This is an Official EDICT to be enforced on behalf of The People TO DECLARE the glorious APPOINTMENT of The COUNCELLOR as the INTERM COMMANDER of The People’s Army until the PRINCESS, is deemed fit to take up the mantle of EMPRESS.

  All lines of the Previously Posted EDICT to this one remain legally binding. Where direction conflicts, this EDICT shall supersede.

  The official time of mourning for the death of the Ambassador will commence immediately.

  Any AVOIDANCE, INTERRUPTION, DESTRUCTION or DISREGARD of this or any EDICT automatically entitles any citizen to branding/maiming/execution.

  All sapient beings acting against The People and their Army are automatically eligible for execution. This includes the group known as the Wayfarers, who were responsible for the Ambassador's ASSASSINATION and the EMPRESS's KIDNAPPING and DISAPPEARANCE. New Citizens of The People’s Army providing aid, substance, or shelter to said beings, please refer to branding/maiming/execution.

  Field Marshall Daktor is working in close cooperation with the newly appointed High Priestess, one Waterwalker of the Observatory, to access the Western Tower and its technology to aid the New Citizens of the Western City. Their complete cooperation in this endeavour is greatly appreciated and serves as a beacon of unity for all.

  Movement from the Western City is being controlled to aid The People’s Army in search of deviant factions. To obtain a Peoples Departure Pass, traders and travellers are subject to search.

  This notice has been written on behalf of the People in the lawful language of the Church. Deviation from this language, its alphabet, the use of any modified trade or gang speak or signs or signalling devices, please refer to branding/maiming/execution.

  The high priestess let the edict fall to join the mess of scrolls and papers on top of her stone altar. Camomile stood on the far side, in a position of respect as her disguise as a young Accolade would dictate. The interior chambers of the pyramid were always dark, and the stone blocks, all etched with their individual maze of pathways and fulcrum points, sloped above them to form a triangular vault. An ever-constant vibration thrummed through the stone. The sloped stone continued in its honeycomb of stacked triangular chambers and corridors far above them to the pyramid apex and the tether for the city of glass—the last remaining tower.

  The candles of three behind the high priestess gave just enough light to work by. She had stood to greet Camomile, and now the old woman returned to her seat, causing the shadows to crouch down with her.

  “So, that’s it then. They have replaced me as High Priestess. I didn’t think it would be so soon.”

  “They were just posting them. I asked for a copy for inside the pyramid and brought it straight here. We expected them to take more time to begin deconstructing the tower. We expected them to win over the city inhabitants first. We were wrong. With the support of Old Waterwalker, they can start working to pull down the city of glass now.”

  “It’s Daktor. His small group of maniacal soldiers were able to rescue him. The Councilor has disappeared but he gave instructions to Daktor before he left. I have reports the Councilor is travelling east. With the added help of Waterwalker, her possession of the Observatory and her command of the clockworks, Daktor can start to work. I was a fool not to anticipate this.”

  “No one would have suspected Old Waterwalker to switch sides.”

  The high priestess's tone became conciliatory, “It is my job to suspect. Every one of these blocks of stone are here to remind me of this fact. Their etchings show us Sisters our purpose here. I have been doing this… job, for a long time. Possibly too long. The young Kalla. She is very quick. She tells me how they plan to pull down our tower just by glancing at the preparations the army makes. Her whip-like intelligence makes this old woman feel I am not as quick in mind as I once was.”

  “We will take these losses and continue our work. We are a long way from being beaten.“ She gestured to the desktop. “And the crystal ball the Professor speaks to us through. I no longer see it here.”

  “Another key piece I had to put into play. The Professor agreed with me. She says she can create another way for us to communicate, but for now…”

  “Regardless, I am going to move against them. I will replace Waterwalker.”

  “No. I need her alive and well, functioning in her new position. She is still a lever I can manipulate. I need you for something much more important.”

  “Waterwalker is key.”

  “I said I have plans for her. As I have plans for you. You will not replace her, nor will you make her disappear. If she was lost, then they would convince the next sister in the observatory, or if not her, the next, to be High Priestess. How long would that take? A day? No. A week, possibly. We would delay them a week. Then the clockworks would be running again, working against the tether. And as far as you are concerned, if you did take her place, your inability to command the clockworks would immediately reveal you.”

  “Excuses could be made. A disguise is always a delicate procedure, and there are always problems to deal with. I’ve done it before. I could claim a serious illness.”

  “Also, I’m sorry to say, a description of your abilities has graduated recently from old tales around the fire into official military reports.”

  “That assassin again.”

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  “Yes. Most likely so.”

  “She did not go and lead a life of peace and prosperity as I had suggested.”

  “She is eager, that one, for power. She wants to establish herself as guild master in Central City.”

  “Let her then. We need to stop the destruction of this tower.”

  “Yes, the Professor and I, and the remaining Wayfairers here will do that. As for you, I have a task for you. I have known old Waterwalker for longer than you have been alive. I have created compositions to simulate hers. Some of these scrolls here,” The old woman fanned a hand across her desk. “I have worked here all night and have composed in her style. I need you to disguise yourself and plant them into enemy dispatches. They will go far in aiding the agents I have recently dispatched.”

  “As you wish. But Waterwalker has seen you work. For these exact same reasons, she knows you are a threat to them, and she’ll treat you that way. She will move against us in the same manner you move against her. As long as she is around, it won’t be safe for you or any of us.”

  “Now you’re right there, but she is the enemy we know. I know I’m in danger. My first defence is that I won’t be leaving this pyramid.”

  “She would go missing or have a deadly accident. It will be subtle. These are desperate times. They will bring this tower down. I will not allow that no matter what I have to do. I will stop them.”

  “No. I will not allow my people to operate as the other side does. I will manoeuvre her from within here. I have sent agents out on taskings already. She will only be a slight inconvenience that I can deal with, and when I am done with her, I can place her in jeopardy with that vicious lot she has taken up with.”

  “So you are willing to deal in the grey areas.”

  “If it avoids outright killing, of course. Let them take themselves out, and good riddance.”

  “One of those scrolls you have there is labelled ‘The Pirate King.’ You may be reaching too far.”

  The high priestess chuckled. “Of course I am. None of this is easy and everything has risk.”

  “I have never warned you before, but I will now. Don’t play me the fool, old woman.”

  “Of course not.”

  “I know all about the Pirate King. That may not keep working for you.”

  “And I don’t really have any other options. If you have other options, other than assassinating Old Waterwalker outright, then give them to me.”

  Camomile fell silent as the High Priestess studied her.

  “You’re right. But The Pirate King? That is a very weak card. I am only a tool in this. I may not have options, but what I have is help. What I can do is drop hints of the Pirate King. Maybe get our friends in Central City to simulate some movements. Create rumour.”

  “Very good. Thank you.”

  “And you, don’t push too hard on that lever of the Pirate King, or it may snap off in your hand.”

  “Yes. I agree.” The High Priestess rose. “Before we continue, I need to show you the slight inconvenience you will also be expected to deal with. Follow me.”

  The High Priestess took up the candles and led the tall woman across the expanse of ever-shifting sand.

  “The crystal ball, the optical sensor. Who did you give it to?”

  “After you plant those dispatches tonight, that ‘who’ will be your responsibility.”

  “In what way?”

  “You will track them and watch them. Make sure they are able to make passage and observe them closely. I… we are unsure of their disposition. Who’s side will they be on? And what is their level of commitment? You need to find that out.” She glanced back at her, “It could take a long time.”

  “And if they turn out to be against us? What then?”

  “Once you are absolutely convinced of the path they will take, you will let us know, and either way, it will be dealt with by our friends in Central City.”

  “No one can be sure of any path. Even their own. And this is a more important task than staying here to prevent the tower from coming down? This sounds like something one of your lesser agents could accomplish?”

  “No. This person is a fulcrum point. Once you find her, you will understand. I can’t send anyone else. She is a seer.”

  “A seer? I have never attempted to work against a seer before. It could be dangerous. Is she far, or near sighted?”

  “I don’t know, but for once you show the level of concern that I expect. I have faith in your abilities. Once you find this person, you will understand how important they are. You are by far the best for this assignment. Your grandfathers made sure of that. The items I need to show you are down this way. The day grows late and you have much to accomplish. Things are developing far too quickly.”

  Across the open field of sand they came to the base of a wall. Along the wall, sealed stone portals were framed in trapezoid encasements. Each of their short top lintels was embossed with differing symbols. The high priestess stopped in front of the central portal, and at her touch on the embossed relief, the stone portal dropped away, revealing a dark, narrow corridor. Camomile followed the old woman into the narrow corridor, and the close walls of the tunnel sloped inwards to brush against her shoulders. Thirty paces found them at another sealed portal. At another hand gesture, the individual blocks shifted and flipped backwards to create an opening.

  On the far wall of the chamber hung a set of gargoyle armour.

  “The only complete set is Daktor’s armour,” Cam said.

  “Yes. That’s it.” The old woman answered. “The set that wiley lizard man was able to pry off of him.”

  In the center of the chamber was a stone plinth. More items had been placed there.

  “This is not a room; this is a vault.” She commented.

  “Yes. One only I have access to.”

  Cam plucked at a swath of silvery cloak, and beside it was a pouch constructed from the same silvery mesh that had markings from the before times on it.

  “This is a stealth cloak. And a perpetual grenade. These are very powerful tech. Do they work?”

  “Yes.”

  “Incredible.” Cam ran her fingertips across two matching leather flight helmets. “And these are fitted with tracking and navigational optics. Far beyond what a telescope can do. Why are you showing me these things?”

  “To show you that their owners left them here. The army surrounded the city and have been carrying out searches at checkpoints before they posted that edict you brought me. I have deployed my agents. If any of them were discovered carrying any of these items, their identities would be immediately revealed, and their lives would be forfeit.”

  “If you are showing me these things to focus my resolution. I’ve already told you that it couldn’t be more focused. As long as I still breathe, whatever needs to be done to save the last tower will be done.”

  “And to stop the breath of that body of yours would be a near impossible thing. You give all of us hope. And you must leave me that glove of yours.”

  Cam turned to her. “What?”

  “I know you have it. You know that your grandfathers would have told me of it in their letters. The glove of flowers. You will leave it here, in this vault, under my safekeeping. It doesn’t change you. It is you that is impossible to stop. Not that glove. It only marks you.”

  “I’m not so impossible. Far from it. I need the glove. I won’t leave it.”

  “You will leave it. If you want to continue working for me, that is. I know how well you can disguise yourself, but you cannot disguise that glove. You will leave the glove of flowers here as I command. The other side has learned of these items and they will be the first thing sought out. The assassin knows your glove.”

  Cam slipped a single fine mesh tech glove from inside the folds of her cloak. She studied the embossing, ran her thumb over the alternating black and yellow petals around a central round seed core, and finally laid it beside the rest of the items.

  “And what will you do, old woman, High Priestess no longer? Only you know of all these machinations of yours, of the other side. Will they be enough? These paths you set us on. These levers you pull. Will any of them succeed?”

  “They can all fail, except for one.”

  “And which one is that?”

  “That is simple. The one most opposite of evil.”

  “Then to love it is.”