Sarah's PoV - South Wind's Court - Ayutthaya

As the two servants escorted them through the palace they caught glimpses into the rooms they passed. The interior was a mixture of polished stone, airy screens, and engraved wooden furnishings. Though it was immaculate by Human standards, each inhalation brought Sarah the scents of thousands of beings. Some of the oldest scents were the strongest, from repeated reinforcement, but others had faded to the barest trickle; ghostly whispers of people's lives spent in service from youth to their twilight years.

The sense of their fading lives sent a shiver up Sarah's spine that had her cursing Precognition.

'Do you feel like there is an incoming storm?' projected Sarah.

Amdirlain shot her a sad smile. 'This might be where I part ways with you.'

'Is it Beijing and then onto Hades?'

'Another side trip after Beijing first. I need at least one more Home Plane. Atonement is strong enough to serve as one now, and hopefully its purpose means I'm allowed to use it.'

The servants guided them up a staircase with a banister carved with coiling serpentine dragons and phoenixes crisscrossing its curved length. Sarah brushed her fingers across a hardwood pillar and psionic patterns read its history. Their guides shared the bloodlines of many that had cared for the place, stirring memories of tribes Sarah once had working for her. On the third floor, the pair led them along a corridor decorated with wood inserts showing Buddha praying in various settings. At the end of the corridor their guides slid aside a set of screens to usher them into a spacious, high-ceilinged chamber. The far wall was a mesh work featuring peacocks at every junction, white silk drapes fluttered in the cool breeze that vents directed to waft through the room. Spread out in a circle around the room were pairs of long daybeds with lots of high padded cushions to allow people to sit upright. The deep red of the mattresses and pillows made them stand out from the pale polished teak flooring and the frames.

Instead of her stately attire, Zhūquè wore a red wushu uniform with decorative clasps shaped like nesting birds. She had restricted her long, glossy black hair to a short braid that only descended to her lower back.

Across a gap in the circle to her left, an average-looking man had risen from another daybed and directed his attention towards the group. He looked indecisively between Amdirlain and Master Cyrus before he inclined his head respectfully to Amdirlain first. His scent wasn't Human, but a clean odour she'd caught from other immortals.

The female guide stepped forward. "Honoured guests, allow me to present you to Lady Zhūquè and General Sittichai Bunma."

Sarah could feel the pressure of the Immortal's strength even in the room with Zhūquè. After inclining his head to Master Cyrus, Sittichai openly stared at Amdirlain, and his attention made Sarah's hackles rise. Amdirlain's increased level had strengthened the effect of her Charisma and Muse's Embrace, even when the Power was in passive mode. Dragon instincts she kept suppressed, declaring that a more powerful mate would come forward to attract Amdirlain away. The tension from their inequality had been an uncomfortable itch in the back of Sarah's mind for years.

The subtle shifts in people's reactions made it clear when Amdirlain's attraction took hold and aggravated the instinctive territorial response. Beneath the composed expression she'd perfected in Hell, not even a fraction of the struggle for restraint showed.

Amdirlain interlaced her fingers with Sarah's, holding on reassuringly as she gave the pair a diplomatic smile learned on Qil Tris. "Lady Zhūquè, it's an honour to be invited to meet with you again. General Bunma, I hope that our first meeting goes well."

I'll need to get stronger while she's away—stupid hindbrain.

Zhūquè waved the group to their seats. "Please, I asked you to dispense with titles before, Am. Let us all talk as if we were family since you treat even Master Jinfeng better than many treat blood kin."

"Auntie, your invitation used titles, as did the palace guides," interjected Kadaklan. "You're sending mixed messages."

"Then let me begin again. I'm Zhūquè and Sittichai is my advisor for border issues. Please sit down so we can discuss-"

"Please stop there," Sarah interjected, as she felt Amdirlain's curiosity rise.

"I'm hoping Am will have advice to help resolve the matter peacefully," persisted Zhūquè.

Irritation at another person endangering her mate burned brightly, but Sarah only straightened. "Lady Zhūquè, I'm happy for you to request mine or Jinfeng's help, but please don't inform Am of the situation. She has things she needs to resolve that further efforts for mortals on a large scale would endanger."

"I'm confused." Zhūquè sat and motioned again for the other to make themselves comfortable.

"An Aspect has warned Am that she has intervened in too many Mortal lives already, and her situation might become untenable if she persists." Sarah waited for Amdirlain to pick a seat. The one Sarah selected in response placed her between Amdirlain and Sittichai on the shortest route around the circle. It was stupid and juvenile, and she felt Amdirlain's warm reassurance through their link, but the gesture made the ache between her shoulders relent.

'You should focus on levelling instead of teaching and waiting for me while I'm away,' projected Amdirlain. 'Your reactions to potential challengers are getting stronger. You're the person I love, Sarah, and I don't care if someone is dumb enough to challenge you. We'd obliterate them together if they dared. Don't forget that.'

Zhūquè crooned sadly. "That lazy cat will tease me so much if you leave already."

"We've been here a week, and I only gave him a similar time. You should tease him since you prepared techniques suitable to me without having to fight," said Amdirlain.

Zhūquè laughed. "I might have to do that."

Sittichai waited for everyone to seat themselves before he perched on the edge of his daybed. As he went to speak, Zhūquè glanced at him and he cut himself off.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" asked Zhūquè.

"No, it's among the laws of this realm. I have to face a judgement that weighs my interference in Mortal lives. Whenever my interference meets certain criteria, I experience the consequences from their perspective."

"All those whose lives you influenced?" Zhūquè motioned northwards.

"A lot more than the thousands in the north. Fortunately, it cuts off beyond a certain degree of separation, but last time I got punished for killing evil men because I left their children fatherless," clarified Amdirlain.

Zhūquè winced. "Then I'll not add to your burden."

"I appreciate the research you put into these technique scrolls; through them I've already improved with Ki Movement," said Amdirlain. "Though I still have to get my Ki Flight to advance, with enough space to work, I'm more confident I can do so."

"What counts as big enough?" asked Zhūquè.

"Off planet, since I'll need a vast expanse to push my speed," clarified Amdirlain.

Sittichai perked up further. "Are you able to fly in the void of space?"

Nostalgia mingles with the spike of interest in his scent, and Sarah indulged her curiosity. "Were you an Immortal in the old realm?"

"I only possessed Immortal Spirit then," advised Sittichai. "How did you know I was that old?"

"Most people wouldn't even use the term space." Sarah grinned. "Let alone the void of space. It's just the night sky. I've found the people of the kingdoms set a lot of old knowledge aside since it didn't help their immediate survival."

A translucent orb appeared near Sittichai's shoulder, and while Sarah didn't hear the words it delivered, Sittichai and Amdirlain stiffened. Amdirlain quickly relayed the report about multiple troop camps on the western border moving east towards the South Wind's lands.

'Did you know?' projected Amdirlain to Sarah alone.

'You didn't need to know.'

'That's a yes. Okay.'

Sarah squeezed Amdirlain's hand lightly. "Maybe you should head off?"

'If they have a war about to start, there is no way you'll be able to isolate yourself enough," projected Sarah.

Sittichai started to protest, but Amdirlain shook her head. "You've got patrols advising you about troop movements. I gather this is what you wanted to meet with us about?"

"Yes."

"Then me asking you to ignore the Message isn't fair to them." Amdirlain rose and smiled sadly at Sarah. "They'd like some help. You and Jinfeng need levels, so it makes sense. I should leave the region completely?"

Sarah nodded and stood with her. "Yeah, I didn't just mean back to the guest house. Any conflict will bleed news throughout the city."

Zhūquè sighed. "You won't stay a little while?"

"My abilities were warning about an approaching storm of events. If the situation goes further, any inaction may receive harsh judgement," Amdirlain glanced at Sarah. 'I wanted more time together.'

Sarah projected a warmth and longing through their link.

"I would not wish to be the source of your suffering. Let's pause so you can say your farewells. Know that you are welcome to return when you feel it safe," said Zhūquè.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Zhūquè, and for your effort in researching the techniques for me. Once I'm free of my current dilemma, I hope to return for a longer visit." Amdirlain bowed with crisp precision.

"I'd love to host you properly," said Zhūquè.

Amdirlain laughed lightly. "A quiet guest house and private meetings are my idea of being hosted properly."

Zhūquè motioned her towards the others and withdrew into a side room with Sittichai.

As Amdirlain crossed the room, she stopped to give Klipyl and Kadaklan a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"I hoped to stay for years and properly spoil your children."

Klipyl sniffed back tears and hugged her again. "I would have loved that, but I've got stories to tell them of their Auntie Am. You created all those gifts last night, and insisted on that female-only party, but I didn't expect you to need to leave today."

"Baby showers are traditional," murmured Amdirlain.

"I knew the journey's end was in sight, yet I didn't expect it to come so abruptly," said Kadaklan, once his wife's grip on Amdirlain started to ease.

"Come back to us safely, Sis." Klipyl caught Amdirlain's hands as she drew back.

"I'll do my best," said Amdirlain.

As she stepped to Jinfeng, a Jian with a crystalline hilt appeared in Amdirlain's hand and she presented its hilt to her. "I made a little something for you. Take care of yourself, Jinfeng. Don't let Sarah drag you into anything too crazy."

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Jinfeng bowed deeply before receiving the blade from her with both hands. "Any contribution from me would be minor. It has been an honour studying with you, Sifu."

"Teaching and training with you helped me find insight as well," said Amdirlain.

Master Cyrus, who had taken a seat nearest the entry, started to move to the door, but Sarah touched his shoulder. "I'd prefer a private goodbye."

Amdirlain bowed to Master Cyrus. "We've both come far since I was the injured student at the monastery."

"I hope my efforts have smoothed your way," said Master Cyrus.

"I wouldn't have gotten this far without you." A memory crystal appeared in Amdirlain's hands and she pressed it on Master Cyrus. "A copy of every text from every library I've heard since I started to listen again."

'Incorrigible,' returned Master Cyrus, as he received it from her. 'The gesture alone is something I'll treasure.'

While they exchanged their farewells, the guides opened the doors.

Sarah's gaze weighed on Amdirlain as she entered the corridor first, drinking in the graceful yet restrained movements.

The servants discretely slid the doors closed without prompting from Sarah.

Amdirlain turned and caught Sarah's face in both hands—a shift in noise levels gave the concealments away—before she claimed Sarah's mouth. Sarah drew her close, savouring the contact.

When the kiss reluctantly ended, Amdirlain only drew back slightly, and rested her forehead against Sarah's. "A quick visit to the imperial city, see where I can find the Jade Emperor, and then I'll head off."

Sarah kept her emotions restrained. "I know you won't stay safe, but ensure you always have a clean getaway option, sweetie."

"I'll try. Catch you on the flip side, my love."

With that, Amdirlain was gone, and Sarah took a moment to settle her reactions before she re-entered the room. As she returned to her seat, servants peeked into the other room and advised Zhūquè of her return.

When the pair returned to the room, the tension rolling off Sittichai broadcast his eagerness to rush off to a fight.

"Zhūquè, Sittichai; I know the situation on your western border and the foes involved. Shall we discuss it now?"

Sittichai frowned. "You came here already aware of it?"

"We weren't told what matters Zhūquè wanted to address, or Amdirlain would never have accompanied us. I know about your border issue since I've had the region under ongoing reconnaissance since the Sahuagin swarm. It's not a situation I would involve Amdirlain in."

"The invite included my military title, and you came along anyway," noted Sittichai cynically.

Klipyl fixed Sittichai with a beaming smile, and Sarah held her retort. "You're not trying to apply your way to another's path, are you, General Sittichai?"

"As host, the fault is mine," said Zhūquè.

Sittichai stiffened and started to protest.

"Hush, Sittichai, I'm allowed to criticise myself. I asked my secretary to extend invitations, and they are used to people coming to see me without question," sighed Zhūquè. "I might have to get them to take a page from the East Wind's court and ensure they include reasons with strangers."

The pressure itching against Sarah's instincts cut off.

"Thank you for that insight, Lady Zhūquè. We figured this discussion would involve soldiers. So Amdirlain entrusted me with a veto in case she got fixated on solving issues she shouldn't. If Sittichai were asking about teaching troops Universal Life or something else, I'd have left the choice to her. Now. What military action do you want to take?"

"Using my name also applies to Am's family and student, unless you're more comfortable calling me Auntie." Zhūquè eyed Kadaklan with amusement. "The demons aggravated the situation, so I hoped to calm it down. Before discovering the cult stronghold, I had believed they were sabre-rattling to get concessions."

"The problem with trying to be diplomatic is that it counts on the other party being reasonable. Chromatic dragons and the species they develop the most control over are never reasonable."

"You're sure war is unavoidable?" asked Zhūquè.

"Yes, it's unavoidable, especially with troops now moving."

Sittichai frowned. "You feel young to me. What sort of experience do you have with their methods?"

Don't bite his head off, don't bite his head off.

"Billions of years in lifetimes that I can fully remember. What extensive knowledge do you have of the chromatic dragons of this realm?" Sarah asked, her voice icy. "Their methods are the same everywhere because of their mindset. Only the species they use as tools vary."

Tiamat wanted a collection of vicious and callous species, and she got exactly what she wanted. Ori based their mindsets on Tiamat's direct offspring.

Flames flared in Zhūquè's gaze as she stared at Sittichai. "Sittichai, find your manners. What is your assessment based on your scouting, Sarah?"

"From the sizes of the nests and the troop buildup along the border, they've been preparing to go to war for years. They now have too great a population pressure to do anything else," advised Sarah. She projected satellite images to hover in the middle of the room. The ground level of a nest took centre stage, awash with tens of thousands of drilling troops. While similar to Lizardfolk, their scales were uniformly smooth, and their maws contained venomous fangs.

Zhūquè sighed. "These are not soulless monsters."

"True, they aren't, which is why I'm not annihilating everything west of the border." Sarah pulled back the focus of the satellite and, along the western border, highlighted hundreds of similar-sized nests. Streamers with icons identifying types of troops and supply caravans started to spear east from all the camps along the border. Phoenix icons highlighted the Human troops positioned to meet only the centre of their offense.

"That is more camps than I was aware of," said Sittichai. "Will you permit me to copy these images, Sarah? I'll have to get new orders to our field commanders."

With Amdirlain gone, it was easier to think around Sittichai, yet Sarah still sent a memory crystal speeding at him—he effortlessly snatched it from the air. "Focus on the crystal and the images will come forth. They've got over twenty million troops massed. In the last weeks, no troops aside from small scout patrols have ventured eastwards, and now all are shifting forward. They'll be deep into or even across the border territory today. In addition, I believe they've been using their clutches to level up their troops into their mid-twenties in multiple classes. Your average soldier won't stand a chance."

"How could they do that?" Sittichai's expression twisted with a spike of concern.

"I'll see if I can find an example of their training grounds for you. I already know what they look like from other worlds. The chromatic dragons who control their society don't care about humans or the other species in their territories. After all, do you worry about the feelings of the rat eating from your granary?"

Sittichai bit out each word. "They see us as rats?"

"They see anything not a Dragon as a lesser species," replied Sarah.

Master Cyrus nodded. "They showed this in the scourge. Have you forgotten those years, Sittichai? Did you call us here to help fight these foes or advise?"

"Whatever aid you'd provide," said Sittichai.

"I had wanted to approach the dragons who control the territories, and settle things," said Zhūquè. "How did you find out these details so quickly?"

"Quickly? I've had a couple of weeks. My gadgets and psionic abilities allowed me to gather the preparation orders being issued by the dragons along your western border. The dragons must have issued this attack overnight. Yesterday they were still ordering new batches of young to be levelled up."

Did Laodice steal more preparation time from Amdirlain?

"Why go to war at all?" asked Zhūquè.

"Food. Dragons count on the ley lines the demons disrupted. Though repairs are complete, the tipping point for this was years ago and dragons don't take chances on their food supply," explained Sarah.

"The martial pavilions can fight them, rather than risk an army," offered Jinfeng.

"I'll dispatch requests to get them to send forces to the western towns," said Sittichai, and a flurry of spells sent messages out. "We'll need to figure out where to position them, but that notice gives them time to prepare."

"Are these Lizardfolk evil?" asked Klipyl. "They aren't on other worlds, and the ones to the west aren't."

"Those are different species. The ones here are more serpents than lizards. They clash with Lizardfolk as well," replied Sarah. "Evil is a label I don't wave around easily. The chromatic dragons who tend towards tyranny cause certain practices to develop when they involve themselves in the day-to-day of a civilisation. They militarise the species and cause certain attitudes to develop: everything is consumable, and only the rulers matter. In their societies, the young and vulnerable suffer, and overall they show an utter disrespect for life."

"Are you able to help us?" asked Zhūquè.

"Unlike Am, I don't have restrictions on my meddling, so let me know if I should kill some dragons."

Zhūquè smiled sadly. "What about the risk to you?"

Jinfeng coughed.

Sarah rolled her eyes at Jinfeng. "Never mind Jinfeng. As long as I don't kill too many local dragons, the dragons involved in the scourge will stay in their lairs. Even without my weaponry, I can simultaneously take on eight or nine of these younger dragons."

Zhūquè's gaze flicked back to the images. "Will the dragons come out if the martial pavilions defeat these troops?"

"Yes. It's not all bad news though; as long as we don't push towards the parents' territories, they won't care if the younger dragons die."

"We'll look to hold them out in the border territories, to avoid destruction on our lands," said Sittichai.

"If you don't advance more than halfway through that region, it should send a clear enough message."

"Their attitudes require us to kill the dragons?" asked Zhūquè.

"With the dragons still alive, the nests will repeat this troop buildup," replied Sarah. "They'll keep attacking until they're satisfied they've secured their food supply. You'll notice territories further west haven't conducted the same troop buildup, because other ley lines supply them."

"Sarah, how long do you need to find the training grounds you mentioned?" enquired Master Cyrus. "Perhaps the scope of the enemy's viciousness will clarify the challenge."

"I planned to do that later, but it shouldn't take more than half an hour."

Zhūquè tilted her head curiously at Master Cyrus.

He nodded back to her. "I believe it is worthwhile to know more about our foe before planning our counter."

"If you would see what you can find, Sarah," requested Zhūquè.

Sarah changed the scrying points to reach into the depths of the nest. The images displayed in the middle of the chamber shifted with each change.

It only took ten minutes to find what she'd expected and present images of slithering hatchlings the size of toddlers being ripped apart by groups weeks older than them. As she shifted it about, she found older, unarmed groups being killed on the arena floors, the victors feeding on the bodies of the slain. "Yeah, I figured they were up to these atrocities. Their brood-mothers can lay thousands of eggs in a week if supplied enough Mana and traces of protein, so they recycle their offspring."

The next image showed a cavern with‌ hundreds of thousands of eggs being warmed on heated sands. The perspective caught attendants emerging from other tunnels to place a constant stream of eggs and carelessly toss the hatched young into carts.

"With that many eggs warming, they've got a lot of brood-mothers," murmured Klipyl. "Those poor hatchlings, they'll never have an actual choice."

With neither her prior Soul-link nor the reassuring weight of Amdirlain's presence, instinct-driven fury at the decimated clutches raged in Sarah's mind. Battered by lifetimes where she experienced failed clutches, and the death of her children, Sarah's fury burned bright.

The images on display had drawn grimaces from Zhūquè. "They remind me of the snake mothers in Di Yu. Eating their young, weak demons being fed to strong ones."

Rocking eggs and attendants collapsed as Sarah's mental assault exploded in their midst. The psionic maelstrom fueled by her rage expanded throughout the nest, wiping minds and stopping hearts. Sarah ignored the experience notification as she cut off the images and pulled her perceptions away from the nest.

"What was that?" asked Zhūquè.

"One less nest," replied Sarah.

Sittichai froze and licked his lips. "Do you feel confident you can take out the dragons these nests report to?"

"Yes."

Sittichai lifted the memory crystal. "I'll get the martial pavilions to help deal with these troops?"

"Let's work up a plan. I'd suggest I cull only half the dragons and you eliminate all the new troops." Sarah's composure didn't shift at the opportunity to battle the blue dragons. "At that point, even the local Mana will be enough without the ley lines' support. With the amount of fighting we're talking about, how many medical triage locations would you want, Kadaklan?"

"Are you sure this is wise?" asked Kadaklan.

"It's wiser than me conducting genocide on all the blue dragons on this continent. If you'd prefer that option, let me know."

The planning continued until early afternoon. As Sarah moved weapon platforms from their previous orbits, invitations to martial pavilions went out.

♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

Klipyl's PoV - South Wind's Court - Ayutthaya

When they'd finally returned to the guest house, Klipyl had quietly walked to their bedroom.

Kadaklan changed his robes and sat beside her to loop an arm around her back. She'd leaned into him, staring at her stomach as if she could see through it. "I don't know if I'll be a proper mother. I've no knowledge of motherhood that I'd want to draw on."

"You're worried because your mother was more a torturer than a parent."

"Yes."

"Then I'd say we need to find somewhere with people whose views we can trust," said Kadaklan. "My parents wouldn't be able to advise us about Human children."

"Is it okay if I'm anxious?"

Kadaklan kissed her forehead. "You're anxious because you care what happens, my love."

"I know that, but I don't know what is healthy for a baby," said Klipyl.

"Jitters are perfectly normal," reassured Kadaklan. "I've got jitters going on beneath my composure."

"Is it odd they're Human?"

"They'll be our beautiful children." Kadaklan ran his fingers through her hair; the ribbons he'd braided into her hair that morning rustled softly. "They'll be more normal than either of us."

"You're just trying to reassure me."

"My moment of enlightenment reverted me to Human form, and my achievement of immortality restored my Phoenix state. Though it could be because the way I change form differs from dragons," replied Kadaklan.

Klipyl hummed thoughtfully. "Let's raise our children among normal people so they don't grow up pampered."

"We'll need a concealment device to cover any outward traits."

"I'm sure Sarah can set us up with something," said Klipyl. "I need to figure out something to distract her from worrying about Amdirlain. There were so many fraying ribbons around her even before she showed the South Wind those images. On top of everything else, Sittichai wanted Am, that I could tell. If he stupidly baits Sarah again, she will challenge him and he'll get to speak to Judge Po."

Kadaklan sighed. "Some paths include certain degrees of arrogance."

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