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Chapter 14

Later, once Jagdish and his men had left the Sons’ camp—after a great deal of visiting, back slapping, and telling of boastful tales, of course—Ashok returned to his command tent and found Karno waiting for him inside. It was unsurprising that the giant had been able to sneak in here unobserved. Karno had always been capable of moving very quietly for a man of such size and physical might. Karno was like a bull with the grace of a tiger.

“So you watched our sparring session, I take it?”

“I followed my first obligation from a distance. Where he went with his newfound power was his decision.”

“Did you encourage that frivolous challenge?”

“I did not dissuade him. I was curious to see what would happen.”

“And?”

“The abilities granted by the second Heart appear roughly equivalent to ours given by the Heart of the Mountain.”

Ashok nodded. “That’s good. We will need them.”

“I believe I can use it to empower five or six a week, at most. Training them to use it effectively will be another matter entirely.”

Protectors spent years mastering the Heart’s magic, until calling upon it was effortless. Even if they’d had another hundred Senior Protectors in the Capitol, it wouldn’t have been enough to defeat that army of hell. Instinct—his own and the shard’s—was telling him the force that was on the way here would be even bigger.

“That is insufficient, Karno.”

“I’m aware.”

The sad fact was that no matter what they did, it was likely all their efforts would be futile. Ashok went to a chest in the corner and pulled out a wineskin. He took a swig—sparring was thirsty work—and then tossed it to Karno. “As for training, I can help the obligated Sons. Devedas has Protectors he can command to help teach as well.”

“Our former brothers won’t like training their future rivals.”

“Do you care?”

Karno drank the entire skin in one continuous movement, then wiped his mouth with his sleeve. “Of course not.”

“Who have you chosen so far?”

“For the first batch, Jagdish, and not just for politics.”

“He would have made a fine Protector.”

“I disagree.”

Ashok was puzzled by that. “Why?”

“Because unlike us, no matter how stern the indoctrination, no matter how harsh the training, that man’s own code would always matter more to him than the strict interpretation of the Law. When ordered to do some of the cruel things you or I did without hesitation, Jagdish would have looked those judges in the eye and said no, the Law is wrong…and then probably been executed for it.”

Ashok had to nod at that assessment. Karno had always been a keen judge of character. Even Ratul Without Mercy might not have broken that man’s spirits. “Jagdish might have made for a troublesome Protector, but he is the ideal for what it sounds like you are trying to accomplish.”

“Perhaps I am naïve, but should we survive the demons I hope this Order would avoid the mistakes of our past. Then I have called Vadal warriors Luthra, Girish, Zaheer, and Joshi. From your Sons I am inclined to obligate Eklavya and Ongud.”

“Why?” Ashok agreed, but he was curious at Karno’s logic.

“Their fanaticism does not seem to outweigh their honor. I think they fight for their people more than their gods.”

“I’ve found that the gods the Sons follow wear many different faces, yet they always somehow seem to be a reflection of each man’s own character. I think they make for themselves gods that are what they aspire to be, or purer versions of what they already are.”

“What does that say about the god who lives in your woman’s head who bosses you about, then?”

Ashok scowled. “The Forgotten is commanding, yet remote and uncaring.”

“What a coincidence…I am still unsure about Shekar Somsak.”

“He’s a tattoo-faced maniac of questionable morals from a raider house that’s barely one step above bandits, but he is a beast in a fight and remarkably clever.”

“Would he have made a good Protector?”

That was so absurd that Ashok actually laughed. “Absolutely not. I trust him regardless.”

Karno nodded, because earning Ashok’s trust was no small thing. “I have also taken a liking to this Najmul maniac who follows Jagdish around like an insane religious puppy. He’s supposedly a combatant of legendary skill. Simultaneously he is a wolf of Sarnobat, who worships your false gods, and serves Vadal, allowing me to placate three factions with a single obligation.”

“Who could have guessed that Blunt Karno has a gift for politics? Though I note these are all warrior caste so far.”

“We’re preparing for war, Ashok.”

“Accurate…Yet if you want the support of every caste, you’ll need members of the First, workers, and yes, even casteless represented as well. There are tensions between the castes here, and the war preparations exacerbate them. Empowering warriors inspires the warriors, but why not give the sepoys someone to look up to as well? Make them feel that they matter too.”

“Since when does Black-Hearted Ashok concern himself about the feelings of lesser men?”

Ashok shrugged, for that was a good question. Perhaps this reflection of the Forgotten wasn’t entirely uncaring.

Karno was not the sort to disregard any suggestion, no matter how outlandish it might first seem, even if it didn’t fit his preconceived notions. “There is some wisdom there. The city needs every able-bodied man to fight and it isn’t like demons can tell the difference between us.”

“From the Sons I would recommend the worker Gupta, who now leads my gunners. He is intelligent and a man of character. And then Toramana, who is brave, and an archer of great skill, but more importantly was a chieftain of wild men who lived entirely outside the Law, so has never had a caste.”

“The same one who recently took an axe to your priest?”

Despite Thera trying to keep Javed’s return and true nature a secret, there had still been talk around the camp. “That particular priest deserved it.”

Karno grunted in acknowledgment. “I’ll take your recommendations under advisement.” He went to leave but paused at the tent’s flap. “I do have one last question.”

“Ask it.”

“Why did you hold back against Jagdish?”

Karno had always been an astute observer. It was one of the traits that had made him so effective at catching lawbreakers. “You are probably the only witness who would even notice.”

“Yes. Why?”

“Those were our terms.”

“Do not blame it on Angruvadal. I saw how you fought in the Capitol. What you did there was beyond any bearer. The Heart did not enable such feats either. You are changed, far surpassing the capability of any Protector. The difference between you and me now is greater than the difference between me and a normal warrior.”

“Don’t worry, Karno. I restrained my abilities against Jagdish because he is an honorable man. The demons will receive no such mercy.”

“That’s not my worry. You were an inspiration to the rebellion with only the powers of a Protector and a black sword. How will they react when the world sees what you have become?”

“Do you insinuate what the gods made me into?”

Legal or not, Karno still hated religious talk. “They call me Blunt Karno. I do not insinuate. There are no gods. Just because I do not understand a phenomenon does not mean that I will blame its existence on unseen beings, yet somehow you fight like a creature of illegal myth now.”

“I suppose you are right to be concerned then, Karno. Most people are not so rational as you.”

“I’ve been looking for you, Ashok.” The flap parted and Thera entered, then she noticed the massive Karno standing there, glowering. “Hello, Karno. Or I suppose it’s Master Karno now.”

“Lady Vane.” Everyone else in camp addressed her as Voice or Prophet, but Karno was far too tradition-bound to use a fanatic’s terms, regardless of what Devedas declared the Law to be today. “Excuse me. I was just leaving.”

“What was that about?” she asked after Karno had ducked out of the tent.

“That’s a man who has had a great burden placed upon him, trying to figure out how best to carry it.”

“Well, he’s certainly big enough to carry plenty. Throw a rope on him and he could pull a plow.” Thera seemed rather excited. “Come on, Ashok. I need your help.”

“Normally, when you need my help that means someone is in need of killing.”

“I’ve got a list I’d love to get to eventually, but our mission today’s not one of violence, but celebration.” When he didn’t respond to that, she gave him a glorious smile. Her happiness would probably have been infectious to anyone less dour than Ashok. “Didn’t you hear? The Vadal arbiters have made it official. The proclamation’s been printed and will be posted everywhere around the city by sundown. We’ve worked so hard for this. I want to be among the casteless and see their faces when they find out that they’re considered whole men now.”

That was surely a victory, but Ashok couldn’t help but wonder about the unpredictable repercussions of such a bold act. “With demons on the way, any joy the casteless feel will be short-lived.”

Thera took him by the arm and pulled him from the tent. “Then let’s enjoy what we can while we can.”


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