‘Safety.’

Masa’s fevered mind focused only on her countrymen as she staggered onto the road. She had been hiding in the wilderness for weeks, avoiding the native devilbeasts and snake-men patrols alike. She couldn’t take any more.

Her food had run out within the second day and she had been forced to grub from fruits and berries. It was nearly the wrong time of the Season for it and more than once, she had to choke down food that had been lying in the dirt for days. She had no choice.

She’d be happy if she found a nest of grubs. At least that was good eating. Water had been scarce, at least until it started raining. Even so, she knew enough to look for morning dew collected on the broad leaves. Masa’s claws aided greatly in climbing up the trees even if most of her features were far from a normal Kutin clan member.

“Help,” she croaked as she came on the road.

Her fellow felinekin gaped at her in surprise before a Tigris woman came up to her. Masa gave a salute, which the woman returned.

“Let’s get you back to camp.”

“Thank you.”

The next hours were pretty much a haze for her. She was fed and given a drink. She finally managed to sleep soundly at night, when there was no need for her to stay on guard. She remembered almost being attacked by snake-wolves one night when her fire died down and she had slipped into a deep sleep. She woke up with the creature’s jaws mere inches from her face.

The next day they arrived at a…fort? Where was she anyway? She didn’t know. From the terrain, she was probably still within Lucenti’s territory. Why were there so many of her countrymen here?

She entered the fort and was led into a small room. She was left there with food and water. The bed was glorious.

When she woke up later that day, she realised that she couldn’t open the door. She called out for someone and after a few minutes, someone came to let her out.

“Please come with me.”

“Uh, you are from Vizugmon, right?” Masa asked fearfully.

“Yes. You’ll need to be debriefed. How did you end up in the Lucenti? There’s a major offensive going on.”

“War?”

“Indeed.”

She was led into another room and the Tigris man asked her to give her story. An hour later, he left and she was allowed to return to her room. She was given more food. Bland rations, mostly, and some ale.

She was called out again not an hour later and then brought to a bigger room located higher up on the Great Tree. A human man was there. Masa looked in confusion as the Tigris saluted the man as though he were a superior and then was promptly dismissed.

“So, Masa of the Kutin,” the man began, “you’ve been in contact with the Verdanian Knight. Please tell me everything you know.”

He pointed at the seat, and Masa felt as if something shook her mind. Before she could think, she was seated in front of the table with her hands on her lap.

“Now, tell me everything.”

_________

Yuriko watched from on top of a tree while the Vizugmon troops marched down the road. Akko, Rhox, and the rest of the Fang were nearly a longstride away. She had been at this since yesterday, and she was rather thankful that she had avoided unnecessary death on both sides.

It might be a bit hypocritical of her--no, it was hypocritical of her. After all, she and the others were basically leading them into killing fields. Everytime she paused for rest, she wondered if she really had to be here.

But Akko or Rhox would thank her for saving their lives. Thank her for fighting for justice, though she really didn’t think that was the case. She could just leave. She should just leave.

What was stopping her? Honour?

No, you want to bathe in blood.

‘No, I don’t!’

These people attacked you without provocation. Will you let them impinge on your honour? On your dignity?

Something deep inside her protested at the very idea of just leaving. But she was pretty sure that part came from Damien. Anything she saw in her dreams concerning her Ancestor had him as a ruthless and vengeful warrior. Invulnerable and powerful, yes. But he imposed his Will on everyone and everything around him.

Yes, she was pretty sure a part of Damien’s personality was bleeding into her. The question was, what could she do about it? Damien spoke in her mind even if she didn’t use her Facet, and the knowledge he taught her was incredible. How could she just let it go?

No, no. Stop thinking that. She’d been away from home too long, and she’d been subjected to conditions she shouldn’t have had to. She was only fourteen! And already, she was hip deep in a war between two city-states where she had no stakes at all on either of them.

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Well, except for the fact that Vizugmon seemed intent on killing her. Why, though?

Yesterday, they spared no expense in trying to take her down. She’d kept to the arboreal highway but one of their leaders must have had a Geist that allowed him or her to control trees. Vines rushed to tangle her feet just as she jumped to cross to a different branch and she stalled out in midair. She fell nearly twenty paces to the forest ground and only by flaring her Anima to absorb the blow did she keep herself from being knocked out.

She should have expected that kind of skill! That marauder used vines and grass to entangle her before.

Worse, it was at a time she didn’t have the sunblade formed. She had to punch and kick her way to freedom when the cat-kin rushed her. Well, she escaped without injury, though the same couldn’t be said for them.

Afterwards, she kept her distance and started to throw stones at them instead of closing in. Doing that was actually quite cathartic. Throwing stones. Heh. She wasn’t that accurate. She couldn’t, for instance, hit someone in the eye from a hundred paces away. Hitting the side of the head was easy enough though, and with her strength and flexibility, she put enough force behind her throw to punch a hole through a tree trunk that was a pace thick.

Er, yeah. Fatal when someone got hit at the side of the head.

Her mind was rambling, she abruptly realised. She had been staring at the Vizugmon troops while being motionless for several minutes. They’d reach her position soon.

Shaking her head, she left her perch. They were still some distance away, hopefully far enough that she wouldn’t get caught by someone exercising a vine controlling technique. Still, she couldn’t afford to run on the ground. Even if some of the branches were narrower than the width of her foot, she still made better progress up here than down there.

“Elder Yuriko,” Akko greeted when she found them. “I have word from Elder Otlaca. We are to proceed to Matahil Isthmus as soon as we can.”

“They’re there?”

“Yes, Elder.”

“Then let’s go.”

_____

Otlaca was frustrated beyond belief. The scale of this war wasn’t something he wanted, not yet anyway. They were far from ready! A decade of preparation wasn’t enough, not when most of those years were spent keeping their tunneling and construction hidden. He’d expected raids, and battles in the Labyrinth, not a full invasion!

If not for the danger of Elder Yuriko turning on them, he wouldn’t have let the Vizugmonians leave. As it were, he was pretty sure that those delvers had been taken care of, but maybe one or two escaped the net. Not that they were the only holes in their security.

The last Beast Tide had been worse than he expected and it took too much manpower to contain it. They got a good harvest and hundreds of powerless youths had gained or strengthened their Geists, but it was too soon. They needed at least a year to train!

Well, if he dealt his cards right he would be able to buy that much time. Just eliminate the Vizugmon army!

He reread the latest missive from Rhox. They were well on their way to Matahil. The Isthmus was a narrow strip of land, less than a hundred paces of dry earth, sandwiched between two swamplands. Its name was actually a misnomer, but that was what their ancestors named it.

Either way, the swamps were impassable for the cats, while it was simply another waterway for them. Otlaca and his snake-kin clan weren’t good swimmers, but the L’tik and Buwak were. And with a force led by Elder Irseso, they would prevail!

It will be soon, now.

Irseso landed behind Otlaca, folding her Geist’s wings behind her.

“So...” she hissed, “there’s nearly three thousand on the way.”

“We outnumber them easily.”

“And there are five thousand more behind them.”

“Then that’s why we’d better wipe the first bunch out,” Otlaca said grimly.

“This is a gamble.”

“Better than to remain under their heels forever.” Otlaca snorted.

Irseso shook her head. “What of Elder Yuriko? Are you sure she will fight for us?”

“Even if she doesn’t…” Otlaca shook his head. “No, she will fight. Even now she leads the first bunch towards us.”

“How did you gain her cooperation?”

“Hur hur hur,” Otlaca laughed. “You underestimate her age. Humans grow slowly. Elder Yuriko is still a child by their reckoning.”

“You mean she is that powerful so young?”

“Yes, but that makes her…gullible…but no less dangerous. Tell me, did you notice your Anima bending to her will?”

“What?” she cried out in alarm.

“Have no fear, you weren’t exposed to her too much. But,” Otlaca mused, “perhaps you should envision your Anima to see if you truly remained unaffected.

“What did she do? And why?”

“I doubt she even noticed,” Otlaca snorted. “As I’ve said, she’s really young. I don’t think she’s been an Elder for long.”

“Are you sure manipulating her like this is safe?”

“As I’ve said, we are gambling.” Otlaca shrugged. “Elder Yuriko is also remarkably tough. The cats will have their focus on her and while they do, we strike.”

Irseso nodded. “You didn’t bring the Grieford mercenaries?”

“I don’t trust them. Not for this.”

“Well, they do hire out to everyone,” she laughed.

“Commander.” One of his snakekin approached. “Elder Yuriko and Akko’s Fang will arrive soon.”

“Good. Time to get ready.” Otlaca commanded. “To your positions.”

“Fair fortune,” Irseso said.

“And to you.”

_____________

Rhain watched as a long column of troops marched into their newly-refurbished fort. There were nearly three thousand of them and he could see two of Vizugmon’s Elders leading the way. They were armed to the teeth, leather armour, chainmail shirts, conical helmets, and a plethora of weapons.

Most carried pikes or poleaxes, perfect weapons in a spacious battlefield. Ah, most of the Iona Clanners, lionkin, wore heavier armour and carried tower shields. The Tigris clanners were clad in lighter gear.

A missive from the advance troop said that the Verdanian Knight was headed east, through terrain favouring the Lucentians. Part of the missive asked for reinforcements while another asked if they may withdraw.

His reply had been to push until they capture or kill. Well, with his current forces, he was now confident in pushing for the batte. He didn’t know how many Elders Lucenti would send, but he was certain they wouldn’t bring more than two.

Three to guard their capital, otherwise the cats could send their own Elders to lay havok in Lucenti. Vizugmon had more than twice the number of Elders, but half of those were indolent fools addicted to burning Quill. Which meant they couldn’t send more than two to reinforce him. Just as planned.

Viterra had been protesting the war, of course, and their ambassador had been making a nuisance of herself in the palace. Rhain wasn’t sure what the council back in Tiath planned against the beastkin but his orders were simple enough. Kill or capture the Verdanian, and sow chaos between the cities.

It didn’t matter that the advance forces were heading to a trap. And with any luck, they would kill or injure as many of the snakes and lizards while receiving the same casualties. They needed to be weakened.

Ah, well, he’d have to head out, too, with the other Elders. They were needed to keep the opposing ones from simply mopping up the grunts. He wasn’t looking forward to that. He wasn’t a frontline fighter, and from what he heard from that half-breed, the Verdanian, one Yuriko Davar, was exceedingly mighty. Well, his Sorcery would answer for that.

“Great One, the Elders wish for a conference,” one of his aides said.

“Very well. But prepare to march. We will leave soon.”

With a swish of his robes, he spun on his heels and left the balcony, mind awhirl. Hopefully, he will be done with this backward country soon.