I report from the frontier of the Northern province. Ten villages harbouring remnants of the rebellion have been put to the spear, and their chattels claimed. These villages are currently empty, awaiting occupation by loyal settlers from the heartland. I have enclosed an accounting of all expenses and spoils from this season's expedition, prepared by the expeditionary clerk. In addition to the tribute due to He Who is as Thunder, I have apportioned to Him a further four dozen cattle, six dozen slaves, and a chest of valuables, in offering and gratitude. May his reign be long.
Though this was expected to be the final punitive expedition in the campaign, I must bear troublesome reports of further unrest in the area. Suggestions of Binni traders descending from the Interior and sowing dissent are further confirmed with each village we take. Informers and interrogated prisoners all report an unusual number of Binni visitors in the months before the uprising, all speaking to known leaders of rebellion.
The expeditionary force has not yet captured and interrogated any Binni, nor indeed encountered any, excluding one incident I shall detail below. However, due to their increased visits in this land, we have gathered much more information about these people, which I believe may be useful to all expeditions in possession adjacent to the Interior, and perhaps ultimately, to the Interior itself.
As is already understood, Binni travel singly or in small groups, and are renowned for their ability to travel easily in even hostile terrain. Their activities in this land seem to confirm their hostility to the hegemony of He Who is as Thunder. It is still believed that they have a language spoken among themselves, though when trading with other peoples they use tongues foreign. No prisoners or informants have yet revealed any knowledge of the Binni tongue.
The interrogation of provincial Northeners suggest additionally that they have skills beyond their mercantile abilities or landscraft. Nearly all subjects insisted, even without torture, that all Binni possess magical abilities. Discounting these as provincial superstition, it is still worrying that it is a superstition repeated with great sincerity by several sources from diverse locations. The precise nature of these magical abilities is not certain. Many subjects claim that Binni possess the ability to transform their bodies into those of beasts; others insist that they can travel great distances in mere steps; yet others claim that they can exert control over the minds of humans. The one common claim is that the Binni possess a craft known by various names, not easily expressed in our tongue – an informant now attached to my staff renders it as “Underground Astrology”, though he stresses this is an incomplete translation. That all members of an Interior peoples may be so gifted seems impossible; for a tribe to consist of hedge-wizards rivalling our own court's magicians is a claim of patent foolishness. Yet it is so foolish that the truth it may be rooted in is yet troublesome.
Concerning the singular encounter with a Binni, this occurred eight days ago, shortly before we left the penultimate village of our route. Scouts on the flanks of our procession ranged beyond a small hill and reported a sighting of a Binni encampment in a small valley below – two individuals without pack beasts. Upon hearing this information, I immediately set out, personally commanding two further detachments of scouts and a squadron of Tusks. Reaching the hill from which they had been spied, no sign of their encampment was visible, and indeed the original scouts could not find any sign of the Binni in the valley. These scouts were faithful, loyal men, from the heartland of Ktere; disinclined to drunkeness or ill-discipline. They have given me no reason to doubt the truth of their report, yet there was no camp in the valley and no spoor to follow.
I have served for near three full terms in the armies of He Who is as Thunder. My record, as you well know, is distinguished in His service. I have never been a commander weak to superstition, omen, or foolishness. I remind you of this to emphasise the gravity with which I tell you that I believe the Binni possess crafts unknown to our nation. Further, they are a hostile tribe. Knowledge of these two facts will be of the utmost importance in planning further actions in this province and anywhere along the Interior.
Having made our way to Tensha's capital at Zahamo, we spent two days attending the Royal Court. On the morning of our third day, I withdrew the embassy and began our return journey to Ktere. I shall to the best of my ability put down my observations and recollections of these past few days, and all that occurred here. Though it is likely I will arrive along with or soon after this letter, I wish to preserve my impressions of Zahamo and its Court while they are still bright, though they may be disordered and shocking.
Zahamo lies in the mountainous land in the southwest of Nlamo. It was built by Tensha in the early years of his kingship as a new capital without affiliation to any single nation or people in the land, although it is situated close to his childhood and ancestral home in the town of Gande. Indeed Gande lies at the lower end of the road that is the only approach to Zahamo. This road switches up the mountain to the capital, guarded at several points by garrisoned forts.
Zahamo itself is situated in a high valley. Stout stone walls surround the town, enclosing an oval area some two hundred paces across its longest line, and one hundred and fifty paces at its thickest point. The area within is sparsely filled, as the town is yet young and considered chiefly as the personal holding of Tensha. Apart from his palace and banqueting hall, the compound contains the houses of his Court, a number of garrisons, quarters for visitors, and much of the remaining land is left over for grazing of their animals.
King Tensha is a man raised from modest backgrounds to supreme rule in this realm. His father was a renowned hunter and a scout in the garrison of Gande, and his mother was a merchant and respected fighter. He served from a young age in Gande's garrison, distinguishing himself as a great warrior and leader of men in a number of regional conflicts. He took leadership of the clan and the town in his middle thirties, and began the series of wars that would unify Nlamo under his rule.
The court at Zahamo comprises Tensha himself, his chief priest and companion Matwe, his heir Oadan (a sort of nephew of the King), several other priests and judges, and a number of representatives and local princes from across Nlamo. From what I could observe, Tensha's court is loyal to the King, and not beset by cabals or cliques, save perhaps a gathering of priests and judges around Matwe.
Though past the thirtieth year of his reign and already in his elder years, Tensha is still a powerful man, broad across the shoulders and with an erect noble carriage. We were received warmly by him and Matwe on our arrival, given a tour of the capital, and formally blessed by his priests. After that we were shown to our guest quarters, the troops were allowed the use of an empty barracks, and we were granted the freedom of the compound to rest from our travels.
We did not see Tensha again until we were formally presented to the court the following afternoon. After the members of the embassy had all been introduced to Tensha and his advisors, he entertained us with a drill of his personal troop – soldiers from across the land selected by Tensha for their prowess, skill, and bravery, and drilled personally by the King. We responded by drilling our own escort, and showing feats of strength and speed on the part of chosen men from the ranks. The occasion was received with great warmth on all parts. I spoke directly to the King only briefly, to compliment him on the skill of his personal guard and to admire the location of his capital.
A great banquet was held that evening. A number of cattle were freshly slaughtered in honour of our embassy, and served alongside spiced soups, loaves of boiled grains, stews of many vegetables, and the meat of an elephant. Tensha gave a speech on receiving us and the opportunity for friendship of our two realms, praising He Who is as Thunder most handsomely, delivering some kind words in a passable attempt at our tongue. Throughout the meal his chief priest watched all of our embassy closely. I half dared to believe
Forgive me, my hand can scarce write these words. How may a hand commit to paper what the mind will not admit?
It was as though Matwe could pierce my breast and see the true intentions of our embassy in visiting Nlamo. These magics are known, but none save the most exalted sages of our land can begin to practice upon them. How can a mere priest of a foreign court expose a man's inner thoughts with such ease?
At the end of the feast, long past the setting of the sun, I excused myself to return to my quarters and begin composing this letter. Most of the eNlami stayed to continue their revels, as did many of our men. Upon entering my chamber, I was seized by two strong hands and borne to the wall, where I could see the face of my assailant. It was Matwe. The same Matwe who I had seen not moments before in spirited debate at Tensha's side, had contrived somehow to steal to my chambers before me, across open land, though I took the straightest route.
He spoke in a thin voice, saying: “Your intentions in this land are known, Envoy. Your embassy will leave at first light, and you will not return to Nlamo. This land will never yield to your bestial emperor. Heed these words.” This was all spoken before I had opportunity to react – for it is a quickly uttered language and his speech is more rapid than many of his countrymen – and as I opened my mouth to protest, with a quick jerk of his body I was pushed along the wall and into the corner of the chamber. The priest opened his mouth, as wide as a mouth may open, and then further, and the shadow inside his gaping jaw seemed to grow and overpower all the senses I possessed.
I awoke in my bed, as the dawn was beginning to lighten the eastern sky. With the greatest haste I assembled our embassy and left Zahamo, without formally bidding farewell to Tensha or his court.
I have written before of the religious ceremonies of the cult of Gaapo, and their use of teas that induce strange visions and dreams in the rituals of their faith. I have discounted this as an explanation for my strange encounter with Matwe. All food and drink at the banquet were served from a common source, and no others of the embassy spoke to me of visions. Those who stayed at the revels through the night told me Matwe was present at the high table for the whole celebration, leaving only as the fires began to flicker and die.
My spirit was shaken by this meeting. I momentarily believed that I must advise against the invasion of this country, such was the shock of Matwe's actions and the gravity of his words. Our expedition must be prepared for spirited resistance and bitter conflict, as I have previously written. But furthermore, we must prepare for the use of magics and crafts unknown in our own lands. The eNlami will not be conquered easily.
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