Sweet Voice of Brass and Glory
-- Leopard Chao, Commander of the Seven Spears Mercenary Company
"I'd learned a little of our history from my own dreams and prayers and my conversations with my brother by the time Vaults the Moon and I had crossed the Gray River. I knew what we'd been in the First Age and I knew Heaven's laws about the gods' place in Creation. What I saw when I reached Celos, though, had me prepared to throw those old laws away.
"Sweet Brass was a marvel, shining with splendor and almost, in her own domain, as powerful as one of my brothers. She did not rule over the city, or even the mercenary company that employed her, but stood with them, side-by-side, in loyal service; service she pledged to me when she saw my castemark. But of what use is a wonder like that watching spectrally from the sidelines? Better that she should come to stand and fight at our backs.
"I'm not fool enough to think that every spirit I meet will be the same, eager to serve as our helpmeets where the Dragon Bloods and Lunars have failed us; proud Shouting With Iron and his scattered hill tribe are proof enough of that. But the righteous should be rewarded with action and honor, not pushed into the wings like glorified actuaries. Sweet Brass is among the righteous; she knows of my plan and but waits to hear my call.
-- Storm of Amber, Zenith