Awakening the Lightforged

Koruuksi had to keep reminding himself not to grind his teeth as he packed his bag. Estingai did that, and he always called her on it. He wasn't in the mood to deal with her walking in and catching him.

He knew he had to go, that he was the only one Estingai felt she could trust with this, but still, he kept trying to think of a reason to stay.

He couldn’t.

He was their best choice for winning over the other factions, but Marjatla and Aaden could take care of that well enough with the ones willing to talk to them.

Those two are the only reason the faction is still running. Even when Raima had lived.

Estingai would be unable to infiltrate Last Shadow and hunt down the spy. Her gemcrest would make her stand out, and even here, a few people whispered about her involvement in the deaths of all the faction heads, writing off Svemakuu’s death as an unexpected casualty.

I’ll have to put a stop to that before I leave.

A few seemingly pleasant conversations with the right undertones should do the trick.

Koruuksi’s gemcrest would make him stand out, too. Hiding it had been nearly impossible last time. He hadn’t decided on how exactly to play his flight from Frozen Phantom and Estingai yet, but her reputation for a short temper, family drama, and a bit of hyperbole should be enough to make the skeptics in Last Shadow believe that he’d just taken any excuse he could to get away from Estingai.

Gripping his bag, Koruuksi sighed.

How much of that will be false?

He loved his sister, but stress had always made them butt heads. Svemakuu’s presence had usually alleviated that, but now…

"Still beating yourself up?"

Koruuksi blinked, whirling from his bag. He found Uuchantuu blocking the slim entryway to their little room, leaning against the wall. Her deep red skin stood out against the dark stone like a glob of paint.

With a sigh, Koruuksi went back to packing, checking the straps and wiring on a few of the more covert weapons and tools he might need to use while he was gone.

Koruuksi found himself acutely aware of Uuchantuu's presence as he packed and prepared his kit. Like an itch between his shoulder blades. He did his best not to fidget under her gaze, but eventually, he turned and glared at her. "Are you just going to stand there all night?"

She frowned. "I came to see how you were doing."

Koruuksi shrugged. "I said I would go, so that's what I'm doing. The sooner I leave, the sooner I won't have to deal with you and Estingai yelling at me for being a lazy asshole."

He turned around, specifically not looking at Uuchantuu's face. She huffed, though, and Koruuksi knew she'd folded her arms over her chest.

He waited for her to snap at him.

"When you're done with packing, could you help me with the list Estingai gave me?"

Koruuksi blinked, frowning as he turned back to Uuchantuu. She raised an eyebrow when he didn't say anything.

Shaking himself, Koruuksi took a deep breath and walked toward Uuchantuu. She pulled out a small datapad. Those were rare, but it was easier to get the electricity required to make them work than it was to find the amount of useable paper they replaced.

He took the device, looking over the names listed on it. There were twenty in total, and it listed whether or not they were Auroramancers—most were—and what their abilities were.

"I recognize most of the names, but I'm assuming you know them all better than I do. Especially the ones from the other factions."

Koruuksi studied the list for a moment, nodding to himself, then handed it back to Uuchantuu.

“Use all of them.”

“All of them?"

Koruuksi nodded. “Estingai was smart in picking people from Stormswind and Icevein. If you can all work together, it will show everyone that the factions can do so as well. Muuzuuri is a good pilot—less crazy than most—and Kakengo and Wemba are both good in high-stress situations. Araana’s worked with them before.”

Koruuksi frowned at that. Araana had her share of issues to deal with, like most of them, but she’d been more short-tempered than usual lately. Even with him. He knew she felt things a lot more than most people did. Maybe that was the reason the hopeful, friendly attitude he was used to from her had soured recently.

Was it losing Raima and Svemakuu? Or just the situation in general?

Taking a deep breath, Koruuksi shook his head and looked back to Uuchantuu. He studied her for a moment, then clasped her shoulder and met her gaze.

“You know how to do this. You’ll have your pilots, your scouts, your strike teams, and your support. Divide them into squads each with their own leaders, and you’ll be fine. You’ll be stretched thin during the raids Estingai will send you on, but we’re used to that? At the very least, you will have a few more pilots and more scouts to keep watch with all those people. Add Edendo, Jaran, and Voranda to that list. They're from Ironpeak, but they'll work with you if you mention me. Edendo's an insane pilot, and Jaran is a good soldier. Voranda can fill either role. I’ll see if I can think of a few others before I go”

Uuchantuu smiled at that, but the silence stretched again, broken only by the hum of the lights and the ventilation system.

"Are you sure this is the best idea?"

Koruuksi looked to his friend. She made no attempt to hide the worry in her eyes.

"I know you're still hurting from everything with Bonde and his people."

Koruuksi sighed, raising a hand to rub at his temples, and Uuchantuu closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around him from behind. Koruuksi stiffened, but then let himself relax into the embrace.

After a moment, he stepped out of her arms and turned, taking her hand before he pulled her to his chest.

He tried to think of something to say.

"I don't want to go without you," was all he could get out.

"I know," she said into his chest.

For a while, they simply held each other like that. When Koruuksi finally pulled back, he looked to Uuchantuu. Her golden-brown eyes shimmered.

"You can do this. Even with me gone."

"I hope so."

The nerves in her voice nearly made Koruuksi come up with a reason to stay. Then his gaze traveled to Svemakuu and Estingai's untouched bunks, and he knew he had to go.

I need to find out who betrayed us. Who got my brother killed, and nearly got my sister killed twice.

"We have to."

"I hate that," Uuchantuu said.

"So do I."

She took a deep breath, then stepped back, frowning as she studied him. "Do you need anything? You have a plan, at least, I hope." Koruuksi shook his head. "I don't need anything more than a speeder. I'll act like I stole it to bring it with me as a bargaining chip. Once I get there…"

He hadn't decided on that.

"I have a few ideas of how to get in, but I need to get a feel for what's going on there first. I have a few friends that should be able to take me in and vouch for me with whoever took over for Vila."

"Her husband, Mahele,” Uuchantuu said. "He's apparently not taking things too well. Especially with Estingai's survival. You’d know that if you’d been at the briefings.”

Koruuksi frowned. "Right." He scrubbed a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry you had to do all that work without me while Estingai was gone. I know Marjatla is very strict about her schedules.”

Uuchantuu snorted. “I think the Knights had lower expectations for their staff than she does.” She took a deep breath. “Just get this done and get back, okay?"

Koruuksi nodded. "I may not like it, but it shouldn't be too hard."

Uuchantuu frowned at that, then hugged him again.

"Look after Estingai while I'm gone?"

Uuchantuu pulled back and gazed up at him, raising an eyebrow. "You should talk to her before you go."

Koruuksi frowned. "I think that would just make things worse."

Uuchantuu signed, but nodded. "You're probably right. Don't do anything stupid, okay?"

He smiled. "Same to you. And make sure she does some damage control with the rumors about the Lightforged. People already think they have unlimited auroralight and can only be killed by being chained in darkness or drained by twelve Samjati Fullborn. She can quell those rumors and back them up with that armor. That should help morale a bit, at least.”

Uuchantuu smiled back, nodding, then straightened. "Oh!"

Koruuksi blinked as she flipped open her trunk, then cocked his head when she pulled out the frying pan she'd been working on last week. She held it out to him for a moment before stuffing it into his bag. It had been for Estingai and Svemakuu, but…

Koruuksi sighed, then smiled at Uuchantuu as he picked up his bag and shouldered it.

"Use that to make some friends. Maybe let them do the cooking though."

Koruuksi laughed, then pulled her into another hug.

"I'll miss you."

"I'm gonna miss you, too."