Blade(Part 3): Dusk

Chapter 8: Maisa

Akanotahkon was catching on to the Blades' way of stealth and combat surprisingly quickly. After three weeks of training, the young Auna warrior began to remind Maisa of her son. Unlike Akanotahkon, though, Anikar never grew up to see the battlefield. Akanotahkon seemed to have learned to control his aggression towards enemy soldiers, but Skaolan soldiers would never show control towards him. Neither would any soldiers of the Peacekeepers. As far as Maisa could tell, their reach extended far beyond Orathan, whispering lies into people in power, whether they be Kings, lords, or anyone else of the kind. Even now, they were convincing good people to do terrible things, and dramatically reshaping the world through them. Six Blades of Midnight would never be able to finish off the Peacekeepers altogether. Chances are, there would be no end to the Peacekeepers as long as their influence was felt by the people they were controlling.

"There won't be an end to them, Dameon," Maisa sighed. "The lies, the manipulation, and the influence the Peacekeepers have over Zenartha."

"Maisa, we can't think like that," said Dameon. "Now that at least we know about them, we'll start hunting them down and killing them one by one."

"Hmm," Maisa grunted. "And we'll also have to make sure whatever system they put over their spheres of influence are replaced by a better one, especially if they've been around for as long as we think they have."

"Well, we'll start with the colonies, at least," Dameon swore. "I've let Tashira know about them, and she's at work in Noglidas hunting them down."

"Why Noglidas?" Maisa wondered.

"It's the one city the League needs to win this war," Dameon answered. "Its port is the biggest in all of the colonies, and Skaolan warships sail in and out every day. It's the destination for almost all of their reinforcements. I have Tashira sending us and Zeno information about vessels, number of soldiers, number of cannons, if they're moving, if so, where."

"So, spying," Maisa concluded.

"More like observing," Dameon corrected. "She's not pretending to be someone, she's just looking around."

"Right," said Maisa. "Not to mention meticulously taking note of every one of the Peacekeepers' movements in that city?"

"She said she would, herself, I didn't need to tell her," Dameon answered. "And Akanotahkon swears he'll be just as careful."

"He seems a capable child," Maisa observed. "I'm sure he'll be an effective Blade."

"So am I," Dameon agreed. There was something Maisa wondered about that concerned both Dameon and Shala, but she was reluctant to ask him. It had been three whole weeks since Shala left, and she and Dameon had always seemed to enjoy spending every moment together. Dameon must have missed Shala, and Maisa knew he loved her with all his heart.

"Do you miss her?" the Silver Hawk wondered.

"Tashira?" asked Dameon.

"No, Dameon," Maisa corrected, chuckling. "Shala."

"Right," Dameon sighed. "Yes, I miss her. And I know she can tell if I'm in danger or not from miles away, but I don't know about her, and I sure as hell don't know if she's even..."

"She's fine, Dameon," Maisa promised. "And in no way in danger."

"Thank you," said Dameon. A smile came across his face, knowing that Maisa can sense if someone she knew was in danger, and she knew Shala.

"Can you tell what she's doing right now?" Dameon wondered.

"No, unfortunately," Maisa admitted. "All I can tell you is that she's alive and safe."