Dance of the ja-Kha'jay.
By Lakyan.
Chapter 6 – Fury
"The jekosiit betrayed me!" Nhad-Hatta roared, hurling a large pot plant at the messenger, who barely dodged it.
"But, your Holiness, the Renrijra Krin have not been affected. They have been whittling down the Leyawiin City Watch, and we are almost ready to attack." The tojay bowed low.
"Very good. With their hands full with the Dunmer, the Empress Regent will not be concentrating on her homeland. So much the better for us. Wouldn't you agree?" The Mane purred to one of his bodyguards.
The bodyguard gave a stiff nod.
"I thought so." The Mane turned back to the smaller cat in front of him. "Ready my palanquin, we shall march on Leyawiin tomorrow night. Let us take back our land." He ordered.
The tojay bowed low "Yes, Your Holiness."
Nhad-Hatta grinned, as he thought of the sweet victory he was about to enjoy.
"Is there anyway to make this thing go faster?" Ra'jissan rapped the Siege Crawler with his knuckles.
"Dismantle it and carry it ourselves?" Raminus Polus replied from atop the Siege Crawler.
"Really? Because by the time thins thing gets to Mournhold it will be winter again." The Nerevarine complained again.
"It would takes hours to do, but many pieces are too heavy for the men to carry." Raminus explained.
"We do have all them guars from the Pass. Could they carry the pieces?" Ra'jissan asked.
"I think they could, though I don't know much about guars. This is my first trip to Morrowind." Raminus admitted.
"Then be glad that St Jiub and I got rid of all the Cliff Racers." Ra'jissan commented.
"So you helped drive them to extinction. I commend you. Though it was Jiub that got sainted. Why not you?" Raminus asked.
"Let's just say Nerevarine is enough for me." Ra'jissan chuckled.
"Anyway, are we going to dismantle this thing or not?" Raminus asked, jumping down.
"Alright lads! Lets dismantle this thing!" Ra'jissan shouted.
The twin moons of Tamriel slowly rose in the sky, their light reflected on the river surface. Frogs croaked in the cool night air, and the Khajiit army waited silently. Many members of the Renrijra Krin had infiltrated Leyawiin's ranks. They had an important task to do before the battle could take place. A horn blew from inside the city, signaling for the feline army to move. As they approached, the sharpened sticks around the tops of the city walls fell down to the ground below. The great Senche-Raht, twice as tall as an Altmer, lumbered toward the walls, their riders guiding them. These lumbering beasts stood on two legs, and were lightly armoured. They reached the city walls, and reached up with their heavily muscled arms. They grabbed the top of the walls, digging their long claws in. Up they hauled themselves, climbing easily over the castle walls.
Alarms rang out, as the great battlecats jumped down from the walls making themselves known. Townsfolk ran every which way, most of them into their houses. One Senche-Raht stomped on a begger, an old Argonian woman. He slashed his claws at a group of city guard, who rushed at him with drawn swords. The soldiers chests opened up with plumes of bright red blood as they drew their last breaths. The Senche-Raht continued to his goal, the west city gate. He went to stomp on another townsperson, but recognised her kind.
"Greetings, Clan-mate. Do not be afraid!" He boomed down at her, and picked her up in his claws. She struggled helplessly.
"Pretty Lady." He said and placed her on his back in front of his rider.
"This is not the time to be looking for a mate!" His rider scolded him, and kicked him forward.
Screams rang out as the other Senche-Raht started tearing the town to pieces. Roofs were torn off houses, and people were running about panicked.
The aforementioned Senche-Raht reached the main gates of the city. He grasped the large wooden bar blocking the door, and tossed it to another bunch of city guard which were running toward him. He grasped at the metal latch, and tore it from the wood. He then grabbed the door itself and ripped it from its hinges.
The Khajiit army poured in through the now open gates. Arrows flew, and swords clanged as the Khajiit clashed with the city guard and the Imperial Legion reinforcements. The Senche-Raht provided backup for their smaller counterparts, lifting up soldiers and tearing them apart. There were even small Alfiq running about, casting support spells on their comrades. The Imperials were losing ground. Soon they were beaten back into the castle. They tried to barricade the doors, but the Senche-Raht soon tore those off their hinges like they did with the city gates. The Khajiit burst inside the castle, and quickly finished off anyone they found inside. However the Count, Countess and one of the White Stallion Knights were unaccounted for. The Mane was carried into the hall, where he surveyed the damage.
"Congratulations my Clan-mates." He addressed the gathered soldiers.
The soldiers cheered a raucous cacophony.
"We have taken back our city of Leyawiin from those Imperial dogs. You have made a great victory for Elsweyr. Lets us sing of our glory!" The Mane proclaimed, and the entire room burst into a Khajiiti war song, sung in the Ta'agra language. The songs echoed well into the night.
Mazoga led the Count and his wife deeper into the bush. She had dragged them into a secret passage as soon as she saw the Big Senche-Raht tear open the city gates like they were made of parchment. She shuddered at the thought of what those large claws could do to her.
"How much further to go?" The Count whined.
"Please Marius, Sir Mazoga is doing her best." The Countess tried to silence him.
"I didn't expect the Khajiit to attack us so soon! We weren't prepared yet. I think that somehow the Renrijra Krin infiltrated the city watch. Non-Khajiit too." Mazoga told them as she helped them up a steep bank. She led them further into Blackwood, where a small encampment of villagers too scared to stay in the main city lay. She gave the Count and his wife the driest tent available.
"I must inform the Elder Council of this." Mazoga sat on a stool, which groaned under her heavy armour.
"How will you do that? It takes three days to get to the Imperial City on horseback." The Countess stated that simple fact.
"Not to worry. When I went to the Elder Council last month we made arrangements around that." Mazoga explained, producing the speaking stone.
"What is that?" The Count asked.
"A gift from the Mages guild to the Empress Regent's trusted generals. Now I'm no mage, but are you familiar with the starlight spell my Lady?" Mazoga asked.
"Yes, why?" Alessia answered.
"Because I need you to cast it on the stone after I speak to it. No matter how hard I've tried I haven't been able to master the spell." Mazoga admitted.
"Very well." Alessia waited.
Mazoga held the stone up.
"Empress Regent Ri'rassi." Mazoga spoke loud and clear, nodding to the Countess.
The Countess whispered the incantation and the stone lit up with a brilliant yellow light. The light faded, and the stone made no sound.
"And now we wait for the Empress Regent to answer." Mazoga held the stone tightly waiting silently.
Wails pierced Ri'rassi's sleepy fug. She stirred a bit, then realizing that it was her child making those wails she sat bolt upright. She leapt out of bed and over to her son's crib, where he lay squalling and waving his fists around. Ri'rassi picked him up and cradled him.
"Sh-sh-sh" she tried to shush him.
Ja-Kha'jay continued to scream.
Ocato pried himself from the sofa, where he'd slept every night since Ri'rassi moved into White Gold Tower.
"Is he okay?" He asked worriedly.
"I don't know. He's never woken up in the night before." Ri'rassi continued examining the child.
"Do Khajiit babies even wake up in the night?" Ocato asked.
"I don't know, I'm only a first time mother." Ri'rassi told him.
"Okay, let he see him. Do you think he wants to be fed?" Ocato asked, gently taking the wailing child from Ri'rassi.
"I don't think so. I fed him before I put him down for the night." Ri'rassi said.
Ocato popped a finger into the infants mouth.
"Ow!" Ocato pulled his finger out. "I think I found our problem." He held his finger up. A drop of blood glistened. "Teething."
"I'm so glad it's only that. I was worried he was sick or something." Ri'rassi answered, relief evident in her voice.
"I'll go get something for that. I didn't know Khajiit grew so fast." Ocato said.
"Khajiit grow faster. He is only half-Khajiit, so he is growing slower than a normal Khajiit." Ri'rassi said to Ocato when he returned with a jar.
"This should sooth the pain." Ocato fingered a jelly like substance onto Ja-Kha'jay's gums. "I think he has Khajiit teeth." He commented.
"Thank you." Ri'rassi placed her now quiet son back in his crib.
"Your welcome." Ocato said, placing the jar on a table.
"Good night." Ri'rassi said.
"You too." Ocato said, catching her hands in his.
Ri'rassi paused, then turned. She wrapped her arms around Ocato and kissed him. A bright yellow flash distracted them from each other. They spotted Ri'rassi's speaking stone on the bedside table. Ri'rassi glanced back up at Ocato.
"This does not bode well." He murmured.
They reluctantly let go of each other and Ri'rassi picked up the stone. An image of Mazoga swirled across the stone's polished surface. "Yes, Sir Mazoga?"
"Leyawiin has been seized by the Mane. They came in the night, Senche-Raht climbing over the city walls. The Renrijra Krin had gotten rid of the spears before the battle cats attacked. The battle was over in minutes." Mazoga explained.
"The Count and Countess?" Ri'rassi asked.
"Safe. I managed to get them out of the city when the gates were torn open." Mazoga explained.
"Good. Make your way with them to the Imperial City. We will reroute Jauffre and his men to Fort Redman. I hope you get here soon." Ri'rassi said.
"Very Well." Mazoga broke contact.
Ri'rassi turned to Ocato. "The Mane has acted sooner than we anticipated."
"I know. We should hold Council immediately." He said.
"Can you summon the War Council that quickly?" Ri'rassi asked.
"I'll try." He said. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and left, throwing his robes on as he went.
Mazoga pocketed the stone again.
"My Lord and Lady, We shall rest here the night, then go to the Imperial City in the morning. I bet they will have held Council by the time we arrive, to decide how to take back our city." She told the waiting nobleman.
"Okay then. You seem to have things under control. I still can't believe we've lost our home." The Countess agreed.
Into the night sky a plume of smoke rose into the light sky, dimly illuminated by Masser and Secunda.
Nhad-Hatta had his men carry him out on his palanquin, to survey the city he'd taken back. Most civilians had survived, fleeing into the basements of the Guild houses, which remained untouched from the Mane's assault. Almost all of the City watch had been killed, and those that survived surrendered, or were Renrijra Krin spies. One of the Senche-Raht was infatuated with a Cathay-Raht civilian, a beggar. The Mane was pleased with the progress his people had made, but he wanted more. He began to formulate bigger plans.
"I apologize for waking you Councilors. This is a matter of utmost importance." Ocato told the council.
"Get on with it Ocato." A Nord woman scowled at him, not at all pleased with the interruption.
"The city of Leyawiin was captured by the Mane of Elsweyr a few hours ago. The City Guard and Imperial Legions stationed there were overwhelmed. The Mane has acted before we anticipated, and thus we underestimated him. We must decide what to do if he decides to come north." Ocato said.
"Leyawiin, captured?" An Argonian councilman asked.
"Yes, captured. Defeated. Taken. Stolen, or whatever you want to call it." Ocato said grumpily.
"We must do something about this!" The Nord woman shouted.
"Indeed we intend to." Ri'rassi told the War Council.
The council fell silent in the Empress Regent's presence.
"As you know we have forces stationed in Fort Black Boot. We have two options. One: Jauffre and his men can invade and capture Riverhold. An eye for an eye, you might say. The city is not well defended, most of the citizens are farmers. Two: we can have Jauffre and his men move to Fort Redman with all haste. If the Mane decides to head north to Bravil, then we will need our forces there. However this will leave a gaping hole in our defenses." Ri'rassi laid out the situation.
"What about the Argonians?" A redguard man asked grouchily.
"What about us? We've had our hands full with these thrice cursed Dunmer!" Word-Weaver retorted.
With that, the entire council exploded into an argument, hostile words flung back and forth.
"SILENCE!" Ri'rassi roared, her teeth bared in anger. Her tail lashed behind her and her ears were laid flat.
The council immediately shut up, especially Ocato, who'd never seen Ri'rassi when she was really mad.
"If no one can settle this in a civilized manner then we may as well turn the Empire over to the Mane!" Ri'rassi growled.
"I agree with the Empress Regent. We must think this decision through carefully. The Argonian forces have had considerable amounts of trouble in the last month. So much so that they have had to move many soldiers from their western border to go north. However, with our recent capture of Omayni, Helseth has not been concentrating on the Argonians. He is calling his troops to Mournhold, hoping that his men will fight the Nerevarine off. The Argonians have pushed forward, and have taken the clockwork city of Sotha Sil. There are few enough troops left on the western edge of the Black Marsh. Should we choose to relocate Jauffre, then the Argonians can join them in an effort to take back Leyawiin." Ocato explained.
"What type of military do the Khajiit have?" The Nord woman asked.
"Primarily they use Cathay-Raht, like the Empress Regent. Reports have indicated Suthay-Raht, Ohmes and Senche-Raht." Ocato said.
"Senche-Raht? Battlecats?" Word-Weaver asked.
"Precisely." Ri'rassi said. "It only took one of them to tear the very gates of Leyawiin from their hinges."
The council flinched. None of them had thought the Khajiit capable of such strength.
"You have one hour to make a decision." Ri'rassi declared.
The debate lasted a long time. No one could decide on the more strategic outcome. In the end, they wanted to teach the Mane a lesson.
"An Eye for an Eye then." Word-Weaver said finally.