Chương 54: Chapter 153: Trick

Amelia followed Serena in the Shimmer. Even watching her girlfriend move at half-speed, she could tell Serena was walking with that purposeful stride that meant she'd made her mind up on something. She followed, observing her surroundings and getting used to being in the Shimmer. Ishaq's streets were now lined with all manner of decorative fancies. Vibrant canopies flowed overhead, interspersed with paper arcwhales whose twin tails dangled a thousand ribbons, fluttering in the wind.

Through the gaps, hundreds of box kites occupied the sky, self-stabilising against the southerly wind. The city was truly geared up and ready for a celebration that would rival the Kenhoro moonrain festival. Sadly, the sepia overtones of the Shimmer meant a lot of the vibrancy was lost, but Amelia had already indulged in it early that day with Finella and Mel.

Although her big role tomorrow as a covert healer was a priority, that would only come into play at the end of the festivities, when it was dark and the fireworks were launched. Hinako's debut was set for midday, and she would be there cheering for her in the arena stands. The closer they got to the docks, the calmer everything became. The chaotic confusion that her invocation of Taranis' Downpour prompted faded with every step.

The storm from her communion had arrived and dissipated far too quickly for any fear to fester. Although the council chamber had taken a beating, the damage had been entirely contained within it. Still, she could make out the muttered discussion of a 'blinding flash' and 'mighty boom'. Thankfully, her actions were spoken about with tones of curiosity and interest, rather than fear or concern. Menes and his brother were calming the crowds and it seemed they had avoided a riot.

In fact, knowing Ishaqians as she did, Amelia suspected that all the additional energy she'd invoked in the population would be redirected into the festival, making it better than ever before. And now that Nasr and his men were somewhat pacified by Serena's wonderful ability to glare a person into nothingness, they'd both improved the overall situation by quite a bit! Amelia waited until Serena walked through an empty side alley before preparing to reappear.

She reestablished her Lia Liona disguise in the Shimmer and looked down at her glistening soul. She took a moment to focus, to understand herself fully before reaching out mentally and stepping inside her own shadow. She did her best to control her aether, but her relative inexperience with entering and exiting the Shimmer meant she still produced a loud snapping sound, akin to a heavy book dropping on a wooden floor. At least she didn't crack any stones this time. Although Serena did do a little start.

It was extraordinarily cute.

"Hello!" Amelia chirped. The action of shifting between the layers of reality meant her disguise wavered momentarily. Kanaxai wards were sensitive, and it was difficult to keep them stable when moving from the Shimmer, where they experienced a pulling pressure from the aetherphobic environment, to the normal world. Once she'd fixed her illusory horns, she asked with a grin, "Sorry for making you jump."

"I did not."

"You did. I saw you."

"You must be imagining things." Amelia felt her grin widen.

"Things worked out, though, didn't they?" She began counting with her fingers.

"Search and rescue mission secured, Ishaqian council pacified, leads on the Blackhorn, festival going ahead, and…" Amelia stretched, stepping in front of Serena and doing a spin.

"It's a beautiful day!" Serena raised her hand in response, mocking Amelia's counting.

"Potential vengeful council, angry Harus speaker, furious Bayle speaker, countless factions moving in the background…" The demon trailed off, giving Amelia a look.

"You're being very pessimistic," Amelia said.

"I prefer being pleasantly surprised over disappointment," Serena countered.

"As long as Menes can calm things down with his brazen charisma, we might survive. I have a plan now, at least." The demon gave Amelia a side glance.

"Are you all right?"

"Mmm?"

"With the Shimmer, and with fighting Korvus."

"Yeah," Amelia nodded, flashing Serena a thumbs-up.

"It was fun!" It was fun. That was the honest truth of it. Taranis was a powerful Word, and the formation of Taranis' Downpour required so much aether that it was now considered out of reach of his Speakers, now requiring a Fenrirus Speaker to invoke. It had been a while since Amelia had used so much aether, and it had felt great. The exhilaration of commanding and controlling so much power felt wonderful, like stretching her entire body after a long sleep.

"Ah," Serena mused.

"To be so powerful as to consider a major diplomatic incident fun."

"Do you think it'll cause a problem?" Amelia asked. Serena hesitated before replying.

"You know, I'm going to take some of your optimism for myself. I predict it'll be fine. The council, by their nature, wouldn't want to complain to the Tasalsul. We won't be here long enough for them to forget the lesson they just learned. Speaking to Nasr just now… he was a defeated man. Defiant, but defeated. His lack of real power was made very apparent to him by Korvus." The demon shook her head.

"My only concern is what will happen when Korvus or Asrar wake up."

"We'll handle it," Amelia said confidently, punching her palm with a fist.

"Yes." Serena nodded.

"We will." They arrived at the docks, where it quickly became apparent that the excited calm of the Ishaqian streets was merely sandwiched between the chaos in the plaza and the violence that bore out before them now. A group of dockworkers, perhaps the same ones who had rioted upon their arrival, were on the verge of engaging in another bout of wild melee.

If it weren't for the hulking Arakian—taller than anyone else Amelia had seen with the single exception of the Lord Guardian—trying to settle them down, then they would already have been in open battle. Well, 'trying to settle them down' was a polite way of putting it.

"Get to work, you bastards!" Dockmaster Tariq roared.

"It was just a storm, you idiots! A storm!" He repeated himself in Hakian before continuing, "Damn you and your superstitions! Get back—" He cut off as a piece of wood thrown from the crowd impacted his chest.

"Who threw that!?" the dockmaster shouted.

"Do you want another barrel, huh!? Do you? Right, that's it!" Tariq bent down, the crowd obscuring what he was doing. He straightened up, raising a barrel leaking grain high above his head. The crowd tried to scatter, but they were too slow. Bodies went flying and cries of pain erupted as the barrel exploded into them. It reminded Amelia of bowling a strike.

"Get them to work!" Tariq shouted, pointing aggressively at his guards.

"Get in there. Teach them a lesson!" The massive demon picked up the piece of wood and threw it into the remaining pile of Treki workers.

"Consider yourself lucky!" he shouted.

"A hundred years ago, my sperehand would've whipped the lot of you! Hahaha!" He turned to leave, freezing when he saw them both. Serena approached, and Amelia followed soon after.

"Troubles, Dockmaster?" Serena inquired, tilting her head to the writhing mass of bodies being pulled apart by Tariq's guards. One by one they were stood up, and if their injuries were not too serious, put back to work.

"Trouble, aye," the demon nodded. He sniffed and jerked his chin back towards where they came.

"That was no natural storm," he said.

"Your doing?" He looked at Serena momentarily before his gaze drifted over Amelia. She wasn't sure if there was an implicit question in his eyes or not.

"Korvus Maranai's doing," Serena said, with a finality in her voice that screamed, 'Not in a million years will I be held accountable for his actions.'

"The council were unwilling to vote for the petition, so your boss decided to…"

"Make them willing?" Serena nodded.

"You have your votes. Menes will arrive soon to begin provisioning the ships. How soon till you can launch?" Tariq sniffed.

"Two days. Maybe three."

"So long?"

"Couldn't make it happen faster if you forced them. Of all the captains that could be trusted for this, none will be so cruel as to take their men away from the festival just as it's about to start. You'd start the search with an angry and resentful crew." Tariq tapped his horns.

"Don't need to be a genius to know what that spells in the long and dark Passage." Mutiny, Amelia thought. It seemed so slow. By the time Captain Matthews was found, he and the rest of the Indefatigable's crew would have survived in the Passage for weeks. She hoped they were okay and the worst hadn't happened. Serena was absolutely convinced that they were alive.

The lifeboats launched by the ship were stocked with enough supplies and tools that, as long as they managed to settle on a rock, they would be able to survive in the Passage, with its dense populations of edible fish.

"One more thing," Serena began.

"There were… complications." As if on cue, Menes appeared with Finella and Mel. They carried a palanquin. It looked like they'd taken possession of one that was intended for the festivities. It was bright and colourful, and there were embossed pictures of smiling arcwhales on the sides.

"My sayyidah," Menes said quickly, jogging over. He nodded to the dockmaster.

"Tariq. We have the votes."

"I heard," Tariq grumbled. The dockmaster approached the side of the palanquin and looked inside.

"Speaker Asrar…" he muttered.

"What happened, Menes?"

"Speaker Maranai intimidated the council," Menes said.

"Then Speaker Maranai fought Speaker Asrar, who came to stop him. Speaker Maranai won." He nodded to Serena.

"Then he fought Sayyidah Halen. Then, uh…" Amelia caught him flicking his eyes towards her.

"Then he lost. I am bringing them here so Sayyidah Halen's medical staff can tend to them dis… dis…" The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"Discreetly?" Amelia offered.

"Yes! Discreetly!"

"Hmm…" Tariq looked at the unconscious Speakers for half a dozen seconds before facing Serena and asking, "Why did you fight the boss?"

"I told you before." Serena folded her arms.

"We have history." Tariq hesitated before asking, "When are you leaving?"

"Day after the festival."

"Good."

"... Charmed," Serena replied dryly.

"What?" Tariq snorted.

"It's been nothing but chaos since your Vengeance arrived. At least you painted it white. That's stopped the workers from muttering prayers every time they walk past." He tapped the top of the palanquin.

"Where are you putting them?"

"In Korvus' office," Serena said.

"They only need rest."

"They look half dead." Tariq scratched his nose.

"And Speaker Asrar is covered in blood."

"They're Speakers. They look a lot better now than they did half an hour ago." Without waiting for a response, Serena turned to Menes and asked, "How are things up there?"

"My great brother is handling it," Menes said.

"He is keeping people calm and beginning to clean things up. The councillors have scurried away like mice, my sayyidah. Perhaps we should visit them and make sure they won't interfere. If we can make Nasr see our way the others will fall in line."

"Already done," Serena said.

"Oh?" Menes' face broke out into a wide grin.

"Very nice, my sayyidah."

"Thank you." The others might have missed it, but Amelia saw the edge of Serena's lip curl ever so slightly at the compliment. Serena would likely scoff at the idea, but there were some similarities in their personalities.

"Officer Mori!" Serena barked. Once Mel had snapped to attention, Serena ordered her to assist Menes in setting up Korvus' office as a room for recuperation.

"Hillbrand will look after them until we leave," Serena explained.

"She's had experience in treating Speakers, and is cordial with Korvus." With the task delegated, Serena led Amelia and Finella to her quarters on the Vengeance. Along the way, she had Anathor notify Dagon, Aiden, and Hillbrand. Within a minute, all six of them were gathered. Serena sat in her leather chair, while the rest of them formed a semicircle facing her desk.

"Miss Liona," Serena said, smiling softly.

"A pot of coffee, please."

"Aye, aye!" Amelia turned and began brewing a large pot of Jimari. She tried not to chuckle, but as the fragrance filled the room, she swore she could see Finella's nostrils flaring in the exact way a peeka did if you put a piece of choco under its nose. Everyone waited patiently while Amelia served them. There's something deeply satisfying about serving someone something delicious, Amelia thought idly. I might joke about being a maid, but the profession is a serious one.

Her thoughts went back to Johan, House Halen's head butler and his impeccable dress and manners.

"Let us enjoy this period of relative peace for a minute," Serena said, raising her cup.

"Drink and reflect on how far we've come." She took a sip, gesturing for the others to follow suit. For a moment, they all silently enjoyed their coffee. Then Serena broke the contemplative silence, cutting through the innocent peace with one statement.

"Korvus knows Amelia is here." Hands paused, cups halfway to lips froze, and they all looked at Amelia.

"Hello," she whispered, giving them a wave.

"That sudden storm?" Dagon asked.

"Tomes said it looked like Taranis." He nodded to Amelia.

"Is that how he figured it out?"

"Korvus Spoke in the council chambers," Serena explained.

"He figured that if he made enough chaos, then the North would be forced to bring him back early. The councillors were going to vote against the petition, and he took the opportunity to force them otherwise." She shook her head and took another sip of coffee.

"I swear the heat has made the Mad Dog madder. He wouldn't have pulled that when he was under my command. If I had known he would Speak, I could have made preparations." Serena paused.

"In his enhanced state, he detected the magic Miss Liona had placed upon me. He figured out she was in Ishaq." Aiden coughed politely. When everyone looked at him, he asked, "You took her with you?"

"No," Serena answered.

"She was with Officers Bright and Mori in the souk. Miss Liona came to my aid once she detected her wards being broken."

"Broken?" Aiden raised an eyebrow.

"How?"

"Korvus is strong," Serena said.

"He's indigo now." Dagon whistled.

"And you defeated him?" Serena smiled.

"Miss Liona provided the victorious blow." The Vengeance's First Officer looked at Amelia and gave her a nod. It was a strange nod that Amelia was slowly learning to recognise. It was a nod of respect, but, layered within that, an acknowledgement of her titanic power and capabilities. It felt nice, in a way, as long as he didn't do it too often. Amelia liked seeing Dagon and Tomes as friends, nothing more, nothing less.

"So he knows Amelia is a dual Speaker, then?" Finella asked." Aseco and Taranis?" Finella knew about Amelia's embodiments, but the Northerner was tactful enough not to imply it with her question.

"He would have found out about Taranis eventually," Aiden said.

"There's a blocker in the broadsheets about it, but it's not a secret, not after she blew the top off that building at the Asamaywa Academy. Intelligence just doesn't want it spreading too fast. Ishaq would have heard the rumours within a week or two."

"Dual Speaker and a living saint," Dagon murmured.

"Might make Korvus hesitate to take action. Hells, we should let him know her true capabilities, and that'll make him stay away."

"True capabilities?" Serena asked, narrowing her eyes. Dagon rubbed the back of his neck.

"Aye. Her ability to deprive a poor demon of his or her well-earned wages." His words spread a wave of laughter around the room. Amelia gave a nervous giggle. While Serena had never formally told Dagon and Tomes of her Asclepius embodiment, they were both sure they'd figured it out behind the scenes. Still, as long as they didn't bring it up, Serena was happy not to broach the subject. Then there was Finella and Mel.

The former had used all kinds of terrible enhanced interrogation techniques to pry the information of not just Asclepius but also Suijin from Amelia's lips, while Mel had been there in person for the latter. She didn't want to ask, but Amelia assumed that Mel would have connected her with Asclepius if Intelligence hadn't covered it up. The monster attacks her first embodiment had caused had been explained away by aggressive logging practices.

The scrambling of the Eastern fleet was wrapped up as a training exercise, and the strategic aetherscope records had been—according to Aiden—doctored to have no mention of it. Serena went on to give them a quick overview of the missing pieces, including the fate of Speaker Asrar and the revelations about the Blackhorn by Councillor Nasr. She even showed off the new jade sword she'd acquired. After her explanation, she gave Hillbrand instructions to care for them and to notify her if either of them woke up.

"Aye, Cap'n." Hillbrand saluted. She nodded at Amelia.

"You don't want them healed?" Amelia nodded back almost on reflex, but the medical officer had already looked away. Hillbrand was somehow both warm and cold towards her. Amelia had never managed to get as close to her as she had Tomes and Dagon. Deep down, Amelia wondered if Hillbrand felt invalidated by her healing magic.

"No, not unless their condition worsens," Serena replied.

"It won't be long before they wake, but they can't be in any condition to interfere with us further. By the time they're ready to commune their Words again, we'll be long gone."

"Will Korvus cause problems?" Hillbrand asked.

"Even if we leave, will he follow? Back when I would splint a fracture for him, he would be raring to get out and back into the fight." Serena closed her eyes. She stayed like that for half a minute, deep in thought. Then, she slowly opened them as if returning to the waking world from a long trip.

"He might," she said.

"If we take the Vengeance to Hakim in preparation for the Red Sands, he very well may follow. This is why we must trick him."

"Trick him?" Dagon asked.

"Why? If he tries anything, we could give him another beating. Let the Greatlord of Hakim keep him under lock and key until he can be extradited." Serena took a breath.

"We're looking for an item in the Red Sands. A powerful item that is coveted by anyone who knows of its nature and potential. Darkblades, potentially even the Southern Overlord himself. They want it. But…" Serena pointed towards the hanging picture of the Empress.

"She wants it, and we're here to make that happen. We absolutely cannot have a rogue Mad Dog follow us into the desert. He cannot be allowed to find it."

"What is it, Captain?" Dagon asked.

"A weapon? One of the old artefacts?"

"Something like that," Serena answered, glancing at Aiden.

"I'll tell you more when we're closer, if appropriate. These are Imperial secrets we're flirting with, so forgive me for being… reticent." Once Dagon nodded, Serena continued.

"We'll split up. There's no way to hide the Vengeance going to Hakim, so you'll take it elsewhere." She looked at Dagon for a moment before ordering, "Tomorrow night, take command of the Vengeance. Sail to Shiloh. With the assistance of Officer Daichi, the two Officer Songs, and our useful cadets, you are to investigate the rumours of the Blackhorn and the comings and goings of his black ship, the Chameleon.

"Officers Bright, Mori, and Aikawa will aid Miss Liona and me in our task in the desert. We will leave quietly in the early morning. As far as anyone else is concerned, we will all have gone eastwards. If Korvus does follow, hunker down in the ship until we return. I do not believe he would try to harm the ship to get at her."

"If he does…" Anathor grumbled, speaking for the first time.

"It would be the last thing he would do." The Formless let the threat linger in the air for a moment before adding absentmindedly, "Hmm… Shiloh is a city of history. It still has surviving buildings of old Suria, the human kingdom. I look forward to visiting…"

"And coffee that I'm told some demons prefer to Jimari," Serena added.

"Which brings us to Officer Adachi…" She faced Aiden. Amelia saw a smile creep up her girlfriend's face.

"Officer Adachi, as our contact with Intelligence, I understand it may be important for you to be present should we uncover what we're looking for."

"That's… right," Aiden said with some hesitation.

"I am a kind captain," Serena said.

"If you don't tell anyone else, I'm happy to give you a choice." She tapped the table.

"Would you like to come with us into the Red Sands, where your survival will only be guaranteed by Miss Liona's wards, and a single misstep in that matter would set you aflame with desert madness under the Red Moon's heat? Or…" Serena tapped the table again.

"Would you like to go to Shiloh with my First Officer and hunker down with good coffee, some local alcohol, and weather the storms of the Shattered Isles?"

"They both sound unappealing in their own ways," Aiden said slowly.

"I get the impression you don't want me… slowing you down in the desert? Is that right?"

"Yes," Serena answered with brutal finality.

"Arin Song has the weakest red of her and her brother, and that would be just enough. Yours is even weaker than that. The need to split up to avoid Korvus is a blessing in disguise. Our search will be much more efficient if we take, at a minimum, second-circle mages and orange warriors."

"What about Officer Daichi?" Aiden asked.

"He's third-circle."

"I need someone to act as squad leader in the interim," Serena said.

"The independence will help him grow." She turned to Finella and said, "Instruct him to support the twins, and for the twins to support the cadets. This kind of information gathering… let's take advantage of Noburu and Seonmi's talents. See what they can uncover." Finella nodded.

"It's a good pairing. Ido and Noburu get along well, as do Arin and Seonmi. Daichi is still a bit of an outlier. His upbringing and personality keep a wall between him and the others, but… as a leader, that can be a bonus." The Northerner turned and winked at Aiden.

"If you go to Shiloh, you might have an easier time contacting Intelligence. What?" Finella grinned at the demon's expression.

"The Cap'n's right. You'll slow us down."

"... I'll go to Shiloh," Aiden said finally.

"Speaking of Intelligence," Serena continued.

"Anything?" Aiden nodded.

"I'm meeting our contact tomorrow. I'll pass on whatever is needed before you leave."

"Tomorrow's the arcwhale festival," Serena mused to the room.

"Officer Aikawa will make her debut. Officer Adachi will get the information we need. Miss Liona will fulfil her duties, and then…" She looked at Amelia.

"And then what?" Amelia asked.

"Then we leave Ishaq," Serena said.

"To begin a desert adventure that not even the maddest of traders would risk. To swelter under an oppressive heat that would kill us without aether. Sandstorms, desert wyrms, great lizards and other nasties wanting to eat us…" Serena sighed.

"That's what." Amelia grinned.

"I can't wait!"