(Jonn visits the Isle to win the swordfighting tournament in Enlod celebrating the brief peace in the Far East and to officially reestablish the Order of the Khalkar on the Dark Isle, referred to just previously. While there he gets the news that the peace has been shattered by the plotting of Sorraine and Claudio Kabrinski, Cathays army has been slaughtered in Colasan. He arrives back in Cathay no longer a peacemaker, but head of its army in a war that seems impossible...)
Upon the highest rampart of the Farsight Wall of Taop a lone figure stood. Tall, dark, brooding, his erect and noble posture and impassive gaze hid well the turmoil of a troubled mind.
Lord Jonn wrapped his sable cloak tighter around himself as an icy gust kicked up from the south. He smiled grimly as he thought of his uncle Habbo, who so many years before had walked these very walls alone. That was a different time, a different war, but not so different after all.
The city had flown another banner then, the shield-and-swords of Antoza. Now a golden lion danced in the stiff wind, winter's last assault upon these walls until the cycle of seasons brought winter back anew. It would be a cold spring. It was always cold in Cathay these days.
Jonn thought fondly of the balmy southern shores of the Euschean sea, far away now, of his seaside estate in Garuck Udor, a land he'd won for his deeds in a war he'd half forgotten. He had been happy there for a time, occupied with the needs of his people and his Udorian wives, his union with whom had sealed his alliance with the proud and independent Udorian merchant lords. They had made him rich and happy, and they would walk together on the beach at night and make love under the stars.
He missed them. Talea had been pregnant when duty called him back to the Far East, and she remained in Garuck Udor in the care of her father Fabri, the richest of the Udorian native nobility, whose wealth exceeded even that of many of the Lurian high lords whose rule he begrudgingly accepted as safe and profitable. Jonn had not yet had word of the child, who should have been born by now. Yet another weight on his mind.
He had brought with him Shayna, daughter of Kemros, the second richest man in Garuck Udor and Fabri's bitterest rival until Jonn had brought their families together. But she too was far away now. They had been in Enlod when word came of the Sartanists' treacherous attack on Cathay, and Jonn had been forced to make the difficult decision of leaving her behind in the care of his people. Kellan and Merrit would take good care of her, and she would learn the ways of the First People, Jonn's people, the natives of the Isle.
The Lord Marshal laughed, a sudden moment of joy to warm him against the wind. How strange to be in Taop while old Merrit and Kellan son of Habbo were on the Isle. His mirth was short lived as he recalled Merrit's accounts of the war between Antoza and the Grand Alliance, seven strong realms against one, which had ended upon these very walls. A great many of the Antozan nobles had taken their own lives rather than surrender. He hoped it would not come to that for Cathay. He would not let it come to that for Cathay.
In war, hope is more valuable than gold or good steel. Desperation can be even better, but it must be tempered with courage and a determination to at least die with one's sword drawn and teeth bared. Jonn had never much believed in the courage of mainlanders, but he hoped the Cathayans were a different breed.
"The last of the free kingdoms," he sighed into the wind. The lion banner above flapped its somber reply.
