Yarani laid a hand on my arm. “Inaris. There’s no point in focusing too much on this and letting it drag you down.”

I looked up, blinked, then shook my head. “I’m not getting depressed, Yarani. I’m just trying to take stock. Spirits, you know how many of our elites we lost?”

She sighed and glanced around. We stood in a conference chamber that currently saw a lot of use, with my other friends and companions here, as well as Kiyanu and some senior officers. But at the moment, the two of us were clustered in a corner, somewhat isolated from the commotion of the rest.

“I know,” she said. “I’ve seen the estimated figures. Is this about people you knew?”

I cracked my neck, turning around to face the room more fully. “I guess. I mean, I’m glad that Hashar survived.” I glanced at the general, who was currently talking to Kajare and Kiyanu, and smiled.

She’d teleported out after almost exhausting her qi reserves in the battle. The backlash had left her in the healers’ hands for hours after she got back, but there should be no permanent damage. I was glad she’d had the sense to run. Of course, she was a soldier, and she knew she was one of the few experts in spatial magic we had. Her sense of duty would have prevented her from trying any stupid last stands even if she’d been inclined to do that.

“But General Wei didn’t make it out,” Yarani said quietly.

I sighed. “Yes. We actually got confirmation of his death in the most recent report. This is bad for more than just military reasons, Yarani. We might not have been exactly close, but he was still a blood relation.” I shook my head. “I’ve lost kin here, now, even if the connection isn’t commonly known.”

“Actually, you lost more than that,” Tenira said. She’d been quietly making her way to join us. “There were a few members of clan Leri with the army, Nari, and they died, too. Distant kin, maybe, but still technically part of our clan.”

I pulled a face. “Oh. I’m sorry to hear that, Tenira. Crap. That doesn’t make things easier.”

“The Leri aren’t the only clan who have lost family members, here.” Tenira shrugged. “I imagine we’re going to see a response from the nobles over this. The war wasn’t exactly unpopular, but with a humiliation to wipe away and family to avenge …”

I couldn’t help rolling my eyes. This news should encourage people not to take the risk of joining the war, given how likely it obviously was to get you killed. But in this kind of culture, the prestige of the clan and avenging dead family members might really prove more important factors. Not that I’m in any position to complain about it. In fact, Kariva and others are probably going to try to steer the public reaction in this direction.

“We definitely need to hold some kind of ceremony,” I said. “I know most of the dead are going to be buried by their families, but even if the bodies are sent north, we can still arrange something.”

“Way ahead of you.” Yarani smiled slightly. “Tenira and I have already started to talk about setting it up.”

I gave both of them a smile. “Great, then I leave the matter in your much more capable hands. Poke me if you need anything.”

Rising voices further into the room distracted me, and I turned to watch what was going on. It looked like several of the officers from the remnant of the southern army had come. They all looked a little bedraggled, even though they’d obviously changed into fresh clothes. It might just be their expressions and the shadows under their eyes. I slowly stepped forward, listening in on the conversations and reports.

“Your Highness,” Hashar murmured, suddenly appearing beside me. I knew she’d just moved unobtrusively through the room, but it felt like she might as well have teleported.

“Hashar.” I smiled and brushed her arm with mine discreetly. “How are you holding up?”

She shrugged. “As well as anyone else, I expect.” Her lips quirked upward the slightest bit. “It helped to know that you’re safely back here.”

I chuckled. She’d spoken so softly that no one else should have caught it, and in the general hubbub, no one seemed to be paying undue attention to us, anyway. I saw Yarani smothering a smile, though.

“We were just discussing a ceremony for those fallen in the battle,” she spoke up. “As the senior surviving officer, General, your help would be welcome and appreciated. Of course, if your other duties are keeping you busy, we’d be quite alright handling it ourselves.”

The general smiled at her, a warmer expression than she showed most people, which banished some of the shadows in her eyes. “Thank you for the consideration, my lady. I think that’s a splendid idea, and I’d be glad to be involved.”

Sensing that they might want to have a word alone, I extricated myself quietly from the conversation, and continued on towards Kiyanu. It was good to see that they got along. By this point, Hashar was pretty much a fixture of my future circle of confidantes, advisors, or whatever you wanted to call it.

Especially if Wei Jun wasn’t there to fill a position in the army anymore. The thought sparked a small pang of anger. Not that I was particularly affected, personally, and I had no reason to pretend otherwise. But I’d invested resources into him, started to cultivate a professional relationship and a plan for the future, and it irked to see that going up in smoke. And I should write a letter to Wei Min, too. Ugh.

Following a sudden impulse, I veered to the side, passing by Kiyanu and a rotating group of senior officers, and instead stepped through a side door. This was an open addition to the complex, part corridor and part balcony, which let the sun through in intervals between columns. The sky had cleared as if the large storm had never existed, although new rainfall was predicted for tomorrow. I sighed softly, stepping closer to the edge.

“More bad news?” Ceion asked.

I gave myself one moment more to look out at the landscape, before I turned, scowling at him. “What are you doing here? Come on!”

I grabbed him by the sleeve and pulled him further down the corridor, then around a turn and down a staircase. He really shouldn’t hang around where he could listen in to potentially sensitive discussions. Of course, I knew there wasn’t much he could learn from this meeting that would be harmful to us, even if Kiyanu hadn’t put qi shields in place. But I kept herding him away, until we reached a secluded, quiet little courtyard around the estate.

“It appears you lost quite a few fighters,” the spirit-child commented.

I scoffed lightly. “I didn’t lose as much as the Zarian. I’m sorry to tell you this if you knew any of them personally, but all of the eighth stage cultivators in the Dominion have been killed.”

Ceion was quiet for a moment. Then he nodded slowly. “I’d heard as much. Thank you for confirming it, Your Highness.”

“Where’s your escort?” I asked abruptly.

“Keeping an eye on me, I’m sure.” He smiled with a hint of irony.

I glanced at my own guards, who’d followed me unobtrusively and were now spread out around us. Aston didn’t look concerned, so I imagined he was right.

“I didn’t really know any of them, though I’d met a few,” Ceion said. He shook his head. “Still, all of them? The spirits …”

I nodded. “I’m sure they have their reasons.” I kept my tone deliberately neutral.

Ceion’s face twisted. “Yes. Don’t they always?”

We shared a moment of silence, both of us knowing the other’s thoughts went along the same lines as our own.

“You said you could give me guidance,” he finally spoke up.

I leaned against the outer wall, crossing my arms. “Sure. I stand by that.” I shot an irritated look at the pair of guards closest to us. “Aston, back off. Give us some space. He’s not going to attack me, and no one’s coming for us.”

Aston didn’t look like he agreed, but he bowed and motioned to the rest of the guard detail before starting to walk further away. I knew they wouldn’t let me out of their sight, but given cultivator speeds, there was really no reason they had to crowd me too closely. If Isuro or one of the spirits wanted to attack, we’d have bigger problems, and having Kiyanu in shouting distance would take care of any lesser threats.

“Can’t blame him for being twitchy,” Ceion commented. “Not that you have anything to worry about, of course. I couldn’t take control of you even if I tried, I’m quite sure.”

“How does that work, anyway?”

He looked at me for a moment, then shrugged. “It’s a bit like possession, that’s true, although I’ve still got my own body. There’s a limit of distance and cultivation stage, but in essence, it involves sending my qi into or around someone else - it’s a little hard to describe - to puppet their body.”

I nodded. “That sounds fascinating. So you still retain awareness of your own body while you’re doing this?”

He hesitated for a second, then sighed slightly, clearly deciding to keep talking. “In a sense, but only dimly. I have to actually move if I want my target to do something, which, as you can imagine, limits the use of the ability. Not the sort of thing it’s advisable to try in public. I don’t touch their minds at all, though, beyond getting some garbled feedback from their senses.”

“I see.” I uncrossed my arms and smiled slightly. “I believe I get what you mean. It sounds like an unpleasant ability to use, though.”

Ceion pulled a face. “Oh, pleasure is the cost of power! Or something like that. How did it go again?” He grinned, shaking his head.

“Hm. You know, one of mine is the ability to enter the dreams of another person, as long as they’re close or reasonably familiar to me, and influence them. It goes for my own dreams, too. I haven’t had any real sleep, with actual dreams, in years. If I want to give my mind a break, the only thing I can do is meditation, and that’s not quite as good, or maybe try less prudent things.”

Ceion blinked. “Huh. Somehow, it never occurred to me to wonder, I have to admit. That sounds fitting, though.”

I smiled. “Anyway, you wanted my guidance?”

“I suppose.” He frowned slightly, and I had the impression he focused on me more tightly. “In my situation, what would you do? Would you trust you?”

“Hm.” I leaned against the wall again. “I suppose I have a religious obligation to answer that honestly. Even though I’m not a religious person and I can’t imagine ever actually worshiping the Moon.” I tilted my head to the side. “I don’t know what I would do. There are quite a few things about your situation that I don’t know, which might affect what your best course of action is.”

He nodded. “That’s fair, I suppose. But still?”

“Well, in your place, I would be very wary of trusting Princess Inaris.” I smiled slightly. “But that’s just me. I’m not a very trusting person, generally speaking. But I don’t think you’re stupid enough to trust anyone unconditionally that easily, anyway. In this case, you should probably be more focused on options and results. You don’t need to trust someone if you’re confident they’ll act in their own self-interest in a manner that suits you.”

“That just shifts the question around. If I understood you well enough to know that, I wouldn’t have asked this.”

“Fair enough.” I ran a hand through my hair. “I want to help you, and I want to get you on my side, not that of my enemies. You’re already an investment to me. I also believe you deserve protection, just like anyone would, and I think trying to coerce you into anything would not only be ethically problematical, but likely to backfire.”

Ceion regarded me in silence for a moment, before he nodded. “I can see that. Thank you for being honest.”

“Of course.”

He still looked at me thoughtfully. “It’s not like I didn’t see how you were trying to manipulate me.”

I smiled slightly. “Trying? Given our situation now compared to where we started, I’d say I’ve been fairly successful.”

He grinned suddenly. “Indeed! Fair point, my lady.” He swept into an elaborate bow. “My respects.”

I repressed a frown. These sudden switches in demeanor were a little disorienting, which might be why he did them. “You’ve been doing that less often since you’re here,” I noted.

He straightened up, his expression serious again. He didn’t seem inclined to pretend he didn’t know what I was talking about. “I suppose I have,” he admitted, his tone thoughtful.

I shook my head and started walking, taking note of how long he hesitated before he fell into step beside me. Pretty quick. That was a good sign.

“I would like to start trying something a little more active to block your connection to the Auditor,” I said. “To make sure that he can’t compel you to do something against your will. What do you think?”

Ceion frowned. “If you can, that would be great. I don’t imagine he’s very pleased with me right now.” He hunched his shoulders slightly. “It’s not like I had much of a choice, but …”

“I understand.” I put a hand on his arm for a second, smiling. “Then I would suggest some focused meditation. I’ll try to guide you. Improving your mental defenses in general also couldn’t hurt. But the quickest and easiest way would probably to try to counter his influence with the Moon’s, to some extent.”

Ceion looked skeptical. “I’m all for that meditation. But what do you want to do with the Moon? I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“Well, firstly, I would try to bless you in his name,” I explained. “I’ve done that to people before, and while I can’t swear that it does anything, it could hopefully give you some protection. Besides that, blessing the space we’re on, perhaps with setting up small shrines in the corners or something, might help to spread his influence and make it harder for his enemies to work theirs.”

He frowned thoughtfully. “Alright. That sounds reasonable. And I suppose the Moon can hardly be any worse.” He stopped. “What should I do?”

I stopped as well, quickly glancing around. We were in another shadowed corner, with no one apparently watching. “If there’s a specific ritual, I don’t know it. Generally, people kneel and I lay a hand on their heads and say a few words to give them a blessing.”

Without any noticeable hesitation, Ceion lowered himself to his knees and bowed his head.

I took a deep breath, then stepped closer, smiling slightly, and laid a hand on his forehead. I spoke in Zarian. “Ceion, I bless you in the name of my father, Rijoko. May the Moon guide your path and light your way in the darkness. May he protect you and leave your mind free and safe against all outside influence, so that you may spend your days seeking your own guidance and finding your own wisdom.”

This time, I actually felt a small bit of qi. It came from my connection with my father. Ceion didn’t show any reaction, but he’d kept his gaze lowered, so I didn’t see his face. I stepped back and watched him get back on his feet.

“Well, that’s that!” He grinned. “Never thought I’d actually find a use for spirituality, but there you have it!”

I returned his smile. That went well. I just hoped it would be of some use.