Editing Three Visits For the Brass Lady
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"Dance away, demon. Whatever he has done, he is not for you." Sweet Brass touched her hand to her sword hilt. | "Dance away, demon. Whatever he has done, he is not for you." Sweet Brass touched her hand to her sword hilt. | ||
− | "Is he for you, then, goddess?" Stanewald smiled, and her smile was cruel. "Small thing that you are, material, defiant of your station | + | "Is he for you, then, goddess?" Stanewald smiled, and her smile was cruel. "Small thing that you are, material, defiant of your station" |
"He is for his people, demon, and for mine." There was steel behind Sweet Brass' voice. | "He is for his people, demon, and for mine." There was steel behind Sweet Brass' voice. | ||
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She tried, of course. She drew her short-blade from its scabbard and stabbed wildly, but she could no more touch the Legionaries than she could slay the wind and they marched up the steps to her shrine in perfect formation. This was it, then: a quick strike to shatter the House of Courage and send her spectrally back to her sanctum in the [[Pagoda of Infinite Strategy]], without strength or speed enough to return to Storm's side. | She tried, of course. She drew her short-blade from its scabbard and stabbed wildly, but she could no more touch the Legionaries than she could slay the wind and they marched up the steps to her shrine in perfect formation. This was it, then: a quick strike to shatter the House of Courage and send her spectrally back to her sanctum in the [[Pagoda of Infinite Strategy]], without strength or speed enough to return to Storm's side. | ||
− | The goddess had only one chance: to use her Essence to Open the Army's Way and hope that someone - [[ | + | The goddess had only one chance: to use her Essence to Open the Army's Way and hope that someone - the [[Qinglong Alliance]], [[Rivers Between Us]], [[Choshu Ishi]], ''anyone'' - would be quick-witted, and quick-footed, enough to jump through to her aid. |
− | But as she raised her signal-horn to her lips, Sweet Brass got a clear look at the Legionaries kit and saw equipment that would have been the envy of the First Age; the crackling tips of Shock Pikes, the polished lenses of Discrete Essence Armor, and on their shoulders, their insignia. | + | But as she raised her signal-horn to her lips, Sweet Brass got a clear look at the Legionaries kit and saw equipment that would have been the envy of the First Age; the crackling tips of Shock Pikes, the polished lenses of Discrete Essence Armor, and on their shoulders, their insignia. |
− | The Sweet Voice of Brass and Glory lowered her horn. | + | These were no ordinary Brass Legionaries; these were the Sun Guards, the personal forces of Sunipa, Goddess of Soldiers, War Goddess of the East. The Sweet Voice of Brass and Glory lowered her horn. |
− | And then she | + | And then Sunipa herself stood before her. Her skin was pale, her hair was silver-gray and her eyes were jet. In her left hand she held Delicate Scarlet Blossom, a fire lance sized for a warstrider, and in her right she held Neverfrost, a daiklave with a blade carved from the ice of the Elemental Pole of Air. Her dragon armor was impossibly fine steel, but the shadow of her royal warstrider, Dreadful Necessity, hung about her like a cloak. She was a fearsome sight, a military machine given single form, and in a voice no less terrible she said, "Greetings, my captain." |
− | + | Sweet Brass bowed low to her superior. "Greetings, my lady. Your visit honors me. In a moment I can prepare tea..." | |
− | " | + | "No need. We have business to discuss, any not much time for it." |
− | + | Sweet Brass bowed again. "What are Heaven's orders?" | |
− | + | "Heaven has none, but I am a different matter. This business is personal." Sunipa handed her weapons to a waiting Legionnaire and leaned against the wooden water trough. | |
− | + | Sweet Brass nodded her readiness. | |
− | + | "War comes to the East on swift wings," Sunipa said, "and none can say where it will land. At our planning sessions, Siakal gnashes her razor teeth that the [[Roseblack]] has left her waters for my sphere of influence; [[Tien Yu]]'s reports on [[Lookshy]]'s stance change daily; and the [[Mask of Winters]] intentions are beyond even the Sidereals' abilities to forsee, try as they might. | |
− | " | + | "This uncertainty frustrates, though the tidings have been only good for our budget. Expect [[a bonus]] when next you draw your pay, and a new title if things continue this way." |
− | The | + | The two goddesses shared a smile. |
− | " | + | "But, all unwitting, [[An Oathsword Circle|your lords]] create more frustrations by the day. Even [[Cathak Nekuto|their commander]] dashed Ahlat's careful plans for an uprising in Harborhead to the ground with but [[The Five Changes of Fire|a moment's action]]. You should see how he rails around the Crimson Panoply..." |
− | " | + | Sunipa sighed and shook her head. "And you are in the thick of it. You've made personal enemies just standing here, and if you war with Lookshy you'd face Tien Yu." |
− | + | "Lady," Sweet Brass said, after some consideration, "I bear Tien Yu no ill will. If we come to blows, it will be an honorable duel." | |
− | " | + | "Honorable, yes, but not equal; she is your match and more. Stanewald you were lucky to catch in a rage and the Red Root Sage is not one to underestimate, elemental or no. And what if Ahlat sent Sharp Edge, Dedicant of the Daiklave, to test your mettle? How long would you stand?" |
− | "I | + | "Lady, I..." |
− | + | "You are a worthy relay, but if it comes to personal battle you must be more. I will not have you lose to someone from another department or fall to soon from a colleague from within. That would embarrass us." | |
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Sweet Brass took a breath, and then said, "Lady, what would you have me do?" | Sweet Brass took a breath, and then said, "Lady, what would you have me do?" | ||
− | "I | + | "Train with me. I will teach you the Art of Forceful Declaration, that you might stand toe-to-toe with the worst the world can offer and bring pride to our department." |
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− | " | + | "But..." Sweet Brass glanced over her should, to the valley where Storm of Amber trained. He had two months left... |
− | " | + | "Let my Sun Guards take your place for a time, oh Sweet Voice of Brass and Glory. At my command, you will find them no less dedicated, skilled or imposing guards than you yourself. Your golden lord will be safe in their care." |
− | The junior goddess nodded. " | + | The junior goddess nodded and picked her short-blade up from the floor of her shrine. "Then let them guard well; I am ready to learn." |
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[[Heaven's Mandate]] | [[Heaven's Mandate]] |