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smiled up at Kati with an expression of delight, pointed at her, then
whispered to a man sitting next to her with their two children.
Goldani waved her hand, and the waterfall ceased flowing behind them. Kati
remembered thinking it magic, but Ma had explained that a man simply closed a
gate at the top of the waterfall, diverting the stream that fed it, and giving
them the silence to hear the hot breath from the Eye of Tengri-Nayon.
And it was there, the sound from deep inside the ground, coming down the
hanging canyon to her left.
All those assembled listened to it for a moment, and then Goldani raised her
arms.
"We're gathered for a special Festival in the Eye of Tengri-Nayon, and in the
presence of the living
Empress Mandughai, who watches over us all! She comes soon to free us, and has
sent an emissary to tell us what we must do! She has chosen one of our own as
emissary, a Tumatsin woman taken from us in tragedy and returned in triumph.
That woman sits beside me. She is Kati, daughter of Toregene and
Temujin. The leaders of your ordu s have told you the story of Kati's life and
how she came to be chosen by Mandughai. There are those of us who have seen a
sampling of her powers. But she comes with a warning about our liberation by
Mandughai, for it is not to happen in the way we've believed! Many of you have
doubts. You must hear that warning directly from the mouth of The One our
Empress sends to us."
The people were silent, all expressions serious; their eyes were on Kati.
"Tell them," said Goldani, "exactly as you told it to me."
Kati took a deep breath, cheeks flushed, and her voice came forth as a hoarse,
throaty growl that
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surprised her audience.
"I bring greetings from Mandughai, who has sent me here and made me all that I
am! She arrives in only a few months with a great army to rid you of the
Emperor and bring freedom for all the people of Shanji, of which you're only a
part. She brings freedom to Tumatsin and Hansui alike, but especially to the
millions living in poor conditions to the east of the mountains, people you've
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never seen who live in filth and poverty while slaving for nobles who do not
care about them. Your lives are good, by comparison.
There is much misery in our world, and Mandughai will not have it remain any
longer! She will rid
Shanji of poverty, and requires all the people, Tumatsin and Hansui, to work
towards that goal! We must come together, work together. We are all one
people, with one Empress. The division between us must come to an end when the
Emperor is gone!"
The expression of many men had turned to scowls, and they were whispering
among each other. Kati glared at each of them until the whispering stopped.
"Your hatred for the Hansui runs deep, and has reason. I also have reason to
hate them; they killed my mother, and burned the ordu of my childhood. But
I've learned there are many good people among the
Hansui, people who care about every living being, and work for justice and
equality, all the things you expect Mandughai to give you. She will give you
nothing
! She expects you to do it, by working together as one people."
The men were whispering again. This time, she didn't stop them.
"I know your doubts! I
hear them in your minds, for Mandughai has also made me Moshuguang, a
Searcher. She also hears your doubts, and has told me you'll only unite with
the Hansui to fight a common threat. I didn't accept that, at first, but now I
do. Her army will move against all of us, Tumatsin and Hansui alike. We'll
unite in fighting Her army, or be destroyed, and leave Her to begin again. I'm
committed to your defense, even if you will not aid me in defending the
Hansui. I ride with my soldiers! I do not watch from afar! I'll give up my
life to defend all the people of Shanji, not just the
Tumatsin. And I ask you to join me in defending our world."
"You proclaim yourself Empress!" shouted a man.
"You're rude!" cried Goldani. "Quiet!"
"No! Let him speak. It's the men who risk their lives in war, and they must
believe in the reason for such risk. Mandughai has chosen me, not I. She's
taught me, extended my powers, all of it in preparation to bring change to
Shanji, and a better life for all the people. You've all been told of my plans
for reform."
"So give us a sign of your powers!" shouted the same man.
"I'll do that tonight by this pool. I'll expect to see you here. But I fear
you'll only believe when your
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ordu s are burning. And when that time comes, I
will be there to defend you!"
Goldani interrupted before Kati could take a breath.
"You hear her words! She has given her warning, and you must think about it.
We can be destroyed, or we can follow the will of Mandughai, and do what has
been told to us. Our long wait is over. Our prayers have been answered, though
not in the way we've expected. There will be new rule on Shanji!
There will be justice, and a better life for all of us if we choose it. Now,
let us go to the fields to eat, and to celebrate the fulfillment of our
prayers!"
The children jumped to their feet, excited, though the adults were still
serious looking and quiet. One exception was the young woman who'd been
smiling at Kati. She was beaming now, and rushed to Kati's side as the women
were just turning their horses.
"Kati! It you! You're still wearing the necklace of shells I gave you when
we got our horses!"
is
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"Edi? Is it you? I would never have guessed!" Kati reached down to take the
woman's offered hand. "I
saw you there, You have children
!"
"Two," said Edi. "Do you remember the little wooden knife you gave me?"
"Yes."
"You see, on the belt of my son Tuli. I've passed your gift on to my son."
"We must go," said Goldani.
"I want to talk more," said Kati. "After our meal?"
"I want to hear everything," said Edi, and released Kati's hand.
The column of women on horseback started up the hanging canyon, and the people
formed a long line behind them, those in front pressing in closely to keep
watching Kati as best they could. Hot air and a sharp odor swirled between the
rock walls towering above them, the roar of Tengri's Eye drowning out any
conversation as they neared it.
"I wish to make a small demonstration," said Kati, as they reached The Eye.
She stopped by it, and the other women went on. Kati held up a hand to the
people and shouted.
"I came here as a child, and The Eye burns as it did then. I will make it burn
brighter to celebrate the fulfillment of our prayers! Stay to your left, so
you'll not be burned by it!"
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Kati held out a hand towards The Eye of Tengri, and the burning coal seam deep
within, a column of organic vapors rising from it. The gesture was only
ritual, her aura entering the hot cavern and drawing heat from it like a
cosmic bellows. The fire hurried to follow her, intensifying. A column of hot
gas and flame erupted from the cavern, searing rock to a glaze, and startling
Kati's horse into rearing.
Stay.
She froze the animal in place, enveloping the two of them in a blue auric
shield she knew would be seen by the women. The column of flame rushed
upwards, and past her within two arms' length as she sat there calmly, hand
outstretched. The people shielded their eyes, pressing to the rock wall to
slide past her as quickly as they could.
It was half an hour before all the people had filed past in a tumble, and then
they stopped to look back at her.
"Now sleep!" said Kati. She lowered her hand, and the column of flame
disappeared as if sucked on by a great inhalation from deep within The Eye.
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