Seeing Through Zaichaerian Eyes 
72 Glade 121
"Change happens one person at a time, Master Monteliyet. Do you not tire of the tension? Do you not grow weary of the constant threat of hostility between our two countries?” Talon had watched his father throughout the years. The toll of staving off war with Zaichaer and its allies versus balancing the sovereignty and independence of Kalzasi was no easy task. The Great Houses demanded action, as Shokaze, his father was obligated to respond to threats to their people’s independence. The Imperium was always a thought in the back of any Synnekar’s mind. The fact that Zaichaer aligned closely with the goals of the Imperium meant that the two city-states would remain at odds for many reasons. Talon knew that the underlying issues were tied to a stark difference in their circumstances. Zaichaer did not face the kind of threats that Kalzasi did. But that also meant they did not fully understand why Kalzasi’s ways were vital to their survival.
“You think I am naive.” It was not a question. He could tell by the tone of Dreyfus voice and the manner in which he responded that the man did not believe any of this was possible.
“It only takes one event to change a person’s life. It can be traumatic. It can be inspiring. It can be anything, really. People live their lives either trying their hardest keep their lives the same or to shatter that repetition and invite something new into the fold.” Talon gestured to the ordinary people walking around them on the street. There were those who were wide eyed with fascination as they stared at him. There were those who were looking in suspicion or who were hurrying along to get far away.
“Zaichaer wishes for its way of life to extend from Kathiid to Antiris. Not even the Clockwork Empire managed to conquer the whole of the Northlands. Some would say that is an impossibility. Yet it is a desire all the same.” Talon shrugged his shoulders, bringing his hands to rest at the small of his back. He could feel Rickter’s agitation rising. Across their bond he reached for the man, performing the mental equivalent of entwining their hands together. He felt Aoren draw closer to their wolf’s soul, working to quell the irritation in both of them. He understood their anger. Rickter, he understood because the life of Kalzasi was the only one that the wolf knew as far as Talon knew. Aoren saw the phantom of the Imperium in Zaichaer and that put him on edge. He listened as Dreyfus posed his final question.
“I bring only myself and the perspective that comes with it. That there is only one world and we must all live in it. We can either find the road to peace or destroy ourselves believing that road is impossible to find.” Just as Talon finished speaking the sound of shouting could be heard up ahead. A large group of people were headed their way. The shouting made anything they were saying hard to discern but the noted aggression and the fact that they were headed their way told Talon enough about them.
“There he is!” A younger man, most likely Talon’s age from the look of him, was leading the crowd. He was dressed in clothes that told Talon he was well off. The fact that he was pointing directly at him and had a look of either recognition or determination on his face, also informed Talon that he was a man who at least floated in informed circles. Following their leader’s cue, the crowd began marching forward. At a glance, Talon guessed that perhaps there were thirty or so people. They all looked to be common folk, undoubtedly gathered to showcase their displeasure at the arrival of a foreign Witch-Prince from a dirty city.
He was reminded of words that had been shared with him by Brenner Dornkirk the day prior during his tour of the Windworks. The fact that there were passions running deep in Zaichaer, a taste for the blood of mages. Given the prejudices of the Zaichaeri people, Talon could not say he was surprised that there would be a disgruntled mob headed his way so soon. He wondered, briefly, if the man who he had saved in the factory had spoken of his ordeal to others.
“You! Bird-Man!” Talon felt his entourage tense. He felt his bondmates ready to leap into action. He eyed the leader of the group with the same level of curiosity he would a painting that was slightly off in an otherwise well decorated room. As the man neared, he seemed to notice Dreyfus and his female companion for the first time. The frown on his face deepened but his pace did not slow.
Normally, Talon made an effort to make himself seem approachable. Normally, he went out of his way to make his stature seem less staggering compared to humans.
He made no such effort in that moment.
“Stand aside, Reconciliators.” He had brown hair and equally dark brown eyes. There was an athleticism to his build and Talon had to wonder if, like most of the upper crust of Zaichaer that he had seen so far, did this man have a military background as well? He could have been handsome if not for the open disgust and loathing evident on his face. Talon easily towered over him and likely had considerable weight on the man as well, not that he needed such things if it came to open conflict.
“You think I am naive.” It was not a question. He could tell by the tone of Dreyfus voice and the manner in which he responded that the man did not believe any of this was possible.
“It only takes one event to change a person’s life. It can be traumatic. It can be inspiring. It can be anything, really. People live their lives either trying their hardest keep their lives the same or to shatter that repetition and invite something new into the fold.” Talon gestured to the ordinary people walking around them on the street. There were those who were wide eyed with fascination as they stared at him. There were those who were looking in suspicion or who were hurrying along to get far away.
“Zaichaer wishes for its way of life to extend from Kathiid to Antiris. Not even the Clockwork Empire managed to conquer the whole of the Northlands. Some would say that is an impossibility. Yet it is a desire all the same.” Talon shrugged his shoulders, bringing his hands to rest at the small of his back. He could feel Rickter’s agitation rising. Across their bond he reached for the man, performing the mental equivalent of entwining their hands together. He felt Aoren draw closer to their wolf’s soul, working to quell the irritation in both of them. He understood their anger. Rickter, he understood because the life of Kalzasi was the only one that the wolf knew as far as Talon knew. Aoren saw the phantom of the Imperium in Zaichaer and that put him on edge. He listened as Dreyfus posed his final question.
“I bring only myself and the perspective that comes with it. That there is only one world and we must all live in it. We can either find the road to peace or destroy ourselves believing that road is impossible to find.” Just as Talon finished speaking the sound of shouting could be heard up ahead. A large group of people were headed their way. The shouting made anything they were saying hard to discern but the noted aggression and the fact that they were headed their way told Talon enough about them.
“There he is!” A younger man, most likely Talon’s age from the look of him, was leading the crowd. He was dressed in clothes that told Talon he was well off. The fact that he was pointing directly at him and had a look of either recognition or determination on his face, also informed Talon that he was a man who at least floated in informed circles. Following their leader’s cue, the crowd began marching forward. At a glance, Talon guessed that perhaps there were thirty or so people. They all looked to be common folk, undoubtedly gathered to showcase their displeasure at the arrival of a foreign Witch-Prince from a dirty city.
He was reminded of words that had been shared with him by Brenner Dornkirk the day prior during his tour of the Windworks. The fact that there were passions running deep in Zaichaer, a taste for the blood of mages. Given the prejudices of the Zaichaeri people, Talon could not say he was surprised that there would be a disgruntled mob headed his way so soon. He wondered, briefly, if the man who he had saved in the factory had spoken of his ordeal to others.
“You! Bird-Man!” Talon felt his entourage tense. He felt his bondmates ready to leap into action. He eyed the leader of the group with the same level of curiosity he would a painting that was slightly off in an otherwise well decorated room. As the man neared, he seemed to notice Dreyfus and his female companion for the first time. The frown on his face deepened but his pace did not slow.
Normally, Talon made an effort to make himself seem approachable. Normally, he went out of his way to make his stature seem less staggering compared to humans.
He made no such effort in that moment.
“Stand aside, Reconciliators.” He had brown hair and equally dark brown eyes. There was an athleticism to his build and Talon had to wonder if, like most of the upper crust of Zaichaer that he had seen so far, did this man have a military background as well? He could have been handsome if not for the open disgust and loathing evident on his face. Talon easily towered over him and likely had considerable weight on the man as well, not that he needed such things if it came to open conflict.
