Kotallo kicked into the flank of his Charger, commanding it to gallop. He thundered across the bridge, up a rocky incline, following the path towards Daytower. He felt an irrepressible urge to let out a joyful cry, the sensation of racing along the roads at breakneck speed, stones cracking beneath the hooves of his mount, warm air striking his body and just the swag on his back and the weapons at his waist, filling him with excitement.
It had been a long time since he had travelled so lightly encumbered.
Thankfully Jira and Catra both accepted the news that he wouldn’t be returning west with them graciously. Kotallo knew he could trust them to deliver the Tenakth soldier tags to Hekarro who would see them returned to their rightful families.
He then drew Jira aside and spoke to her quietly. “When you speak with Hekarro, tell him that Kotallo has recommended that you aid Aloy’s cause against the threat of Nemesis.”
Jira’s eyes were sharp and curious. “What is Nemesis?”
“If Hekarro releases you to do so, you will learn about it and so much more.”
Jira nodded. “Then I will do as you say. Thank you, Marshal Kotallo…and strike true as the ten.”
Kotallo hoped she would be allowed to join the fight. Jira had a spark about her that reminded him of Aloy and had excellent character for both Atekka and Hekarro to agree for her to represent the Lowland Clan at the Embassy. She was clever and intuitive. He believed she would be an asset, willing and able…so long as he kept his door locked.
He smiled at her boldness and her acceptance, even anticipating, of his refusal. What she felt for him had been birthed in a moment and in another moment, it had been dealt with. She would move on. Kotallo hoped time and distance would do the same for him.
The Charger thundered along the rocky road, past a Thunderjaw that paced about in a giant oval, its sensors picking up on Kotallo briefly before it became disinterested and turned away. Kotallo rode over the top of the rise, down the other side and along a river, through a mountain pass. It was all red rock, dust and tenacious weeds. When he came across Carja patrols, he drew his Charger up short and showed the token Sun King Avad had given him. Kotallo thought it wise to ask his permission to travel across the Sundom. A lone Tenakth might make a tempting target and while Kotallo harboured no doubt he could defend himself, he didn’t want to lose more time than necessary.
Avad had made sure the token was a powerful one. Not a single patrol argued it, stepping aside and waving him on.
Kotallo didn’t waste any time, wanting to make Daytower before Erend and Zo passed by it if possible. He rode hard through a Carja outpost and then past Carja Hunting Grounds on his right then again as he turned up a sharp incline, past the Hunting Ground keeper with the astonished expression and further still. Up, up the mountain he rode, the red rock becoming hard and cold with frost, light snowfall beginning to fall.
Rather than be dismayed, Kotallo lifted his chin and felt the bite of chill and the taste of snowflakes on his tongue. Though not the same as the Sheerside Mountains he called home, it was still more familiar than the red rock.
Finally he reached a winding road, hemmed in with a low wall that led to the Daytower fortress. At the entrance he dismounted and immediately held out the token. The soldiers snapped to attention though they didn’t lose the wariness in their eyes.
“Has Erend, the Oseram Captain and a Utaru passed through here?” He asked, tucking the token securely into his breastplate.
“We don’t know,” one guard admitted, “we’ve been on patrol rotation and only just returned. But Captain Balahn will know. He’s up those stairs and on the main balcony.”
Kotallo nodded, removing his swag from the Charger. As he walked away, the second guard called out nervously.
“Ah, sir…what do we do with it?”
“Leave it be and it will do the same for you.”
Kotallo strode into the fortress, ignoring the looks and whispers. He doubted any Tenakth had ever been so far east. He passed Oseram, Carja and one Banuk who whispered and debated about the reason for his visit. As he reached the main marketspace of Daytower with a tavern to one side and merchants displaying their wares on the other, he caught sight of the wide balcony that afforded a view into the Sundom. A man was standing there as if anticipating him. Going by his armour, Kotallo guessed it was Captain Balahn.
“My lookout spied you coming up the mountain like another machine rider we know.” He chuckled, his head shaved like similarly to Kotallo’s so that the bulk of his hair was down the middle of his skull. But whereas Kotallo’s hair was in dreadlocks, threaded with blue beads and hanging past his shoulders, Balahn’s was tied in a short topknot. “I’m Captain Balahn.”
“Marshal Kotallo of the Tenakth,” he held out Avad’s token, “I’m travelling east with Sun King Avad’s permission.”
Balahn glanced at the token then handed it back. “Well…you’re east, Marshal. No further to go in the Sundom.”
“I intend to travel down to the tribe of the Nora.”
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“The Sacred Lands?” Balahn’s eyebrows went up. “That token won’t do you any good there and might actually be a hinderance. The Nora aren’t welcoming of tribes other than their own.”
“I have specific business with them on behalf of one of their own.” Kotallo explained loosely. “I hoped to meet up with Erend of the Oseram. He’s travelling with a Utaru called Zo. Have they passed through here?”
“No,” Balahn paused, “but there is a northern pass they could have taken.”
“They said they were heading for Daytower, probably to resupply before moving on.”
“Well…you’re of course welcome to wait,” Balahn cleared his throat, “I…we have a tavern…but I’m not sure if we have anything that will tempt you.”
Kotallo felt his eyes roll. “We do not drink blood.” He said sharply. “Ale is more than sufficient.”
“Then let the first round be on me…”
Balahn walked Kotallo to the tavern and they took up a seat at a table, the barman hastily serving their drinks, backing away from Kotallo fearfully in case he took a nip.
“So, what brings a Tenakth, of all tribes, to Daytower and then even on to the Sacred Lands, if I may ask?”
Kotallo gulped his ale, refreshing at such a high altitude. “A battle is coming and my commander requires all tribes be given the opportunity to bear their part.”
“Your commander?”
“Aloy.”
From Balahn’s expression and his enthusiastic nod, Kotallo knew he’d met her.
“Ah yes, the Saviour of Meridian and, I’m told, the one who was able to stop the Tenakth civil war.” Balahn drank his ale. “This enemy you speak of…is it Nemesis?”
Kotallo sat up. “You’ve heard of it?”
“We have Talanah Khane Padish, Sunhawk of the Carja Hunting Lodge, here. She told me of its threat.” Balahn sighed. “I confess, I only understood it vaguely…” He waved his hand to a Carja worker. “Let the Sunhawk know I have an emissary of Aloy here.”
“At once, Captain.”
“What can you tell me about the Sacred Lands and the Nora?” Kotallo asked before Talanah arrived.
“Indomitable I think best describes them and their land.” Balahn chuckled. “I wasn’t stationed here during the Red Raids but I know Carja soldiers never breached the Embrace where the tribe’s main population resides…but we never had machines on our side.” Balahn shook his head. “What the Shadow Carja had against the Nora to decimate them so…yet when Aloy called for warriors to defend the Spire, a war party marched at least two dozen strong.”
“How did the Shadow Carja get past Daytower?” Kotallo asked in a light challenge.
“There’s a pass to the north with only a wall, not a fort, guarding it. I saw the damage personally,” Balahn shuddered, “not even the might of the Carja army could have stopped that stampede. Ah, Talanah Khane Padish, Sunhawk of the Lodge…”
“Just Talanah, thank you Captain,” a young woman with a round face, marked with a fine Carja headdress and heavily painted eyes and lips, approached, “who is this…Kotallo?” He stood and greeted her with a handshake, Talanah’s eyes wide with disbelief. “All the way east? What are you doing here?” She looked around. “Did Aloy come with you?”
“No, she did not.” Kotallo confessed. “I was in Meridian for the Embassy and decided to join Erend and Zo.”
“An Oseram, an Utaru and a Tenakth go into the Sacred Lands,” Talanah spun the chair around and straddled it, “it sounds like the start of a bad joke.”
“So you vouch for this man, Sunhawk?”
“Kotallo? Of course I do.” Talanah exclaimed.
Balahn nodded and stood up. At Kotallo’s raised eyebrow he looked apologetic. “I’ve…been guilty of taking another at his word before…and the Nora suffered grievously for it. I didn’t want to make the same mistake and unleash a rogue Tenakth into the Sacred Lands.” He bowed to him. “I hope I have not offended you.”
“My offense is held in tension with my admiration for your diligence to duty.” Kotallo admitted.
“Then all your drinks are on me.” Balahn bowed out of their conversation.
“Don’t mind him,” Talanah leaned forward, “Aloy found out that one of his officers, a butcher by the name Zaid who did unspeakable things during the Red Raids, was still capturing Nora and selling them as slaves.”
“I see,” Kotallo could understand Balahn’s position a little better, “Talanah, what are you doing in Daytower? I believed you to be in Meridian.”
“If I’d been there during the Embassy, I would have made sure to greet you.” Talanah sighed. “No, I’m here on Nemesis business. I’m collecting Hunting Ground records for possible volunteers.”
The light was fading fast. Workers lit the lamps, the air filling with the smell of blaze that fuelled the light and the tavern began to fill with soldiers, eager for an ale after a long day on duty. Daytower was not much different to any other Carja fortress. Kotallo could have been in Barren Light, Sunfall or Meridian and not been able to tell the difference. But unlike the other Carja constructs in the Sundom, Daytower’s air was crisper and thin. He noticed soldiers panting, gasping for air but Kotallo found the freshness to be invigorating.
“I’m surprised the Carja do not keep records of Hunting Ground hunters.” Kotallo took up his ale and drained it, setting it down only for it to be replaced by an eager maid.
“The records only show those who come in with marks, the awards given for completing each trial,” Talanah sipped at her wine, preferring the dark purple libation to the bitter ale, “some of those hunters never go to Meridian and register with the Lodge. They take the trials to test their metal, success the only reward they’re after.”
“And you think some of them might be who Aloy is after?”
Talanah leaned forward with a sigh. “Unfortunately the Hunter’s Lodge is full of weapons experts and skilled hunters…and finding anyone who is a thinker as well as a fighter can be difficult. Some of clog heads in the Lodge just bash at a target until its destroyed. Aloy needs people who can look at an impossible problem and solve it creatively.”
Kotallo nodded, considering his own method of fighting. During the Red Raids he was a silent kill expert and an ambush pro. Diplomacy would have been a sign of weakness and so, it was never offered. When he became a marshal, his reputation was usually enough to deal with tribal conflicts and if not, he just glowered at them until they conceded. Even as an ambassador at the Embassies, Kotallo was rarely invited to speak.
It was only once he joined Aloy and donned a FOCUS that he began to expand his mind. It had been a difficult journey for one so used to physically wrestling with things.
Thank the Ten Gaia was endlessly patient with him.
“How are you finding your FOCUS?” He asked, noticing she wore one.
“Machine weaknesses have become as obvious as a child’s hunting target,” Talanah shook her head, her long ponytail of hair flicking back and forth, “and I find myself feeling very foolish and humbled by what I’ve learned and been entrusted with. Honestly…it’s a little overwhelming.”
“It was for me as well.” Kotallo admitted. “If I can become accustomed to it, you certainly will.”
Talanah smiled at him. “Don’t you mean, if Erend of the Vanguard can become accustomed to it, I can?”
“No,” Kotallo chuckled darkly, “If Erend can, anyone can.”
They both laughed together and clinked their goblets.
“I’m glad I caught you before you headed east.” Talanah stood up and slapped his shoulder. “Let’s get something to eat.”