In Hoc Signo Vinces

As the hunters of the Death Worm rode back to Enoch, Grant received the creature's stinger from his eunuch manservant, and held it up in triumph. They were short one Cainite warrior, and the Jalabartan governor who had made a secret compact with Cain had returned to his post, carrying a large flask of one of the Worm's three venoms– the spat, spasm-inducing variety– for use by his own soldiers or assassins. Grant had been entitled to a large share of the most potent venom, that from the stinger, enough that he would be hard-pressed to use it all himself.

If their last few informally-made plans for war held up in council with Cain, however, he would get plenty of soldiers of his own, with thousands of arrows to coat in the stuff.

Their return was celebrated with a feast outside the yurt of Cain. Grant made a point of sitting near the low table reserved for the shamans, but even so, it took him a moment to realize the young initiate next to him was Yuya.

Aside from the bronze mirror medallion on his chest, the only difference was in the face. The calm, knowing look, seemed to see the world for what it was and love it for what it could be. It was at odds with the Yuya who had always seemed agitated when he was in a thoughtful mood and bored when he was not.

“Yuya? You seem different.”

“Hm? I guess I might, a little. I might be a more complete Yuya, but I am still Yuya.”

“And you're a shaman, now. What do I call you now? Father? Swami?”

Yuya waved dismissively. “No special honorifics.”

“Fine by me, kemosabe. What'd they have you do? Sacrifice a goat? Eat some suspicious mushrooms?”

“I… shouldn't say.” He chewed his lip. “Hey, Grant, what if I told you there might– might– be a way for you to get back to Earth?”

Grant would have expected to feel pure excitement at those words, but some sense of commitment held him back from unqualified elation. “I… I think I would like to stay for this campaign into Jalabarta, then return home as soon as we're done. Tie up loose ends in Nod, then see my Sarah again.”

Yuya sighed. “Yeah, I– wait, Jalabarta? I thought the plan was for you to go after the remaining Bekhites.”

“It still is. The governor of their eastern province is secretly in bed with Cain.” Yuya breathed a sigh of relief at that. “He gave us a tip that their king was allowing the last few Bekhite bands to hide inside their borders, around the northwest of the eastern province, northeast of the capital. He wants their warriors in his debt in case Cane isn't satisfied with just a united steppe under his rule, you see.” He grinned. “So naturally, we're going to blitz down and finish them off before they realize we know where they are. He asked that Abutai and I lead the attack. Then, if you're in the capital and I'm a few days’ ride from it with an army, we might be able to threaten the king of Jalabarta into switching suzerains from the Eternal Emperor to Cain.”

“And you'd go back to Earth, at that point?”

“I don't care which immortal son of a bitch sits on the throne in Xinqian, Cain or that old-timey Japanese fella. But getting rid of the Bekhites for well and good would be a good turn for Nod, before I leave, and I've promised at least to go that far with this bunch.”

“You intend to kill all of them?”

Grant stopped mid-motion as he raised a cut of goat to his mouth. “...Their warriors all need to die, I'm certain of that. The entire tribe's fucked in the head, Yuya, cannibals and demon-worshippers. They're a danger to everyone they come across. They’re probably raiding Jalabartan villages to fill their pots right now, regardless of the king’s hospitality.”

“Those camps won't just be warriors, even if their women fight alongside their men. Don't hurt the children, at least. Promise me that much. If you turn this war into a full-on ethnic cleansing, I won't help you get back to Earth.”

“I promise I'll forbid the killing of anyone young enough to be reeducated, adopted into a Cainite or Jalabartan family and taught a better way of life. But people grow up fast here, Yuya; a fourteen-year-old coming at us with a spear will be hardly less dangerous than a twenty-four-year-old doing the same. Don't consider my promise broken if I have to shoot a few teenagers.”

“I can rest easy enough with that. I promise that, if you spare the young children of the Bekhites, and you do not wish to serve Cain past this Jalabartan campaign, you can join me back here in Enoch, and I will show you a way that might take you back to Earth. Results, I’m not quite confident enough to promise, it's the kind of path I could imagine being open in one moment for one person and closed for another, but… I think it will work.”

“Well, I appreciate it, kemosabe. And… thank you for saying something to rein me in, before I made any horrible mistakes in the heat of the moment. Would you go back to Japan?”

Yuya shook his head. “I made that choice already. There isn't much of anything for me there.”

Grant whistled softly. “This place has changed you. In more ways, and better, than it has me. You'll go all the way, then? Kill the Eternal Emperor and deliver this world back to Cain?”

“I at least plan to see the path Cain means to take to that point, and what sort of world order he would be replacing. Cain's assignment in Ak-a-Kartam, I'm doing as much for my own sake as his, and after that, I'll probably try to scout out Lugo ahead of his armies, see what a Cainite conquest would be uprooting. Maybe an upheaval and consolidation like that is what Nod needs, and maybe it isn't; I’m going to figure that out, and make sure something finally goes right for once, in this sad place.”

Grant shook his head. “God bless you, man.”

“Lord of Death be with you, too, Grant.”

That feast was the last waking moment of ease the warriors of Cain had. Early the next morning, Grant and Yuya were summoned to a war council in Cain’s tent. Yuya's mission was explained to those present: he would try to infiltrate or gain connections in the Great Temple, discover why the the god Bulan had suddenly begun to pay visits to his counterparts in Lugo’s tributaries, and how they might react to a southward invasion by Cain. Then, he would leverage that information to either negotiate the submission of the Jalabartan king, or subvert his defense of his country. It was understood such actions, as opportunities presented themselves, might go up to and include regicide or deicide. The steppe tribes had no special reverence for the gods of the settled lands, but Grant was instructed to keep that detail from the foreign Cainites he would be commanding. Some of them had left Jalabarta to serve Cain, and might still have some spiritual attachment to their old patron deity.

“You may undertake this alone,” Cain told Yuya, “or choose a small party of companions to assist you. Any of my servants who have not already been assigned to command in the field.”

“I have given the matter some thought already, Khan of Khans. Two companions would be best, I think, one who knows the ways of royal courts and high society, and another more street-wise. By their war-leader’s leave,” he looked to Grant, “I would like Lan Gotai and Iona of Vetania.”

“They are not mine to deny you.” He smiled. “I think Gotai would like to see civilization again for a little while, and Iona would like to see… more of you.”

Cain nodded. “They are yours. You will leave ahead of the expeditionary force tomorrow morning. This will be three brigades, one of my warriors from civilized lands led by Grant Herrera, two of the Bayut led by their khan and their crown prince. Prince Abutai's target will be their largest camp, where their khatun still draws breath. Correct that oversight of mine. You may meet the greatest resistance, or that distinction may go to Grant, who is to strike at the camp where their corrupted goddess Yog dwells. Slay the Mother of Cannibals. You will have a large contingent of White and Green shamans to aid you in this deicide. Baatar Khan will clear out the minor camps and form a perimeter to ensure none escape. Once the Bekhites are dealt with, Yuya should have an update on the state of Ak-a-Kartam for Grant and his forces. If an attack on the city is necessary to secure a line of attack on Lugo through Jalabarta, the three brigades are to join forces. They will await the Yurkut and our Vetani mercenaries of the Company of the Hammer and Sickle. These are to march through the Eastern Province of Jalabarta on their way, gathering the provincial levies as our secret ally raises them… and ensuring he does not get second thoughts about our agreement. The Jarchit and the other tribes will remain in reserve here in Enoch. If Jalabarta insists on a drawn-out conquest, they may be needed to strike south and intercept reinforcements from Lugo. Are there any questions?”