Ordis Messenger

393 AC - The recruits hurry to collect their rations. I walk past them. Many of them think the odyssey is a time for rest, but it's not a peaceful rest. The Leviathans prowling overhead and under the clouds are to blame for that. But what can you really do against such monsters? We're like ants trying to stand up to the shadow of a boot. Nina fills her bowl with great care, and Helder takes a big helping of stew. I scan the crowd, looking for Kojo, who must be in the line somewhere. I don't know what's bothering him, but he's been lost in his thoughts recently. He seems worried. He's not speaking much. And that's not like him. He's distracted as well… But that is like him.

As I look around the sea of faces, I notice Osoyo. He smiles at me and nods, and I do the same. Maybe that's his way of thanking me for coming to his rescue during his last descent into the Crow's Eye. Or maybe it's because I supported his candidacy for joining the Tagmata. The last I heard, he'd joined Zhen's Raptors. Yes, he'd had experience in working alongside an Exalt. But he was also just a good recruit, as I'd suspected from the start. He deserved all the credit, and the promotion was definitely justified. I leave him chatting with the rest of his squad, and I turn away. And I'm well aware that I'm smiling at the same time.

GULRANG