Saku loomed over him like a bulwark in the night, its firm towers silhouetted by the moon of Thea that rose above the jungle.

He had to break those walls, and mollify its people. And, from down here, he had a good look at the pagoda that rose above the city, built into the wall of the craggy mountain at its rear.

You’re in there, Nagoya, he thought. You’re probably watching me just as I’m watching you, right now.

He took another swig of the disgusting ale Marvin had given him before, grimacing as the hot liquid ran down his insides.

He lifted his face to the stars, knowing that a few members of the army were probably watching him between the smoke of their respective bonfires in the camp, wondering when the word was coming to attack. Wondering when Mari would emerge from her tent. And wondering why the Shai-Alud, her mate, was not with her but out here in the cold of night.

If he was being honest, he was wondering what the hell he was going to do, too, when a sudden bark echoed through the treeline to his rear.

“OUT OF MY WAY!”

He rose steadily, wiping excess alcohol from his grizzled mouth, and saw a general alarm go up from the camp.

“I say! This – this is most ludicrous! Have none of you bondsmen ever seen a Griffon? This treatment is quite – unnecessary!”

Marcus stumbled towards the commotion, hearing weapons being drawn in the dark.

“Peace, peace comrades!” Takeshi’s voice cried. “This…creature is with us!”

“Our brother speaks true,” Sakri added. “He comes for the Shai-Alu-“

“MAKE ROOM!”

A gust of wind suddenly blew a whole group of Tigran warriors away from their camp, and Marcus beheld a sight far stranger than anything he’d expected to see tonight.

A quadrupled being with the head of an eagle and great pair of wings sprouting from its back was charging at him, eyes filled with fiery determination.

“What…”

“Protect the Shai-Alud!”

As soon as this call went up, Marcus found himself behind Hialjia, who had appeared as if from nowhere to protect him against this rampaging collection of feathers.

“Hialjia, I think that –“

“Stand down, beast!” the Tauron wailed, raising her axe just as the creature came to a resounding and sudden stop before her.

“G-good gracious! By the Emperor!”

HIALJIA!

Before she brought her axe down, Marcus transmitted a command that pierced her brain and sundered her thoughts. She huffed, stopped her attack, and bowed swiftly, retreating to Marcus’s side.

“It’s ok,” he said aloud as whole cohorts of the army started to gather around him. “I don’t think this creature intends to do us harm.”

“Hmpf”, the Taruon growled. He stink like Yokun slavers.”

The beast, still warily looking in Hialjia’s direction, stood to attention and proudly ruffled his feathered breast.

“N-now look here,” he said, regaining composure. “I have come a long way, and have experienced the drudgery of slavery just as you have I am sure. You ought to afford me a measure of respect befitting my station or – ah!”

As Hailjia snarled down at him, the creature backed down completely.

“He talk with fancy words, like fancy Yokun prince,” she said. “You sure I can’t eat him?”

Marcus stifled a laugh. “I don’t expect you’ll enjoy the taste of those feathers.”

Takeshi and Sakri had finally caught up. Panting, they explained everything.

“He – he says he has a message for us,” Takeshi began. “He says its from…Marxon.”

At Marcus’s interested expression, the beast rose to its full height again.

“Emperor Gaius Marxon, first of his name and ruler of the known realm. My directive was to convey His Majesty’s missive to the Shai-Alud, conqueror of the Underkingdom and current consort of the Pale Lady. I assume you are he?”

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The creature looked him up and down for a moment, looking as though he wanted to make some quippy remark about his appearance. A single glance in Hialjia’s direction, however, stopped that quite quickly.

“Well…be welcome in our camp, then,” Marcus said. “Mr..?”

“Thaddeus. Thaddeus Oxbridge of House Rottsburch, Third of my line and the Emperor’s private correspondence deliverer.”

“Human Emperor is sending us delivery bird!” Hialjia roared so the gathering troops around her could hear.

“Now, now,” Marcus interjected. “If our friend here really is who he says he is, he’s an honored guest among us. I want to one to impede his duty. Takeshi, Sakri, you say you found him in the ruins of our lost base?”

“Captured and bound,” Takeshi nodded. “He has a letter which bears a human sigil. It seemed Clan Naga intercepted him on his way he-“

“Frightfully gruesome creatures!” Thaddeus snarled. “I do say that the old saying is true – Yokun believe everything in this world belongs to them by right. Their ego astounds me.”

At Takeshi’s snarling, Marcus quickly changed the subject.

“Well, you’re here now,” he said. “I’m only sorry we couldn’t have helped you sooner. Luckily, two of my best commanders came along when they did.”

“Two of your best!” Thaddeus chuckled. Then, reading the temperature of the crowd around him, he coughed. “Ah – yes. That is, they were most helpful in assisting my escape.”

“I do not know many words of the civilized world,” Sakri said with a shake of his spear. “Does ‘assistance’ mean rescue?”

“I believe the bird was mistaken in using that particular word,” Takeshi growled. “I think he meant to say that he’s only alive right now because of us.”

“I – well – I!” Thaddeus snorted before turning back to Marcus. “Suffice to say your men have brought me here, now. And thus, tonight I shall count my mission as completed.”

Marcus bowed gracefully. “I’m afraid we can’t offer you much by way of hospitality, Sir Thaddeus. You see, we’re currently preparing for a siege. If you’d like a drink though, I’m sure our resident human brewer Marvin can –“

“No, no,” the griffon replied. “I’d simply like to be over and done with this errand, thank you very much, Sir. The trauma I have sustained has been such that I shall require a full month of leave to recover from its effects. I trust that you will convey as much to His Majesty if all the terms of the agreement are convenient to you and your people?”

Marcus blinked. “Agreement?”

Only then, savoring being the center of attention, did Thaddeus produce the letter strapped to his front left claw. It looked dingy, scarred, and partially opened. But it also looked like he’d been able to conceal it from his Yokun captors who, at any rate, wouldn’t be telling any tales where they were now.

Marcus took the missive from the great beak of the Griffon and read it to himself, realizing, only after he’d finished, just how pivotal a moment in history this event would be.

To Sir Marcus Graham,

Accept our congratulations on your recent victory over the forces of Clan Hitogi at the Yangzhao bridge. My sources in the region report that your earnest success was cheaply bought – a notion that seems synonymous with your name.

I would very much like to meet you in person. From various trusted estimations of your attitude, I expect we would share some interesting thoughts on the nature of warfare. Sadly, I find myself rather preoccupied with a stalemate at the moment. The Yokun of the Blades are as tenacious as their namesake, and have successfully rebuffed my forces in the straits of Jak’al to the North of their capital city. I fear my Empire can no longer claim the Naval superiority we have enjoyed in the region.

You will therefore imagine my surprise when the ships of General Yaresh were diverted from our shores with haste – like steelclad snakes returning to lick their wounds. Such is not the Yokun way. A victory such as that one would normally lead to an immediate breakthrough operation on our shores. An amphibious assault on our Eastern territories has been expected for the past decade. Yet, when the opportune moment came, our enemies had eyes only for their Southern flank. For you, Marcus Graham, and the one they call the ‘Pale Lady.’

I will be blunt, your operations in the region afford me an element of breathing room I very much required. Therefore, allow me to return the favor: my trusted sources tell me that General Yaresh sets sail for the Southern Arasaka Plantations as we speak, bound for a scorched earth campaign that will take them as far as the city of Saku. At his back ride a fleet of ten thousand trained Zhurkin.

As I understand it, you are set to assault the city of Saku and break through its defenses to link up with my own regiments to the South. I implore you to forget this notion, Marcus Graham.

Titles are not gained by the meek, nor the foolish. I would not be in the position I am in now if I did not grasp opportunity when it presented itself to me. I’m sure as an esteemed General – a victor of countless battles both beneath and upon the surface of our world – you would agree. Allow me to be so bold, then, as to suggest an alternative course of action for you – one that shall accomplish both our goals.

Take the city, Marcus Graham. Take it and hold it against the wave of retribution that is coming. Await my reinforcements and together we shall stem the tide of the Yokun horde. We shall break the backs of an Empire that has made a fatal misstep in thinking they can crush the spirit of the free.

Take Saku and I shall grant it to you and your wife as an official fiefdom. I shall raise you both to the status of vassals in my Empire. You shall have a standing army. Your Pipers will pass into the annals of legend. And vengeance for eons of slavery under the whip of the lizard Masters will be the reward of your people.

I await your reply, Marcus Graham. Preparations for a general mustering are already underway. If you acquiesce to this joint operation, you shall have a fleet of my Royal Griffons by your side in a fortnight.

Snake is a particular predilection of theirs.

Emperor Gaius Marxon I

Once he’d finished reading in silence, his face growing at once excited, then terrified, then hopeful again, did he look up at the Griffon and his commanders with a very new set of eyes.

“Takeshi, Sakri,” he said. “You’ve brought us more than just a letter this day. You’ve brought us a chance.”

The eyes of the leaders met his, while the Griffon hummed and hawed about not being appreciated enough.

“A chance at what?” Takeshi asked.

Marcus was already moving towards Mari’s tent as he gave his answer:

“Victory.”