After the stunning victory of Broken over Savel, the former became an instant celebrity. Lords invited him to important parties, and now, he had far more noblewomen to talk to than just Val and Aza.

And thus, Broken had less time to spare. It was not until a week later that Mai had the chance to sit down with Broken, and really talk to him. In that week, he had somehow convinced a lord into giving him a small villa, complete with three attendant servants, and so they met there.

Broken and Mai sat down on opposite chairs on a roof balcony open to the sky, and one of the servants poured them drinks.

“Is there anything else you need, my lord?” asked the man.

“No, but thank you, Gan,” said Broken.

And Gan left the two alone.

Mai stared at the servant for a moment, as he disappeared down a flight of stairs, into the house proper. She was still rather confused as to how Broken had procured such a pleasant building.

“How exactly did you get all this?” she asked him.

“Three days ago, we went to that party at the Lord of the Third Paril’s house, remember?” asked Broken.

Mai remembered well.

“I sold an object of value to his lordship,” said Broken, “and in return, I received this.”

“What did you have to sell that could possibly be worth the same as the villa?” asked Mai.

“The sword I used to defeat Savel.” Broken shrugged. “Apparently his wife wanted it. His lordship was very careful when asking, as to not offend me, but, as the sword was not of meaning to me, I was quite willing to part with it.” He paused. “And now I have this.” He patted the sword at his waist. “And the Lord of the Third Paril was kind enough to give me a new weapon.”

Mai changed topics. “You were quite impressive at the duel.”

“Everyone keeps telling me that,” said Broken. “In fact, even you keep telling me that.”

“Why didn’t you kill Savel?” asked Mai, getting to her real point. “After he tried to kill you with the Wrath, he hadn’t surrendered, so you had a chance to kill him.”

“I did not kill Savel because, while the rules of the duel would have allowed it, one is not encouraged to kill an opponent in the laws of honor.”

“But you don’t care about honor,” said Mai.

“Not quite true,” said Broken. “I don’t care for some of the extremes, but I have my personal codes. But, more importantly, the hundreds of people watching the duel did care about honor, and I wanted to make a good impression on them.”

“Savel has a grudge now,” said Mai. “Even defeated, he’s still dangerous.” And she told Broken of her encounter with Savel, just prior to the duel.

“The risk was still worth it,” said Broken. “And with me around, I doubt Savel will be able to cause much more harm. If he tries something again like that on you, I will kill him.”

Broken said the words so casually.

“Broken?” asked Mai, “How did you learn to be such a good warrior? With your skills, you should be renowned the Empire over.”

“And yet I am not,” said Broken. “It is curious for you, isn’t it?”

Mai nodded.

“The full explanation is one of those things I cannot say,” said Broken. “However, I learned the ways of the warrior a long time ago. That is all I will tell you.”

“How long ago?” asked Mai. “You’re not out of your twenties.”

But Broken would say no more on that. “How is Ishad?” he asked. “I haven’t seen much of him recently.”

“Ishad’s off on his job for Belium Tarquin,” said Mai. “He’s working hard, and he’s gaining influence in the company.”

“Where do you see yourself a year from now?” asked Broken.

The question took Mai rather by surprise. “Here, I guess, with Ishad. He’ll be richer then. The war will be winding down, and we’ll be able to journey from Asan Paril without fear.”

“Where do you see me a year from now?”

Mai thought. The truth was, she no longer needed Broken, not so long as she was in Asan Paril, and safe. “Somewhere,” she said. “Once the war is over, you’ll probably disappear somewhere, and be gone from my life.”

“After all I have done for you,” said Broken, rather flatly, “that’s all you can say?”

“Well,” said Mai, “with all your mystery, I suppose you will have to go back to wherever you came from sooner or later.”

“But I don’t, Mai,” said Broken. “That’s the thing. I have nowhere to return to.”

“That can’t be true,” said Mai. “You’re a lord. You must have a lordship somewhere.”

“What I once had was taken from me,” said Broken. “When I found you, I had nothing but myself.”

Broken got up, and looked over the railing, and looked the ten feet down to the street below.

“I could jump that,” he said. “Such are my skills that I could jump down the ten feet, and emerge unscathed, when another would have broken bones.” He turned back to her, and flexed his muscles. The darkening afternoon sun stared down at him, making a shadow.

It occurred to Mai that standing the naked light; Broken didn’t look like all that much. He looked defeated, when he should have looked victorious.

“I have so much talent,” said Broken. “So much skill, so much knowledge. And yet, without a purpose, what is a man?”

“That day in the Imperial Palace, I had no idea what to do with myself, my life. But then I learned from a passing servant that you were in your room, a room in a burning building, and you needed help.

“And so I came. I came, and saved you, against what others might consider the odds.

“And then I kept you alive. Those that wished you dead were legion, but I spited them all. I had purpose, and so, once more, I could do anything.

“But now you are in Asan Paril. There are still threats against you life, but they are lesser now. I am not needed as I once was.

“My battle with Savel was seen by some as a great victory, but I was not among that number. I was never in doubt that I could defeat Savel. I knew I could.

“But when I won, when I looked that defeated man in the eyes, and asked him if he gave in, in another way, I had lost, as well. Savel was the last major threat against you, Princess. Now, he has fallen.

“Another man would pretend he was still necessary, pretend that he was still relevant in the life of the one he guarded. But I do not see a point; I do not see a reason, to delude myself. I sit here, in this villa that came to me, preparing for possible threats against your life, and knowing that I doubt they will ever come. Asan Paril has never fallen. I wonder if it is my fate to stay here until I grow old and die, without ever doing anything important, anything meaningful, ever again.”

Mai stared at Broken. She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t have the slightest clue.

For how did one comfort another, when that other knew everything there was to know, unequivocally? Broken knew exactly what he was. And he knew he was no longer needed.

Broken collapsed back into his chair, as if all the fight in the world had been drained from him.

“Do you know why I show weakness after a fight is done?” he asked. “Do you know why, after I defeated the demon possessing Ishad, I began to pant, I began to seem fatigued?”

“No,” said Mai.

“Because after the enemy is gone, there is no reason to pretend, anymore, that you are more than you are,” said Broken. “Remember when, at the Holy Citadel, my chest had a huge slash across it?”

“Yes,” said Mai.

“Do you have any idea of how much that hurt?” asked Broken. “Do you have any idea of what if feels like, to look down and actually see your insides? To you, it must have seemed like I was invincible, like I was immortal.

“But that isn’t the truth. I merely looked at my wound, felt the waves of pain from the cut, and realized that I had no choice but to move past it. I had no choice but to pretend that I felt no pain. I had no choice but to move on, if I wished to save your life. Then, I was merely a man with a purpose.”

“You still have purpose,” said Mai. “You’re the most capable man I know. To me, it seems as if you can do anything. You make the rest of us seem like shadows.”

“Those are attributes,” said Broken, “not reasons to live.”

He continued. “There was a time in my life when it seemed as if everything was over. I couldn’t do anything. I didn’t even have the power to kill myself, and end it all. Back then, I was as capable as I am today. And yet I was powerless. Then, I had no reason to live, but no way to stop living. I am beginning to feel that way again, now.”

“I don’t suppose you can tell me what was happening, when you were so…powerless,” said Mai.

“You are right,” said Broken. “That is one of the secrets I carefully keep from you. But now I wonder: what is the point to keep secrets any longer? If you still have the slightest desire to know who I truly am, ask, and I will tell you.”

It was then that Mai finally realized how fallen Broken felt. He was willing to bear what he had so carefully kept hidden. He was willing to tell Mai what he had hinted was one of the most terrible secrets in the world.

And for no real reason.

The truth was, Mai was tempted to say she wanted to hear it all, say she wanted to listen, but she had to be stronger than that.

When Broken had still thought there was a purpose, when he had been so obviously stronger than her, he had shown Mai the way.

Now, strangely, it seemed the situation was somewhat reversed. Mai held Broken in the palm of her hand, just as he had held her for so long.

Mai realized she had to prove she had learned something from Broken. She couldn’t let him tear himself down.

“No,” she said. “Don’t tell me.”

“But…why?” asked Broken. “You want to know.”

“Because there was a reason why you decided to keep parts of your life hidden,” said Mai. “I might not understand exactly why, but by now, I believe that you keep your secrets for a reason. A good reason. I cannot let you fail yourself now.”

Broken looked at her. His eyes closed, and a tiny, yet noticeable shudder racked his body.

When he opened his eyes again, a moment later, he looked to have regained at least some of his strength. When he spoke, his voice was deeper, more in control.

“Thank you, Mai,” said Broken. “Now, I do believe that you made the right decision. But you do not know how like my name I feel.”

“That’s not your name,” said Mai, on a whim. “You have a real one, a real one you will not tell me, perhaps because I will recognize it. And that is your real name. Don’t pretend you are really Broken. You are someone, and you are proud.”

“I have no pride. That was stripped from me a long time ago. But…perhaps you are onto something.”

Broken looked at the ground, then looked back up. “I just told myself my real name,” he said. “I just reminded myself of the things I have kept hidden for decades.” He paused as if he was going to say something else, yet did not.

“Good for you,” Mai said, her words blowing on the empty air.

“I have but one question for you,” said Broken. “And then, perhaps, I will never have another. When I ask this question, I mean no disrespect. Pretend you are answering it about another, if that helps.”

“What is the question?” asked Mai, curious in her own right.

“Why did you never fall for me?”

“What was that?” Mai asked, unsure if she was hearing the words right.

“Why were you never attracted to me?” asked Broken.

There could be no mistake as the intent of his words.

“Why do you ask that?” asked Mai, somewhat flustered.

“Because I know some things,” said Broken. “I know that for others, my presence might have been irresistible.” He spoke flatly. “But not for you. Please answer the question.”

Mai thought, and realized somewhat surprised, that she truly had never thought of Broken in a way like that.

“Why?” Mai repeated. “Because I always felt you were too perfect.”

Broken didn’t seem to take offence at that. “Explain, please.”

“When I met you,” said Mai, “I had no way of possibly understanding you. You were too complicated, too deep. Now, while I know you better, I still don’t know all there is to know.” She felt like a hypocrite for saying the next part now, after she had refused to hear the truth. “And you never shared.”

But Broken merely nodded again. “And what about Ishad?” he asked.

“Ishad might not have your talent, might not have your skill,” said Mai. “But he’s honest and loyal. He’s understandable. And that’s what I need.”

As Broken looked back at her, Mai realized the truth of so many things. That day, when she thought Broken had been attracted to her, he had never denied, only evaded. She had been right.

“I realize that you may well be everything other women want in a man,” said Mai. “But after my father, after everything he put me through, I could never be with a man who thinks he’s more than me.”

It was as if Broken truly had nothing to respond to that. After a minute, he said, “Thank you, Mai, for being honest.” He looked shaken.

Broken looked shaken, at something Mai had said.

The world was on its head.

“Is that all?” Mai asked, trying to sound kind.

“Yes,” said Broken. He bowed his head. “Go back to your to-be fiancée,” he said. “Go back to your life.”

“Ishad didn’t propose,” said Mai.

“He will,” Broken responded. “I am a shattered man, and I understand you can find it in your heart to care little. I am honestly sorry if anything I said today made you feel uncomfortable.” He got up. “Now go. You don’t have to come back.” He sounded so long-suffering.

Mai did get up, but she didn’t leave. “When you found me, during all those times you saved my life, you were hoping for something more,” she said. “That is impossible. But it doesn’t mean you did nothing, and can do nothing ever again. Without you, I would have been choked to death in the Imperial Palace. Without you, I would have been killed by the Minsu guards in Gansu. Without you, Eton would have burnt me alive in the Holy Citadel. Without you, I would have been crushed to death in Bola. And without you, I would have died thinking Ishad killed me.

“You did something, Broken.”

“I did do something,” he said. “But I have nothing for the future. I saved the princess from certain death at the hands of various people. That is in the past, as are all my other accomplishments.”

With three short sentences, he cut down everything Mai had said.

“If that is the way you feel, then there is nothing more I can say,” Mai responded. “I’m sorry for you Broken.” She paused. “I’ll go now.”

And so she did. As she passed through the villa on her way out, Claw-Back landed on a chair, and hooted at her, mournfully.

Mai didn’t know what the bird was saying, but she caught the general gist.

She walked out of the villa, to where a carriage waited, outside, to take her back to the palace.

Mai had places to go, that night, people to see, parties to attend. She would have asked Broken to come with her, had she thought he would have accepted for himself, rather than simply because she asked him.

Mai didn’t really know what to think, as she sat in the carriage, all alone, hearing the clip clop of horse hooves beating the ground outside.

When Broken had an enemy to face, a goal to achieve, a lurking evil hanging over his head, he seemed invincible.

But when he had vanquished all, it seemed his immortality left him.

Broken was depressed, and that was an odd fact for Mai to comprehend.

***

One week after Broken had defeated Savel in combat, Tur was in his apartments, reading an old tome he had gotten from the archives. Squinting with his one good eye, he paused over an unfamiliar word.

And he realized he was not alone.

His two bodyguards, of course, did not count as company; they were still and silent until talked to.

Tur set the book on the glass table in front of him, then got up and turned around.

The demon in brown robes stood there, head down.

It seemed Tur’s two guards noticed the demon at the same time Tur had, and in a moment, they came up to flank Tur, swords drawn.

But Tur barked a command for the blades to be put away. He stared at the demon. All that stood between them was the chair that, moments before, Tur had calmly rested on.

“I have come back,” said the demon. “I have come back to ask you my question the final time. Will you give up Maiako as Arathou del Tachen?”

“No,” said Tur.

The demon did nothing for a moment, paused by the answer. “Then you know the fate that will befall you, you know the fate that will befall your city. You are no innocent, and you have been warned.”

The demon began to raise his head to look at Tur, but the Lord of Asan Paril was not going to wait and let that happen.

It was time to see if all the wards and enchantments that had been placed against the demon really worked.

“Verita!” Tur shouted, into thin air.

An invisible wave of force blew through Tur, harmlessly, but hit the demon full force. It tumbled over, backwards.

There was a sound of hissing, of crackling energy, but nevertheless, the demon began to rise to its feet.

But the Verita ward was not all that was ready for the demon.

Not by far.

As his bodyguards watched incredulously, Tur screamed, “Delmar!”

Smoke poured from the demon’s robes, from each and every crevice. It fell to its knees.

Even though its face was looking right at Tur, he could see nothing of the demon itself, not through the sparks that crackled across its frame, and the smoke that poured from under its hood.

“Avased!” exclaimed Tur.

The demon rose into the air, floating, and its limbs splayed out in an x, as it hissed in pain. Its hands and its feet looked like they were burning smoke.

And to Tur, the demon no longer seemed remotely threatening.

“You thought you could kill ten of my good men,” said Tur, to the demon, which was placed prone in the air. “You thought you could extort me, without ever paying a price. But you were wrong. Asan Paril will stand forever, and not even a Terrasanu can change that.”

The demon shuddered, and Tur knew the three magics were taking their toll. Tur knew the demon was dying.

No light shined from the demon’s eyes when it spoke. “I AM AN IMMORTAL, LORD ASHAT. MARK THE WORDS I SPEAK. ASAN PARIL WILL FALL.”

Its voice echoed throughout the room, and made Tur’s guards cower. But Tur knew the power was a façade, an act. He stood there, unafraid.

“Listen to me, demon!” shouted Tur. “You may be an immortal, but immortals can be killed. They can die. Fall silent. I will hear none of your lies!”

“LIES, LORD OF ASAN PARIL? I SPEAK NO LIES. MY WORD IS PROVEN. THE WHITE WALLS SHALL BE PIERCED BY A BLACK HAND, AND THE WHITE CITY SHALL BURN UNDER TREACHERY. THE WATERS SHALL STEAM, AND THERE WILL BE FIRE IN THE SKY. THIS IS NOT THE HOPE OF ONE NEAR DEATH. THIS IS PROPHECY, AND THIS IS LAW.

“AND I AM IMMORTAL.”

A great noise of shattering glass came to Tur’s ears, just as he and his guards were knocked backwards, onto the ground.

The demon landed lightly on the ground. It still steamed, as the wards Tur had activated etched through its frame.

But it was free once more.

Without bothering to look at Tur, it said, “YOU WILL LIVE TO REGRET THIS.”

Tur closed his eyes, overcome by pain. When he opened them again, a moment later, the demon was gone.

The wards had forced the thing away, but they had not been strong enough to kill it.