“For their own good.”
“GOOD!” The word was so loud it shook the heavens and the waters.
Her barge drifted up on a column of seawater, remaining surprisingly steady until she floated at eye level. Suddenly, a gleaming emerald light flashed in front of her.
She would recognize the jewel even if her eyes were shut. It was her Soulbound Vessel.
“NOW, I SEND THEE FORTH…MY HIGH PRIESTESS OF THE VOID.”
The green light shot forward, stabbing into her forehead.
The heat spread through her entire body, but it didn’t hurt. It was as though she was being burned down and rebuilt in its flames. Reforged.
Reborn.
The Capital was in such chaos that it was easy for the crew to travel with no one recognizing them.
At least for most of them. Not for Calder.
The former Steward of the entire Empire was packed away in a crate in the back of a small wagon, which came to a stop so often that Calder wished he could get out and pull instead of the mules.
Jorin, it turned out, had ordered an evacuation of the Capital’s citizens. His official explanation suggested that the city was no longer safe and emergency shelters had been prepared in outlying regions.
Calder wasn’t sure he trusted any of that.
Down through the city to the docks took most of the day, and he knew from experience that the Guard would have all exits well-defended. They wouldn’t be stopping people from fleeing, but from boarding a ship where they didn’t belong.
Andel, Petal, and Foster were in charge of driving them all to the guarded checkpoint where they could have a moment with the Guards without being overseen by anyone else.
In the meantime, Calder occupied himself by trying to find the least cramped position in the box, pulling nails from the boards around him and twisting them into shapes with his fingertips, and taking his medication.
Petal had left him with a collection of pills, powders, elixirs, and injections along with a labyrinthine set of instructions in their use. He had to jab a syringe of luminous blue liquid into his thigh twice a day to stop his muscles from seizing up, take a pill before he went to sleep to prevent blindness, and drink a potion to keep his skeleton in place.
Whenever he grew frustrated—or nauseous—he watched how he could squeeze a nail of good iron until it sunk into the cracks of his fingers like putty.
For the price he’d paid, he had at least walked away with a satisfying prize.
Petal or Foster popped their heads in every once in a while to speak to him, but for most of the day, he could hear only their muffled voices over the chaotic noise of the Capital.
He began to suspect they’d found a checkpoint when their wagon stayed stopped for longer than ever before. The others were talking to someone. He couldn’t make out specific words, but Andel’s voice remained calm and soothing.
Finally, Foster pulled the lid off the box, and Calder squinted up.
He had hoped they would give him time to adjust his appearance before revealing him like this—he was supposed to appear dignified and in control, not folded into a container like dried squid. But the orange-eyed woman who stared down on him went white as a cloud when she saw his face.
He cleared his throat from his position within the create. “I apologize, Captain. I was not aware I’d be entertaining guests.”
The Guard captain’s throat bobbed as she swallowed. “We’ll need a Reader to verify his identity. Until then, keep him inside the box.”
“You can address me, Captain. I’m right here.”
She visibly struggled to meet his gaze for a moment before she said, “…sorry, sir.”
She fled after that, but it was enough. Checking his identity was a matter of protocol, but she clearly believed he was who he appeared to be. That was more than half the battle; if the Imperial Guard tried to arrest him, then he would have to fight his way out.
Of course, if the Guards had resorted to force, they would have been in for a surprise.
The Reader showed up in a handful of minutes, pulling the lid off Calder’s box. The man was weathered and gray-haired, wearing the uniform of the Imperial Guard, but he had no visible Kameira enhancements.
On sight of Calder, he glanced around briefly, then dipped his head. “Steward. Thank the Emperor that you’re still alive.”
“I don’t think he had anything to do with it. Is it safe for me to leave this box?”
“We have spare Guard uniforms,