Amazonia - Reunion

Timur's army arrived with the dawn of summer's longest day.

Bells tolled, warning us they were here, and messengers were exchanged. Now, I stood with Kax and several men in robes on the road leading to Artaco, the city-state south of Merv, which the Shambler army had conquered with Kax's help. Artaco's gates gaped wide open behind us. Unlike Merv and Amul, there were no cluster of outbuildings beyond the massive walls, just a large caravansary much like the one we met Kax in.

The white shields of the infantry were clearly visible less than a league away, opening to let a company of a hundred Warghorse riders through. As they approached, Khan Timur's banner flapped in the morning breeze, the white boar on its green field seeming to run with them as the thunder of their mounts stone-hard paws rumbled ever louder. Timur rode in the lead, his beard pressed against the new Artifact armor he wore. The conical helm on his head had been crafted with a golden boar attached to the spike.

Timur raised his hand, and the company came to a halt several horse-lengths away from us. He spoke a word to the blood-mage outrider behind him, and the two of them moved their mounts until they reached the spot where we stood. Timur looked down with a smile on his face. "I'm impressed. The last report I received told me that the rulers of Artaco were still holding faith with the Sasnayams."

Kax returned him a sly smile of her own. "It is amazing what your necromancers and Amazonia, when she is the Shadow Knight, can do when there is a necropolis with a grey tree in its courtyard."

Timur raiseed his eyebrows. "Within the city walls?"

"Just so. Artaco buries all its important dead there, including the soldiers, and embalms the bodies so they remain well preserved." She motioned at the leader of the council. "It also helped that Elder Keyhan is a loyal follower of Yun-Kax."

The white bearded man in robes gave Timur a deep bow. "When the honored dead began rising from their tombs, I obeyed my goddess and told the people our ancestors were angry over the destruction of Yun-Kax's temple." He took a long, shuddering breath. "These last days will give me nightmares for the rest of my life." The other robed members of the council murmured in agreement as Keyhan added, "Regardless, it broke Artaco free of the hated Sasnayams... and spared us your wrath?"

An anxious expression came over Keyhan's face and all the other members of the council, but their faces eased as Timur made an open gesture with his hands. "Your wisdom is a rare treasure in these unsure days. When the eastern satrapies broke with the Sasnayams and joined me, I cut their taxes and ordered the temples of the heart-eaters destroyed. If Artaco's truly with us, I shall do the same for you."

Relief swept over the robed men's faces. "Great Khan, there is still resistance, but it is almost crushed." He took another deep breath. "If I may dare to ask, would you like us to continue in our efforts, or would you prefer to have someone else ruling over Artaco?"

Before he could reply, Kax said, "If you will accept my advice, Keyhan and the others are not only wise, but extremely loyal. You could do no better than to have them administer the city and the lands beyond."

Timur's stroking his beard, and even though he's keeping his face impassive, I can see the thought behind his eyes: loyal to me, or loyal to you? But he only made a slight wave of his hand. "If you believe they are doing a fine job, I see no reason to appoint anyone else." All the robed men bowed as Timur added, "And by the way, it's good to finally meet you in person, Lady Kax."

She inclined her head. "Likewise. As Keyhan mentioned, the city is not entirely pacified, so Amazonia suggested waiting at the caravansary while your soldiers help us secure the city. That way, I can promise you a triumphal march into Artaco without incident."

"Karl and Lys are waiting there as well," I added.

Timur smiled again. "An excellent suggestion, for I have private matters to discuss with the three of them." Kax raised her eyebrows but remained silent while Timur spoke in their harsh language to the blood-mage beside him. The man nodded and grasped the Artifact medallion hanging by a leather cord around his neck. His blood red hair glistened a moment as the embedded blue mana stone glowed, and a moment later, blue lines began to glow on the medallion as well while the outrider spoke into it.

Then he held it to his ear and listened before speaking again, going back and forth with occasional questions to Timur. They finished, and Timur held out his hand. "Az, swing up and we'll ride to the caravansary together." The Warghorse crouched down and Timur helped me get on behind him. As the Warghorse got back up, he said to Kax, "War-leader Kula's bringing several hundred Warg-lancers to assist you, while the army moves back to camp."

Kax gave him a sardonic look. "I remember Kula quite well. I will keep you informed."

"Gratitude," Timur replied. "I'm leaving you my outrider and a few men until Kula arrives." He barked out orders, and a dozen or so riders, including the blood-mage, remained with Kax while the rest fell in behind Timur, whose beast broke into a trot towards the caravansary. He glanced back over his shoulder. "You look tired."

I couldn't help but sigh. "I had to remain the Shadow Knight longer than usual. The common people rose up against the nobles, who are all Sasnayams, but each one of their family compounds is a stronghold. I had to assault each one with the Shamblers."

"But your army overwhelmed them?"

I shrug. "More or less. Several had secret passages leading into Hel knows where, and I wanted to wait until you got here before digging them out. I swear, they're more stubborn than badgers in their holes."

Timur chuckled. "Kula will sort them out. Oh, and before I forget, I told him to send your Wardogs to the caravansary as well. They've missed you."

I smiled. "I'll be glad to have them close again." Timur nodded, and faced forward again as we approached the open doors of the building.

As we moved through the entrance from sunlight into cool shadow, Karl and Lys were standing in front of the left hand doorway into the building. "Welcome, Great Khan," Lys said as they bowed together. "We have a place set and a feast prepared."

"Wine would be a blessing," Timur said as we both got down off the Warghorse. The rest of his riders began moving past us as he let one of his men take his mount for stabling, then lowered his voice. "I need to speak with the three of you without prying ears listening in."

Lys shared a look with Karl. Then she leapt up onto his shoulder, and as Timur gave his riders their orders, Karl walked over to the door and opened it. Timur's riders were either swinging down or riding deeper inside, most likely to secure the caravansary as Timur and I followed Karl into the building.

The corridor, with its open spaces like rooms without a fourth wall, was silent, the air fragrant with the scent of almonds from the oil in the lamps positioned every third space or so. Our footsteps echoed as we passed the darkened area, until we turned the corner where a large space was brightly lit. The large, round wooden table had a dozen or so embroidered cushions arranged around it, and a ceramic cup at each place. Two young women in simple tunics and wearing iron collars around their throats, stood with wine pitchers in their hands. They poured the wine as Timur sat on a cushion. I did the same, Lys leaping onto the table and sitting across from us. Then Karl shooed the two servants out and sat beside Lys. "My Khan, what's wrong?"

Timur held up his hand as several of his riders strode past us and began walking through the other spaces, as if searching for spies. From the way we'd come I could hear other riders doing the same. After a short time, the riders came back and spoke to Timur, who then gave them orders. The riders touched their fists to their hearts and took up positions on both ends of the corridor.

"Now, we can speak freely," Timur said as he took off his helm and set it behind him on the carpeted floor. "A fortnight ago, Ishtar sent a rider from Bukhara to give me a message he would only deliver to me in private. A couple months after my army left the city, Ishtar decided to finally burn the Necromantic texts, and went to the strongbox in her chambers they were being held in. The strongbox was there but the texts were gone."

The cup of wine I'd been bringing to my lips stopped. "Gone?" I asked, putting the cup back down on the table. "How could that be possible? Ishi the mage told you they were protected by major runes of power."

"In the message, Ishtar said that if Tanit was the one who stole them, destroying a major rune of power without setting it off would be within her abilities."

I shook my head. "But if it was Tanit, why would she bother? I thought she was the one who wrote the texts in the first place."

"While we were in Bukhara," Lys said, "Ishi gave me a brief look at them. Many of the entries, especially in the second part, are full of arcane rituals and recipes for potions, like the one that turns humans into Shadowmen." She gave me a direct look. "Even if Tanit wrote the Necromantic texts, I seriously doubt she would remember the exact formulas she put down in them."

I raised my cup and took a large swallow of wine as Timur said, "In her message, Ishtar said much the same thing. She's worried that Tanit means to do something to further her own schemes, like turning my Khanate into a host of Shadowman under me, or Ishtar into a true Lich." He took a sip off his own cup as he regarded me. "You see symbols on people when you're the Shadow Knight." I nodded, and he said, "What symbol did you see when you looked at the priestess keeping Inanna's body going?"

"Akbal?" He nodded, and I gave it some thought. "Hers is a strange one. It's a triangle with a circle on top of the point, and a line that goes out from the triangle before going straight up. It reminds me of a child's stick figure drawing. She's never had any symbol representing loyalty to the Sasnayams, though, and has been nothing but helpful during this campaign." I gave him a sharp look. "Does Ishtar suspect her of being Tanit?"

Timur shrugged. "I believe she's grasping at straws, but the theft has frightened her badly. I've already spoken to your Daemo Shadow-walker Fox, and she's willing to return to Bukhara with the description you just gave me, and confirm-" Familiar voices echoed from the way we came in, and Timur smiled. "Speaking of which, I believe they've arrived."

A large man in armor came around the corner and grinned. "Domina, as I live and breathe."

I raised my eyebrows. "Troll, hasn't anyone killed you yet?"

He grinned as Dancer joined us. "Not for lack of trying," Dancer said as Karl rose to his feet and gave up his place as Dancer sat beside me. "Domina, there's much to tell you."

Two large, blue skinned warriors with four arms each came around the corner with Fenris, and my mouth hung open. "I would say so."

Both of them stopped and bowed to me. "We are Nomad," they said in unison. "The tattoos found us and brought us to your service."

Timur chuckled at my shock as I closed my mouth. "Apologies, but I wasn't expecting..."

My words trailed off and they replied,"Of course not. May we join you?"

Belatedly, I waved at them to have a seat as Fox slipped by them and knelt beside me. "Domina, apologies for not sending word, but we weren't sure where you were."

I gave her a wry smile as a warm feeling of familiarity settled around me. "Well, you know where I am now, and I'm not separating myself from my Wardogs again, not if I can help it." My Chaldeans smiled back as I turned towards Fox. "Timur told me all about the task he wants you to do." I described the symbol, then said, "Tomorrow, head to Bukhara and ask Ishtar-"

I broke off as the sound of pounding feet echoed in the corridor. A few moments later, an outrider covered in sweat slid to a stop and blurted out something to Timur. He nodded, dismissing the man with a wave of his hand. Then he began to stroke his beard. "It would seem the Sasnayams have decided to do something about the loss of their satrapies after all. An army has been spotted by my scouts along Artaco's border with the empire itself, force marching its way straight towards us."