“The roof of the tavern you’re in right now. This will happen in two hours, give or take.”
The shadows of large men were darting through the scores of fires. They were soldiers wearing bulky white armor.
“Powered armor…?”
The last time Emere had seen them was two years ago in Dehan Forest, when Loran had destroyed an Imperial camp.
“The Zero Legion. Directly under the command of the Office of Truth. Much smaller than a regular legion, but they have weapons that make the other legions drool in envy. Ludvik seems to have caught wind of Septima’s movements.”
Emere looked down at the fire. He noticed the emblem on one of the helmets. It was the same as the one engraved on the sword his assassin had dropped on that rooftop. “What happens to all the people who live here?”
Cain’s face turned somber. “It’s not just the lives of those in the provinces to which the Empire gives little regard. The Office of Truth is its worst organ in many ways. They would stop at nothing, not even destroying the Empire itself, if it means protecting their fanatical beliefs of what the Empire should be. That is why they must be stopped.”
Staring into the fire, Emere still couldn’t get past his original question. “But why would Ludvik try to kill me? I’m nothing in the face of his ambition to become the Imperator.”
“Because the Circuit of Destiny choseyouto give it purpose. And I think it chose Ludvik as well. I cannot say why, but the Circuit will likely ask one of you yet another question I refused to answer.”
Ludvik had wanted to get rid of his competitor, then. The very notion made Emere scoff.
“I wasn’t even aware that the Circuit of Destiny had chosen me. How would Ludvik know, when I do not even understand why the Circuit would choose the prince of a fallen kingdom?”
“The reasons are unknown to me as well. But you must’ve been given signs, even if you didn’t understand them at the time.”
Emere sighed and looked down again. The Powered soldiers were about to force themselves into the tavern.
“What was the question you refused to answer?” Emere asked.
“What?” Cain sounded confused by the shift in Emere’s thoughts.
“The question that the Circuit of Destiny wants to ask me or Ludvik.”
Cain’s gaze turned upward to the sky. Even though the scene before them had changed from a red wasteland to burning streets, the sky had remained violet. Beyond the boundaries of the Capital, against the bright full moon, the flock still floated in the sky.
“You asked me where we were going a moment ago.”
Emere nodded. Cain turned to him.
“What you see in the sky there are the three hundred and twenty-seven Power generators that comprise the Circuit of Destiny. I am trying to avoid drawing their attention. I do not wish to hear their question again.”
“Why not?”
Smiling bitterly, Cain replied, “Because I think it will be very difficult to say no again.”
Emere stared at the moon, thinking. “You said the soldiers will be barging in two hours from now?”
“That is what will happen.”
“Then we’d better leave.”
“Yes, you must leave this place with Septima and the others. Please tell them to take care of Lukan.”
“How will we talk to each other again?”
Cain shrugged. “We met here once, so it should be easier the next time. It’s also why I brought you here this time. But I will send you back now. You will soon wake.”
Reminded he was asleep, Emere bid Cain farewell. “It was good to meet you, Sleeping King.”
Cain whipped around, his face a mask of shock. “Why did you call me that?” he demanded.
