Another cold morning. Subaru shivered from the chill. Her dress had been torn during her arrest, and she had spent the night shackled inside a wooden cage, treated like an animal by her own men. Hung on the cage's bars was a sign. She didn't need to look to see what it said. It would be in Kurim's native Chinese, and it would read 'traitor'. A pair of soldiers pointed and laughed at her, one throwing an apple core that splattered against the bars. When the detachment made it to a city, she knew what would happen. She would be tried. She would be tortured. And she would be executed. Three sets of footsteps approached her cage. A very familiar face lowered itself to look into her box.

"So. You wouldn't happen to know anything of importance to this coming battle, would you? Or did you tell him our strategies?"

The other two figures she could see belonged to Sora and B.T. The three of them coexisting peacefully was something she'd never thought possible. "Well? Are you going to answer me, or just lie there?"

"My Lord..."

It seemed that after Kurim had taken control of the detachment, he had instated B.T. as his advisor. He cut her off, standing again and looking back over his shoulder at her.

"Don't even open your mouth! I'll handle this, without any input. From either of you!"

She knew them all well enough to assume Sora had tried to interject. Kurim's face filled her vision again. She hung her head, her hair forming a curtain around her eyes. Good. She didn't want to have to look at this ugly place anymore. These ugly people all around her. "Now, do you have anything to say?"

"We were going to run away."

Kurim's mouth opened a bit, and his brow furrowed in confusion. "We were going to run away together. Away from the war. Away from people like you."

Kurim's hands seized the bars of her cage and pulled on them violently, shaking the entire box, threatening to splinter it and inadvertently set her free.

"You bitch! I'll kill you myself when we get to Nairobi, I swear it! And I'll find that barbarian! I'll make him a eunuch, Subaru, and then I'll..." "Kurim!"

Sora had laid a hand on the man's shoulder. Kurim roared and struck, sprawling Sora onto his back. The rogue rolled nimbly to his feet, triggering a spring-loaded blade before leaping forward into an invisible wall. As he slumped back to the ground he noticed B.T.'s hand discreetly forming the sign for that particular spell as she spoke to Kurim in soothing tones. "Sir, nothing is to be gained by this. Please, control your temper. We must meet with the division commanders and discuss the battle plan."

Kurim cast a final look at Subaru and spat in the dirt just outside her cage. He stormed off, B.T. following him. Sora remained behind for a moment, looking about to make sure no one was watching before dropping a small bag within her reach. She took it carefully, and undid the tie. A note, scribbled in Japanese. She only knew a little of that language, but the words were simple enough. Gomen nasai. I'm sorry. And beneath that, were... strawberries? How did Sora get these? That man was a mystery. She took one into her hand and lifted it to her nose. She sniffed it carefully before taking a small bite. They were strawberries! She ate greedily, having not had anything since her arrest. She whined when the bag was empty. She was still hungry, and strawberries had made her wish for home so much. Her brother would be playing in the yard, her mother would be on the villa, reading. But here she was, on the southern plains, dirty, cold, alone, and a traitor. She hung her head again. "Tsukasa, I'm so sorry..."

Tsukasa threw a loaf of bread onto his blanket, spread out on the floor of his tent. Apple, wine, Book of Rites, copy of Le Mort D'Arthur, and a map; all his worldly possessions sprawled out on his sleeping blanket. He quickly tied it together with a few deft knots and slung it over his staff. Tomorrow the battle would rage. He had to ride today. He would be able to make it before he was missed, he was sure. From the oasis they would ride for Nairobi, and from there they could take a ship to Greece, that mythical land, far away from the war. They could stay there and never see war again. Once he set foot in Athens, maybe he would... well... He smiled and blushed a bit even at the thought of proposing to the woman. A wife? Is that what she might be? His mind followed that track. A little home, a farm, she would stay there while he worked and, maybe, just maybe, a son. Or daughter. Or both! He smiled and pulled back the tent flap, nodding at a soldier as he passed. He tied the blanket to his saddle, mounted, and rode from the camp.

"Bear?" Bear had fallen asleep over his desk. He stirred at the sound of his name.

"Mimiru?" he mumbled, coming around.

"I brought you some tea."

Sitting upright, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and took the steaming cup from his subordinate.

"Thank you, very much."

"It was nothing."

He nodded, taking a deep drink to warm his insides, now that he had become conscious of the chill in the air.

"What will we do?"

He chewed on his bottom lip, then rose, taking a fur from the wall and wrapping it about his shoulders; he leaned forward and took another drink.

"The enemy will move through the pass by noon tomorrow, and will move to the fort. We will meet them a quarter mile from the outlying camps."

Mimiru nodded. These were basics, troop positioning was not what made someone a genius on par with the general who sat before her.

"The enemy is armed with crossbows, so we cannot hold them back with arrows. Traps are too easy to spot on open savanna. No high ground to hold, no wall to fight against, no magic to help us. So that leaves us with only two options. Run away..."

"Or fight them head on."

"We will take heavy casualties."

"Any use of pavises or shields? Do we have the supplies? What about the grass?"

The grass on the savanna was always dry and brittle. If woven correctly, it might stop an arrow or two. Bear shook his head. "There is no lumber to make a good shield, and the desert grass is not strong enough, I tested it myself."

"It'll be a slugfest."

"It will."

They both sat in silence as the noise of the camp filtered in through the window and door. Bear rose and stirred the fire, throwing on a piece of wood to burn. They sat in silence. Again, the warriors they heard now might be marching to their doom. Bear had yet to grow numb to the tearing he felt because of that idea. Mimiru simply sat, thinking of the fight. Mimiru, he thought, was a true warrior. He had seen her on the battlefield. When the soldiers killed, it was gruesome. Men would cry about on the field, wounded, their innards spilled on the ground behind them, their limbs hanging by threads. When Mimiru did not make a clean kill, they fell in a stunned acceptance, like one who is trapped in the wilderness and finally collapses on the sand. She truly was the Desert Wind.

Where would he be now, without her beside him? She had never exactly saved his life, but always she had lead his troops with more competence than any commander he had ever known. Even when one leader fell, she could rally his troops and they would follow her gladly. He had known her for only a few years, and had met her when she was no more than nineteen, bright, fresh- faced and having never seen the heavy combat that they had confronted during their brief assignment to the meat-grinder of the front lines in the central hills, a place where they had both earned the reputations they held. Where Kurim had earned his own.

Kurim. Word had it that he had deposed the leader of the opposing detachment, Lady Subaru, by some unknown crime. He was a competent strategist, although his greatest strength was in the field. To meet him in combat could be considered an honor, and Bear wondered if he might command the same respect from the opposing side. What a paradox war is. Respect the man you must destroy. Bear sighed.

Sora wandered aimlessly about the oasis, plucking a berry here, a berry there. He was going to be rich! Rich rich rich! Sure, he'd given valuable product to the poor girl, but that was the least he could do when he'd... his spirits drooped for a moment. Couldn't think about that little mess. He had so much to be glad about! He hummed a little tune to himself as he went about his business. 'Shine, bright morning light...' He hummed along to the decidedly mellow tune before he stopped dead in his tracks. That wasn't his voice singing. Now that he thought about it, it sounded a little familiar. He crept to an empty space in the foliage. His eyes widened at what he saw. Him! The shaman that had been sleeping with Subaru! Sora pursed his lips. What was he doing here? He didn't seem all that strong. Sora took a closer look. A barbarian. Hmm... Tsukasa twisted in his chosen seat on the grass, bringing his staff into view. Sora's eyes moved straight to the gem.

"Ru... by..."

That was an entire... single... The fool didn't even know what he was holding! Strawberries could rot. He wanted that gem.

Tsukasa had chosen to sit beneath one of the broad fern trees that bordered the oasis. Subaru would be here soon, and they could leave. They could start their new life together, and for that he would wait until the end of the world. A twig snapped. Tsukasa looked back over his shoulder. "Subaru?"

A quick scan of the foliage showed that there was nothing there. He felt wary. Something was not right. Subaru never came from that direction, and... A rustle in the leaves of the tree above him. A shadow elongated itself. Tsukasa, instinct taking over from battles past, rolled to the left and came to his feet. With a shout, Sora plunged his blade into the ground.

"Que-est que vous fait?!" Tsukasa demanded, reverting back to his native tongue, complete gibberish to Sora. The rogue lunged with one blade, Tsukasa parrying with the shaft of his weapon, then blocking another downward strike from Sora's other hand. Sora grinned. Rich! When he got that gem, he'd never have to leave the brothel again!

Block, block, who was this guy?! Tsukasa dodged again. The man was no fighter, but was nimble enough that he easily ducked a counter from Tsukasa. He cursed in French and followed with another swing, penetrating the man's guard and striking him clean on the collarbone, causing a crunch and a dull snap.

Far to the north, Helba turned her head sharply.

"He's found something. Let's go."

Sora cursed, translating Tsukasa's earlier expletive into Japanese. The blow must have broken his collarbone, and smashed the amulet Helba had given him. He rose again. He'd teach this little punk a lesson! The uncivilized bastard couldn't hurt Sora and get away with it! He dashed at Tsukasa, nimbly jumping over a swing that would have taken his legs out from under him, raising his blade to strike and... The air disappeared. He sucked in wind that wasn't there. The narrow end of Tsukasa's staff had firmly planted itself in his solar plexus. He couldn't breathe. He dropped to one knee as his opponent seized the opportunity. He stood, raised his weapon, and dropped it.

There was a flash of white, then nothing.

The blow connected with a crunch as the man's skull caved. The corpse slumped over on its side, and Tsukasa furrowed his brows. He hadn't expected for anyone else to be here. Could this mean more were coming?

Before he could finish the thought, a blade was at his throat. "Imperial!"

"Watch your tongue." A soft, but aggravated voice.

"Enough, Balmung. Sora finally got what he had coming."

The blade was gone and sheathed with the same impossible speed that had put it at his throat. Two strangers, dressed in white. A woman crouched over the rogue, Sora, he supposed from the name mentioned between the two. She rifled through his person, clucking her tongue and sighing as she found a broken amulet.

"The recording glass is missing... It seems we've been mislead."

"Yes, my lady."

She stood and looked Tsukasa over.

"A shaman, I see. And what are you doing here?"

"Where did you come from?"

"Some types of magic can give men wings. Now answer my question."

Over the next hour, the nature of Tsukasa's actions in the area were revealed, including his affair with Subaru.

"The recording glass is still missing. Balmung, go to the Imperial camp and look for where Sora may have stashed his things."

"Right."

Balmung disappeared into the foliage, leaving Tsukasa alone with Helba. There was an odd silence between them. They were both students of the supernatural, this was true, but it was obvious that this newcomer, whose name Tsukasa still did not know, was of much, much greater power than he possessed. She broke the stillness, musing to herself.

"I have already sensed it. What we are looking for is here."

"What?"

"Weapons to change the world."

"What do you mean?"

"Are you familiar with the story of Saint George?"

"The man who slew the dragon and saved a nation."

"This is that dragon, given into the hands of men."

The Dragon of Saint George, a creature of nightmare that terrified every child. Greater than any wolf of life, any foe of war, any ogre, troll, or ghost of fiction. Tsukasa shuddered. Something so terrible didn't belong in the control of anyone.

"So... can you sense things?"

"Yes."

He was deterred a bit by this, an answer so unbelievably blunt. "People?"

"Yes."

"Can you sense Subaru?"

She paused at this. The boy wanted her to find his lover. Did he even know who she was? Could it be that she had never told him? She had never met Lady Subaru in the past, but had had dealings with one of her relatives. Indeed, her family held a heavy stake in the war, the only reason they would consign one of their own to command duty. The poor girl was stuck out here only because of the interests her uncle had in Nairobi gold. Such terrible bureaucracy plagued the Empire now. Helba needed to check up on Balmung anyways. She stretched out, feeling for the bloodline she had sensed in her uncle when she had dealt with him. She passed over Balmung, who was riding for the Imperial camp, and moved on to the camp itself. Command tent... not there. Officer's mess... no. Searching through the camp with her senses, she came across a familiar energy. Kurim, the Red Dragon. He was here? Anger flowed from him, hatred. Why? He was walking, deadly intent on something.

Kurim returned to Subaru's little window again.

"Come on."

Kurim performed a swift and powerful kick on the cage's bars, shattering them. He seized her by her hair and dragged her to her feet, stiff and weak from being confined for the past day.

Helba gasped. The girl had been arrested? Why would they arrest their own commanding officer? Her eyes opened, remembering who was with her. And what he had been doing. Oh.

"Well, Subaru?"

"I don't know anything!"

"Lord Kurim, I must protest..." B.T. murmured.

"Quiet, or you're next!" She knew this part of the camp, and remembered now where he was taking her. It was a fixation in any imperial camp, a single trunk driven into the ground. She remembered, six months ago, a soldier had stolen a horse from one of her commanders. She had ordered him brought here. Kurim threw her against the post, and in a moment, her hands were bound to it. She struggled, fought, but couldn't escape. Kurim's voice, behind her. She could hear soldiers gathering, looking for something to occupy the dead-time before they went to battle, the worst moments in a soldier's life. "I'm sure you all recognize who this is. This is Subaru, a traitor to the Empire, a woman treacherous enough to sell out your lives to the barbarians!"

Jeers and shouts rose up from the assembling mass.

"Here today, we will give the punishment that does not touch on what she might deserve!"

Now the mob had been formed. She had always hated this place. Always, and it had almost never been used when she held power. She had asked herself what she would feel if she was the one to be lashed. And she could only think of... of Tsukasa.

"Tsukasa, I'm so sorry."

The first blow fell. She didn't hear the report of the whip against her skin, but knew it was there. Her world exploded in red, red agony coming from her flesh, red on the post as she collapsed against it, blood from those who had been there in the past. Another blow, numbing the first. Her knees were weak. How long would he do this?

Helba winced. Tsukasa looked at her in horror.

"What? What's wrong?"

"Subaru has been arrested."

"What?"

"She's being... no. You must stop them."

Helba tried not to interfere in matters that weren't hers to bother with, but this was too far. She had a little heart.

"But... but..."

"Listen to me. Tomorrow, they will go to war. Imperial protocol is that prisoners cannot go to the battlefield. You will slip into their camp then and free her."

He nodded.

"All right."

The foliage rustled. Balmung appeared.

"It's here."

"Did you get a good look?"

"Yes. They have technological weapons."

"What do they use?"

"I'm not sure... some sort of tube and explosive, it fires a lead ball faster than anything I've ever seen."

"They're marching tomorrow."

"We won't be able to stop them."

"It seems that we failed in our endeavour, Balmung."

"Yes, my Lady."

"Tomorrow, then. We won't be able to stop the progress of technology."

She turned to Tsukasa.

"But we might as well help you. Make camp. We'll leave here tomorrow."

B.T. knelt before Kurim's seat in the command tent. "Battle preparations are set, my lord. We march at sunup."

"Good."

Mimiru stood at attention in Bear's office.

"Everything is ready, arrow, armor, and sword. All the troops are ready to march tomorrow morning."

"Good work, Mimiru."

"Thank you, sir."