Cold mountain winds howled through the jagged red-rock canyons of Sawaka as colossal Zaira crested the high western ridge.
Below them stretched the vast, rugged labyrinth of the Western Gorges, where dark plumes of greasy alchemical smoke rose from deep crevices in the earth.
Glacial Lanka had not attempted a simple surface assault against the western mountain passes; instead, they had deployed massive mechanical bio-drills to bore deep tunnels straight beneath the mountain defense lines.
Kun Nakia stood waiting on a high granite overhang, her twin curved blades strapped across her back and her leather battle harness coated in thick white rock dust.
"You made good time, Supreme Chief," Nakia said, offering a sharp predator grin as Sagiri stepped down from Zaira's brow to the edge of the cliff.
"What is the tactical situation below?" Sagiri asked, his dual-colored eyes scanning the dark fissures cutting through the canyon floor.
