Ascended

The slender assassin looked pleased.

“It’s Humans.” She was too smug as she gave the vague answer.

“You’re going to have to be more specific than that.” Val’s voice was full of irritation.

“Each of the cities claims independence, but really, there are the seven main Bokor Keeps that rule over the entire world.” Fyga smirked at my expression. “Didn’t know that did you?”

I knew that there was a High Council, but I’d never been there. I’d assumed that there were other places like the island that watched over areas, but I didn’t know anything specific.

“I know about the High Council.” I tried to not look like I had been blindsided.

“Oh, you sweet innocent boy.” Fyga clicked her tongue. “The High Council you know about oversees all of the Melior area, but they aren’t the only one. There are seven High Councils and one Grand Council that rules over all of them.” She clicked her tongue.

“What does that have to do with anything?” I folded my arms in front of me. I wasn’t sure how accurate her information was, but there was a part of me that didn’t like not being the one who knew the most about the inner workings of the Bokor.

“Most of the Humans don’t care for the Bokor, though as long as the walls stay up, they’re more than happy to keep with the status quo.” She looked over at Val. “You have some fanatics who worship the ground the Bokor walk on, while there is also the faction that want to unseat them.”

“You mean the Humans who work for the Touched?” I tried to remember what I’d heard about them, but it hadn’t been much.

“The Touched aren’t that organized.” Fyga laughed. “No one else ever gets strong enough to be able to challenge the Bokor, so no organization can ever span enough cities.” She began twisting her finger in the air. “But there’s one thing that every Bokor almost universally hates…”

I thought I saw where she was going.

“Water.” It wasn’t that big of a secret that the Bokor hated sailing, but that didn’t mean that they wouldn’t still do it. “But how does finding some island to sail to help them build up their strength?”

“It wouldn’t.” Fyga shook her head. “The Humans have tried that and the Bokor showed up and burned the place down once it got too big.”

“How old are you?” Val eyed the shorter woman. “My father talked about the Genrift massacre, but that supposedly happened when he was a little boy.”

“Don’t worry, you’re still the hag here.” Fyga scooted back as Val balled her fist. “Sorry, sorry!” She held her hands up. “I’ve only been turned for a few years.”

“Then why are you so sure about Genrift?” Eveth scooted her chair so that she could see everyone else better. “Mom said that was just a myth.”

“I know someone who survived.” The short woman smirked. “Kind of like how you can tell everyone you survived the massacre at Gher.”

We hadn’t stuck around to see if the Bokor had really sent a team to purify the city, but if they had, I could imagine the rumors that would start about it.

“What does that have to do with anything?” It seemed like the blue-eyed woman was just stalling.

“Because being able to move WHILE being in the one place the Bokor would hate to search would be the perfect place to hide.” Fyga grinned. “Oh come on, one of you has to be smart enough to figure this out.”

“They’re gathering the rebels out at sea?” I tried to summarize what she’d said. “To prepare an attack?”

“Eventually.” Fyga beamed. “But first they need more boats and since there aren’t a lot just lying around…”

“They’re stealing them.” Val shook her head. “Don’t they realize that they’re hurting people?”

“I don’t think they care.” Fyga shrugged. “You’ve got to remember, these are fanatics who want to fight the Bokor, so they’re already idiots.”

“Alright, so say we believe you.”

Fyga rolled her eyes as she looked at me.

“You don’t have any proof.” I glared at her. “Would you trust a Touched?”

“Aren’t I?” She looked from me to Eveth. “Very pretty eyes by the way.”

“Thank you…” Eveth blinked.

“You’re doing it again.” I cut in before the conversation derailed again.

“Doing what?” Fyga wore feigned innocence.

“Stalling.” I nodded at Val. “Just tell us what you know and quit beating around the bush.”

“This rebel ‘army’.” The charcoal-haired woman made air quotes. “Has more ships than they do men to crew them.” She pointed to the east. “So they need places that are close to civilization, but that people don’t want to go to. The cursed island is a perfect place for them to put a hidden base.”

“And you know where this base is?” Val eyed her.

“Well, no.” Fgya held up her hands. “But I know for sure it’s there! I… uh… heard it from one of the Humans who used to drop supplies off on the shore.” She looked away for a moment. “He didn’t know where the base was, just that he had to go ashore and leave the barrels of food and other supplies there every few months.”

“And where is this ‘source’ of yours now?” Val grumbled.

“He got himself turned into a Zombie.” Fyga’s cheeks flushed.

“Great! So all we have is the word of an assassin that someone there will know something about the ships, but taking her along on this snipe hunt means that a group of Touched assassins will try to kill us.” Val sighed. “Why don’t we just kill her and throw her over the wall?”

“Wait!” Fyga held up her hands and covered her face with them, but the weakness that she was displaying was way too fake. I’d seen how fast she could make one of her ice blades. “They’re going to attack you eventually! Wouldn’t it be safer to have me with you when that happens?”

Val glared at the other woman for a minute before her shoulders sagged. “Fine.” She looked at Eveth. “But what are we going to do about the kid while we check it out?”