The Battle Singing In Her Blood

Peri walked in the front, carrying a white flag on a high pole. The had discussed the relative merits of letting the Khan see her first - perhaps she would consider her an enemy and attack right away. But on the other hand, she knew that Peri had been true to her word and not pestered her after she had rescued Shui. Peri found it likely that she would at least hear them out. It would be bad if she tried to imprison them. That would not do. But today she wore her best plate mail and wielded her favourite greatsword, her entire family with their best battle gear ready to fight by her side. Yes, they would be able to take care of what forces remained in the Khan's vicinity. Also - they were free agents, on the move for their own reasons and working for no-one. It would not be worth the trouble trying to keep such dangerous individuals imprisoned when there was no clear way to gain anything. Peri believed that the Khan was a ruthless but reasonable woman. Traveling with Korgan had taught her a lot about the workings of such a mind - though the difference between the two was that the Khan had a goal and a vision, while Korgan was another drifting observer laughing at the absurdity of life like Peri herself.

It had seemed reasonable to assume that the military outpost would be the other way from where the beast was. And sure enough, the tents and makeshift fortifications loomed in the distance after not too long. Sarevok wished the Khan herself would be somewhere near. The beast was advancing all the time. If there was one good thing about it, it was that most of the civilians were probably gone anyway, as this area had been recently conquered by the Khan. The woman had made quite an impression on Peri. Was she just another madwoman, or a remarkable soul? She had also impressed Shui, though Sarevok, smiling darkly, suspected that that had more than a little to do with the boy's hormones.

As they approached the guards, Sarevok removed his helm completely in order to offer the guardsmen the full benefit of the sight of his glowing eyes, bald head and angular features. As if favoring their gambit, the sun shone from behind their backs, making them look even more otherworldly than they already did. The guardsmen held their deadpan expressions with an admirable restraint, but their eyes did widen a little.

- "We have a matter we would take up with Yun-Men Khan," Peri said. "We have come in peace, and have no intention of hindering or fighting your army, but we need to talk to her. Please take us to her."

The guards seemed relieved, and negotiated a bit in that coarse language of theirs. They sent a runner for a man who seemed to be a commander of sorts.

- "Half an hour to commanding center. A wagon can take you," he gruffly said and beckoned the group to follow. They did, and traveled quietly, tense with anticipation.

As they descended from the wagon, the Khan was already waiting for them. Sarevok observed a woman with proud bearings, holding her head high, a raven black plait whipping in the mild wind. She wore a chainmail and had a katana at her waist, her boots were lined with fur and she had an exquisite bow at her back. Her eyes were steel gray, her sharp cheekbones as if chiseled, and she looked like a falcon with that sharp gaze of hers.

At the moment the gaze was aimed at Peri.

- "You." It was hard to say what she was thinking. The tone of her voice or her expression didn't reveal anything. At least she didn't seem immediately hostile.

- "Yes, me," Peri answered. "I come in peace, as you probably already heard. I care not who owns the lands of the Shou - if you want your empire, it does not concern me. I will not prevent you."

- "You stole my prisoner. Was that personal?" the Khan wanted to know.

- "Yes. A debt of honor to his mother. They were kind to us, so we helped them."

The woman nodded.

- "What do you want of me, then?" she asked.

- "Well. There is this demon - oni, as the Kozakurans say - called Kusatte Iru. Size of a mountain. Tramples everything in its way. I'm sure you know what I am talking about."

The Khan laughed darkly.

- "I am aware. Hard to miss, eh?"

- "Now, we are going to fight it. This is my family, and they are all very powerful. We have our own reasons not to want Kozakura destroyed, and if the beast continues it may start a chain of events that may lead to just that."

- "And?"

- "And we ask you, personally, to join us in the effort," Peri said, feeling dread. The deciding moment was here.

Yun-Men didn't say anything at first. An older man standing by her side spoke.

- "Ridiculous! Foreign dogs! Go 'way! Why she would fight your fights!" he exclaimed, eyes ablaze with anger, his common broken.

The Khan held his hand.

- "Not so fast, Batu. Yes, why do you want me to attend? And why would I?"

- "We want you because neither of us is familiar with a katana, and only this magical katana can permanently kill the beast. We are in a hurry, and I don't know of a better swordswoman who could attend the fight. We could weaken it, and you could have the killing strike."

- "As for your motivation," Sarevok said, "you want an empire, Yun-Men Khan. I know the likes of you, for that is what I am myself. There must be a purpose, a clear sign that you once walked the planes. Now, if your empire is a ruined wasteland trampled by the beast, your people the remaining tatters of the survivors - this all assuming that the world is not destroyed altogether which may well come to pass - where is your glory then? That is what you want, isn't it? The glory of a conqueror, the honor of a warrior! Where are they, if you let this demon spawn destroy your empire?"

His voice had risen into an enthusiastic boom. Yun-Men's eyes flashed.

- "The golden-eyed man speaks the truth. Wait for me, my warriors, for the Khan will go and fight the threat to our empire! We are a nation of warriors, and as the leader, I will do as a warrior does!"

The men cheered, raising their spears. Only the general Batu seemed displeased. He seemed to ask her to reconsider, but she said something in a cold and measured tone, then turned herself to the family.

- "We will leave immediately," she said. "I feel the battle singing in my blood."