The sand wiped across his face as he stared into the distance. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"We were not able to find his location, but we have a lead on the hidden prisons of the western capital," Mina said. She was among the spies that had been sent out yet again to look for Koru.

Sagiri had expected these words, and he was not fazed.

"Without the Shadow, the Crown will fall into madness. With the Shadow, the Crown may fall in love and perish. To save the world, one must die."

The words myama had said had been weighing on him of late. Well, they had been weighing on him since he saw her tattoo.

It had been a year since Sagiri had left the north. He was now at the edge of the south. Thousands of vaara from the Tagayia border, but still thousands from the heart of the south. Sagiri needed to have contact with Koru as soon as possible. That was not the only reason Sagiri had decided not to go further into the south.

He recognized that he had enemies who wanted him dead, even in the South, though for different reasons than the North. For the North, it was because of fear, but for the South, it was because of jealousy. He had quickly learned that the South worked in a different way. The four tribes of the south, where N’folu was one of them, each had a chief who sat on the ruling council. The N’folu seat had been empty for sixteen years. Even so, it was not left vacant, and a man had been holding the position. A man of the Mazuku tribe, whose clan was a powerhouse of the south, had taken it upon himself to take the seat. His brother, being the chief of the Mazuku tribe, the two, had been leading the council by the nose, but no one had dared complain.

Well, Sagiri had no interest in politics. The N’folu had not been interested in them either, and their seat had always been neutral in all matters. The keepers especially did not touch politics. Sagiri, being a keeper, was not to take part in politics. Even so, his returning to the south with the Tatani tribe had caused discontent, and Siyia had soon left to go back and report to his master. After all, his duty was done. He was tasked with bringing him safely south, and his duty was done.

Sagiri had asked about Koru. Siyia, a leader of a troupe of the whisper masters, could surely know where Koru was.

"The whispers I hear are only meant for my master’s ears." Siyia had said. The man was peaceful but cunning. Whisperers were currency to them, and they were rich.

"I know I must pay for the whippers. State your price. He was my mother’s sand shade. I know he is alive. I will find him either way." Sagiri said.

"I save you, yet you threaten me." Siyia had feigned innocence, but Sagiri could tell that the man wanted to bargain. He desired something so deep that Sagiri could almost taste it on his lips.

"You can count it as two favours if you tell me where he is. You name them, and if they are within my capabilities, I will achieve them." Sagiri said.

"The price for a whisper is too high. What if I want the weapon you wield?" Siyia teased.

"You cannot wield Nokai. You are not a N’folu and neither a Ngaru. She only answers to the keepers. The masters of whispers know that much, don’t they?" Sagiri asked.

"The whispers only know what we hear. N’folu had always kept to themselves. We don’t have many whispers on them. Perhaps now I know." Siyia said.

"Speak then. Or I can just go through your memories." Sagiri said. Part of him meant it, but he did not yet want to be enemies with the veiled speaker and his whispers troupes.

"You are too cruel. Not like the N’folu who could never harm a fly," Siyia had laughed. He was not fazed by the threat either.

"Well then. A little birdie told me he is in the loins of the capital in a prison." Siyia said.

"The South has two capitals, which one? That is like telling me to look for a needle in a haystack." Sagiri said.

"Well, that is for you to find out. The east capital and the west capital are, after all, one thing." Siyia said. Sagiri just sighed. If he thought N’varu was tight-lipped, then he was mistaken. Everyone and everything in the south was kept so close to the chest.

"No, what do you wish me to repay you?" Sagiri had asked, even though he had not gotten the answers he wanted.

"I wish you to find someone for me," Siyia said, and for a minute, a slight feeling from deep inside made its way to his eyes. rage.

"If you want to kill someone, you are a capable fighter and know all the whispers of the south. I fear you are in a better position to find them," Sagiri said.

"Well, a deal is a deal."

"Who do you want me to find for you?" Sagiri sighed.

"I will tell you when you are done with all the shit you just stepped into. When you have solved your problems and perhaps taken your seat, then you will be worthy to know who I seek. Well, that is if you are still alive by then." Siyia had said. He and his troupe had left for the eastern capital then, and true to his words, Sagiri’s troubles had begun.

The council of the south had sent word that he was to kill all the Tatani, then proceeded to the capital alone. He had sent word back then telling the council he was a member of it by right, and they did not have the right to order him around. He had made it clear that anyone who dared come to the arid lands of the south of the barren lands and into the southern desert to seek him would not return alive.

No one had dared move north again, but life had not gotten any easier for the Tatani who had come south with him. They had made homes north of the desert. They had survived underground where nothing could grow, and they had adapted rather quickly to the vicious environment.

There was, however, brewing tension, and Sagiri knew he had to find Koru quickly before everything went to dust. His spies had not managed to break into the two capitals yet, but they had mapped the area and in the past eleven months, and finally they had found a way for Sagiri to enter the western capital of the south.

They had not been able to find out anything about Koru, however, as long as he could get into the capital. He would easily find him. He was going in blind, but standing still was no longer an option.

Too much time had passed.