1 day left
Avso sprinted through the city, darting around abodes. He had just left the temple and was now racing to where the squad was meant to meet. They were to check how his plan had gone, and he was to tell them of any new information.
The city unfurled in a labyrinth of narrow, winding streets, each turn revealing a maze of sun-baked clay abodes glowing in the day's dying light. The air was thick with spice scents and the distant murmur of daily commerce, sounds that mingled with the rhythmic clatter of artisans at work. Dust hung in the air.
After Avso left the temple, The Emperor ordered a raid on Zemkoar. Resounding drums echoed throughout Murakli, signaling that all soldiers would meet at the war ground.
He rounded a corner and saw the abode all four were in. He opened the door. No one was there.
Avso left the abode and sprinted for the wargrounds. Other warriors ran with him toward the wargrounds.
Avso usually wouldn’t have fought. Not because of his age—boys much younger than him often fought in the raids. It was his blessing. There had been a long-standing rule that the Murok-blessed should only come on battles where needed. Avso had never been called for battle. Ugop, the Murok-blessed before him, had never been called to battle.
He finally reached the wargrounds, where a large crowd of warriors stood, grabbing weapons with commanders and shouting orders.
The wargrounds sprawled at Murkali's edge, a vast expanse of trampled earth and rising dust, vibrating with the anticipation of impending battle. Lined across the rugged landscape were rows upon rows of tents, their canvases fluttering like the heartbeats of the warriors within. The air was alive with the metallic clang of steel.
The wargrounds were a tumultuous sea of warriors, their movements a cacophony of shouted commands that filled the air with vibrant, chaotic energy. The ground vibrated with the thunderous steps of countless feet, each stride stirring the dust into a frenzy.
He found Uk and Kraz standing together.
“Ahh, there you are,” Uk said. “Mind telling us why we’re attacking Zemkoar?”
Avso didn’t know where to start. He kept it simple: “Ohvocdu's in Zemkoar. Amud wants to kill him.”
“What?” Uk stepped closer.
“It’s true. He thinks Ohvocdu's a traitor for Ilan.”
“Why? Why does he think that?” Uk asked.
“Because he’s been in Zemkoar. And because Murok told the Emperor himself.”
Kraz stared at Avso. “I know Ohvocdu. He is no nonbeliever.”
"Who knows what's going on in the Emperor's mind," Uk said. "All I know is that we have to save Ohvocdu. He's the only one who knows where the Amulet is."
"But I also saw Luif there."
"Really? What was he doing?"
"He—He was dead. The Emperor had him and forty others tortured to death."
Uk's mouth dropped.
"Why?" Kraz asked, suddenly dead serious.
"The Emperor said he got a message from Murok that said he's a traitor to Ilan."
Kraz ran his hand over his face.
Skamtos walked toward them. He was in armor. He looked powerful—almost respectable. His gray eyes didn’t move; they could see everything. They stared at Avso. He was a commander for a reason.
“Why are you here, Avso?”
Uk cut in. “Luif is dead.”
“No, he isn’t. Quit joking.”
“He’s not joking,” Kraz said.
Skamto’s eyes narrowed. “You’re serious?”
“Yes.”
"Why?"
"The Emperor killed him and forty others," Avso said.
"Forty Murkali warriors?"
"Yes."
Skamtos seethed. "The Emperor will die for that. He's unstable."
"Also," Uk said, "we're attacking Zemkoar because the Emperor wants to kill Ohvocdu."
"The Emperor wants to kill Ohvocdu?"
"Yeah, basically," Uk said.
“We need Ohvocdu. We can't let him die.”
Kraz nodded solemnly.
Others watched Avso. They saw his golden hair. “We shouldn’t talk so openly here, I think. There’s too much attention.”
Skamtos nodded. “Here, come to my tent. We need to discuss everything that happened and make a plan to proceed. We still have time before the raid begins.”
They walked through the crowd towards a rather large tent. They stepped in. It was Skamto’s commander’s tent.
It was a meticulously organized space, with maps sprawling across wide tables and weapons aligned precisely against the tent's fabric walls. Countless discussions and decisions compacted the rich earth beneath the tent's floor, and sounds from the outside world were muffled here.
“We need to get Ohvocdu to tell us where the amulet is," Skamtos said.
“We can find him before everyone else does and ask him then," Uk said.
“How do we even know he’s going to help us?” Avso said.
"He doesn't like the Emperor," Kraz said.
"Why? Didn't he mentor the Emperor?" Avso asked.
"He did. But he's become disproving of his methods. WISEMAN's REASON"
“I can help,” Avso said. “You’ll need as many people as possible to help get Ohvocdu. I’ll help.”
“Are you sure?” Kraz asked.
Avso nodded.
“Well then—“
The door to the tent ripped open, and in walked the last person Avso ever wanted to see.
Looking like a giant, the Emperor marched in, his eyes intent on Avso.
“Blessed one, I sensed you were here. What is it?”
Avso fumbled back a few steps, his mind blank.
“Are you OK, blessed one?” The Emperor eyed the others in the room with a dangerous glare.
“Yes—Yes, I am.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Uh ... I wanted to spectate the battle. These warriors volunteered to watch me and make sure I was safe during it.”
The Emperor suddenly lightened his hateful glare at the warriors. “Why do you wish to watch the battle, blessed one? Surely, it is unwise to put yourself in danger.”
“After the talk we had, I wanted to see the battle. I wanted to witness Ohvocdu’s capture.”
The Emperor smiled. “This is good. I am glad you have faith in the mission. But I cannot risk you dying.”
“I assure you, these warriors are highly capable.”
“Oh, I know. And I would not dare take you away from the battle. I will watch over you, though. I cannot risk you dying.”
“There’s no need. It would be an honor, but they should be plenty enough.”
“I insist. I let harm befall Murok’s blessed one. Please allow me to accompany you.”
Avso hesitated. “OK.”
“Good. The nonbelievers will fall by the thousands today. You have chosen a good day to come.” The Emperor smiled with all his teeth.
