The Winds of Tepr

Chapter 6

Naci and Horohan part ways for the night with a newfound understanding, each seeking the solace of their own quarters to process the emotional weight of their conversation.

By dawn, Naci's determination is renewed. The vast landscape of Tepr, with its promises and challenges, awaits her. Slipping into her attire, she heads out, the thought of obtaining her own eagle forefront in her mind.

The camp is a hive of activity in the morning, with tribespeople tending to chores and preparing for the day's tasks. As Naci navigates through the camp, her eyes catch the colorful array of a merchant's stand being set up. Fabrics, jewels, spices, and trinkets shimmer in the early morning light, drawing her attention momentarily. But it's the tension a little distance away from the stand that truly captures her interest.

A man, adorned in the unmistakable attire of a soldier, is engaged in a heated argument with the merchant. Naci's ears pick up the subject of their quarrel: the increasing tributes demanded by the Moukopl Empire.

"These fees are robbery!" the soldier exclaims, his voice strained with frustration. "The Moukopl Empire is tightening its grip, and for what? We get no protection, no benefits. Just higher demands!"

The merchant, a middle-aged man with a grizzled beard, sighs deeply. "Blame the empire, not me. I have to raise my prices or go hungry. They take more, so we all pay more."

As the exchange continues, Naci feels a flicker of recognition. The soldier's profile, his stance... She's seen him before. And then it clicks: he was one of the trio that escorted her to Alinkar. Yet, he was conspicuously absent from the ceremony. Why?

Driven by curiosity, Naci approaches, ensuring her steps are audible to avoid startling them. "Excuse my intrusion," she begins, casting a cordial nod to the merchant before focusing on the soldier. "I remember you. You were with Horohan and Temej when they escorted me to Alinkar. I didn't see you at the ceremony."

The soldier straightens, surprise evident on his face. He then bows slightly, a gesture of respect. "Ah, Lady Naci. My apologies for not being present. I serve Alinkar, true, but like many of our young men, I am also conscripted as a soldier for the Moukopl Empire. Duty called."

Naci nods, processing the information. The dual loyalty, the strain of serving two masters—she can see how it might wear on a person. "Well, now that we've crossed paths, might I know your name?"

The soldier smiles, a touch of pride in his eyes. "I am Akun of Alinkar, at your service."

Naci's eyes, so recently filled with curiosity, now cloud with a deeper concern. "If young men of Alinkar are drafted into the Empire's forces, what of my own kin? My brother, Dukar?"

Akun's gaze remains steady, respectful. "It is the way of things here. The Moukopl Empire's demand for soldiers is ever-growing. With the state of affairs, many are drafted, regardless of tribe or allegiance."

She swallows hard, the weight of worry pressing down on her. "And what duty do you serve as a soldier for them?"

Akun's gaze drifts, eyes tracing the far-off outline of the Tengr mountains, a shadowed backdrop against the pale morning sky. "I am part of an infantry unit, tasked with defending the northern wall. There," he gestures subtly towards the mountains, "beyond the vast stretch of the deadly desert, lies a threat that the Empire is wary of."

Naci follows his gaze, the imposing peaks seeming even more ominous with this revelation. "A threat?"

"The Yohazatz," Akun murmurs, the name carrying a mix of respect and disdain. "Far west of the Tengr mountains, these tribes have unified and defied the Empire's rule. They refuse to pay their tributes, causing unrest and ripples throughout the Empire."