The Khan's City

...The girl too stared at him with a mix of expectancy and doubt, as if his answer was all she needed. She could not understand how a common human dressed in a red cape, standing in the middle of the serene plaza, was the object of her dreams. The girl’s perspective was filled with a strange sense of recognition, as though she had been waiting for him. She attempted to move, to say something else...

"And yet... I'm still looking..." Samina said with a sigh as her delicate hand gestured to create various shapes in its shadow. 

"W-well, I'm sure that, whatever your ladyship, one of the seven spellswords of the Purple Gemstone of the Mosarai, is looking, it must certainly be of the utmost importance."

"That... that's what I'm afraid," Samina said, ending her playfulness with the shades, "That all this trip would be for naught."

The goblin was left without anything else of weight to say, and so he bowed his head, "Your ladyship," he said, excusing himself.

Samina stared at the sun, changing its red hues to orange, like a fire shining bright at her.

"Please... find me...?" she begged.

*******

Ronai rode in silence, the rhythmic thud of his rhino's padded hooves a steady drumbeat against the cracked earth of the steppe. The great beast, adorned with the sky-blue symbol of Kalad's Living Water, moved with a powerful grace, its horn padded with the emblem of the Paladins of the Roaring Cascade. Ronai's muscular frame, with his ashen-pink skin, contrasted sharply against the creature’s gray hide. His white hair caught in the wind, and the glint of his scimitar and fragmented axe shimmered in the sunlight.

Beside him, towering even in his seated position, rode his not-so-strong-looking master, Jarad. Rather, Jarad represented what Ronai could become if he stopped caring about exercising and being in top shape. The master’s skin was a deep shade of purple, his eyes glowing with a mixture of disdain and pride. Their gray capes fluttered in the breeze, the edges gleaming with an unnatural blue. They moved with purpose, the small escort behind them a testament to their mission—tribute for the Great Khan, a duty that weighed heavily on both of them, though for very different reasons.

Behind them, a whole line of similarly dressed warriors awaited their signal.

Jarad broke the silence first, his voice a rumbling growl.

"There's Makeb... The Khan's seat of power, presiding over this corner of the world. So much wealth, so much beauty, and it was all taken and pillaged from conquests."

Ronai simply stared at the blistering city and the lines of travelers flocking to its gates, he closed his eyes, "Soothing Stream, blessed are thou for bringing us here safely..."

Jarad ignored his apprentice's devoted utterances, "Do you know why we’re doing this, Ronai?” 

Ronai opened his eyes, but his master didn’t wait for a response. 

"Because the Great Kenet Khan, in all his arrogance, reformed his army into a cohesive force, unified the clans of the steppe, and marched them into foreign lands under the pretense of the 'winds favoring' or something. He trampled the Orcish Tundra underfoot with those boar riders of his, bringing their war chiefs to their knees, and when the Ogren Crestlands to the South proved harder to conquer and harder to ride due to their mountainous nature, he brought in Orc warriors from the North."

Ronai listened, eyes scanning the horizon—and the peripheral goblins that began filling the road. His master’s voice was filled with resentment, a bitterness that reflected the very soul of the once-proud Kaladian kingdom, but that was not the time to complain. 

"Master," Ronai began, "Master, the war did bring a lot of suffering, but our realm has enjoyed much commerce and safe roads... plus there is his ruling to preserve all creeds. The Khan did not impose their faith on the Twin Sisters of wind."

“Bah!” Jarad continued, “The Khan allowed us to keep our autonomy and our beliefs, yes. But at what cost? Our independence? Our pride? Our very identity as a free people?” His voice dripped with venom as he spat the words, his grip tightening on the reins, "We are just a leash dog that answers to its master's call whenever he likes."

Ronai, feeling the tension in his master’s words, spoke carefully. “Master, the Khan’s rule may have been harsh, but it also allowed us to continue our mission. The Paladins of the Roaring Cascade still protect the flock. We still carry out our sacred duty.”

Jarad’s gaze snapped to Ronai, eyes blazing with anger. “Duty? What good is duty when it is performed under the yoke of another? You speak of protecting the flock, but you fail to see the chains around your own wrists, Ronai. To be able to rule ourselves is freedom, not this…charade.”

Ronai felt the sting of his master’s words, but his resolve remained firm. “We are Paladins, Master. Our duty is to the Living Water and the people, not to politics. Whether we serve under Kaladian Princes or the Khan, our purpose remains unchanged.”

“Aye... You may say that... and yet,” Jarad said with a bitter smile, “here we are, running an errand to pay tribute to that... brute.”

"Master, I beseech you, we should refrain from speaking like that in the Khan's city," Ronai said, as diplomatically as possible so as not to overstep.

It was futile.

"Hah!"  Jaran chuckled, "An apprentice lecturing the master? I can see why they sent you on this errand, boy, given the fact you carry so much potential. That idealist mouth of yours... you'll be lucky they give you a small town to protect after this trip..." he said between giggles before clearing his throat and having a sip of water.

"Master, I would still be honored to carry my duty," Ronai said, frustrated.

"Silence, you're just an apprentice, Ronai, know your place!"

The silence that followed was heavy, the air between them charged with the unspoken truth of their situation. Ronai knew what his master unwillingly demonstrated—that the Paladins had become entangled in the very politics they claimed to eschew. They had mingled with the nobility, their lofty ideals becoming little more than a veneer for their new status as nobles rather than protectors. It was a reality that gnawed at Ronai, a disillusionment that had taken root deep within him.

When he had joined the order, Ronai had believed in the righteousness of their cause, that he had been chosen by the Living Water—or rather, her facet as the Roaring Cascade—to perform great deeds in service of the people. But now, as he rode towards the Khan’s City, the weight of his scimitar and fragmented axe felt heavier than ever. The reality of his order’s true interests, of their willingness to bow to the Kaladian Princes and now the Khan, had tarnished the purity of his purpose. He was seen more as a disinterested noble, an ornament of power rather than a champion of the people.

As they approached the towering gates of the Khan’s City, Ronai’s eyes were drawn to the bustling activity within. The city was a marvel, a blend of cultures and peoples, a place where the old and new coexisted in a delicate balance. It was grand and imposing, a testament to the Khan’s vision and the unity he had forged through conquest. Orcs from the North with their orange and brown skins, goblins in their multiple shades of green, even some ogres enjoyed an artisan's or a blacksmith's trade. But for Ronai, it was also a stark reminder of the cost of that unity—the loss of what made Kalad unique, the erosion of the ideals that had once driven him.

Jarad’s voice broke through his thoughts, low and weary. “Remember this, Ronai. We serve the Living Water, but never forget the price we’ve paid to do so under another’s rule. The Khan may demand tribute, but in the end, our hearts remain in Kalad.”

Ronai nodded complacently, but his heart was heavy. The path ahead was uncertain, and with every step closer to the Khan’s City, he felt the weight of his disillusionment growing. The city loomed before them, a place of both opportunity and danger, and Ronai knew that his journey here would test not just his skills, but his very beliefs.

As the towering gates of the Khan’s City loomed closer, Ronai and Jarad trotted along on their rhinos, the rhythmic clopping of hooves muffled by the din of the bustling city. The air buzzed with the sounds of merchants haggling, children laughing, and guards barking orders. Ronai was lost in thought, his mind wandering between his duty and the strange pull of destiny he often felt.

“Focus, Ronai,” Jarad grumbled beside him, snapping him back to reality, "Blast it, why do I have to babysit an aloof apprentice above all?"

"Master," Ronai apologized.

They rounded a bend in the road, and that’s when Ronai spotted it—a massive red and white bison, striding through the crowd like it owned the place. The beast was trundling along with a group of goblins and their boar mounts in tow. The sight made Ronai blink twice; bison weren’t exactly common in these parts, let alone one with such striking colors.

“By the Living Water, what is that thing?” Ronai blurted out, his eyes wide.

Jarad squinted, following Ronai’s gaze. His expression shifted from mild curiosity to annoyance in record time. “It’s a bison, Ronai. What do you think it is, a cave lion?”

“No, I mean… look at it! It’s huge! And it’s red and white! Have you ever seen a bison like that?”

Jarad rolled his eyes, letting out a long-suffering sigh. “It’s just a beast of burden, Ronai. Stop gawking like a hatchling and keep your eyes on the road.”

But as they continued down the bustling street, Ronai couldn’t help but glance over at the bison and its peculiar caravan. The group seemed to be on the same path as them, moving steadily through the throng of people. The human with the spear and red cape, the goblin girl with the bison toying with three brownish rodents, and a mysterious masked figure—Ronai found them all oddly fascinating.

Unfortunately, so did their rhinos.

The two massive beasts seemed to have taken a liking to the bison, their snorts and huffs growing louder as they nudged closer to the other caravan. The bison, oblivious to its new admirers, kept plodding along, its hooves thudding against the cobblestones.

Jarad’s patience, however, was starting to wear thin. “For the love of—Ronai, control your rhino! This is embarrassing!”

Ronai tugged on the reins, trying to steer his rhino away from the bison, but the stubborn beast seemed determined to follow its newfound friend. “I’m trying, Master, but it’s like they’re drawn to it!”

The situation only got worse as they moved deeper into the city. No matter which way Jarad turned, the bison and its caravan seemed to mirror their path, staying just a few paces ahead. It was as if the city streets were conspiring to keep them together, much to Jarad’s increasing annoyance.

“Why is this blasted caravan everywhere we go?” Jarad grumbled, his face turning a shade darker with irritation.

Ronai, on the other hand, was getting more and more nervous. He had a bad feeling about this—something about that bison and its strange entourage was making his skin prickle. And it didn’t help that his rhino was practically glued to the bison’s side.

At one point, Jarad tried to take a sharp turn down a side street, hoping to lose the caravan, but the bison just lumbered on ahead, turning down the same street without a care in the world.

“Oh, come on!” Jarad groaned, throwing his hands up in exasperation. “Is this city one big circle or something?”

Ronai bit his lip, trying to stifle a nervous laugh. “Maybe it’s fate, Master. Maybe we’re meant to cross paths with them.”

“Fate, my hoof!” Jarad snapped, yanking hard on his reins. “This is a city, Ronai, not some fairy tale! And if that caravan doesn’t move out of our way, I’m going to—”

But before Jarad could finish his threat, the bison suddenly came to a halt, right in the middle of the street. The wagon it was pulling creaked to a stop, blocking their path entirely. The human and goblins gathered around it, oblivious to the two ogres glaring daggers at them.

Ronai’s rhino, of course, chose that moment to stop as well, snorting happily as it sidled up next to the bison like it was an old friend.

Jarad looked like he was about to burst a vein. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Ronai, meanwhile, could only manage a sheepish smile. “Well, Master, I guess we’ll have to wait our turn.”

Jarad slumped in his saddle, muttering curses under his breath, while Ronai kept a wary eye on the strange caravan. The city around them bustled on, oblivious to the small drama unfolding in its streets, as the two ogres found themselves reluctantly caught in the orbit of the peculiar bison and its mysterious companions.

The tension in the air was palpable as Jarad's disdainful comments hung between them. Arsec remained stoic, his expression unreadable as he happened to stare down the ogre paladin before talking to one of his goblin caravaneers.

"Humans, mere servants in these parts," Jarad sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "They should know their place."

Arsec’s gaze returned unwavering, and Jarad took that personally.

"He seems to be having a problem with us Ronai, a human, this is what I was talking about, now you have human slaves looking down upon us."

Arsec sighed and retorted with a simple smile.

Ronai could feel the situation escalating, but before he could intervene, the human before them simply laid back on the bison's wool, and smiled with his eyes closed. 

Jarad’s temper snapped. “You insolent—!” he barked, lunging forward to shove Arsec, "Do you know who I am? I could have your head with my sword here—bleurgh!"

Arsec sidestepped effortlessly, causing Jarad to stumble and land face-first in the dirt. The ogre master’s roar of frustration was met with nothing more than a calm, steady look from Arsec.

“Careful,” Arsec said with a sigh, “you might hurt yourself.”

"Oi, you!" Ronai said, "That's enough!"

Just as Ronai moved to help his master, Mesui hurried over, throwing herself between them.

“Enough!” she shouted, her voice firm as she placed a hand on Arsec’s chest to hold him back. But as she turned to look at Ronai, her resolve faltered. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of the tall, muscular ogre with his striking white hair and pink-ashen skin. Her hand happened to touch upon his sturdy and well-defined chest.

Ronai, who had been ready to defend his master, found himself momentarily caught off guard by the sudden warmth in Mesui’s gaze—and unruly hands.

Mesui, her face flushed, quickly released Arsec and Ronai, though her eyes remained locked on the latter. “We... we need to focus on the mission,” she stammered, barely able to tear her gaze away from the ogre.

Arsec, noticing the shift in Mesui’s demeanor, sighed and muttered, “Oh, blessed flame, not again... first orc merchants, and now an ogre?”

The tension broke as Narwa, driven by a sense to protect Arsec she vaguely understood, suddenly launched herself at Ronai, her fist aimed straight for his face. The ogre caught her punch with ease, his eyes narrowing in surprise at the unexpected assault as he grappled her and tossed her away.

Narwa didn’t relent. She came back and swung again, only for Ronai to catch her fist, again, and shove her aside, sending her stumbling.

"To battle! Arsec, with me!" Narwa roared before being tackled by Jarad.

"Come here you—" Jarad shouted, utterly forgetting he was tackling a skinny-looking girl.

"Master, you shouldn't—" Ronai exclaimed before being pulled by goblins.

Arsec, seeing the situation spiraling out of control, took his palm to his face.

"Not again... not again, please," he said, exhausted, just as two other ogres grabbed him, trying to pull him down.

Arsec rolled with their momentum, brushing them off with a display of surprising strength, sending the ogres sprawling.

Meanwhile, Jarad, who had barely regained his footing, was tackled by Narwa, the two of them tumbling to the ground in a flurry of fists and snarls. The chaos of the brawl spread, with the rhinos still tethered to Malimali, who was trying to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

As the scuffle continued, captain Abagai arrived at the scene.

"Lady Mesui, your grace, I am glad to inform you that—" Her eyes widened at the sight of the chaos before her.

She looked to Mesui, who was still standing there, mesmerized by Ronai’s presence, her cheeks a bright shade of red, contrasting her usual healthy green. The captain sighed deeply, bringing a hand to her face, exasperated, but then the sense of urgency took hold.

“Princess... I beg you... the path is clear,” she urged, her tone tinged with panic as the chaos unfolded around them, "W-we should move as soon as possible... Blasted winds! Guards! Guards! Get this street under control!"

Mesui finally snapped out of her trance, her blush deepening as she quickly turned away from Ronai, trying to regain her composure. The caravan leader glanced over the scuffle from the front of the caravan, shaking his head.

“Aye... This is why we don’t mix business with pleasure...” he muttered, scratching his beard.