“Leofwine,” Yasei said, his voice booming inside my mind as before. “You have freed me and my people from our enslavement. What would you wish of us? Some of our number desire to return home to the north, but fully 20 wish to remain with you. I am one of those who would wish to stay. We have seen the taint of the Kanosuru, and we would help you drive it from this land.”
“I’ll discuss it with my partner,” I said, and Yasei bowed his head.
I walked a little ways off with Cara, so the tigers wouldn’t overhear.
Before I could start to explain what Yasei had said to me, Cara spoke.
“It seems like a good idea to have these warrior beasts with us,” she commented.
“You can hear Yasei’s voice too?” I asked in surprise.
She nodded. “In my mind. How could that be?”
I considered for a moment. “I think it’s something to do with how we share the Personas. We’re bound together now, you and I. Yasei speaks to us in the same place as the Persona binding happens; the spirit realm.”
“Well,” Cara said as we watched them go, “when I first saw them, I never thought they would end up being on our side.”
“Nor did I. But I’ll take Yasei up on his offer.”
With Cara by my side, I returned to the tiger commander.
“Those who wish to leave may do so,” I said. “Of those who remain, well, you say there are 20 of you. There are 20 of the mercenary riders remaining too. Would your Byakko be willing to take the mercenaries as riders again? Freely?”
Yasei paused for a moment to consider my proposition. It was a weighty thing which I was asking, for him and his kin to not only follow me into battle against the Festering, but to do so while mounted by their former captors.
“We would,” Yasei answered after a few moments. “But, there is a condition.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to make a deal without qualification,” I returned. “Tell me, what else do you need?”
“A special kind of rider.” Yasei’s eyes glinted with fervor. “You, Leofwine. I would wish to have you as a rider. Permanently, if you’ll have me.”
A grin tugged at my lips. I glanced at Cara, and she seemed equally impressed with the offer. My men back in Saxe would have been blown away to hear a beast such as this speaking, but to have one accept me as a rider permanently? It was likely to make some heads explode if I ever had the chance to ride Yasei through Saxe with my men watching.
“Very well,” I replied. “I’m honored.” Instinctively, I inclined my head to Yasei. It was a small bow, but for some reason with this noble creature, it did not feel wrong. It felt like a mark of mutual respect rather than of subjugation.
“We are weary and wish to rest now,” Yasei said. “After we have rested, those who wish to depart will do so, and the rest will stay. Call me when you need me.”
He turned his huge form and lumbered away from me, off toward the lake. As he went away, the others followed him. Every single mighty beast passed close by me, and each one dipped his massive head to me as he passed.
“It seems that we’ll have an army greater than any we commanded in Saxe,” Cara said.
“Baby steps,” I said with a smile. “Still, the warriors of this land are worthy of the name. They are almost as skilled in combat as our people.”
“Almost,” Cara said before she stepped forward to kiss me on the mouth.
I returned her kiss and held her to me for a few moments. It felt good to have bonded with her in this way. For so long, we had both desired each other, but fulfilling our passions had taken traveling to this world where we weren’t beholden to our oaths.
“What did you think of Lady Kai?” Cara asked me, and I could hear some hidden meaning in her words.
“A great warrior,” I said. As my next words came, I fought off a smile. “Wonderful breasts, and her legs shine like bronze.”
“Ah, I noticed those, too. Do you think she would be open to the customs of Saxe?”
“We’ve barely known her for a few minutes and already you’re thinking of her sharing our bed?” I asked in mock outrage.
Cara punched me playfully on the chest. “Don’t think I can’t see what you’re thinking, Leo. You might have only entered me last night, but I have fought alongside you, drank mead into the early hours of the morning, and laughed with you for many years.”
“That’s true,” I said. “Then, can you tell me what I’m thinking now?”
I placed a hand on my belt and stared into her eyes.
“Not sex,” Cara mused. “Power.”
“That’s right,” I said with a broad grin. “Come, let us see what we have gained from our increase in Renown.”
Cara and I walked down the valley together, away from the house and the debris of the battle. When the Festering had been driven away from the valley, the trees had transformed back into their regular forms. They were spread out, and between them the tall grass waved in the slight breeze. Birds fluttered to and fro in the branches, and the sun shone down through the leaves to dapple the ground.
We walked for ten minutes, until we could no longer see the battlefield. Stopping in a clearing, we faced each other.
“Are you ready?” she asked me.
I nodded.
Excitement flashed into Cara’s eyes, and my spirits mirrored her enthusiasm. Together, we reached for the Personas.
Instantly, the glade changed. It was as if we had been transported to a different version of the same place. Instead
