As dawn begins to break, Xander starts to rouse. He almost tries to stretch, but finds himself surrounded on all sides (and with Anisa holding onto him from behind no less). Golden scales to the front, and orangish ones around his feet. "I think I get the hint," he mutters quietly, and starts whispering his warmth cantrip in hopes of waking the others.
While Xander chants, he does notice one thing out of the ordinary, Kin is already warm. Still, even with that the warmth cantrip is a welcome addition as once it begins, the reptile seems to relax even more before her eyes open and the slits of her pupils flex and shift as they try to focus. "Good morning, Hotfoot," she mumbles.
For Anisa's part, she doesn't wake immediately. Instead, she furrows her brow with eyes still closed, and squeezes the buck tighter. "Mmnngh… stupid curtains don't block out anything… "
Xander chokes on part of his cantrip when the doe squeezes, and can only wheeze out, "Gluck!"
Kin's gold tinted eyes blink a few more times. Carefully, she extracts herself from the 'glucking' Lapi and pushes herself upright. Her Kimono hangs loosely on her this morning; almost sliding off her shoulders, in fact. She catches it and pulls it back into place before she looks around the desolate campsite slowly, hopeful but realistic.
At Xander's sudden sound of dismay, Anisa's eyes pop open. "'Gluck'? None of my dolls go Gl- oh!" She quickly loosens her hold on the buck, and rolls over with a yawn. "Oh yeah, we're out here still. Peachy."
After catching his breath, Xander notes, "Yes, we're still here. And I get the hint from the cuddling: you want me to come along with you for protection."
A more-or-less black ball rolls over, separating from the group and eventually unfolding and sitting up. Gibson makes some smacking noise, then spits. "Pfft. I'm done with sand."
Kin raises her hand and is about to say something … then promptly stops. "If that belief will get him to come, then I should not break him of it," she realizes. "That is one of two reasons, Xander," she does eventually say, though.
"Oh, what's the other?" the mage asks, looking expectantly at the two females.
Sitting up, Anisa gives another yawn, followed by a stretch of her arms. "Because you make a good pillow." Popping her back, the doe gets to her feet, and starts to do a few stretches as if she were warming up for a workout. "So does that mean you'll come with us?"
"Okay, three reasons," Kin ends up saying after Anisa's comment, then answers the buck with, "And we love you." Instead of stretching right now, the Kiriga starts to claw-comb out her tangled mane.
Xander basks for a moment in both compliments, and then asks, "Can we spy on the airfield along the way?"
"I doubt we can get that close to it," Kin notes with a small shrug, which trails off into a pained hiss. She grips part of her mane in one hand and makes short, quick, strokes with the other to pull through a rather nasty tangle.
"I wish we had a spyglass," Xander mutters.
Fishing around in her pocket, Anisa walks over to Kin and offer her the ear brush. "Besides, I doubt we really want to linger, Hotfoot. The faster we're out of here, the better." Pausing, the doe looks left, then right, then over her shoulder. "Has anyone seen Lilac?"
Gibson, still a bit bleary, begins rummaging through his backpack. "I've still got the sextant. But Anisa's right. I think we've stirred up the Zelak's nest about as much as can be done short of spitting in Beshret's eye."
"I wish we already had an army," Kin counters, "But we don't always get what we desire." To Anisa, she says as she accepts the brush, "I haven't seen her yet this morning. She may have already gone off to her mission into the camp." Kin's voice is held unusually calm and flat; which is often indicative of the reptile repressing back some sort of emotion.
"We've got two drokies," Xander notes.
"Two drokkars does not an army make," Anisa says, slinging her bow and quiver over her shoulder. "Do we want to make a chance at going back to the other campsite? Did we leave anything there that we'll need? Besides my luggage, that is." The doe grumbles under her breath.
"If they've found the campsite, they have already likely taken everything. We can try to make a pass by it, if you feel it is possible. I do not know where you relocated it to," Kin says, "But remember the map shows where they have supplies stashed. We can always raid their supplies on our way."
Xander asks, "How far is the closest supply stash?"
"I doubt they have a designer Ikamu trunk in one of those stashes," Anisa mutters under her breath, loading her supplies on to Buttercup.
Kin finally gets to her feet and starts stretching out. This elicits a few hisses from the Kiriga as her much abused body complains as muscles are forced to move. "I recommend that we simply take from their supplies on the way. Whatever we lost in out other camp may be recovered later. If not, it ultimately doesn't matter; things can be replaced. People cannot."
The drokkar snorts, and lips at Anisa. Though not as hardy as the Dromodons would have been, the sandstorms don't seem to have bothered it in the least, grit simply washing over its hide.
Xander clears his throat, and asks, "So, who gets to ride sandwiched?"
"I expected to walk," Kin admits with a small shrug.
Anisa reaches up to pet Buttercup's muzzle. "Its probably best if we use them to carry our stuff. Drokkar aren't like Dromodons – they'd wear out over the long distance if they had to carry us too." Picking up a few small things, she loads them into the animal's saddlebags. "Sorry to get your hopes up, Hotfoot."
"Hmm, so we aren't going to be making great time then," the mage notes.
Kin goes about collecting her meager things; her swords and the bundle that contains the wrapped up mask and crystal she escaped with. "We will do the best we can, Xander. If we are lucky, the supply cache will have something stronger we can borrow," the Kiriga says.
"I admit," Xander says as he gets ready to head out, "I wouldn't mind riding one of those desert giants sometime… "
"You wouldn't say that if you saw them up close," Kin tells the Lapi. "Come. The Empire awaits us and we must go greet it."
With as much energy as they can muster, the Lapi and Kirigai leave their makeshift camp behind, and venture out once again. If there's any blessing to the sandstorm, it's that at least whatever pursuers they had were driven away. All but one, it seems… once the sand gives up trying to scour their skin off, visibility clears considerably and gives Kin and Anisa a glimpse at thunderheads in the distance, a disconcertingly tall wall of dark gray contrasting markedly with golden sands.
Everyone settles in for a trudge, and a trudge it is. The wagon wasn't great for speed, but at least nobody had to walk. The sand is tiring to plod through, mushy footing sapping considerable energy, as well as climbing up and down dunes. Even the optimistic Gibson is caught muttering about how he doesn't care if the supply cache is full of horribs, he'll just be glad to get there. Eventually, the sand firms up a bit, indicating a bed of stone underfoot, which matches the map. The cache should be nearby.
Kin, for her part, walked quietly. More often than not she could be seen looking to the horizon ahead and behind. Perhaps she was just watching the clouds come, or perhaps she was watching for pursuers. She is thankful, though, when she reaches the stone bed underfoot. It's here she pauses to consult the map. "I expect the entrance to the cache to be hidden. Can those of good hearing thump the ground a bit as they walk and listen for echos?" the Kiriga asks.
"And watch out for the sand lion, whatever it is," Xander notes.
Following Kin's lead, Anisa comes to a halt, sitting down on the firmer ground and rubbing her sore feet. "My Gallah's feel like shattered glass, but I think we can manage." Leaning down, the Lapi raps the ground with her fist, swiveling a large downward.
Tump, tump. Stone here. Long Tooth wanders some distance away, and jumps up and down, but it sounds like stone where he is as well. Gibson heads in another direction, and scuffs his foot at a spot.
Kin tilts her head in the direction of Gibson when he scuffs his foot. "Did you find something?" she asks him.
As Gibson scuffs, Anisa's ears immediately snap in his direction. "Wait… Did you hear that?" Jumping up, she trots over to her brother, and thumps the ground hard. "There's a cave or something here."
"I could toss a fireball," Xander suggests. "Just give me forty minutes… oh, never mind."
Kin tucks away the map into her kimono and walks over towards Gibson and Anisa. "Let'sclear sand and look for an outline of a door, a seam, anything," she offers as she reaches them. The Kiriga then lowers herself down and starts sweeping at the sand.
Feet being much larger than her hands, Anisa uses them to shift the sand around, her toes feeling for anything out of the ordinary.
Gibson swivels his ears down to listen a bit more closely, then nods at Kin and his sister when Anisa stomps again. "Yeah… yeah, I think you're right! There must be a crack here that's letting sand in." He stoops to help Kin. It's slow work, since the sand seems to want to keep filling spots in, but eventually the group is rewarded with, indeed, a crack in sandy stone zig-zagging away toward the south a bit. It doesn't seem to show an opening big enough to worm through, but does afford a peek down into a deep darkness. Wait, it's not quite so dark… there seems to be some flickering illumination down there, like torchlight gradually brightening.
Anisa's ears twitch once again, and with a startled leap of surprise, she soars backwards away from where she was standing. "Wait," she whispers loudly, "there's somebody down there!"
"Let us follow the crack south. Perhaps it will lead to an entrance. There has to be an entrance somewhere," Kin reasons then immediately goes quiet when Anisa says someone is down there. The Kiriga pauses to rub her forehead briefly, looking very frustrated. "I don't care if someone is down there," she finally says, though quieter. "I am … annoyed. We are finding a way in."
Zipping over to Buttercup, Anisa quickly retrieves her combat gear. "They sound like they're ready for a fight if need be – I heard armor and what sounded like weapons. I'm also willing to bet they know we're here now."
Gibson backs away from the crack, and nods, lowering his voice. "Better assume so, whether they did or not." He begins trotting south.
"Then if they want a fight they'll get one," Kin murmurs as she gets to her feet. She moves closer to the fire mage and tells him. "Xander, prepare a nasty spell, please. We'll locate the entrance but we need not be in any hurry to enter."
Once laden with her gear, Anisa exaggeratively tiptoes over to the crack, and gently kneels down. Putting her face close to the desert floor, the attempts to peer down into the crack, her ear flat against it as well.
While the others search, Xander takes the opportunity to sit down and work on a minor spell, just in case: a flame arrow.
Whomever was walking below has since wandered past where the crack was first discovered. Anisa can't see much down there except for the light retreating in the opposite direction from whence it came.
With a frown, Anisa stands back up. "We missed our chance to see who it was. They didn't seem like they were in much of a hurry." The doe follows the crack, and joins Kin in looking for an entrance.
As Kin and Gibson head south, it's Kin that crests a dune first, and gets a peek over the top of a small depression in the sand. If they hadn't known it was here, they'd likely never have seen it; a little trough in the stone sheltered from the blowing dunes. A natural cave opening is just below where Kin stands on its roof. A pair of drokkar, barded and bearing quivers of arrows, stand hitched to a weatherbeaten post wedged between a couple boulders.
Kin holds up her hands for the others to stop. When she spots the drokkars, the first thing that crosses her mind is, "We could take these as replacements for what we lost. It would make traveling less painful." She retreats back down the dunes and whispers to the others, "There's a cave on the other side. Also drokkars. What is our food and water situation? It may be best to just take the drokkars and not enter."
Anisa tilts her head sideays, ears flopping. "Are you sure we should? What if those are just some travelers who stumbled onto this place – they might not even be one of Beshret's people."
"That is unlikely," Kin points out, "If you did not know this was here, it is unlikely it would have been found. But, if you wish, we can enter and verify."
Gibson stoops by his sister, peeking down into the little trough. "I think Kin is right, sis. Your concern is admirable, but we're out in the middle of nowhere, and whoever is riding those drokkar knows how to fight." He points to indicate the quivers.
"At least we know it is not many," Kin adds after a bit of thought. "Two drokkar cannot carry an army."
"I just want to be completely certain," the doe says, gingerly heading up the dune to look at the cave herself. "I hate the idea of stranding someone innocent out here." She bites her lip. "Let'sswipe the drokkars first to get their weapons out of their reach, then lure them up here. We can ambush them easily enough from our position if needed."
"We could make one of the drokkars cry out. That may call them out," Kin reasons as she starts down slowly towards the beasts to relieve them of their quivers and untie them.
Xander finishes his spell, and holds a sort of flaming crossbow in his hand.
With a nod, Anisa follows behind the Kiriga, tiptoeing towards the pack animals.
The drokkar snort and canter nervously at the sight of the people approaching, already looking a bit skittish.
Kin lifts her hands and tries to smile at the creatures (without showing teeth). "Calm, calm," she whispers towards them. "We are friends." With a glance back towards Anisa, she asks, "Do you have any … treats? I think that is what they are called."
Anisa flattens her ears at the animals' reactions, and she slows her pace a bit. "Shhh, pony. We're friendly," she whispers as soothingly as she can. "Nothing to fear from auntie Anisa and Auntie Kin… " Shrugging to Kin, the doe fishes around in her pockets for any leftover sugar cubes. "I think I may be out."
Unfortunately, it's down to the essentials, in terms of supplies. The drokkar fold their fin-like ears back, eyes rolling wide.
Xander keeps his distance. Animals tend to not like the smell of fire about him.
"Is that a bad sign?" Kin has to ask Anisa. She has no significant experience with the animals. She also stops approaching and just stands there, hoping the animals will calm.
Anisa nods to Kin, lips pursed in annoyance. "It means they don't trust us at all – they don't know us. Whoever their masters are, they're very loyal. Even if we managed to swipe them, its no use if they're scared of us." To the Kiriga, she gestures. "Here, back up a bit, let me try something."
Kin takes a few steps back and then nods to Anisa.
Taking a few more cautious steps towards the beasts, Anisa comes to a stop a few yards away – but still in reach of the drokkar's leads. Slowly, she takes a cross-legged seat on the ground and leans forward, making small, soft whinny-ish sounds in her throat.
Kin just remains the impassive golden statue while Anisa … apparently loses her mind.
The drokkar's ears perk up at the doe's sounds, then swivel forward attentively. They seem to gradually calm, their attention on Anisa, and settle in their cantering, simply standing and swishing their tails now. One of them, a dusky gray one with a few scars on its neck, grunts and dips its head forward to nose at Anisa.
Stifling a girlish laugh at the tickling nose, Anisa leans forward to stroke the beast's muzzle, then slowly gets to her feet. "Poor baby, what happened to your neck," she murmurs soothingly to the drokkar, still petting it softly as she starts to untie the pair's reins from the posts.
Once untied, the doe gently leads the pack animals back over the dune, leaving them in the company of Buttercup and Dewdrop. Giving the new pair a few more supportive pats, she heads back to the others. "There, that wasn't so hard was it? Now, how do we get whoever is down there to come out?"
Kin just follows Anisa and keeps a fairly good distance from the drokkar so she doesn't spook them while the Lapi does her magic. "Well, can you get one of them to whinny loudly? I would expect that would get them to come." she suggests.
"Or alternatively we just wait and ambush them," Kin offers as an afterthought.
While Anisa leads the 'distractions' away, Xander moves to where he can cover the cave entrance with his arrow.
To Anisa's sharp ears, it sounds like those inside might be making the decision for them. Footsteps approach.
"I'm not sure how to get them to whinny without startling them," Anisa says with a shrug. "And these two still look skittish enough to bolt." The doe taps her chin in thought. "I may be able to fake it though. I could go up to the entrance and try and do my best impression. Even if it doesn't sound real, its sure to get their attention- Dagh!" The rabbit hits the dirt. "Everyone down! They're coming out!"
As she takes 'cover', Anisa pulls her bow from her back, readying an arrow at the cave's entrance.
Kin drops down into a crouch at the command. Her right hand drops to the grip of her longer sword. Out it is slowly drawn … ready for a fight if it comes to that. "Please just surrender, whomever you are," the Kiriga thinks.
It isn't long before a pair of shigai emerge from the shade, both clad in piecemeal Rughrat hide armor dotted with scraps of fur or trophies, with swords at their sides and bows slung over their shoulders, their hands occupied by some bags. They come to an abrupt stop once they see the abandoned hitching post, and the taller of the two turns to his companion, and demands in Imperial, "Dude! Where's my drokkar?!"
The other one seems to have taken umbrage. "I hitched them right there! They must have chewed at the binding. They couldn't have gone far."
Kin's eyes look over the two reptiles critically, inspecting every bit of armor and fur. Thankful for not seeing any with spots, at least, she remains in her crouch, sword at ready.
Anisa keeps her bow trained on the duo, quickly sparing a couple of glances to Kin and Xander as if to ask, "What now?"
Kin holds up a scaled finger then looks to Anisa and Xander. She points to both of their 'bows' and then to the soldiers. She then closes one eye and mimics holding aim at the two. The Kiriga then waits to see if they understand and do what she wants.
Trying to move verrrry carefully tries to get behind the soldiers, keeping his magic missile aimed at their backs.
Anisa nods to Kin in understanding – or at least she thinks so – and keeps her bow trained on the taller of the duo, holding position.
The two warriors bicker a few moments longer, and then both begin turning around to begin looking for their missing mounts…
Kin calls out now in imperial. Her tone is calm, cold, and confident ad befitting a noble-born as she says, "Halt. You are surrounded. Obey my orders and your lives will be spared. Disobey and I will order my archers to fire. Drop your weapons and lay face down on the sand. Now."
Both men freeze, moving only to spare a glance at each other. "Whuh… ?" Kin's final bark of now spur them to move again. The each keep one hand up while the other goes slowly to their swords, drawing the chitin weapons and tossing them aside. They don't bother to discard their bows, their arrows apparently with the drokkar they used to own.
The lizards kneel, then lie down in the sand, grumbling as they do so. "Sss… it's hot."
Kin lifts her hand and waves towards Longtooth and Gibson to come down to where they are. "Good," she says in imperial as she gets up and carefully approaches the now prone reptiles, ready to react should they make a move to get up. "Continue to obey and you will live. You are now my prisoners and will be secured, then taken inside for interrogation."
Anisa rises, still keeping her bow aimed at the pair. She takes a few steps closer, but still hangs back for distance.
Xander blinks. "Did they actually surrender?" he asks Kin. "How many more are in there?"
Long Tooth hops down from the dune, waddling back toward the cave to peer in, while Gibson slides down the side. "Nice work, Kin!"
"They surrendered," Kin tells Xander in standard. "Anisa, Xander, keep your bows aimed. If they show any signs of resistance, kill them. Master Longtooth, Gibson, please secure their arms behind their backs. Use the scraps they wear for the bindings."
One of Anisa's ears twitch when Kin says the word 'kill', but she simply nods the affirmative, keeping her gaze fixed on the duo as she closes the gap.
"Try to look fierce, Anisa," Xander suggests.
Soon, the soldiers are bound per Kin's orders and seated upright.
Kin puts her sword away and crouches in front of the two reptiles. "Names, rank, size of troop, and commanding officer?" she asks them in Imperial, her voice holding that calm and cold tone from earlier.
Xander hmms. "If we cook them, do you think Long Shadow would be able to track the scent in this weather?" he asks Kin.
Once the soldiers are secured, Anisa slackens her bow, rubbing her now sore shoulder. "That was a lot easier than I expected," she says, walking to stand behind Kin. She peers down at the pair, trying her best to look stern and scary.
"We need to ask them about Sand Lions too," Xander points out. "Unless they are the Sand Lions."
"One thing at a time, Xander," Kin tells the buck. "And as for your suggestion about Long-Shadow … no."
The taller one grimaces, but answers, "I am Ossjed. He is Vaod. We are warriors serving Warlord Beshret, and under Chieftan Crushcoil. It's just me and Vaod here, we were checking on the supplies."
While her companions question the pair, Anisa walks over to the cave entrance, peering inside with ears scanning.
Kin nods at that. "You serve the flamed serpent, then," she remarks calmly in Imperial as if it didn't matter. "Where is your Chieftain? And is he the one that controls the Sand Lions?"
Sounds quiet in the cave. Looking inside, it appears to be a rough natural opening in the earth. Little piles of sand on the floor have been disturbed by passing boots. The tunnel curves out of sight.
After taking a quick glance back at the others, Anisa swivels back to the cave entrance. Drawing her bowstring back just in case, she takes a few cautious steps inside, just far enough to see around the bend.
Ossjed raises a brow ridge at the last question, and Vaod laughs. The shorter reptile hisses, "Ha! I don't think anyone controls the sand lions!" He gets elbowed as best as Ossjed can manage with his hands bound, and the taller lizard hisses, "Crushcoil is on his way to Viper's Hold."
"Really? My Master, the honored Artist, Hakuu, will find that most interesting to know," Kin comments coldly in Imperial, "It will be useful for him when Beshret is of no further use to him. But that is of little importance now. From what direction is Crushcoil approaching Viper's Hold and how many does he lead? My master will want to be certain his funds are being well spent."
"… What?" Both prisoners look surprised, and it's Vaod that snorts this time, the stout shiga wrinkling his nose. "Are you some kind of idiot? Hakuu knows all of this. Who do you think you are?" Ossjed sneers as well, and hisses, "The chieftain travels south, for all the good knowing that will do you, spies. Ten thousand men will join ten thousand already there. The region belongs to Beshret, the nobles can do all the digging they wish while he holds it."
Around the bend in the cave, Anisa can see far enough in to note that the natural 'hall' leads to a larger section of cave, the walls spreading away to make room for crates, sacks, bales, and weapon-racks. Much of it has the names of shipping companies painted on the sides, no doubt stolen goods.
"I don't like that one's expression," Xander notes, pointing his flaming arrow towards Vaod. "Are they being disrespectful, Kin?"
Anisa takes a good, long survey of what she can see, when heads back outside the cave. "Maybe we should tie them up inside," she says in Skeek to Xander and Gibson. "I feel kind of… exposed just out in the open like this."
Both prisoners shy their heads back, their faces falling and going silent when Xander pokes the burning crossbow in their direction.
It's Kin's turn to chuckle at this, appearing not in the least bit offended by the comment. "Do you think my Lord trusts or believes what he is told?" Kin asks in Imperial and holds up her hand, on an off-chance the two may recognize Kin is of noble birth herself, "Beshret is a tool to my Lord, a puppet lead by those that hold the purse strings. Just like you are tools to Beshret and your Chieftain. It is good to hear that so far Beshret has honored the agreement and held the Temple of Being secure with adequate forces. Whenever the wind shifts, tools are replaced. You would do well to remember that and be in the employ of the true master; a God reborn." She then stands and brushes off her knees. To Xander, she says in standard, though holding her cold tone in case they can understand her, "He is a fool, pay him no heed. Let us move these two into the caves. Perhaps someone will come for them, perhaps not. It is of no concern to me. Take what supplies may be useful to us and let us move on."
"You heard the lady, start squirming," Xander says, gesturing with the crossbow back towards the cave.
Kin steps away from the pair. As she passes Xander she nudges him to step away with her for a moment.
Both the bound warriors get to their feet and obey, with a bit of prodding.
The fire mage hangs back a bit and sticks close to Kin. "What is it?" he whispers to her.
Anisa readies her bow once more, keeping it focused on the pair as they march into the cave. "Don't try anything funny, or you'll get an arrow in the butt, followed by my foot."
"I didn't want you to think I was mad at you and I appreciated your defense when he was showing attitude," Kin whispers back, "I keep forgetting you do not speak Imperial. I am attempting a little … how did you call it, counter-intelligence with them. Or at least I am trying to plant a seed of distrust between them and 'Hakuu'. It probably won't work, but it seemed at least worth trying."
Whether Ossjed and Vaod understand exactly what Anisa is saying isn't clear, but they seem to get the gist, throwing sullen glances over their shoulders from time to time, but otherwise moving as directed. They're ushered into the cache, and stand amidst the stacks of loot and supplies.
"Wow, you… you're taking my advice then?" Xander asks, looking proud. "Are we just gonna take some supplies and leave these two here, and what else did you learn from them?"
"That Viper's Hold will have twenty-thousand of Beshret's men around it soon enough," Kin remarks rather grimly. "An army ahead and an army behind. We get supplies and we try to beat out the army and meet up with Imperial forces. They must get this map and move on Beshret. He's the key. The Hold is a distraction. Now, as for these two… if they get rescued, perhaps the distrust will spread. If they die, well, it's two less to worry about."
"Well… on the bright side, with ten-thousand troops at the door the city guards probably won't be looking out for us," Xander whispers.
"That makes me feel much better," Kin mutters to Xander as she places her hand lightly on his bicep. "Now, we have lingered long enough. Let'sget back to Anisa." The Kiriga releases Xander's arm and turns, walking into the cave now.
"Sit," Anisa commands the pair, motioning downward with her bow for emphasis. "You better hope there's food in here, cause I have a feeling you'll be here for a while."
Both men plunk themselves down on some boxes, and the shorter one grumbles something in Imperial that doesn't sound polite.
Xander hurries along behind Kin, and looks over the various supply crates. Specifically, he looks for any Master Tooth has already broken into, hoping that there isn't any booze for the old man to get blitzed on.
"Watch it, scaly," Anisa 'growls' at the reptile.
Kin, for her part in the cave, looks for water and food supples … though she keeps an eye out for some light amor that she could conceal beneath her kimono as well. "Do not take anything that is not necessary," she recommends.
Food and water there is indeed, the former not being much tastier-looking than what they already brought, but there's plenty of it. Armor is available as well, mostly leather but even the odd piece of chitin or chitin-ribbed armor hangs from wood dummies. Long Tooth already has a keg of some sort over his shoulder, the barrel looking considerably larger than the skinny old man should have a right to hold as easily as he does.
"Kin," Anisa asides, "tell your Master he can't take that, as tempting as it looks. We need to keep the drokkars light for speed."
Kin looks through the collection of armor quickly, interested if there is some ribbed armor that would not impede her flexibility and movement. She stops in examination, though, when Anisa comments and her head tilts to look to Longtooth. "Sensei, we cannot carry anything that large," she says in standard, "Our drokkar cannot carry that much weight. Please, leave it. When this is done I promise to purchase you the finest sake."
The old man's whiskers droop, and he grumbles under his breath, but he doesn't argue, thumping the keg back down on a stack. He does at least take the time to refill the gourd hanging at his sash, and gives it a pat.
Not pleased that he filled the gourd, Kin still takes what victory she can. "That is the best I can do," she apologizes to Anisa.
Xander starts filling water skins, and asks, "If you see anything that might fit me, please let me know."
Anisa lowers her bow for now, satisfied that the two reptiles aren't going to try anything funny. "Oh, I don't care if he gets drunk. I just don't want to overload our mounts. Heck, I could use a drink myself!" Coming closer to Kin, she peers around the supplies. "You don't see anything in there that'll fit someone my size, do you?"
"You two are like bother and sister," Kin can't help but comment as the two Lapi mirror each other's comments, "Or married." While the others look for food, Kin looks for armor that may be appropriate for the Lapis and herself. Something light and flexible, but affording some reasonable protection.
"Hear that, honey?" Xander asks Anisa. "She's found us out. No use hiding it anymore, so how about a little sugar?" He also waggles his eyebrows in an extremely exaggerated manner.
Finding a few bits that should fix the Lapis, Kin drops it all into a pile for them. "It is not much, but it may protect you from a killing blow."
"I'll 'sugar' you," Anisa says annoyedly, albeit grinning at the buck. After picking through the leather bits, the doe sighs. "There's a lot here, but it looks like its more trouble than its worth. I'll just take my chances."
"None of it will be extremely useful for me, either," Kin admits and just gathers up some food supplies. Affording a glance to the two prisoners now and then, she adds, "And lets move on. We have lingered long enough and there is much more to do."
The mage goes over to the pile and pokes at it with his foot. "Well, less weight I suppose. I'll just make sure to have my fire shield ready by the time we get near the Hold."
Helping with another bundle of food, Anisa nods, and follows Kin back towards the cave entrance. "I wish you could tell me what that punk said to me. Its probably something I'd wallop him for."
"I would prefer to intercept any of the Imperials before they reach the hold if we can. The Hold is just a distraction, I believe. The real target needs to be Beshret's stronghold," Kin notes.
"Can you mimic what the man said?" Kin asks Anisa, "I may be able to translate it."
"Nah, I don't wanna get mad," Anisa says, clumsily hauling the bundle along. "Let'sjust get out of here. Now that we have four drokkar, we can actually ride."
"If they let us," Kin points out as she remembers the two spooked ones. "But yes, I would appreciate a chance to not walk for a bit." The Kiriga too carries along her gathering of food and water supplies. "Master Longtooth, you shall ride with me," she declares.
The creaky Kirigai master nods and grunts, satisfied with his plunder.
With four drokkar, the mix of Kirigai and Lapi make considerably better time, and it's a good thing too. At their backs, the thunderheads loom closer, and by the end of the day the group is overtaken. Speckles of rain dot the sand here and there, and ominous rumbles from the distance roll across the dunes, heralding more to come.
"We should find shelter before the storm hits us in full force. I fear lightning amongst the dunes," Kin calls out to the others. "But let us not rest until we absolutely must, time is of the essence."
After chanting to keep his spell refreshed (magical fire being immune to rain), Xander says, "It'll only get worse when we stop. But it can cover our approach better than it will an army's."
Anisa – now riding the gray and scarred drokkar instead of Buttercup to be safe – squints at the Kiriga, keeping her ears pointed downward to keep the rain out. "If you say so," she calls, "but the thunder might spook your mounts, so make certain you ride carefully."
"I understand, I only wish to press on until it becomes bad," Kin calls back, "When lightning starts, we stop."
Moving on through nightfall, it's midnight by the time it's agreed that camp should be made. The night is spent uneventfully under tents taken from the raider stash, and the group is greeted by a steady rain by morning that makes the sand dense, with a tendency to cake onto anything that touches it.
Morning finds Kin standing out in the rain. She's completely disrobed and letting the falling water rinse away the grime from the difficult past few days. "I never thought I would appreciate a storm as I do right now," she comments to no-one in particular.
"Speak for yourself," Anisa replies, repacking her drokkar while occasionally shaking her leg, trying to loosen then massive chunks of mud that stick to her furry feet. "Dagh, my fur is drenched! It never rains like this on Rephidim."
"How much farther do you think we need to go before catching up to… well, somebody's army?" Xander asks, walking on tip-toe to minimize mud caking. "I don't know if I can work a ritual under these conditions."
"Well, I don't have as much fur as you do," Kin points out as she looks over her shoulder, "It flows off my scales." Satisfied she is somewhat clean, the Kiriga slips back into her wet kimono and resumes packing herself. "As to how much farther, well, I don't know. We do not have a tracker anymore," she adds with a frown.
Gibson hunkers down by some of the churned sand. "Probably don't need a tracker to tell they've been this way," he ventures, standing up and peering into the distance. "The wind hasn't blown the sand even yet. They're probably not more than a day ahead of us… I bet we can pass them on drokkar-back."
"How do you 'pass' an army?" Anisa asks, slicking out her damp ears. "If they have as many men as those guys said, it'll be hard to go around them without being seen."
"The question is, which army is it? Is it Crushcoil's or is it the Imperials?" Kin asks. "Can you make a guess at the numbers?"
The black Lapi wipes some water out of his eyes, bending his ears forward to shield them slightly. The hole in the middle of one of them leaks. "I couldn't make a guess at numbers, but plenty enough. It must be Crushcoil's, the Imperials would be coming from the southeast.
"Then we may want to divert a bit southeast with the hope we may intercept the Imperials," Kin reasons, "If any are even coming. Attacking Viper's Hold is pointless; it doesn't deal with the real issue."
Xander says, "The Imperials don't know what we do though, Kin. They could be heading towards Viper's Hold still."
"That's why we try to meet them before they get to Viper's Hold," Kin points out.
"Will it do any good?" Anisa asks. "When we met with the Imperials before, they wanted us to go to the governer before they'd even consider coming with us. They seem as though they won't change plans unless it comes from some sort of high command."
"That's because the don't know where the leader was, remember?" Kin points out and shrugs, "We have enough information to hopefully end this war by cutting off the head of the serpent."
"Let's try to get ahead of them," Xander suggests.
And try they do. Having four drokkar seems to make for much better time than before, even on the first time out, not being slowed by the wagon, and their urgency drives them to a hard, if wearisome, pace. Another tense day passes, dogged by rain that intensifies, if sporadically. Though Gibson assures the group that he's almost positively certain that they may very likely have a high chance they're going in the right direction and not in circles, he thinks, visibility has steadily worsened.
The wind has picked up enough that conversation is held at shouting levels.
Even with nature itself conspiring against them, Kin makes sure the group presses on. Her expression is solid and impassive throughout the driving rain and wind; her purpose set. If she had been born a son, her father may have likely been proud. In reality, though, he would likely just be angry with her now. "Hold course," she yells out to the others. "Every journey begins and ends with a step. We only fail if we give up."
Anisa's ears flap violently in the wind, the doe squinting hard to keep the blowing, muddy sand from her eyes. "What?!" she yells in response to Kin's inspirational words.
"Or fall into a hole," Xander mutters, eying the sand-mud uneasily. "This region isn't prone to flash floods I hope."
"Hold Course," Kin shouts out again at Anisa's question. "The future lies ahead and we ride to face it. We live. As long as we live, we have hope. Never forget that. And if you lose faith in yourself, then hold faith with me." She's sure trying to keep the group's spirits up, if nothing else.
The mud doesn't seem to be prone to swallowing anybody just yet, but it does seem treacherous. It cakes to Kin's drokkar as she crests a dune half-melted by rainfall. From the vantage up there, something can be seen in the distance… gray shapes in the haze, a blot somewhere beyond the driving rain.
As Kin speaks, Anisa grabs one of her wildly flapping ears, and points it at the reptile. "Oh!" she yells back, pushing her drokkar forward. "Any sign of the Imperials?"
Xander focuses on controlling Buttercup, and making sure he doesn't loose sight of the rider in front of him.
Kin curls the reigns about her hands. "There is something ahead. We may have reached our destination. I will ride ahead to verify, so follow ad a slight distance. If it is our enemy, well, it should grant you time should they decide to cut me down," she calls back. The Kiriga then nudges her drokkar forward, to head toward the gray blobs ahead.
"Wait WHAT?!" Xander calls, puts his heals to Buttercup to try and keep up.
"She said follow her," Anisa yells to Xander, spurring her own drokkar on to follow behind the Kiriga.
The drokkar's whinnies are lost to the wind, but the beasts gallop forward in a group, Gibson doing his best to keep up as well. The gray shape spreads out as Kin gets closer. It eventually becomes apparent it stretches from horizon to horizon… must just be a ridge of stones. No, wait… they're moving.
"Is it the city wall?" Xander shouts.
"It's an army, I believe. It's moving," Kin shouts back and continues on towards them. "But, which one?" she wonders, "I cannot tell. I just … need to have faith."
Anisa readies her skedat shell, hanging back behind Kin's lead as she moves forward.
Kin and Anisa close to within thirty yards before the figures resolve into living shapes, and it's when they're practically in front of them that it becomes apparent that the ridge is in fact rows of men grimly marching against the storm. Despite the rain and sludge, they move in unison, the tromp of their boots making puddles dance even more than the raindrops already cause, and the din of their coats of chitin rattles above the howl of the wind. Forests of spears stretch back out of sight, pointing to an impossibly broad shape darkening the sky above. It's too defined to be a cloud… somehow, an airship is powering ahead through the inclement weather. Banners thrash amongst the spears, the Nagai Imperial crest barely made out on soaked cloth. Taller shapes loom further back behind the endless rows of soldiers, cavalry astride drokkar, Dromodon, selona, and even their own four legs, heavy taurid Jingai carrying pikes on their shoulders.
Kin allows herself a brief smile. "It's the Imperials!" she calls back to her comrades. Onward the Kiriga presses towards the army. "Great Army of the Emperor!" Kin calls to them as loudly as she can, "I must speak to your commander! I have vital information about the foes you face ahead!" It does cross her mind the Imperials may just shoot her down as she approaches them … but she cannot bring herself to turn away. So much is at stake. So many lives.
"By Abaddon's frilly underpants, that must be an Imperial Dreadnaught," Xander yells and points to the hovering shadow. "I didn't think they had any left!"
Anisa spurs her own mount on to catch up with Kin, trying to pick out anyone who looks important in the mass of reptilian warriors. "Wish we had that back at the camp," she calls back to Xander.
"Do you have any idea just how expensive it is operate one of those?" Xander calls back in reply.
"Do you have any idea how much I don't care?" Anisa calls back. "I'd still rather have that than have arrows rained down on me!"
A shiga trots out of the haze, a warrior in somewhat more ornate armor than the rank and file mounted on drokkar-back. "Hold fast! Stand and be identified!" The column of soldiers appears to have no intention of slowing down the march.
Kin brings her mount to a halt. Even in the rain, she sits proudly on the back of the beast; back straight and head held high. "I am known as Kin Ryuu; faithful servant to the Empire. It was not but a week ago we aided the Emperor by rescuing the calvary lead by Lieutenant Daesha," she says firmly.
Anisa brings her mount to a halt close behind Kin, staying silent for now as the Kiriga converses with her countryman.
"I hope they have umbrellas," Xander says, as he pulls up next to the equally drenched Anisa.
"Lt. Dasha? Of the Dashers?" shouts the officer. He motions the newcomers to join him to the side of the advancing infantry column.
"The same," Kin answers and nudges her drokkar to move into position. She also waves to the others to join her. "They were under siege by the raiders and could not get the seer to safety," she adds, trying to further prove they are who they say they are. "My companions and I were able to severely cripple the enemies airship and grant them escape. My comrades at Xander Lightfoot, a fire mage. Anisa Snowshoe, gifted warrior. Her brother, Gibson Snowshoe, tracker and lore master, and lastly, the celebrated Master Longtooth; warrior of legend."
Anisa's drokkar comes up beside Kin's, and the beast slows to a trot. The doe grimaces as the reptiles speak in Imperial, but still keeps her ears focused on the pair so she can try and guess the gist of the conversation.
The officer, who had been leaning over his steed to listen, looks surprised and drops back into his saddle. His gaze passes across the rabbits who ride up, and his drokkar canters in a tight circle. He shouts some orders at the head of the column, then nods at Kin, droplets of water sluicing off his helmet. "Come with me." He begins riding back the way the army came, and cups his hands to his mouth to shout again. "Meshtai! Dak bes orlesh Dasha-vai!"
"I introduced us and told them that we were the ones who saved Dasha," Kin explains to the others, "We are to follow him." And after saying that, Kin follows.
"They aren't pointing anything at us, and that's enough for me," Xander says, and prods his mount to follow Kin.
Anisa's ears twitch at the officer's expression of surprise, which she is able to read, even if she can't understand the words. Pivoting her mount, the rabbit follows along. "Looks like he knows about us already."
The ride down the marching column is a trip in and of itself. The Lapi and Kirigai find themselves passing sections of troops, wagons carrying timber and rope, cavalry divisions, work crews, and even packs of beast hounds leashed three at a time to hounds masters. A few people call to the officer as he passes them, and he eventually veers out to the side of the column. More shapes trot out of the sheets of rain… familiar taurid ones, headed by a Rokugai woman.
"I will try to shift the conversation to standard so you will understand," Kin tries to tell her companions as they ride. When the familiar shapes appear, Kin actually feels a bit pleased. She had not expected to meet Dasha again.
Anisa steers her drokkar to take a wide arc around the hounds, the strange beasts giving the rabbit a chill up her spine. "Thanks. I'll feel better actually knowing what's going on."
Feeling safer now, Xander snuffs out his fire arrow spell.
The officer hollers at the Rokuga leading her pack, and she trots closer, hissing in disbelief. "Kin? And the Lapi? Here?!" she says, in the flat voice that they remember.
Kin bows her head to Dasha. "If I may request, speak standard so that they may understand." Kin says, then switches to standard. "We have ridden for days in hopes of finding you. Crushcoil rides to Viper's Hold and he is ten thousand strong. But … that is just a distraction; a way to occupy you. Is there a place we may speak out of the rain?"
"If there is," Anisa adds, wringing out her sopping ears, "we'd be immensely grateful."
"I can dry us off once we're under cover," Xander notes.
Dasha laughs, and claps Kin on the shoulder as she rides up, and the Lieutenant nods, switching to Standard. "Ha! It's good to see you! Ride with us, we'll be dry enough once we re-take Viper's Hold. The only other dry place is under the HMS Equalizer's shadow… or aboard the destroyers. That old Creen-crawler Soban got back into a command."
"Looks kind of crowded underneath the ship," Anisa says, gazing out at the mass of soldiers. "If you have an umbrella or a parasol or such, that'd do just as well too!"
"Tell her about the Razer's plans before they go to far in the wrong direction," Xander urges Kin. "I can't do anything about the weather, but I can keep your map dry."
"We may wish to board one of the destroyers. I have something with me that may guarantee the end to this 'war'. Viper's Hold should not be your first target; you should ride to the head of the serpent himself, Warlord Beshret. I can tell you where he is, where his supplies are, and where he has laid traps for your army," Kin tells Dasha and the commander.
The lieutenant shrugs helplessly at Anisa. "I am sorry, Lapi. We may be able to get you a poncho to huddle under." She leans toward Kin to listen, and her brow ridges lift up. "What? How do you know all this?"
"A risky gambit. I infiltrated their camp in guise of one of their 'messengers' and was able to make a quick copy of their plans and positions. I barely escaped intact and would not have if it were not for my friends," Kin notes and pats the well-protected saddlebag on the drokkar. "They have occupied a valley near the edge of the Wild Lands amongst some ancient ruins. They have also laid many traps in wait for your army and are well organized. They even have some sort of creatures called 'Sand Lions' waiting."
The soggy white rabbit frowns, but just shrugs in return. "I'll survive. Apparently, Beshret is in league with the Cinders, and this site we've found is one of their… well, 'places of interest.' I can tell you from my own experience, this is bad news – worse than any attack on Viper's Hold."
"Don't forget the Desert Giants," Xander prompts Kin.
If Dasha looked surprised before, she looks agog now. She gives each person a look in turn, then says, "Perhaps I can get you out of the rain after all. I will vouch for you… I expect General Diamondback will wish to speak with you aboard the Equalizer."
"It would be appreciated, honored Lieutenant," Kin tells Dasha and dips her head to her. She pauses there, then adds, "And it is good to see you. Please, tell me, did the seer survive?"
Dasha wipes some water out of her face. "To my surprise, yes! He were expecting just to bring his body back, but he held on until he could be properly treated. My medic is very embarrassed."
"On the ship?" Anisa looks upwards, shielding her eyes from with rain with her paw. "How will we even get up there?"
"Some Jingai have wings," Xander notes to Anisa. "And they probably have cargo cranes."
"Good. I am glad he survived," Kin says with a firm nod. "Truth be told, it is much welcome news. Since we parted ways things have been … trying."
The Rokuga waves over back toward the troop column. "Tell us your story once we're out of the rain!"
As it turns out, getting aboard the ship Dasha called "HMS Equalizer" is a mix of the things Xander mentioned. The message is passed back and forth, and cargo booms are lowered, held steady by winged Jingai clinging to them and flapping for all they're worth. Even with their help, it's rather shaky, but the platform is lifted steadily into the dreadnaught's hull, where the storm suddenly seems as distant as a bad memory. Water drips off the ropes as the platform continues to creak up past a cargo area, then at least three gun decks.
Xander immediately begins his laundry cantrip to try and dry his (and the others') drenched clothes.
The cantrip spell ends… and it's almost as if something reaches out and snuffs it.
Kin does her best on the way up to not show that she's duly impressed bu the ship. To be certain, she has never seen a vessel like this on Jadai. Clutched in her arms protectively is her saddlebag.
Anisa merely shivers, the cold rain still clinging to her clothes and fur as the group descends upwards through the hull. "I hope they have fireplaces on these things. ACHOO!"
"What the… oh," Xander says, looking a bit chastened. "You've got another Fire Mage aboard… "
"Fire mages do not like each other?" Kin has to ask Xander.
"Err, well, when you're a Mage on an airship you probably don't want others casting fire magic," Xander explains.
Kin lets out one of her reptilian versions of a chuckle as she nods. "Understood," she agrees. Her brow furrows a bit, then she sighs, "I realized something."
"What's that?" Anisa asks, wiping the rain from her sleeves.
Dasha herself seems a little awestruck, and the normally confident Rokuga seems a little less sure of herself, a strange demeanor for her. "Do they? I mean, do we?" It's evident this is her first time aboard the Equalizer herself. The platform arrives at a floor with a group of armed airmen waiting. The most ornamented of them simply says, "Welcome aboard. Come with us."
"I hope they don't have carpeting," Xander says, looking at the dripping mess of water and mud sloughing off of them.
"That given this ship, there may be those on board who know my family," Kin whispers so only the Lapis can hear her. Kin dips in a formal bow to the airman, saying, "We are honored. Thank you." She then steps off the lift and is prepared to follow.
Anisa mimics Kin's bow as best she can, and follows close behind.
Being a mage (and wet), Xander doesn't bow quite as deep. Doing so would like make him fall over from the weight of his robe.
The soggy, sandy procession is lead through long halls. Curiously, the ship doesn't seem to rock or require 'air legs' like the smaller ships they've been on. They get odd looks from airmen on duty, but nobody questions their presence. Finally, at the aft of the ship, a large pair of double doors opens into a wide, circular room dominated by a table set low to the floor and ringed with high-backed chairs and large coiling bowls. It's covered in maps and charts. The place is richly draped and appointed with hardwoods and brass. At the back, a large mirror flanked with Imperial flags stands behind two uniformed men, one a large rattler Naga clad in steel armor, the other unarmored but wearing a crisp uniform decorated with medals. Many of the chairs around the table are occupied with robed Naga… the one in red immediately glowers at Xander.
Anisa blinks as she takes in the impressive display before her, these people obviously being highly important. Embarrassedly, she looks down at her own wet and muddy clothes and fur, setting her ears back as she waits for someone to speak first.
Xander smiles sincerely to the red-robed mage, and tries not to look… well, like he does.
"I had always expected I would attend events like … but not looking horrible as I do now," Kin thinks as she cringes inwardly. On the outside, she continues to hold her head high and walk with a steady and strong pace. To those present her snout dips in respectful recognition to each of them. She however, does not speak, she waits to be properly introduced.
Dasha takes a few steps forward, and then kneels awkwardly, her four-legged form not well suited to the gesture. "Lieutenant Dasha, of His Majesty's Third Light Cavalry. I present Kin Ryuu, The Snowshoes Anisa and Gibson, Mage Xander Lightfoot, and Master Long Tooth."
Kin bows as she's introduced then folds her hands together in the sleeves of her wet kimono. "Thank you, honored ones, for permitting us on board," she says in a polite and melodic voice; probably out of instinct for how she was expected to speak back home. "May I ask for the names of those we now address?"
The rattler surveys the group coolly, seeming to study them in turn, and he lets his counterpart speak first. The other Naga, a fellow with black scales contrasting with the white of his uniform, hisses smoothly. "I am Flagship Captain Vos Idrisc, in command of His Majesty's Ship, the dreadnaught Equalizer." The rattler speaks now. "General Diamondback, marshal of the ground forces of His Majesty's fifth legion." The mirror takes on a golden hue, and both high commanders suddenly bow low, touching their chins to the floor of the chamber. The General speaks again. "And by proxy, his Majesty the Emperor-Potentate, Nagai Rex Imperator." The robed Naga immediately go prone as well, and the mirror seems to become a window, filled with golden scales and a single huge eye.
Xander freezes in place, which at least keeps from fainting.
Anisa's drenched fur frazzles at the sight of the eye-bearing mirror, her thoughts returning to the last time she encountered one of those devices. Seeing the officials in the room bow out of respect, she does likewise – although its more like 'taking a knee' as opposed to scraping the ground with her chin.
If Kin is startled by the sudden appearance of the huge eye, she certainly doesn't show it. Instead she lowers herself down to one knee and bows her head. Instinctively her hand slides down to her longsword, which she draws from its place in her obi, still sheathed. She places it lightly upon the floor before her. Once her sword has been placed, she completes the bow to the Emperor, laying her torso prone and chin touching the floor. "Dear Gods, Umeko, that is the Emperor" she thinks, trying to keep her breath steady.
The slitted eye in the mirror shrinks back a bit, but only so far. The scales seem to get smaller, but they weren't well defined as it was. It would seem the Emperor is actually as physically far back from whatever he's looking into as he can get, and it only shows part of his face, enough that it can be seen to move when he speaks. His voice fills the room, deep and bassy rather than the usual Naga hiss… the vibration makes one of the little model soldiers on the war room table rattle off the edge. "So! It is these whom have served the throne in so timely a fashion," he booms. "And their manners have not suffered. You may rise in my presence."
Xander still remains frozen in place, overwhelmed by instinct.
Waiting for Kin's cue, Anisa stands as well. The normally outspoken Lapi remains silent, quietly fidgeting as she allows Kin to speak for the group.
Kin draws herself back up slowly, though she leaves her sword prone upon the floor. Her hands fold back into her sleeves and she keeps her head lowered. "You honor us greatly, your Majesty. It has been a privilege to serve the Empire," she says in that melodic tone once again. "And I hope that which we have brought will further aid in ending Warlord Beshret's revolt."
"Yes? But you have done so much already," rumbles the golden serpent. There's a flash of black in the corner of the mirror… it might've been a tongue flicking. "In rescuing the Third Light Cavalry, word came back to me of the attack on my forces. It has become evident that the situation at Viper's Hold is out of hand. General? What word of Governor Des?"
The rattler, having since coiled back upright, answers, "To our knowledge, he remains in his seat."
"Governor Des is nothing more than an instrument of the mastermind, Warlord Beshret. He is a distraction to occupy your army from Beshret's true goals in your lands," Kin says, her head remaining bowed. "Viper's Hold is intended to distract the Empire. Even now Chieftain Crushcoil and his army of ten-thousand strong match to Viper's hold to occupy your forces. It may seen strange, but Viper's Hold should be ignored. The true target is on the edge of the Beast Lands, in a forgotten valley; Beshret's camp. He lairs there with a strong army and many defenses. And through outside contacts and supporters, he has also enlisted many mages and airships for defense. If I may approach, I can present a map that details his position, the positions of his allies, as well as all his supply routes."
This gives both General and Flagship Captain pause, but the Emperor's smooth voice rolls through the chamber. "You may place your offering on the table."
Kin slips her hand into her bag and pulls out the map that she risked her life to obtain. Without a word she walks to the table and lays the map gingerly upon it. With a flick of her wrist, it unrolls. With a dip of her head, the Kiriga steps back.
The General raises an eye ridge as the fuff'nar pelt flops open over the charts, white fur engulfing several unit figures and a tiny model airship. Still, he cranes his head down to look at it, and the eye in the mirror suddenly dominates the entire 'window', so close that the group can sit the tiny movements of the slitted orb in its socket. "Mmm, interesting," murmurs the golden snake. "Such delicate hands you have." Did he somehow miss the map? "Did you say your family name was Ryuu?"
"That mirror is creeping me out," Anisa Lapi-whispers to Xander in Skeek.
"Don't move," Xander whispers back. "He can't see you if you don't move… "
"I … " Kin starts to say, her delicate three-fingered hands curling in upon themselves. Her head bows even further when she cannot bring herself to outright lie to the Emperor. "Ryuu is the name I chose for myself, honored Emperor, to protect my family from the vengeance of a very dangerous group that seeks the end of the world," she admits.
"An important family," says the Emperor, in something like a croon or purr that snakes shouldn't even be able to do. "Noble blood, yes? Come, come. You can trust me, because I am going to trust you and your friends with a certain duty."
The Lapi mage swallows nervously.
Anisa looks back and forth between her companions with surprise, then turns her attention back to the mirror.
A small break in the calm demeanor Kin holds appears for a moment. "I am the only daughter of honored Lord Tsuguri of the Jadaian isles; I am Lady Umeko Tsuguri, your majesty," she answers honestly. Something in the pit of her stomach practically sinks as she admits her bloodline. "Perhaps it is not all bad, Umeko," she thinks, trying to assure herself, "My father wished to ensure the family fortunes for decades. By helping the Emperor, perhaps I have."
"Excellent," comes the deep voice, and the eye settles back away from the mirror somewhat. It flicks down at the map. "I have complete confidence in the nature of the intelligence you have brought before General Diamondback. I must also re-iterate that my forces will capture Viper's Hold, and this is why. In catching this aggression and tying it to Governor Des, I have been given legitimate reason to annex the region without interference from Rephidim or the Emirate, and reclaim a portion of our glorious Empire. Therefore, as a noble born of Jadai, and by association, the Empire of Nagai, you will claim it in my name, Governess-Militant Tsuguri. The quality of the information you have gathered will no doubt be key in your successful purge. This is my will."
Dasha has a nearly stricken look.
"Somehow, I wish we couldn't understand what they were saying," Xander Lapi-whispers to Anisa.
Now Kin's demeanor breaks; the Kiriga is in abject shock; completely stunned by the pronouncement of the Emperor. "Your Majesty, I am honored beyond words," she manages out, "But surely there are those more skilled, more experienced, and more worthy than I for such a charge? Forgive me, but I do not have the experience to lead that would be required." Her head bows low and she swallows, fighting back a wave of panic and several thoughts ripple through her mind, the documents on the State of Being, and the worst possible meanings of all … she may have walked directly into Cinder's plan.
The ridge over the slitted eye in the mirror rises, and if those present were quiet before, the hush that fills the room now is deafening.
Anisa makes no reply to Xander, her own attention rapt on the mirror. The sudden quiet of the room gives her pause to swallow nervously.
"I do not question your wisdom, honored Emperor. Forgive me for sounding such," Kin adds after some thought and trying her best to remain calm. "It has been a difficult journey and exhaustion is upon me. It must be my judgment that is lacking. Perhaps with some rest the light of understanding will fall upon me."
She's the bride-to-be of one of the rebels' sponsors! Xander wants to shout. Well, not shout. And not particularly want either. And even if he did, his brain would probably shut down to prevent him from speaking out at the moment anyway.
After a second or two passes, the scaled ridge smooths out. "Mmm… yes, I would imagine you have suffered many trials… proof, I should think, of your capabilities. Still, you will be pleased to know that your experience is not required, Governess-Militant. Simply the… removal of Des, and your renewed oath of fealty to me, will legitimize the Empire's new hold on the territories. Then you will be free to restore order as you see fit, with General Diamondback's aid. I shall also grant you the protection of the Imperial Komodo Elite." The mirror begins to fade, the Emperor's bassy voice fading with it. "You need report only victory. I will already know if you have failed me."
Kin can't even manage another word out. She merely bows to the mirror. "From one desired puppet to another," she thinks, her golden eyes closing slowly. "You are a fool, Tsuguri. A fool."
"Well, at least we don't have to fight an army," Xander whispers. "Just capture or kill Des. Piece of pastry."
The black buck lets out a rattly breath. The insides of his ears had been going blue. Long Tooth looks on sternly… it looks like he was actually paying attention to this one.
With the air full of tension, Xander's stomach rumbles. "Do you think they'll have vegetables?" he whispers to Anisa. Then smacks himself in the forehead. "Oh right, they gotta feed the food-animals something… "
