Amazonia

  The command tent wasn’t much smaller than the old tent of the Great Khan's, back in the encampment, but it was a lot newer, with charging boars and other warrior symbols painted red on the outside. The inside was bare except for a wooden table and the Khan's throne, a single piece of wood sculpted into a boar's body with its head right above the seat, its snarling face glaring down at whoever stood before the Khan of khans.

  As they walked in, Khan Khingla was sitting on the throne with Lys sitting cross-legged beside him on the table. Prince Timur stood on the right. That’s the Khan's left... not a good sign. The prince looked haggard as did his other Bloodguards, Bogen and Argat, and even the war commander Kula, standing on the Khan's right with several of the Chosen and Captain Tang, seemed tired. There were others as well who Az decided must have ridden in with the the Khan, mostly nobles along with a few Tartaros warriors, all of them talking among themselves. Silence swept the room as Amazonia, Karl, and Greywolf walked between them towards the Khan.

  They stopped a couple horse-lengths away from the throne and bowed, Az and Greywolf a scant moment after Karl's, and all three knelt as Khan Khingla said, "Karl the Outlander, the tribal khans of the Ghost Goat and Bloody Dog clans do not speak Greco or Roma, nor does the outrider for the Black Dragon clan, who is here as a courtesy. Might I impose upon you to translate for them?"

  Karl murmured, "That's strange." Without explaining, he rose to his feet and clapped his hand to his heart. "Great Khan, it would be my honor." He strode over to a pair of noblemen standing together with a Tartaros warrior in leather armor, a round metal cap lined with Warghorse fur on his head.

  Karl bowed to them and began speaking as Khan Khingla looked at the other two. "Syr Amazonia, last night you were transformed into a creature of the Shadowlands known as a Shadow Knight, at the express order of my eldest son, Prince Timur. Because you agreed to this transformation, you were able to turn their dishonor back upon them and achieve a great victory for the People. Tell me, was this transformation painful?"

  Behind her, people were shuffling in as she replied, "Yes it was, Great Khan. However, I endured."

  His weather-beaten face gave Az a kind smile. "From the description of you I heard from several warriors, I cannot imagine the agony you endured without complaint. But tell me this," his face growing stern once more. "Would you agree to become this Shadow Knight again if you were asked to?"

  Breathe, Az; he's just testing you. "Great Khan, if you ordered me to do this, I would, but not by choice. It wasn't just the pain... Great Khan, I don't have words to describe how horrible the transformation felt. I'll never do that again unless I'm ordered to."

  I think that's the answer he wants to hear, because he's nodding. "For as long as I am the Khan of khans over our people, I will never order you to become such a creature ever again. However, you did so, which I understand permanently changed your Rune sword, and I begin to wonder whether or not I should let your service with Prince Timur continue." Az went still as stone while the Khan glanced at Lys. "The Shadow Fae tells me there is a way to speak with the spirit of your sword and ask it questions, which it will answer with the truth. Are you willing to let me do this, so I might put my doubts to rest?"

  Bells of Hades, what should I say? "I... didn't know such a thing was possible, but if you want to speak with Antonius, or at least what he's become, I've got no objection."

  Amazonia was lying through her teeth but knew she didn’t have much choice. "Lys," Khan Khingla said, "if you would?"

  "As the Great Khan commands." Lys leapt off the table and walked over to where Az was still kneeling. "Antonius's voice can be heard clearly by those who speak to the dead, yet a person with the ability to dream-walk can, if they wish, allow a spirit to take them over and let the spirit become them, at least for a little while."

  Muttering began behind Az. "Why haven't I ever heard of this dream-walking?"

  "Because it got suppressed during the war of the Daemo Princes, since it was something the Celestials could not use and were afraid of. Dream-walking is being able to use your dreams to become part of someone else's dream and even influence it, so the dreamer experiences what you want them to."

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Behind Az, a woman's voice gasped. "Yrg used to give me nightmares whenever I did something which displeased Muzen." Glancing back, Wysper's face had flushed bright red. "Apologies for speaking, Great Khan."

  He smiled and beckoned her forward. "No apology is needed. According to Lys, you showed a warrior's true bravery by shielding Greywolf with your body when he was too hurt to defend himself."

  Wysper took a few steps towards him and bowed. "I am Brittani, Great Khan," she said as she straightened, "and even though we cherish life, I was taught not to fear death but instead to be always ready to embrace it."

  "Wysper is also the youngest daughter of Queen Boadicea," Titan rumbled.

  The Great Khan raised his eyebrows. "Indeed? Once this matter is settled, I shall take up the betrothal between her and Greywolf. Now—”

  "Great Khan," Lys said, "apologies for interrupting. If Yrg has already dream-walked inside Wysper's mind, it means she has the ability and would be a better host for the spirit of the sword to command, instead of Prince Varsena."

  "Not if it's going to hurt her," Greywolf said with the hint of a growl in his voice. "Wysper's been through too much already."

  "She will be fine," Lys replied. "I will have my fingertips on the hilt of the partially unsheathed Rune sword to maintain the connection, and the sword will be on Amazonia's lap. All she will have to do is sheathe the sword and the connection will be broken."

  Amazonia’s eyes met Greywolf’s. "If I think she's in trouble, or you tell me to sheathe the sword, I'll do it without question."

  Greywolf grimaced but nodded. "I trust you." Wysper smiled up at him, squeezing his hand with both of her own, and a pang of longing shot through her as Titan put a hand on Greywolf’s shoulder to draw him back. Hades hairy eyeballs, you don't want someone making eyes at you like she's doing at him. They're both children in love and you're a warrior, so brace up and stop this foolishness. Az knew it had be Antonius' doing, because that wasn’t like her at all. Definitely not.

  Wysper watched Greywolf leave before facing the throne once more. "Great Khan, if this will help you, then I am willing to do it. Lys, what must I do?"

  The Shadow Fae said, "Amazonia, if you please, sit down nomad style with your sword upon your lap and draw it out a hand’s span or so." As she sat down with her legs crossed and pulled the sword a short way out of the sheathe, Lys moved to sit in front of Az but sideways, and had Wysper sit facing her. "Great Khan, I need to be in a dream-trance so I can maintain the connection, which means I will not be able to speak."

  "I understand. Begin when you are ready."

  Lys rested her right palm on the sword guard with her fingertips touching the hilt, and placed the fingertips of her left hand upon Wysper's forehead. The girl shuddered. "Apologies, but Yrg used to do the exact same thing."

  For a moment, Lys' hand caressed the girl's cheek. "For what it is worth, apologies that she treated you in such a way. I promise I will never give you nightmares the same way she did, though I cannot predict how the Rune sword's spirit will react to feeling alive again. You and I will experience this together as the same dream, so you will not be alone. Are you still willing?" Wysper nodded and Lys put her fingertips back on the girl's forehead. "Now relax, and look deep into my eyes—”

  "While thinking of nothing." Lys nodded once before staring into Wysper's eyes, the room quiet as an empty arena while the two continued staring at each other.

  Then together, both of them closed their eyelids as their eyes underneath flicker as if they were sharing a dream... which perhaps they are. For several moments they remained facing each other.

  Wysper opened her eyes. "I can see again, really see again. This is marvelous. Az!" She scooted away from Lys, who folded her hand in her lap as Wysper jumped to her feet. "I've missed actually being with you so much."

  As Antonius’ spirit began moving Wysper’s body towards Az, she held up her hand. "Lord Antonius, remember where you are and why you're here." The girl's face got a hurt look and a smile quirked at Az’s lips. "Besides, you know I don't like girls the same way you do."

  Wysper's expression became puzzled. "Meaning what, I'm a girl?" Antonius put Wysper's hands to her breasts and her eyes widened. "I am a girl." The tent erupted in male laughter as he put Wysper's hand between her legs. "No dangling bits."

  The laughter grew louder and even Khan Khingla grinned a moment before clearing his throat. "I believe I can safely assume you are the spirit of the sword and not the young woman I see standing before me."

  The laughter died down as Wysper's body turned in his direction. "Great Khan?" He inclined his head, and her body bowed in the sweeping manner of the Eastern Empire's court. "Apologies for my ill manners, but my perceptions are much different wearing this body. I mean you no disrespect."

  The tent went silent again as Khan Khingla's hand made a dismissive gesture. "None has been taken. I understand that, because of what you have become, you can only tell me the truth?"

  "The enchantment allows me to speak nothing else."

  Khan Khingla's face hardened as he leaned forward in his chair. "Then tell me this: were the Sasnayams truly planning to overrun our encampment, or was that a ploy by Amazonia to embed herself with Prince Timur?"