Chapter 54: ZENOBIA


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    Gasping for air, my lungs burned as I coughed up seawater. Cragmarr''s distraught face came into focus with a clay brow furrowed with concern. The last thing I remembered was locking eyes with Zeryn.


    "Ember, are you alright?" he asked, his voice gravelly with relief.


    I nodded weakly, feeling Kitty''s warm tongue lapping at the arrow and spear wounds. The pain ebbed away as her healing worked its magic. Cragmarr also pressed Zii coins on my gaping injuries for much-needed fash healing.


    Shaking the saltwater from my eyes, I surveyed the scene around me at the base of the cliff. The two Amazon warriors who had accompanied Zeryn lay nearby, bloody and groaning in pain.


    Zeryn lay motionless beside me, her chest still. Then there was Jon.


    "Crag, help Jon! Now!" I shouted.


    As Cragmarr rushed to Jon''s side, I crawled over to Zeryn. Drawing a Zii coin, I placed it under my hands on her chest and concentrated. Using a [0/1] Jingozi card, I channeled its power to expel the water from her lungs.


    Zeryn convulsed, water gushing from her mouth as she coughed violently. Her eyes flew open, wild and disoriented.


    Instinctively, her hand reached for her bow, but it wasn''t there. Her gaze locked onto me, narrowing as she spotted the glowing Jingozi card I held to her throat, its energy pulsing with a low, dangerous hum.


    "Don''t move," I warned.


    Zeryn''s scowl deepened, defiance etched into every line of her face, but she held still.


    "Did you see it?" I asked.


    "Yes," she grunted.


    "Then you know I''m not your enemy."


    A reluctant nod.


    "And I know Seyri is your daughter," I continued.


    Her eyes flashed with surprise, a momentary crack in her fierce composure.


    "How do you know this?" she demanded.


    "I saw it when we shared visions. I understand why you tried to kill me. You''re just... protecting your daughter... being a mother."


    "What now, then?"


    "I want to talk to Kyra."


    LEVEL UPDATE


    Name: Ember [Judgment Dealer]*


    Tier: III [Steel] Rank 9


    * * *


    Cragmarr gently laid Jon''s battered body on the table. We had returned to Katorro''s estate with the Amazons unarmed, their weapons stashed in my inventory. Kitty floated above them as a sentry.


    His grim, stony face added to my fear as Cragmarr turned to me.


    "His injuries are beyond my abilities to heal. I''ll do my best to keep him stable. He will require a constant flow of Zii from one of us."


    "Do what you can, Crag. And I''m glad you''re here. What happened at Radiant Temple?"


    "The Emperor faction attacked, but Lance was not among their forces. The siege lasted for days, but they did not break our defenses."


    "What about Kaito and Sora—Katorro?"


    "Kaito was wounded but lives. Sora tends to him now and will join us shortly. But Katorro..."


    "Come on, Crag, just tell me."


    "He grows weaker by the day. I am afraid the fire no longer burns in his eyes. Every time he expends Zii, it is permanent."


    A blur of movement caught my eye as Seyri dashed across the courtyard, flinging herself into Zeryn''s arms. The Amazon huntress embraced her daughter tightly, her stoic fa?ade cracking momentarily.


    I approached them.


    "Zeryn, I need to contact Kyra. Where is she being held?"


    "That is not within my power to grant," she replied, her tone rigid. "Only Queen Zenobia can—"


    "Then get me an audience with Queen Zenobia," I cut her off, my patience stretched thin and my wounds throbbing.


    "And if I refuse? More Jingozi mind tricks?"


    I blinked in and out of the Jingozi arena, but not for her.


    "Your daughter told me she can''t wait to go home and ride Stonecradle. That would be your terragrym, wouldn''t it?"


    Zeryn''s face went pale, her arms tightening protectively around Seyri.


    I returned to the Jingozi arena and spoke directly to her this time.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "Oh, I thought I''d keep this other piece between us. Seyri adores her brother... Kaelin, is it? Quite the secret. I wonder how the rest of your faction would feel knowing you''ve broken the rules. I know how it works and heard Queen Zenobia''s rather... strict about leaving your Emperor children behind."


    "You do not know who you trifle with," her voice seethed in the arena.


    "I know who you are. Like I told you, I don''t blame you for being a mother. That whole arrangement is stupid, anyway. But don''t think for one moment I won''t use your secrets against you."


    I blinked back and locked eyes with Zeryn. Part of me recoiled at my own words, and I could almost hear Jon''s voice: "This isn''t you, Ember." But I held my ground, meeting Zeryn''s furious glare without flinching.


    "Well?" I said, "What''s it going to be?"


    * * *


    Zeryn and her Amazon companions spent time settling in and addressing the children. The girls responded with the exact militant obedience of the Samurai youth in Yukiko''s village.


    The huntress beckoned me to an ornate fountain nestled in a secluded corner of the estate''s overgrown gardens. The stone basin was cracked and weathered but still functional. She produced a sapphire-like gem from a pouch at her hip and dropped it into the stagnant water, followed by one of her Zii coins.


    The surface rippled and bubbled, then began to rise. I tensed, but Zeryn remained calm. The water coalesced into a towering, translucent figure—a regal woman with flowing hair and a muscular frame.


    "My Queen," Zeryn bowed her head. "I bring news from Kazeshima."


    The watery statue''s lips moved, and a melodious yet condescending voice filled the space.


    "Report, Huntress."


    "The children are safe. We were... mistaken about their captors. It appears the Emperor faction was behind their abduction, not this outsider as we believed." Zeryn''s voice had a hint of shame. "This Jingozi dealer—Ember—was instrumental in their rescue."


    I stepped forward, meeting the Queen''s fluid gaze. It was unsettling, those eyes of water seeming to peer straight through me.


    Zeryn continued, "Ember claims to know Kyra and wishes to speak with her. She... requests an audience with you, my Queen."


    The statue''s expression remained unreadable, but I sensed a shift.


    "Ember, at last we meet. I seem to owe you some gratitude for returning my Kyra... and our daughters."


    "Yes, you do," I replied. "And I want to collect. Release Kyra to me."


    The statue''s lips curled in a faint smirk. "And why, by the goddess, would I ever do that?"


    "What you did to her... her punishment, it wasn''t fair."


    "Fair?" The Queen''s voice took on a mocking tone. "Jingozi is unjust, child. Surely you understand that by now."


    "Yeah, so I''ve heard. And I’m sick of it. Set her free," I stepped forward. "I want your word."


    The watery figure leaned down, her voice dripping with disdain. "You are in no position to make demands of me."


    "I have your daughters, Zenobia. Do not test me. Ask Kyra what I''m capable of. Overlord Edric will be the least of your problems."


    A bubbly chuckle escaped from the statue, droplets splashing around the basin. I cast a sharp glare at Zeryn.


    "She speaks true, my Queen," Zeryn murmured. "She possesses Zii powers like none I''ve seen. She bested us... she bested me."


    Queen Zenobia''s statue rippled momentarily, wavering as if nearly losing form. Then it stilled.


    "It appears we have all underestimated you, Ember," the statue intoned. "Very well. Kyra will be brought to you—in one fortnight."


    * * *


    "In actuality, you weren''t going to kill the children, were you?" Jon''s voice echoed in the Jingozi arena.


    "Come on, Jon," I said with a faint smile, gazing at his reflection as he rested in bed. "You should know me better than that by now."


    "I thought I did, but lately you''ve been..."


    "Been what?"


    "A touch frightening, I must confess."


    I was taken aback and paused, considering his words.


    "If what you say is true, you realize that the Lightslayer is coming for you," Jon continued. "Enslaved water golems power his ships. It''s the fastest fleet in the known kingdoms."


    "I figured," I sighed. "How are you doing?"


    “No clue," he shrugged.


    "Cragmarr is doing all he can. He''s a buff meta."


    "I see. Well, tell that big ol'' lug I place my faith in his capable hands—not that I have a choice in the matter."


    Despite his attempt at levity, my heart sank. I felt utterly helpless. All I could think about were doctors on medical shows saying that talking to coma patients helps their recovery. Except in this case, I could do it for real. I needed to maintain hope—for both of us.


    "Hang in there, Jon. How about a drink of spiced wine when you''re better?"


    "How could I refuse such an offer?" His voice grew soft.


    "I''ll check in with you later." I blinked out before my emotions got the better of me.


    * * *


    I stood on the cliff''s edge, Kitty draped over my shoulders. Cragmarr lingered behind as I faced Zeryn.


    "How were you planning to take your daughters home?" I asked.


    "Terragrym," Zeryn replied.


    "And how long would that journey take?"


    "We''d travel island by island. It would take us a fortnight to reach our village."


    I nodded, then asked, "What did you use to communicate with Zenobia?"


    "Spell stones."


    "And do you all use them?"


    "No. Only those who know the Jingozi way wield such power."


    "Let me see."


    Zeryn hesitated, then handed over a small pouch. I quickly stashed it in my inventory, catching the wary glances she and Cragmarr exchanged as I summoned their weapons into my inventory.


    Ignoring their tension, I held out the two spears, a longbow, and a quiver of arrows, offering them back to Zeryn.


    "Take these and the children, and go."


    Suspicion flared in Zeryn''s gaze.


    "Oh, get over it, Huntress," I said. "The Emperor faction is coming for me, and I don''t need the girls caught in the crossfire."


    Her expression remained doubtful. I met her stare, not backing down.


    "Fine," I sighed. "If you don''t leave peacefully, I''m one spell stone away from calling on your Queen and spilling the tea on your secret family."


    I sensed Cragmarr''s silent curiosity, but he held his tongue. After a tense pause, Zeryn finally took the weapons.


    "We''ll go," she said tightly. "But next time—"


    "Yeah, yeah," I cut her off with a wave. "You''ll have to get in line."


    * * *


    I demonstrated to Cragmarr how my gift evolution worked.


    "This is most fascinating," Cragmarr''s voice echoed in the Jingozi arena.


    "Yes, but it has limitations," I said. "It seems I have to be within sight in the physical world to speak to you. I couldn''t reach you if you were too far away."


    "And you speak to Jon?"


    "Yes, his body might be shut down, but his mind seems active."


    "That is encouraging. And letting the Amazons go? More interdimensional chess?"


    "Yeah, I''m trying to play chess and stay ahead of this game of checkers, if that''s what you mean. But no matter how well I think I''m doing, I still play in 3-D. Forces are playing 4-D chess on dimensions I don''t understand."


    "Indeed," he nodded with a grunt. "Maybe it is time to play your game? Poker?"


    "You know, Crag. You''ve got an uncanny habit of saying exactly what I need to hear at the right time."


    "Thank you, Em."


    I blinked back to the cliff, joining Cragmarr and Kitty as we watched the three terragryms carrying the Amazons launch from the beach into the ocean. Seyri looked back and waved, much to the chagrin of her mother. I chuckled and waved back.


    MISSION COMPLETE: RETURN THE CHILDREN


    Return the Amazon children safely to their faction.


    "Come on, Crag," I beckoned. "There''s more to catch you up on. And we''re running out of food."


    * * *


    The following day, I awoke to a swirling vortex of energy materializing in the courtyard. Sora emerged, her lithe form gracefully stepping through the portal. Sword drawn, she scanned her surroundings. The nexus portal shimmered before collapsing, leaving no trace of its existence.


    "About time you showed up, Sora," I laughed in relief. "You missed all the fun." I paused, realizing she was alone. "Hey, where''s Kaito?"


    With sorrow in her eyes, Sora handed me an octranite crystal.