of humanity. Rules like death. If they inhabit a human body, they can die like humans do. But if they escape…”
He held out a hand, and Calder found his focus drawn to it like iron to a magnet.
A moment later, a scythe as large as Ozriel’s body appeared, grasped in his hand. Through Calder’s eyes of Intent, the edge of the weapon gleamed like black moonlight.
“…I’ll have to do my job.” He gave Calder a wink. “I try to avoid that whenever possible. Do what you can to keep me unemployed, Calder Marten.”
Calder woke to himself panting and sweating, the Spear of Tharlos at his throat.
Bliss’ pale eyes were hard, and she glared at him over the weapon. “You were gone longer than I think is safe. I tried to free you. If you are still Calder, say something that only Calder would say.”
“The Guild War doesn’t matter,” Calder gasped. “None of it matters. We have to seal up the Great Elder tombs.” He struggled against the bars. “Help me out, we need to get a message to Jorin.”
She looked down her spear suspiciously. “I don’t know if Calder Marten would say that…”
“Bliss!”
She spent a long moment searching his eyes, then she gave a sigh and tucked away her weapon.
A moment later, Calder burst out of the Emperor’s chambers with Bliss trailing him. The Imperial Guard and servants stationed outside of the room were startled to attention; one Guard even raised his spear.
They had been uncomfortable leaving him with the Optasia in the first place, though they were likely unclear on what it was or the risks it posed. Now that they saw him apparently unharmed, he could read relief on their faces.
He wished he shared that relief.
“I need paper!” he called. “Bring me paper, pen, and the Imperial seal. I’ll be sending messages to all the regional governors, so bring me their delegates. And have each Guild provide a messenger that can get into Rainworth.”
The Imperial seal was one of the most famous relics; the Emperor had used it to imprint his seal on messages since the beginning of the Empire. It wasn’t Awakened, but it had such heavy significance of Intent that it might as well have been. Messages sent with the seal could not be opened or read by anyone other than the intended recipient.
It was the only way to deliver this message. If the Great Elders realized what Calder had learned, they would expend all their powers to destroy him. They certainly wouldn’t let him cooperate with the Regents.
All the servants and Guards bowed, but there was a moment of hesitation as they looked from one to the other, unclear on whose job this was.
They weren’t used to him yet, and the entire Palace had been sent into an uproar after the battle. Order had not yet been restored.
But he didn’t have time for this.
He pulled out the Emperor’s crown and added to his commands. “Run!”
Everyone but Bliss dashed out of the room.
Jakson had just joined the Imperial Guard. He hadn’t earned his augmentations yet, but he had daydreamed about having the claws of a Bonereaver.
He was afraid of getting something like an elephant’s ears, but even that would be all right. It was the Imperial Guard’s uniform that really impressed people.
When the senior Guards came with a message straight from the Steward, he had leaped at the responsibility. He was the perfect man for the job, too; he was born and raised in Rainworth.
He knew every way in and out of the town, and more importantly, he knew the people who lived there. He knew who would be working outside Independent security. His uncle was a fisherman who stopped by the Capital sometimes, and he lived just outside Rainworth’s borders.
Jakson could make contact with him, and his uncle could get him into the town. If that didn’t work out, he had a dozen other ways in.
Working for the Steward could make his career. General Teach would hear about this, whenever she woke up.
The Guard lent him the fastest horse he could handle, and even it was in disguise; Jakson and his mount both had to leave their colors behind. He left at a trot on one of the least-used roads in the city.
He would have to walk the horse once the sun set, but he would arrive no more than a couple of hours after full dark. It wouldn’t be unusual for a message to arrive that late.
Jakson kept his message—bearing the Imperial seal—sealed inside