The meeting hall of Viper's Hold has been commandeered as a makeshift infirmary, the building large enough and close enough to the town's water source to be the most convenient site. Stretchers are moved in and out, soldiers coming and going, sometimes bodies leaving. The kssh'atga and the smell of blood is a constant presence here, but it is mercifully quiet, Naga not being given to groaning much. Reptiles of all sorts lie quietly bandaged here while sawbones move from cot to cot to check on patients, and stools stand here and there, upon which sit bowls of water and bloody arrowheads.

Umeko moves through the ranks of the fallen with a quiet grace and dignity. She's once again adorned in her kimono and her hands are tucked into her sleeves. Her expression is solid and yet still somehow tinged with sadness. Some of these warriors are no older than she … with some perhaps even younger. None of them probably wanted to be here … and yet they still are. She doesn't speak for now and those she passes, she kneels down beside and bows her head.

Lilac halted the moment she entered, and had expressed misgivings about entering at all. Now, waits at the entryway, nose plugged between two of her fingers. Every so often she gives a nearby empty bowl a worried glance. Even her face looks a little off, for she's more pale than normal.

Further back, Xander helps as he can by making sure the injured are warm. He also feels a little guilty, having come though the conflict relatively unscathed.

"Name," hisses a black Naga in a white mantle. A broad bowl hat made of straw sits on his head. A shiga officer next to him goes through a long scroll, then replies, "Pikeman Veszek, second company, under Captain Osst." The Naga nods, and writes something in a large, heavy-looking book he's carrying, occasionally dipping into an inkwell that's built into the spine. "Veszek, your deeds on behalf of the glorious Empire have been recorded, your legacy will live on. Go now to the Great Serpent, and to blessed oblivion." The body lying in the cot makes no reply, but the kssh'atga looks satisfied, and moves on as two workers roll the body onto a stretcher and begin carrying it outside.

The gestures by Xander and Umeko don't go unnoticed, earning them an occasional murmured word from a stricken soldier or amputee, those that are conscious, at least. The nurses and physicians moving from bed to bed occasionally pause to offer the Governess a bow of respect before going about their duties.

The Lapi's communications with the stricken are largely limited to 'where does it hurt' and lots of pointing, but he does try to seem cheerful at least.

Laying her ears back, Lilac slowly walks from the doorway to take a seat near the door. The white mantle-wearing Naga seems to have caused her some guilt, standing as she was with her nose plugged. Now, at least, she's sitting with her nose plugged. Reaching out with a hand, she pulls an empty bowl into her lap.

Umeko comes to a halt before Veszek's cot. "How many did he leave behind?" she wonders, "Did he have a family? What where his dreams? I … " Her head shakes and she steps away. To those that bow, she quickly waves her hand, "Your first duty is to them; they are the heroes of the day. I only wish I could do more for them."

A worker bundles the fallen pikeman's arms and armor, noting the owner on it and setting it aside with other, similar bundles, a row of weapons leaning up against the wall. The kssh'atga excuses himself to take a drink from a pitcher, and the officer that was accompanying him spies Umeko and makes his way over to her. "Ah, Governess-Militant. To what do we owe the honor?"

"It is my duty to see to those who were injured," Umeko says quietly to the officer. "They have fought, suffered, and lost, under my watch. It would be a disservice and dishonorable to not attend to them and make sure they know that their sacrifices are not unknown to me. If they must bear their pain, then so must I in whatever manner I can."

The smooth-looking monitor looks a little surprised, but he does nothing to contradict Umeko. "Ah, well… certainly, I'm sure the troops appreciate your concern for their well-being. Your speech before the siege began was quite stirring, and talk has gone around about your unusual approach. Of course, all soldiers understand what it is to fight for the glory of the Empire, and by extension one's own."

A passing nurse drops a bloodstained arrowhead into Lilac's bowl.

Ears shooting up as the arrowhead clatters into her bowl, Lilac immediately uses her free hand to cover her mouth as she starts to look a little green. Upon holding her breath, she picks up the bowl and puts it as far away as she can reach.

"Thank you. I meant what I said. On the battlefield, we are as one, soldier, General, Governess. Each of us supports the other and each of us bears the wounds of the other in our own ways," Umeko tells the officer. She motions towards the entrance and the grim landscape beyond. "The former Governor, Des Vexing, allowed his courage and honor to be wounded and his people suffered for it, for example."

Lilac looks up when Kin gestures in her direction, eyes wide. She tucks her tail sheepishly, then begins scooting her chair closer to the corner and out of sight.

"How're you holding up?" Xander whispers to Lilac as he passes her, also looking for a quiet spot to rest for a moment.

"I hate the smell of blood," Lilac whispers as she scooches over. A few more awkward, nose-plugged scoots, and she adds, "I hate fighting."

"Well, this is only the clean-up," Xander whispers. "You mercifully missed the fighting."

Lilac pauses to give Xander a momentary, haunted, look. Then, she looks down and keeps scooting until she reaches the wall. "I still don't like it," she adds, quietly.

The officer nods, grimacing slightly at the name. "Indeed. His failure was costly… but in all things, opportunity, ah?" He rolls his scroll up and tucks it under an arm. "Her Honor will be pleased to know that casualties were light. We have recorded a mere four hundred and eighty-four slain, one thousand, three-hundred and twelve seriously wounded. Given the size of our force and the assault, that is phenomenal. Likely owed to superlative strategy and the lightning assault."

Umeko nods at that. "Good. Because this isn't over. There is an airship force we must deal with and then the main forces encamped with the true enemy, Beshret the Razer. But, there will be time enough to deal with them. For now, I want the best of care given to the wounded. And please excuse me, I must see to other matters yet today." The Kiriga then bows slightly to the officer.

"Of course, Governess." The officer returns the bow and turns smartly, returning to the kssh'atga who has finished refreshing himself.

Umeko turns away and walks back towards Xander and Lilac. A few feet before she reaches them, she turns and looks over the fallen once more. Her brow furrows for a moment, then she lowers herself to one knee and dips her head and says rather simply, "Thank you."

The Lapi nudges Lilac, and whispers, "Best you go with her. I have a few more things to do here."

"Oh, she's leaving?" Lilac looks up, squints and spots Umeko at the door. "Oh!" She bolts up, then pats Xander on the arm before walking past him. "I didn't smell her leaving, I don't want to unplug my nose until we're far away," she confides in a whisper before hurrying off after Umeko.

The light of day greets Umeko near the doorway, the sky its more familiar brilliant blue rather than the overcast from before the battle. Outside, the township is going about its business cleaning up and repairing the damage done. On orders from Diamondback, the army's work detail has been split off to assist, particularly in rebuilding the bulwarks of the motte and bailey. The desert giant's remains have been processed to some extent, much of its meat stripped off, but the beast is so large that the peasants are still working on it.

"Well, food supplies won't be an issue," Umeko admits as she glances towards the felled beast. She draws in a deep breath, then looks to Lilac as she's hurrying after her. "Want to go for a walk with me? There is at least one more person I must find and I think you need to get away from this place for a bit. You have been on edge since you arrived," she says.

Wagging at "go for a walk," Lilac nods interestedly. "Oh, sure! I can't stand the smell of so much blood! I'm sorry I didn't help with the wounded, Kinny, but … ," she glances back towards the infirmary, " … if I had gotten close to anyone with … well, bloody wounds, I'd have just … um, I think the most elegant word to use is dishonor you. And, oh, Kinny?" Her brows raise. "Should I keep calling you Kinny? Or is Ummy better, now?"

"Call me whatever is most comfortable for you?" Umeko offers the human as the two make a slow path through the rebuilding hold. "And, ah, which direction did you see him last?"

"Him?" Lilac blinks. "Oh! Him. He should be somewhere along the way we arrived at, probably out of sight near some hills or something. Of course, it has been a day, so maybe he left buuut I doubt it. He doesn't seem like the type." Slowly, Lilac unplugs her nose. She grimaces, but at least she isn't turning green again.

"I do not remember blood bothering you this much before," Umeko notes with a sidelong glance to Lilac.

"I … " Lilac glances back, then looks down as she walks. "I saw a lot of it, when I was alone in the temple. It was … ," She licks her teeth a moment, then bites her lip, " … well really horrible! All this blood reminds me of the, the … " She shudders, tail tucking.

"I will not pry. When you can tell me, you will," Umeko says and doesn't press the matter too much. "How many people were actually inside digging? Not the lower parts, of course, but where Hakuu was."

Looking relieved Umeko isn't pressing, Lilac seems to relax a bit. Her tail resumes its usual walking-wag, and her ears straighten. "I don't know," she answers, honestly. "Most of the workers were evacuating, because if the rains. They was sand bagging the entrance, and they kept leaving even while I was inside. Hakuu wasn't even inside as far as I saw, and I was keeping an eye out for him, so I could avoid him. Most of the people inside were scholars or guards. Nervous looking guards."

"Any thoughts on why the guards were nervous? Had they been having any issues with guards going missing, perhaps?" Umeko inquires next.

"Oh, it's probably because they were guarding rooms with grotesque children statues, flesh slugs, and moving skulls," the bardess answers, head shaking. "Anyone would – and should – be worried in there. It's not a place for the sane."

"Moving skulls and children statues? You left that information out before. Please describe," Umeko asks. The pair are now getting near the edge of down and the desolate lands loom ahead.

As Umeko and Lilac walk, they soon reach the main gate of the palisade, still knocked off its frame and scorched from magic pyrotechnics earlier. Outside, Imperial siege engines still stand, engineers either moving or deconstructing them. Soldiers at the gate snap to attention as Kin passes, but nobody otherwise bothers the two on their stroll.

Lilac laughs nervously, shaking her head again. "There's so many weird and mind-twisting things in the Temple, it's hard to keep track of them all. At the time, those didn't seem very important," she admits. She jumps a little when the soldiers snap to attention, staring at them wide-eyed a moment, as if they might leap out and attack her. "The, the chamber of spirit has countless skulls that follow your movements. That's … that's where Dragonfly was. The weird baby statues are in the 'chamber of birth,' or renewal, or beginnings or … Well, something like that."

"Lilac and I are going to walk the perimeter and outer area of the hold," Umeko informs the soldiers as they pass. "We have other allies out in the desert that may have brought word on the movements of Beshret. We will be back as soon as we finish the checks."

"Tell me more about the statues, then. That is curious," Umeko says to Lilac. "How were they different?"

"They're just … weird babies. I don't even want to think about them, anymore. But, I have to, don't I? So … I guess fetus-statues. The rest of the carvings in that room depicted ritual scenes, which I used to … to find the God of Being," explains Lilac. She keeps an eye on the guards as they walk away, frowning a little. "I'm still not sure why the skulls move. The Temple must have hands in them, or something!"

"Weird how? Where they not of any recognizable species?" Umeko inquires next. "I ask because perhaps they represent how it came to be. As for the skulls, well, probably they move to scare explorers."

"But they follow people. They could follow me, in the dark." Shuddering again, Lilac reaches to wrap her arms around her chest as she walks. "They're all Naga statues, or Naga fetuses, or … Wait, do Naga even have fetuses? Wouldn't they be egg statues? Maybe we should have brought Dragonfly."

"It varies. Some Naga have live births," Umeko explains with a small shrug. Her head cranes a bit as she looks to the horizon. "In fact, some have rather large live births with multiple children."

"Oh," Lilac says, sounding surprised. "I guess I don't know a lot about Nagas, after all. Anyway, the people there are … still there, just- … " The woman's ears suddenly go askew, and she grimaces deeply. "Did you say large live births?! Ow!!" She tucks her tail, alarmed.

Many of the peasants live outside the walls of the palisade, some of their earthen domes caved in or huts burnt out. Others are already rebuilding. As Umeko picks a way out toward the badlands and scrub, the dwellings thin out, eventually left in the distance.

"Large meaning multiple. Such as ten ore more children at a time, Lilac. Not large children," Umeko tries to explain as they their way through the dwellings. "Though, as I understand it, the multi-limbed Naga births are painful."

Lilac starts to look a little pale again, ans she suddenly takes an interest in Viper Hold's walls. "Oh, that's … scary."

"And, of course, some just lay eggs," Umeko finishes. "Kiriga only tend to have one child at a time and egg laying, well. It's rumored about but I've never seen it."

"Can we talk about something else now," Lilac breathes, sounding distressed. The way she's hugging herself, it's a surprise she isn't choking, and her tail could tickle her belly. "Please, Ummy?"

"I suppose. I'm surprised you're finding the topic so displeasing. There are much worse things than childbirth," Umeko says and glances back at the human. "I thought human childbirths were universally painful anyway. Did you not discuss such with your mother?"

"Ugh," Lilac whines, reaching up to clutch her ears. "Yes, but … Well, she was never … She thought to wait until marriage for details."

"Well, I had some education on the topic, but not a lot. The most I remember is it tends to be messy and involve a lot of goo," Umeko comments. "Anyway, it is nothing you have to worry about, you are not around any amorous humans. On your journey here, was Dragonfly able to tell you much about what she was helping do?"

The two women are now well beyond the town limits. Rare grasses have sprung up here with the nights previous rain, fast growing as many of the desert plants are, to take advantage of the rare moisture, even some blossoms here. Umeko can feel eyes on her, much as she did a certain day before early in her travels.

Umeko stops in her tracks and looks around slowly. Even though she feels eyes … it doesn't mean they are known eyes. "Long-Shadow?" she calls out tentatively.

"No, not any … amorous humans." The human woman chuckles, nervously. "Lucky me, huh Ummy? What would silly cursed Lisandra do with a baby?" A pause, and Lilac releases her ears to glance at Umeko, frowning in thought. "But, I mean, Ummy … Do you think I'd make a good mommy?"

"Lisandra?" Umeko says and arches her brow a bit. "That is … a name worthy of a reptile. As for a mother … well, your life on the road would make child rearing extremely difficult. Not to mention your other condition."

"Oh," Lilac says in a low, disappointed sounding voice. "I, I suppose you're right Ummy, as always. T-thanks for telling me the truth. You're a good friend, you know that?" After a nervous pause, Lilac wags her tail one and adds, "Lisandra is my real name. I don't think I ever mentioned that – I usually don't, you know? – but is is. I guess I … slipped. I've been, well, nervous lately. Worried."

Shining eyes greet Umeko from the long grasses, and then a smiling, tear-marked face pops up above them, a tall, lanky body unfolding out of his hiding spot. Long strides carrying the cheetah toward Kin, Long-Shadow bounding along with a silent laugh on his face.

"It is better to hear truth. but it really is a silly topic out here, Lilac, you have no compatible … ," Umeko starts to say, then her voice trails off. All attempts at dignity are dropped when the reptile takes off in a run towards the emerged feline. Of course the leaping hug she does when she's within range doesn't do much for her dignity, either.

Lilac opens her mouth to comment, but nothing comes out as she watches gape-maw as the golden Kiriga runs to hug the cat. Perhaps feeling she's intruding, the bardess turns away and becomes very interested in a nearby desert rock.

Dignified or not, Long-Shadow looks happy enough to catch Umeko, his ears flicking as he takes her momentum into a swing around off her feet. He presses his nose pad to the Kiriga's forehead, then grins, hands too full to 'speak' just yet. He looks as fresh and healthy as he did when the two first met, wearing his customary feathers and skins.

And for the moment, the war is forgotten as Umeko buries her face into the neck and shoulder of the lanky feline. She does not even need words right now to describe the relief she feels. Nor does she make any quick movements to extract herself from his arms. But … eventually she has to and reluctantly does so. "I've been worried to near sickness about you since we parted. I know this is your home and you can survive fine … but. I just … I did not want that day to be the last day I ever saw you," she signs a bit shakily. "There is so much to tell you, I do not know where to begin."

Lilac turns to walk off a ways, giving the couple some privacy. With a sudden leap, she's in the air, soaring a short distance before she lands on the top of a half-ruined stretch of the battlements.

Once his hands are free, Long-Shadow's fingers blur, a little much for Umeko to keep up with, but still, she gets the gist. "I feared for you as well, Sun-Scale. Actually, in the face of that hoard of barbarians, I feared for me too, but… I have never seen such like that in all my seasons. But to see you whole is a joyous thing." He pauses, then nods, and signs some more. "Some I may know. Glowing-Coal felt the fires of war, even from afar."

Umeko nods, hoping she understood. "What has Glowing Coal told you? I can just … fill in from there," she offers in sign. She's also grateful for the delay in having to tell him about her … appointment.

"Only that he could sense fire the likes of which were summoned only by the terrible warsongs of the serpent mystics," replies Long-Shadow. "We pieced things together from that, but have safely camped in the Band."

Umeko seems to shrink down a bit more … making her appear even smaller next to the tall feline. "The Emperor has decided the raids against his ships had to stop and has sent one of his best Generals to deal with the Barbarians," she explains slowly, "and is reclaiming this land under his banner. He's already appointed a new ruler for the territory."

Long-Shadow frowns thoughtfully, but signs, "I see. We have no great love for the serpent-men's god king, but it was under his rule that Savanites became freemen, at least so it was claimed. The slaver bands still roam, but not as many as before. I wonder if it will be better or worse with the Imperials near again. The movement of his armies brings back unhappy tribal memories."

"Well, I will do what I can to protect your kind as long as I am the Governess," Umeko signs out rather shakily, not quite sure what the reaction will be. "The Emperor chose me, but I do not know how long the appointment will be."

The Savanite's brows shoot up, his brown eyes wide. His gestures are exaggerated for emphasis. "You?! But are you not… ? I am confused."

"I am not what?" Umeko signs, now equally confused.

Long-Shadow slows down, trying to work over what he knows. "Are you not striving against some other threat in the Beast Lands? Are you with the Emperor's army? We… I am just a simple hunter. This is above me."

Meanwhile, Lilac perches on the battlements like some sort of oddly skinny gargoyle. Arms folded around her knees, balanced on her toes, she stares soberly out across the wastes as Umeko and Long-Shadow talk privately.

"In the lands of my birth, it is expected of those who are born of a certain family line to be leaders. I left that life behind to hunt the threat a group has brought to these lands and beyond," Umeko tries to explain in sign, "And when we brought Beshret's plans to the attention of the Imperials to help stop that army of barbarians … he recognized my heritage. Because of my birth line, he could reacquire these lands by appointing me to Governess. It is … a complicated political thing. I was not of his army. Does any of it make sense? It is not what I wanted … but there was no other path once he recognized me. I would understand if you would … no longer wish to speak with me."

The tribesman looks at his toes thoughtfully, then back up and toward Viper's Hold. When he signs again, it's looking squarely back at Umeko. "I knew in my heart of hearts that you came from a different world, even when we danced around the bonfire. I accepted then, and I accept now that I will not completely understand your strange Empire. But I will try to understand you, as you have tried to understand us… it is because you tried that we shared our fire, and it is only fair that we try in turn. I do not think you would bring the Burning Sands harm." He offers a tentative smile. "We do not trust your serpent king, and are not surprised he would try to hold onto land. But I trust you."

"Thank you. that means a great deal to me; perhaps more than I could ever explain. I will do all I can to protect you and your tribe. There is still much that must be done to stop Beshret … and his ally Hakuu. We now know what he seeks in those ruins and it is … well, it must be stopped before all are threatened," Umeko signs, then leans against the large feline. "Does your tribe have any legends of a shaping God?"

The lanky cat shakes his head. "The Twelve, and the Twelve times Twelve shaped many things, but… no one god."

"Any legends of a cult of Naga in the wild that worshiped some sort of monster?" Umeko tries to ask next.

Long-Shadow mulls this over. "Always strange things from the Desolate Band and the Beast Lands. What the Naga did there, we never knew. I am sure some Savanites braved that cursed place for the sake of exploration, but the Burning Sands stayed clear. We had our own concerns."

"I would like to hear of those concerns some day if you would be willing to tell me?" Umeko signs, then rubs her snout. "One last question, have you ever heard of a person called 'The Mother'? Not anyone's mother, but someone specifically called that?"

The cheetah just shakes his head, puzzled.

"It is of no matter, then. Come, walk with me and we will fetch Lilac. I'll explain all that has happened so you can tell Glowing Coal about what is going on," Umeko signs, then noses the feline, "And then we can discuss your appointment as my official envoy to the Savanite tribes… " She grins.