“It's an impromptu visit, General.” The Emperor waved him back. “Please, don't fuss. It has simply occurred to my mages and me that our Wraith Lords don't make the best farmers.”
“I'm sorry, Your Imperial Majesty?” General Rontor frowned.
“I'm here to ask all of you if you would assist me in pretending to be farmers for a little while,” the Emperor said to the humans. “You will have Wraith Lords living with you for protection, but I don't foresee anything happening. I think the change will be good for the children, and it will help us convince the Corrupter that all is normal in Tusara.” When the adults started to look fearful, he hurried on, “I assure you, you will be safe. The village is currently full of Wraith Lords. And those who will live with each of you will fade you to safety the second they scent a hint of danger.”
“What of the day of the celebration, Your Imperial Majesty?” I asked.
“I would like them to roam the festival,” the Emperor said. “But with Wraith Lords attending them. They can then be faded to the citadel the instant the Corrupter is spotted.”
“I will be casting a ward as soon as he enters the village, Your Imperial Majesty.”
“You will be casting one to specifically contain the Corrupter, correct?”
“I . . .” I frowned.
“Yes, I will help him do that,” Death said.
“Ah, there is our disembodied friend,” the Emperor said smoothly.
Meanwhile, the children cringed.
“It's all right, everyone,” I said to the kids. “He's a friend of mine.”
“Is that a ghost, Uncle Ember?” Sally asked.
“No, Sally, that's . . . he's . . .”
“I am a god, little one,” Death said. “And I will watch over you in Tusara. I will warn your protectors of the Corrupter's arrival.”
“Thank you,” Sally said politely.
Death's voice warmed, “You are most welcome, child.”
Around the room, Wraith Lords exchanged wary looks. No one trusted Death yet. Not even me. However, I trusted him more and more with every lesson.
“Your help would be appreciated, Death,” the Emperor said. “Now, what say all of you?”
The human adults looked at each other.
“I know it's a lot to ask,” the Emperor said. “And you may refuse, of course. But I want you to understand that this could be the end of the war. And your help could be instrumental in luring the Corrupter into our trap.”
“But you're asking us to risk our children, Your Imperial Majesty,” Michael said, one arm around his youngest, little Helen, who was only two. “No good parent would do that. Not for any reason.”
I bit my lip. I didn't like it either. “But it's a Varraen village, Your Imperial Majesty. Don't you think the Corrupter will notice they're human?”
“Not from afar, and he wouldn't dare get too close in case it was a trap.”
“You don't know that for sure.”
“No, but if he gets that close, he'll notice the Wraith Lords aren't all Varraen too,” the Emperor said. “I believe it would be more suspicious for there not to be a single child in Tuvara.”
“Then bring the farmers back,” I said, forgetting about his title. “They're immortal.”
“I promised them a luxurious vacation in exchange for risking their livelihoods,” the Emperor said. “I can't go back on my word.”
“But you can ask my people to risk their lives,” I growled.
“It would not be like that, Lord Ember. They'd be perfectly safe. And your people have no businesses to run or homes to care for. They are available. That is why I'm asking. It has nothing to do with race.”
