Chapter 22 – Those who approach the grassland

The Larbas Plains – the easternmost region of the empire and the entire continent. The vast, endless prairie is so grand that anyone witnessing it for the first time is said to pause in awe for a while.

However, the temperature extremes between seasons can be severe, with lakes even freezing over at night. Being far removed from populated areas, merchants rarely visit either.

As a result, for a long time the nomads have continued living in this land without leaving.

Tsukimikado Mayo has been stranded in this region for over a year now. She has become one of the nomadic people, living alongside them.

She helps with cooking and tending to the horses. Initially, her bodyguard Shizuku tried to dissuade her, saying such tasks were unbecoming of royalty. But Mayo replied that the empire no longer exists.

‘So much has happened since then…but I have no choice but to live here, don’t I…?’

She has a promise to keep with her late brother – to continue the Tsukimikado bloodline. But that can wait a little longer.

‘There were so many firsts and I was flustered at first…but the nomads people amazed me.’

After observing them for over a year, Mayo realised she had vastly misjudged the nomads. First, their population was far greater than she had imagined.

Come to think of it, that made sense. They have lived in this land for a very long time. Without major conflicts, their population would naturally continue growing.

The eight tribes each had their specialties, utilising their respective abilities to assist one another. The individual and collective capabilities undoubtedly gave them a significant advantage during hunts and group battles, meshing perfectly together.

It felt almost deliberate, as if someone had purposefully assigned them roles from the start.

But what surprised Mayo the most was that all the nomads possessed crests. She frequently witnessed ones with somewhat unusual abilities too.

Unlike the former imperial citizens though, enhanced physical abilities were not overly common. Many possessed practical skills for daily life like igniting small fires or generating small amounts of water.

While not everyone excelled at combat, almost all were highly adept at riding horses and archery.

The nomads were far more formidable than Mayo had imagined. Representatives from all eight tribes had gathered in a movable dwelling called a yurt since this morning, engaging in lengthy discussions.

‘I wonder if something happened…This is the first time I’ve seen all eight tribes convene.’

While curious, Mayo had work to attend to. As she was about to return to her tasks.

“…? Rina…?”

She spotted Rina, the daughter of the chief of the Muga tribe, riding her horse westward in the distance. Carrying a bow, she may have gone hunting.

“But…Rina isn’t on hunting duty today, is she…?”

It was rare for the nomad people to travel anywhere alone on horseback. Mayo had seldom witnessed such a thing.

“…………”

Mayo turned her gaze toward a nearby Roba horse. Smaller than regular horses but hardy against cold and with great stamina, the Roba breed was well-suited for transporting heavy loads over long distances.

Mayo had been on the plains for over a year now. While larger horses were still challenging, she had become capable of riding the Roba horses.

“I’m a bit worried…Should I follow after her?”

■

Karan and his father Roban, the chief, were speaking with representatives from each tribe.

“So then…”

“Ah yes. It has finally come to this.”

It was an unusual occurrence for all eight tribes to convene like this. Tension filled the yurt. A woman from the Utt tribe spoke up.

“I’ve confirmed it. The imperial army is currently invading the plains. Their numbers are around 7,000.”

“Some of our Para tribe members have already been captured.”

“Apparently the reason for the invasion is disloyalty to the emperor.”

“What’s that about?”

“Probably has to do with the horses.”

While the Muga tribe residing more eastward wasn’t fully aware yet, the imperial army had already begun their invasion in the western plains.

“Please, we need your cooperation in liberating the captured Para tribe members.”

“That is…however…”

“We cannot remain bound by the ancient pact forever! Our kinsmen have been captured, we must help them!”

“It is not so simple. The enemy is the imperial army…direct descendants of the First Emperor’s bloodline. To defy the Atonement Pact and compound our sins? I cannot bring myself to disappoint our ancestors.”

“But! Does that mean abandoning our kinsmen!?”

The discussions failed to find consensus.

Those wanting to rescue their captured brethren, those hesitant to draw bows against the imperial army. Some cried it was time to discard the ancient pact, others advised against it.

No resolution in sight, only hours slipping away.

‘If only…we had one among us who could uphold the pact and lead us, the conversation would be different…’

Anticipating this, the nomad people had honed their skills over countless generations.

Yet no matter how prepared, that time never came. And that itself was the atonement imposed upon the nomad  people.

“…Let us take a brief recess. Afterwards, we will reposition the eight tribes from our current location…”

“My apologies for the interruption!”

A tense voice echoed within the yurt, drawing all eyes to the man who entered.

“Rina and Mayo…! They have been captured by the imperial army!”

“What…!?”

■

It was the first time Rina had witnessed all eight tribes gathered together since her birth.

Rina Muga – daughter of the Muga tribe chief and Karan’s younger sister.

Out of curiosity, she had eavesdropped on the discussions inside the yurt. That’s when she learned the imperial army had already invaded the plains and captured some of their kinsmen.

“I won’t forgive them…!”

Rina harboured deep resentment toward the imperial army – the ones who had killed the Vyril she once admired. Hearing they had also captured their kinsmen, she could no longer stay silent.

Enraged, Rina took up her bow, mounted her horse, and headed west. Before long, her keen eyesight spotted imperial soldiers in the distance.

“Found them…! Those are the ones who…! Killed Vyril!”

There appeared to be around 30 enemies. Too many to take on alone head-on.

Her plan was to pick off a few with her bow, then immediately retreat while reporting back. With that in mind, she drew her bowstring taut.

“Just a bit more…”

The enemies had also noticed her presence. But she was in range from here.

Rina released her arrow the instant both her horse’s hooves left the ground, its swaying momentarily halted. This was a secret technique mastered by most prairie archers.

“Gah!?”

Her arrow struck true, piercing an enemy’s head. Without stopping her horse, she nocked another arrow and loosed it in the same manner.

“Gah!?”

She loosed another arrow. The enemies tried retaliating with crossbows but could not hit the manoeuvring Rina.

‘I can do this…! Even alone, at this rate…!’

However, she had a limited number of arrows and her arms and fingers had their limits too.

One more shot. No, one more after that. Just one final shot. But as she indulged in greed, the situation took a drastic turn.

“You there, woman! Do you not care what happens to this one!”

“!?”

A shout came from behind her. Turning around, she saw Mayo captured by the enemy group.

“Mayo…!”

The reason the 7,000-strong imperial force had split into a 30-man squad was for reconnaissance around their main camp and surveying the terrain. Of course, news of the hostile nomads would quickly reach the other units.

Another squad had circled around to surround Rina. Mayo, who had chased after them, ended up captured in the process.

“Drop your bow and dismount! Resist, and we kill this woman!”

“Kuh…!”

Rina finally regained her composure. Overhearing the discussions in the yurt and the thrill of killing imperial soldiers had clouded her judgement.

Her youthful passion and inexperience had resurfaced in the worst way possible.

She could not let them take Mayo. Regretting her blunder, Rina discarded her bow and dismounted. An imperial soldier approached her.

“Heheh…you’ve really done it now!”

“Guh!”

One soldier struck Rina’s face, causing her to collapse to the ground.

“Calm down. Reporting this comes first. We can have our fun after.”

“Hey, this woman’s a total beauty, ain’t she!?”

“Yeah! Well well, tonight’s gonna be entertaining!”

And so the two were taken away by the imperial soldiers. But there was someone who had witnessed everything while concealing their presence – a scout skilled in stealth from the Utt tribe.

He would deliver this information back to the Muga tribe’s gathering of the eight tribes.