Chapter LXXVII: The Soulflayer on the Ship

On the third day of their voyage, Kkel began showing signs of unease. Pixel was by his side constantly, the soft lullabies she played having less and less effect as time wore on. The Soulflayer paced incessantly about his small cabin on the Proteus. At first, he and Jinxie had engaged in long conversation about the Empire and his role in it. By the second day, he had begged off extensive contact, complaining of feeling hungry. When she had come to visit him today, Pixel had met her at the door and quietly requested she leave him be for the day. Thus she stood above deck, watching the Silver Seas fly by underneath them, praying for just a little more time to do what had to be done.

The crew of Arvin’s vessel was already nervous enough having women on board. When they had brought back Kkel and introduced him as the Sunserpent himself, their anxiety grew exponentially. They had, of course, concealed his form beneath his dark robes, hiding his transformed state. Most or all of the men on board had at least one outstanding warrant in Aht Urhgan. The idea of having a Serpent General on board with them had them looking over their shoulders constantly, despite the fact that he had not left his cabin since coming aboard.

She sighed, looking up at the moonlit skies above. It was a relief to have natural light above her again. Mindartia was blanketed in darkness, and her time in the Emptiness had been anything but natural. How Kkel remained sane in that place was beyond her. How Pixel managed to . . .

A flash of worry passed through her. Would Kkel attack Pixel if he regressed too far? She was the only one he would let near him now. They were alone together, and if he truly was a creature as hideous as a Soulflayer in mind as well as body, what would stop him? Jinxie peered up at the multitude of stars dotting the night sky. This ordeal would end soon. The Proteus was almost back to Whitegate. A little more time was all she asked for. Just a little more time. She suddenly longed to hold her baby again. She had never been away from Drake so long before. Now that she was so close to seeing him again, she felt their time apart that much more sharply.

Footsteps alerted her she was not alone before the sound of a familiar voice did. “Stargazing?” Isset asked her, the mechanical Shoki trailing close behind.

Jinxie turned to face the Puppetmaster. The black-haired Hume was back in her formal attire, a set of brilliantly colored performing wear with puffy orange sleeves emerging from an ornately inlaid black leather breastplate. The entire ensemble was a colorful blend of black, white, orange, and purple, with golden decorative embellishments. Her colorful outfit belied the strategic utility with which she had seen her get from the automaton. As usual, whenever she moved Shoki mimicked her motion. Thus both puppet and Puppetmaster had one arm folded over their stomach, supporting a hand pressed thoughtfully against a cheek.

“No, I . . . “ turning her gaze skyward again, Jinxie listened for a moment to the waves crashing against the ship’s hull. “I was just thinking of my son. That’s all.”

Isset leaned across the rail, staring out into the sea. Most everyone was below deck now, save for the random crewman passing by, most of them staggering more than walking. “We’re practically back to the Empire now, Jinxie. Once we confront Razfahd this will all be over.”

“Will it?” The blonde woman leaned forward, resting her chin against her wrists. “I just can’t shake this feeling that something about this whole business was wrong from the start.”

Isset shrugged, putting her elbows to rest against the rail. “I live the life of a mercenary. We were given a job to do and we carried it out successfully, this is just another mission.”

“Why did you approach me, outside the palace that day?” Jinxie was suddenly curious.

She grinned. “Working for Naja is all the same. The recruits are sent to stand guard in Al Zahbi day in and day out. If you’re lucky you might be asked to help raid some unimportant beastmen lair. Some of the higher-ups get pretty good work now and then, but the trials you have to go through for a promotion are ridiculous.” Shoki shook his head emphatically at her statement. “Then I see a foreigner being admitted to the palace, asking for help with a foreign war against demons. No sooner do I seek her out than I find myself fighting a Hydra, sailing with pirates, and searching for a Serpent General in a strange dimension. And so far, it’s all worked out. You’re good luck, Jinxie. I believe everything will work out just fine.”

“Maybe,” Jinxie was non-commital. “Where are the others?” she asked, changing the subject. “We need to be ready to leave as soon as we hit the docks.”

“Speed’s asleep,” Isset responded with a roll of her eyes, “and I haven’t seen Xaerus all day.” She pursed her lips at that last thought. “How a blind woman keeps herself hidden on a ship this small is nothing short of remarkable.”

The Red Mage narrowed her eyes. “One day soon I’m going to have to get some real answers out of her. About all of this. How she found me, how she knows Razfahd, what her role in all of this is – I’m tired of feeling like I’m being led around by a pair of invisible hands. Like a . . . like a . . . “

“A puppet?” Isset offered with a smile. Shoki lifted its tiny arms up over its head emphatically.

Jinxie allowed herself a slight grin. “I suppose so,” she mused, gazing again into the evening sky.

“Ahoy there!” Both women turned at the sound of a voice which still held a boy’s tenor. Akisu was sliding down from the crow’s nest, two bare feet slapping down against the deck. He smiled brightly at the two women, spindly arms drawing up into a brief salute.

“Akisu,” Jinxie acknowledged the ship’s cabin boy. “What are you doing up?”

“Manning the lookout, ma’am! Captain Arvin says there’s bound to be Imperial Cruisers this close to the Empire.” The youth carried himself tall, obviously proud of being given such a responsibility to handle. “But I heard you all down here and wanted to make sure there wasn’t any trouble.”

Jinxie smiled at the youth. He seemed oblivious to the poor treatment doled out to him by Arvin and the ship's crew. The sandy-haired youngster was just overjoyed at the prospect of being a pirate. It must have seemed a wonderful kid's game to him. "We're quite alright," she reassured him. "Just anxious to be back on dry land."

"Not me," Akisu asserted, putting a bony thumb to his chest. "I was born for the sea, ma'am!" The ship suddenly lurched on a wave, and the would-be pirate frantically waved his arms as he was thrown off-balance. Jinxie caught him as he abruptly spun on his heel and toppled backwards, landing safely in her grasp. She righted him with a wry smile.

"Well," he coughed, "I'm not quite as great as Captain Arvin yet. But I'll get there!"

"While we're waiting for that day, you're at least entertaining," Isset quipped. She clutched the rail as another wave suddenly shook the Proteus. "Wonderful," the Puppetmaster muttered, "this scrap heap is going to make me seasick."

Jinxie began thinking of Kkel again. She knew Pixel had told her to stay away, but even hitting rough waters now worried her for his state of mind. She was about to excuse herself to go check on him when the door to the Captain's cabin swung open, and Arvin swaggered out onto the deck.

"Ahoy!" The Corsair called, He took a few steps forward, then halted himself, swaying slightly. He brushed off his imbalance with a swig from the flask at his hip, then continued on towards the other three. "What be all this noise interuppt'n me? Akisu!" His bleary-eyed gaze fell on the scrawny young man. "Din'nt I tell ye t' watch f'r Imperials? What're ye doin' down here?"

The lad opened his mouth to answer, but Jinxie stepped in front of him. "He came to check on our well-being," she said coolly. "The boy has far more courtesy than his Captain does."

The sailor barked out a laugh. "Aye, it'll be some time yet a'fore we break 'im a' that nasty habit." Arvin took another draft from his flask, wiping his lips on the sleeve of his tattered black coat. "There ain't room for yer dry land niceties 'n such on th' open seas." He jabbed a drunken finger at Akisu. "Now scamper back up t' th' crow's nest 'n keep those eyes peeled!" The ship lurched as another wave passed through it, and Arvin staggered as much from the drink as his dilapidated vessel's unsteadiness. "Blackbeard's breath th' sea is unsteady tonight!" he swore.

"I'm going back below," Isset said. "Hopefully to get some sleep. You should think about it too, Jinxie." The Puppetmaster walked away, Shoki trailing close behind her. Arvin unabashadly watched her hips as she walked below deck, then took another drink.

"Don't know how anyone c'n sleep with a bloody Serpent General aboard," he muttered, fixing a pointed stare at Jinxie. "Ye do un'nerstand th' lot ye've fallen in with, don't ye lass? Us 'n th' Empire are out f'r each other's blood. This be like given' yer own headsmen a lift t' th' block."

"You're being very well compensated for doing little more than sailing back and forth, Captain," Jinxie retorted, folding her ams.

"L'il more - " lines of anger furrowed his brow. "Th' firs' night ye were on my ship we nearly got caught by Imperials! Then ye have me hole up at Mhaura with who knows what kinnae spirits makin' a home on me ship! I'll need t' 'ave th' whole Proteus ex'rcised! An' f'r what? T' sail a bloody Serpent General back t' Nashmeira's waitin' bosom!" The pirate scowled, clenching and unclenching his fingers. "I knew it was bad luck t' 'ave a woman aboard, let alone three crazy witches."

"Red Mages," someone spoke from behind Arvin. The Captain whirled around, and gave a shout of surprise when he found Xaerus standing behind him. "We are Red Mages - and Isset is a Puppetmaster, hardly a witch as her abilities are technological in nature."

Arvin growled in surpressed indignation. "Ye're th' worst a th' lot," he accused, "always prowlin' about. What business does a blind woman 'ave movin' like th' sighted? It's not right, I tell ye." Jinxie hoped her face revealed nothing, but in this instance she found herself sympathizing with the pirate. Xaerus's mysteries were a source of growing frustration.

"Be that as it may," she replied, brushing past Arvin, "there are other concerns besides my eyes to address." The Mithra turned her nose upwards, blindfolded eyes searching the skies. "Is it nighttime, now?"

"Yes ma'am!" Akisu responded, to which Arvin shot the cabin boy a dirty look. He sheepishly backed away, but the Captain brushed off the incident.

Xaerus was nodding. "Ah, Akisu, it's good that you're here." She planted her staff on the deck. A moment later, another wave tossed the ship about, jolting everyone else off-balance. "You were to watch for Imperial cruisers tonight, were you not?"

The youth nodded vigorously. "I just came down from the crow's nest. Not a ship in sight!" He fumbled about with a pouch slung to his side for a moment, and from it produced a slim spyglass. "The Captain gave me his own looking scope to search the perimeter with."

"Aye, that I did," Arvin concurred. "Th' ol' bauble's kept me clear a' many a danger o' th' sea, it has."

Another wave jostled the Proteus, and Jinxie had to clutch the railing for support. Arvin cast a glowering look at the ocean, as if trying to reprimand the tide.

Xaerus turned her head of white hair towards the Captain, her face inscrutable. "Then I should inform you, Arvin," she suddenly crouched down, bracing herself against the deck, "that your telescope is long past due for a replacement."

A sudden boom shook the length and breadth of Arvin's ship. Jinxie was tossed backwards, and nearly fell over the rail before Akisu snatched her hand. Arvin shouted an oath, clutching at the deck as the Proteus rocked back and forth. Xaerus alone remained steady.

"What th' devil?!" the pirate stood, eyes darting back and forth as he drew forth a gun from his belt. Shouts were coming from below deck and the prow as crewmen were violently woken up. Akisu turned the spyglass in his hand, and then gasped as he examined it closely.

"Captain!" He shouted, turning Arvin's attention towards the instrument.

"What d' ye - oh, curse me f'r a novice." His voice was despairing as he noticed the black smudges of old gunpowder smeared across its lens. A moment later, a hundred lights seemed to ignite at once, casting a near blinding spot on the deck of the Proteus.

"Attention, Proteus," an amplified voice boomed. Jinxie struggled to see through the sudden halo surrounding them. She began to make out the source of the light. A plank's length away from Arvin's floating wreck was an Imperial battleship, with at least a score of archers lining the rails. She didn't need to see them to know that their cannons were armed as well. "This is the Imperial Naval Ship Sea Wolf. Lay down your weapons and prepare to be boarded."

"Ye'll nev'r take me alive!" Arvin declared, brandishing his short-barreled gun menacingly.

"Captain," Xaerus said, laying a hand on his shoulder, "Consider your situation and truly think about that sentiment for a moment."

Arvin bared his teeth, leveling his gun at the Imperial ship. Jinxie could clearly see the archers drawing back their bowstrings. Then, with a disgusted snarl, the Elvaan tossed his weapon aside. "Women," he spat, "I always said they're bad luck."


The Empire's navy was remarkably efficient. It took them less than an hour to completely round up the crew. To Jinxie's surprise, they were allowed to continue roaming the ship freely. No one was cast in irons and thrown in the brig save for a few of Arvin's less cooperative sailors, or those with unnaturally long list of outstanding warrants. Arvin himself, however, was confined to his quarters, and Jinxie could still occasionally hear him complain about the indignity of his situation. By the time dawn had broke, the Proteus was in the Sea Wolf's tow, speeding back towards Aht Urhgan.

Even more remarkable than their speed or leniency was that they knew exactly what was onboard.

"Please," Jinxie had pleaded, throwing herself in front of the door to Kkel's cabin, "don't go in there."

The sailor, somewhat higher-ranking she judged by his uniform, stepped back respectfully. "Ah, so that is where he is." He gave a smart salute, then turned on his heel, the other two with him following behind. "Please inform the Sunserpent that we respect his wish for privacy, however the Grand Vizier expects him above once we reach port." She didn't know whether or not to breath a sigh of relief. This was no random arresting of a rogue Corsair. They had been on the lookout for the Proteus, probably since the very night they stole away from Nashmau. But was Razfahd's purpose to speed their arrival, or . . .?

Her answer was quick in coming. That very afternoon they docked in Aht Urghan. The smell of the sea and the noise of the harbor flooded Jinxie's senses as they returned to Whitegate. The scents of salt and brine mingled with fish and sailors occupied the same space as perfumes and exotic spices. Accents ranging from those of her native Bastok to the nasal Qiqirn dialect competed to be heard. There were even Tshayans and Yagudo mingling with the crowd. The harbor was alive with ships, but only one of them had an Imperial guard surrounding it.

Jinxie found herself flanked by a column of soldiers. Isset and Xaerus were next to her, and behind them Speed was being pushed forward.

"Hey, not cool man," he complained. "I ain't hasslin' nobody."

"Stay quiet, Speed," Isset snapped.

"Huh? Oh, Issy, what are you doing here?" He looked around, squinting at his surroundings. "When did I move to the port?" He wondered aloud. Isset gave a long-suffering sigh as the soldiers surrounding Speed exchanged confused glances.

Then, a sound which was smaller than the squeak of a mouse compared to the bustle of the Empire port somehow overrode everything else. Pixel, garbed in a beautiful manteel and turban, stepped out onto the deck. Gjallarhorn was in her hands, and its song played endlessly from her lips. As she was guided towards the others, she lowered it for a moment and gave a bright smile. Her eyes were sunken in from lack of sleep. Jinxie realized the Tarutaru must have been playing for Kkel endlessly the last two days. Sure enough, she raised the horn to her lips quickly, and resumed her gentle melody.

"Serpent General on deck!" a soldier suddenly declared.

The entire column stepped to the side and assumed a salute. Jinxie bit her lip. This was the moment of truth.

Kkel shambled into the sunlight, visibly wincing at its touch. His head and hands were completely concealed by his robes. The staff he held drooped out from his sleeve, clacking against the wooden deck. He walked haltingly, and a slow hiss rose from behind his cowl. The Imperial soldiers looked visibly unnerved, not getting what they were expecting at all. For a moment, Jinxie allowed herself to breath a bit easier. No one was attacking him or declaring him a Soulflayer. So far, so good.

Until she looked down below, to the gathering awaiting them in Port Ephramad.

Razfahd was dressed from head to toe in extravagant black and gold armor. A cape bearing the Empire's sigil blew out from his shoulders. His stony face looked up dispassionately at Jinxie and the others as they were made to descend towards him. The sight of the Grand Vizier was unnerving enough. They had come for a confrontation with him, true, but these were hardly the circumstances Jinxie would have wished for. It was the grouping behind him which she knew truly put them at a disadvantage.

Two brown-haired Humes stood off to his right. One of them, a woman, had an enormous bow strapped to her back, the other a massive white scythe. To Razfahd's left, a Galka and a Mithra loomed ominously. The Galka had a pair of bladed knuckles strapped to his side, and the Mithra grasped the handle of an outrageously large spiked club. Directly behind him was an Elvaan, tall and proud, the points of a great double-bladed sword sunk into the ground. The first four all wore identical armor of burnished red inlaid with glittering gold. The Elvaan, however, was in his own uniform, remarkable for how plain its simple red and gray hues were when compared to the others. Jinxie knew them by sight, as did anyone who had spent any extended time in the Empire of Aht Urghan. These were Najelith, Gadalar, Zazarg, Mihli, and Rughadjeen. The Five Serpent Generals had all gathered to accompany Razfahd in greeting Kkel.

"Bastokan," he curtly acknowledged her, tone as imperious as ever.

"Razfahd," she returned. "Can't thank you enough for the escort."

"Spare me," the Grand Vizier replied, stepping forward as they were finally all brought in front of him. He brushed past the others, stopping in front of Pixel and Kkel. "So, Bard, have you come to return the Empire's relic?"

Jinxie thought she could feel a wave of malevolence wash over her from Kkel. The Serpent Generals apparantly felt it as well, each one eyeing the other nervously, or perhaps it was Razfahd's comment itself. Pixel, however, only smiled up at him.

"What do you mean, Grand Vizier?" she responded.

"That instrument is a great boon to our military. It belongs to the Empire, like the Algol, or the treasures of Balrahn." He gestured briefly towards Rughadjeen's gleaming sword.

"But I am not a subject of the Empire," Pixel told him sweetly, "and Gjallarhorn would like it if our tour continued just awhile longer."

His expression soured as she began playing again, the wondrous sound of her music wafting through the background noise.

"Solaar," Jinxie looked up to see Gadalar stepping forward. The Hume appeared cautious, eyeing the great robed figure suspiciously. "Is it really you?"

"Altana man, you've been gone for so long - what happened?" This time it was Zazarg, the heavily-muscled Galka obviously more cordial than Gadalar.

"Silence!" Razfahd ordered, the tone of his voice taking the two aback. Then he himself faced Kkel, peering into the robes he wore. The Soulflayer's cowl emanted a cloud of impenetrable darkness. Only his labored breathing made it through, but Jinxie could see him restraining himself. Whether he was about to attack Razfahd from anger or hunger though, she could only guess.

Kkel Solaar inhaled slowly, a dry, rasping sound. "Razfahd," he managed, Pixel's music growing louder.

"Welcome back, General Solaar," he said in a tone devoid of welcome. "I was beginning to think we'd never see you again."

"My mission," he stopped, drawing another labored breath, "had undue complications."

"Kkel, my comrade," it was Rughadjeen now who stepped forward. The Elvaan had beautiful blue eyes, and moved with impeccable grace, yet had the unmistakable air of command about him. "Welcome back to the Empire. On behalf of all the Serpent Generals, I want to say that it's good to see you again. We've sorely missed your presence."

Assent came from each of the generals in turn. "Rughadjeen . . ." Kkel rasped, gazing intently at the Skyserpent.

"Enough!" Razfahd roared. Everyone was taken aback by the force of his sudden anger. With smoldering eyes, he turned back to Kkel. "Mercenaries, you may report to the Empress. We'll find some contingent of soldiers to escort you back to your homeland, as promised. You have fulfilled your duties and are free to go."

To Jinxie's surprise, the column of soldiers surrounding her and the others immediately stepped aside. The Port of Aht Urghan stretched out before her, the path unimpeded.

"You, however, General Solaar. . ." he turned away from Kkel, clenching his fists resolutely. ". . .you are under arrest, pending an investigation regarding desertion of the Empire."

"What?" Rughadjeen burst out.

"Sir, you can't be serious!" General Najelith objected. "General Solaar's record alone - "

"Quiet, all of you!" Razfahd sliced his hand through the air. "General Mihli, General Gadalar, escort Kkel Solaar and Pixel to the dungeons. And confiscate that horn."

"You can't do this!" Jinxie cried out, even as Xaerus placed a restraining hand on her shoulder. She brushed it off, breaking free and confronting Razfahd. A pair of soldiers appeared, crossing their swords in front of her path. The Red Mage seethed behind them.

"I advise you not to tarry here any longer, mercenary," Razfahd said darkly.

"You'll advise nothing!" Jinxie lashed out an accusatory finger. "Kkel was ambushed on his mission, and you know full well what happened to him, because it was you that set him up! Admit it Razfahd, you just don't want the truth getting out!

Whatever reaction Jinxie expected from the Grand Vizier, she was completely unprepared for the glance of complete confusion he threw her way.

“What nonsense is this?” He scoffed, then dismissed her with a wave of his hand. “Begone, woman. This is no longer your concern.”

Jinxie was momentarily taken aback, but when another wave of malicious intent struck her, she knew she had to keep talking. “Then what happened, Razfahd? Only you knew about his mission! How did he get found out?”

“Guards, this mercenary is becoming unruly. Escort her to a holding cell to cool off for the night.” Razfahd turned back to Kkel, apparently ignorant of the Soulflayer’s seething. Jinxie struggled as two guards suddenly seized her by the arms. “Whatever happened or didn’t will be covered in investigation.”

“That would be extremely inconvenient.”

Razfahd gasped, turning at the voice. Everyone on the pier looked upwards, shocked to find a man standing atop the docking station. His arms were folded in front of a thick chest. Two knives hung at either side of his waist, and a thick white mantle blew off the sea breeze from his shoulders. He looked down on them with angry dark eyes. Most noticeable about him was the fact that his head, shaved completely bald, was lined with highly detailed tattoos. With a single leap, he reached the heart of their gathering, directly in front of Razfahd. The Serpent Generals drew their weapons as one, even as soldiers came rushing in front of the Grand Vizier.

“You failed us, Razfahd,” the bald Hume chided.

The Imperial balked. “You’ve been given everything you wanted. What are you – “

“He was supposed to stay gone!” He pointed vehemently at Kkel. “We’re withdrawing our support. The organization I represent has decided to pursue other alliances.”

“What are you talking about, Chiz?” Razfahd demanded, advancing on the white-cloaked man threateningly.

Chiz looked down on Razfahd. It was the first time Jinxie had ever seen the Grand Vizier be on the receiving end of such a gaze. “You’ll find out soon enough. For now though, you were right about one thing – that horn will be extremely useful.”

In a flash, the Hume vanished, only to reappear beyond the circle of guards. There was a gasp as the music which had permeated the entire meeting was suddenly cut short. Chiz had Pixel in his hands, holding the struggling Tarutaru with a malicious grin.

“Goodbye, Aht Urghan,” he said, and then he sped off in a blur too quick to follow.

Jinxie cried out, but her voice was drowned out by another.

“PIXEL!” Kkel Solaar’s rasping scream knocked back the soldiers around him. Violently, he swung his arms around, clutching his staff tightly. A whirlwind of unrestrained power threw Razfahd and the Serpent Generals to their knees. “PIXEL!” he cried again, and threw back the hood of his robes.

A collective scream rose as they saw Kkel Solaar as he was. A Soulflayer. Rughadjeen was already back on his feet, rushing in to stop him. At that moment, nothing could have been more hopeless. The Skyserpent ended up several yards away, armor making a grating sound as it scraped against the docks. Kkel simply brushed the others away, creating an opening. Surging through it, he moved faster than Jinxie thought possible, all the while shouting Pixel’s name.

She took advantage of the confusion. A whisper of magic escaped her, and the two already-stunned guards holding her slipped into a daze. They fell over one another, and she easily leaped past them. Razfahd cried out for her to halt, but she brushed by him. Instead, she followed Kkel. She sprinted, chasing after the raging Soulflayer. The people on the harbor screamed as he passed through them. Mothers clutched at their children, traders hurriedly closed up their stalls. People who were too close collapsed at his passing, shivering and cold on the ground. Jinxie followed the trail of screams, leaping past obstacles and trying to keep up.

Kkel burst through a pair of gate guards, sending them reeling as he rushed into central plaza, Serpentking Square. Here he paused for just a moment as the crowd which passed through every day fled shrieking at his appearance. His head swung about frantically, until he suddenly snapped his attention to the east. Jinxie had just gotten close to him when he began moving again, snarling through the tendrils on his elongated head. When he glided across the fountain in the center of the square, the water turned an inky black where he touched it. Then he passed through another gate, and emerged into the Way of the Devout. The expansive walkway which led to the Imperial Palace was crammed full of everyone from clerics of Walahra to mercenary agents.

Some of them fled in terror. Others attempted to bar the Soulflayer’s path. Regardless, there was nothing that could keep Kkel from his objective. Following whatever trail he had, he pushed through anyone in his way, be they mercenary or Imperial guard. When Jinxie arrived, there was a trail of unconscious bodies in her path. Some of them looked white as sheets, staring blankly into nothing as she ran by.

Then she saw a door which had been blasted off its hinges, and ran inside. A Tarutaru in an official-looking uniform was backed into the corner, gibbering madly. Jinxie looked up just in time to see Kkel on some sort of giant glowing platform, already fading away.

With no hesitation, she ran after him. She vanished within a halo of purple light as soon as she touched the glittering rune embedded in the floor. The Hall of Transference went silent, save for its keeper’s frightened mutters, quietly whispered at no one. It remained that way for several moments before the alarm sounded.


“After them!” Razfahd was shouting. Isset didn’t know what to do. Shoki reacted to the emotions sent through her animator, and began running in a circle with its arms waving in the air. There was confusion and chaos all through the docks.

“Razfahd!” General Rughadjeen was shouting at him. Isset had never seen him so close up before. The Elvaan was just as regal as the ballad sung about him in the teahouses made him out to be. “Who was that man? What do you know about this?”

“Away from me, Rughadjeen!” The Hume seethed. “What I do for the security of the Empire is necessary! Now get after them, none of them can be allowed to escape!”

His soldiers tried to organize themselves, but the shock at both Chiz’s appearance and departure as well as the revelation that Kkel Solaar had become a Soulflayer were quickly overwhelming discipline. Even the Serpent Generals seemed taken aback.

“Grand Vizier,” it was Mihli Aliapoh, the Waterserpent General. Isset had heard many conflicting tales about the Tshayan, but it was clear she had a frighteningly strong presence. “What did he mean by “pursuing other alliance?” The Mithra held her massive club with clear intent to use it.

“That is about to become obvious.” They turned to regard Xaerus, standing calmly amongst them.

“What are you blathering about, Xaerus?” The Grand Vizier demanded.

She turned her head westward, her feline ears twitching once in the wind. “Only that the punishment for your secret offenses is about to come due, my dear Razfahd.”

Razfahd opened his mouth, face a storm cloud, but his voice was drowned out as an alarm suddenly blared across all of Whitegate. Isset blanched. She recognized that alarm. Everyone who lived in Aht Urghan knew it well.

“Attention!” A soldier’s voice called out from amplifiers strung throughout the city. “Al Zahbi is under attack! I repeat – Al Zahbi is under attack! All non-combat personnel return to the Commoner’s Ward! Martial law has been declared!”

The Serpent Generals scrambled as one, launching towards the outer district of the city. Shoki was leaning forward, awaiting a command. Isset was unsure of what exactly to do. Soldiers and civilians were running everywhere, two tides rushing against each other to either meet the enemy or flee from it.

“Speed, Isset,” Xaerus said, moving forward. “We’ll be needed here.” Her calm was infuriating.

“Who is it, Xaerus?” Speed asked. “I know this drill, it’s uh . . . it’s those lizard guys. Or the Trolls. Or those skanky snake-chicks.”

“Yes,” Razfahd suddenly grabbed Xaerus by the shoulders, shouting into her unseeing eyes. “Whom are we being attacked by? Whom have they allied with? The Trolls? The Mamool Ja? The Lamiae?”

Xaerus brushed his hands aside and walked past him, heading through the panicked throng and towards Al Zahbi. “Yes,” was all she said.

Isset gasped when she realized her meaning. The Empire was being attacked by all its beastmen foes at once.