Chapter 9
Emmeric
Lounging on Iyana’s cot, leaning back on his elbows, Emmeric took stock of her home. It was messier than Imo’s—jars and vials strewn about with no organization. At least, none he could discern. Scribbled notes were on the small table, the hearth, and even the floor. He hadn’t had the opportunity earlier, but now, so close to where she slept every night, he noticed she smelled of lavender and an underlying hint of… closing his eyes and breathing in deeply through his nose, he identified the scent—coconut. There were no palm trees in Athusa, hence no coconuts, but he’d been eating them throughout their trek in the desert and found he really enjoyed the taste and smell.
Altair strode silently into the hut, not acknowledging Emmeric in the slightest, and Iyana followed a few moments later. Her eyes were bloodshot, and there were tear tracks dried on her cheeks. What in the nine hells had Altair done out there? Just a few minutes ago she and Emmeric were enjoying—enjoying wasn’t quite the right word—but they were chatting amicably. He thought she might have been coming out of the numbness he knew followed a hard death. There was definitely a hint of a smile at some point, and she was angry about the nickname Mouse, so at least she was feeling something. Mouse really did fit her as a name though—not only was her personality similar to the mouse thistle plant, but she was also small, like a mouse. And since it seemed to make her angry, he was going to use it every opportunity he had.
She scowled at him as she noticed he was on her cot, but said nothing as she collapsed in her chair. Altair leaned, arms crossed, against the counter in what Emmeric assumed was the kitchen, although it wasn’t outfitted in the style of the kitchens he was accustomed to. Silence stretched for a few seconds. Nobody wanted to be the first to start the conversation. Sitting up fully, Emmeric hugged his knees to his chest and rested his chin on them. “So…” he began, then found he was at a loss for words.
“So,” Iyana agreed. They both looked at Altair.
“I know this has been a lot in such a short amount of time,” said Altair. “Not only the knowledge dumped upon you both, but also the unexpected death of Imo. For which I am truly sorry, my star.” Iyana’s lower lip trembled only slightly before she bit down, clenching her jaw. She impressed Emmeric with her resolve—he knew many women back home who would still be curled in a ball sobbing instead of taking care of business. And there was something about the term of endearment, my star, that rankled Emmeric.
“Unfortunately,” Altair continued, “there is still much to discuss. Foremost, the threat to Arinem.”
Folding her legs underneath her, Iyana leaned her head into her hand. “I think that’s where you lose me, Altair. What threat is there to the continent? I understand we’re remote, but we do receive news, and I haven’t heard of anything.”
Altair nodded towards Emmeric. “Emperor Uther of Athusa is hells-bent on conquering everyone—Istora, Nyr, and anything beyond the borders of Arinem.”
Furrowing her brow in confusion, Iyana said again, “I’ve heard none of this.”
“I don’t have intel about Uther’s specific plans,” said Emmeric, “but I know he’s been having Zane and the rest of us marching down the borders of Athusa. We’ve raided more than one town, and stationed soldiers along the way.” Iyana frowned at him, opening her mouth. He raised his hand to cut her off. “I know, and I’m sorry. I’ve never been fond of the raids, but I felt there was no other option. Our choice is to follow orders or be tried for treason.”
“That seems a little extreme,” Iyana said.
“Uther deals in extremes,” he continued. “My friend Talon, Imo said she saw him helping to evacuate the villagers while the rest of us were following orders,” he sneered. “I wish he had told me what he had planned. Most likely would have tried to talk him out of it… But he’s stubborn when he wants to be, and eventually he would’ve swayed me.”
“I didn’t see him…” said Iyana. “I apologize for assuming all Athusans were the same. Obviously, one of you has a heart.”
Emmeric winced, then smiled. “I’m not surprised you didn’t see him, since you were chasing after a fallen star.”
Altair chuckled deeply. “The boy is correct.” The boy? Emmeric hadn’t been called a boy in at least the past five years. “Uther has been establishing strategic territories on the border of Athusa and blaming Nyr or Istora for the attacks.”
“Emmeric?” Iyana questioned. “Care to explain how that is happening? And why? Considering it’s his own empire, he could set up literally anything anywhere he wants without blaming other nations.”
He sighed. “We’ve been sacking the other villages quietly and in plainclothes. Zane hadn’t been joining on those raids, instead riding in with soldiers a day later and leaving some for ‘protection’—the townsfolk none the wiser that these were the soldiers killing and pillaging. All to sow discontent in the people so they’d demand war.” Uther’s methods left a sour taste in Emmeric’s mouth, but who was he to question the might of an emperor?
“Imothia was the first village outside of Athusa that was targeted,” Emmeric continued, “and before you ask, I don’t know why. I don’t have that kind of clearance. And so it was also the first raid where we wore our official armor and rode with Zane. This may be a blatant act of war on Uther’s part, or, possibly, this was to be another outpost, only in enemy territory.”
The silence returned for another few seconds as they all needed a moment to process the new information.
“Okay,” said Iyana, running a hand down her face. “Power-hungry emperor, got it. What about the crown prince?”
Emmeric shrugged. “He’s definitely an asshole, and not someone you want to cross, but I think he’s just following his father’s orders like we are.”
Altair nodded in agreement. “We’re of the same opinion. He appears to enjoy staying away from his father as much as possible and only does the bare minimum.”
“How is it you know all this, Altair? And, honestly, why do the stars care at all?” Iyana asked. Which was actually a fantastic question, something Emmeric hadn’t thought of, but now was desperate to hear the answer. “No offense, but until yesterday, you were in the sky.”
“We’ve been watching,” said Altair. He gave a wry smile. “There’s not much else to do when you’re stuck in orbit. We care because, much like the gods have a vested interest in humanity, and after a thousand years of observing, we do as well. Safe to say you’ve grown on us.” It had never occurred to Emmeric that the stars were actual, living beings confined to the sky, only orbiting, unable to move on their own. Honestly, it sounded like torture. He wondered how this fate came to pass, but judging by how cagey Altair was during Imo’s explanations, an answer would not be forthcoming.
“I was part of a group assigned to watch Uther,” Altair continued. “The past thirty years of his rule, he’s become steadily more ruthless and cruel. We know of his plans to conquer the continent. He believes it’s his gods-given right to become ruler of Arinem, and then he’ll set his sights on other continents. Our fear is what we cannot see.”
“What you can’t see?” Emmeric asked.
Altair spared him a glance, then refocused on Iyana, who was still curled in upon herself in the chair, fiddling with a necklace she hadn’t been wearing earlier. Emmeric rolled his eyes. “There are times he appears to be… obscured by something, and all we can see is a blackness surrounding him. We’re unable to discern what he discusses during these times. It’s unlike anything we’ve seen before.”
“How is it we can help, then?” Iyana asked, gesturing between herself and Emmeric. “We’re only two humans. What good are we compared to the might of a star?”
Altair sighed. “My power may be great, but I am currently weakened with the rest of my brethren still in the sky. And I am beholden to certain rules. I’m unable to interfere directly—”
“Or what?” Emmeric interjected, which earned him a golden-eyed glare.
“I would be banished back to the sky.” The admission shocked them both. Iyana was worrying her lower lip with her teeth. And that—that was adorable.
“It was difficult enough to fall once. It would not happen again.” He again directed his intense stare at Iyana. She seemed to perk up slightly with his attention. “A massive amount of an Aztia’s power directed towards us is our only escape, and it’s only enough for one of us to make the journey. We became more concerned with Uther approximately twenty years ago, and we scoured the earth for an Aztia, but couldn’t find one. Your grandmother had sheltered you well.”
Iyana let out a shuddering breath. Altair’s voice softened. “She blocked your magic—likely when you were an infant. You would’ve been able to access it sooner otherwise.”
Frowning, she shook her head. “Grandmother said she would need to bless me and ink my tattoo in order for me to come into my magic and become a healer officially.”
“She was lying, my star,” said Altair. “If you had been able to tap into it, we would have found you much sooner. It was another attempt to protect you. When she pressed her bloody thumb to your brow it unlocked the bindings to your magic.”
Closing her eyes, Iyana said, “I can feel it. When I’d reach for it before, there was something moving about sluggishly, trying to break free. But now I sense this gentle warmth coursing through me.”
Emmeric frowned. He felt nothing like what she was describing. Doubt increased within him—there was no chance he was this ‘Kanaliza’ Imo and Altair were convinced he was. Rubbing his chest, he realized his two new companions were silently watching him.
“I can’t feel anything,” he said. “And I’ve shown no proclivity towards magic before.”
“You wouldn’t,” said Altair, shaking his head. “You’re the Kanaliza. Your role is to direct and amplify Iyana’s natural magical abilities.”
“Can you really blame me for doubting all of this?” Emmeric asked, his voice raising. He waved his hand towards Iyana. “At least she was training to be a healer, and knew she’d be gaining magical powers at some point. I’m just a soldier! I lived a fairly quiet life before this craziness...” He took a deep breath to steady himself before things escalated further.
“A quiet life?” Iyana snapped. “Quietly murdering people everywhere you go?”
Any semblance of calm Emmeric had disappeared. “I never said I enjoyed what I do. There was little choice for me. It was join the guard and live a decently comfortable life, or go work in the fields or mines. And once you’re in, it’s next to impossible to leave outside of dying.” He stood suddenly, pacing the small room. “You have no idea what life in Athusia is like. Fuck, you don’t know what my life has been like!”
Dragging a hand through his hair, he said, “I need to go home. I’m sure everyone thinks I’m dead, and I can’t continue to let my friend fret over the possibility.”
Iyana scoffed. “I’m surprised you even have a friend.”
Before Emmeric could respond with a scathing comment, Altair interjected. “Iyana will need to train with her magic, and she needs you for that.”
“No she doesn’t,” Emmeric said at the same time Iyana said, “No, I don’t.”
“There you have it,” Emmeric said. “The lady says she doesn’t need me, and so I’ll be taking my leave.”
Altair ignored Emmeric altogether, directing his comment to Iyana instead. “You will need him. While you may access a small portion of magic on your own, you’ll never come into your full abilities without him.”
“Sure,” muttered Emmeric. “Go ahead, talk about me like I’m not in the room.” Louder, he said, “Again, huge doubts on my end that I am what you’re claiming. I want no part in this.”
“Fine with me,” said Iyana.
“Besides, conspiring against my emperor will most definitely get me hanged.” Emmeric looked towards Iyana, still curled in her chair, eyelids puffy from lack of sleep and crying. He softened slightly. “I realize I represent everything you hate at the moment, and I know you don’t want me here.”
Obviously surprised, her caramel-colored eyes widened. “At least you’re astute.”
“All I’m asking is for a small amount of provisions and I’ll be out of your hair tonight.”
Iyana regarded him for a moment. “Done.”