unclear to us. After seeing how life is in the wild frontier, I understand now how vital it is that we reopen the Bend, to return our queen’s light to the far corners of the empire. It is a far more important role than the work I did before, in the capital.”
“How is it safe to open the Bend if there’s no mod yet to prevent SBO infection?” Mira’s voice was soft, but the challenge was unmistakable.
The Governor waved his fork at her. “Just because the immortals don’t share the plan with us, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. After five years since the last attack, I think we can assume that there are no more rebels with living samples.”
“Then why hasn’t the empire announced that?” Asher asked. “If those soldiers go in and drop dead, what’s the next move? You should be fully aware of contingency plans, at least.”
The governor narrowed his eyes at the challenge. “Yes, we should plan for emergencies, but it is impossible to plan for each and every crisis.” He waved his wine glass. “The empire is focused on curtailing Asri rebels and their attacks on tech in Noé, so that will be my focus too, to show I have learned from my mistakes. We must have faith our reincarnated queen knows what she is doing more than a young blacksmith, no? As wonderful as your creations are—stunning.”
I looked to Ash, who frowned at his plate. Mira had good reasons to feel distant from her father. It was stupid to assume that the rebels who unleashed the virus that caused the South Bend Outbreak wouldn’t have another sample, for one. To an Attiq-ka immortal, waiting five years was nothing in their quest to kill Chaeten and our queen. Besides, the Red Demon was still out there, and I was willing to bet that Solonstrong knew next to nothing about her.
The governor sipped his wine. “Now, my unsolicited advice to young Jesse here is to take Major Mahakal’s offer. Your reputation precedes you, young man. Ashmira tells me you can overcome several opponents at once from our local militia, and have never lost a match to anyone from the barracks. Do I have that right?”
“Sorry, no, Governor,” I said, face burning. “I lost to both Major Ryder and Lieutenant Suluku.” I’d lost fighting both the pair at once at a festival after they snuck me my first taste of whiskey, but I already didn’t like where this was going.
“With formal training, you would be perfect,” he rumbled. “It’s a waste to have you pouring metal when you could be putting those talents to use defending the empire. And while I respect your humility, it is my role here to ensure the gifts of people under my care do not go to waste. Do you understand me, Jesse Eirini? If you have a reason to turn Mahakal down, fine, I’ll recommend you to the barrack in Uyr Elderven. You can accompany Ashmira when she takes her post there.”
Ash turned to her with a start. “You’re leaving, Mira?”
Her gaze hardened to something glass-shattering when she turned to face her father. “I did not say I’d be accepting that post, Father. I’m leaning toward no.”
My heart thumped in my chest, but I schooled my expression.
His pointed look lingered on Mira. “I have read every report from my brilliant daughter’s schooling through the years.” He turned a whimsical smile to me. “I have a couple framed in my office, in fact, but it seems she needs to take a lesson from you.”
He turned to Mira, his tone hardening to a point. “Humility, dear daughter. If you care at all for my advice, do not chase honors Queen Azara has taken away from us both. Be grateful for the post you were offered in Uyr Elderven, and if you cannot, secure another before it expires. The longer you stay here with me, the more your reputation will degrade. I invited you here to heal from your disappointment, to give you space to plan a strategic move. I’m less certain this nonsense in the greenhouse is bringing you any closer to that.”
The governor glared at Ash as well.
Mira sat with her back stiff. “Thank you father, I will reflect on your advice.” Her smile faded in a blink as the governor turned away.
“Excellent,” he said in a neutral tone. “And what beautiful dancing you all have been doing. Every one of you—”
I tried to catch Asher’s tired eyes as the conversation switched to lighter topics, and I made all the usual jokes to keep that banter light, but Ash just stared at his plate with only a few bites torn out of his flatbread. Mira squeezed his knee under the table and only got a wilted smile for her effort.
On the walk home, I told Ash he was lucky to be the only one who escaped the meal without the governor’s “unsolicited advice.” But instead of a chuckle or even a smile, he just shook his head at me.
“You alright, Ash?”
“Yeah. Just not ready to laugh this one off.” A long exhale. “No sense talking about it.”
There was that silent treatment again. I’d hoped he’d open up if I was quiet back. His fists clenched and unclenched on the walk, while cicadas woke to the night.
Chapter 20
No
I’d been over to the North Barrack a few times before—in daylight—during very different circumstances. The path out of the compound wound through a copse of maple trees, their leaves waving in the rosy sunset. A raven cawed from the trees as I led Meragc’s borrowed horse through the gate. Laughter spilled from an open window. I took a deep breath to ease the knot of tension in my chest. I’d delayed this enough.
Mahakal met me in his office. Electric lights cast my sweaty reflection in a window that would—in the daytime—overlook the training yard. The air inside Mahakal’s office tasted sterile, like sharpened steel and clean Chaeten efficiency. A black settee faced a sturdy desk, and he’d flicked all the screens to black before I entered. The Major’s smile dimmed when he saw I had none.
As I sat, Mahakal moved to a cabinet, uncorking a half-empty bottle of wine.
