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'm standing 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 are wide open behind us. Unlike Merv and Amul, there's 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 are clearly visible less than a league away, now opening to let a company of a hundred Warghorse riders through. As they approach, Khan Timur's banner flaps 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 rumbles ever louder. Timur's in the lead; his beard's pressed against the new Artifact armor he's wearing, the conical helm on his head fashioned with a golden boar attached to the spike.

Timur raises his hand, and the company comes to a halt several horse-lengths away from us. He speaks a word to the blood-mage outrider behind him, and the two of them move their mounts until they reach the spot where we're standing. Timur has 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 returns 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 raises 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 motions at the leader of the council. "It also helps that Elder Keyhan is a loyal follower of Yun-Kax."

The white bearded man in robes gives 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 takes a long, shuddering breath. "These last days will give me nightmares for the rest of my life." The other robed members of the council murmur in agreement as Keyhan adds, "Regardless, it broke Artaco free of the hated Sasnayams... and spared us your wrath?"

An anxious expression comes over Keyhan and the other members of the council, but their faces ease as Timur makes 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 sweeps over the robed men's faces. "Great Khan, there is still resistance, but it is almost crushed." He takes a 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 can reply, Kax says, "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 makes 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 bow as Timur adds, "And by the way, it's good to finally meet you in person, Lady Kax."

She inclines 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 add.

Timur smiles again. "An excellent suggestion, for I have private matters to discuss with the three of them." Kax raises her eyebrows, but remains silent while Timur speaks to the blood-mage beside him in their harsh language. The man nods and grasps the Artifact medallion hanging by a leather cord around his neck. His blood red hair glistens a moment as the embedded blue mana stone glows, and a moment later, blue lines begin to glow on the medallion as well as the outrider speaks into it.

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

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

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

I can'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 chuckles. "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 smile. "I'll be glad to have them close again." Timur nods, and faces forward again as we approach the open doors of the building.

As we enter, moving from sunlight into cool shadow, Karl and Lys are standing in front of the left hand doorway into the building. "Welcome, Great Khan," Lys says as they bow together. "We have a place set and a feast prepared."

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

Lys shares a look with Karl. Then she leaps up onto his shoulder, and as Timur gives his riders their orders, Karl walks over to the door and opens it. Timur's riders are either swinging down or riding deeper inside, most likely to secure the caravansary themselves, as Timur and I follow Karl into the building.

The corridor, with its open spaces like rooms without a fourth wall, is silent, the air fragrant with the scent of almonds from the oil in the lamps positioned every third space or so. Our footsteps echo as we pass the darkened area, until we turn the corner where a large space is brightly lit. It has a large, round wooden table with 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 stand with wine pitchers in their hands. They pour the wine as Timur sits on a cushion and I do the same, Lys leaping onto the table and sitting across from us. Then Karl shoos the two servants out and sits beside Lys. "My Khan, what's wrong?"

Timur holds up his hand as several of his riders stride past us and begin walking through the other spaces, as if searching for spies. From the way we came I can hear other riders doing the same. After a short time, the riders come back and speak to Timur, who then gives them orders. The riders touch their fists to their hearts and take up positions on both ends of the corridor.

"Now, we can speak freely," Timur says as he takes off his helm and sets 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, stops. "Gone?" I ask, 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 shake 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 says, "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 gives 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 take a large swallow of wine as Timur says, "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 takes a sip off his own cup as he regards me. "You see symbols on people when you're the Shadow Knight." I nod, and he says, "What symbol did you see when you looked at the priestess keeping Inanna's body going?"

"Akbal?" He nods, and I give 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, and has been nothing but helpful during this campaign." I give him a sharp look. "Does Ishtar suspect her of being Tanit?"

Timur shrugs. "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 echo from the way we came in, and Timur smiles. "Speaking of which, I believe they've arrived."

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

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

He grins as Dancer joins us. "Not for lack of trying." Karl rises to his feet and gives up his place as Dancer sits beside me. "Domina, there's much to tell you."

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

Both of them stop and bow to me. "We are Nomad," they say in unison. "The tattoos found us and brought us to your service."

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

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

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

I give her a wry smile as a warm feeling of familiarity settles 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 smile back as I turn towards Fox. "Timur told me all about the task he wants you to do." I describe the symbol, then say, "Tomorrow, head to Bukhara and ask Ishtar-"

I break off as the sound of pounding feet echoes in the corridor. A few moments later, an outrider covered in sweat slides to a stop, and blurts out something to Timur. He nods, dismissing the man with a wave of his hand. Then he begins 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 straight towards us."