At the northern border of the desert, where the golden seas ended and the lush green plains of Grenobia started, and where the territory of Sabyema ended, an army was assembling under the call of the high priestess of Chuklungcän, to spread the banner of her people into the remaining corners of the desert. While the other clans of Sabyema needed not to pay taxes or tributes in general, their warriors and soldiers needed to serve Keyuri the high priestess when she deemed necessary, and this was one of the time she saw so.
On a small green hill bordering the desert, several white tents had already been set up. From the inscriptions on the white silk banner held in the camp, it was from the clan of Khams, as well as the capital of Chuklungcän itself. After building the temporary camp to wait for the remaining force to assemble, the hundred warriors from Khams received some short rest, as they quickly started a rather mundane feast at the middle of the day. The rapid and rhythmic music of them could be heard from the central square of the camp, as they danced with each other, as well as priestesses who blessed and guided them.
Soon, as if they were here to serve as a notable contrast to the desert warriors, the army from Grenobia, or Grennob, arrived in their traditional equipment and formation. Even though the structure of both the government and society had been reshaped in the image of their Sabyeman counterpart, they still maintained the rank and equipment before the assimilation years before, which was not exactly designed for desert use. The Nord mercenaries were especially tired under the burning sun, and would be melting if they could.
Among them was Babytha, the Grenobian advisor of Keyuri herself. Even though she was not required to fight among her men, she was still asked to accompany Keyuri, both for advice and emergency situation where her assistance would be needed. However, even though she was one of the earliest Grenobians to surrender to Sabyema, she was not particularly happy about it – mostly due to the fact that she had to work with Lampilles. Even though the knight was offered his own land, and thus need not to accompany Babytha all the time, the tension between them was still present – especially after the news of Keyuri giving birth to a son and a daughter – the son with pale skin was almost certainly of the blood of the knight.
As she entered the camp where Keyuri resided, she was feeding the twin of her with the well-endowed breasts of her. With the light and easy-to-take-off silk clothes of her, it was very easy for her – and other priestesses – to remove their clothes for whatever reasons. The beautifully-designed garments that decorated her body, as well as the elegance radiating from every move of her, made it a graceful picture without the feeling of lowly indecency.
“So here you are, lady Babytha.” The high priestess noticed the presence of Babytha and gently laid down the male infant in her arms. After handing him to one of the accompanying priestesses, Keyuri wore her clothes back and stood up. Even in her thirties and just gave birth to two children, the high priestess still retained a near-perfect and well-endowed body, as if it was one of the traits that these desert dwellers possessed. “So, how is the situation in Grenobia?”
“Yes, your highness.” Babytha bowed to the high priestess, before presenting a normal, if a bit boring situation in Grenobia. Without much internal or external influence, it was a peaceful and generally pleasant land, smoothly being turned and reshaped into the society that was part of the desert dwellers. However, the tone of her still indicated the friction between her and the knight, who was effectively ruling a small town of his own at where the Margrave once ruled.
“It appears that you are still not in good terms with Lampilles.” Keyuri smiled and asked, even though she already knew the answer, and the nod from Babytha confirmed it. The high priestess did not say anything,
“My guess is that you did not take well of Yeshe, my boy either. Is it correct?” The sudden question from Keyuri was quickly denied by Babytha, even though it was not a convincing denial in any sense of the word. Noticing that, Keyuri giggled a bit, before hugging Yeshe in her arms.
“It is fine. I knew it might not be acceptable for you, both because of culture and maybe as a woman.” Keyuri giggled a but, as her slim fingers played with her offspring. “However, I intended Yeshe to be a bonding between our people, a product of two different cultures in one.”
“Unlike you, I would probably not live for another decade or two, as a fate of all my people. As such, we need to think not only for ourselves, but the future of our daughters and sons.” Keyuri said, “After I have returned to Maskya, my older daughter would take up my mantle. Then afterwards, maybe her daughter, who might even be with the blood of a foreigner. With that, our people can truly be one, surviving into the future that belonged to all of us who lived, is living, and will live.”
“People have said that children are not guilty of what their parents did, and is it not a good start with Yeshe?” The high priestess smiled as Yeshe and the other twin started suckling her breasts again. Soon, another priestess entered the tent with a parchment and handed it to the high priestess.
“The others had arrived. Now, we shall expand our people and unite the desert under one banner. It was part of the land our ancestors lived, and we need to unite them and forge the state for Sabyema to live on.” After skimming the parchment written in the script of Sabyeskad, Keyuri looked at Babytha again and smiled. “Would you accompany me during this journey, lady?”
Summary of Actions
All Unit -> Enter the targeted land from west.
