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Age of Finality
"Taro led us to Bahimatt. My son is still in Sankive, or wherever the Asthadash went." He shrugged, wiping away tears.
Dameneh touched his shoulder. "You lost a lot and gave a lot. You sound like a good man, and one day you will be a great leader."
Sugriva laughed. "Leader? I'm hardly a warrior."
"The little black boy is right," Divyan said. "You will make a great leader. Not while General Humbari is alive, but we live in rapidly changing times."
The city came into view, and a horn blared in the distance. Divyan said, "I will go ahead and let Anka know they come in peace."
The little boy held Sugriva's hand. "You survived another attempt on your life, but this time Humbari was willing to sacrifice Divyan to see it happen."
"I know." He stared at his feet. "I will be executed when we get into the city."
"No. Volden has plans for you. Great plans."
***
DIAN XIAO LED THE ARMY and refugees into Bahimatt. His two guards were beside him, and Dameneh and Sugriva stood behind them. It was a position of honor, something Sugriva felt he hadn't earned. While Dameneh displayed the miracle of understanding languages, Sugriva only showed he could shift into a monkey and monkey-man. When Sugriva went to show off his elemental powers, they were cheap tricks compared to what the foreign warriors could conjure. It made Sugriva feel sick.
The massive gates of Bahimatt opened, and Sugriva felt like he was entering with the large army, not returning home. Horns blew and soldiers lined the streets at attention. Prince Anka and General Humbari waited at the nearest square. Prince Anka smiled, though it was reserved. His arms were behind his back, and he wore his finest jewels and silk. General Humbari was in his janaav form, arms crossed, teeth bared. He wanted battle, and his advice to Prince Anka was definitely not heeded: close the gates and slaughter them before they can usurp the city.
Once they reached the square, Dameneh's eyes rolled back, and he looked blank. Sugriva looked around, then back to the little boy. "Are you okay? Please don't die, little one, you are the only one who can speak to all of us."
The rest of the assembly was also watching, fascinated with all the strange miracles the boy had already done.
Then Dameneh mentally returned, his eyes focused. He walked up to the leader of the Dian clan, then tapped the man's forehead with his staff. The warriors fidgeted, though they stood still. "You will understand," he said, then returned to his place.
Prince Anka said, "Welcome to our city, Bahimatt. I am Prince Anka. We were the first here, followed by that boy's people. You are the third nation to enter these walls. The city is far larger than even all three of us, and we marked an area for your people."
There was a moment of silence. Dian Xiao looked confused, then glanced at Dameneh. Dameneh just smirked and nodded toward Prince Anka, then muttered something in a foreign tongue.
Xiao said, "I am Dian Xiao, daimyo of the Dian clan. This is all that is left of us. We do not come to be told where to go, but we will sit down and work with you so we may survive what is to come. In dreams, I see a city with several people mingled, not three people separated by fear of each other. It would seem Prince Anka, the little prophet Dameneh, and myself would be the heads of this city. We will make a council and discuss the future. If you would, though, show us to our temporary quarters so we can sleep. I will meet with you in the morning to discuss our future quarters."
The city looked dumbstruck. Everyone could understand Xiao's words.
Prince Anka's body quivered, his jaw set. "We will meet, and my generals will be there. You can bring whatever council you already have—"
Xiao raised his hand, cutting off the prince. Prince Anka was taken aback enough to actually stop talking. Xiao said, "I understand you were here first. I understand you have honor and expectations. I am here to tell you, we have our own traditions and ways. Your general is not my equal, just as mine are not yours. They will not be present. Should your generals sit in on our council, I will consider it an intentional stain on my honor. I will cut you and your men down and work only with Dameneh, since your people will suddenly be without leadership. They will be as a snake without a head, a corpse flailing about as if with purpose, but it will not know where to go. We will pick it up, skin it of that which clings to you, and consume those who will join our ranks." He paused. Humbari's rage was barely contained. Then Xiao said, "You will go to the council, without your generals, correct?"
Prince Anka was shaking, a growl emanating from the back of his throat. Then the tremors subsided, and the prince squeaked out, "We have an understanding." Regaining his composure, he announced more assertively, "But we will have Sugriva, and he will be executed by the end of the day. He is dangerous, touched by chaos, and we have endured his violent temperament long enough."
Xiao looked back to Sugriva, then to Damaneh. He looked to Prince Anka, then let out a belly laugh. "You send a man meant for death to greet us? Do you send your grandmother's corpse to great foreign dignitaries? You threaten to slight me. If the monkey-shifting-thing is struck down, you slight me and we will slaughter you where you stand. The consequences of bloodshed are preferable to the shame of dishonor. If you let him live, then you have not slighted us. Make your decision, little prince."
Prince Anka took a step back. General Humbari took a step forward. Sugriva prepared for a battle, but Dameneh put a hand on his leg and shook his head. "It'll be okay." He smiled that boyish smile.
"The monkey will live," Prince Anka said between gritted teeth. "He will remain with you or Dameneh, and he is not allowed into our sectors on pain of death. He is a nuisance, and you will want to be rid of him soon enough."
Xiao bowed. "Thank you for this consideration. We look forward to settling this city together for the coming war."
"War?" Prince Anka asked.
"The demons follow you. The gods follow us. You don't think there will be war? Perhaps you're not fit to be on the council at all." He laughed and his two guards chuckled with him, including the one without an arm. Sugriva wanted to laugh at the repeated embarrassment heaped on Anka, but he held back.
Humbari roared, "You will not talk to the prince that way. He is good and wise, and you are a speck in comparison."
Xiao nodded, and the one-armed warrior known as Kotoji stepped forward. He held a long, studded club in his left hand. Xiao said, "My samurai challenges your bodyguard on my behalf. Your servant speaks out of line and should learn his place."
General Humbari roared, "He is missing an arm! How can this be a fair fight? You speak of slights, and this is the warrior you will have me kill?"
Kotoji snickered and said something. Xiao translated. "He believes you will die at his hands.” There was a pause. “I mean hand. Will you take his insult?"
General Humbari growled.
The two walked to each other, and in the blink of the eye Kotoji conjured the earth to his club and slammed a hammer into the bear's gut, sending him flying back. When Humbari was about to land, Kotoji clacked his wood sandals against the ground and a pillar of earth came up to meet the bear in the back. Humbari spat blood and rolled on the floor.
"Up," Prince Anka commanded.
The bear tried, and even shifted into a man. "I can't," he bellowed. "I can't feel my legs." Tears slipped down his cheeks.
Xiao said, "I look forward to our negotiations tomorrow. Please tell your men to know their place." Xiao bowed and walked off.
***
Find out the origin story of Kotoji, the one-armed samurai, in the War of Chaos and Order Volume 4!