Chapter 43 The Plan
In the morning, Wataru lay on his simple wooden bed and rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands. Bright sunlight streamed through the window. His late-night chat with Kutz seemed more like a dream than anything else.
I’m awake. A new day is starting. It wasn’t a dream.
Last night, Kutz had revealed her plan to Wataru. A select team of Highlanders was to sneak into the Northern Empire and assassinate Emperor Gama Agrilius VII. She wanted Wataru to be part of that team.
“We’ve been planning the assassination itself for a long time. Still, our means were limited. We thought we might wait for trade season to begin and sneak aboard a merchant sailship. But the danger involved is rather high. You and your wyrmflute changed the situation considerably. If we ride on a dragon, we can get to the north by air. Not only that, but we can make a beeline for the emperor’s palace.”
So it’s not me they need, it’s my dragon. The truth had tasted a little bitter in Wataru’s mouth. But what Kutz said last night on the watchtower was right. I have to chase Mitsuru down.
Wataru quickly got dressed, pulled the wyrmflute out from beneath his pillow, and hid it in a pocket. He was lucky it hadn’t broken the first time he used it. He figured he would get only one more chance.
“Be ready to leave at any time,” Kutz had warned him. “Ever since our fugitive got away, the four high chiefs in the south have been in secret deliberations. If they give the word to go ahead with the assassination, High Chief Gil will come here with the orders.”
It could be today, it could be tomorrow, but in any case, it wouldn’t be long. And then they would leave.
“Who are the other members?”
“Right now, there are me and three others—all volunteers—so one of us from each of the four countries: Nacht, Bog, Arikita, and Sasaya.”
“So I’m like an extra?”
“Quite a powerful extra! The other three will be coming with High Chief Gil. They’re a skilled team. Something to look forward to.”
So they would be five. A small team of elites. It sounded good.
“Incidentally, I’ll be the leader,” Kutz said with a winning smile. “It was my idea in the first place, after all. I’ll have direction and responsibility. Are we clear?”
“Clear. And, well, I understand we can’t talk about this mission, but…”
“Trone knows about it. He is deputy here. I couldn’t hide it from him. He knows that I’ll be taking you as well. And I’m sure you’ll want to tell Kee Keema and Meena. But I don’t want anyone else hearing about it. Got it?”
Wataru nodded. He got it.
As far as preparing for the journey, Wataru had little in the way of belongings. All he needed was the Brave’s Sword at his side. Wataru left his room, fastening the sword belt tightly around his waist.
He went in to the branch office to find Trone casually looking over some official-looking documents. The beastkin looked up. “Awake at last, eh? You like your sleep. Go get some breakfast,” he said, casual as ever, showing no trace of knowing about Wataru’s secret mission.
Wataru ate a late breakfast at a nearby inn, and thought. The food tasted dry on his tongue. How to explain what he was about to do to Meena and Kee Keema?
I can’t take them with me, it’s too dangerous. Kee Keema’s strong and Meena is quick, but we aren’t going to fight a pack of gimblewolves. Wataru didn’t want to involve them in any more trouble than he had already. If he told them the truth, he was sure they would want to come with him. They wouldn’t back down. So, I have to lie. But what do I say? I don’t need their help anymore? I don’t like them anymore, so could they please leave? Can’t really do that.
“If you can’t tell them, I could always tell them for you,” Kutz had offered. “As branch chief I can order the two of them to stay here. There will still be trouble enough with Halnera going on. Gasara seems to have avoided the brunt of it, but branches in other towns are at their wit’s end. They’ll have plenty of work to do here.”
Even if Kutz did tell them for him, there would still be one problem. No matter what the outcome of this mission, once he went to the north, it was unlikely Wataru would ever come back.
Wataru had no idea what lay in store for him. Would Mitsuru reach the Tower of Destiny first? Or would he somehow beat Mitsuru to the Tower, get the Goddess to change his fate, and go home? Their strategy might even fail. Wataru could die alone somewhere.
No matter what happened, the only certain thing was that he wouldn’t be seeing his two friends again. That meant, no matter how he did it, he had to say goodbye to them himself. He had to tell them how much their friendship meant, how much he’d grown to trust and rely on them. How much he didn’t want to leave them behind.
Wataru had no idea what to say.
He was sitting, absentmindedly chewing on a piece of bread, when the innkeeper called out to him from the kitchen. “Not eating well today, are you? Like another bowl of soup?” There were few other diners at the tables. She had wondered out loud why Wataru was late to breakfast that morning.
“I’m sorry.”
“Nothing to apologize for. Everybody sleeps in sometimes.”
Here in Gasara, the commotion surrounding Halnera seemed like a very distant thing. The plot to assassinate the emperor of the north to protect the peace of the United Southern Nations, too, seemed like a wild fantasy, compared to eating a hot meal at a clean table here in the inn.
Lively voices engaged in conversation outside the window, and darbaba carts rolled past. A newspaper boy with a bell around his neck walked down the street. Newspapers, an everyday thing in the real world, were a recent invention here. The first newspaper was started by someone who heard news about Halnera and wanted to know more about the phenomenon. This started a boom, and in the space of a few weeks, several newspapers were already in regular circulation. The articles weren’t all about Halnera anymore. Some talked about travel conditions along the high roads. There were even advertisements for lodgings and taverns.
Maybe that’s how newspapers started in the real world too, Wataru thought. He wondered if, eventually, they might start featuring serialized stories, or cartoon strips. If the assassination succeeded, he was sure that would find its way into an article too. That was headline news, for sure.
Wataru wondered how things in the real world were these days. What kind of news was in the papers? Though his body sat in the warm dining hall, his mind wandered. Mom. Uncle Lou. I hope you’re doing okay. I’m so far away, and I’m going to go even farther. I promised I would come home, but maybe I won’t be able to keep that promise…
“Wataru? There you are! Good morning!” Meena’s bright voice snapped Wataru back to reality. “What, just eating now? Sleepy head!”
Meena leaped to the seat next to Wataru and turned her bright eyes toward him. How many times had he been cheered just by the sight of those eyes? She stuck her face forward until their noses nearly touched. Wataru quickly looked down at the table, cramming the remnants of a crust of bread into his mouth.
“You shouldn’t eat so fast—you’ll choke!” Meena laughed out loud.
“Yeah, I know. What’s with you, Meena? You’re in a good mood.”
“You could tell?” Meena stood up and did a little dance on her stool. “I’ve got good news. Bubuho and the whole troupe are coming to Gasara!”
Which meant that Meena’s old circus, the Aeroga Elenora Spectacle Machine, was coming to town.
“A darbaba driver who came this morning had a letter for me from Bubuho. They’ll be here by day’s end!”
A wave of relief washed over Wataru. If her old circus friends were here in town, it would be much easier to leave Meena behind. Even if she insisted on coming with him, he was sure that Bubuho would be able to talk her out of it. It would make things that much simpler.
“But that’s not the best news,” Meena said, sitting down next Wataru and lowering her voice. “Remember when you met Bubuho the first time, he was talking to Granny?”
The old ankha woman they called Granny had asked Wataru what he would do if he couldn’t meet the Goddess. He had replied that he hadn’t thought about it. Then I have nothing more to ask you, she had said.
“I remember her.”
“Well, you should know that Granny is a diviner. She has the sight. She can see the future—nothing too far off, mind you, but she can see it. In fact, when she first met you, she was already able to see the Blood Star shining in the north, and she knew that Halnera was coming!”
That would explain her question. Maybe she knew that the arrival of Halnera meant Wataru might be chosen as the sacrifice.
“So…so what?”
Wataru couldn’t bring himself to share Meena’s joy. But she grabbed both his hands in hers tightly and pulled him toward her. “Listen, I wrote her a letter after what happened in Sono. I asked her to read your future. And I asked her to tell me if there was any way to change that future. Well, the letter got to her, and she looked. She used a great crystal she uses for her divinations, and she says she saw you, walking up the steps to the Tower of Destiny!”
Wataru drew back and stared at Meena’s face. “What do you mean?”
“It means that’s your future!” Meena was exuberant. “You’ll make it to the tower! You won’t have to be the sacrifice! You’ll get to meet the Goddess and complete your journey!”
Bubuho had written the letter in great haste, telling Meena the good news. They had planned this trip to Gasara so that Granny could tell him in person.
“Isn’t that great? I’m so happy! I always thought it would be a horrible shame for Mitsuru to win. It should be you, Wataru. It has to be! Granny has never been wrong before!”
Kee Keema, too, had insisted that it wasn’t over yet. You need only two more gemstones and you’re home free! Wataru would simply smile and shake his head in defeat. After a while, the waterkin stopped talking about it.
But Meena was different. She was persistent. She was all smiles and hope when she spoke to Wataru. Even when Wataru tried to steer the conversation in another direction, Meena kept things on track.
“Well, you sure look out of it,” Meena said, waving her hand in front of Wataru’s face. “Did you understand what I just said? I mean, isn’t it great news? She said she saw many other things in the crystal too. I’ll bet they’re clues for you to find the next two gemstones! Let’s talk to Granny and get the details, and leave as soon as we can. I’m sure we’ll find them. You’re going to the Tower of Destiny after all!”
In her enthusiasm, Meena jumped back up on her stool and cheered, thrusting her little fists into the air.
The innkeeper came rushing out of the kitchen. “Whatever is the matter?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Sorry.”
Wataru hurriedly pulled Meena down from her stool, holding her firmly so she wouldn’t be able to get up and dance again. “Meena… thank you, Meena.” Wataru wasn’t sure where to begin. He decided to just let the words fall out from his mouth as they would. “Thank you for worrying so much about me. I’m really grateful.”
“What are you talking about? We’re friends! And, I decided, like I said in Lourdes, I’ll be with you no matter where you go.”
Meena tensed with such excitement Wataru was afraid she was going to lift him up and dance around in circles.
“You have to calm down. There’s something I need to tell you. Okay?”
Meena’s dancing eyes stopped, though they still glimmered with joyous expectation. She tilted her head and placed her hand on Wataru’s shoulder. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy?”
“I am happy,” Wataru said, choosing his words carefully. “I still have a chance, I see that.”
“That’s right!”
“But, Meena,” Wataru took a deep breath and continued, “I can’t go searching for the remaining gemstones now. There’s something else I have to do.”
Meena’s eyes froze. “Something else? What are you talking about?”
“I’m going north. To the Empire.”
Wataru looked around the eating hall. There was nobody else around. The innkeeper was tucked away inside her kitchen.
“I’ve been given a mission, which, as a Highlander, I can’t refuse. I’m going north with the help of Jozo. Kutz is going too—she’ll be leading a team. If we achieve our objective we can come back. But it’s going to be very difficult, so I can’t say what will happen…still, I have to do it. I’ve decided.”
Wataru took three deep breaths. The two stared at each other in silence, their stares turning to glares in the uncomfortable silence. The rich smell of food from the kitchen seemed strangely out of place.
“You’re going north?” Meena asked quietly.
“Yes.”
“As a Highlander?”
“That’s right. We’re going to assassinate Gama Agrilius VII, that’s why…”
Meena laughed in his face. “That’s silly! Why would anyone want to do that? Is the South going to bring war to the North? That’s impossible! They already have the designs for the powered boats. We’ll lose.”
“This will buy us time,” Wataru explained. “If the emperor is assassinated, there will be some degree of confusion and chaos in the Empire. The Empire is a dictatorship—if they lose their dictator, it will be like a ship without a rudder. Gama Agrilius VII is only forty years old, so his successor is bound to be quite young. Even if he takes the throne, he won’t be able to exert his power to the fullest. If the Empire falls into chaos it will be a while before they can organize an attack across the sea. During that time, the South can bolster their defenses and get ready to repel the invasion. There may even be a diplomatic solution—some kind of trade we can make. There may even be a chance for peace. Either way, what we need is more time.”
That was the basis of the plan as Kutz had explained it, and Wataru agreed fully. “I just heard about the plan last night. Kutz said they needed my help. I think so too. I’m the only one who can call Jozo. And if he’s involved, then I feel compelled to tag along.”
All expression drained from Meena’s face. She looked like a newly minted doll. It was all so sudden. She wasn’t sure how to respond.
Her face still a blank, Meena sighed. “Then I’ll go too.” With those words, the life returned to her face and her eyes blazed red hot. “I’m going north with you, Wataru. I’ll help.”
She smiled, and her grip on Wataru’s hand tightened. “I said I’d follow you anywhere and I meant it—even to the Northern Empire. Why, I’m sure this was all in Granny’s vision. You’ll go after Mitsuru, collect the remaining gemstones before he does, and make it to the tower. It has to be…”
As words came streaming out of Meena’s mouth, Wataru was shaking his head. But Meena didn’t seem to notice. When she finally ran out of things to say, she looked up to see Wataru still shaking his head. “Huh?”
“No, you’re not,” he said firmly, surprising even himself. There wasn’t a trace of hesitation in his voice. He sounded almost like an adult. “You can’t come with me. You have to stay here, in the south.”
After one single heartbeat, Meena threw herself at Wataru. “Why? What do you mean? Why can’t I go with you? Why are you being so stubborn?”
“I’m not being stubborn.”
“You are!” Meena gave Wataru a shove. He would have fallen off his stool entirely if she hadn’t caught him.
“I get it! Kutz ordered this, didn’t she? She told you to leave me here. Fine, I’ll just go to the source. I’ll make her let me go!”
“No, Meena. It was my decision.”
Meena’s hand on Wataru’s collar was trembling. “I…”
“I’m sorry. I can’t put you and Kee Keema in any more danger than I already have. That’s why I can’t take you with me.”
“Danger…but I…I’m not afraid!”
“It’s me who’s afraid,” Wataru said. That was the honest truth. “If I brought you and Kee Keema with me, you might die. That’s what I’m afraid of. It scares me more than anything else. If it was me, I could come to terms with it. But you’re my friends. I don’t want you to die on my account.”
“Who says we’re going to die anyway?” Meena muttered.
“You’re right, but I have to be prepared for the worst.”
Wataru did his best to steady his breathing. He was more afraid than he had ever been in his life, but he needed to stay calm.
“If everything goes well and the emperor dies, then maybe I will be able to beat Mitsuru to the tower.”
“Yes, you will.”
“But if I did that, and you or Kee Keema died along the way, I would regret it for the rest of my life. Even if I meet the Goddess and she changes my fate, I don’t think I would be happy. Not ever.”
Even though he knew it was a mean trick to play, he had no other means to convince her. “Please stay here. You’re my friend, and I care so much about you. Be safe, for me. Please.”
Meena buried her face in her hands and began to cry. “I don’t know when I’ll be leaving,” said Wataru. “We’ll take off as soon as High Chief Gil arrives in Gasara. That’s why I wanted to say my farewells now. Thank you. Thank you for everything. I’m so grateful, I can’t put it into words. Really.”
“And Kee Keema?” Meena whispered between gentle sobs.
“I’m going to tell him now.” Wataru quietly stood up from his stool. “Thank you, Meena. I want you to be safe here, and happy. You should rejoin the Spectacle Machine and bring smiles to the faces throughout the south—no, throughout all of Vision. Okay? Promise?”
Meena made no reply.