The Dragon Gods Box Set

by Resa Nelson

  And the only way Ti could be emperor is if I change the law.

  “Being emperor is not easy,” Emperor Po whispered. In recent days he trusted few people. Today marked the first time he ever included any family member in a decision he made in court, and it happened only because of his nightmare and concern for Ti. None of the men Emperor Po deemed as appropriate suitors were men in which he could confide. He had even noticed his favorite advisors eyeballing Ti as if she were a prize to be won.

  Emperor Po’s instinct told him to trust the old woman. After all, she had already displayed more courage today than he’d ever seen any of his advisors exhibit. “I worry about all of my daughters but especially about my eldest girl, Ti. She has reached the nubile age. I worry that too many men in the royal city see it as an opportunity to stand in line behind me.” The emperor hesitated, unsure for a moment whether he should disclose his darkest fear.

  Madam Po sat still and quiet, waiting for him to continue.

  “I wonder if some of them would be tempted to hurry my death in order to take my place.”

  “Of course, they would,” Madam Po said. “This is an unprecedented time. For 1000 years every emperor in the Po Dynasty produced many children and always a son. But every emperor before you did something that you have failed to do. If his wife failed to bear a son, he took one from his concubines and raised it within the royal family.”

  “There is still a chance for my wife to have a son,” Emperor Po said. “I still have hope.”

  Madam Po clucked her tongue. “The time for hope is gone once your eldest daughter comes of age. If anyone captures her, she will be his bride, and he will have reason to kill you.”

  No one had to convince Emperor Po that the old woman spoke the truth. “She never leaves the royal city. Ti has never set foot outside the complex, not even a few steps into Zangcheen.”

  “No matter,” Madam Po said. “It could happen inside the royal city just as easily as outside.” When they both became silent, she watched him for several moments. “Unless, of course, the laws were changed.”

  Emperor Po felt faint. “I agree. I’ve been thinking along the same lines.”

  How can everything be going so wrong so fast? Madam Po has intimate knowledge of our family and dynasty. She has a different vantage point because she lives in the city. Her words feel like a truth I need to hear.

  But even more was at stake, and Emperor Po needed to address an equal fear. “My youngest child is gravely ill and shows no sign of getting better. I need help.”

  Emperor Po paused to consider that even though he was the one asking for help that he held great leverage.

  “You have a great many problems,” Madam Po said. “By asking to meet with me, you must think I can be of help. What is it that you want of me?”

  “I have consulted the Mighty Emperor and verified the results with the court magician. The only thing that can save my youngest is to drink water from the Fountain of Immortality.” Emperor Po opted to keep quiet and observe Madam Po’s reaction to this revelation.

  The old woman remained still, keeping her own silence. Finally, she said, “That is a difficult journey for a sick child to make.”

  “One you made yesterday.” Again, Emperor Po watched for her response.

  Madam Po gave little. “I regret you are mistaken. I have never seen the Fountain of Immortality.”

  “And yet you stood at the base of the mountain where it can be found.”

  Madam Po shook her head as if in regret. “I know of no living mortal who has found this fountain.”

  She spoke the truth. Emperor Po knew of no one who had found it either.

  But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t know where it is.

  The emperor tried a new strategy. “What were you doing at that mountain with your great-granddaughter?”

  “Frayka,” Madam Po said. “The girl’s name is Frayka.”

  Decorum forced the emperor to acknowledge the name of his distant relative. “Frayka. Yes. But what would a young woman like Frayka be doing in such a place?”

  “She comes to visit me. This is Frayka’s first time to visit the Far East, and I wanted to show her the sights.”

  “A distant plain made of cracked earth?” Emperor Po shook his head in dismay. “Aren’t there plenty of fine sights to see in Zangcheen? Why wander so far from the city where there is little to see?”

  Madam Po answered without hesitation, but the ease with which she spoke made it appear rehearsed. “As her great-grandmother, it is my responsibility to school her about our gods. Frayka has taken a special interest in the dragon gods and the Gate of Air.”

  “One must pass through the Gate of Air in order to find the Fountain of Immortality. I’ve heard it said that one must also ask permission of the dragon gods before the gate will make itself known to a mortal.”

  Madam Po gave him a brief smile. “I have heard the same.”

  “I also heard that you once had dealings with the dragon gods.”

  Emperor Po thought he saw a flicker of hesitation in the old woman’s eyes.

  She laughed. “Even an emperor must be careful not to believe everything he hears.” Madam Po’s voice softened. “Especially an emperor during times as trying as these.”

  She knows more than she’s willing to tell.

  “Frayka’s height makes her stand out in a crowd,” the emperor said. “And the Northlander who serves her stands out even more. I find it curious that you would risk their safety for something as unimportant as walking to a mountain that can be seen from Zangcheen.”

  “It cannot be seen that well. And my great-granddaughter had her heart set on seeing it in person.” Madam Po didn’t waver. “She’s so very fond of the stories about the dragon gods.”

  “I see. But I still find it curious because I suspect you are well acquainted with the laws. Surely it occurred to you that those who don’t know you or your family could easily mistake Frayka for a local girl despite her unusual height. Those same people could easily mistake her servant for her husband.” Emperor Po paused and gestured to the closed door separating them from the courtroom. “Even in the short time that I saw them, it appeared to me that they act like husband and wife.”

  He waited for Madam Po to respond, but she didn’t.

  “For now,” Emperor Po continued, “Frayka is safe among my concubines. She is safe from all men, including myself. The man is now my servant, but I can’t guarantee that he will be as safe.”

  Madam Po paled.

  “However, I have devised a way that I can return them to you. It will be an unspoken agreement that no one else must ever know about.”

  Madam Po shifted her position in her chair. “I am listening.”

  “I believe the stories about your dealings in the far past with the dragon gods. If anyone can find the Fountain of Immortality, I believe you can.” The emperor lowered his voice, wanting to make sure no one could overhear. “My guards will accompany you back to the base of the mountain where they found Frayka. They will ensure your safety. They will allow you alone to climb the mountain. You will then find the dragon gods and convince them to allow you to take a cup of water from the fountain, which you will carefully bring back to me. I will then give it to my youngest daughter, and it will save her life.”

  For the first time, Madam Po looked uncomfortable. “Having TeaTree by my side would be an immense help.”

  “No,” Emperor Po said. “I believe the dragon gods will be more likely to help you if they know you come with nothing more than protection provided by the Po Dynasty itself.”

  “What if the dragon gods refuse?”

  A grim feeling settled in the pit of the emperor’s stomach. “If the dragon gods refuse, then I will have no choice but to execute the law. It would then become obvious that Frayka married a Northlander man. They would have to be executed in public.”

  CHAPTER 22

  Everything happened too fast.

  Ming Mo had lunged tow
ard Frayka in the courtroom, and she had punched at him in defense.

  Then Njall grabbed Ming Mo’s shoulders, wrenched him to the ground, and pinned him.

  Frayka had done the only logical thing: she had taken her stolen dagger from Ming Mo and pointed it at him. She had shouted at TeaTree to ask for help, but he’d refused.

  The royal guards separated the two groups, and Frayka reached out to Njall, holding his hand for comfort while GranGran appeared to be reasoning with the emperor. When the guards approached Frayka and tried to force her away from Njall, she’d called out to GranGran.

  Although GranGran kept her voice calm and even, her words had stung. “See what you did!”

  Feeling betrayed and confused, Frayka had drawn her dagger and pointed it at the guards. “What I have done? What about what they have done?”

  TeaTree slipped between two of the guards to face Frayka. “Listen to Madam. She told you what to do. She warned you to hide your marriage, but you have failed. You realized the dangers you face, but you ignored them. You now stand in a court of law where the emperor has every right to judge you. He has the power to sentence you and Njall to death right now. Is that what you want?”

  When Frayka failed to answer, TeaTree continued. “You’ve been assigned to stay with the emperor’s concubines. Go now. Give us time to figure out how to get of this mess.”

  Njall rushed forward, but GranGran caught him by the arm and held him back.

  Now Frayka shouted Njall’s name while the royal guards forced her out of the courtroom and across the palace grounds. The guards led Frayka to a square building. Its white marble walls gleamed in the sunlight. Curved tiles made of red clay stacked in rows across its slanted roof.

  They entered a long narrow hallway decorated with murals. A lush green landscape adorned the walls, and the ceiling was painted like a sky filled with cloud-like dragons.

  The sight angered Frayka, but she remembered TeaTree’s advice and forced herself to stay calm.

  None of this should have happened. It’s all because of the dragon gods and their ridiculous argument with the Northlander gods. They’re all foolish, selfish beings who happen to be more powerful than mortals. I see no reason why anyone should worship any of the gods.

  One guard led Frayka to stand against a wall painted with squat flowering trees. He then kept a good distance, watching her while the other guards continued down the hallway and into a distant room.

  In the next moment, Frayka’s vision faded.

  Startled, she held perfectly still.

  Is this a portent about to happen?

  Normally, a portent would begin when the real world vanished, replaced by walls of mist. It always happened in the blink of an eye. It never happened gradually.

  But when a portent overtook Frayka, the essence of her being went to another place while her body remained in the real world in a trance-like state. All of her life, Frayka had always been in a safe place when a portent occurred, knowing that her vulnerable mortal body would be protected until her spirit could return to it.

  I’m in a hallway. There is only one guard in the hallway with me. If I say nothing, he won’t know I’m having a portent. I’m safe.

  Staying quiet, Frayka watched the royal complex unfold around her inside the portent no one else could see. Looking all around, she saw thousands of citizens of Zangcheen perched on top of the walls that surrounded the complex, cheering and excited. The guards inside the walls observed the citizens but showed no concern.

  What is this? Why would people do that?

  Outside the walls, strange and brightly colored objects flew in the sky. Objects shaped like boxes and wings and animals, many with long tails. When Frayka peered closer, she saw each object seemed to be attached to the earth by a single string. She’d never seen anything like it in all her life.

  What are those things?

  She jumped at the deafening crack of lightning behind her. She turned only to be overwhelmed by empty yellow robes swirling up to the sky above. The sight of it filled her with dread.

  Someone nudged her shoulder, and the portent disappeared. Frayka discovered she had turned to face the wall painted with flowering trees. When nudged again, she turned to face a puzzled guard.

  But shouts from down the hallway pulled his attention away. After listening to those shouts, he gestured for her to continue walking.

  The hallway opened into a large parlor filled with wooden furniture decorated with lavish carved figures. Several young Far Eastern women lounged on plush pillows piled on the polished marble floor, surrounded by ornate lanterns and cages filled with exotic birds. Quiet until now, the birds squawked and fluttered anxiously when Frayka drew near, as if startled by the sight of her.

  Frayka glared at them.

  Stupid birds!

  She then noticed that the women edged away from her, fluttering with as much anxiety as the caged birds.

  Stupid girls.

  Frayka wished she’d never left home. She missed her father and his kindness. She missed the Land of Ice and the sweet little home he had built just for her and Njall. She missed the lovely Northlander wedding clothes made by her mother and sisters. As much as they irritated Frayka, they’d had the good decency and kindness to welcome her with new clothes.

  She spotted a plateful of food on a platter balanced on one of the large floor pillows and assumed it was for the women.

  If I’m one of them now, doesn’t that mean that I can eat what they eat?

  But before making a move toward the food, Frayka thought about her rash actions and the price of dismissing GranGran’s advice.

  Everything I’ve done would be perfectly fine in the Land of Ice or any other place I’ve ever been. All I wanted was to protect and defend myself.

  Frayka took a good look at the women even though they ignored her presence. Each woman had a unique and specific look, but they all wore exquisite clothing in a rainbow of colors. Satin or silk glided along each concubine’s curves. Intricately designed combs adorned their hair, whether loose or bound into a knot.

  A handful of women clustered together in a corner and talked rapidly. Even though Frayka didn’t understand their words, she recognized the cattiness in their voices and the daggers in their expressions when they looked at her.

  Her hand ached for the grip of her absent weapon. Frayka wished she could see the expression on those women’s faces change by brandishing her dagger at them.

  Frayka wished Njall was by her side right now.

  Where is he? What’s happened to him? Is Njall safe?

  She wanted to pace. She wanted to scream. She wanted to pick up the pillows and hurl them across the room.

  Her stomach groaned.

  Catching the eye of a guard, Frayka recalled the words TeaTree had taught her and used one that should help. Pointing at the tray of food, Frayka said, “Eat?”

  The guard gave her a blank look.

  Maybe he thinks I’m inviting him to lunch. I have to be clearer.

  Frayka pointed at herself and pantomimed putting food in her mouth. “Eat?”

  The guard’s face relaxed with new understanding. He opened his arm and gestured toward the food, appearing to grant permission.

  Starved, Frayka plopped down in front of the platter and helped herself to all the food she could eat.

  Gradually, some of the women crept toward her. They stared as if observing a strange animal in the wild.

  Frayka eyed the guard who had taken her dagger away and wondered if she could wrestle it away from him.

  That’s the kind of thinking that got me into so much trouble in the first place. Thinking like that works where I come from, but it doesn’t work here. I have to learn how to blend in before the emperor decides he would rather have me killed.

  As long as the guards looked her way, Frayka offered the concubines sweet smiles while she shoveled food into her mouth.

  But the moment the guards looked elsewhere, Frayka snarled at the women unti
l they shrieked in fear.

  Frayka’s vision faded around the edges.

  The real world of the parlor in the Hall of Concubines grew fainter, and pale pink mist seeped into the room.

  This time Frayka found herself in a very vulnerable and potentially dangerous place.

  No! Not now! You’ve already shown me one portent. There’s no need to show another!

  “This is the wrong time,” Frayka whispered to the encroaching portent. “This can’t happen while I’m surrounded by these women. I don’t know what they’ll do to my body if I’m not here to protect it. What if they hurt me?”

  The women observing Frayka turned to each other with questions in their eyes.

  The depth of color in the mist strengthened, taking on the color of a mature rose.

  Frayka felt like a wild animal being cornered. She spoke louder, grasping for ways to dissuade the encroaching portent. “Leave me alone! Why didn’t you warn me about being taken by that horrible man—Ming Mo! He tried to force me to be his bride! If you had given me warning, maybe I could have done something to prevent it.”

  The pink mist weakened, and the real world became crisper and more focused.

  Encouraged, Frayka stood to face the mist that only she could see. “Why did you abandon me when I needed you most?”

  The women observing Frayka backed a few steps away from her. Across the room, the women speaking in catty tones stopped talking and looked at Frayka.

  “I thought you were here to help me,” Frayka said. “I thought you were supposed to reveal future danger so I could protect my people. How can I protect them when you make it impossible for me to protect myself?”

  The mist thinned.

  Frayka spoke before she could think. “I don’t want you anymore, especially if you show me things that make no sense. Leave me alone!”

  In an instant, the mist disappeared.

  A firm hand gripped Frayka’s arm, startling her. She looked to the side and saw a frowning guard holding onto her.

  When he spoke, she didn’t understand his words, but Frayka sensed trouble. Glancing around the room, all of the other women appeared frightened.