Chapter Ashborn 339: Clandestine Gatherings (Two) (Maiya)

Chapter Ashborn 339: Clandestine Gatherings (Two) (Maiya)

Three days. After three full days of scouting, Maiya had nothing. She had to hand it to Riyan. He was good. Quite good, in fact, though that was hardly a surprise.

The man had avoided Mina Hiranya’s assassination attempts for years, and before that, his many enemies across many battlefields.

Having a competent ally was one of the greatest boons she could’ve asked for. Yet right now, as of this moment, Maiya felt only frustration.

“This is impossible,” Yamal said. “You do understand this, yes?”

Maiya ground her teeth. “There has to be a way,” she said. “We can’t just give up.”

They were currently perched on a nearby rooftop, watching one of the many entrances to Riyan’s warehouses. A light dusting of snow fell upon the city of Kaiya, blanketing it with silence and cold.

“Bheem. Any chance you could get us in through the sewers?”

The big man pursed his lips and scribbled his reply down on a notebook.

“Possible, but risky. One thing to explore its depths. Another entirely to locate a specific point.”

“So it remains our backup plan,” Maiya replied, having concluded as much already. “If we can’t find a better solution in the next day or two, we’ll give it a go.”

It was times like these that Maiya wished for Vir’s Prana Vision. How simple would this be if she could see prana through walls?

Alas, she couldn’t, and so a different tactic was required.

“What about you, Yamal? Any luck getting leads from the local populus?”

The ex-merchant had acted alone for most of the duration of their stay, which suited the man just fine. He’d spent his days chatting away in cozy warm cabins while Maiya remained out in the snow, scouting and observing. “It’s not that they’re tight-lipped,” he said. “Between the coin you gave me and the liquor I bought them, their words come easily.”

“But?” Maiya asked.

“They speak much, but say little. Only a small handful are even aware of your friend’s presence, and those who are only have vague suspicions of those who might belong to his band of rebels. Nothing nearly substantial enough to act on, I’m afraid. If we corner them and are wrong...”

“We’ll have the Saian authorities breathing down our back,” Maiya said. “Don’t worry. I don’t intend to make a move on anyone unless I’m sure. Besides, it’d be useless. Riyan wouldn’t send anyone out on their own unless he knew they’d die for him. I doubt we’d get anything out of anyone we capture, even if we torture them. Which I’m not willing to do,” Maiya added before Yamal could react.

“Right,” he said. “Of course not.”

Maiya rolled her eyes. “I might be the Blessed Chosen and an agent of Kin’jal, but I’m not a monster. I just wish there was an easier way,” she said with a sigh. “I wish we could just barge up to his front door and demand to be let in.”

“Er, why can’t we?” Yamal said.

“What?” Maiya replied, staring at him like he’d grown an extra eye.

“Why not march up to his door and demand to be let in? He’s hiding. He can’t very well ignore us if we kick up a stir, can he?”

“No, he can’t ignore us,” Maiya replied. “Which is why he’ll bring out his men and attack us. Which gets us nowhere.”

“But you just said he doesn’t want to be found,” Yamal said. He was being oddly insistent about this, so Maiya decided to hear him out. It wasn’t often he put his foot down, after all. She was actually impressed he was showing some backbone for once. The least she could do was honor that.

“Go on,” she said.

“Well, it seems to me that a fight in the streets would attract quite some attention.”

Maiya shrugged. “He has no other choice. Knowing him, he’ll go send someone to fetch the authorities and claim we’re being a nuisance. For all they know, we’re the aggressors here.”

“Hmm,” Yamal said with a frown. “I admit that could be an issue.”

Which was why Maiya knew that should this situation turn violent, the handmaidens would have her back.

She kept knocking. And kept on knocking, even as minutes passed.

They couldn’t ignore her forever, and with such a ruckus brewing outside, someone was bound to know.

More likely, Riyan had scouts who’d been reporting back. He’d known from the very beginning.

But if he was hoping they’d give up and go away, they were horribly wrong.

The sounds had drawn spectators, and it wasn’t long after that a crowd formed.

And then, in the distance, Maiya heard what she’d been waiting for.

The city guard had arrived.

Calls of ‘Break it up!’ and ‘What’s going on here’ grew steadily louder, and in just moments, the guard would be upon Riyan’s building. And that was something Riyan very much did not want.

Sure enough, with less than a minute remaining, the door opened. Betraying Maiya’s expectations, it wasn’t an attendant or a low-level grunt that greeted her.

It was Riyan Savar himself, and he was scowling.

“If you value your life, leave.”

Maiya’s heart skipped a beat. The authority behind his words hadn’t lessened a drop, despite the half-mask he wore that hid part of his face.

Then again, Maiya wasn’t the same village girl she’d once been. Rather than quiver in fear, it was another sensation entirely that coursed through her veins.

Giddiness.

He hadn’t recognized her! The man who had taught her the art of makeup had himself failed to see through her disguise.

“Wow, Riyan,” she replied, her voice full of sarcasm. “Is that what you say to your long-lost disciple?”

To his credit, Riyan maintained an expressionless mask, betraying no hint of the surprise Maiya knew he felt.

“You...” he breathed.

Maiya smudged off her makeup. “In the flesh. And do you have any idea how hard it was to get a hold of you?”

Riyan frowned. “I do not understand. Why are you here? Who are these people?”

Maiya beamed. “Why don’t you let me come inside, and we can chat.” She thumbed over to the guards who pierced their way through the crowd. “Because I’m pretty sure they’d very much like to have a talk once they find out about your little operation.”

Again, if he was surprised, Riyan didn’t show it, though his frown deepened, and this time, it bore the creases of suspicion. “What do you want?”

“Nothing much. Just wanted to talk about how we’re going to overthrow not just Sai’s government, but King Rayid Hiranya as well. In favor of a far better ruler. One you already approve of.”

Riyan’s eyes widened, and this time, not even his own prodigious acting skills could stop him from expressing his surprise. Surprise... and Interest.

In her head, Maiya raised a fist in victory.

Got him.