He wondered if Orthos could intervene on Kelsa’s behalf. If Lindon could do as much in only a few years, Kelsa would shock the entire world.
On the lead cloudship, a figure rose up on shining emerald wings. He looked like a powerfully built man in ornate green robes, though Jaran couldn’t make out his features in any detail. But from the shining crown he wore, and from the visible distortion of air around him, Jaran assumed he must be the Emperor.
A moment later, he revised that assumption. No Emperor would press his fists together and bow his head to subordinates in his own territory.
The voice of the majestic figure boomed out, easily audible to everyone.
“The Blackflame Emperor greets his three esteemed guests. We are gratified to count you among our allies. Let all our Empire show respect to Archlord Eithan Arelius.”
There came a booming sound of cheering and music from the fleet of cloudships.
Before it had faded entirely, the Emperor spoke again.
“Let all our Empire show respect to the Uncrowned Queen, Yerin Arelius.”
Another, even louder cheer shook the ground. Even the people of Refuge began to cheer, though Jaran was certain that at least those who came from Sacred Valley had little idea what was happening.
“Let all our Empire show respect to the Sage of Twin Stars, Wei Shi Lindon Arelius.”
A final wave of sound came out from the fleet, no softer than the last, but Jaran barely heard it.
The show had kicked him in a place no one’s words had reached. It was one thing hearing about how powerful Lindon had become, and reluctantly accepting that someone had made Lindon powerful.
But seeing here, with his own eyes, a display that would have shaken all of Sacred Valley…and to have it directed to his son…
Seisha looked at the expression on his face and sighed.
“I did tell you,” she said.
Lindon stood on the edge of Windfall, each passing second convincing him that he was supposed to do something.
After greeting them, Naru Huan had remained hovering in midair, his head still bowed. He was clearly waiting for a response, just as Lindon was waiting for Eithan to give him one.
Yerin scratched her neck. She wasn’t going to bother saying anything, and if she did, it wouldn’t be for everyone’s benefit. She would probably wave to Naru Huan and tell him to come over. This was Eithan’s job, so where was—
Eithan was grinning an idiot’s grin while staring straight at Lindon.
Lindon wasn’t as surprised as he felt he should have been.
He stifled a sigh and rose on a Thousand-Mile Cloud he summoned from his void key for this purpose. He drifted over to face the Emperor, and only when he felt the Ruler technique around Naru Huan did he remember to manipulate the air around him using soulfire to magnify his words.
“We are humbled to be visited personally by the Blackflame Emperor,” Lindon said formally. And too stiffly. He wished Mercy were here to do this instead, but she was occupied with some family obligation. “We are grateful to be allowed into your territory.”
The Emperor was a handsome man who appeared in his forties, with a square jaw and neatly trimmed beard. Every time Lindon had seen him before, including in the depths of battle, he had looked like someone who was always in possession of himself.
So Lindon knew he’d made a mistake when he saw surprise flash briefly across the Emperor’s face.
“Not at all,” Naru Huan boomed out. “It is our honor to host you for as long as you wish to stay.”
Lindon didn’t know where to go with the conversation, so he steered it in a direction he understood. If this were a normal visit, he would invite his visitor inside.
“We could use a guide to your Empire. Please, step inside for a moment and provide us your wisdom.”
That can’t have been too wrong, because the Emperor dipped his head again. “It will be our pleasure. With your permission, our cloudships will land and begin distributing refreshments to the people.”
That was the loudest cheer Lindon had heard so far.
He expected Naru Huan to drop the formalities when he arrived on Windfall, so he was surprised to see the Emperor go to one knee the second he touched down.
“Naru Huan greets the Sage and the Herald. Forgive me if I have offended you with my lacking manners in the past, and allow me the chance to make up for it in the future.”
Lindon and Yerin exchanged a look.
“No eyes on us up here, so you can stand up,” Yerin said.
“Please,” Lindon added. “It would put us at ease.”
Naru Huan straightened up, but he still didn’t meet their eyes. “Your words are more generous than I deserve. Please, tell me how I or my empire might serve you two.”
Eithan pointed to himself. “I can’t help but feel like someone is being intentionally excluded.”
Naru Huan’s head slowly turned toward Eithan. “I’m sorry, Uncrowned Queen, but does this Lord speak for you?”
“You know my name,” Eithan protested.
Naru Huan didn’t correct himself.
“Pardon, but I thought you two were friends,” Lindon said. An idea occurred to him, and he said, “We wouldn’t mind if you spoke candidly about him. Would we, Yerin?”
“He’s harmless,” Yerin agreed.
“I would prefer to be called gentle. Maybe ‘tender.’”
“Of course, I intend no disrespect to the Archlord,” the Emperor said stiffly. “I simply thought it was appropriate to greet the Sage and Herald first.”
“Come on, Huan! We’re closer than that! I thought we were friends.”
Naru Huan’s gaze snapped to him. “I wanted a friend who would keep me informed! My sister sent me word from the Uncrowned King tournament as soon as she could, but I heard nothing from you. The Akura clan sent me congratulations and didn’t even explain why.”
“That’s quite rude of them,” Eithan said, but Naru Huan kept talking.
“I was aware the Titan was going to wake up, but then there was a second Dreadgod, and then Monarchs fought on my western border. And I hear you fought as well! Successfully!”
“In fairness, I didn’t know about the Phoenix either.”
“Sometimes I wonder why I play at ruling, when everything that matters is decided by the games of the truly powerful.”
“If it makes you feel better,” Eithan said, “everything turned out great!”
Naru Huan looked to Yerin. “You will go down in history as a hero of the Blackflame Empire. Saeya hasn’t stopped talking about your battles since she returned. And to you…” He turned to Lindon with awe and pain clear in his expression. “If you could give me just a word of advice, I would be grateful for the rest of my life. Reaching Sage at Overlord…I didn’t know it was possible, truly. For a moment of your time, I will give you anything within my meager power.”
Lindon didn’t feel like it was the time to mention that he had first summoned an Icon when he was an Underlord.
Eithan raised a hand. “May I point out that I trained these two?”
Naru Huan breathed in for a solid five seconds, and then exhaled even more slowly. He strolled over to Eithan and put a hand on the Archlord’s shoulder.
“I know, Eithan. I do know. You have done more for the Empire than anyone since my mother, but you make it so hard to be grateful. If only you weren’t so…infuriating. All the time.”