People in the Gate still only had enough to barely survive. The Storm was still in chaos with enough poverty and oppression to make anyone sick. People from the Crown still led happy, abundant lives, completely ignorant of the problems they caused elsewhere.
For the first time since she placed the amulet there, Talise looked over to the trunk sitting at the end of her cot. The guardian of the amulet had insisted she’d need its power to win the war. What did that really mean?
Before that question could grip her too tightly, Wendy entered the tent with a pastry held out like an offering. Her tentative smile shined as sweet as ever. “It doesn’t have any frosting or sugar, but I thought you might like something to eat.”
Her eyes very subtly drifted over to the parchment as she stepped closer.
Ignoring the pastry, Talise addressed the real reason her friend had entered. “I just finished the message. Do you want to read it?”
Wendy pressed her lips together before nodding quickly. The pastry got dropped unceremoniously on the table where they both ignored it. After wiping her hands clean on her tunic, Wendy carefully lifted the parchment to read.
Talise studied her friend’s every expression, anxious to decipher any thoughts.
When one eyebrow jerked up Wendy’s forehead, it was especially telling. Setting the message onto the table, she said, “It’s bold. But I like it.”
“I don’t think the emperor will agree to my terms. Not everything at least.”
Wendy shrugged. “True, but it’s better to ask for something bigger than you want, then hopefully he’ll negotiate down to something you actually want.”
“That’s what I’m hoping.” Talise absently slid a finger along the edge of the parchment. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t envision a better Kamdaria. Even if this battle destroyed Kessoku.
Wendy didn’t interrupt the quiet moment. She just ducked her head, trying to catch Talise’s eye.
Rather than meeting it, Talise looked away. Somehow, she found herself staring at the trunk again. The one holding the amulet. “Even if we defeat Kessoku, that’s not going to fix everything. I’ve helped people in the Gate a little, but we both know it’s not enough. And what about people in the Storm? What about the walls separating the empire into three rings? What about the system of punishing children for their parents’ mistakes?”
Wendy placed a hand on her friend’s forearm, forcing her attention back. Her eyebrows drew together, slightly diminishing the smile that always lingered on her lips. “You’re worried that you might have to fight the emperor.”
The relief at not having to say the words herself quickly dwindled because Talise now had to respond. “I’ll always have to fight him in a way, but I could never battle against him. He’s my father. His army is much bigger than mine. Even if I got every person in the Gate and Storm on my side, we’d have more people, but he’d have the highly trained soldiers. He’d have the money, the provisions. Everything. And he’s my father.”
“Then maybe you avoid a fight as much as possible. Get him to make you an advisor and then you can offer suggestions. Maybe you help him see how desperately change is needed. Maybe you persuade him instead of fight him.”
“How am I supposed to do that?”
With a deviously sweet smirk, Wendy shrugged. “I have no idea, but that’s a problem for another day.”
The situation was dire, but somehow, a snort still seemed appropriate. “If only all my problems were as easy to brush off.”
Wendy giggled at that, which brought a lightness into the tent. She moved toward the entrance and gave a quick glance backward. “Rio chose Fyra to accompany him when they deliver the message.”
Talise nodded, grateful to have people behind her that she could count on.
Her best friend took a lock of hair and twirled it around her finger. “The gateways between the Gate and Crown are closed, but palace soldiers are guarding them. They should be willing to deliver your message to the emperor, even if they don’t let Rio through the gateway.”
That seemed unnecessary to mention since they had already discussed it a few times. But maybe Wendy was stalling. Her finger tensed as hair twirled around it. She bit into her bottom lip before continuing. “And…” She took in a quick breath before making eye contact but then looking away again. “I asked Tempest to accompany me on a quick trip to the Smoke Gate.”
“Of course.” Talise gave an eager nod, hoping it would ease her friend’s nervousness. “You want to tell your family in person that we plan to rescue Cyrus. I completely understand.”
“That’s not why.” Wendy dropped both hands to her sides while a kind but determined smile stretched on her lips. “I want you to tell me where the guardian’s house is, so I can try to find journals or notes for you on how to use the amulet.”
Noises from the camp around them floated by, but the tent remained silent. Wendy audibly gulped. The sound of it seemed to be enough to get her talking again. “We can be back in three days, so we should be back before a message from the emperor arrives. I know you’re afraid to use the amulet, and after what happened to Kessoku’s last leader, you have a right to be. But—”
“Okay.” Talise forced her shoulders back, though it didn’t help with the growing tightness in her chest. More tension entwined her gut. Her fingertips tingled. “I know you’re right, so yes, you can go. But we don’t have very much time before the battle. I won’t be able to study much, and I might not even learn anything before we rescue the prisoners.” She let out a sigh. “But if this battle doesn’t go as planned…” Her voice stopped, as if unwilling to accept the words. Once she finished the sentence, it would become real. She’d have to keep up her end of the bargain. Even forcing them out, the words felt sticky in her throat. “I’ll do it. I’ll learn how to use the amulet.”
The risk of her promise weighed down on her. If she wasn’t careful, the amulet could kill her just like it had killed Kessoku’s leader. Information might be the only thing that could save her from that fate. That meant everything hinged on Wendy finding journals in the guardian’s home.
FOUR
TALISE PULLED HER ARM BACK, EXPLAINING HER movements as she made them. A perfect fireball erupted from her palm before she blasted it into a nearby tree trunk.
“You will feel a slight pulsing in your heart as the fire shaping sensation moves out from your heart and into your hands. Focus more on the pulse than the actual shape of the fireball. That technique will give you better control.”
The soldiers nodded after her words, accepting them as if spoken by a cherished mentor rather than a princess they hadn’t even known existed a year ago.
She had trained these soldiers before, but those months at the palace seemed like ages ago. Preparing for a presentation during the masquerade ball had been frustrating for all of them. An unnecessary distraction. Now the skills Talise taught held an entirely different motivation. They might be the difference between life and death for them.
The soldiers had trained frequently since they left the palace, but Rio led their weapons exercises, and Wendy led any shaping exercises. But when Rio left to deliver the message to the emperor, and Wendy left to find information on how to use the amulet, only Talise remained to head the training exercises.