Shai

Shai found herself smiling at random times these days. She probably shouldn’t be enjoying herself so much when she was on this journey for a specific job, with a member of The Cliq breathing down her neck. But she couldn’t help it. Her box of feelings for Jistan was staying open, and she’d given up trying to close it.

She glanced over at him as their horses trotted down a sandy road. She liked the way his powerful body moved with his stallion’s every step.

He looked at her, their eyes meeting, and he flashed one of those smiles that drew attention to his gorgeous dimples. She smiled back as her heart lurched, then she went back to admiring the scenery around her.

However, reality set in on the day they approached the border between Casland and Zanteos. It had rained last night while they slept, and a heavy mist hung in the atmosphere, clinging to their skin. There was no flora in this area except for a scraggly tree here and there. The earth was gouged out in places as if giant shovels had been digging here, and a few crows still pecked at the remnants of decomposing bodies.

As they rode through what used to be a small village, Shai came to the horrifying realization that these bodies weren’t just soldiers, but innocent commoners too. The charred skeleton of an adult held onto the small skeleton of a toddler, and Shai’s heart sank while her stomach roiled. The putrid smell of death drifted through the air, although the rain had washed some of it away.

Everywhere Shai turned, she could tell an intense battle had been fought here recently. Since Emperor Varo and Emperor Akeil had called for a ceasefire though, there were no more live soldiers to be seen.

Their party rode through the village in silence, not talking again until they were on empty land, where the bodies weren’t so frequent.

“The battle has ended here, but it still rages in the west, near the border of Irisei,” Jistan told the general who would take command of this battalion. “You are to take the majority of these soldiers to reinforce our troops there. I will take a small group into Zanteos to attempt to negotiate peace with Emperor Varo.”

And steal his prized chest, Shai thought wryly.

“Are you sure it’s wise to enter that country without a full battalion behind you?” the general asked.

Jistan nodded. “Emperor Varo won’t try anything. He knows if he harms me, my father would come with the full might of his army and destroy Zanteos.”

“Very well, Your Highness.”

They stopped to rest and eat lunch before they went their separate ways. When it was time to get moving, Lary begged to come with Jistan.

The prince shook his head. “I’m sorry, Lary. Our quest is too dangerous.”

Lary sulked. “But what if you need my services? Who’s going to set up your tent and serve your meals?”

“You know I can do those things myself. You just want to come so you can continue besting Shai in sparring.”

Shai smiled at that.

Lary didn’t. “I’m kind of scared to go to the Crossover War. Look at all those dead people we just passed by. That could happen to me.”

Shai squatted down in front of the boy, looking up at him. “You’re only going to serve the soldiers in their camp. You’re not going anywhere near the fighting, so you’ll be okay.”

“Yes,” Jistan added. “You have to be brave because those soldiers are going to need your help, especially the wounded ones. And we’ll see you again soon, buddy. We’ll be done with our quest in a few days, hopefully.”

“Will you both promise to be careful?” Lary asked.

“Yes,” Shai told him. “And I will keep the prince safe from harm.”

“Are you trying to say I can’t protect myself?” Jistan questioned.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying, Your Highness.” Shai grinned, and Lary laughed.

She and Jistan both hugged the boy goodbye before he ran off to help some of the other soldiers pack their belongings.

Shai watched him go, thinking, be glad you’re not risking your life on this heist. Her heart pounded at the realization that it was almost time. If they could even acquire the chest, she didn’t know what would come next. She’d have to figure out how to get it away from Jistan, without having Ed interfere by hurting the prince.

Not knowing what was inside the chest, what she would be giving to Madame Kalyssah, bothered her too.

Shai looked at Jistan as he tightened the straps of his saddlebags. “Have you considered what the mysterious object inside the chest can do?”

“That’s what we’ll find out when we get there,” he said.

“I know, but I’ve been wondering…if this object can stop the war, why hasn’t Zanteos used it?”

“Maybe they’re afraid to use it. Or they believe the object is too sacred to use.”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. Something about all this doesn’t make sense. Are you sure we’re making the right decision by stealing it?”

He looked at her, resting his forearm on the saddlebag. “It’s kind of too late to turn back now, don’t you think?”

“You could just sign a peace treaty with Emperor Varo like you were going to pretend to do.”

He sighed. “Shai, if you don’t want to come—”

“No, I do. I just…wish I knew more about what we were stealing.”

He drew closer, his eyes looking straight into hers as he put a hand on her shoulder. “You trust me, right?”

She nodded, an ache in her chest. But you shouldn’t trust me, she thought.

“Everything’s going to be fine,” he continued. “If something goes wrong, I’ll do whatever needs to be done to make it right. Remember, we’re doing this for our country. For the innocent people who are dying, like those we saw in the village we just rode through, caught in the middle of this Crossover War. Alright?”

She bit her lip. Not if I give the chest to Madame Kalyssah. “Alright. Let’s do this.” She was ready to go back home and rescue her mother from The Cliq leader’s clutches.

He smiled. His hand traveled down her arm, lingering for a moment before he finally pulled away and walked over to talk to the general of the battalion again. She shivered, wishing Jistan would touch her again, then hating herself for wishing it.

He would never touch her again after she betrayed his father…which was betraying Jistan too, if she was being honest.

She sighed and glanced over at Leiam, who stood near his horse, using magic to sharpen his chosen weapons, two hatchets. She remembered how he used to be a general in the RDP too, just like Dario Abongwa, the man who was head of the RDP before Jistan. The enemy unmancer, Bekka, had said there was something the prince should know, something Emperor Akeil didn’t want getting out, and Dario would have the answers. Supposedly, Dario was somewhere in Zanteos. Shai hadn’t decided yet if she wanted to believe Bekka, but they were about to enter the country, and this could be Shai’s only chance to find him.

She approached the metamancer. “Hey, Leiam, could I ask you something?”

He turned to her. “Sure, what is it?”

“I know you used to be a general, and I was thinking about the former head of the RDP. Do you remember him?”

“Ah, yes, Dario. I trained under him before I became a general. He was the RDP’s leader for almost twenty years.”

Shai’s eyebrows shot up. “And the emperor just fired him after all those years of service?”

“Yes. Supposedly, he fled after committing some crime.”

“What crime? Was it something he could’ve been executed for?” That was what Bekka told Shai, anyway.

“I’m not sure. I only heard rumors, and no one would give specifics. I remember being shocked because I couldn’t imagine Dario going against the monarchy in any way. He was dedicated to our country, more than anyone I’ve ever met.”

Raz was walking by, and he stopped. “Did you say Dario?”

Shai turned to the pyromancer. “Yes, do you remember him too?”

“I do.” Raz put a hand on his chin. “Goddess, I haven’t thought about him in years. And I was temporary head of the RDP for some of those years, before Emperor Akeil appointed Jistan to the position.”

Right, Shai realized Jistan would’ve only been twelve when Dario was fired. “Do you remember how everything happened with Dario?”

“It was strange, just like Leiam said. After the queen died, Dario became fixated on finding someone to blame for her death.”

“Right, I heard he and the queen were close friends. But…she died of sickness. Did he blame the medimancers for not curing her?”

“I don’t know. He was going around asking questions, but there wasn’t anything to investigate. I figured it was just part of his grief. And then supposedly he went too far, and Emperor Akeil wanted him punished. No one would tell me why though. And then Dario ran.”

Weird that there was so much mystery regarding why Dario was fired. And Jistan apparently didn’t know any of this, since he only mentioned Dario quitting on his own.

Shai knew the only clear answers she could get at this point would be from Dario himself. “That’s disturbing. But thanks for telling me.”

Raz cocked his head. “Why are you so curious about the former head of the RDP?”

Before she could come up with some lie, Jistan announced it was time to leave. So Shai and the others climbed onto their mounts, as the battalion of soldiers started to move off to the west.

Shai and Jistan waved to Lary as he went with them. Qiara pouted as the barrels of rum were carried away, since there was no way they’d be able to take them into Zanteos.

When the battalion had gone, it was only the seven of them left. Shai, Jistan, Qiara, Tivon, Aladia, Raz, and Leiam. Or eight, if Shai counted Ed, who was likely hidden in the nearby shrubbery.

“We’re on our own now,” Jistan told them. “Once we cross that border, we’re out of Casland. In Zanteos, we can’t be touched according to the ceasefire—unless we’re caught breaking the law. Then Zanteon soldiers can do whatever they want to us.”

“So what you’re saying is, don’t get caught,” Raz said.

“Or we’re deader than dead,” Qiara quipped.

“Precisely,” Jistan said as his horse danced underneath him. “Just stick to the plan, and watch out for each other. No more major disagreements or fights.” This last remark he directed at Aladia and Qiara, the former whose black eye was slowly fading and the latter whose cut lip was healing. They flashed each other irritated looks and swiftly turned their heads away. Shai tried to hide a giggle.

Jistan shook his head as he turned his horse toward the Zanteon border. “Let’s ride.”

They started forward. Eventually, they passed between two wooden guard towers where Zanteon soldiers watched them, aiming crossbows their way. They passed by a sign that said You are now entering the country of Zanteos, and stopped. Raz lifted the Casland flag with the navy sigil on a white background, then waved it to let the guards know who they were.

One of the guards called down, “You may pass, Prince Jistan of Casland.”

Jistan rode through first, then the others came behind him. It took them another two days of traveling, in which the landscape became harsher, with less vegetation and several hills that stretched for miles. Plants nearly disappeared entirely as trees were replaced by cacti, and grass was replaced by white sand. Then finally, they reached Hayzir, the capital of Zanteos.

The sun was an orange dot sinking beneath the horizon by the time they reached the desert city. Made of brown clay or stone, the buildings here sat against each other, just like those in Valizea. But this city was richer, with fewer shacks and dilapidated structures, more fancy cottages and sprawling mansions. Shai felt like this was what her home city could become, if only Emperor Akeil cared more about how its poor lived. There may not even be gangs here.

Hayzir was encircled by stone guard towers, in contrast to the wooden ones when they first entered Zanteos. When Raz waved the Casland flag this time, no one responded. Jistan looked curiously around at his team, then shrugged and continued onward into the capital.

But then, Shai’s heart shot into her throat when their small party was suddenly surrounded by dozens of armed warriors on horseback.