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The battle had already joined but her instructions were clear: strike when the serpent’s head presented itself. That left General Narita Brian, the Shadow Monster of the Empire, watching the battle keenly with her arms crossed. Her personal detachment stood behind her on the cliff, waiting for her to give the signal, as far below the majority of the Empire’s forces met the enemy in a brutal display of differing abilities.
At the center of the massive formation was the Emperor herself, carefully cutting her way through the throngs of poorly trained and even worse equipped frontline troops, her tsurugi in hand. Normally, if Emperor Symboli Rudolf went to war, she would wield her odachi, being one of the few with the power and stamina to make effective use of the weapon’s superior reach and heavy weight, but this circumstance called for precision and care. Many swings of the tsurugi found not the necks of her enemies but instead knocked weapons out of unsteady hands or broke them entirely. Though the Emperor’s might was a sight to behold, her divine mercy was equally impressive.
For they faced not an army of equal standing but rather peasant levies forced from their homes; while the Imperial forces were outnumbered a solid six to one, almost three quarters of the enemy’s formation consisted of farmers, villagers, artisans, and other non-military umas herded by their tyrannical king to the front and used as fodder while the king’s esteemed nobles attempted to command from the rear. It was a coward’s tactic, hoping the slaughter of innocents would tire the Imperial forces enough for the nobles to gain an advantage. The nobles were easy to pick out, with their gleaming armor and decorated sashimono, but none of them were Brian’s target, so she waited and watched. Rudolf’s instructions were clear and she would adhere to them to the letter.
If they were fighting a competent force, Brian would’ve objected to remaining in the reserve. As it stood, Rudolf’s kind heart spared many as the knights surrounding her followed her example and did their best to disarm the enemies and knock them to the ground rather than kill them outright. If they were smart, they either stayed down or crawled on hands and knees and submitted themselves to the cadre of gaolers that were stalking in the knights’ wake. Those who tried to attack again were struck down, unfortunately; it was grim work, because it was understandable that fear would provoke even the faint of heart to blindly fight. Rudolf would feel remorse for them once the battle concluded.
The Empress, however, granted her mercy in the form of a swift death. With yumi in hand, she would plant her sasumata in the ground and jump up, balancing on the fork shaped end to loose arrows, dispatching any threats bearing down on the Emperor’s blindside. She prioritized any uma who bore even the slightest amount of finery- lesser nobles seeking to improve their standing with questionable military service- but her arrows found any who posed a significant threat to the Emperor. Truthfully, Empress Air Groove had a soft heart she’d entrusted to Rudolf long ago and she would do anything to protect her love with no hesitation and less remorse.
“You look troubled.”
Brian pushed a breath out through her nose, rolling the reed in her mouth. She felt restless in her dō-maru, the pink armor groaning slightly as she shifted her weight, her black horo moving in the breeze. “This isn’t war or honorable combat. This is a slaughter.”
“Some would argue they’re all the same.” She turned to watch Queen Hishi Amazon join her, looking over the battle with a small smile. The mare was clad in the armor of her herd, a far cry from Brian’s dō-maru; a bronze muscle cuirass over a light blue chiton and bronze greaves left far too much of the mare’s skin on display, but that in itself was a goad. Brian knew that all too well. She wore two kopides on a belt slung around her waist, the single handed blades designed to cleave through both flesh and armor. Her very presence invited a sloppy attack which she would punish with commendable strength. “Bloodshed, no matter the cause or circumstance, is a slaughter. It just depends how pretty the participants can make it.”
Brian raised a brow. “That’s an odd stance coming from you, Queen of the Amazons.”
Typically, heads of state didn’t serve directly in the Imperial ranks. If called by the Emperor, they would lead their own troops as auxiliaries. Hishi Amazon, Queen of the Amazons, was an exception by choice. Ever since joining her Queendom to the Empire and pledging fealty to Rudolf, Hishiama had acted as Brian’s champion and commanding officer for her personal detachment. When Brian had the full field, Hishiama led the detachment; when Rudolf had the field, Brian took command with Hishiama a step behind her. Officially, the Queen of the Amazons insisted on the position to honor the warrior tradition of her people; privately, Hishiama had taken a bit of a shining to the stoic General.
And, truth be told, Brian rather liked the mighty Queen of the Amazons.
Her ears flicked. “We prize combat prowess, yes, but as an extension of one’s diligence and physical might. Combat is about being more skilled, not spilling the most blood.” Hishiama tilted her head. “You’re in a really sour mood because of this, huh?”
“I understand how fear motivates some to obey even when it goes against their best interest but this… they can see Rudolf in front of them, while their own king is nowhere to be seen. Why stay on the field?”
“Their families are under threat. Their lives. And, to be fair, if I was facing down a pissed off Rudolf, I wouldn’t think my options would be much better. Just because she hasn’t used its power yet doesn’t mean Lightning Caller’s reputation is any less known.”
“She can’t walk into battle empty handed.”
“I know. Fear is powerful, despite being intangible. The Empire has a mighty reputation.”
Brian sighed and shook her head. She understood what Hishiama was saying but it still frustrated her. If the peasants threw down their weapons and fled, the true targets would be easier to reach. None of the Imperial troops were interested in needless bloodshed- or at least, they were told to avoid it and would face dire consequences if they were caught sowing wanton agony.
Then, motion caught Brian’s attention- a small, glittering host began pushing through the throng of the enemy from the rear, driving their forces forward and funneling them towards the Emperor and her knights.
Like driving sheep to slaughter.
“Finally,” she said, turning towards her detachment.
“Listen up!” Hishiama’s voice called their troops together, everyone falling into line to receive their orders.
“We’re moving to flank the enemy and launch an assault into their rear,” Brian said, her golden gaze sweeping over her troops. “Aim for the knights and nobles; check their sashimono and prioritize the ones with the gold sun insignia. Remember- if they glitter, hunt them down and kill them. Otherwise, let them run. There is no honor in murdering a farmer.” Then, she turned, setting one hand on the saya tucked into her belt. Her uchigatana would be the best for this sort of work- her aim was for a specific target and to disarm any who got into her way. Without being prompted, Hishiama took Brian’s sashimono- formerly stuck in the ground nearby- and secured it to the back of the General’s dō-maru. It was a simple black field with a pink half circle across the bottom; Rudolf insisted she make one for herself and that was the best she could do. Hishiama thought it was fitting though she’d never explained what she meant by that. “The king is mine. Enjoy the hunt!”
“Seize the prey!” Her detachment answered, falling in behind her and Hishiama as they began moving down along the cliff to flank the massive enemy army.
It was a long run. They went wide around the enemy force, remaining out of sight, but the sounds of the clash echoed in their ears. Brian hated not being able to see what was happening. However, as they came around the far edge of the cliff’s slope, around to the backside of the enemy formation, all thoughts fell away as she thumbed the tsuba of her uchigatana. A small sea of glittering knights and pompous enemy nobles stood between her and her prey.
Blood stained her blade before the enemy realized they’d been outmaneuvered.
Her motions were fluid, moving from one target to the next, finding the weak points in armor and slicing with decisive power to fell the enemy knights. Around her, she could hear her troops making their own kills and Hishiama among them, her dual kopides landing with sickening thuds on each strike, chopping through gleaming armor to the flesh underneath. Brian couldn’t help the small smile curling her lips. With Hishiama watching her back, she was free to continue her pursuit, seeking out the crowned fool who’d mistakenly thought the absence of the Imperial’s General meant she had an advantage to press.
She couldn’t resist the impulse. Briefly, Brian looked behind her, where Hishiama was covering her blindside, kopides flashing as the blood of her felled enemies sprayed across her face. She was a sight to behold, a warrior in her element, her power and grace on full display. It was a mesmerizing sight and Brian couldn’t indulge for long, the heat of the battle around them demanding her attention, but she looked forward to after the battle, when they’d both be breathless and bloody but victorious.
As she carved her way through the honor guard surrounding the king, an alarm rose up, alerting the knights to turn and face the threat. Swords raised and spears struck towards her but Brian was a shadow, already sidestepping danger before it had a chance to appear, flowing like darkness itself to deliver disarming blows followed by killing ones. Her grip on her uchigatana remained firm, her strength matched only by her dexterity as she swung her blade with practiced precision.
Realizing they were outmatched, some of the knights retreated a few steps as their comrades shoved peasant levies into a desperate charge to buy the knights time. Brian’s blade knocked aside their clumsy attempts at stabbing her with spears, a single strike breaking three polearms as she continued her advance. Nothing could stop her hunt, not with her prey in sight, that fluttering sashimono sandwiched between the main Imperial forces and Brian’s detachment. All too soon, this pathetic excuse for a battle would be over.
Her vision narrowed as she drew closer to her prey.
And that was her mistake.
“Ghaa!”
Her head whipped around at the sound of Hishiama’s voice, lifted not in exertion or triumph but in pain. She watched as the mare stumbled a step before her leg folded under her, blood streaking her side, but she managed to land a kopis in the neck of her attacker. Or, rather, Brian’s attacker. As she’d focused on her prey, a knight had moved around to her side and struck towards her, but the hit intended for her bit into Hishiama’s hip, just below her cuirass, after glancing off her other blade. She must’ve jumped to intercept the blow, and with the injury could no longer catch her own momentum, leaving her on the ground and vulnerable to subsequent attack.
Her blood ran cold as fear seized her heart. “Ama!”
“Protect the Champion!” The cry rose up from her detachment, her troops moving to form a protective circle around Hishiama as she relinquished her grip on a kopis to clutch at the wound.
Brian joined her troops in forming a defensive perimeter until they could cover for her, then moved to kneel at Hishiama’s side. Bronze and blue were stained by blood, and while much of it didn’t belong to the mare, the blood pooling beneath her did. “Let me see.”
“Don’t think that’s a good idea…” The mare offered a smirk but the pain in her eyes ruined her attempt at casual confidence. “Feels… pretty bad…” Carefully, she pulled the mare’s hand away to see the long gash that bit deep into Hishiama’s side. Reaching behind herself, Brian dislodged her sashimono and ripped the fabric from the bamboo pole, using it as a makeshift bandage to staunch the bleeding. “Hey, you need that-”
“I need you more,” she replied, wincing at the mare’s hiss as she used Hishiama’s sword belt to keep the fabric in place, tightening it to make sure it would keep pressure on the wound.
“Oh, so romantic.” In normal circumstances, it would be a teasing jibe, but her voice was too weak to carry the emotion.
“Save your strength,” she said, satisfied with her work and lifting a hand to move the mare’s mane out of her face, smearing blood along a bronzed cheek in the process. “I’ll end this quickly.”
Hishiama’s eyes focused on her as she drew in a shaky breath. “Be careful. Please. For me.”
Brian nodded, then stood up and bellowed. “Mayano!”
Almost instantly, the young stallion was at her side, allowing Brian to pull her nagamaki free.
Rudolf’s mercy came in the form of her uchigatana.
Brian’s fury came in the form of her nagamaki.
The larger, heavier blade was not meant for precision. The wider grip she could use was not meant for mercy. It was meant for death.
And she would deliver that death.
Brian turned, seeking out the sashimono of the king. The enemy knights clearly faltered, realizing that the Shadow Monster of the Empire had truly arrived on the battlefield. The peasants and the weak willed threw down their weapons and fled or fell where they stood, huddled in fear. Then, she struck forward, swinging the nagamaki with all her strength, becoming a whirlwind of death. Armor was slashed clean through, blood sprayed from fresh wounds, and Brian remained focused on her goal, cutting her way to the king. Arrows landed in the knights around her, a clear sign that the Empress had seen Hishiama fall and understood that aiding Brian’s hunt would end the battle swiftly.
Fear nipped at her heart then as her arms began to burn from exertion. If she was too slow, if Hishiama bled too much, if even after winning the battle the healers couldn’t get to her in time…
When she struck down the last of the knights protecting the king, Brian saw the fear flashing in the stallion’s eyes as she raised her sword, holding it with a white knuckle grip while her shield wavered. She tried to meet Brian’s nagamaki, tried to lock blades, but the king’s strength was no match for Brian’s. She knocked the king’s blade aside and closed the distance, using the nagamaki’s kashira to punch into the king’s throat, and watched as the other stallion crumpled to the ground while grasping at her neck, sword skittering away after being knocked from numb fingers.
Brian stood over her for a brief moment, then raised her nagamaki high.
With one swing, she sliced through the king’s neck, decapitating her cleanly. The head of the serpent was taken; her hunt was complete. As news spread, the remaining knights and nobles would surrender, die, or flee… and, all too suddenly, Brian felt those were too many options and it would take too long for the defeated enemy to choose.
Her golden gaze lifted, scanning the nobles and knights who’d been the first to realize the king had fallen.
They were close enough.
Rudolf could keep her mercy.
The Shadow Monster of the Empire’s mercy was lying in a pool of her own blood.
Brian raised her nagamaki again and charged, pouring all her strength into each strike as she hunted down every target in sight. Blood splattered across her face, stained her pink dō-maru red, and she continued pushing- they were all prey now. She would carve safe passage for her detachment and the healers. Failing that, she would ensure whoever managed to survive spread the message far and wide: that felling the General’s Champion would invite a swift and bloody death, orders be damned.
Only one thing stopped her endless hunt: her nagamaki was caught by the Emperor’s tsurugi, magenta eyes holding her gaze as their blades locked.
“Brian,” she said, her voice soft and firm. “Enough.”
She growled, the very concept of speech escaping her as her fury howled. But Rudolf, for all her mountains of paperwork, also had the strength to match her, and the crackle of lightning along the divine tsurugi reminded Brian that the Emperor had withheld her full strength thus far. If Brian disobeyed her orders, that strength would be brought to bear, and while the part of Brian that demanded revenge was willing to test Rudolf’s mercy, hearing another arrow lodge itself in gleaming armor reminded her that it wasn’t the stallion she had to worry about. Rudolf would withhold the killing blow and plead for her sense to return; Groove would not.
Brian sighed, tension flowing from her body as she stopped exerting against the Emperor’s blade. “The healers-”
“Were a step behind me as we reached Hishiama.” Rudolf scanned the battlefield as their blades lowered. “Leave the field to me, Brian. Your troops and my knights are chasing down the last of the nobles as we speak. This battle is won and the fight that remains can be left to others. Your heart demands your presence elsewhere.”
She nodded and turned, stepping over the bodies of the dead to head in the opposite direction of the Imperial forces’ advance.
The Amazons were raised as warriors, first and foremost; to be their Queen meant meeting each challenge with grit and determination, be that in the form of tedious political considerations or open combat. Hishiama was no stranger to pain or bloodshed but she couldn’t deny that the medicines of the Empire made the former easier to bear. The surgeon had already come and checked the wound, poured some salve over it, and stitched her- temporary measures until they could return to a proper infirmary. She was advised against moving too much, as the blade had struck her hip and slid up, slicing into her side. By the Goddess’ grace, the hand holding the blade was weak and her organs were spared severe damage. Nothing a surgeon’s needle couldn’t fix.
She drew in a deep breath- and then let out a shaky exhale. It hurt to breathe too deep, even through the medicines, but she found herself glad. She could still feel the pain and it was hers to bear; a wound in her side was not so grievous as if the blade had bit into Brian’s back.
Brian… the feared Shadow Monster of the Empire, its strongest General- how close had she come to this battle being the stallion’s last?
Hishiama blamed herself. As Champion, watching the General’s back during combat was her sworn duty, but she’d fallen a few steps behind. She wasn’t there to block the strike properly. She almost didn’t get there in time.
“You look troubled.”
Hishiama blinked, turning her head to see Brian approaching the mat they’d laid her down on, and she had to fight to keep her expression neutral. The General was awash in blood, the red drying to brown on her dō-maru and skin, disheveled mane blending into her horo. To any other, it would be a terrifying sight, but Hishiama was a warrior first and foremost. Her wild black mane, matted by blood and sweat, and piercing golden eyes- Brian was a Goddess of war given flesh and blood, fresh from her domain.
It took her mind a moment to conjure up any words at all. “Is… the battle over? I… don’t know how long it’s been… things are a bit fuzzy.”
“Rudolf’s handling it.”
Hishiama’s brows furrowed. That didn’t sound like the General, leaving the field before the battle concluded. “You-”
“Ama… please…” She reached up and began the slow process of undoing her dō-maru and letting each piece of her armor drop unceremoniously to the ground. Typically, it would be Hishiama’s duty to assist the General with her armor while Mayano tended her weapons. Brian was perfectly capable of donning and doffing the armor herself, as evidenced by her motions then, but the duty was an honor. The mightiest General in the Empire would only entrust such a task to one she held dear.
Hishiama had always hoped that it was similar to how the Emperor and Empress were the only attendants either needed when it came time to gear for war.
In many ways… she’d failed. “I’m sorry-”
“Shut up,” Brian said, kneeling down beside her. “I was impatient. I overextended. You paid the price.”
“You were perfect,” she replied, trying to put some warmth into her voice. “The epitome of a warrior. Fearsome. Powerful.” The stallion growled, then reached for something- a bowl, filled with water, and an extra bandage. Wetting the bandage, Brian began carefully wiping at Hishiama’s face. “Hey, I’m not-”
“Shut up.” The words were softer this time as the General’s usual, stoic demeanor disappeared, overtaken by intense focus as she carefully cleaned Hishiama’s face. The healers hadn’t bothered cleaning her up- there were more pressing concerns- and Hishiama felt a little… warm at being so gently cared for… even if it was just guilt motivating Brian. “You fought well.”
“Yeah, right up until-”
“Stop.” The command came out quickly and, with it, a drop of wetness hit Hishiama’s shoulder, drawing her attention to the tears Brian was stubbornly refusing to let fall. “You could’ve died.”
Hishiama sighed, knowing how difficult it could be for Brian to find the words she needed. “Well, lucky for you… I’m stubborn, too.”
She let Brian continue tending to her, washing the blood from her skin and gently removing the armor the healers hadn’t so she could rest easier. That left her in her bloodstained chiton and slightly cold but Brian, ever dutiful, retrieved her discarded horo for Hishiama to use as a blanket. Just before tucking the mare in, she lingered at Hishiama’s side, moving the ripped chiton aside enough to inspect the bandaging before moving on as her lips pressed into a thin, grim line.
“I’m sorry,” the General said in a soft voice. “If I’d been more-”
“It’s your turn to shut up.” Hishiama sighed, using her diminished strength to pull her arms from under the horo. “Come here.”
It took a bit more prodding but eventually Brian acquiesced, bending her face down so Hishiama could return the favor. Thankfully, none of the dried blood on the stallion’s face seemed to be hers. If she happened to wipe away a few tears, well, that was between her and the General, and she’d guarded all of Brian’s secrets thus far. One more on the pile was nothing.
She hadn’t done a thorough job, as her arms were growing weak and her fingertips were tingling- she’d lost a bit of blood, despite Brian’s attempts to staunch the bleeding- but at least she’d confirmed there was no hidden wound and could see the General’s handsome features once more. Reaching up for so long probably wasn’t the best idea but… well, it couldn’t be helped in her mind.
“You should rest.” Brian’s voice was quiet, hands on her knees as she knelt.
Hishiama sighed. “I’m resting well enough.”
“Ama…”
Truthfully, she didn’t have the energy to continue arguing. Her eyes drifted close as she let out another sigh. “Stubborn…”
As the exhaustion and blood loss finally claimed her, she could’ve sworn she heard Brian rumble out a response.
“You love that about me.”
Yeah… I do.
When the Empress strode through the wounded, she garnered two reactions: awe from the wounded Imperial troops or fear from the enemy troops. The healers and their myriad of attendants paid her no mind, as she preferred it; the last thing she would willingly do would be to steal away their attention from important work. After this particular battle, the Imperial wounded were relatively few in number, considering the odds they faced. As for the enemy, she did not allow her gaze to drift to acknowledge them, not wanting to give any the idea that her presence meant their care would be impacted in any way. Rudolf’s orders had been clear from the beginning: the conscripts were free to return to their lives with no ill will from the Empire. The Emperor officially held only the enemy king and nobles responsible for the war and would deliver her divine fury upon them alone.
Of all the wounded, Air Groove concerned herself only with one, though she was not technically sent in search of Hishiama. However, she was no fool; if she wanted to find Brian, she needed to find Hishiama first. Thankfully, the healers were just as perceptive as she was, and had tended to Hishiama well away from the remainder of the wounded. The privacy was more for the General’s sake than the Queen’s.
Hishiama was laid beneath a tree, covered by Brian’s horo, with the General knelt beside her. Brian’s discarded armor- carelessly tossed aside- spoke to the stallion’s worry. Even at distance, Groove had seen the blow, and had scarcely expected the mare to rise again, much less survive.
An ear flicked towards her as she approached but the stallion didn’t budge. “What is it?”
“There are campaign concerns. Rudolf is requesting your presence.” Groove stopped and folded her arms in front of her. “A few captured nobles have revealed the locations of some scattered princes and the like- those who intentionally remained behind so they could seize power when the king inevitably fell. Rudolf believes your input regarding how to deal with them is worth pulling you away from your current concerns.”
For a long moment, Brian didn’t move. Then, she closed her eyes and blew a breath through her nose. “Fine. But she shouldn’t be left alone.”
“I’ve already made my feelings regarding our path forward known. I will remain.” She moved to kneel opposite Brian. “Once your opinions are delivered, Rudolf has no intention of keeping you.”
Although she seemed grumpy about it, Brian got to her feet and turned to stalk off- but not before looking down at Hishiama with a pained look of guilt.
Once the stallion was gone, Groove reached out and gently shook Hishiama’s shoulder. “Forgive me for disturbing you, Hishiama, but I need you awake at present.”
The mare groaned, then opened her eyes- alarm flashing through crimson orbs before she focused on Groove. “Empress?”
“Be calm; no formalities are needed.” She offered a small smile. “I owe you a great debt.”
“I’m not sure how,” Hishiama mumbled in response, settling slightly.
“If Brian was injured during the battle, Rudolf would’ve blamed herself. Worse and Rudolf may never recover. Grief can transform a person… and, for all they can annoy each other, those two are close as kin.” She bowed her head. “Thank you for your heroism.”
“I’ll accept your thanks but it was my error that put her in danger.”
Groove couldn’t help the smile that curled her lips. She was as hard on herself as Brian was, as Rudolf and Groove herself- probably why they all got on so well. “Well, while I disagree with your tactical assessment, I’m not here to debate the specifics of Brian’s advance. I’m here to discuss a proposition.”
Hishiama tried moving but pain flashed across her expression and she resigned herself to closing her eyes. “Which is?”
“As I said, grief can transform a person. My Rudolf was spared such grief. I would like to grant you a boon for your timely intervention- for Brian’s sake, for Rudolf’s, and mine.”
“… a boon…” Hishiama had a keen mind. She was a warrior Queen that had opted to pledge her fealty to Rudolf rather than engage in a protracted war; the concept of independence hadn’t outweighed her assessment of the cost such a conflict would inflict. When presented a sensible alternative, she would accept it- to protect her herd, to ensure their futures. “What are the limits of this boon?”
“I trust your judgment in that regard,” Groove replied. “If it is within my power to grant, so shall I.”
“… are Imperial laws something you could amend?”
“With proper justification and a word, yes. I am Empress for a reason.” Groove tilted her head. “I suspect I know which Imperial law troubles you. There is a ban on members of court mating and marrying- to prevent the consolidation of power. This troubles you, yes?”
Hishiama’s gaze went to where Brian had been sitting, her ears dropping. Mercifully, she made no attempt to deny Groove’s assumption. “She comes from a noble house.”
“She is not the heir, though. She forsook any claim to her crown name’s legacy upon becoming the Emperor’s greatest General.”
“She is noble in blood and spirit.”
Groove set a hand on her chin, feigning thought. Truthfully, she’d already discussed the topic at length with Rudolf. Her love wanted to see Brian happy and was willing to bend Imperial laws to see that happen. Groove, however, thought a more justified approach was in order. “The blow you took… how dire is the wound?”
“I’ll live.”
“Will you be able to fight?”
Hishiama bristled, crimson eyes alight with offense. “Of course. I’ll be Brian’s Champion again.”
“I don’t doubt it. Your conviction- your stubbornness- is one of your greatest assets,” she replied with a soft smile. “And would Brian have survived had the blow landed? Would she be able to raise a blade again?” Groove had seen it herself. Brian’s back was turned; even if her armor had taken the brunt of it, a sword didn’t need to bite especially deep to reach an uma’s spine. And the look Hishiama gave her before her gaze shifted away said her guess wasn’t far off. “You saved her life.”
“And I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
“You would. Because you’re her Champion, because she’s your General, and because your bonds go far beyond the battlefield.” Her head tilted. “However, it still stands that a head of state for the Empire, a warrior Queen, was injured in the process of protecting the Empire’s top General. While the Emperor honors your warrior traditions, we have our own customs to consider. When an uma almost gives her life to protect another, it stands to reason a life debt is owed. The question then becomes what shape should this life debt take? I think it makes most sense for you to pledge your lives to each other. It just so happens you’re also a member of the court.”
Hishiama looked at her, hope gleaming in her eyes. Yet, she was a warrior first and foremost; she did not blindly charge just because she could. “... she might not like that…”
“I think she would jump at the opportunity.” Groove chuckled. “However, I understand what you mean. How about a writ of exemption? You will be given express permission to take any uma you desire, regardless of rank or station, as mate and partner.”
“Wouldn’t Brian need one as well?”
“She already has one- from assisting me when I was a mere foot soldier, prior to when I met Rudolf. Upon learning she only met me because Brian had ensured I made it to the Capitol safely, Rudolf granted her a writ of exemption.” Fondly, she smiled. “Her reasoning being that, as Brian had ensured she could experience love, she wanted to ensure Brian was afforded that same opportunity.”
Hishiama’s brow furrowed. “She… never mentioned that…”
“I’m not surprised. The last time we spoke about it, she expressed concerns. Amazons don’t often take husbands.”
This much was true, especially for Queens. There hadn’t been a King of the Amazons in over a hundred years. They would take mates from time-to-time but to pledge themselves to a stallion went against many of their traditions. Yet, Groove could tell that Brian was held in high regard by Hishiama and her herd. Whenever the General strode amongst the Amazons, they showed reverence- and they eyed her hungrily when their Queen was not looking. Combat prowess was highly prized among the herd and the only Imperial warrior to command more interest from the Amazons was Rudolf, of course.
Groove had put an end to that hunger herself, abiding by the Amazonian traditions and proving that she was strong enough to defend her claim. She suspected the only reason no mare had dared draw too close to the General was respect for their Queen’s as-of-yet unspoken claim on the stallion. They were warriors but they didn’t revel in needless strife; they would wait patiently until their Queen made her decision.
“The Amazons could stand to have a King again,” Hishiama replied softly. “I can’t imagine anyone more suited to the task.” Her eyes closed, a smile curling her lips. “And she’s so good with foals. Better than I will be, I think.”
“I think you’ll do fine in that regard with some practice.” Groove set a comforting hand on Hishiama’s shoulder. “You may return to rest. I will have your writ added to the Imperial records; it’s up to you to speak to Brian.” She offered a small smile. “Rest now, Hishiama.”
The mare relaxed. “Thank you, Groove.”
As the warrior Queen drifted off to sleep, Groove sat back and waited for Brian to return, hoping everything was going to plan.
The Emperor swept her gaze across the map in her command tent, having left the remaining tasks of tending the wounded and assessing the prisoners they’d taken to her capable retainers. She’d already marked the indicated locations of noble strongholds for the enemy and mapped out roughly the order she wanted to capture them, initially focusing on making her way to the kingdom’s capitol to annex the territory into the Empire before squashing the future revolts proactively. It would be a tedious affair, requiring her utmost attention to forestall any revenge plots for the king’s death and overhaul the kingdom’s failing economy. She’d already sent her cadre of scribes to speak with the prisoners and begin cataloguing the plight of the kingdom’s umas and regional knowledge; crafting an appropriate recovery plan and installing a new nobility to see it through would consume her thoughts for the entire march to the capitol.
Personally, Rudolf loathed using force to bring anyone into the Empire’s fold. Her vision for the future didn’t include the Empire expanding its borders; she merely wished to ensure its people could enjoy every benefit available in the world. Sometimes, that unfortunately required bringing her army with her to explain that, no, executing an uma for criticizing public policy is not a thing anyone should be allowed to do, even a head of state.
In the back of her mind, she thanked the Goddesses that not every ruler she’d encountered was completely obtuse.
Rudolf looked up when she heard the tent flap, watching as her top General marched inside to drop down on the other side of the map. “She’s recovering, then.”
“Stable for now. She needs proper care at an infirmary,” Brian replied, a shadow falling over her expression. “She’s resting.”
“I’m glad.” That was the honest truth. She’d had no interest in interfering with the Amazonian Queendom; from all the reports she’d received, their laws and customs- though a bit strange to Rudolf- were enthusiastically endorsed by the umas who resided there and, provided those customs and laws were respected by outsiders, the warriors were content to pit their strengths against each other rather than sow unnecessary bloodshed. It was only a twist of fate that had blown Rudolf’s fleet off course during a storm while en route for a diplomatic visit to another nation; Queen Hishi Amazon had been a model host and, after long conversations while the fleet was repaired, saw the sense in becoming allies and even a vassal state of the Empire. The move increased trade, broadened the Empire’s borders in both a physical and metaphorical way, and resulted in innovations as artisans traded methodologies. “She is strong- in mind and body. She will be back to her former strength soon, I’m sure.”
Brian grunted in response, noticeably more reticent than usual.
“You see the board as it’s arranged,” Rudolf said, opting to not press at the moment. “I believe this doesn’t change our initial plans much; continuing to march on the capitol and securing it will symbolically seize the kingdom and disrupt an attempted larger revolt. From there, I’ve marked which strongholds I’ll take on the way back to the Empire based on the intel we’ve already acquired. The remainder will be left for the new nobility to quash in order to secure their right to govern.”
“It’s a solid plan,” Brian replied, clenching her hands into fists atop her knees. “What will you do with the prisoners?”
“As soon as they’ve been interviewed by the scribes, they’ll be escorted back to their homes- full amnesty.”
Her General’s gaze was focused intently on the map, lips pressed into a tight line. “And our wounded?”
“Will be sent back to our capitol immediately,” Rudolf said. “Which brings me to the favor I must ask.”
“Go ahead.”
She drew in a deep breath. “I would like for your detachment to act as the primary guard force to escort the wounded back.” Before Brian could say anything, she quickly continued. “Regardless of all else, Queen Hishiama is a head of state and an important member of my court. If anything were to happen that could delay her care or impede her recovery, her herd would surely take affront- and, on top of that, I’ve read their bylaws closely. Even injured, she is still expected to be fit enough to accept a challenge if one were to attempt to take her position. While I have no doubt she could handle any challenge at her best, being wounded would surely impact her performance. I believe you could feasibly defer-”
“Rudolf,” Brian said, finally raising her gaze to meet the Emperor’s. “I don’t care how you justify it.” And then, for the first time in her life, the mighty General, the Shadow Monster of the Empire, bowed her head respectfully- she went all the way into a dogeza, hands to either side of her head as her forehead touched the ground. “Please… let me go with her.”
She genuinely thought she would have to argue against Brian’s natural proclivity to handle matters of war herself. Even when the tactics were sound, it chaffed at the stallion to delay joining the battle. To effectively abandon the campaign would normally prompt a fierce argument but… not this time. Not considering the alternative…
“I will notify the healers to coordinate with you regarding the pace of the convoy back,” Rudolf replied softly. “I sincerely hope that her recovery goes smoothly.”
Brian slowly straightened up and Rudolf could see the way her eyes shimmered, wet with unshed tears. “... I hope so, too.”
As she stood up and turned to leave the tent, Rudolf spoke up. “You know… my wedding was in fall. I do recommend it- cooler weather, beautiful foliage, and a plentiful harvest means a wide array for the feast. However, I do see the sense in a spring wedding. I think it suits those who wish to begin new chapters and move beyond mistakes of the past.”
For a moment, Brian hesitated. “... my writ is still valid, right?”
“It is.”
“Good.” She then brushed out of the tent.
Rudolf allowed herself to release a long sigh of relief.
That went much better than she anticipated.
Brian returned to Hishiama’s side after briefly seeking out Mayano, instructing her to have the detachment ready to move whenever the healers were finished with their preparations. She didn’t say anything to Groove as the Empress departed, suspecting the mare could read enough of her body language to know how things had gone. Brian wouldn’t be surprised if it was Groove’s suggestion to send her with the wounded; Rudolf wouldn’t have bothered explaining her own position preemptively and instead waited for Brian to object before outlining her reasons. The Emperor had probably rehearsed some of it with the Empress.
No matter. Brian didn’t actually care whose idea it was or what they needed to say to explain it to others. She was well aware of her own feelings, of the terrible pain that had struck her chest at the idea of sending Hishiama back to the Capitol to hopefully recover and leaving the mare’s fate up to others without supervision.
However… she did worry that Hishiama would think less of her for her decision. She might be willing to accept that Brian was just following orders but Brian had no intention of withholding the truth from her. Her focus would not stay on the campaign- not with Hishiama’s life hanging in the balance, not when every step would draw them further away. Perhaps in her longing, she would lose the mare’s respect… perhaps she was never really worthy of it in the first place.
“Mmmm… Brian?”
“I’m here,” she said, ears flinching as she caught the pained gasp Hishiama let out while trying to move. “Be careful-”
“Help me sit up.”
Her tail lashed, ears falling flat against her skull. “No. You can’t move like that right now; the wound’s on your hip. Stay down-”
“I wasn’t asking,” the mare replied with a glimmer of her usual fire, shifting under the horo. “I need to-”
Brian set her hands on Hishiama’s shoulders, gently pinning her in place. “No. Tell me what’s wrong and I’ll fix it but don’t risk hurting yourself again for no reason.”
For a moment, she genuinely thought Hishiama might try fighting her. The urge to do so still smoldered in crimson eyes as she spoke. “I need us to be on equal terms right now.”
With a nod, the stallion immediately moved to lay down next to her. “There. Now we’re both laying down. Equal enough?”
“Brian…” Hishiama sighed, though her frustration only just barely covered the smile beginning to curl her lips. “You don’t have to-“
“There are a lot of things I don’t have to do,” she said firmly. “Which is why you should take note of when I choose to do them anyway.”
Silence settled over them before Hishiama turned her head, looking at her intently. “The Empress granted me a boon. Not sure if I deserve it but… she’s granted me a writ of exemption. The moment I’m back on my feet, I want to do the Union Gauntlet with you.”
The Union Gauntlet- a series of challenges the Amazonians used as a prelude to a wedding. Hishiama had mentioned them in passing a few times when Brian asked why some of her warriors bore specific trinkets or ear decorations; on her own, Brian had studied the Gauntlet by reading the scribes’ records. Many of the challenges were physical in nature, to judge the strength of the match. They could range across a wide array of activities- races, duels, challenges to overcome together, games of wit or speed- and mimicked a dance of sorts. At the end of the Gauntlet, the participants had to accept each other as they were- for all their strengths, their weaknesses, their pride and their frustrations.
“We will do the Gauntlet after you’ve been fully cleared by the healers and have had time to train,” Brian said, brows furrowing as she frowned. “There is no challenge we haven’t already done- we’ve raced, we’ve dueled, we’ve worked together- but I don’t want there to be any doubt from others. I will marry you and our Gauntlet will erase any doubts.”
Hishiama blinked, then smiled softly. “Fine… at that rate, we won’t even get married until spring.”
“I’ve heard good things about spring weddings,” Brian replied, reaching over to lightly push Hishiama’s mane from her face. They were bloodstained and weary but a new chapter lay ahead. “The hard part isn’t over for you. You saved my life taking the blow for me but a life without you isn’t one I want to think about. You have to promise you’ll focus on healing, Ama. Please. Promise me.”
Hishiama cringed, letting out a little whimper, though there was a teasing lilt to her voice. “I hate being on bed rest, though.”
“What if I’m laying beside you?” Brian scooted slightly closer, reaching out to rest her arm gingerly- and protectively- over the mare’s chest. “Can you rest now?”
She closed her eyes and sighed. “Yeah… yeah, I can… I promise… I’ll rest, heal, and then…”
Brian’s lips twitched up. “And then…”