Chapter 19

Shi Hou and Evening Rabbit stayed in Tulgadan only for forty-eight hours, as they attempted to get more information about the situation in Tashkek at the same time as they purchased more provisions. The first day was more fruitful than the second, as they found a couple of people to talk to who had dealings with either the Sons of Sextes Jyllis or the Sewer Rats. The information they found on the Sons of Sextes Jyllis came from a dusky-skinned, shawl-clad, Scholar from Sijian named Shani and her, Bodyguard, a Linowan Tribesman clad in dire bear hides and wielding a thaumaturgically enchanted chopping sword named Hrist.

"The Sons of Sextes Jyllis are nothing but thieves and conmen. They strongarmed me last I was in Tashkek putting together an expedition into the cursed lands. I had chanced upon a map in one of the supplemental libraries back home in Sijian that showed the location of the town of Ulthandsor, a town that was reputed to be the location of a minor college of engineering during the high first age. A supplemental campus to the one in Denandsor." Frowned Shani.

"So what happened?" Questioned Shi Hou.

"The Black Yushoto must have gotten wind of my find. He sent some of his thugs to attempt to coerce me into hiring a member of his Gang as an advisor." Spat Shani.

"And did you?" Queried Evening Rabbit.

"No. I sent his men back to him in a box. None threaten the Lady in my presence." Scowled Hrist.

"Unfortunately, the Black Yushoto didn't appreciate that. He sent his assassin after me, Ma Xing. Now, I have the utmost faith in Hrist against most opponents, I have equipped him with the best Thaumaturgical equipment that I can enchant as a graduate of the White University of Sijian. However, as a graduate of the White University of Sijian, I was also able to use divination to discover the nature of our opposition." Continued Shani.

"And?" Asked Shi Hou.

"The Assassin, Ma Xing, is the daughter of Tsaoyun, the God of Assassination by Violence, and one of the Sub-Ministers working under the Constellation of The Corpse in the Bureau of Endings. I refused to chance a clash between an Assassin with that parentage and Hrist. Not with my life as the stakes, anyway. We left, and I likely won't be returning to Tashkek any time soon." Answered Shani.

"I could have taken her." Insisted Hrist.

"She has the ability to change shapes and even infuse her blows with Essence similar to how the Solars. And that is on top of the Dragonblooded Charms the Black Yushoto taught her." Pointed out Shani.

"If the Lady has lost confidence in my abilities, I would be happy to resign my position and return home to Linowa." Retorted Hrist.

"I didn't say that." Sighed Shani.

Shi Hou and Evening Rabbit knew they wouldn't gain anything more from Shani and Hrist that day, and so went looking for information on the Sewer Rats. This they found from a smuggler who had once been on good terms with them. An older, dark-skinned, Southern Man named Ancient Haroun. Apparently, Haroun had been smuggling along the Grey River since before Shi Hou was even born, and knew just about every independent smuggler in the area, and not a few guild factors as well. He was in Tulgadan on business, smuggling weapons to various people, as the War with Peshmi had made the prices go up considerably. He was more than happy to tell what he knew of the Triumvirate of Rodents for a few hundred Dinars.

"Yes, I know of their leaders. I once worked with them on the importation of Hashish into Tashkek from Varsi before we had a falling out. Sholvor the Hidden, Solkan the Bloody, and Simglot the Wyrd. The three of them were children of some long-since-slain Lunar named Balbeg the Hidden, one of their Warriors whose expertise was in hit-and-run warfare. All of them are capable of Charm use." Remarked Haroun.

"What charms?" Questioned Shi Hou.

"That depends on the individual, they each have different skill sets. Sholvor the Hidden is an Assassin and Scout, so has charms that are useful for such things. I have seen him vanish from sight, blending in so well with his surroundings he seems naught but a hazy blur, I have seen him traverse the water of the canals as if it were solid ground, I have seen him instantly realize that a spy is in the room, and strike with a thrown blade produced from out of nowhere." Explained Haroun.

"What of the others?" Queried Evening Rabbit.

"Solkan the Red is a Warrior and a rather brutal one at that. He has mastered the Orgiastic Fugitive Style, a fighting style that is as brutal as it is cunning in its employment of improvised weaponry. I have also seen him fall into a sort of warrior's trance to increase his strength, stamina, and natural durability, and I have seen him run up a vertical wall only to crash down upon an enemy like a falling star." Offered Haroun.

"And the last one? Simglot?" Asked Shi Hou.

"Simglot the Wyrd is a Sorceress and a Healer. I have seen her Conjure steel-beaked gulls to wreck a Riverboat belonging to a rival gang, I have seen her turn Guard Dogs and Horses against their Masters, I have seen her fire bolts of silvery energy at opponents, I have seen her heal Gang Members from mortal injuries in the span of a few hours, and I have seen her turn her ensure that wounds sustained against her in combat fester and turn foul." Informed Haroun.

"That's very helpful, thank you." Nodded Evening Rabbit.

"No, thank you for the Dinars. Unfortunately, I have pressing business to attend to this evening and must prepare for it. I must leave you now." Intoned Haroun before leaving.

Shi Hou and Evening Rabbit intended to seek out further information the next day, but unfortunately, any further answers they might have gotten had been drowned out by news of the fighting in the disputed territory. Apparently, a Battle had been fought near a small village called Assan, the staring contest of both parties over the Cache had finally ended and active warfare had begun. All anyone could talk about now was the fighting, and both Shani and Haroun had vacated Tulgadan in the morning, as swiftly as the news from Assan had arrived.

Shi Hou and Evening Rabbit spent the first half of the day figuring out that they would get no further answers about anything that wasn't related to the war and spent the next few hours purchasing provisions. They left Tulgadan just before the Emir decreed that the City Gates be sealed and that all traffic in or out be temporarily halted and subjected to vigorous search requirements as a wartime emergency measure. Apparently, Peshmi had come off as the victor at Assan and the Emir was worried about Saboteurs. Shi Hou and Evening Rabbit were among the last travelers to exit before the decree came into effect.

As they traveled southeast away from the now locked-down City of Tulgadan, the terrain became increasingly dry and harsh, grasslands giving way to parched scrub and sand. The only major source of water for miles was the Rushy Stream, a minor tributary of the Grey River that fed the Canals of Tashkek. Of course, it was called the Rushy Stream because the terrain that it cut through made it rush forth with enough energy that the navigable tributary turned to rapids in several places.

Riverboats couldn't travel far on the Rushy Stream, which incentivized river travel via Rushy Canoes that could be portaged. The Rushy Canoe was a vessel of wood and bark roughly thirty-three and a quarter Lookshyan Shaku or Thirty and a quarter Great Forks Chi long, and was roughly five Shaku or around four and a half Chi wide. It could carry ten, fully grown people, along with two-hundred-twenty-five stone worth of cargo.

They didn't see any Rushy Canoes on the trip southeast, but that simply meant that they were traveling during a break in trade, likely because of the Emir of Tulgadan's recent decree that all travelers entering and exiting Tulgadan be searched thoroughly. That sort of thing tended to put a damper on trade. However, there would usually be a trade of artifacts and salvage pulled out of the Cursed Lands along with some desert crops such as Cassava, Yams, and Sorghum, elaborately weaved Cotton Kilim cloth, and Opium, while metalwork, timber, alcohol, and other goods were traded the other way.

Eventually, however, the pair made their way out into the more desertified section of the Rushy Stream after two days of traveling. The day after, they arrived at Tashkek with its sandstone buildings and domed architecture, the Rushy River channeled into canals that cut through the city and helped not only irrigate the surrounding areas to allow for enough agriculture in this land of desert sand and stony mesas, but also allow swift transport around the City.

As soon as they arrived, the pair noticed that the inhabitants of the City were tense. The various mercenaries of the City's primary trade kept their hands close to their weaponry and wore their armor out in the streets, while the Rogues of the City's Criminal Underworld kept to the alleyways and never stayed in one spot too long. The average citizen, those farmers who worked the fields outside the City, the Weavers and Dyers who made the Kilim cloth, and all the various tradesmen who made a city function, hurried about, eager to finish their business and get indoors before something happened.

Every now and again, a flash of green armor or a hooded snout could be caught out of the corner of Shi Hou's eyes, belonging to members of the Sons of Sextes Jyllis or the Sewer Rats. When this happened, the owners of said armor or snouts were never alone, nor were they ever unarmed, but they were quick to back down from confrontations, at least while it was still daylight out. A few growled threats or snarled insults were exchanged by the various opposing parties, but no blows. Always, however, the two parties parted with promises to see the other tonight.

"At least they aren't fighting in daylight." Griped Evening Rabbit.

"Of course. The Emir couldn't stand by and wait for the Gangs to weaken each other if they caused a brawl in broad daylight. He'd have to send his guards in to crack down if that happened. Right now, it's to all parties' advantage to keep the battles to after dark." Scoffed Shi Hou.

"Even the Emirs." Stated Evening Rabbit.

"Just so." Agreed Shi Hou.

"I don't like it. These people are living in fear." Groused Evening Rabbit.

"It's not any of our concern, Rabbit. We're here to deliver Grellthorpe's Package. We do that, and we head for Varsi as soon as possible." Pointed out Shi Hou.

"I still don't like it, Monkey." Grumbled Evening Rabbit.

"You don't have to like it, you just have to stick with the plan. We can't help these people, Rabbit. Even if we took out both Gangs somehow and the city was still standing afterward, other, smaller gangs would just rush to fill the power vacuum in the Criminal Underworld. There wouldn't even be an established power disparity between the small gangs that would help keep a lid on things. If anything, that sort of feeding frenzy would be even more bloody and chaotic." Sighed Shi Hou.

"Still." Frowned Evening Rabbit.

"Look, Rabbit, some things can't be solved by cutting them down with a blade. Some things are just societal. A problem like a large and active Criminal Underworld is going to need sustained, long-term, effort to change. It will require years of planning, crackdowns, and legal procedures to address the current gangs, followed by years of reforms to make it so that criminal activity isn't the go-to industry for people who have no other recourse to feed their families. Are you going to stay in Tashkek for the decade and change that would take? I'm not planning to." Admitted Shi Hou.

"It shouldn't be that difficult, Monkey. The Emir should be trying to help his people, not let them suffer so he has an easier time with a future crackdown." Protested Evening Rabbit.

"A lot of things should be that aren't, Rabbit. Just like a lot of things are that shouldn't. We're not strong enough yet to do anything about it." Advised Shi Hou.

"But we will be in the future." Demanded Evening Rabbit.

"We will be in the future." Nodded Shi Hou.

"Then make me a promise, Monkey. When we're strong enough, we return here and we deal with the Gangs." Pleaded Evening Rabbit.

"When we're strong enough we will." Promised Shi Hou.

"Good enough. Let's find the Dry Siaka and deliver Grellthorpe's package to Arslan Beg. The sooner we do that, the sooner we can work on becoming stronger." Intoned Evening Rabbit.

The pair headed off through the main Bazaar, looking for the Dry Siaka. They found the Opium Den nestled into an alleyway that fronted onto the Main Canal of Tashkek. A dusty sign hung off a wrought iron post that had a pair of siaka jaws painted on it in faded paint while the name Dry Siaka was embossed in bronze letters on top and bottom of the sign. The entrance itself was sunken into the side of the building as if the entrance was underground a few steps. Shrugging at each other, Shi Hou and Evening Rabbit entered the Dry Siaka.

As they did, neither noticed the Desert Gecko that looked at them with a calculating gaze from the side of the building across the alley. . .

XXXX

Ziva No-Clan sat patiently, waiting for her scout to return. This desert reminded her slightly of her homeland in the South. True, there was something off about it in the way the essence patterns began to snarl in on themselves just a few leagues east of the city, but the city itself and its immediate surroundings were natural as could be. The nearby presence of tangled essence and cursed territory was also balanced out by the lack of Delzahn Misogynists trying to force themselves upon her simply because their father was Chief.

Ziva No-Clan would take that as a win. Now if only she could get rid of the foolish dynast and his constant complaining. He had gone from annoying to downright intolerable with his whining, simply because he was not accustomed to life in the desert.

"How much longer must we wait in this wasteland?" Griped Cathak Sen.

Ziva No-Clan couldn't help herself, she let out a warning growl like some sort of Lunar Exalt. It was in her blood alongside the capacity to use essence. Fortunately, that seemed to focus the Dynast on something other than his discomfort. Now that she had his attention, maybe she could talk some sense into him before he forced her to lash out at him physically to shut him up.

"A hunter must have patience. You said it yourself, this is no longer a task for a warrior, but a hunter. If you cannot be patient, at least be quiet." Advised Ziva No-Clan.

"But why must we wait out in this sandy waste? Could we not find rooms in the City? Surely the heat must be more bearable indoors?" Pressed Cathak Sen.

"That runs the risk of spooking our prey. We can keep eyes on them from a distance via the Geckos. That is always better when tracking a quarry." Informed Ziva No-Clan.

"But surely such small animals must be found inside the City as well? Could you not do the same from inside a room at an inn?" Tried Cathak Sen.

"If you wish to enter the City and attempt to track the Girl and her Bodyguard yourself, be my guest. I will not be going with you, as it is the wrong move. If you insist on doing so, I will consider the terms of my mission fulfilled and return to Nexus." Insisted Ziva No-Clan.

"They most certainly are not fulfilled! You were sent to guide my Circle in tracking the Anathema!" Protested Cathak Sen.

"I was sent to guide your circle, yes. Your circle then failed in the mission they were given, which means that my mission ended when you sent the rest of them back to the Blessed Isle. I am already exceeding the remit the Dragonlord gave me." Reminded Ziva No-Clan.

"That is hardly our fault, we were not given complete information by your superiors! I have half a mind to report Johoda to the Immaculates, he's clearly too old to be fit for duty any longer! They'll have to relieve him when they arrive!" Snarled Cathak Sen.

Ziva No-Clan's next retort was bitten off, however, as a Deser Gecko crawled its way out of the dunes. She spent motes of essence and a few moments communing with it. When she found out that they were in a 'sunken nest near the big river that smelled of desert poppies' she almost burst out laughing but sought to confirm first. When she learned that the sign on the door of the building had 'big jaws like a predator' painted on it, she did let off a slight chuckle. That could only be the Dry Siaka, a noted opium den in the city run by a former Varisyag Mercenary named Arslan Beg. She dismissed the gecko and then turned back to Cathak Sen.

"The two have entered the Dry Siaka. It's a notable Opium Den in an alley that fronts onto the Main Canal just west of the Bazaar of Tashkek. Do with that information what you will. For your insults against the Dragonlord and your constant affronts to my own sensibilities, I am terminating our partnership. Be thankful I do not do more than that." Intoned Ziva No-Clan.

And with that, Ziva No-Clan stood from where she had knelt in the sand and began walking west toward the grey River. She would then take a riverboat back north to Nexus and report the Circle of Furious Elements' Failure to the Old General. If Cathak Sen wanted to waste his time on a fruitless endeavor by himself, then so be it. Ziva No-Clan would not be a party to it.

Instead, she would let him die the fool's death he so clearly wanted. . .

XXXX

Behind her, she left Cathak Sen sputtering in anger in the desert. For a few moments, that was all he did as he struggled to comprehend the impudence of the Anathema Spawn. He calmed himself after a few moments. Apparently, the rotten apple didn't fall far from the tree where she was concerned. When the Immaculates arrived, he would report her behavior to them as well, and they would deal with her along with the two Anathema.

"I suppose blood will out in the end. It figures." Spat Cathak Sen.

A flash of movement to his right side caught Cathak Sen's eye. He looked over and spotted the Desert Gecko the Anathema Spawn had communed with to scout. Could he trust such a simple beast's information? Had the Anathema Spawn even been forthright with him about what the Lizard had seen? Certainly, an Opium Den seemed to be the sort of place that a pair of Anathema would enter. Corruption was something that Anathema were supposed to be fond of, after all, and what was more corruptive for the average mortal than narcotics?

"Still, better to be safe than sorry. Especially now that she's shown her true colors." Mused Cathak Sen.

Then, in a burst of essence, he fired a bolt of flame at the Desert Gecko. At this range, the small lizard had no chance to dodge. It certainly could not withstand the fiery power of Hesiesh that burned in Cathak Sen's soul. The Elemental Bolt Attack slammed into the Gecko and immolated it as it let out a single shriek of pain before succumbing to the power of the flames.

"That's better. Couldn't take the chance that Anathema Spawn left any surprises behind, after all." Nodded Cathak Sen.

Then he turned and headed toward the City of Tashkek looming in the distance. He would get a room and pay some street urchin to watch the Dry Siaka and report back to him with the Anathemas' comings and goings. In a city like Tashkek, there must be no shortage of poor street orphans willing to take Good Jade Scrip for a simple job like that. As he walked, Cathak Sen grinned to himself. Who needs that Anathema Spawn? Cathak Sen would continue his tracking mission on his own.

And the Immaculates would reward him for it when they arrived. . .

XXXX

AN: Here we have the arrival at Tashkek, the initial tone of the City, Ziva No-Clan and Cathak Sen dissolving their partnership, and a bit about the war between Peshmi and Tulgadan. We also get a bit more of me worldbuilding, but I've been doing that a lot this entire fic. Plains People, Varsiyags, the bit about all these independent cities, a lot of it is all me.

The Southern Scavenger Lands has surprisingly few detailed areas compared to the Northern Scavenger Lands. Aside from Thorns, Harborhead, and a few other sections, we mostly get names of a few places and that's it. The Grey River is almost completely untouched by canon outside of the name of the City of Varsi, a bit about the cursed lands to the East around Denandsor, and of course, the city of Nexus where the Grey River flows into the Yellow River to become the Yanaze River.

More pressing for the overall plot is Ziva No-Clan returning to Nexus. Her report is not likely to remain confined to the Queen of Midnight and Dragonlord Johoda, especially since Cathak Sen let the beans slip at the end there about calling in the Immaculates. Expect her parts to involve Council Politics in Nexus in the near future, as this has the potential to see the Queen of Midnight replaced on the Council.

At any rate, the next chapter will have Shi Hou and Evening Rabbit delivering the package and running afoul of the Sewer Rats as they do so, along with more from Cathak Sen's solo mission.

Stay tuned. . .