The Call of Crows

Epilogue

Four long months had passed since the Battle of Koinelia.

They had driven the Nikan army back into Khongira. They had killed the Bane Knight occupiers of the capital.

The city had been in ruins and was still being built back up. But the important thing was that people were rebuilding.

With the Emperor dead, the Empress missing and his children not yet of age, Legate Iustinianus ascended to the throne with a unanimous vote by the remaining senators for his work in the Koini-Nikan War and took the name Justinian.

They had made Ruhak a legate. They gave Peng a position among the Empire's most elite engineers.

They awarded all the Shedim Masters with golden laurels of honor for their service in the war, along with the men of the 51st Legion.

But while Koinelia felt victory, Taya Sergeyev's Shedim Masters felt nothing but defeat.

Shahla fitted a violet, translucent hijab around herself. She stepped back and observed herself in the large mirror in her room in the palace had.

This was the nicest she'd dressed in almost a year. It would work well enough.

Today was the day of the Emperor's procession, so there was going to be a massive parade in the city to celebrate the life of their ruler.

But Shahla had no intentions of attending that. She was going to go somewhere deep in the woods and have a drink. Despite it being against her religion.

She exited her room into the illustrious marble halls of the Koini palace, to be met by Najeem, who wired dutifully outside for her, dressed in a navy silken robe and a white turban. His scimitar was noticeably absent from his hip.

"You know, you don't still have to wait for me." Shahla muttered as they started descending the palace's many, many stairs, "I can handle myself now."

That wasn't to mention that she had also officially released Najeem from service to the Ahmedi Qahtanad Caliphate a while back.

"Old habits die hard, my lady."

"Ok, stop that." She said with a chuckle.

"Fine, fine. As you wish."

They left the palace and hitched a ride with an imperial carriage to their very specific location.

"So..." Shaha muttered, "How's Bjorn doing? It's been four months. He has to be doing a little better, right?"

"Well, he's eating regularly again, so there's that." Najeem said, "But...he still locks himself in his room for the rest of the day. He said he's been carving Taya's coffin by hand."

"Well then, we'll see if that's true." Shahla said.

"Oh. Ruhak said he wanted to discuss future plans today as well." Najeem said, "You got the approval for our proposal from Florentius, right?"

Shahla nodded.

"Good. It'll be nice to go home again." Najeem sighed.

"Yes. Though...." Shahla muttered.

"I can tell what you're thinking about." Najeem muttered. "We'll deal with all the complex stuff as it comes, alright?"

"Ok." Shahla nodded, "Today's a celebration after all."

Najeem tilted his head. "Eh. Not quite the word I'd use. But sure."

The carriage came to a stop after a few minutes. The two of them stepped out into a small clearing in the middle of the woods, surrounding the largest tree for miles.