Shai

The next morning, Shai woke up in her tent, giddy about what had happened last night. Her face flushed when she remembered how closely she and Jistan had danced.

She sighed as she lay on her cot, staring at the dark canvas above her. Curse Jistan. He had to go and make her start liking him again, when she’d assumed it would be easy to betray him. Her feelings were still shoved into that box in her head, but every time she got close to him, the box sprang open and it was a struggle to close it again.

It definitely wasn’t closing this morning, which frustrated her. She needed to think about something else, anything else. The upcoming heist. She’d focus on that. And what should she do about the information the unmancer, Bekka, told her? Jistan’s story of what happened to Dario differed from Bekka’s, so either she lied or the emperor lied. Shai didn’t know what to believe.

Of course, she could always find out by going to the town of Aisaa and searching for Dario.

She finally got up and got dressed, just as the sun was rising. Qiara, who’d decided to room with her last night, still snored on her cot on the other side of the tent, her arm dangling off the bed and drool running down her chin. Shai smiled at her friend.

A knock came on the pole outside the tent, and Jistan’s voice called, “Shai, Q? Are you dressed? I was hoping we could have breakfast together.”

Shai frowned as she finished pulling on her last boot. So much for distracting herself from him.

She glanced at Qiara, who grumbled and turned over. Shai called, “Come on in.”

The prince entered, looking handsome in freshly polished leather armor. He held a tray of fruit and porridge. “Good morning! I told Lary I would bring this in.”

Shai cleared the table of bottles and tankards so he could set it down. “Carrying a serving tray? That’s supposed to be beneath you.”

“I’m trying to impress the ladies.” He winked. Then he frowned at Qiara. “Is she still sleeping?”

“Yes,” Qiara moaned in reply. “It’s too early to get up.” She looked at them, squinting. “And too bright.”

“Shouldn’t have drunk all that rum,” Shai scolded.

“You have one hour left to sleep, then we’re leaving,” Jistan told the electromancer. “We have to get back on schedule. That ambush delayed us.”

“That wasn’t my fault. It shouldn’t cost me my beauty sleep.” Qiara drew her blanket up over her head.

Shai chuckled, then looked at Jistan as she sat down to eat. “Did your scouts report any other Zanteon forces in the area?”

He sat across from her. “No, but reinforcements will be arriving in the nearby towns to keep the people safe as a precaution.”

“Good.” She started slicing up an apple to add pieces to her porridge. “Mama taught me how to ‘flavor-up’ food, as she calls it.” She frowned. “I hope she’s doing okay.”

“I’m sure she is. Are you worried about her?”

“A little. This is the longest she and I have been apart, so it’s just…hard.”

He paused, then grinned. “After breakfast, I have a surprise for you.”

She raised her eyebrows. “What is it?”

“Ever used a message fire before?”

She stared blankly at him.

Several minutes later, he finished eating and said he’d be right back, darting out of the tent. He came back five minutes later, grabbing her hand and helping her to her feet. She barely had time to drop the spoon she’d been eating with as they headed outside.

“Where are we going?” she asked, her stomach flipping at the feel of his hand in hers.

“To my tent. To show you something that will give you peace of mind,” he answered.

They entered his pavilion, where a man in an orange RDP robe stood focused on a large bonfire burning in the center of the tent. The flames radiated heat within the enclosure, beads of sweat appearing on Shai’s forehead.

“Why is a pyromancer here?” she asked.

“To make sure the fire stays contained while you talk to her,” he said, dropping her hand.

“To who?”

He grinned, showing his dimples. “Look into the flames.”

She stared into the fire, slowly approaching it. The transparent image of a woman’s face and torso was within the blaze, someone very familiar…

Shai gasped. “Mama!”

Malaika smiled. “Hi, sweetie. How are you doing? That prince with the good-for-nothing father better be taking good care of you.”

Shai smiled, glancing over at Jistan, who was rolling his eyes. “He can hear you, Mama. I’m doing great, I’ve been worried about you. Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I went to the market this morning and bought more seasonings and herbs. When you come back, I’m making your favorite meal.”

Thinking of the bland meals she’d had lately, Shai said, “I can’t wait. Is Madame Kalyssah treating you well?”

“I’ve noticed she’s had spies following me whenever I go out. Of course, she usually has her people looking out for me, but I feel like they’re watching my every move now. I suppose that’s to be expected, given the circumstances.” She gave her daughter a meaningful look.

Shai nodded, swallowing. Kalyssah doesn’t want to lose her leverage against me. She wants to make sure Mama doesn’t try to run. But she couldn’t say that in front of Jistan. “Has anything else happened since I’ve been gone?”

“Now that I think about it, Madame Kalyssah has been harder on everyone lately. It’s probably because she doesn’t want anyone else going rogue, like Ed did. He’s missing, and Madame Kalyssah is not happy.”

Shai blinked. “Wait, I thought she sent him…on a job.”

Malaika shrugged. “I don’t know, maybe she did. But I think he was supposed to be back by now.”

Shai gritted her teeth. So Ed wasn’t supposed to follow her all the way out here. That liar. She shouldn’t have been surprised dealing with someone so unscrupulous. “I’m sure he’ll turn up somewhere.”

She and her mother went on to chat about other topics, and the tension buried inside Shai finally released. She had tried not to think too much about her mother being ‘held hostage’, but the worry always niggled in the back of her head. And now she knew Mama was safe, at least in the meantime.

Finally, Malaika turned in Jistan’s direction and narrowed her eyes. “Make sure you keep protecting my daughter. I don’t want her missing even a hair off her head when she comes back.”

Shai palmed her face. “Mama!”

But Jistan only smiled. “I’m trying, but she keeps insisting on protecting me.” He glanced at Shai, who blushed.

Malaika wasn’t finished. “And by the way, if you plan on courting Shai, you must—”

“Mama, we really should be going. Everyone’s waiting for us to begin our travels again,” Shai lied, a volcano of heat suffusing her face.

“Fine, I better go too. I’m so glad I got to see you, sweetheart. I love you.”

“I love you too, Mama. Goodbye.”

Her mother’s image faded. The pyromancer held his hand out over the fire until it grew smaller and smaller, finally vanishing altogether, leaving only a faint trace of smoke in the air.

Jistan nodded at him. “I appreciate the help, Jord.”

The pyromancer bowed, then took his leave. As soon as they were alone, Jistan turned to Shai. “As you can see, there’s no need to worry. Your mother is—”

Shai pounced forward, wrapping him in a tight embrace. He paused in surprise, then put his arms around her too.

“Thank you so much for this, Jistan,” she said, her eyes closed as she kept her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. He had known what she needed more than anything else. He’d put her mind at ease so she wouldn’t stress so much during this quest, and she appreciated it more than she could verbalize. Maybe he was the same boy who’d been her best friend all those years ago.

Jistan squeezed her against him. “You’re very welcome, Shaielle.” When he pulled away, he winked and added, “I suppose I can never try to court you, or your mother might disembowel me.”

Shai laughed, her face flushed again as she turned her gaze away. And curse him, her inner box had sprung open once more.

* * *

That night, when most of the camp was asleep after another long day of traveling, Shai slipped on her RDP robe and boots, grabbed a lantern, and crept quietly out of the tent. Qiara was once again sleeping hard, her snores masking any sounds Shai made.

She went to the perimeter of camp, where RDP guards were posted. When she passed by one, she nodded at him and he nodded back, thinking she was only going to relieve herself.

She walked several yards from camp, treading over dry grass and rocky soil. She didn’t know if she was going in the right direction, but figured he would find her regardless. She stopped when the camp was hidden from view behind a hill. Then she set down her lantern, its dim glow flickering over the ground. She crossed her arms and waited.

It only took a minute before Edmun slunk out of the darkness, hands in his pockets. “You must really want to talk to me for you to leave the safety of camp.”

“Yes,” Shai hissed. “I know the truth.”

He stilled. “About what?”

“Madame Kalyssah is not pleased with you. You weren’t supposed to follow me all the way to Zanteos.”

“Ah, that.” He squinted at her. “You must’ve talked to your mother.”

“Perhaps. Or maybe I talked to Kalyssah herself.”

He smirked. “If you did, did you snitch on my whereabouts?”

“Perhaps.”

His lips curled even more. “It wouldn’t matter. She wouldn’t waste time sending anyone out here to pursue me. She knows I’m coming back. I have to bring her the Obsidian Chest, after all.”

“But why follow me when she didn’t want you to?”

“She seems to believe you’ll bring us the chest without conflict. But I don’t trust you, and I tried to explain that to her. She wouldn’t listen.” He crossed his arms. “I want to make sure you’re not plotting to betray us with your dashing prince.”

She scoffed. “You don’t have to worry about that, I haven’t told him anything. Is it too much to hope you’ll turn back now and let me go get the chest for Madame Kalyssah on my own?”

“I’ve come this far. Besides, I’m helpful to you and your team.”

She almost forgot. “Right, you’re the one who sent me that note about the ambush. I can’t believe you actually bothered.”

“I spotted the soldiers approaching while I was hiding.” He shrugged. “I couldn’t let you and your people get yourselves killed before you’ve gotten the chest for me.”

She glowered. “You mean for Madame Kalyssah.”

“Right, same thing. I’m not leaving without the chest.”

She sighed, gritting her teeth. “Fine. But if you kill anyone else, or cause any trouble, I’m telling Madame Kalyssah you interfered, and she’ll punish you. Don’t make Prince Jistan suspicious by killing any more of his soldiers.”

“Yeah, sure. Just make sure you do your part, and I’ll behave.”

“Good. Because if you don’t…” She held up Nahya, which she’d had hidden in her robe. “I might just kill you and make our leader think you went missing permanently.”

He raised an eyebrow, amused by her threat. She didn’t give him a chance to respond as she picked up the lantern and marched back to camp.

After she passed the perimeter guards, she nearly jumped out of her skin when someone appeared out of the shadows, right in her path.

“Raz,” she said, her heart in her throat. “I-I’m just coming back from relieving myself.”

“I see,” said Jistan’s second-in-command. “I’m about to start my shift guarding the camp.”

She nodded and started to go around him.

He turned to her. “Shai?”

She stopped and faced him again. “Yes?”

“If you ever need assistance with anything, I’m always happy to help. I’m sure Jistan would be too. We’re a team, after all.” He smiled warmly underneath his graying beard, and Shai thought of him as a kind fatherly figure.

“Oh…” She paused, wondering if he suspected anything. She was probably just being paranoid. “Yes, I know. Thank you. Have a good night.”

“You as well.” He continued on his way.

Shai went on to her tent. When she climbed back under the covers of her cot, she closed her eyes, releasing her breath. She felt guilty at the thought of betraying Jistan. So she would just have to think of it as betraying Emperor Akeil instead. That would make this easier. Hopefully.