My mind was already within the energy field of the tonic, which was gradually becoming hotter. The fireleaf powder was fully intertwined with the salt and my magical imprint.
Now for the next ingredient.
When training, one had to get into an unconscious state, something similar to creating a mind image, but not so.
But would combining the fireleaf with an ingredient which would knock a person unconscious not turn the tonic useless?
The tonic bubbled repeatedly as I communicated Iria through my imprint on her.
/'Bladegrass,'/
/'Which one is it?'/
/'The whitish, smoky colored grass outside the cave. Cut it up and--'/
/'Outside the cave! Your eyes are sharp, Nei,'/ Iria praised. More bubbles within the tonic. Bladegrass was not powdered. What kind of tonic was it when bits of grass got stuck between your teeth? But then, Savitro Zhan generals they were who wanted to raise their aura. I didn't care too much about them.
/"Okay. I'm throwing it in now,'/ I heard Iria say within my mind.
The energy within the tonic rapidly soared, and then became chaotic. Particles of the fireleaf assaulted the bladegrass' chopped leaves, which, for the record, Iria had chopped unevenly. The red particles attached themselves all over the pieces and assaulted it's consituents. The bladegrass in turn released it's smoky fragrance into the tonic.
/'Nei, you're okay? Quite a bang,'/ Iria commented, but I wasn't paying attention.
/'Iria, more fireleaf!'/
/'Tsk,/
The red particles gained an upper hand in the struggle when more of their company were thrown in. The unabsorbed particles swam around in a daze before they came to join their own kind. The temperature gradually steadied as the fireleaf conquered the bladegrass.
Okay. I heaved a sigh. Now what.
/'Iria, more salt,'/
The tonic became difficult for my mind eye to see through. The bladegrass really shrunk when more salt was thrown in. Then I noticed the new salt get in conflict with my old salt. Iria's magical imprint. Too bad, but not too late to remedy.
I actively interrupted the natural progress of the tonic by quenching the magical imprint on the new salt and imbuing it with mine. I ignored the bladegrass and new fireleaf particles which also had Iria's imprint. And the old fireleaf which had Siva's imprint.
Iria came over at once and gently wiped the sweat that had gathered on my brow.
"You should rest,"
I nodded. Even though this time the brewing had not been as long as the first, I was exhausted. Before leaving though, I gave instructions to Iria on how to expose the tonic to sunlight without getting it contaminated. Afterwards, I lifted my feet and descended the mountain.
***
I remained in Clan Hakorhi while news of the ongoing war reached us. General Zarin had taken over three cities, two castles, a fort and a huge expanse of land. All these places were under the name Hakorhi. It drove Princess Samahan and her advisors nuts.
"Why Hakorhi?" she had growled menacingly the last time Iria had a conference with her in my head. Iria remained unruffled.
"It's not as if you've done anything to help," she had said, "and we even gave your top generals the Aura Enhancing Tonic for free,"
"You don't want to get on my bad side, Iriadne Hakorhi!" Princess Samahan short of yelled.
"I wonder," Iria smirked, "what you expected me to name it then? Savitro Zhan?"
"You hijacked this rebellion plan from me! Why can't it continue to be Valencia for the time being?!"
"Because," Iria said calmly, "the people have to know that the people in power have changed. It is therefore, no longer Valencia, but--"
"You're going too far by naming it Hakorhi. The top generals of the alliance won't be pleased. I think you've forgotten that General Zarin is already pledged to Savitro Zhan?"
Iria chuckled but said nothing.
"--and you know too well how hot tempered he could be. If you loose his support--"
"You think I rely on General Zarin?" Iria raised an eyebrow, "well, I think you'll be disappointed to find that I am not dependent on anyone, princess,"
I sighed. Such was the sort of meetings they had. All the time. It was usually Uncle Ruhzhan that stopped their bickering, but he was very quiet today.
"Advisor?" Samahan turned to him.
"Do not let our alliance be disunited with this small issue," he said at last, "if it was for land we rebelled, we will surely get it," he concluded.
That meant it wasn't for land. What then? I wondered. Savitro Zhan was doing fine until the rebellion, and I really didn't sit down to think of why they might have flipped against the monarch of Valencia. It was not as though they ever served him.
***
Princess Selwyn sat down gracefully at a table, sipping tea so serenely one would doubt that her kingdom was at war and was loosing. She looked through her long eyelashes at the man opposite, her long thin fingers curling around the jade cup.
"I am aware that my father has appointed you as our spy," she finally broke the silence, setting the cup down and curling her fingers around one another.
"Princess really has a lot of eyes in the inner palace," Marquis Janus replied without emotion. He also stared directly at the leather scroll on the table, unmoving.
"Are you surprised?" Princess Selwyn was not bothered, "how else do you think I rose to become the head of the Inner Palace?"
"His majesty is the head of the Inner Palace," Marquis Janus said drily.
Princess Selwyn laughed. A short, impatient type of laugh. Her brightly painted lips contrasted with her white shiny teeth.
"My dear marquis, don't be naive. Everyone in this palace and even the whole kingdom know that I am the head of the Inner Palace," her face was rather serious now.
"Why do you have to keep repeating it then-- Princess, why have you sent for me?"
Princess Selwyn pushed the scroll forwards with her index finger.
"You must be in contact with the safrohi if you're Valencia's spy. I want you to give this to their leader,"
Marquis Janus looked at her for a moment, then burst out laughing. Princess Selwyn narrowed her eyes.
"What?" she barked.
"Your highness, are you planning to rebell? Are you not worried that you're not the only one planning this at this time?"
Princess Selwyn chuckled.
"That is none of your business. A servant should do as they are told. Otherwise--" she motioned a split throat.
"Are you threatening me?" Marquis Janus growled.
"It's what I do," Princess Selwyn smiled sweetly, "one mistake and your beautiful sister and young brother leave this world forever,"
Marquis Janus narrowed his eyes. Then he smiled.
"In that case, I will do as Princess says," he grabbed the scroll and stood up roughly.
"I knew you would be sensible," Princess Selwyn said with an icy smile, after the door had shut.
.....
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