The Five Changes of Fire
"Through the desert, 'cross the plains." Cathak Nekuto huffed out a cadence as the miles fell away beneath his feet. Two weeks took him to the edge of The Marukan Alliance, where rolling plains and rich streams gave way to lower, more marshy terrain. Three weeks more took the commander of the Marukan First Legion out of the unclaimed wild-lands entirely and into the wet tropics of Harborhead.
"Steaming jungles, tropic rains." He had left his suit of gunzosha armor behind. The Crimson Dragon did not even wear the magical reinforced breastplate he had had when he first entered into the service of the solars after the Battle of the Glass Canyon; nor did he carry his daiklave. He had attuned every last mote of his Essence to the three hundred catty brick of red jade he carried slung in a canvas sack on his back.
"No mortal foe can stop me now." Not that Nekuto was defenseless. He was better trained than any but the most heroic of mortal foes, he had his natural Exalted resilience and he had a perfectly crafted suit of lamellar armor and a matching straightsword, the gift of an hour's work by Rivers Between Us. And a good thing, too, for sounds in the jungle during the sixth week of his retreat made him think that he would need them.
"This gonna be my solemn vow." Nekuto finished the cadence and pulled in three deep breaths to steady himself. The giant jade brick weighed heavily on his back, but he couldn't let go or he'd lose his attunement and ruin his meditations. Instead, he hunched over, crept forward and reminded himself that pain is temporary.
Back straining, the Crimson Dragon peered around a tree and down onto a skirmish; a scale of the black-skinned warriors native to the region had engaged a similarly-sized unit of Realm heavy infantry, and casualties from both sides lay scattered all around. The Realm troops fought as Realm troops should, formed up tight around their commander - water-aspected, by the look of her - and every man covering the next with his shield. But the jungle raiders were no ordinary force; fully half were Brides of Ahlat, the fierce warrior-women devoted to, and empowered by, the bullish war god of the south. Though not a one was an Essence-user, each was more skilled than her Realm counterpart, and they seemed battle-blessed, besides.
Nekuto was about to turn away. He had left his service to the Realm behind; this was not his fight. Not anymore. But then he saw the banner the Realm troops flew and the face of the man who held it. "Hejek!"
The fire aspect hefted the jade brick from his back and clutched the leather bag in his rough hands. He spun in place, whipping the bag around like a hammer-thrower competing in the Empress' Games. Nekuto leapt at the last, and the bag's momentum carried him through the air and towards the fight; he drew his sword as he flew.
The jade brick, tall as Nekuto's shoulder, crashed to the ground with the force of a meteor and sent Harborhead warriors flying from their feet. Nekuto landed by its side and, one hand resting always on top, used it as a bulwark as he slashed into the jungle raiders. With the advantage of surprise and the Crimson Dragon's strength added to the fray, the battle ended quickly and in the Realm's favor.
The water aspect approached Nekuto when it was done, her long hair rippling like the sea and the air around her boiling a rich blue. She held out her hand. "Salve. I'm Ragara Tusare, sergeant, Imperial 47th, fifth dragon..."
Nekuto brushed past her, dragging his brick along behind him. "Hejek!"
The young man turned and pulled off his helmet as Nekuto pulled him into a one-armed hug. "Nekuto?" He blinked, then blinked again.
"You're alive? I thought those anathema had..."
Nekuto shook his head fiercely and snorted. "No. I thought you'd..."
"We had to scatter when those elementals laid into us. Some fell behind, but me and a few others marched south to the Summer Mountains and through the hills to Kirighast. I sent my father a letter, and he got me posted with the Legion here again." Hejek hugged his adopted brother close. "What about you? Did you get reassigned to Kirighast?"
Ragara Tusare had begun dressing down her men after she saw Nekuto and Hejek knew each other, but now she stood uncomfortably close, not quite eavesdropping, but hovering and impatient.
"I..." Nekuto bit his lip. "I'm still in the Scavenger Lands; it's a new assignment."
Hejek smiled. "Another Wild Hunt?"
"No... This is something different." A stone caught in Nekuto's voice and he had to cough. He couldn't tell him who he served; there was no shame in it, only honor, but Hejek just wouldn't understand.
Ragara Tusare, and her undoubtedly dynastic sympathies, definitely wouldn't understand.
"Nekuto?" Hejek looked past Nekuto, at the great jade brick. His eyes went wide. "Nekuto! Is that pure jade? It must be worth five talents at least! What are you doing with that?"
He glanced at Tusare. "I have a high military post; a lot of responsibility and authority."
"In the Scavenger Lands?"
Nekuto dipped his head. "I don't serve the Realm anymore."
"Then who...?" Hejek placed a hand on Nekuto's shoulder. "No. Oh, no. Nekuto, you don't..."
"They're good men, Hejek. I swear to you. By what we shared, trust me on this."
"They've only tricked you somehow." Hejek dropped his hand, but he did not step back. "Come back with me to Kirighast; we can get this sorted out."
"Hejek, I can't. They tell no lies. They put their faith in me, gave me everything I've ever wanted. I must repay them for that."
"Nekuto... Don't you still..."
"I do. But I made them a promise."
"You made me a promise, once..."
Nekuto gritted his teeth and kept his voice low. "You could come back with me, Hejek."
"No."
"The garrison in Harborhead won't last much longer. The natives are getting restless and Ma-Ha-Suchi's war drums will come near before you know. Leave now, before it's too late."
Hejek stood straight. "I, too, have a duty to discharge."
Nekuto nodded, once. He glanced at Tusare once more. "Is your sergeant good?"
"Best I've had since you."
"Then when it all turns sour, bring her to the heart of the Marukan. You'll see how things stand, soon enough, and my lords need good commanders."
Nekuto straightened his back and turned away. He hefted the jade brick onto his back again and marched quickly off, taking up his cadence once more. "I have honor, I have pride."
