Tunde and the team found themselves back within the halls of the keep, this time with the once-empty chairs filled with cultivators of the Highlord and Lord realms respectively. He paid them no mind, his eyes on the figure who stood next to the still-empty throne at the farthest end of the room—Highlady Mei.

  Standing at the foot of the throne were the two Highlords Tunde had come to know, Nue and the other, whose name he didn’t know and frankly wasn’t enthusiastic to learn. The female Highlord stared at them with a calm look; the male, however, was openly goading, as if he felt entitled to be there. For once, Tunde wondered what the punishment would be for striking a member of the imperial clan. He doubted the Highlord was from the main branch, and even if he was, Tunde thought he could handle whatever the punishment was.

  “Emissaries of the great clan, we welcome you and thank you for your valiant efforts,” she began. Tunde kept stone silent, not trusting himself to say anything that might spoil their mission. Instead, Sera spoke up, surprising him with her formal tone as she moved to his side.

  “We only did what we could to help,” she said with a slight bow. Mei inclined her head. “Be that as it may, we owe you all, and it is for that reason that we, the ruling body of Ashhaven, have agreed to allow you to help in whatever capacity you can,” she said.

  Allow? Tunde thought, visibly controlling his Ethra as he cycled it continuously. He felt the gaze of the Highlord on him as he spoke.

  “Won’t you say anything, Acolyte of Varis?” the Highlord asked, almost as if gloating.

  Tunde turned his gaze toward the Highlord in silence, bowing at the waist. “He is angry, and rightly so,” a new voice said, this one filled with such power that the members of the sect all fell to their knees. Tunde watched as a figure materialized on the throne out of nowhere. He caught the look of pure surprise on Mei’s face even as she hid it, turning to them, her voice like steel.

  “Emissaries of the great clan, you stand before the sect leader of the Ashen Flame, pure line of the Talahan clan, Veyra Talahan,” she announced, and Tunde went to his knees automatically, feeling the presence of a master fill the room.

  He immediately understood the subtle difference in the natures of masters, something he was beginning to see more clearly. Varis and Rhaelar were natural disasters, harboring the power to unleash untold destruction. The patriarch of the Acacia clan held the calm of a flowing ocean filled with hidden blades—your death as certain as his breath. With the sect leader of the Ashen Flame, however, Tunde felt as if he stood before an all-consuming fire, its edges daring him to come closer and be consumed entirely. He also wondered why he hadn’t sensed anything from Ifa.

  “You watched innocents slaughtered by mindless beasts blessed by the world we live in,” the sect leader continued, his storm-grey eyes, black-and-grey hair, and bearing all contributing to his supreme presence in the room. Dressed in dark grey robes with an aura of dying embers that could flare up at any moment, he seemed a being both calm and deadly.

  “You blame us for the deaths of the people, wonder how we could have let it happen, how my brother here”—Veyra pointed at the Highlord below him, who stiffened—“could have been so callous as to wreak such havoc on the people of Ashhaven. Am I right?” the master finished as Tunde swallowed slowly, still finding no words.

  “The sect leader speaks to you. You answer,” Nue said, her tone as sharp as a blade. “Nue,” the master said, and she sealed her lips.

  “Forgive the behavior of my friend here,” Ifa said, stepping forward with a disarming smile, his eyes roaming across the seated Lords and Highlords, hands folded behind him. “We have borne witness to horrors we would not wish on anyone. He is still… in shock,” he finished.

  “You’d have me believe a cultivator of his reputation and strength hadn’t witnessed such battles before? Such loss of life?” Veyra asked, cocking his head at Ifa.

  “Be that as it may, let’s say the actions of the Highlord here—who, I might add, doesn’t feel a bit of remorse for his actions—completely surprised him, considering what we’ve heard about the Ashen Flame Sect,” Ifa replied.

  “Heard?” Mei asked, speaking up next to the master as Ifa nodded.

  “Indeed, good things, I might add. Forgive me if I sounded insulting,” Ifa said smoothly.

  “You speak with the voice of one accustomed to addressing their betters,” the Highlord said, Ifa turning his attention to him.

  “Fen,” the sect leader said, prompting Tunde to turn his gaze to the Highlord, now knowing the name Fen Talahan. It was a name he would remember, soon enough. The sect leader sighed, shutting his eyes as he gripped the armrests of his throne tightly before standing, hands folded behind his back.

  “For a century and more, the Ashen Flame Sect has done its duty in seclusion,” Veyra started, “isolated from the rest of the empire, cordoned off, abandoned as though we carried some plague. And yet, no one cared how we survived.

  “You are the first guests in more than a century to step within the boundaries of the Shadowscar Peaks.” Tunde’s eyebrows raised at that, and Zehra sucked in a breath.

  “All those you see here,” the sect leader continued, his hands outstretched as he indicated the seated figures who glared at them, “are either founding members or descendants of those who chose to come here, to do what was requested of us by the patriarch and emperor of the empire, their undying loyalty sworn to me and the sect.”

  And there lies the problem, Tunde thought. What if they had grown disgruntled with the empire as a whole? What if they were planning to invade with the help of the mountain apes or subdue them to their own ends?

  “We asked for help because we face unbeatable odds. The convergence and the gone surge have turned the mountain apes from wild, mindless creatures into sentient, thinking, and cultivating beings capable of opening rifts at will and congregating in one place where an invasion would be near-suicidal,” Veyra explained.

  “A rift, a broken rift now controlled by the mountain beasts,” Ifa said softly as the master nodded.

  “And not just any rift. It opened in the one place where invading would be a problem, due to another issue we face nearby—the relic of the artificers,” Mei added, and the sect leader gave her a troubled look. Tunde noticed Nue didn’t react, even to the words of the sect leader.

  It was evident Nue had informed them of the relic at the vice sect leader’s command.

  “Now do you see why we consider your presence an insult?” Veyra said. “For the first time, I pleaded with the imperial clan for aid, to send as many masters as they could to help us put down this threat to the empire once and for all. And they send me a single Highlord and a handful of lords,” Veyra said almost bitterly.

  The sect leader took a deep breath, shutting his eyes as he steadied his nerves before nodding as he exhaled. “But what is done is done,” he began. “You said you came to help? Fine. I cannot delay the inevitable. You will be given all that you desire that is within our power. The mountain apes’ leader is nearly at full strength, yet the full strength and power of the convergence have not completely descended. I believe it has almost reached the peak of the master realm,” Veyra said, as murmurs broke through the room.

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  “And if that weren’t bad enough, I also believe that the relic of the artificers is further empowering the creatures. After all, how do you explain beasts who once used only claws and stones now understanding how to craft crude weapons powerful enough to imbue with Ethra?” the sect leader asked, chuckling and shaking his head.

  He sat back down on his throne. “By the calculations of Fen, my general and his forces, we don’t have much time. Once the convergence settles fully within this mountain range, everyone will have to fight for their lives. The forces of these apes, led by a divine beast, would be… catastrophic enough to draw the attention of the great clans and the empire as a whole,” Veyra said.

  “I just hope it’s not too late by then,” he muttered, closing his eyes.

  Tunde realized the patriarch looked tired, exhausted even with the brimming power within his body. “How can we help?” Tunde asked for the first time. The sect leader’s eyes flashed open.

  “Would you so recklessly throw your lives away at the behest of the Talahan clan?” Veyra asked. “Did all I say not reach you?” he chuckled.

  Ifa shrugged. “We promised to help, and now we will honor our word.”

  The sect leader studied them for a moment before nodding. “Very well, if that is your choice,” he began, glancing at Mei, who nodded and stepped forward.

  “The dark forests. The leader of these mountain apes has somehow managed to hide the rift’s entrance deep within, guarded by hordes of the creatures,” she said.

  “Until now, should we attempt a full-scale invasion, the apes would simply open rifts to the city itself. We cannot leave it undefended, not for long.”

  Tunde wanted to make a scathing remark about the sect’s defense of the city but held back, merely nodding. “You want us to try and find the rift’s entrance while you keep the city safe,” he said, and Mei nodded.

  “Indeed. If you’re as good as you seem, perhaps you can clear a path to the rift. But we’ll have to plan for it adequately, so we propose the mission in a few days, when the sect is fully prepared and all its might is gathered,” she added.

  “As you will it,” Tunde said with a bow, noticing a short, stout yet heavily muscular man seated on the far left staring him down. With long singed beards and wizened eyes, Tunde instantly recognized a forgesmith. The man gave him a slight nod before averting his gaze, not wanting to draw attention to himself.

  “For now, you are free to roam the city. You have undoubtedly earned the goodwill of its people,” Veyra said. “To help you navigate the vast city, you will have the assistance of my only child,” he said, glancing to his left where, from the shadows, a figure stepped out. Tunde’s breath caught as the familiar Ethra presence made itself known.

  Pale features, rich dark eyes, flowing white hair, and a look of serene beauty. Tunde narrowed his eyes quietly, saying nothing as she bowed to the sect leader before turning to them.

  “Meet Rui, my heir and lady of the Ashen Flame,” Veyra said. Tunde bowed at the waist. “We greet the lady,” he said softly, locking eyes with her.

  A playful amusement sparkled in her gaze, almost as if she were goading him.

  “And of course, Fen, my brother, will be at your service to provide you with anything you might need. The sect is always willing to help,” Veyra finished, getting to his feet.

  “When the time comes, we will meet again. Until then, I wish you well,” he concluded, vanishing in a swirl of ash and flame, leaving the original occupants of the room with only the crackling flames of the braziers.

  *************************************

  Back at their building, Tunde ensured the doors were closed and Ifa’s talisman was in effect before speaking. “She was the one—the daughter,” he began, as the rest glanced at him.

  “The one that what?” Sera asked, confused.

  “The night before the attack, she was the one who came here,” he replied as Ifa raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure of that?” Ifa asked, and Tunde nodded.

  “And how do you know that?” Zehra asked, clearly finding it hard to believe that the daughter of the sect leader would come around snooping on them. Tunde found it difficult to explain Ethra sight, as the nature of his bloodline skill was still a secret he hadn’t even told Sera, though he knew she suspected he fought with some hidden advantage. After a pause, he said, “Her presence was the same as the one who attacked. I fought her, remember?” Zehra nodded, seeming to accept it, much to his relief.

  “From the words of the sect leader, it seems he wasn’t aware we knew of the relic,” Daiki said.

  “Meaning either the Highlady and his wife planned it alone, or he knew and was pretending,” Zehra added.

  “Either way, this means something else is afoot, and they don’t want us finding out what it is,” Ifa said, rubbing his beard thoughtfully.

  “Respectfully, I don’t believe we have to find out what that is,” Zehra said, and Daiki nodded behind her. “We came here to help them fight this menace, and that is what we will do. Master Varis didn’t ask us to look into the workings of the sect itself, isn’t that right, Tunde?” Daiki asked.

  Tunde sighed. He had hoped they would be interested in the other mission known only to himself, Sera, and Ifa. Still, putting their lives at risk twice over was hardly wise, and he accepted that as well.

  Glancing at Ifa, who nodded before speaking, he said, “Very well, we will stick to protecting the people,” and Tunde nodded along with him as the unspoken answer lingered between them. Zhu, who had been silent through the journey and back, simply went to his quarters, Tunde noticing a change within the Ethralite. It was almost as if it was growing—not physically but mentally—and he wondered what that might bring.

  “Either way, we’ll do our best when they require us,” Tunde said as the rest dispersed, Ifa remaining with him.

  “I finally figured out what drew me to the sect,” Ifa said, all traces of mirth wiped from his features. Without another word, he accompanied Tunde to his room, his aura suffusing the space. To the rest, it would seem as if the elder had gone into meditation rather than blocking all noise from leaving the bubble of space he had created.

  “Is it related to us?” Tunde asked meaningfully, and Ifa nodded.

  “I have reason to believe that the Ashen Flame technique is a twisted form of something belonging to us,” Ifa replied, and Tunde rocked backward, completely caught off guard.

  “And the ramifications of that are… concerning,” Ifa said thoughtfully.

  Tunde ran a hand through his hair. “What is it?” he asked.

  “It’s known as the Void Flame technique, an art used to specifically cultivate cosmic Ethra—somehow refined into the Ashen Flame technique,” Ifa explained.

  “How is that possible?” Tunde asked. “How could a technique of the sect land in the hands of the empire?”

  Ifa shrugged wearily. “Who knows? When we were invaded, the sect was sacked and looted. What we couldn’t hide or ferry away was taken by our enemies, with more than half of our knowledge gone. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if more of it begins turning up in places we least expect. But the timing of this…” Ifa trailed off.

  “You think Varis knows?” Tunde asked.

  “That would be something to worry about. It would mean we’ve been dancing in his palm all along, and that is also concerning,” Ifa said. “It would mean our coming to the capital was planned, that we were to willingly hand ourselves over to the empire itself as a bargaining chip against the other sects. To what end?” Tunde asked, his mind racing through many possibilities.

  “To what end? Numerous,” Ifa replied. “The ability to create powerful nexus keys again—though they might not know you lack knowledge of how to make them, it wouldn’t stop them from trying. To learn how to reopen paths back to the other realms, to get whatever powerful relic you have in your possession, or to have the last known pure bloodline of Luwaye within their control. Did you really think Varis had your best interests at heart?” Ifa asked with a short laugh.

  Tunde frowned, thinking it through.

  “Then again,” Ifa continued, “we could simply be overthinking this, and it could be nothing more than a coincidence.”

  “How much do you believe that?” Tunde asked.

  Ifa smiled. “About as much as I believe the Ashen Flame clan is planning something truly evil,” he replied.

  “You don’t trust them, nor do I. This thing about the mountain apes and the relic of the artificers—what do you think it could be?” Tunde asked.

  “The artificers are known to lose their toys, even in my time,” Ifa said, crossing his arms. “Other times, they purposely ‘lose’ their items within enemy territories as a sort of false gift, luring their enemies into thinking they’ve obtained something truly precious they could use against the Sect of Metal itself,” Ifa explained.

  “Then we destroy it,” Tunde said, and Ifa snorted. “If it’s something as powerful as the Fang, then I wish you good luck. Relics blessed by their regents or hegemons are nearly indestructible—unless by another regent or hegemon,” Ifa said, glancing at the tattoo on Tunde’s arm.

  Tunde leaned against the wall with a sigh. “We’ve gotten ourselves into something truly dangerous, haven’t we?” he said softly.

  “When have we not?” Ifa replied as a knock came from the gate outside. Tunde and Ifa stood, exiting to find a small child standing outside, trembling slightly.

  The boy bowed when he noticed them, holding out a scroll. Tunde took it, handing the child a few pieces of lumens, which made the boy’s eyes widen with gratitude before he scampered off.

  “Another summons?” Zehra asked, poking her head out. Tunde broke the unfamiliar seal and read the contents.

  “I believe the Forgesmith of Ashhaven would like to see me,” he murmured.