The Tazchekian Steppe seemed to go on forever. Miles of grassy plains occasionally broken up by small hills stretched into the horizon, with not a single tree in sight. If an unfortunate traveler were to wind up in this land without a horse, they would find themselves in serious trouble.
Fortunately, both Druella and Alex had horses. Druella could have simply teleported them to their destination, but two strangers emerging out of the steppe on their own two feet would raise too many questions. Although centaurs did not need horses for obvious reasons, they still kept a small herd for visitors and for trading purposes. Although Alex had no previous experience riding a horse, his brown and white mount was unusually obedient, never disobeying Alex's directions and following Druella without issue.
Alex looked over at his traveling companion. Druella had used a glamor spell to take on the form of a Tazchek woman, wearing fur-lined robes with embroidered purple designs along with an ornamented toortsog hat. Her hair was now a dark brown, and her red eyes with black sclera were now far more human. But although she had toned herself down a little for the sake of blending in, the lilim was still insanely beautiful.
"Altan?" Druella asked. Altan was Alex's undercover name for this mission into Tazchek territory. Druella was going as Amarja, a Tazchek spellcaster arriving to purchase goods at the Tazchek capital of Soutoru. Alex, going by Altan, was playing the role of her husband. Druella had also placed a glamor spell upon him; he hadn't been able to master the spell himself yet, but his glamor would not fail him so long as Druella maintained it. To any observer, he resembled a typical Tazchek male with his almond-shaped eyes and dark hair. Although he had changed into a deel, his lilim cloth cloak remained draped over it.
"You've been staring at me for quite a while." Druella/Amarja said with a light smirk. "I may not be as versatile with my shapeshifting as a doppelganger, but if you ever wish to 'roleplay', all you need to do is ask."
"Um, that's not what I was thinking, Druel- I mean Amarja." Alex/Altan replied. "I'm just wondering why these horses are so calm. We've been riding for hours and mine hasn't disobeyed me even once. Are centaurs that good at training horses?"
Druella gave him a smile. "Let's just say that hypnosis can be applied to any species, not just those capable of independent thought."
You hypnotized them?! Jeez Druella, maybe next time just offer a carrot!
Before Alex could open his mouth and complain to Druella about her questionable treatment of equines, shouts and whinnies from up ahead caught their attention. The sounds were coming from behind a small hill ahead of them; Druella and Alex both sped up their mounts to discover the source of the commotion.
When they came over the crest of the hill, they saw a small campsite on the hill's base, with a still-smoldering campfire along with a distressed horse keeping its distance from the scuffle going on at the center of the camp. Four mounted men in lamellar armor circled around a dismounted fifth man, who tightly gripped his saber in his hand as he kept an eye on them. He appeared to be in his early twenties, with his hair hidden underneath a fur cap. His face was clean-shaven, and although his brown eyes glared in defiance he seemed to have trouble breathing. The way his saber occasionally wavered in his grip also suggested tiredness.
One of the horsemen moved a little too close, sword raised to strike down. The tired warrior struck at him with a desperate flurry of strikes, which the horseman deflected with his own blade. Although the horseman backed off, the warrior coughed and wheezed for a few seconds, as if that one attack had been too much exertion for him.
"Hah, pathetic." Another horseman spoke up. "The other warriors weren't lying- Turgal Khan's second son really is an utter disappointment. A shame we couldn't kill off the older sibling, but he'll do."
"Ugh…go…to…hell!" The dismounted warrior wheezed. But he looked incapable of mounting any more of a defense.
"Drue-Amarja!" Alex said. "If we don't intervene, that guy is going to get slaughtered!"
Druella scowled in her Tazchek form. The lilim hated seeing humans die, and would never allow it to happen if she could prevent it.
"Follow behind me, Altan." She instructed. "I'll deal with them. I may be limited to the magic a Tazchek spellcaster could reasonably perform, but they'll regret bullying that poor boy."
She then galloped down the slope, arms already glowing.
"Alright, this has been amusing, but it's time to end our little game." One of the horsemen said while pulling out his saber. Before he could even raise it however, a fireball blasted it right out of his hands. The weapon dropped to the ground, its blade now a glowing red.
The four horsemen wheeled around to face this new threat. One of them rode up and tried to strike her, but Druella dodged his swing and whispered a quick word into his mount's ear. The horse suddenly gave a loud neigh and began sprinting away from the camp, its rider desperately trying to hold on. Despite his yelling and cursing, the horse refused to listen to him.
The one who lost his saber then pulled out a bow and rapidly notched an arrow, releasing it at Druella. Before it could hit its mark, a shimmering shield arrested its progress, and it clattered onto the grass. Druella then raised a glowing red arm, and the man yelped as his bow caught on fire. When he threw it away from his hands, it crumbled into ash in the wind.
The two remaining armed riders rode towards her, yelling as they attempted to strike from two directions. Before they could swing, Druella's arms glowed a bright silver as she suddenly ripped their sabers right out of their hands. The two stared dumbfoundedly as Druella mockingly twirled the blades in both her hands.
"Now, have you all had enough, or do you need any more lessons?" Druella said in a threatening tone to the three now-disarmed horsemen. The three all looked at each other for a moment, then turned their mounts around and galloped away from the camp.
"This isn't over!" One of them yelled. "Tell your father we're not giving up our way of life just to satisfy his newfound love for the crossworshippers!"
As the three horsemen galloped away, Alex and Druella turned towards the man they just rescued. The young warrior coughed a few more times as he caught his breath, then he turned to them with a look of gratitude.
"Thank you for rescuing me, strangers." he said in a youthful voice. "Those bastards would have had me if you hadn't shown up."
"There is no need to thank us, young man." Druella replied. "We'd rescue anyone in danger-"
Before she could finish her sentence, the man dropped to one knee and pointed his saber towards the ground.
"In exchange for saving my life, I now owe a life debt to both of you. Ask of me whatever you wish and I will…complete-"
The warrior suddenly dropped his saber and fell into a coughing fit.
"Um, are you alright sir?" Alex asked. "We have some packed tea leaves. If you want, we can brew you a quick cup."
"It- it is fine." The warrior replied after finally stopping his fit. His voice then took a self-deprecatory tone. "Damn it, I can't even say a full oath without it being ruined."
"Um, you can save the oath for later, young man." Druella replied as she and Alex slid off their horses. "For now, let us introduce ourselves. I am Amarja, a spellcaster."
"And I'm Altan, her husband!" Alex said as he offered a hand to the young warrior. The warrior looked at his outstretched arm for a second, then accepted it and allowed Alex to help him up.
"Thank you for your timely assistance, Altan and Amarja. I am Sengge, second son of the great Turgal Khan!" Then he added in a lower voice- "Though, I understand if you find that a little unbelievable."
Alex and Druella looked at each other. This was an unexpected development, but encountering the Khan's son offered them brand new opportunities for uncovering more information.
And maybe he'll be grateful that we rescued his son, and we can just ask him to stop raiding the centaurs? No, I doubt it'd be that easy.
"It is an honor to meet you, Sengge son of Turgal." Druella replied. "But if I may ask, why were you being attacked by those men out here in the open steppe?"
Sengge grimaced. "Those men were part of a tribe that used to rival my father. My father forced them into submission when he united the tribes years ago, but ever since his...change in raiding policy… all the old rivalries are resurfacing. They saw me as an easy target to weaken my father's position."
He then looked back at them, replacing his grimace with a smile. "But thank goodness for you two! That was an impressive use of magic! If you come back with me to Soutoru, my father will reward you greatly! And the life debt still stands!"
Alex and Druella both looked at each other again, and smiled at one another. Now they had a way right into the Tazchek capital, and into the political heart of the Khanate!
"We accept your offer, Sengge." Druella replied. "Please, lead the way."
The Tazchek smiled as he gathered his belongings and got on his horse. Before long, they were all riding through the Steppe again.
[]
Similar to the centaur camp, the Tazchek capital was a massive conurbation of yurts all huddled near each other at a valley floor. Some were plain white- others had elaborate designs sewn into their fabrics. Unlike the centaur camp, however, there were no murals depicting any scenes of carnal depravity, and the yurt entrances were normal-people sized. Because Soutoru was all tents, the Tazchek could move their capital whenever the situation called for it.
"Lady Amarja, I must say that you are quite skilled in keeping your horse in control!" Sengge exclaimed as they rode into the outskirts of Soutoru. "We've been riding for half a day and it hasn't even stepped out of line once!"
"Hmm, you could say I am talented in…taming my mounts." Druella replied. Then she lightly smirked in Alex's direction. "Though, there is something else I prefer riding far more."
Oh, come on. Alex wished he could hide in his horse's mane. Sengge pondered Druella's words for a second, then his face turned beet red. He then slowly moved his horse away from her and rode near Alex.
"So, um, Altan." Sengge replied, his face still red. "You have quite a beautiful wife. You must feel very lucky."
That depends on which kind of luck you're referring to. But Alex smiled and nodded at Sengge.
"Yeah, she is certainly…one of a kind."
Sengge stared ahead of them. "I wonder who I will marry in the future. Knowing my father, he'll match me with the daughter of some minor tribal chief, cause I doubt he'll consider me valuable enough for a major marriage. Though, judging by some of the murmurs going through the tribes, there might not be any time for some peaceful matchmaking."
"Oh, that's something I wanted to ask you." Alex said, not wasting this opportunity to learn some new information. "My, er, tribe, is very isolated, so news travels slowly, but I do know that the Khan has ordered the tribes to attack monsters. Do you know the reason why he abandoned your- I mean, our peaceful relations with them?"
Sengge frowned. "I wish I knew. But it's more than just attacking monsters. My father has also taken a sudden interest in revering the Chief God and her faith. Many do worship her as the creator of the universe, but his sudden turn to religion…he's even said some kind words about The Order!"
The Order? No way, are they involved in this too?
"The Order?" Alex asked. "How are we involved with them?"
"Normally, we raid those crossworshippers for easy loot." Sengge replied. "Their churches are always full of valuables! Sometimes, they even send us tribute just to keep us away. They even sent us some a few weeks ago!"
A few weeks ago? Alex's ears piqued in interest. This had to be a potential clue!
"What did they send?" Alex asked.
"A small, jeweled box." Sengge replied. "My father was initially offended at the paltry size of the tribute, but I guess he must have really loved what was inside that box, because now he's banned all raids against The Order!"
Alex pondered the information Sengge gave to him. He looked over at Druella- the disguised lilim had heard their conversation, and was also deep in thought.
Whatever was in that box has to be the explanation for the Khan's shift in behavior. So it's The Order's doing after all- those scheming bastards!
Alex wondered why no one in the Tazchek Khanate had made that connection. But perhaps they did, but they were too afraid to confront their Khan? From what he heard so far, he had to be an imposing figure if he united all the tribes.
"You definitely sound like you're not a fan of your father's change in raiding policy." Alex said.
Sengge nodded. "I've never had any issues with monsters. On the contrary, I almost prefer them to my fellow warriors- I've never encountered a monster who mocked me for my…shortness of breath. But now, all our good ties are being ruined! We're losing good men in pointless raids that bring in very little. Even my mentor, the one who taught me how to use a blade, has gone missing!"
Sengge glowered atop his horse and said nothing more. Clearly, the Tazchek warrior was frustrated at the lack of control he had over his present situation.
After a few more minutes or riding, Sengge motioned them to stop. "You can leave your horses here. My father's yurt is not too far up ahead."
Both Druella and Alex dismounted their horses and tied them onto posts. Before they followed Sengge deeper into the capital, Druella whispered into both the horse's ears. Alex could hear the horses neighing loudly behind him, finally free from their spell.
You're lucky they didn't kick you, Druella.
As Alex and Druella followed Sengge through the camp, Alex observed the Tazchek around him. A blacksmith pulled a heated sword from a small furnace and plunged it into water, steam pillowing into the air. A warrior groomed his large, white stallion, using a brush to untangle its mane. Some children played a game with a small ball while several women kept an eye on them.
"Well well well, so the wheezer has finally returned. I thought you'd arrive passed out on your horse, Sengge."
Alex looked up- a well-built warrior clad in laminar armor and a plumed helmet stood in front of them. He had a large, black mustache, and he looked at Sengge with a mocking smirk.
Sengge grit his teeth in anger, but managed to maintain his composure. "It's good to see you too, Galdan. Altan, Amarja, this is Galdan, my older brother and heir to our father Turgal. Galdan, this is Amarja and Altan. They're a married couple who rescued me from some of the Khan's rivals."
Galdan looked at them for a few seconds, then laughed. "Hah, you needed someone to bail you out, Sengge? You two shouldn't have bothered, the Khanate would be stronger without him."
Alex had only just met Galdan, and he already despised him. Druella/Amarja clearly felt the same way as she now stared pointed daggers at him.
"As a matter of fact, Galdan," Druella replied. "Sengge was fighting back admirably against his opponents. But there was only so much he could do in a 4 on 1 fight."
Galdan raised an eyebrow. "Admirably? Hmm, let's test that out. Sengge, care for a Warrior's Duel?"
Sengge scowled at his brother. "Fine then. I can regain the gold bracelet I lost to you last month."
Galdan let out a hearty laugh. "Come along, Amarja and Altan. You'll get to see my brother fall to the dirt where he belongs!"
As they followed Galdan, Alex walked over to Sengge. "Um, Sengge, as I said before, my tribe is pretty isolated. What exactly is a Warrior's Duel?"
Sengge broke out of his scowl long enough to answer him. "It's a duel between warriors to determine who is the strongest. It's usually not to the death- that could cause a blood feud lasting for generations. But the winner is allowed to seize a valuable from the defeated warrior. If the warrior has no valuables left to give, he must give up his freedom to the winner."
A hint of nervousness entered his voice. "I do hope I win this one, I'm running out of valuables."
"Then why not refuse the duel?" Alex asked.
Sengge stared at him like he was an idiot. "And have the entire Khanate label me a coward? No, I will never refuse a Warrior's Duel no matter how poor it may go for me!"
"Well," Alex replied. "I'm definitely rooting for you."
Sengge gave him a small smile as they continued to follow Galdan. Eventually, they stopped at a circular clearing in the camp. As Sengee and Galdan stood opposite each other, some other Tazchek stopped by to watch the duel. They joined Alex and Druella at the sides of the clearing.
"Hey, Galdan is dueling his brother again!" one of them yelled.
"Sengge? Ugh, this isn't worth our time, we already know who's going to win!" another commented.
"But who knows? Maybe today will finally be his day?" a third one replied.
Sengge and Galdan unsheathed their blades and sized each other up for a few seconds, their eyes not even blinking. Then, in what felt like a millisecond, both struck at once.
Their blades clashed against one another as both Tazchek warriors fought like demons. Galdan was larger, so his strikes carried more power behind them. But Sengge was no pushover- he could move faster than his brother, and his saber rapidly sliced through the air.
For a few minutes, the duel appeared to be evenly matched. Sengge even seemed like he was gaining the upper hand at times, forcing his brother back in a flurry of strikes.
Soon, however, things began going wrong for the younger warrior. His breathing became more hoarse, and his face turned a bright shade of red. His saber swings became more desperate in their execution, losing their previous speed and precision.
As Sengge faltered, Galdan pressed onward with his attack. He pounded down harder and harder at his opponent until Sengge could do nothing but defend himself. Finally, he lost his footing and fell to the ground breathing heavily as Galdan's sword hovered over his jugular.
"Hmmph, so much for admirable." Galdan said in a mocking tone. Then he reached down and pulled off an amulet hanging on his brother's neck. "I'm keeping this. Do attend the next raid, Sengge- how am I going to get new treasures if you have none left to give me?"
Galdan then sheathed his blade and walked away from the clearing. The other Tazchek soon followed him, all murmuring about the utterly expected outcome. Soon, only Druella, Alex, and Sengge remained.
"Damn it…DAMN IT!" Sengge exclaimed between breaths. "It's not my fault…my lungs…ended up…this way!"
Alex walked over and offered a hand to the defeated warrior, but he brushed it off. After a few more minutes of catching his breath, Sengge finally stood up on his own.
"I am sorry you had to witness that embarrassing performance." he said while looking ashamed.
"Embarrassing?" Alex replied. "You were doing great! Your skill with the blade was so good you put him on the defensive a few times!"
"Indeed. It's not your fault your body failed you." Druella added in. "What caused this breathing trouble- perhaps there is a way to fix it?"
Sengge sighed. "It's fine, I'm used to it. But, if you must know, when I was six years old my family's camp was attacked. My father had not yet unified the tribes, so some rivals attacked at night with fire to take him down. I ended up inhaling some of the smoke while trying to escape, but my father pulled me out before it could be fatal." He then grimaced. "My mother, on the other hand, was not so lucky."
"I'm sorry to hear about that, Sengge." Alex said in a sincere voice. "For a six-year-old to go through that, that must've been traumatizing."
"But that just makes Galdan and the rest of the tribes' treatment of you worse!" Druella exclaimed angrily. "Why should you be mocked for something you have no control over?"
Sengge looked down at the ground. "While I do appreciate your kind concern, Amarja, there is little I can do about it. All the warriors value strength, and I can barely keep up with them. My mentor was one of the few who saw through my weakness and gave me a chance, but now he's gone."
Then barely, in a whisper, he added. "And sometimes, I think my father wishes he pulled my mother out instead of me."
After a few moments of silence, Sengge looked back at them and forced a smile. "But enough about me! My father will still be pleased that you rescued me! Come, let's not keep him waiting!"
Alex and Druella followed Sengge as he led them to a large yurt at the center of the encampment, but both of them were distracted by their guide's tragic past and miserable present.
If his fellow Tazchek just looked past his limitations, they'll see that he's just as skilled as the rest of them! So what if he can't fight as long, he's still a warrior in my book!
Eventually, the trio stopped before the massive yurt. It appeared to be just as large as Chieftess Khultula's, and its fabric contained woven murals depicting the history of the Tazchek. One depiction was of ships crossing a stormy ocean, the origins of the tribe. Another depicted a dark, demonic shape falling over, its body riddled with arrows. A third depicted a battle scene, with soldiers adorned in crosses desperately holding up their shields against a cloud of arrow fire.
Before they could enter, however, it appeared that the Khan was already expecting them. Two Tazchek warriors emerged from the yurt, holding long, hooked spears. Then, a third man emerged from the tent.
Alex stared in awe at the imposing figure in front of him. Turgal Khan was tall, almost seven feet tall. He had broad shoulders, and he wore a white deel and a plumed helmet that contained more adornments than the one worn by Galdan. His face wore a permanent scowl, and his black beard was flecked with gray. He reminded Alex of the Soviet recreation of Timur the Lame's face.
"Father!" Sengge exclaimed while quickly kneeling. Not wanting to commit any unintentional insults, Druella and Alex did the same. The Khan briefly paced in front of them, his dark eyes staring with an intensity that made Alex feel incredibly unnerved.
"Hmm, so Galdan was right. My weakling son has finally returned home." the Khan said in a rough voice. Sengge bristled for a moment at his derogatory words, but otherwise kept himself under control.
The Khan then looked over at Alex and Druella. "So you must be Amarja and Altan, the couple who rescued Sengge." The Khan did not smile, but his voice carried just a hint of approval. "Although he might not have been worth the effort, you have done me a great service."
He then motioned for them to rise. "Tonight," he continued. "I will be dining with the tribal chiefs to discuss our next raids. Amarja, Altan, you may have the honor of attending this dinner as the rescuers of the Khan's second son. Please do stay afterwards, I could find a good use for two talented spellcasters such as yourself."
"We thank you for your generosity, oh Great Khan." Druella/Amarja said while kneeling. Alex copied her.
The Khan gave her a light nod, then turned to Sengge. "You, you can sit in the back. But do not dare to even make a light cough tonight!"
"Yes, father." Sengge replied in an almost defeated tone.
As the Khan returned to his yurt, Alex felt a sense of nervous anticipation from being invited to tonight's upcoming feast. While it would give him and Druella an excellent opportunity to find out more about the Khan's current leanings, being this deep in the lion's den made him uneasy.
And the way he treats his son like that… I wish there was a way we could also help out Sengge. Maybe Druella could heal him? I'm definitely not yet skilled enough to heal a chronic illness.
[]
The Tazchekian feast was a loud and colorful affair, with dozens of chieftains and their retainers eating and drinking as they sat atop cushions near tables. The Khan sat at the rear of the yurt, drinking wine out of a massive golden cup as he examined his guests with a sharp gaze. Galdan sat immediately to his right, tearing meat off of a lamb bone. The most important chieftains sat closest to him, with the less important being closer to the entrance. Because they were guests of the Khan, Altan/Alex and Amarja/Druella sat near the middle of the yurt.
Druella took a good look at the men and women surrounding her. The men nearly all sported prominent mustaches and/or beards, and they wore deels of various colors. The women wore deels as well, with a few also sporting elaborate headdresses that curled their hair to the sides like horns. There were shouts of laughter, the clanging of drinking cups, and a few pairs of men were armwrestling with one another.
"Hey there…" a drunken Tazchek stumbled into her view, his fat face reeking of alcohol. "You must be so bored with that wimp husband of yours. Why not come to my yurt and I'll show you what a real man can do?"
As much as Druella wanted to kick this drunken slob in the gut for daring to insult her husband, it would bring too much attention to her. So she smiled and stared right into the Tazchek's eyes.
"Why don't you go outside and take a good long nap in the grass? I think you've had enough to drink."
"I stop drinking when I want to, you…" the Tazchek's face slackened, and then he let out a loud yawn. "Hmm, I'm going to go lie down. Somebody tell me about the Khan's announcement when I wake up!"
As the drunk Tazchek stumbled away, Druella briefly turned to Alex/Altan, who stared at the receding drunk with an angry look in his eyes, his hands balled into fists.
Fufu, were you planning to defend me, Alex? How cute, my husband is truly my little hero! But you don't have to worry about me, I was about to punch him myself for calling you a wimp!
Druella turned back to the rest of the feast. Since there were so many Tazchek leaders here, perhaps now would be a good time to get a sense of everyone's desires?
The lilim concentrated as she looked into the minds of the various Tazchek chieftains and chieftesses. Some desired to demonstrate their strength as warriors. Others desired glory and plunder from raiding. A few were hungry for power, while others were simply hungry for more of the feast.
What surprised Druella was that she detected traces of mamono energy on a few of the Tazchek. When she delved in deeper, she found out that what they desired was to get back their hidden monster wives and keep them safe.
They must be quite concerned about their Khan's new anti-monster stance. But this is also an opportunity- perhaps they could make good allies?
Then Druella noticed a figure sitting by himself near the yurt entrance, forlornly picking at his food.
Sengge. Druella hated how their Tazchek guide was treated by his own people, ostracized just because of a physical limitation he had no control over! She was also beginning to dislike the Tazchek in general- while some monsters did care about finding strong husbands, to treat a human like dirt simply because they were weaker was unthinkable.
And I'm still a little annoyed about that insolent Bartuk! Nonetheless, Sengge is clearly miserable being here with his people. If we take him with us, I could pair him with a Salamander- they would recognize his fighting prowess! Once he begins to incubize, his cough will disappear for good!
Or perhaps I could pair him with Chieftess Khultula, she's still single. Imagine the look on his father's face when he arrives with a horde large enough to rival the Khanate! Since these Tazchek love their horses, he'll love being with a centaur!
Out of curiosity, Druella reached out and tried to get a read on Sengge's desires. To her surprise, he did not want to be free of the Tazchek and his father. Instead, he desired their acceptance and the hope of eventually becoming a true warrior.
His own family treats him terribly, yet he still desires to remain with them? Why? Why deny yourself pleasure and happiness by staying in such a cutthroat society?
A little confused, Druella decided to focus elsewhere. Looking to the front of the yurt, she first analyzed the desires of Galdan. The firstborn son shared the desires of many of the other Tazchek at the feast: strength, riches, and power.
How utterly unsurprising. Oh well, now is the time to finally see what the Khan himself desires!
Druella reached out to the Khan…and reeled her mind back in shock. The Khan's desires were far more vivid than his fellow Tazchek, a sign that he possessed an almost zealous commitment to them. The thing that disturbed Druella, however, was what he desired- the complete eradication of all monsters on the Tazchekian Steppe, and then continuing the genocide beyond.
How can he sip wine so casually while concealing all that hatred within?
There was one other thing about his desires that disturbed Druella- they did not feel natural at all. She could not sense any root reason for why the Khan despised monsters so much- it was as if someone shoved those feelings within his mind and pounded them into place.
Could he be under the influence of hypnosis or some other form of mind-magic? Wait, the jeweled box from The Order that Sengge mentioned- whatever was inside it must be responsible for the Khan's current desires! So once again those delusional zealots are trying to stir up trouble- this time by siccing a Khanate on us! But mind control, how low are they willing to fall for the sake of defeating my mother?
Just then, Turgal Khan raised an arm, and all the chatter in the room was replaced by silence. Standing up from his cushions, the Khan addressed all the feast's guests.
"Welcome, esteemed brothers and sisters of our Khanate! Before I get to business, I have some commendations to make!"
The Khan pointed to Altan/Alex and Amarja/Druella. "This is Altan and his wife, Amarja! They have done the Khan a great service by rescuing my son Sengge from some traitorous rebels! I expect you all to toast them!"
"To Altan and Amarja!" yelled many of the guests while raising their wine glasses. A few, however, looked at Sengge with a smirk on their faces, bemused that the Khan's son needed rescuing.
"Now, time for the main topic of tonight." The Khan's eyes suddenly gained a dangerous glint as he looked around the yurt. Raising his arms, he proclaimed: "For too long, we've contented ourselves with raiding the towns and cities at the borders of the steppe, ignoring the poison in our midst- monsters! We've traded with them, called them 'friends', even as they corrupt us from within! If we do nothing, the Tazchek Khanate will be doomed to face destruction!"
The other chieftains and chieftesses were silent as they listened to their Khan's virulent words. Some of them, however, appeared quite unnerved.
"So, what shall be done about this poison? Like any diseased limb, the rot must be cut out and burned! Once all our raiding parties have returned, I will lead a full assault against the centaur herd, emptying the Steppe of those mockeries! But that is not the end- we will not cease until all monsters have been exterminated! The Dark Elves who once bought our captives, the Amazons who tested our warriors- all will be purged! We will keep going until we are tearing down the Royal Makai itself!"
The Tazchek cheered at their Khan's words, but Druella noted that the majority did not seem to be genuine in their cheering. Their cries and yells were forced, as if they were terrified of being caught remaining silent. She could also see how some of them bore expressions of confusion, shock, or even anger at their Khan's plans, though they were trying their best to hide them. As for the few secretly married to mamono, their desires shifted to openly wishing death on their Khan.
Druella looked over at her husband- even Alex could not hide his anxiety at Turgal Khan's call for a genocide. As for Druella herself, she shivered at the realization that this was a far greater threat than a few damaging raids.
The Order…those idiotic fools! They have unleashed an unrelenting nightmare upon us! Do they really think that it would not eventually turn against them?
As Druella began to think about the logistics of monsterizing a nomadic culture, something caught her eye. The Khan's arms were still raised, allowing Druella to notice the ring on his right hand. The ring was golden, with a yellow gemstone on top. The gemstone itself, however, was inlaid within a cross-shaped symbol- a symbol of The Order.
Is that the source of the Khan's hatred? The item given in a jeweled box as "tribute"? Hmm, maybe I will not have to monsterize the Tazchek after all; if we could get that ring off, would the Khan cease his assaults on monsters?
Before she could come up with some sort of plan, however, a man burst into the yurt breathing heavily. He was elderly, with a short gray beard and clutching a staff, but he wore resplendent robes that suggested he was a magic-user of sorts.
"Forgive me, o Great Khan!" The old spellcaster said. "I would have come sooner, but I was busy investigating some strange vestiges of mana in the capital!"
"Hmmph, about time you showed up." The Khan said, his voice unamused. "There could have been a dozen attempts on my life in the time you were absent. Be joyful that I'm not in the mood to sully this feast with a whipping. Just do your spell."
"Y-yes, Great Khan!" The old spellcaster spattered. "I'll perform the Mana Dissipation spell now!"
Mana Dissipation? Oh, oh no, if I had known there was a mage capable of disabling spells, I never would have infiltrated this camp! Alex and I need to leave now!
Druella grabbed her husband by the arm, who looked at her in confusion. "Ale-Altan, we need to leave, now!" she said in a hushed whisper as she pulled him towards the exit.
But it was already too late. The old Tazchek spellcaster raised his staff and yelled an incantation- "Let the creatures of shadow be dragged into the light! Let the lies be burned away and replaced with the truth! All shapeshifting and glamor- Dissipate!"
A bright light filled the yurt for a second. When it faded, shouts of surprise and terror suddenly rang out.
Druella looked down for a moment- as she expected, the spellcaster's dissipation spell had torn away her Tazchek glamor and revealed the Lilim beneath. Alex was also back to normal, his expression one of pure fear.
Oh, oh dear.
The Tazchek stared at them, utterly dumbfounded at their unexpected guests. Even the Khan looked surprised, his golden cup falling from his grip and clattering to the floor.
"Um, Druella? Alex whispered as some of the Tazchek slowly reached for their nearest weapons, "I think it's time we made a run for it."
[]
Author's Note: And thus Alex and Druella have found themselves in quite a pickle. Will they even make it out alive? And how will they stop the Khanate now?
