Chapter 1
The Shadow comes from the Iron Horse
A loud and unruly noise echoed across the city as the train pulled to a stop at the station at Celilo. The conductor said "You may exit, General Arnold. Watch yourself, for the Apator Steppes are not very welcome to outsiders." "Thank you for the warning, but that is unnecessary. I come to the steppes with forty thousand men. The tribes must both submit to the rule of the Farendra Empire and allow us to civilize them or my saber shall be the last blade that they see." replied the general. "Very well then. Godspeed to you and your men, general." and the conductor opened the doors for all of the men and their equipment to exit. The cavalry left, leading their steeds and covered in armor made of various steel plates laced together covered in ornate embroidery of a golden hue. The guards on their sabers were made of brass and covered the whole hand. On their backs were slung repeating rifles that would reload the firearm with a simple lever. Each of them carried three six-shooters in holsters on their waist. On their saddles was a mace with a circular head, a 3-meter long lance with a fairly large spearhead.
The infantry and artillery stepped off immediately after them. The infantry carried repeat breech-loading rifles but with bayonets made of good steel. Their blue uniforms carried many brass buttons all in one column and they sported iron conical helmets. The artillery lowered iron cannons of various calibers and sported short swords with small cross guards. They all left the city as one and General Arnold and the cavalry at their head.
They marched many kilometers into the Apator Steppes. Then the general called out to his men, "Major Shakasson, come forth." Then came Cyrus Shakasson, a strong man of enormous height and dark skin in armor as decorative as the horsemen he led. General Arnold said to him "Major, take the 15th cavalry and survey this area. Report back to me in a week's time and be on your guard. The tribe in control, the Apachenegs, is a bellicose tribe that slaughters all intruders." "I shall do as you command, General Arnold." and he rode off with his men. General Arnold addressed his men, "The Sun lowers in the sky. Gather together our palisades and make our camp. We shall rest here tonight." All worked on making the fortified camp, digging ditches and making the wall of palisades. General Arnold dressed in simple clothes and worked alongside them. They finished the simple but magnificent structure and slept soundly that night.
The next day, Cyrus rose and rode on with his men. The boundless steppes provided much good game for him and his men to feast on. Cyrus addressed his men, "Rest here and eat. Be cautious, for we may find the tribesmen soon. Scribe Maharaj, take note that we have not encountered the natives." "Yes, sir" said the scribe "I-". His words were cut short because an arrow pierced his neck.
Several more fell as the horsemen scrambled to defend themselves. Their horses were slain in the first torrent of arrows and the soldiers used their cadavers as their wall against the attack. They impaled the corpses with their lances as a further measure against the charging natives.
The tribesmen attacked as storm clouds, shooting relentlessly at the horsemen. At their head, stood Itza- lupan, son of their reigning chief Itza-shalla. A warrior rode to him and he said "Itza- lupan, that shadowface is the head of the snake. Should I kill him so the rest can fall?" "No, Tayunko" said the chief, "Ready the tranquilizer arrow and take him alive. I will kill the rest myself." He dismounted and removed a wolf skin. He draped it upon himself and became a giant wolf. He charged the shooting Imperial cavalry but not a single bullet struck him. He leaped over the wall of equine cadavers and slaughtered the rest of the soldiers as he got closer to Cyrus.
Cyrus looked at the wolf as it got closer to him. He thought to himself, "That wolf is their chief. If I can kill him with this last shot from my carbine, maybe these warriors will let me escape so they can bury him." He slowly cranked the lever on his carbine and aimed. Suddenly, an arrow struck him in the shoulder and he collapsed, stunned by the tranquilizer arrow.
"The shadowface is down. Why did we not kill him, Itza-lupan?" asked Tayunko. "He is the man I saw in my vision all those years ago. That is why. Throw him on one of our horses. We shall take him back to the camp."