THE LAST KEEPER

Chapter 309. MAPPING

"You can’t go out," N’varu said. He was back to nagging like he was his mom.

"And I can’t sit still either. I did not come to this city to sleep and play house." Sagiri said, tying the cloak over his new set of clothes, which Zifara had been kind enough to provide.

"What did Zifara say about meeting the council?" Kiuga asked. They were all gathered in Sagiri’s room now. The wing was big, and everyone had been afforded a room on the same floor. Zifara had been kind enough to let them have a floor to themselves.

"We didn’t agree, but a week at least. I’m not going to wait for them to gather anyway."

"But you don’t know where he is, for all we know, he might be in Azreen capital," N’varu said.

"Even more reason for me to search this city. You guys have to be back in the north. You have to return to the war college in two weeks. Or have you forgotten that Tagayia will notice your absence?" Sagiri said. "Remember to watch your mouths and keep your tribal tattoos hidden."

"Kaka is going to give us away anyway," Kiuga said.

"I won’t. I have perfected my disguise." Kaka said.

"Your size is the issue, dumb dumb. Try not to grow anymore while we are here, and keep quiet. We will call you Big Mute as your new disguise." Kiuga taunted.

"You wouldn’t dare. I will kill you and bury you in this city." Kaka threatened.

"So much for perfecting your disguise. The next thing you know, you are bragging about how the Asakana are great." Kiuga sighed.

"The Asakana are the greatest clan," Kaka said, and Kiuga let out a groan from deep inside his throat and face-palmed.

"Well, try to keep your coverings intact. Your clan tattoo runs all over your chest." Sagiri said. Kiuga had a habit of showcasing his chest, and Sagiri needed to remind him.

"I have perfected my disguise. I am not like dumb dumb over there." Kiuga said.

"Call me that again, and there will be no corpse for the Tinega to bury." Kaka snarled.

"Cut it out, you two. There is a lady in our midst." Banga said.

"Can I come with you?" Lira said almost immediately. She had at some point seamlessly fit into the group like a clingy pet.

"No," Sagiri said immediately, and the girl’s face dropped.

"Your charm when it comes to talking to women is only rivaled by the desert we travelled through." Kiuga shook his head in disappointment.

"Lira, not just you but everyone. Only I can spy and step out of this fortress without getting caught. Do you understand?" Sagiri explained again.

"You have to keep to the inner city or just map the fortress tonight. Don’t miss a detail." Kiuga said his mood shifted to a serious one.

"If I didn’t know better, I’d say the north sent you to spy on the south," Sagiri said in a light tone, standing up from his place on the floor.

"You do know the north like the back of your hand. It’s only fair."

Sagiri shook his head before heading to the door, but a hand held onto his cloak, stopping him.

"Don’t get hurt." It was Lira, and she had a strange expression on her face. Sagiri wanted to laugh, but he was beginning to admit he would never understand women fully. Even Bakuru had always said he had never understood Rusha. She had wanted to kill him and almost succeeded, but now she was attached to his side. Even Gavina wanted to beat him to a pulp before accepting him as a spouse. Sagiri just sighed.

"Okay. You keep those boys grounded till I’m back." Sagiri nodded and said. She let go of him, and he finally moved out.

Sagiri could have moved within the archive, but he did not want to. He moved silently, keeping to the darkness till he stood at the top of the sixth wing fortress. The top was just as separated as the wings. Each wing had its own triangular top. A wall rose slightly between the roof of the sixth wing and the next. Sagiri walked slowly and stood at the edge. He jumped up and perched at the edge of the high wall. He was a hundred and fifty feet off the ground, to say the least. It was almost midnight, yet the inner city looked light.

Every corner was lit, making it hard for anyone to lurk in many places. From where Sagiri stood, he could see the supreme chief’s residence or fortress. The building stood tall and intimidating. Sagiri did not doubt in his mind that the supreme chief sort of shadow corps resided there, just like the ones of the north.

Breaking into it or going close to it could definitely prove impossible. He did not know where to search and how to search, but he was going to search high and low in every nook and cranny of the inner city. First, he needed to have a good view of the fortress from every rooftop of every wing. There was no one watching from up above every wing, and he did not have time to wonder why before he was moving around.

From his place, he could see the warriors of the south on the walls around the fortress, facing both in and out. Perhaps there was no one watching from above because they did not expect a person to fly in. Sagiri made sure to memorize every detail, even how far apart the warriors stood and their number, before he walked across and jumped from the fifth wing rooftop onto the sixth. then to the first, then the second, then the fourth. He had just landed on the wall of the fourth wing when he paused. He had felt the presence of someone, and he stopped.

His eyes moved down, and then he saw him. A small figure was holding a press-up. Their hands were shaking violently.

Azir?

He was sweating bullets, and his breath was laboured. He was also shirtless and did not look anything like a city lord.

Just then, Azir turned his head around as if sensing Sagiri, and their eyes met.

"Big brother!" The bay yelled but did not move to leave his position. Sagiri placed a finger to his lips, and the boy nodded. He continued holding the position with as much determination as possible.

"Uncle is punishing you for almost killing you. I have to hold it like this for another hour." Azir said.

"The way I see it, he is letting you off easy. He should let you hold that position this morning." Sagiri said, and the boy looked embarrassed.

"I have failed as the city Lord. I will officially sit on that chair when I turn sixteen in eight months, but I feel like I have failed." The boy said in a small voice.

"If you think you have failed, then you have. You have to know that the lives of all those in the capital depend on each decision you make. You have to think carefully and follow the general’s lead." Sagiri chastised.

"I will consider big brother’s words. I will take my training seriously and listen more in political lessons." Azir said with determination.

"You have not caused much damage, so consider it a lesson. Since you are taking the punishment seriously and the words of your seniors seriously, it means you have taken your first step to being a better city Lord." Sagiri said, and he meant it. The boy was kind and naive, but he was going to grow to become a great leader one day.

"You think so?" Azir said his happiness was palpable.

"I know so. Now don’t disappoint me." Sagiri said. The boy nodded and continued holding the position.

"Why are you not sleeping?" Azir asked after a moment of silence.

"New places give me nightmares," Sagiri said, and the boy looked in his direction again.

"Big brother!" He said with pity. "You are so pitiful." He added.

Such a bold statement for someone who was serving a punishment. The boy was just bizarre.