by JC Kang
Chainmail clinked as two of the soldiers on either side of the First Consul sprang into action, lowering their spears. Geros drew one of their swords with his left hand. The weapon whooshed as it cut toward Evydas’ head. The king lifted his own blade, but it shattered with a clank on impact.
Iksuvi soldiers flooded into the room. A wave of jingling armor and rustling cloth surged past Kaiya as they joined in the fray. One of the Teleri charged and thrust with his spear at the king. Evydas evaded the stab with a quick spin, and simultaneously caught the weapon’s shaft in both of his hands. The turn pulled the Bovyan soldier forward, into the foreign minister, and both went crashing to the floor.
Spear in hand, the king faced off against the First Consul. The Teleri guards at the door joined in, their own spears flashing. The one guard picked himself up off the minister, and a compatriot threw him a sheathed sword.
Having listened to the cacophony of crossed swords, Kaiya snapped out of her dread fascination.
Ambassador Wu was pulling at her arm. His voice was hoarse and insistent. “We must leave now!”
Her two guards Chen Xin and Zhao Yue shoved through the crowd to protect her, holding their dao. Another dozen of the Iksuvi guards burst into the antechamber from the hall, heading toward the throne room.
The broken sword’s shards vibrated, pulsing through her. Kaiya pushed past her own men. Pulling the hand-length dizi flute from the fold of her inner robe, she approached the throne. She played four melodic notes, which cut through the tense air more sharply than the flashing blades.
The king, his foreign minister, and all the soldiers on both sides lowered their weapons. Only the First Consul held a defensive stance, eyes darting around the room. He lowered his sword.
Kaiya edged forward. Brushing her gown down to her shins, she kneeled on the plush carpet. She spread her arms horizontally to straighten the sleeves, then brought two open hands to the front of her knees and bowed her head. Such a bend was two levels from the deepest bow in Hua culture, those highest levels of respect reserved for their own royalty. “My Lords, please desist.”
The imperial guards gasped. They dropped to a knee, right fists to the ground with heads bowed. Ambassador Wu pressed his forehead to the rug.
King Evydas raised his spear again. “I appreciate your consideration, Princess Kaiya, but this must end now. Please withdraw to your embassy for your own safety. And remember my earlier request.”
She shook her head. “My Lords—”
“Forgive my rudeness,” the king said. “Guards, remove her.”
Iksuvi men darted in, putting blades at the Hua imperial guards’ necks and yanking the swords from their hands. A third soldier ignored her protests and pulled her to her feet.
Interrupted and manhandled! Kaiya tore her arm away from the soldier and lifted her chin. “Chen Xin, Zhao Yue, ambassador, come.”
Iksuvi soldiers hustled the Hua contingent out of the throne room, through the antechamber and into the hall, where Iksuvi and Teleri soldiers paused in their conflict to let them pass.
Turning a corner, they ran into a company of two dozen Hua imperial guards with naked blades, General Zheng at their head. “Unhand the princess,” he demanded, his Arkothi heavily accented.
The Iksuvi palace guards, who probably wanted nothing more than to go back to their own king’s defense, released her not unkindly and bowed. They returned the weapons to Chen Xin and Zhao Yue before racing back towards the throne room.
“Dian-xia,” General Zheng said with a bow of his head, “please follow me.” He escorted them outside, where they were greeted by the bright light of late morning. The remainder of the imperial guards stood in ranks, ready to storm the palace if the need arose. There was not a single Iksuvi uniform around.
Ambassador Wu turned to face her. “There is nothing else we can do for the king; his fate lies in his gods’ hands. We must hurry back to the embassy before we get caught up in the chaos.”
Kaiya nodded. “Let us be gone from this hornet’s nest as soon as possible. I hope the Golden Phoenix is provisioned. Where is Jie?”
The procession’s flag-bearer stepped forward and dropped to his knee. “Dian-xia. My clan sister drew off the gate guards and signaled for us to go in and find you. She must still be inside.”
“We shall wait a few minutes for her.” Or perhaps it would be better to storm back in. Kaiya wrung her hands.
The ambassador sunk to his knee. “Jie can take care of herself. We must get you back to the safety of our own embassy.”
All of the imperial guards dropped to their knee in perfect unison.
They were right. Jie could take care of herself.
Kaiya nodded, looking around for a horse. Seeing none, she cast her palanquin a frown before curling in. She slid the window open.
Horns blared from the palace, and their call echoed throughout the city. The procession headed east towards the embassy with the imperial guards’ formation tightly packed around her palanquin. Commoners frantically rushed through the streets. Several squadrons of Iksuvi soldiers marched towards the city center, their leaders ordering the citizenry into their homes. Gone was Ambassador Wu’s typically calm and collected composure, replaced by trembling hands and quivering lips.
They arrived at the compound as the barely visible Iridescent Moon waxed to its first crescent. When Kaiya emerged from the palanquin, she found Tian waiting there to greet her on one knee, fist to the ground. “Dian-xia. We have urgent business. Come to the receiving room.”
CHAPTER 17:
Price of Insolence
Tian searched the faces among the returning procession without satisfaction. He drew aside the flag-bearer, Cheng. “Where’s Jie?”
“She’s in the Iksuvi palace, I believe to latch on to that Teleri general.”
Him again. For a Bovyan, the general seemed inordinately interested in one girl. And what about Jie? Surely she couldn’t like him. Why put herself in so much danger?
Unless she was the mole who’d helped the Teleri the night of the princess’ arrival. Jie was unaccounted for on another instance, as well—in the Teleri embassy. Right after the general had parted ways with the altivorcs. And of course, there was the mysterious past relationship between the two, which Jie repeatedly denied.
No, that couldn’t be. Tian sighed and hurried to catch up with the princess, who was nearly to the receiving room.
He waited outside as the doors opened, revealing Queen Ausra perched on a delicate-looking bloodwood chair. Evydas’ two teenage sisters sat beside her. A wet nurse held the king’s infant nephew, the next in line for the throne. All wore simple cotton traveling clothes, their satin gowns abandoned in their haste to flee the palace through a secret tunnel. Their escort of a dozen Iksuvi guards had also disguised themselves as commoners, though their swords would have marked them as soldiers to anyone who took a second look.
Queen Ausra stood and curtseyed as the princess entered. She stumbled forward, blinking away tears. “Princess Kaiya, I am so sorry to have betrayed you at the palace. We were forced.”
The princess smiled and motioned for the queen to sit. “I understand, Your Highness. It is already forgotten.”
So magnanimous. Tian buried a snort.
Queen Ausra bowed her head and sniffed.
The princess placed a hand on her shoulder. “I do not wish to be the bearer of bad news, but I am sure you would want to know. When we left the palace, your king and his men were fighting for their lives. He was very brave in ensuring that I escaped.”
The queen crumpled back in her chair, her voice cracking. “I…” She wiped a sleeve across her eyes, cleared her throat and straightened. “Before we parted, my king asked me to convey his deepest appreciation. His brothers and uncles are preparing for war. However, he has asked that you shelter his sisters, for they will endure horrors if they are captured. And of course his nephew, the heir.”
Tian tapped his chin as he watched from the entrance. This was
not their problem. One of his spies slipped a note into his hand, and he glanced at it. The latest report.
“…and we are not at war with Teleri,” Ambassador Wu was saying, “so you are safe in the embassy for now. Nonetheless, I suggest that you board the Golden Phoenix tonight, under the cover of darkness. Although it is not as comfortable as our embassy, the situation here is dire. It may be necessary to make a hasty withdrawal to Cathay in the event that Iksuvius falls.”
Iksuvius would fall, and Tian had little doubt who would be responsible for escorting the queen to the ship.
The princess nodded. “Please, make yourself comfortable. You must be tired from your harrowing escape. If you need anything, please let me or the Ambassador know.” She rose to her feet, nodded to the guests, and glided out.
Tian dropped to his knee as she emerged. “Dian-xia, Ambassador. I have information from my brothers.”
With the princess and senior embassy staff surrounding a map, Tian pointed out landmarks. “King Evydas was seriously wounded in the castle. He managed to escape. We are not sure of his current whereabouts. His younger brothers have taken command of the army. They have set up headquarters at the Ministry of War. The Teleri are sweeping throughout the city. Searching for the king’s family. They don’t know they are here. They’ve closed all the city gates. Except the southern gate.”
“I imagine there are a lot of people trying to get out through that one gate,” the ambassador said.
Tian nodded. “And into the hands of the altivorcs. They are coming up the southern road.”
The ambassador turned to his chief of staff. “The sun will set in a couple of hours. If the princess is in agreement, send a message to the captain of the Golden Phoenix, informing him of Queen Ausra’s arrival tonight. Also instruct the embassy staff to ensure the queen and her family are spared no expense for their comfort until then. After night falls, Tian and his men will take them to the ship.”
Of course. Tian suppressed a snort.
General Zheng dropped to his knee. “Dian-xia, I suggest you board the ship as well.”
All of the assembled officials and soldiers followed suit and knelt in a rippling rustle of robes and clatter of armor.
The princess shook her head. “I have promised to dance for the First Consul. To go back on my word, especially to the Bovyans, who value honor, would reflect poorly on Hua.”
“Dian-xia,” Tian said. “Your safety takes precedence. Over honor. I will take you to the ship. By force if necessary. When you are safely on board. I will cut my throat for my impudence.”
The princess glared at him, but he raised his head and broke protocol by making direct eye contact. Her expression hardened even more. She motioned towards her imperial guards, Xu Zhan and Ma Jun. “General Zheng, have your men remove this insolent cur from my sight. If he dares lay a hand on me, cut it off.”
General Zheng, still on his knee, removed his sheathed sword and held it above his bowed head with two hands. “When you are safely aboard the ship, I will cut my throat for disobeying your order.”
All of the soldiers repeated his motion, while the unarmed officials dropped from one knee to two, foreheads pressed to the ground.
Ambassador Wu sighed. “She has given the First Consul a plaque of the Tianzi’s office as a guarantee.”
The collective sucking in of breaths told Tian what he already knew: like the Broken Sword, a plaque was the embodiment of the Tianzi. Not to honor one would be tantamount to the Tianzi forsaking the Mandate of Heaven. The last emperor of the preceding dynasty had reneged on his plaque-bound obligations three centuries prior, and the gods had punished the world with the Hellstorm and Long Winter.
There must have been other options than using the plaque! “How could you take a symbol of state so lightly? There—”
“Little Tian, desist.” The ambassador’s voice was low. “What is done is done.”
The princess glared at him. “I do not need to explain myself to an impertinent boor like you, but I will. We were surrounded with no chance of escape. By promising to meet with him later, I may have exposed myself to danger again; but I will do so at a time and place of our choosing, with an opportunity for the Moquan to plan my defense. But perhaps I have overestimated your ability.” She afforded Tian a last scathing glance before whipping around and marching out of the office. Xu Zhan and Ma Jun hurried after her.
An apology was in order. Tian rose to follow, but the ambassador warded him off with a hand. “Little Tian, your intentions were noble, but you have made the princess lose face. Give her some distance.”
Kaiya strode through the halls towards her suite, all trace of poise forgotten. Her imperial guard Chen Xin opened the door for her as she came to her room.
Handmaidens and servants were crating up her personal belongings, just as she had commanded upon her return from the audience with the First Consul.
“Out!” she ordered, her choking voice sounding wrong in her ears.
The servants and handmaidens’ eyes widened, but they all bowed low and scurried out.
Kaiya slammed the door behind her. The Northern-style doors made the most satisfying sound.
She walked across the room and slumped into a chair. Using the imperial plaque had been a mistake. Had she waited just a few minutes, King Evydas’ attack on Geros would have provided an opportunity for them to escape.
That didn’t excuse Tian for scolding her like a child. He’d always been her support in all things, her confidante. Instead, now he publically humiliated her. To think her eight-year-old self wanted to marry him.
Kaiya sniffed. She could order him to cut his own throat, but she did not want that burden any more than she wanted to risk herself by dancing for that brute of a First Consul.
If only she could leave behind the power of life and death, the traditions that placed honor over life, and the loneliness that only someone in her position could understand. She looked into the mirror, to see her reflection blinking away tears.
Tian poked his head out of the Cobweb several times to see if Jie had returned. By nightfall, there was still no word of her. Most of the other Moquan brothers had returned, bringing strategic updates and the news of a mass exodus of citizens through the southern gate.
He sent some of his men back out to spy on Teleri positions, but organized six to escort the Iksuvi royalty to the Golden Phoenix. When his team arrived at the receiving room, they found the queen and her retinue dressed in dark robes, ready to depart. A handful of servants milled about, attending to their needs, while the ambassador and princess bade their farewells.
She looked up as he entered. Her expression instantly hardened, as if she had found a raw turnip in her imperial soup. He dropped to his knee as protocol demanded, but she’d already turned away.
Perhaps there was nothing he could do to make amends. Their constant verbal duel over the last few days had cut through whatever childhood threads connected them.
That wasn’t important right now, anyway. He rose and bowed before Queen Ausra. “Your Highness. We must leave now. Before the White Moon reaches its zenith. And brightens the night sky. My team needs your guards’ swords. If we need to use force. It needs to look like part of the conflict. Between your nation and the Teleri.”
Queen Ausra nodded towards her men, and they reluctantly surrendered their swords. Her smile was frail. “Please lead on. Our lives are in your hands.”
Tian bowed. He and his Moquan led them out of the compound through the warehouse tunnels. The secret passage went under the walls and connected to the city’s sewers. Walking as quickly as possible through the muck, they emerged not far from the docks.
Eight Teleri soldiers stood at the head of the deep-water dock, checking the few people who passed. It would be impossible to sneak the Iksuvi royalty past them, and equally unlikely to draw them away from their post. That left one option, expedient but distasteful.
Tian motioned for the queen and her family to stay back, then use
d hand signals to assign targets to his men. On his mark, his brothers slipped through the darkness in utter silence, hanging at the edges of the Bovyans’ light bauble lamps.
As he strode towards the soldiers, Tian collected a few rocks and flung them at their heads. Once he came into their light, he drew an Iksuvi longsword and brandished it at them.
One of the men pointed. “Lucius, Cyril, Augustas, and Sciro, execute the rebel.”
As if taking the life of a faceless enemy wasn’t hard enough, their leader had to name them. Four of the soldiers lowered spears and approached in tight formation. Tian tightened his grip on the sword.
His own men slid in behind the soldiers holding the dock and slashed their throats with knives. They caught two of the advancing Bovyans from the rear and slew them as well. When the two living ones turned to see what happened, Tian came up from behind and ran one through. The remaining soldier quickly fell to a coordinated onslaught. As always, efficiency took precedence over honor.
Tian frowned. His master had told him that killing became easier each time, but that never seemed to be the case. “Arrange the bodies so it looks like they died fighting regular infantry.”
After seeing the Iksuvi royals safely onboard, his team slunk back to the embassy without incident. There was still no word of Jie, so Tian went to his own room and threw himself into bed. Maybe Jie had avoided kissing him because she was the traitor.
CHAPTER 18:
Escape Plans
Tian’s eyelids fluttered open as a red haze filtered in through his window. A blurred image came into focus.
Jie looked back at him, elbows on his bed and face propped in her hands. Her lips curled into a grin, reminiscent of the dolphin he had seen on the voyage over. She still wore the blue court gown from the day before, though it was as ruffled as her unkempt hair.
He bolted upright, wiping the gunk from his eyes. “Where’ve you been?”