Piratecat said:
It was a
compliment. Sheesh.
Sagiro’s Story Hour, Part 154
Interlude on the Peninsula, part I
Kay’s longboat detaches from the
Stalk Swift and rows discreetly toward the rocky western shore of the Balani Peninsula. For a few moments Kay wonders if the boat has been launched in the right place – there is no inlet, no clear landing point, nothing but rocks and coral. But the rowers know their craft, and maneuver into a tiny hidden bay with an entrance just wide enough for the smallish longboat to slip through.
A dozen armed men are standing back from the shore, waiting for her. Fifteen horses are tethered to some scrubby trees nearby. A tall man in officer’s dress strides forth to greet her, snapping off a crisp bow before speaking.
“General Windstorm, I am Corporal Stather. We are here to escort you to the main rear encampment. The journey should take a day and a half overland. General Largent expresses his gratitude that you’ve come to see him on such short notice.”
Kay looks around at the low rocky hills, concerned. “Thank you, corporal. But isn’t this dangerous? Such a small group, so near to the battlefield? We could easily be ambushed.”
Stathis smiles, but without condescension. “We are far from the front lines, General. No Delfirians have been sighted anywhere near this put-in or our route to the camp. And we have many hidden scouts who will be providing additional protection as we travel. We’ll be safe, I assure you.”
His assurances prove well founded. Kay and her entourage are unmolested through the day’s travel, winding through dry rocky valleys between brown shrub-speckled hills. They camp for the night by a small stream trickling down from a small peak.
The next morning they break camp, expecting to reach Largent later in the afternoon. But they have only been travelling for an hour when an ethereal blue form comes flying in from over a near ridge. The men-at-arms ready their spears and surround the General as a precaution, but Oa Lyanna starts excitedly to ruffle the wind in Kay’s hair.
“It’s a Yrimpa!” she whispers. “My people are near!”
The Yrimpa lands a respectful distance from the armed men, and flies slowly along the ground toward Kay. Like all Yrimpa, his upper body is that of a translucent blue human or half-elf, details discernable in a wispy sort of way. From the waist down he is a swirl of blue vapors.
“Kay Windstorm!” he calls. “I am Tua Pawayya, servitor to our chief, Yaro Karenne. May I approach?”
“Of course,” says Kay, motioning him forward.
“I have a brief message,” says Tua. “Yaro Karenne requests that you speak with him immediately – this afternoon. The Yrimpa have built an air-city that is only a few miles distant – a brief flight.”
“I am on my way to speak with General Largent,” says Kay. “Can this wait?”
Tua Pawayya pitches his voice in a whisper that only Kay can hear. “Bonded One, I believe that Yaro knows why you are here. He would prefer that he see you at once, before you talk with your human leader. But that is a decision for the Bonded One. You should do as you see fit, of course.”
Kay thinks for a moment while Tua maintains a respectful silence. “Could you excuse me for a moment?” Kay says at last. “I want to talk with Stathis.”
“Of course, Bonded One.”
Kay steps her horse over to where Stathis has (discreetly) removed himself. “Corporal, I have been summoned to speak with the Yrimpa, on an urgent matter. Can General Largent wait an extra few hours?”
“I can’t really say, General,” says Stathis, frowning. “I know that he wanted to see you at your earliest possible convenience. But…”
He looks nervously at Tua, hovering nearby.
“…if you have personal business, I’m sure he can brook a short delay.”
“Very good. I will be flying to the Yrimpa camp, but I can’t fly for long enough to get all the way back. I’ll be walking on my own, so I’ll need directions.”
“I’d prefer that you retain an escort…” Stathis begins, but Kay cuts him off.
“I trust your assessment, that I’ll be perfectly safe, Corporal. Don’t worry about me. I’m very good on my own in the wilderness, and I have Oa Lyanna to help protect me. Just tell me where I go to reach the camp.”
Stathis sighs. “Yes, General. See that hill a bit off to the left, with the double peak? The camp is just beyond and to the right of that hill. The path we’re taking actually winds to the left for several miles, through that shadowed valley, before bending sharply to the right.”
“Tell General Largent I still intend to speak to him before he goes to sleep tonight. If not, I’ll see him first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, General.”
Kay dismounts from her horse and walks back to Tua Pawayya.
“I’ll come with you now,” she says, and together with Oa Lyanna she casts
fly. Tua streaks up into the sky. Kay follows.
An hour later they come within sight of the Yrimpa’s air-city. In a vague way it resembles a human city, with some structures that could be buildings, avenues, towers, walls; but all is made of thick white clouds, piled on top of one another and somehow sculpted into shapes and forms. Around these clouds streak the Yrimpa themselves, dozens of them, at home in the vapors. Oa Lyanna stirs happily. “It’s beautiful,” she whispers. Kay nods her agreement.
Minutes later she is escorted into a especially large and detailed cloud edifice, through what might be considered hallways, and into the presence of Yaro Karenne. The leader of the Yrimpa floats toward her, his arms extended in greeting.
“Welcome, Bonded One. I am pleased that you have accepted my invitation. And welcome also to your young companion, Oa Lyanna.”
“It’s our pleasure,” says Kay, hovering. “But I can’t stay for long. My ability to fly only lasts another hour. And I promised General Largent that I would not delay any longer than is necessary.”
“Ah, General Largent,” says Yaro. “It is on that subject that I wanted to speak. Are you comfortable?”
“Yes, quite. Thank you.”
“Good. I’ll get right to the point then. I know that you have been brought here because of my decision to withdraw Yrimpa support from the war against the Delfiri. Yes?”
“Yes. Exactly. What has happened?”
“It hasn’t been anything specific,” says Yaro. “But I feel that the interests of my people are not being reasonably served, even considering the war. I’m sure you realize that the Yrimpa are elite fighting units in a campaign like this one. We are stronger, and incredibly more quick and maneuverable, than a typical Charagan foot soldier or horseman. Largent has used us as such, and that makes sense. But in recent months he has grown more and more… reliant on us, for dangerous missions. We do not fear danger of course, but we have now lost over twenty of our number since we volunteered to serve. Twenty-four, to be precise, bringing our number down from 206 to 182. Given our small population, and our slow rate of reproduction, I must always take into serious account the rate of attrition we suffer. I have already reached an agreement, made a few weeks back, that no more than fifteen Yrimpa would ever be assigned to a specific military operation, in case of a specifically designed ambush or other catastrophic failure.”
“That seems sensible,” says Kay.
“Yes. Well. General Largent was not happy with that compromise, but I made him see reason. I fear that the humans here do not understand the value of a single Yrimpa life. We are a unique race, a blend of magic and element that exists nowhere else on this Prime, or on the elemental planes. A Yrimpa has much, much greater value than one of your prolific humanoid races.”
Kay shifts uncomfortably. Yaro continues.
“A few days ago General Largent approached me and asked to break our agreement. He asked for 30 Yrimpa to commit to a single risky venture. I refused, though I almost reduced him to begging. I decided then that he had lost the right to command us. Traditionally only a Bonded One may issue direct commands to the Yrimpa, and we have fought so far with your blessing, though you have been far away. But without your guidance, our superiors have lost track of priorities. I wish to win this war, and I have no love for the Delfiri, but I will not risk the extinction of my people for this venture.”
“Nor should you,” Kay agrees.
“Bonded One, I wish for you to stay and command us. No other here adequately understands the issues involved.”
“Yaro, I have my own mission, which is also very important to Charagan. But I will go talk to Largent, and try to make him see reason. I’m sure you can come to some sort of compromise that assures the safety of the Yrimpa.”
“Perhaps.” Yaro Karenne’s expression is unreadable.
“I should go at once, then,” says Kay. “With luck I can reach Largent tonight and discuss this with him. I’ll return in the morning if we reach an agreement.”
Yaro stares at Kay for a moment before smiling wanly.
“I will await your return, then. Good luck, wind speed.”
...to be continued...
