by JC Kang
Jie spat. “Magnanimous is five. Eight is waterway robbery.”
The man wagged a finger at her. “My boy fell down from the tree picking this very mango this morning, and broke his leg. I need at least seven to pay the doctor, or he will never walk again.”
A bare-chested boy of about ten skipped out of the door, smiling. “Mother wants me to run to the South Market to pay the mango farm’s distributor.”
The man’s face flushed red. “Did I tell you I have two sons? Six coppers, no less.”
Smiling victoriously, Jie handed him an Ayuri silver rupiya, worth ten coppers. Before the man reached into his purse to make change, the spy had almost reached the side street where the princess had turned. Jie hurried after him, mango in hand but change forgotten.
In the game of espionage and counterespionage, the man was overmatched. Jie had learned his trailing and stalking techniques years before, and her smaller size allowed her to melt into the crowds.
Before turning the corner, he looked back toward the fruit seller. His eyes widened as he scanned the crowd. Though his gaze swept over her several times, he didn’t seem to have noticed her. He ducked into the alley.
Time to sneak up behind him and choke him into unconsciousness. Jie dashed to the alley and turned the corner.
The man waited there, curved dagger brandished in an underhand grip. He seemed even larger up close, with broad shoulders and square features. Huge for an Ayuri, small for a Bovyan. Just like the renegade Moquan clan members in Cathay; just like the operatives she’d fought in Eldaeri lands.
Jie took a few steps back, hands raised. “Why are you following us?”
The man snarled and slashed down at her.
Jie jumped out of range, and then tossed the mango up in a high arc.
His eyes tracked the fruit, and in that instant, she darted in and yanked the dhoti skirt from his waist.
All he wore underneath was a loincloth. A well-bred Hua lady would’ve averted her eyes, but Jie wasn’t well-bred. Instead, she twisted the rectangular cloth into a rat-tail as the man recovered from his initial embarrassment.
His cheeks red, he stabbed at her again.
She spun around him, catching his arm in the cloth. In a split-second she was behind him, and yanked so the blade was now pinned against his throat. With another twist, she wrapped one end of the cloth around his free hand and squeezed tight, while stepping into his knee.
He buckled to the ground.
“Now, let’s try again,” she said in his ear. “Who are you?”
His voice trembled. “I’m sorry, miss. Just a petty thief, casing some unsuspecting victims.”
Jie gave the cloth a slight tug and the blade nicked his chin. “I tried to shave my brother’s beard like this once, but I ended up rearranging his face. I’m not stupid. Thieves don’t choose groups of people to rob.”
“Jie!” The princess approached from around the corner, the imperial guards close on her heels. “There is no need to torture him,” she said in the Hua tongue, “even if he is a spy.”
“Forgive me, mistress,” Jie answered in Ayuri, to make sure he understood the misinformation she was about to feed him. Then again, mistress tasted kind of funny compared to Dian-xia. “He won’t speak unless given the right encouragement.”
Ayana stepped forward and looked the man over. “Teleri Nightblade. They’ve been trained in your people’s art of spying and assassination, and played an instrumental role in the Teleri Empire’s invasion of Eldaeri lands.”
Jie cocked her head. So the students of the renegade Moquan she’d tracked through Eldaeri lands and the Teleri Empire had a name...if the old elf was right.
Chen Xin frowned. “He’s a little short for a Bovyan.”
“He’s Ayuri.” Xu Zhan pointed at the man. “Bovyans aren’t so dark-skinned.”
Ayana shook her head. “No, Bovyans are all male, and they will always look like their mother’s race. This one’s mother was undoubtedly some unfortunate Ayuri or Levanthi woman.” She glared at the man and said, “But you never knew your mother, did you? No Bovyan ever does, because of your despicable rape and breeding programs.”
The man spat. “My mother is the Teleri Empire. In time, it will be your mother as well.” With a flick of his wrist, he tried to slash his own throat.
Jie jerked part of the cloth so that he missed completely. She launched her knee into his back, right between the shoulder blades, knocking the wind out of him and driving his face into the ground.
“Jie!” The princess scowled at her.
“Sorry, mistress,” Jie said without the least amount of sincerity. She twisted the man’s dagger out of his hands. “But we had better do something about him.”
Zhao Yue pointed. “Bystanders are gathering at intersection to the alley. It would not be good if they called the Paladins to enforce the law here.”
Jie withdrew a vial from the folds of her robe and dabbed it on her wrist. A fruity smell almost like perfume wafted through the air.
The princess raised an eyebrow. “What is that?”
Jie wiped her wrist across the back of the Nightblade’s neck as he struggled. “It is a contact toxin made from several secret plants. This combination will induce a state of euphoric intoxication in human males.”
The imperial guards took two steps back. The spy wriggled for a couple of seconds before relaxing.
Chuckling, Jie loosened the cloth. “Come on, big boy, up on to your feet.”
With a ridiculous grin, the spy eased himself into a sitting position.
“Why were you following us?” The princess flashed that infuriatingly alluring smile.
He just smiled back for a moment. “You are such a pretty lady! How about you join me for a drink of delicious Ayuri thara.”
Jie frowned, lifting her hand to backhand him, but the princess’ preemptive lip pursing stopped her. “The toxin is not truth serum. But we can safely leave him here without fear he’ll follow.”
Ayana shot a reproachful glance at Jie. “I can make him talk without having to resort to barbaric means or unreliable coercion.” Chanting in the flowery language of elven magic, she waved a hand over the man’s face.
“You could have said so sooner,” Jie mumbled under her breath.
The Teleri’s ridiculous grin broadened even wider. “My friends! Shall we have that drink now?”
Ayana beamed. “Not now, dear friend. My name is Aya. What is yours?”
“Toran.”
“So Toran, could you tell me why you were trailing us?”
“Well, Grandma,” he started, drawing a look of ire from the elf, “we had heard there might be some Cathayi dignitaries coming through.” He nodded amiably at the rest of the party. “And they might be trying to strike some sort of deal with the Madurans. Our embassy staff needs to know what that deal is, because, well, you know, the Madurans are our friends. We’ve been staking out the waterfront, keeping an eye on all of the passenger barges coming in.”
“We? How many of you are watching the docks? How many staff in the Teleri embassy?” Ayana asked. Whatever else Jie thought about elves, at least Ayana knew what questions to ask.
“Six of us scouring the docks. Eighty-some people working in the embassy.”
Ayana smiled at him. “Thanks, dear friend. Now why don’t you run along back to your embassy? And just for old time’s sake, tell them that we are just merchants.”
Toran pouted. Nonetheless, he stood and moped off, head hanging.
Jie sighed. “You should have had him spy for us.”
Ayana shook her head. “A charm spell can convince someone to do something they would not ordinarily consider, but it’s hard to change their true nature. I didn’t want to test the limits. We may still be able to find out more through him if we cross paths again.”
Chen Xin watched him turn the corner. “That would be handy. It would be good to know why the Teleri are so concerned about our dealings with Madura.”
A
yana wagged a finger at him. “Prince Aelward already told your Emperor: Madura is an ally of the Teleri. They would not meddle in your country unless the action was either condoned or even instigated by the Teleri Empire.”
Ma Jun chuckled. “Too bad. I bet he knew the fastest way to our embassy.”
CHAPTER 29:
For Every Answer, Two New Questions
Zheng Ming sat cross-legged at his father’s seat in the council, warmed by the sun which bathed the Danhua Room in morning light. Around him in the hastily-called meeting, ministers and hereditary lords shuffled and murmured among themselves.
Such an influx of youth! Due to the urgent summons, several Yu-Ming and Tai-Ming lords had been unable to come from their home provinces. Sons living in the capital came in their stead. Like him, most had never attended a council meeting, and didn’t know whether their position was determined by their fathers’ seniority or their own age.
Lord Zhao’s son sat stoically, yet sweat beaded on his brow. At the other end, Lord Han’s son fidgeted uncontrollably. Even the usually debonair Lord Peng seemed nervous, playing with his sleeves. To think, the assembled faces might well be a preview of the Tianzi’s future advisors.
They all pressed their foreheads to the ground as sliding doors opened and the Tianzi entered, flanked by General Zheng, bearing the Broken Sword, and another imperial guard. He creaked onto the throne between his sons.
“Rise.” His voice rasped before being overtaken by a fit of coughing.
Ming straightened, avoiding eye contact as protocol demanded. Nonetheless, he noted that the Tianzi’s eyes seemed more sunken, his face more sallow, than just a few weeks before at Ming’s first meeting with Princess Kaiya on the archery field.
The Tianzi’s coughing subsided. “Thank you all for coming on such short notice to this emergency gathering of the Tai-Ming Council. Such a meeting has only been called a handful of times in the three centuries of Wang rule, so I do not summon you here without cause.”
Everyone bowed.
“When Hua is threatened, her sons are ready,” Peng said.
The Tianzi nodded with a smile. “Thank you, Nephew. Now, I am pleased to report that we have apprehended the mastermind behind the attacks on our lords.”
A collective sigh of relief was followed by excited chatter.
“Huang-Shang,” Lord Peng said, “who was it? Who had so much information that he was able to orchestrate so many attacks?”
The Tianzi seemed to age even more with his deflating sigh. “It is my utmost disappointment and sadness to announce it was Chief Minister Tan.”
The Chief Minister! Ming steepled his hands to his chin. He’d been so close. With his dying breath, Xie Shimin had referred to his attack as an order. His betrothed had mentioned his meeting with a high official before the tournament. The insurgents Ming captured had been able to board the Golden Phoenix and sabotage the water barrels. All the clues, right there in front of his nose. His informant might as well have spelled it out for him.
Lord Wu shook his head. “Why would he do such a thing?”
“It was his hope,” Crown Prince Kai-Guo said, “that the implication of Madura would push us toward the liberation of Ankira. He felt guilty about his role in selling guns and firepowder to Madura thirty-two years ago.”
Lord Liu scratched his chin. “But Xie Shimin tried to kill the Chief Minister. The letter of command we found included the order to kill him.”
“But he missed,” Ming said. On purpose, without a doubt. “Xie Shimin was one of our best archers, shooting from point-blank range.”
Minister Hong bowed. “It was likely a diversion, so he would not be implicated.”
Lord Liang of Yutou, an Expansionist, narrowed his eyes. “I cannot believe the patriotic Minister Tan could do such a thing.”
“Minister Tan’s patriotism is not to be questioned,” the Crown Prince said. “His means were misguided. Never did he order any of our lords killed. He just wanted to scare us into action. Even a gentle dog will bite when poked.”
Lord Han’s son bent his neck and stammered. “Huang-Shang, he tried to kill my father in his treasonous plot. His family should be executed to five generations.”
Ming stared at Young Lord Han. With no descendants to follow proscribed rituals, Minister Tan and his ancestors would starve in the netherworld, and be forced to wander the land as hungry ghosts. It was too cruel a punishment, one which hadn’t been handed down since the time of the Wang Dynasty Founder.
Heads nodded, accompanied by low murmurs.
The Tianzi raised his hands, silencing all. “Chief Minister Tan was a loyal servant. He confessed to his crimes and provided information for rooting out the insurgents. I have commuted his death sentence. He will live the remainder of his life under house arrest.”
Minister Hong put his forehead to the ground. “We are blessed by your benevolent mercy.”
Lord Peng stroked his chin. “How was the Chief Minister able to organize an insurgency without anyone noticing?”
“He recruited a merchant, who we believe was once one of the Tianzi’s agents,” the Crown Prince said. “Minister Hong laid a trap for him, which he did not fall for.”
All attention turned to the beaming old man. Minister Hong would likely reap grand rewards.
The Tianzi straightened. “In the meantime, his former clan is piecing together information about him so we can learn his true identity.”
Perhaps this was Ming’s mysterious informant. If he surfaced again, Ming would turn the tables on him. In the meantime… “Is this renegade a threat?”
Prince Kai-Guo shook his head. “Now that he knows his patron is gone, he no longer has the information he needs to carry out his attacks.”
Lord Peng slapped his hand on the floor. “Until the insurgency is completely wiped out, there will always be a threat.”
“Yes, Nephew.” The Tianzi coughed. “The insurgency remains, with or without Tan. In his confession, he claimed he was not behind them, but merely sought them out in hopes of controlling their excesses.”
Lord Peng snorted. “As long as the insurgents live, the Madurans may try to use them to destabilize us.”
“Chief Minister Tan was behind the attacks, not Madura,” the Crown Prince said.
Ming’s eyes widened. Of course. “Then thank the Heavens Tan sabotaged the Golden Phoenix. Otherwise, Princess Kaiya would be in Vyara City by now, demanding they cease their meddling. If falsely accused, there is no telling what an unreasonable and aggressive nation like Madura would do to her. I do hope she is recovering?”
The Crown Prince looked down at the floor while the Tianzi sank forward in the throne. Ming hadn’t been allowed to meet with her since the day she’d been supposed to depart. From their reaction, maybe she was more ill than they had let on.
“What?” Peng sucked in a sharp breath. “Is she getting worse?”
The Tianzi sighed. “The princess is in Vyara City already.”
Ruined! All of Peng Kai-Long’s plans slipped through his fingers like fine sand in the wind. Princess Kaiya was in Vyara City. When Madura confirmed their non-involvement in the recent attacks, the fake Scorpion attack would raise questions. It might even cast doubt over the circumstances of his own father’s murder. Then, if she sought out Prince Hardeep, she would learn he’d never written a single letter to her.
Gaze raking over the council, Kai-Long knew he had to distance himself from any of the plots he’d hijacked to his own purposes. Otherwise, he would need to flee the capital and consolidate his power in the South. “The princess lacks sufficient protection. We must find some way to send word to her not to agitate Madura. They are belligerent and unpredictable.” Or so they all believed, thanks to his disinformation.
“Are you not the one who wanted war?” Lord Liu stared at him. The unimaginative sycophant certainly chose an inopportune time to find his tongue.
“Ask Lord Xu.” Young Lord Zheng, perhaps the most incompetent buffoon
in the room, somehow came up with the best suggestion. “His magic could summon her home.”
Crown Prince Kai-Guo shook his head. “My sister is also tasked with visiting the Sultan of Selastya, who lives in exile near Vyara City. She will request that an Akolyte come to Hua and heal the Tianzi with their Divine Magic.”
Kai-Long gritted his teeth. If a true Akolyte healed his uncle… “Perhaps Lord Xu could send a message to the princess, warning her against meeting with the Madurans. They did not hesitate to kill my father and brother.”
The Tianzi sighed again. “I already asked as much. He said it is beyond his power, based on the distance of Guanyin’s Eye in the Heavens.”
“Then the princess walks into danger.” Kai-Long placed a hand on his chest. “I could not bear to see my cousin harmed.”
The Tianzi beamed at him. “I appreciate your concern, Nephew. But now, I need your advice. All of your advice, for that is the reason I called this meeting.”
All bowed, pressing their foreheads to the ground.
“The position of Chief Minister is vacant,” the Tianzi continued. “I have narrowed my candidates to Household Affairs Minister Hong and Foreign Minister Song.”
Kai-Long hid his scowl behind a pleasant smile. Hong had wheedled and cajoled himself into consideration. He needed reminding that his road to the Chief Minister seat depended on Kai-Long being Tianzi.
Kai-Long bowed toward the throne. “Foreign Minister Song has served for many years at the highest level of government and proven to be an excellent administrator.” He narrowed his eyes at Hong, holding his gaze. “Minister Hong is capable.”
Leave it at that; let Hong simmer a little. Both he and Minister Song bowed when Kai-Long had finished his endorsement.
The Expansionist lords followed Kai-Long’s lead, praising Foreign Minister Song with glowing praise and leaving nice but less enthusiastic words for Hong. The old man’s weathered smile seemed to sap him each time he rose from a bow.
Surprisingly, the Royalists favored Song as well. Although the Tianzi would make the final decision, if the Tai-Ming’s words held any weight, Hong’s candidacy was dead in the water. Just like Cousin Kaiya should’ve been.