TBC: Chapter Forty-Eight

Mordán irritably paced the floor of Akila's cave a couple of days later. Akila sat cross-legged on the stone floor, staring into the dancing flames of the small fire before her.

"Akila, I do not have time to deal with the mess you have left me. I must prepare for the next attack," Mordán said fiercely. "Androsan citizens are spreading rumors…How could you be so easily fooled by Malik?"

Akila's eyes flashed dangerously, but her voice remained steady as she responded. "Malik is the wisest star wizard that has ever existed in our race, Sire. If it were going to be easy to defeat him, I would have done it a long time ago."

Mordán stopped pacing. "I thought you said you had a way to kill him."

Akila raised her eyes slowly to Mordán's face. "There is a way to kill every Mysteis—with moonfire. I just do not have the way in which I will kill him prepared yet."

Mordán seethed. "You are out of time for preparation, witch."

Akila jumped up. Silver-white light flashed through her eyes, causing Mordán to instinctively back away.

She slowly walked toward Mordán as the light in her eyes turned violet-red. "I have no obligation to you, Zye Mordán," she spat. "You are no ruler to me, so remember that. I have called you sire to humor you and have stayed hidden from your people except for the Vaznaun—hidden only to help sustain the mask you wear in front of them as a good-hearted leader that has their best interest in mind." She smirked. "Helping to find a solution to control the warriors is simply my favor in exchange for you keeping the warriors busy enough so that I am not interrupted while I dispose of Malik. You would do well not to unleash your royal demands on me."

The light in Akila's eyes faded. "I warned you of the warriors' collective power, Mordán. Besides, I have been the only one attempting to find a solution to make your army powerful enough to match their opponents. Without me, your failure is assured."

Mordán sighed and spoke in a calmer tone. "I am impatient right now. You have done your part of our agreement—I do not deny that, and I know that I cannot carry this through without your help. I will get Lucian to speak to the people of Androsa about the other night to calm them. In time, they will settle their curiosity."

"The warriors have grown in their power," Akila said.

"Do you have enough of the warrior's blood to test it on the soldiers I provided?"

"No," Akila replied without emotion. "Except for the Pandian blood, Malik destroyed all I collected."

Mordán glared at her. "How are you so calm then?"

Her lips turned to an amused smirk.

"You obviously have another plan," he said dryly.

"Obviously."

***