This being an account of the events leading up to and succeeding the arrival of the aliens within our fair Empire, as has been recounted by the venerable physician of Hozu.

Book The First

The earth shifted beneath my feet, I laboured to quicken my pace for the nebulous skies promised downpour and, as I was afoot, I had to make good time, as treacherous as the soil then was, it was nothing compared to the mires which would form once Zotush, god of the sky, wept upon the earth. I hastened, clutching onto my robes to prevent the wind from pushing against me and thereby delaying my advance; I unsheathed my sword, in acknowledgement of pursuant footsteps.

"Who approaches?" I asked loudly, hoping dearly it wasn't a brigand or some such person.

"Forgive me, revered physician. It is I; I come bearing an urgent message." A familiar raven-haired youth, long of locks, panted as he came parallel to me, his medium-toned skin dull in the waning sun.

"Yes, Ponutuuki?"

"A fitful patient, in a state of severe terror, and with deep lacerations, is at Ozkatuulin, and awaits your care."

"Most grave, dear Ponutuuki." I sighed.

"A pity I have no mount." I informed him.

He whistled shrilly and two black coursers, with diaphanous coats, galloped towards us; he handed me my brown-leather reins, and seized his own, both of us mounting.

"I was so told, my lord. That you have no mount. It is your custom, is it not? To so amble in the wilds?"

"It is. I make my own medicaments, and a good physician knows his country, for the need is great everywhere. From who have you heard this tale?"

"Imperial Coastwatchmen, and numerous town-dwellers. I have an extensive network of informants, you well know."

"Espions, he means." I thought.

"Yes, I'm aware, O' court messenger, and how fares your family?"

We were on familiar terms, as I'd been his poetry instructor at the Institute of Arts and Methodical Thought in Gotraki Zighnesh.

"Everyone is well, I thank you for your concern, my lord; Matraaknaktaan excepting, she was in a state of birth-hysterics after the delivery, but has since been in slow convalescence."

"I commiserate with thee, my friend, she shall recover, I know it, she's a strong woman; have her tincture of dream-plant, it will soothe her agitations."

"I shall do as you suggest, good physician."

"You might also make a habit of drinking willow-water yourself, that affliction is contagious, not only to the post-gravid, but also their male relations."

"Oruki bless you with longevity, goodly physician."

"And thouten, fleet Ponutuuki. How do you fare?"

"Pleasantly, I've no cause for any concern."

"This pleases me."

"A fortune I've my tools on my person. But I'm sure your watchers informed you of this as well."

He grinned at this, looking up.

"You've heeded Atraaknaakza's good counsel, in hastening your pace, it seems; a deluge shall soon be upon us." The sky, which he'd been examining, grumbled in protest as the wind, all but lifting our steeds, gathered up some sombre clouds, before whirling about the assorted trees arched on either side of our mud-path.

"That much is evident, but, Ozkatuulin is, as the vulgars say, a spit away." He chuckled at this.

Within a dove's flight, we arrived at the town stables.

All windows had been shuttered and no one stirred, everyone safely enclosed for the oncoming deluge, which were oft dangerous during these seasons. We stabled the coursers within an Imperial Stablehouse, available for public use, maintained at the expense of Amdaki VII himself, we kicked at the dust, about to turn to mud, with our soft...