Her Mantle Upon Your Shoulders: Part 7

Another afternoon, another hour with the carriage and guard at the side of the road, tending to their canteens of water before returning to the path. Umbrellas brought shade to the travelers, paper shields fighting the sun's rays. Wanderers came and went, but never got too closer to the Shigu party. While chewing down her jerky like the rest of them, Akuna watched each traveler with caution. Her tail twitched tensely behind her. One hand clutched at her jerky pieces while the other held the stem of her spear that rested across her lap.

"You are anxious, Captain," Zulca observed, walking over to chat after doing so with Akzla and Cagost.

"I am precautious," Akuna corrected him, continuing to watch the road. She swallowed down another bite of jerky and told Rupland to pass her the canteen of water. Her throat bulged as she gulped, savoring the freshness of the liquid.

"You always seem guarded, Akuna," Zulca walked into the circle the umbrella cast. "You hardly give a moment of rest to yourself and there is always a weapon between your claws.  Is it because you don't have any trust in the skill of my soldiers or myself?"

Angling her muzzle up toward the High Officer, Akuna could see the coy smile he presented. Are you that arrogant, Zulca, she asked without speaking, or just ignorant to what could happen to us? "I have a great amount of confidence towards you and your soldier's skills, High Officer," Akuna said instead, "but I have been taught to never allow myself to be without a guarded spirit or a weapon to defend myself.  I am relaxed in knowing that I am prepared."

"Kusno seemed the same way," he noted, squinting down in front of Akuna while her mate petted Brunka's mate as the cub stirred her fingers in the sand. "I cannot blame either of you, considering the territory you were ordered to defend.  No high walls, just a few rocks, a wooden fence that a beast of burden could topple." He chuckled, much to Akuna's dismay.

"We did the best we could, High Officer," she said to him, obviously irritated by the words that marred Rellon's defenses.

"And you did well with what you had," Zulca said, noticing he may have offended the Shigu warrior. "I meant no insult towards your efforts.  Your people deserve a strip of valor for surviving with so little resources."

"Strip of valor?" Brunka's head turned to look at the High Officer, curious to what he meant.

"Strip of valor.  A mark of courage, of reverence, child," he said to the cub, allowing the time to educate her. "They are given for deeds of immense duty.  It is a great pride to show your comrades the amount of loyalty you have in your heart.  It might be shown as streaks of color on armor, red on the chest, black on the shoulders.  It might be shown too as the finger bones of enemies you have killed in battle, made into a necklace.  Even scars.  Have you ever been in battle, child?"

Brunka answered with a shake of her head.

"Only on my back in a basket when she was just a newborn," her mother added. Brunka dared not speak of her nightmares of war, which only brought the child horrid images and a fear that chilled her bones in the night. She dared not mention such to the High Officer and embarrass her mother.

"The shame of a virgin soldier," Zulca said. "A shame a couple of my own cubs carry.  But it's only a temporary shame, I promise you that."

"I have no doubt you will fulfill that promise, High Officer," Akuna said, finding her mouth dry again after devouring her strips of jerky. At that moment, something began to crawl up her side. Something small, as if fingers of a tiny hand were climbing over her fur. Her hand was swift to catch the irritant and bring it into sight. Six black little legs moved around helplessly, all attached to an oval black carapace.

"A suj-bettle," Zulca examined the bug, watching it wiggle in between Akuna's fingers. "Not poisonous, but it can bite.  Edible, but with a very horrid taste.  I wouldn't recommend making it another snack."

Akuna would have much rather crush the bug in her hand, but her mind gave thought to another idea. Turning to Brunka, she could see her cub had a face of mild apprehensiveness. The child could handle smaller insects, but was fearful of larger ones. That is why Akuna could not help herself and threw the insect at her.

Instantly, with the insect landing on her stomach, Brunka leap to her feet. Away from them, out of the shade, into the hot sunlight. She yelped as she batted at the bug, but it's legs were too tangled in her fur. Her mother and the High Officer watched with laughter at the child's terror while Rupland hid away his giggles. She tripped in the sand and yelped some more before slapping the insect from her body and back onto the hot ground. She then looked to her mother with a mixture of anger and fear, her heart pounding rapidly in her chest. Bowing her head away from them, she ran and took refuge in burying her head in her father's chest, her short arms wrapped around his waist.

"Ah, don't cry like a baby," Akuna scowled her, annoyed by the child's reaction. "Did it bite you?"

"No," Brunka's words came muffled. "It...it could have!  It...scared me."

Zulca laughed again, patting Akuna on the shoulder. "So, you can have fun!"

Rupland cooed his cub softly, stroking her mane and back as he tried to relax her cries. He could feel both empathy for the child and a slight disapproval of his mate's actions. For himself there was only guilt at laughing at his child's frantic fright.

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It was no secret Niyi and Budio had fun throwing jokes at Akuna, but she had to admit the couple put some thought in their insults. But this Cagost showed no intelligence in the teases he gave out through the journey to Wevren. His words were more malicious and no comedy could be found within them. Akuna would catch a hint of them when she tried to sleep in the cabin of the carriage if her legs were too sore to carry her. Fat and slouchy were the terms the male described her with, but she allowed them to pass without offense. She could not worry herself over the jests of a child.

But then Cagost aimed his jokes at Brunka and Akuna found she could not hold herself back any longer. The Shigu soldier had heard it while they were at a run outside, Akzla and Cagost trailing behind them. They aimed to annoy her, maybe to strive off boredom, but the two were ignored for the most part until one sentence graced Akuna's ears.

"Do you believe the child will be as grossly fat as the mother?"

At that instance, Akuna's legs ceased. She turned towards the male with a furious whipping motion. It took only two long steps for Akuna to pounce at Cagost. Her right fist cracked against the male's cheek and he went tumbling to the sands. Akzla was screaming something at Akuna, but the large soldier didn't worry herself with what her fellow captain was saying. She was too busy screaming her own curses at Cagost as she pummeled her fists on his head.

"Fat?" she hissed, allowing the volume in her voice to rise. "Fat?  There is muscle under all this fat, you little shit!" Her claws raked at the male's hide, removing many of his light blue hairs with each slash. With the male left cowering on the sands, Akuna finally allowed a spittle of phlegm to splatter against his ear. The confrontation had only taken about ten seconds. Now, Zulca and his female-only unit came closer to find the reason for this fight.

"Is the heat making you antsy, Captain Akuna?" Zulca regarded her with a neutral expression, waiting to hear the cause of why they had to cease their pace.

Looking from Cagost to the High Officer, Akuna steadied her breath. "The cock-less shit made a remark about my child.  Called her fat."

"No!  No I did not!  I made no such remark!" Cagost denied the accusation despite his bleeding wounds.

"Don't you dare lie!  I heard it with my own ears!"

"Akuna, please!" Zulca stepped between the defeated male and the enraged female. "Bind your tongue.  What of it, Cagost?"

"I never said the child was fat," Cagost said again to the High Officer, picking himself up with Akzla at his side. Akuna watched her fellow captain give her an angry stare. "I only asked if she was to grow as fat as her mother, but even then I did not mean any offense.  The female is fat.  This is true, is it not?  I was only speaking the truth."

"Son of a whore!" Akuna roared again, stepping forward, but Zulca's arm blocked her approach. She saw him gave a little smile, something he always seemed to have on his face.

"Akuna said you were cock-less," Zulca said playfully and in a quick motion the sword at his side was in his hand, unsheathed. The blade was magnificent, Akuna would remark. A crescent of silver with glyphs of flames etched into the metal. "Shall we make that the truth or will your mouth keep closed when you believe something so unfound?" The smile never left Zulca's face, his orbs only on Cagost's fearful eyes.

"I'll...," Cagost couldn't finish his sentence. He looked at Akzla, maybe for some sign of help, but she gave none. She wouldn't dare speak against a superior. "I'll say nothing more," he bowed his head, his tail lowering with it.

"And you'll do so while walking," Zulca added. "The cabin is for those that know of etiquette.  The desert will teach you the lesson of silence.  I believe it will be a good lesson for you."

Akuna desired to see if the male would learn such a lesson. Indeed, while they all began to travel again upon that desert road, Cagost did not speak another word. Akzla could not carry the shame with him. She instead found rest inside the carriage with Zulca.

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The terrain took on a new appearance. The dunes were only hills here and rocky bodies rose from the ground. Even more so, stony canyons were etched deeply into the territory. They went on for many rekusus, their divides so very wide. The trail avoided a few of these depths and at times ran right through some, going parallel to the rivers that flowed at the bottom of these gorges. Then came the bridge, crafted of wood and metal. Looking from the start to the end of the structure, Rupland could see it was quite an impressive build. It was wide enough for five caravans to travel over shoulder-to-shoulder.

The carriage's wheels bumped as it rolled over panels of wood, but otherwise the bridge gave them solid ground. Many lengths below another river ran. In Brunka's eyes, she held no fear at the height they were at. Instead she felt excitement. She loved to climb the rocks and big boulders at Rellon, looking over the village from above as if she had wings like a nevrean. She wondered if she could actually scale a canyon wall this tall? She enjoyed that idea.

Wevren was truly a city, one that could be seen for many rekusus around. A canyon seemed to run through the metropolis, but the gradual development of homes and bridges of stone, metal, and wood enclosed the gap and connected the two sides of the city.

"A river flows below the city, on the canyon floor," Zulca informed them as Akuna watched the city grow in size with the distance lessening. "Gives a prime source of trade for us."

Light construction was being done to Wevren's outer walls, workers placing down huge blocks of white stone with the assistance of pulley cranes, but that was the only flaw Akuna could see about the city's defenses once they came within range.

The walls were massively built, spanning the city's border, craved rock arches and columns rising from the sand. Red banners waved in the dry wind while soldiers manned the walkways up at the top and below on sand. Their armor showed the same perfected craftsmanship of Zulca's own squad. An easy entrance was given to the High Officer and his party once they were recognized. They then passed into a wide entry and braved the thick shadows of Wevren's protective walls before they found sunlight again.

Riding in the cabin, everyone pressed towards the windows to peer at the storied buildings outside. Akuna strained her neck upward to see the top of them as they passed by. Such tall edifices were rare to her, especially after living at that village of Rellon for what seemed like an Age. Each structure looked to be constructed of stones of brown, white, black, and red. Arches bent and flew, towers pointing at the wide sky. They saw storefronts, customers weaving in and out of their doors, sellers at their stalls with the flesh fish and beast. Even then, the smell of all that meat came to Akuna and her stomach grumbled with hunger. She had forgotten to eat a meal, her excitement overthrowing her appetite.

The carriage did not have to weave through the dense traffic of Wevren. Instead, Zulca's soldiers made the traffic weave around them.

Northerners. That's all Akuna could see. They were at the left. And they were at the right too. It was a river of dark furs! She couldn't believe it, having become accustomed to nevrean populations. Now, for just a brief moment, this place seemed like a home of their own. She desired to walk amongst her kin, outside, sniff at the air clouded with the smell of their fur and actually listen to the crowd speak her own tongue. But Zulca had insisted she be seated inside the carriage when making their way through the city's streets.

"You might be mistaken for a simple soldier," he reasoned. That only perplexed Akuna. Am I to be ashamed of accompanying soldiers like myself? I might have the rank of captain, but why shouldn't soldiers walk in flight together? She didn't have the answers to these questions. She would much rather look at the buildings and people freely instead of contending for a view through the window with Rupland and Brunka.

Then came an odd sight. Light fur in the mass of dark ones. Cold colors surrounding ones that were warm. Coming closer now, passing by. Akuna had to push Brunka to the side to make sure of her suspicions. Yes, a southerner, out there with her brothers and sisters. Then she realized there were more of them, all caught in the throng of northern sergals. But none seemed healthy. All appeared ragged and tired, wearing almost nothing more than a cloth around their hips. Some walked freely while others limped with metal manacles around their ankles and wrists, the restraints chaffing their hide naked and raw.

"What are southerners doing here?" Akuna asked the High Officer without looking at him. "How are they allowed here without being ripped into little ribbons?" She gave a grimace of disgust at the sand-furs, watching them pass and mix themselves into the crowd.

"They are only alive because we allow them to," the High Officer answered lightly. "What they were outside of Wevren matters little now.  They are slaves here, fed and groomed like the animals they are.  We busy them with building houses, carrying stones, and other mundane tasks such simple creatures can do.  And if you have any worries of them breeding, you need not ask.  We castrate the males when they are young.  Gives them less reason to wander."

Rupland believed the High Officer would give a laugh at that, but Zulca only leaned back on his cushioned seat with a slight air of arrogance on his eyes.

Akuna was heavily pleased with what was happening here. Why kill all the southerners when you could use them for mindless labor? There was much to be learned here, she thought happily. They continued to tread through the streets and the thick northern crowds with ease. Heads turned their way and a few gave smiles. Akuna even heard a handful of youths cheer at them. "Shigu!" they screamed joyously. "Shigu!  Shigu!  Shigu!" Despite the happy greetings, Akuna felt a slight disappointment in this arrival.

"I had believed we would be greeted with much larger cheers than that," she said, as they trotted through an intersection.

"What?  Did you believe we would have a parade running through the streets in your honor?" Zulca laughed and it hurt Akuna to hear it, but she did not show the pain on her face.

"No, I did not expect that," Akuna turned to him, keeping her expression as featureless as she could muster. "But I had hoped that we would receive more reactions than a few calls from children and stares from the adults."

"You are no general, Akuna," Akzla told her, giving a cold smile.

"Not yet," Brunka responded defiantly to the shock of Akzla and Rupland.

"Oh, the child might be on to something," Zulca cackled, causing Akzla to grumble subtly.

The shadows of buildings grew larger, darker, as they headed deeper into Wevren's heart. The homes were taller here, their length enlarging and girth mounting. Brunka looked at them with wide blues, mouth gapping. She wondered why anyone would needed such a big house. How many people lived in that one? Was it just one family in there? Or many? How many children ran through those halls, she asked herself. But the grandness of these homes would be turned modest once Akuna and her company saw where they were to reside for their month long stay.

Akuna's face mirrored her cub's childish wonder at the keep. A mound of sculpted black stone grew from the rising ground of a hill, it's body wrapped by high, dark walls. Despite it's walls, the main keep rose in the air, strongholds stacked one upon the other.

"Si Cak'nu Vasp," Zulca said, allowing his guests to gaze at the keep for a bit longer. "That is what the southerners called it in their own words when they held it.  But if you wish to call it without dirtying your tongue, you may use the name the Narulus.  Where the black stone heart of war beats alive."

It sent shivers down Akuna's spine, all the way through her tail too. It would be a most appropriate home for her General, where Rain would sleep and dream and concoct the nightmares of the southerners.

The carriage came to a stop before a long staircase after they were allowed to pass through the keep's massively tall gates. Many Shigu soldiers stood in guard. The stairs might as well have been a mountainside, a steep climb towards the Narulus' entrance. Akuna, Rupland, Brunka, Akzla, and Zulca clambered out of the carriage and into the hot presence of the sun. Cagost came from the side and added himself to the group, having to endure the rest of the trip without the comfort of resting inside the carriage. His wounds had scabbed over, but his bruises were still swelled, Akuna noticed. She gave the male a flash of the teeth and he quickly looked away from her.

Zulca's female guard retreated somewhere with the carriage. Their protection was no longer required. Rupland hefted the baggage along with his family as they began to walk up the series of stairs before them. They too were black stone, wore smooth over the centuries by the many that braved the climb. Pairs of guards were posted at the top. They watched the newcomers approach without hindrance and gave a salute at the sight of High Officer Zulca. It took two guards to open one of the massive wooden, iron-banded doors.

Akuna felt surprise once she caught a full view of the innards of the keep. She had expected darkness, the same blackness as the outside coating of this structure. But there were bulbs of light burning in there, static light and non-moving shadows. She saw the fear spread in her cub's eyes. She pulled herself closer to her father. They headed inside with Zulca moving forward. The sun's heat could no longer be felt on their back with the doors booming closed behind them.

It took a few moments for their eyes to adjust to the lesser light of the halls. The sound of their footfall came as muffled echoes and tiny clicks as their claws tapped upon the stone floor. Brunka gave a series of whining breaths. She feared the darkness, the silence of that long hall. Rupland patted her head, trying to make her less scared, but everyone could hear her, especially the High Officer.

"There should be no fear within you, child," Zulca said to the cub. "We are walking through the halls of the Narulus.  Each wall is composed of hard stone so dense it took fifty slaves to carry one block."

"Is that true?" Brunka asked timidly, holding onto her father's hand as if it were the only anchor to this world of darkness.

"Or so the stories tell," Zulca answered her. "Nevertheless, there is nothing to fear, inside or outside this keep.  Only members of our clan live within these walls, and no enemy can breach the outside.  The stones would not allow it.  We would not allow it."

Somehow, surprisingly, the High Officer's words calmed Brunka and her fingers grasped Rupland's hand less tightly and her whines could no longer be heard.

More stairs awaited to be climbed. Those that zigzagged up and down, others that corkscrewed up through the floors of the keep. They went through many rooms, greeting halls with fireplaces, rugs on the floor, tapestries, war trophies, and painted scenes of the cold plains on the walls. They passed many other northerners up and down these halls. As they passed, each traded stares, even a nod of the head if they were polite enough. Each was a stranger, but Akuna felt no suspension towards them. Each was a friend, an ally in arms. She could trust these unknowns. There were no southerners, not even slaves. Only northern comrades.

But there was no General to be seen. Maybe she was higher up, resting in the highest tower, waiting for all her subordinates to come together as one.

Finally, after so many stairs, corridors, and halls, they came to their rooms. Even compared to the humble luxury of their home at Rellon, Akuna immediately knew this lodging was of a higher lavishness. Although not much larger than their bedroom, the quality of the flooring and furniture was impressive. The stone floor cut off at the door and transformed into polished dark wood that was ever so smooth against Akuna's foot pads. The bed was circular, massive, and thick, raised off the floor by it's bedpost. Underneath there was a chamber pot. To one corner was a tall mirror and Brunka could see herself clearly in it. There was three chests scattered across the room; one at the foot of the bed, another near the mirror, and one to the far wall where a window was cut into the stone wall. Through that window, a far-off stone wall could be seen. Going over to it, Rupland was able to look down into a courtyard and was delighted to see green plants growing all around the stone benches down there.

"Even though the bed might be able to accommodate all three of you," Zulca began after showing Akzla and Cagost their own room next door, "you can request an additional cot for the child if you would like."

"We have brought palettes," Akuna reminded him. "There should be no need.  Hard ground is comfort enough."

"There are plants growing there," Rupland said, still standing by the window.

"Surprised, yes?" Zulca asked him with a smile, one hand on his hip. "Didn't expect to see any green around all this dry yellow and shit brown?  There are a few gardens spread throughout the keep's grounds.  We even have a few trees growing here.  Go down to them.  Smell them if you would like.  It would be good to get a whiff of something alive after enduring sand in your nose for so long."

"I think I will," Rupland concurred, watching northern servants tend to the plants with water.

"There is to be a meeting tonight," Zulca added. "All guests are to attend.  Food, drink, conversation.  You are to meet your host there with many others as well."

Turning her head towards the High Officer, Akuna saw the ready expression on his face. "And who is that?  Or are you to keep that secret even though we are here now?"

"There is no need to keep you in the dark any longer," Zulca told her, his voice very relaxed. "Grand General Hashin Vok is the one you shall greet as your host.  He is the one that brings you all here in hopes of bringing Clan Shigu to it's full glory again and spark it's war upon the southerners once more."

"Grand General?" Akuna repeated, utterly bewildered. "I pray that this Hashin Vok doesn't believe his title is above General Silves'."

A serious gaze took over Zulca's expression. "I don't believe anyone would dare to do such a thing.  What will you all be wearing for this evening?"

"What else?  Our armor," Akuna answered with pride.

"Oh, is there to be a battle?" Zulca asked quickly. "Has the southerns breached out lines?" He became animated, looking past the door, worried. When he turned back to look at Akuna, he smiled a mocking smile. "Keep your armor when you need it.  What other garments do you have to wear?"

"What other garments are even appropriate for this occasion?" To her, there were none.

"A cloak, a tunic, something.  You may come with only a skirt if you would like, but armor is not the type of dress to wear if you don't want to offend your host.  Do you believe yourself to be in constant danger?" Again, his mocking smile presented itself.

"Constant?  No.  Possible?  Yes," she said.

"Keep that to yourself.  I can have someone come and give you some sort of attire if you would like to."

Akuna considered that for a moment. Indeed, she had packed accordingly, having several dirty tunics and light skirts bundled with her palette, but nothing she thought would be presentable. These were her own peers, not any poor southern folk or nevrean company. She didn't want to embarrass herself at this occasion. "I might want to see what they have for someone of my height," she answered Zulca finally.

"I will have someone come by then," Zulca said. "They can groom you as well.  We all need it after being on the road for so long."

"And us too," Akzla said next door without being seen.

"We will most likely be gathering this evening.  Everyone is to attend, bring your child, your mate," the High Officer informed them. "Rest for now.  You will be told when we are to congregate.  If you are wanting, call a servant.  But be gentle.  Do not treat them as if they were a flock of southern inbreds.  We are of one clan after all.  I will tell Hashin of your arrival."

And he was gone, closing the door behind him with a loud shut. There was only silence inside their room now, the air warm, but very still. Finally, breaking the quiet atmosphere, Akuna gave a grunt.

"Hashin," she firstly said. "Vok.  Grand General." She turned to Rupland whom still stared out the window and down into that courtyard. "I don't like this."

"What is not to like?" Rupland asked of her, looking at her questioning expression.

"That title.  Grand General.  Was there anyone before when General Rain commanded that held that title?  I never heard of a Grand General."

"Perhaps he was appointed by Silves herself.  Maybe he was close to her, like an advisor." The words came easily, but there was a hint of uncertainty in them.

"Even so, I don't like it."

"We haven't been here past a day and you already don't like something," Rupland stated dully.

"Don't give me that damned tone," Akuna hissed. She walked over to the circular bed and flopped down upon it, burying her face into the cool purple sheets.

"All I want to say is give this place a day or two.  Don't allow your presumptions to hurt you.  Allow things to come as they are." His voice was calm, as if these important events didn't matter all that much to him.

"Alright," Akuna moaned from the bed. "I'll allow this Grand General," she said the word with high sarcasm, "to speak to me.  Maybe sway my opinion of him.  Maybe.  And, if he is savvy enough, I'll lay with him and give you," she looked to Brunka, "a brother."

"Oh please, Akuna," Rupland smiled, waving a gesture. "This Grand General could be without balls, cut off my some southern scout." He smiled, proud of matching his mate's vulgar suggestion with one of his own.

Akuna giggled, stretching out on the bed with a heavy purr drumming in her throat.

"Can I go out and play?" Brunka then spoke up, looking toward the door with wanting.

"No, child," Akuna said, on her back, eyes closed. "Come.  Lay.  Time for rest before we are needed." It was near afternoon. A little nap could be had before there was reason to get up.

"But I don't want to," the cub moaned deeply. "I want to-"

"Brunka," Akuna's head lifted, eyes narrowed with a hint of anger in them. For a moment, there was silent.

Brunka relented. "Fine," she said after a long sigh. Her mother patted the sheets next to her and the cub clambering up on the bed with her. Pulling the child closer to her chest, she felt her cub began purring loudly, her entire body particularly vibrating.

"Come, dear.  Time for rest," she spoke toward her mate.

"Not yet," he said to her softly. "I'll stand watch."

"Do as you wish," she said. Not long after, her snores began to echo against the stone walls of the room.

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In all truth, he wasn't that tired. In truth, he was worried. Confused. Intrigued. All at once really. The black stone shell of the keep bit at him, created an emotion like fear within him, but he didn't know why. The Narulus. A fine name. An eerie name. And more so, how did this Vok come in possession of his current title? No other Grand General could be called from memory. No faces, no names. So many unknowns. First this High Officer Zulca, with his ever present smile and calm disposition. Now all these new faces he saw when they traveled through the keep. Ones he were to converse with tonight. What were they to speak of? War? Memories of old battles? How to rear your cub correctly?

The first moments of their arrival into Wevren had been frighteningly familiar for Rupland. It had reminded him of childhood. He had recalled the buildings at his birth city had felt so very tall,  insurmountable even. It made him feel trapped, caught into a labyrinth of cold rock and wood. But after so long between the alleyways where the sun could not reach, the walls didn't seem that high when he came of older age. Then that same worry came to him again as the carriage had made it's way to the innermost region of the city. High buildings, tall towers, and overreaching arches. He had hid his fear under a mask of wonder.

Brunka sneezed in her sleep. The sound of it startled Rupland back to the present. Despite her whining, the child had taken to sleep quickly. She had been more tired than she had realized, he thought. It did Rupland's mind some good to look at his mate and child. They were his stripes of valor. He needed no others. Damn this war, he said within. I have enough on my shoulders raising the child and worrying over my mate's choices. Damn this war and all that wish to see it return. Even then, Rupland knew that included Akuna.

That green, he thought, turning his attention back to the plants down in the courtyard. Beautiful. Beautiful green. He felt his mind relax then as he watched servants tend to the plants. When he cracked open the window, the air carried their fragrance up to his nose. He sighed with a smile, finding himself to have misjudged this keep by it's first appearance. Dark as the night, indeed, he thought, but behind it's walls it held beauty. The halls and rooms were well-kept, absent of any foul smell. He was not sure what he expected when he first saw the towers of this place. Maybe he believed the cold stone floors would be slick with blood, the screams of captured enemies wailing from down the dark corridors. Regardless, Rupland was certain this keep possessed a dungeon, like all edifices of high importance.

Finding a chair to seat himself in, Rupland began to feel as sleepy as Akuna and Brunka, whom still dreamed silently on the mattress. He dare not to disturb them. He rested his eyes, folding his arms across his chest while he held his head low. His breath turned deep. Sleep was close at hand and Rupland was half into it before a hard knock bumped from the outside of their door.

Rupland jumped up from his seat and found Brunka had been awoken from the sound as well, sending her long ears wiggling with a tossle of her head. Akuna continued to snore as Rupland crossed the room. Forgetting the caution he might show in Rellon, he opened the door and was greeted by two northerners. One wore green fur while the other sported black. Both were males and each was dressed in nothing more than a fabric kilt around their waists. They both held clothing in their arms. Rupland stared at them indecisively with his head poking out of the door.

"Word has been sent that some assistance with attire is needed," the green one spoke, his face impassive.

"Oh, yes," Rupland nodded, opening the door fully now. The two servants entered quickly, but then stopped to stare in silence at Akuna's slumbering disposition.

"Akuna," Rupland called at her and Brunka began to pull at her ears.

The female was quickly awake, but her eyes still looked groggy from her nap. Even more so, her mane was in disarray, white hairs puffed like a cloud around her head.

"Oh, appears we need to groom too," the green male said in dismay while the black one chuckled. "Let's get you all dressed first.  And you need something to wear as well?" he turned to Rupland.

"I have a jacket," he informed the servant.

"A jacket will not do," the green one stated, and the black one shook his head. "Will you wear a grass skirt with it too?  Will you be attending the gathering with our Grand General?"

"Why the hell else would we be here?" Akuna said, a hint of fatigue in her vocals.

"Then you will need to look presentable.  I know this.  The Grand General knows this."

"Why would a general not appreciate a solider wearing armor to an event like this?" Akuna then asked, scratching at her disheveled hide.

"Because the Grand General knows when to dress for war and dress for allies," he answered bluntly.

"What will I be wearing?" Akuna grimaced, stretching our her arms, bones popping and muscles tensing under her fur.

"Flowing fabrics." He presented her the clothing in his arms. "Palliums." Red. Yellow. Green. He showed them all to Akuna, but she didn't seem impressed.

"Sheets of a bed," she snorted.

"They will catch eyes.  Maybe even the Grand General's.  You may also go with only your fur attached to your body if you so desired.  But the reaction would be the same as if you came wearing armor: embarrassment and shame to you."

Rupland watched Akuna shuffle uncomfortably on the bed as she listened to the green male's persuasion. She would most likely enjoy going naked, especially in this heat. She had done so many times before during the evening in their home in Rellon, but that had only been in the company of her family.

"Then give me something," Akuna demanded, holding out her hand.

"Try this," he handed her the yellow cloth. "I might go get a color more suitable for your fur."

"What does color matter?" Rupland watched in mild humor as his mate struggled to pull the fabric the right way around her large body. Finally, the green male assisted her, draping her frame correctly.

"Color is everything.  Blue offsets white.  So does black.  Yellow looks golden against white."

"Quit telling me such things," Akuna growled with irritation. A bad time to be awoken from her nap, Rupland thought. He too was given a cloth to wear, his being red while Brunka was given blue. "Just give me the colors of my clan," Akuna continued to whine.

"And look like everyone else and remained unnoticed?  What colors do you like?  Something other than brown.  Do you have no preference of your own?" The male laughed.

"Do you want me to embarrass myself?" Akuna then asked, a heavy question. "Do you want me to look like a southerner, wearing yellow?  The color of piss!" With her claws, she ripped the cloth from her body and threw it across the room.

"Temper, my lady!" the green male declared while the black male was stunned still where he stood helping Rupland and Brunka.

"To hell with you!" Akuna spat, anger wrinkling her brow, but the green male showed no fear towards the female.

"Temper, my lady!  I can help you.  Do you wish to grasp the Grand General's attention?  Then you will listen to my advice.  If you do, he will be looking at nothing but you three.  That is, if you are willing to tip as well..."

=
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Akuna was full of anger, but she allowed this strange male and his tastes aid her, even though he had asked for a few coins to enhance his efforts. More clothes were fetched from some unseen room and he tried each on her. There was no rush. The sun would be setting when the meeting was to commence. Finally, he had decided blue for her as well as for Brunka, and red for Rupland. She would have preferred black, but she kept such thoughts quiet. She needed the full attention of his new general if her squads were to be given favor for weapons and armor. The war was promised, now all they required was the equipment to face it.

A thorough grooming was given. Buckets of water were brought in along with an array of brushes and combs to remove all types of grim from their fur. Akuna had to admit to herself that she felt quite refreshed after such a bathing. Even a splash of fragrance was given to her. She smelt like a fruit now, she said, but not with displeasure.

Jewelry was suggested, but Akuna refused it. "I hate things dangling from me," Akuna reasoned. "From my neck.  From my ears.  It's damn irritating!" But this green male, whom was Blax and the black one called Von, was having none of it.

"Calm, my lady," he told her again. "It will reflect the light and catch all the eyes around you.  That is the essence of jewelry.  The Grand General has keen eyes and he will immediately notice you, especially if you wear this." He showed her a necklace with gems of red and white dangling from it's golden chain. Akuna rolled her eyes and grumbled lightly.

"You're acting as if I'm aiming to gain the Grand General's mateship," Akuna said lowly while Blax looped the necklace around her neck. She could feel the chain around her throat, past her layer of fur which greatly annoyed her. No amount of moving her head around relieved her of that irritation. This is not about you, she then realized. This is about your clan, Clan Shigu. This is about your squads and their families, about protecting your kin. Do not shame yourself. Do not shame Kusno and the trust he has put into you. And most of all, she thought to herself, do not let Akzla think she is better than you.

Quickly, Akuna had forgotten about the necklace around her throat. And the twinkling blue bracelets around her wrists. And the long sliver chain looped around her waist. Brunka wore a necklace as well, with blue jewels entangled in it's silver chain. Blax and Von, whom advised they were only borrowing the jewelry, stood back and reviewed their work on the three of them. With a satisfied nod, Blax smiled widely, especially at the effort he put in Akuna's attire.

There was then a scratch at the door. Zulca took one step into the room before ceasing. He stared at the three Shigus, at their flowing gowns of palliums, and sparkling trinkets. He placed his hands upon his hips and gave a wide smile.

"Well done, Blax!" Zulca turned to the green male whom bowed his head gratefully with a smile of his own. "This one can dress a ravaged corpse and make it look alive again!" He laughed and Blax did not seem embarrassed by the statement. In fact, he looked proud.

Akuna had then realized how dark it was in the room, the sunlight fading at the window. The walls of the keep outside were turning a deathly black now with the sun waning.

"The assembly will commence very soon," the High Officer told them. "Just wanted to see if you had put on a drab of something other than your armor," he smirked. "Wait here and I will send someone up to bring you down to the meeting hall."

"Will there be food?" Akuna asked before he could leave. "My belly is growling like something from hell."

"Oh, there will be much food to be eaten, my maiden.  Enough to make someone die a happy death of fullness."

The High Officer disappeared behind the door and so did Blax and his green-furred companion, Von. "Much appreciation for your time and," he jiggled the pocket in his kilt, "courtesy." The coins continued to jiggle as the two servants made their own leave past the door.

It wasn't a look wait, but Akuna's stomach had given one more grumble of hunger before a red-furred servant came and beckoned them to follow her. A tiny thing, Akuna saw. Nothing more than an adolescent.

Akzla and Cagost exited their room next door and presented their wear. But they had been given a different style by a different servant. Akzla wore a black skirt around her hips with a long red scarp draped over her shoulders while Cagost was simply bare-chested with a long leather kilt. After examining the attire of one another, the comments then flew.

"Appropriate," Akzla said at first. "Your servant did well by covering your body fully.  No one will be pained by the sight of it." Cagost smiled, but dare not to laugh in Akuna's presence lest he desired another pummeling.

"At least I don't present myself like a whore," Akuna retorted, but not too angrily. "And you, Cagost.  You don't have enough muscle in your chest and arms to wear such.  It would be best to cover yourself unless you want to be mistaken for a boy."

Cagost's smile disappeared, but he remained silent and turned his eyes away from her.

"Enough, Akuna, please," Akzla said. "This is not about the clothes we are wearing.  This is about providing for our squads.  Enough of your squabbling and let's go." She disengaged with a cunning smile from the conversation and walked past her to follow behind the red-fur servant.

"Ragged cunt," Akuna spat as she followed in behind them, mate and child tailing her.

The halls were alit with bright bulbs. A string of them snaked on both of the walls as Akuna, her mate, and child treaded close behind her fellow captain and fling. Surprisingly, Akzla and Cagost remained silent.

The artificial light slightly irritated Akuna, more than her bracelets and necklace did. Their light seemed unnaturally bright when compared to torchlight. Again, she was willing to ignore it with this most important event underway. More halls were passed and paintings could be seen drawn onto the long, stone walls. Scenes of the flat desert, the rocky wastes, villages, and towns with races talking with one another, working, mating, and traveling. The tiny representations of sergals were distinctly thin. Southerners. With a snort of disgust, Akuna wondered why such art had no been painted over or scraped off by the new northern occupants.

Then came echoes from up ahead, sounds bouncing off the walls of the corridor. An arching hole brought a bright light to them, shifting figures just beyond it. As they drew closer, the room opened up into the spacious meeting hall. The ceiling was high and vaulted. Snaking wires of burning bulbs provided illumination to everywhere. Upon the marble floor, a horde of guests conversed and mixed. There were black and red furs, blue and gray and white. They wore flowing fabrics, robes of purple that were lined with blue. Some seemed to have overdressed, hiding their manes and fur under hats and fabrics as if the air was frigid. Others seemed contempt with wearing only a simple skirt. Akuna would have liked that, the air being stuffy in here, but she would rather gain the Grand General's eyes more than anything this night.

Heads turned to them as Akuna and her party entered. Their gray and blue orbs watched as they approached, reviewing their faces and choice of clothing. Akuna couldn't decided which were impressed or indifferent to what that servant Blax had chosen for them. The attention they were greeted with was soon gone as their brothers and sisters returned to what conversations they had paused at. Then came Zulca out of the crowd and toward Akuna and Akzla, smiling. Akuna had not seen where the red-furred servant had wandered off to.

"Welcome to the grand ensemble, Captain Akuna and Captain Akzla," Zulca saluted them and their guests happily, a glass goblet of a dark ale in his hand. He wore a longer kilt now, but instead of leather, this one was red silk. At the top of it, on his waist, was a wide belt of black fabric. His torso was covered by a loose red tunic, and he smelt to have bathed as well. "You all look even better in the light!" he boasted, taking a sip of his glass. "How bad is your thirst?" He brought up his glass, the dark ale swirling inside.

"I'm more hungry," Akuna told him, increasing her voice to combat the chorus of discussion around her.

"Where is this Vok?" Akzla asked, scanning the meeting hall.

Another sip of the ale. "He is to arrive very soon.  Very, very soon!  He's waiting for everyone to appear."

Then came a hush over the crowd of northerners, their heads turning to where a pair of armored guards had appeared within a large doorway. Between them came a third guard and his voice was powerful enough to carry itself to all their ears. "Let it be known for all eyes and ears!  Give your deepest thanks to your gracious host and comrade, Grand General Hashin Vok!" The guards stamped the ends of their spears down upon the marble, thumps reverberating around the hall. The third guard went off to the side and then he was seen.

Akuna could see over most heads in that room, having been born with a tall demeanor. It gave her an ample line of sight to see as the Grand General appeared from the dark corridor. From this distance across that vast room, Akuna could not make out the finer details of this Grand General. But she could see his fur was a dark hue of gray accompanied by the milky white of his front. His stature was tall, his walk confident as he approached his brethren. Then they all were upon him. Greeting him, saluting, and smiling. Akuna's view was then obstructed by the rush of people, but she did not try to add herself in with the others. There was no use in braving the layers of bodies before her.

"Just wait," Zulca assured her, watching everyone push and shove their way to greet Vok. "He will pass over the first few with just a glance.  Wait and you will be greeted with more than a few fleeting words."

With a heavy growl at the throng of people in front of her, Akuna could only standby and watch as the Grand General was swamped with conversation.

"Where is the food?" she then asked, looking around the room now. "Might as well eat while we wait.  And a drink or two will help my nerves."

"A fine proposal," Zulca said.

"Feeling anxious already, Akuna?" Akzla asked with a low chuckle, Cagost only smiling along with her.

"You should be as well," Akuna told her. "This is our chance to boast the moral of our troops."

"That is, if you don't trample our efforts with your rash mouth," her fellow captain told her.

"Piss off!" Akuna barked at her laughing tongue.

"Please!  Maidens!  This is no time for that!" Zulca told them. "If the Grand General witnesses the harshness you throw at each other, his favor for you will sour.  He might even regard you two as blood sisters with the way you both fight!"

"A horrid thought!" Akzla hissed.

"Enough.  Come, you were hungry weren't you, Akuna?  Then let's feed before any food turns cold." He lead them to the left side of the hall where one of the two long and wide feasting tables were placed. After braving a sea of strangers, Akuna ceased to stare in awe at the array of fare before her. She saw Rupland and Brunka do the same.

Meats. Oh the variety of meats, steaming, raw, juicy plates of meat. The smell of it was overwhelming, each bloody slice begging to be devoured. Akuna's could hardly contain the saliva building up in her mouth, the hunger in her stomach paining her even more.

"Go on!" Zulca encouraged them, laughing. "Grab a plate.  Fill your stomachs!" And indeed they did. Akuna immediately piled chunks and slices of bloody meat upon her silver plate. She could not help herself as she ate a piece of flesh and pick another from the table. She ignored the buttered rolls and fruits. They would only take up room in her belly. Each had a different taste, a different texture. Some tasted salty, others more gamey and sweet. Then came a familiar one, it's texture very pleasant. It was a nostalgic flavor, something that made a smile form on her face. That was when she recognized it. Quickly, she turned her head and found Zulca smiling at her, his goblet now filled back to the brim with dark ale. Akzla was filling her own cup with the same from a barrel at the far side of the table.

"Southern meat," Akuna said around a mouthful, blood running down the corner of her lips.

Zulca smilingly nodded. "How does it taste?"

She swallowed down her bite. "It's lovely," he purred with a grin, her pink tongue licking around her jaws. "Like I always remembered."

"How long has it been?" he asked.

"Too long.  I was afraid I would forget." She took another piece and chewed it slowly, enjoying each bit of flavor she could suckle from the southern flesh. "I could say it's even better now.  Brunka, come here." Hooking a chuck of meat with her claw, she beckoned the child to eat the morsel. With a confused flash of the eyes, the child took, nibbled, and then downed the bloody piece. When she had swallowed, her mother revealed it's truth. "That's from a southerner, child.  How does it taste?"

The cub looked even more confused now, her mouth half-opened and her ears twitching. "It tastes...," she swallowed again, "like...meat."

Akuna and Zulca burst with laughter, watching the cub's expression grow with bewilderment. "Do you like it?" Zulca then asked, trying to keep his laughter contained. The cub nervously nodded.

"Then here's some more," Akuna said as she placed a bigger piece of meat in Brunka's hand. It was the size of her palm. "Eat it all.  It will grow a bloodthirst inside of you."

With his mate's beckoning, Rupland took part in devouring the southern flesh too. Immediately, he knew of the taste as well and took three more slices for his plate. Zulca handed them napkins before they could sullied their fabrics with dripping blood. Brunka continued to eat at her chuck of southern meat, but she did have a hankering for the sweeter tastes of the Susu berries and hot rolls. Quickly, she abandoned her meat and grabbed a handful of both.

All the while, Akuna looked across the room toward Vok as he went from person to person, giving them a sentence or two before they disappeared into the surrounding crowd. From where she stood, she could see the Grand General's cool expression, the relaxation in his shoulders. He was reluctant to show a smile and even if he did, it was a fleeting sight. When someone gave him a salute, he greeted them with a bow of the head.

Then in the crowd, something strange came into sight. Akuna focused her eyes, wondering then if her orbs were mistaken or the bulbs on the ceiling were playing tricks. No, they were not. Two non-northerners approached the Grand General, an Agundar and nevrean. Their path to him was unobstructed. Once Vok saw them, he gave the widest smile of the night. Instead of a salute, both of the Agundar and nevrean put forth their hands to shake Vok's.

"Who the hell are they?" Akuna pointed a claw to the unknown Agundar and nevrean as they talked with the Grand General.

"A couple of well-meaning associates of Haskin's.  You need not worry about them," Zulca answered her.

"Why are they here?  I thought you said we are the only ones allowed within this keep.  Only northerners of our clan.  Not any damned feathered-asses or hoof-feet." Their presence stirred her ire and suddenly she had forgotten the plate in her hands that she had been so enthralled in.

"They are allies, Captain.  There is nothing to get upset over," Zulca assured her, acknowledging the fury in her voice. "They are with us.  They are allied to our northern power."

"And I've killed many nevreans in my time with the General," Akuna told him, a growl rumbling through her throat. "They fought alongside the southern inbreds and we ate the feathered bastards alike." She put a large slice of southern meat in her maw and chewed noisily, blood dripping into her fur.

"Your napkin, Akuna," Zulca reminded her. "Your napkin.  Do not let your past dealings with the nevreans sour your opinion of these allies.  They had no dealings with the southerners or Clan Reono during the campaign.  They see us as a powerful force upon Vilous and they wish to aid our goals in becoming it's dominate power."

"We should not require the aid of outsiders." Her anger would not subside. It continued to roar inside her.

"We do not, but when someone offers a needed hand, we should not disregard it.  Their motives are true.  Well, as true as two merchants' motives could be."

"What help do they offer us?"

"Forges to craft our weapons, tools too.  Materials.  And all we need to do is pay."

"Pay?  In what?" Akuna now looked to the High Officer.

"Gold.  Silver.  What else?"

"How? I thought-"

"Oh, yes, that's right.  You aren't aware of the heavy wealth this keep contained once we snatched it away from the southerners.  Runks.  A hundred ton of runks behind it's walls and bellow it's cellars for our squads!  All of it to spend on our eminent victory."

"So that is their only motivation?" Akuna then asked him, leaning her head down to him. "They only desire the gold we hold in our hands?  What kind of foul allies are they?"

"Would you rather have them pandering toward the southerners?" Zulca was deeply serious now, his face casting a dark stare, his smile gone. "They could certainly have more wealth than us, but those two have decided to side with us.  We did not outbid or barter with the southerners for their advantages.  They chose us.  And considering our current situation, we can not be picky with whom sees us as a power to be revered.  Understand?"

Even after the explanation, Akuna was still heavy with rage. She didn't like it. At all. Having these non-northerners mingling and, more than likely, meddling in their plans. No one who hasn't pledge their pride and life to the General should have a hand in the dealings of Clan Shigu. But...despite herself, Akuna could agree that any allies were better than none. They were here to help, not hinder their goals. She allowed her rage to dissipate inside her chest as she swallowed down more and more southern flesh from her plate.

They continued to wait as the crowd flowed around them, taking part in the feast, and enjoying their drinks. Akuna busied herself with scanning the sea of faces before her. She found no familiarity in them, only the satisfaction that they were northern. A few showed old scars like herself, the one under her right eye. Some had one or both ears cut from their heads. A number looked tempered by years of war while others appeared to be young and unaware of the hell of blades that was the battlefield.

Under this ocean of Shigus, the servants swam. They handled platters of snacks and drinks, weaving their lightly dressed bodies through the more elegantly-clothed. Even Blax was there, professionally handling his wide, wooden platter with one hand as he moved through the crowd. Then he saw Akuna across the room. He smiled, nodded, and Akuna returned the gesture with a lift of her glass goblet.

To her side, Brunka shuffled uncomfortably on her feet. "I'm bored," she groaned. She had placed her plate on the feasting table, her stomach filled. Now, she just waited.

"Quiet, child," Akuna told her. Her mate began to brush at the cub's mane with his claws. She leaned against him, ears going low with her boredom extended.

Then it seemed time to approach this Vok with the crowd thinning around him. The majority of guests were now talking amongst themselves, filling their mouths with meat, and drenching their heads in ale. "Seems like the best time," Zulca agreed and took the lead. Patrons parted once they saw his approach, others were softly moved aside. Once breaking through the last barrier of others, gaining the attention of the Grand General and his non-northern allies, Zulca properly introduce his guests to the Grand General.

"Evening, my Grand General!" the High Officer saluted Vok, placing his glass into his free hand. Vok gave a nod, but did not mirror Zulca's smile. "I would like to show you two.  Remember Captain Kusno?  Short male from the southern part of Sailzane?  Blue-fur?  Well, these are his representatives.  Captain Akuna and Captain Akzla." Zulca moved to the side and the two females brought themselves forward. Both gave a snapping salute to the male before them.

Now that the distance between them had closed, Akuna could finally read the finer details of this so-called Grand General. Two sashes, stripped with black and red, crisscrossed his bare white chest. His brown leather kilt only went down to his knees while a blond southern-pelt belt wrapped around his thin waist. At his side was a sword, but to Akuna it seemed most particular. The hilt was nothing of notice, plain silver, but the scabbard was long and very slim. Very breakable, Akuna thought, thinking why would a proclaimed general wear such a weak weapon. Looking to his face, she saw he bared no scars, no piercings, only the gray irises ringed with black. Not gold like the General's, where the enemy would only have to look to be struck by death. She then realized they were of equal height too. An unbecoming trait for a general, she thought.

"I am disappointed not to see your captain here today, my maidens," Grand General Vok said, the nevrean and Agundar bunched up at his right. "I had hoped he would return and bring one of either of you two with him." He looked between the two females. His voice was without any energy, as calm as a still sea. Another unbecoming trait, Akuna thought again.

"He is rather tied up now," Akzla spoke before Akuna could explain. "He is visiting the plains of our people, hoping he can bring the strength of young soldiers to our ranks." Good words, Akuna thought to herself, jealous that she hadn't said them first.

"Then I will expect to see him soon, yes?" he asked, sipping at his own drink of wine. "I would like to talk to him again."

"He should be within reach before long," Akuna assured him.

"Good to hear.  Did he say anything of this place before he went off?" Vok asked, seemingly interested in this sole subject.

"Nothing," Akuna answered. "He didn't seem able to, bound by a vow of secrecy it would seem.  What did you all discuss anyway?" She wanted to change the subject. No reason to speak of Kusno when he was so far away.

"Would you be held by the same vow of secrecy if you were told such things?" Vok asked. His brow rose with interest.

"Why do we have to hold secrets from our own?" Akuna had to ask, the question having been biting at her for so long.

Vok scanned her face patiently, taking another drink of his wine. He licked his lips before speaking. "Secrets are meant to remain secret.  What we speak of should not concern those below our rank."

"Loose lips bring easy deaths," Zulca stated like he had the first time he spoke the saying.

"I have no trouble keeping my tongue silent," Akzla spoke up, eyeing Akuna with a smirk. "And you, Akuna?"

The warrior looked from her fellow captain to the High Officer to the Grand General to the nevrean and Agundar, and all others that listened in on their discussion. All their eyes were on her. "I have no qualms over keeping silent.  No pain imaginable could make me speak them."

The Grand General seemed to give an impressive look at her. He swirled his wine around his glass, thinking to himself. "We talked of the future.  Of what is to become of our clan.  What is to become of this sandy waste pit with it's southern population.  What were called hopes can now be called certainties.  Tell me, both of you, what are your hopes?"

Akzla spoke firstly. "A few days of rain would be nice," she laughed, her words beginning to slur with her intake of ale. "But, if the question is serious, then some barracks for our troops and an array of weaponry and armor to protect them."

Vok gave a nod before he turned his eyes to Akuna. "And you?  Akuna, is it?"

"Yes, sir," she answered. "I too hope for new weapons and armor, maybe even building materials to protect ourselves.  But I also hope to know that my clan plans to reclaim it's honor in battle, against the southerners.  I hope to see General Rain's goals obtained, our victory grasped.  I had also hoped to see her here with us, but I see," she looked around the meeting hall, "that she is absent."

Again, Vok gave a nod, watching Akuna with a relaxed stare. "I can't do much for days of rain," he confessed, looking to Akzla. "But I can do something about building materials, weapons and armor for your soldiers.  But I'm afraid I do not possess enough influence to know where General Rain is."

"What do you know?" Akuna then asked, trying to keep her disappointment hidden.

"What everyone must already know at this point," he answered. "The General is missing.  Somewhere, somehow.  But we standby for new orders from her while the southerners gain back their strength.  But our honor, like you mentioned, is still intact.  We are still proud, aren't we?  Prideful to be one of Clan Shigu?  Does this not remind you of what we are, of our power and numbers?" He waved his hand around the room, at the stirring crowd of northern brothers and sisters.

"But the war is stagnant," Akuna countered. "We now stand still and, like you mentioned, while the southerners gain back their strength.  What do you propose we do, without disregarding the General's orders?"

"We stand and sustain and grow," he answered back boldly, his glass of wine now forgotten. "The southerners dare not attack us now with our army within their homelands.  We should take advantage of that and increase our power while they watch from afar.  Increase our numbers, our time of training, our time to make strategy.  Just because we wait doesn't mean we should let slack our guard and abilities.  We will wait for the General and her wisdom of war, but we must keep ourselves ready for the advance when it comes."

Akuna allowed herself to give a satisfied nod. This Grand General speaks well, she thought to herself. He was not foolish enough to break an order directly from the General. "Is that what you meant?" she then eyed Zulca to her right. "That is what you meant by piling grass and wood upon the fire in our hearts?"

Vok turned to listen to the High Officer's answer. "A correct deduction," the High Officer smiled. "Training and equipment is one material we will use to ignite the fire again."

"And knowledge," Vok added, his eyes unblinkingly looking at Akuna. "The knowledge that we are brother and sister, mother and father.  Not different.  Only the same.  Your troops occupied the southernmost area of the Sailzane, yes?  Tell, did you have much contact with other squads outside your own?"

A shake of the head was Akuna's answer. "None whatsoever.  We could only receive news of other squads from just word-of-mouth.  For some time, at least.  All other kinds of message-carrying was too dangerous for our troops."

"The southerners saw to that," High Officer Zulca said. "They killed runners, and any messages they carried remained unread.  Without communication, the army will lay in chaos.  That, and the heat was merciless.  Many have been killed because of that too."

"And this  meeting, an assembly of squads together," Vok started, "is a reminder.  A reminder to us that we are still Shigu, bloodkin of war.  And a reminder to the southerners we still remain strong and all-encompassing."

Again, Akuna liked these words. She could not disagree with the Grand General and the High Officer. For so long, Akuna had felt hopeless within these deserts, doubting there were any allies beyond the dunes the sun hid behind. But, with these new revelations, Akuna could finally feel conviction in her clan's progress.

"But," the Grand General spoke, "this is only a glimpse.  There is much more to see.  And if the southerners were to truly know of the scale we plan on, they would piss their sheets nightly." This brought a smile to his face and he drunk down the last of his wine. "But all of it, every piece, must remain a secret.  Understand?  Rumors may breed, but no truth shall be within their tone, will they?"

Akuna's left hand lifted to her left eye and she smiled. Akzla clumsily did as well once she saw the salute. "Of course, my ears are like a trap to words."

"Like your mouth is a trap to food," Akzla said, and everyone that heard the jest laughed with her. A deep growl rumbled in her throat, but they continued to laugh. Even Cagost was brave enough to give a snicker. But the Grand General only smiled. Akuna's annoyance was mounting, even to the point she considered giving a response to Akzla and her fling, but then came the deep thumping sound of a drum.

Across the room were the guards, one beating upon a round drum with a soft mallet, gaining the entire hall's attention. They then turned and left the hall through the wide doors behind them. No one seemed to know what that truly meant. Expect for the Grand General.

"It's time for a bit of air," he said to them, his smile at his widest. "Would you like to see the stars?" he looked to Akuna and Akzla.

"If you wish, but I'm not one to care for such a dull sight," Akuna confessed with a loathsome sigh.

"I was not talking about the ones in the sky." He then beckoned the entire group to accompany him to a balcony a few floors up. Large doors were pushed opened and the party exited out into the cool desert night many stories high. There was hardly any wind, but the air was nevertheless pleasant, free of humidity.

Against the railing of the large balcony, Akuna could see the entire expanse of the open courtyard of the Narulus. It looked empty, but the night's presence diminished her sight greatly. Down below, the rest of the guests were squeezing out of the door and onto the stone deck. What then called for everyone's attention was the quivering dots of lights at the far end of the enormous courtyard. They were orange and yellow, their movement very minute. They began coming closer and closer, enlarging with each moment. As they filled the entirety of the courtyard, a pounding sound was being emitted. First, it was soft, a whisper, but then it grew louder with the lights' approach. That is when Akuna realized they were just torches, held in the hands of soldiers concealed in shadow. Armor gleamed, but their faces were masked by the dark. Finally, with their steps ceasing, they formed a carpet over the courtyard. Akuna was sure there were more than a thousand of them. A drum then sounded and the torches were lifted into the air. The soldiers gave a chant that felt to vibrate the very stone the keep was crafted from.

"Shigu!  Shigu!  Shigu!" they all cried, their voices a screaming echoing in the night. Once it settled, the guests did not speak. They were stunned into silence.

"The stars are very beautiful tonight, aren't they?" Grand General Vok said finally, looking out over his soldiers.

No one could disagree with him.