The Lotus Blossoms! - Volume II

[Ascension]

The Remora:

A miniature pattern spider crawls out of the folds of Ayesha's dress, climbs to her shoulder, and whispers something into her ear. Her face falls, and for a moment, she looks utterly exhausted. She summons back her mask of affability quickly, but you all saw the slip.

"I'm afraid I must be going again," she says, rising. "I'll be in touch soon. But once again, thank you, and congratulations. It may not have been clean or comfortable, but this was a win. You saved many, many lives today. Remember that."

Elsewhere...

"Do you need help killing them? Is that what you're saying?"

The Hortatum harrumphs.

"Send assassins if you like. It matters not. I'll be prepared for those meddlers, regardless."

"So that's what I'm reporting? 'Trust them, they'll do better next time?'"

"Ahn-Aru, you can tell him that I guarantee that the storm that's coming to the West will make the Bull of the North look like a suckling calf. That's what you can tell the old man."

The Hortatum grins savagely; just thinking about it has their blood up. And every beat of their heart sounds the rhythm in their bones; the thunder of the drums of war.

- End of Season One: South -

[Ascension]

Continued in The Lotus Blossoms! - Volume III