Bubbling Water smiled. “I wish I could explain it, Hand.”
“Tell me what happened after you took the Lord Bear out of the room last night. I'll bet he was madder than a wet cat, eh?”
Chuckling, she nodded. “Come here.” He crawled across the palanquin cushions and into her arms. “The Lord Bear and I have almost adopted you, you know.” She kissed his forehead and embraced him.
“Well, I've completely adopted you, Lady. If I didn't have a mother, I'd make you mine.”
“Oh, Healing Hand, you're wonderful.” Sighing, she brushed his hair back from his forehead.
* * *
Last night, after I hauled Guarding Bear from the amphitheater, he struggled to escape my talent, heaping curses on me. Too many guards were in the main corridor, so I took him into a side corridor. Even so, about ten sentries watched the spectacle. Six of them, I saw, had the altered signature of a Patriarchy spy.
Guarding Bear wasn't very cooperative. I kept shaking the undefeated General as I would an obstinate child. (Oh, Hand, it wasn't that funny.) “Calm down and listen!” I said again and again.
The moment he stopped struggling, I set him down against the corridor wall. With my talent I knocked out all the sentries within hearing, except those in Guarding Bear's pay. “I have to get you out of the castle, before Flying Arrow thinks to execute you for assaulting the Lord Emperor Jaguar. I'm going to knock you unconscious while these warriors smuggle you to one of the sanctuaries. I'll send Calming Touch to repair any damage. I want you to stay there until I send word. My Lord, my mate, my love, I cherish you. If you don't obey, I'll tack your hide to the wall without skinning you first. Am I clear?”
Nodding meekly, he whispered, “The woman.”
At first, I could've put my fist through his face for his lack of remorse. He showed not the slightest regret for attacking Snarling Jaguar under the Inviolate Insignia. “What about her?”
“Make sure she's safe,” he said softly.
His concern melted me inside. I know he loves her dearly. “I will—she's my daughter as well as your brother's widow, remember?” Kissing him, I said, “You're intolerable sometimes.”
He grinned at me. “But, Lady, I find it so amusing.”
Laughing, I struck the base of his head. Slumping, he slid down the wall, out cold. I thanked the Infinite that he didn't question my motives. He could've escaped more easily on his own, but I needed him unconscious.
When I turned to the watching Bear spies, my heart fell to my feet. On the floor were the bodies of the Arrow sentries, their throats slit. Glaring at the warrior with the bloody knife, my face an inch from his, I snarled, “Blast it, they were unconscious! You didn't need to kill them!” I smashed him against the wall but restrained my talent enough not to kill him, then regretted I'd hurt him at all.
Selecting another warrior to lead the remaining four, I told him how to find one of the sanctuaries. “Send a warrior to the Bear residence for Calming Touch. Have her sedate him.” Orienting myself, I searched my memory for a secret exit from the castle. “Down this stairwell to the next level. Behind the statue of the headless warrior, the wall has a false panel. Twist the hilt of the statue's sword and follow the stairwell down. From the catacombs go north to the river.”
“Yes, Lady Matriarch.” The commander poked a finger at three warriors. “You, you, you, wrap the Lord General.” He pointed at another. “You, make sure no one follows us.” The five warriors disappeared down the stairs, carrying the inert Guarding Bear.
Returning to the amphitheater, I bargained Guarding Bear away to Snarling Jaguar, wanting to keep my mate beyond the range of the Emperor's arrows. I have to give Flying Arrow time to forgive the intolerable insult. How long that might take, I don't know. I haven't dared to wake Guarding Bear. If he regains consciousness, he'll refuse to become Snarling Jaguar's hostage. (Hush, Hand, let me finish.)
My prophecy of Lady Pine's pregnancy shocked everyone, especially Flying Arrow. I've never seen him cry like that, and I reared him. After that, I had to bargain with the Traitor for possession of Fleeting Snow. Lurking Hawk's the nominal Emperor when Flying Arrow can't perform his office or when something interrupts him. If I weren't a lady and a Matriarch with the cares of an Empire to shoulder, I'd have vomited at having to bargain with that Traitor. Thank the Infinite, I had some leverage on Lurking Hawk. Promising sweetly I wouldn't expose his role in Rippling Water's illness, I bargained for Fleeting Snow. I wonder when he'll betray Flying Arrow. I pray my nephew gets rid of Lurking Hawk before the Arrow Twins are born.
How do I feel about them? Replete with joy and infinitely frustrated. The loyal matriot inside me's happy we finally have a Succession Assured. The mate of Guarding Bear feels disheartened that a successor has now removed the Patriarchy one step further from the throne.
Before the twins' conception, everyone expected Flying Arrow's death to plunge the Empire into civil war. The most prominent patriarchies fought among themselves to gather the most influence. Even Scowling Tiger's been part of the dance, eh? He's waited for twelve years in his mountain fortress for Flying Arrow's death. He'd have invaded the Empire the moment the Imperial Sword slipped from the Emperor's dying hand. Not willing to admit he can't father a child, Flying Arrow refused to appoint an heir out of the dim hope that a miraculous arrow might somehow spring from an empty quiver. Under these conditions, the most influential patriarchy stands ever poised to usurp the throne. The act's as easy as a secret whispered in a vengeful ear or a poison dropped in an unwatched goblet. Now, all that has changed because a miraculous arrow has impregnated the Consort.
* * *
“Forgive me my disturbing you, Lady Matriarch. The Lord General stirs,” the Captain Freezing Fire said, falling into step beside her palanquin.
In a palanquin behind hers rode the sedated and dampered Guarding Bear. Bubbling Water had given Silent Whisper another task, liking him too much to risk his dying in the possible bloodshed ahead. “Have the Lady Touch give him another sedative, Lord Captain,” Bubbling Water said.
Calming Touch edged closer to the palanquin. Her eyes bleary and brown hair tousled, she looked as if she slept badly the night before. Having been with the Patriarchy for fifteen years, she looked outraged. “I feel it's my duty, Lady Matriarch, to object to the way you're treating—”
“I appreciate your concern, Lady Medacor,” Bubbling Water interrupted. “Thank you, and Infinite bless you for it. Please sedate him. You'll accompany the Lord Emperor Jaguar and keep the Lord Bear sedated until he's safely beyond the borders of the Eastern Empire.”
“Forgive me, Lady Matriarch, but the Lord General might not withstand repeated sedation.” Calming Touch frowned through the curtains at the boy in the Matriarch's arms.
“Please find some way to do it, Lady Touch, without endangering his life.” Bubbling Water pushed aside the curtain to look at the medacor directly. “I'm sorry your return from vacation wasn't more pleasant, Lady. Having been away, you don't know the result of the Lord General's suffering even a minor ailment—or completely regaining his faculties!”
“Yes, Lady.” Shuddering, Calming Touch bowed deeply and fell behind to attend to Guarding Bear.
Closing the curtain, Bubbling Water bit back a sob, feeling the medacor's indignity a hundredfold. “Dear Lord Infinite, forgive me for treating my own mate no better than a caged animal.”
“I don't think he'll mind, Lady Water,” Healing Hand said.
“Oh? Why's that, little mind-reader?” Tousling his hair, she drew comfort from his soft, slight form against her.
“You're doing it to help him, aren't you?” Snuggling deeper, he emitted contentment like a purring cat.
Bubbling Water chuckled. “I'm doing it to save his life!”
“Then he won't mind, will he?”
“I wish I were that confident. You know what I like about you, Hand? The way you find the light amidst the dark. That's a special quality.”
* * *
/> Late into the night, I worked to familiarize myself with current Patriarchy business. Fifty functionaries must have briefed me on various operations. Thank the Infinite none of them required Guarding Bear's personal attention. I've managed the Patriarchy before, when the General was away fighting wars. I'll manage it again.
“Nothing has changed,” I assured them all. To stop a spontaneous uprising, I sent the same assurance to all allies and covert operatives. “A foreign sickness will indispose the Lord General Bear for several months. Otherwise, his health is excellent. With salutations to all his friends, the Lord General Bear bestows his blessing upon the Imperial Arrow Twins and the Succession Assured.”
Four times in three days we've contacted them all with the same missive. Not once in the two years before the Emperor's summons have we had to do that. The frequency disturbs me. I'm afraid someone might have noticed. My trace prescience is boiling oddly as well. Change is upon the Empire. I wonder how much of that's because of the Twins.
By the time the sky grew light this morning, I felt comfortable that I held all lines of influence firmly reigned.
Not long after dawn, Flying Arrow issued the announcement I expected: All top-level Imperial administrators would gather at the castle for a conference. Since this included the Lord Security Commander Bear, I knew it an artifice to capture him. Flying Arrow's summons didn't violate the agreement between me and Snarling Jaguar because he didn't explicitly approve the trade. The Southern Emperor's threat to take offense might stop Flying Arrow from executing the General, but not from throwing Guarding Bear in the dungeons for the rest of his life. If he finds Guarding Bear with the help of the Imperial Sword, I've lost this terrible game.
Snarling Jaguar's summons arrived an hour later. “Infinite be with you, Lady Matriarch Water. I suggest you bring the Lord General Guarding Bear to my camp this afternoon, in stealth if possible. Short of an incursion into the city, my forces stand ready to help. Please inform. I request that you attend personally. I have a proposition for your ears only.”
I sent my niece Sparkling Stream to the camp with a plan to get Guarding Bear out of the city. Not long after that, Flying Arrow ordered all travelers stopped at the city gates. Supposedly, thieves plundered a shipment of rare jewels just before dawn. This ruse deceived no one.
Searching for Silent Whisper, I looked out the door. In the morning sun, the procession of two palanquins and fifty warriors assembled on the front lawn of the Bear residence. On the way to the west gate, we planned to stop at the sanctuary to get Guarding Bear. “Lord Captain.”
Silent Whisper pushed his way through the warriors and mounted the steps. Entering the house, he bowed before me. “Lady Matriarch.”
“I want you to turn your command over to the Lord Captain Fire today.”
“Forgive me, Lady, I refuse!”
Having helped me all night, he looked as tired as I felt. He's the most able and loyal Captain the General's personal guard has had in years. Before the day's over however, blood could spill. I needed to insure his didn't, valuing the fierce loyalty that motivates his service. Convincing him to give up his post for a day wasn't easy.
“Bless you for your devotion, Lord Captain.” I glanced around the antechamber. Too many people, I decided. Gesturing him to follow, I stepped into the refectory, closing the door behind us. He looked puzzled. “I have something else I want you to do today, Lord Whisper,” I told him. “That's just your excuse to turn the guard over to the Lord Fire.”
“Lady, I humbly ask you to rescind that order.”
Frowning, I stepped close to him and looked up into his face. “I don't want you to die today, my friend.”
Thawing, he wiped melted ice from his cheek.
“For today give your command to Freezing Fire, eh?”
Nodding, he looked as if he couldn't speak.
“Thank you, Lord. Thank you also for these.” I touched the moisture beneath his eye. “When you've composed yourself, see Trickling Stream upstairs. Oh, and be gentle with her, eh? She's sad I've given her youngest sister to the Lord Jaguar. They're close friends. Now they might not see each other for years. I'll send the Lord Fire up so you can tell him, oh, in ten minutes?”
Mute, he nodded again. Smiling, I returned to the antechamber, thanking the Infinite for him and for all the caring, devoted people around me.
* * *
“Thank the Infinite for you as well, Healing Hand.” Embracing him, Bubbling Water glanced out the curtains. “You have to go, Hand—now.” She took his face between her hands and kissed his forehead. “I love you, Hand. Go home and see your mother, eh?”
He smiled wistfully at her. “Yes, Lady. Infinite be with you.” Kissing her cheek, Healing Hand slipped from the palanquin.
The procession slowed, approaching the west gate. Having received no reply from Snarling Jaguar, Bubbling Water hoped Flying Arrow's minions hadn't stopped and detained Sparkling Stream. Oh, Lord Infinite, deliver us safely! she thought.
The platoon of guards pressed close to her palanquin—and Guarding Bear's, she knew. If she'd reached past the curtains, her hand would've met not empty air but a solid wall of warrior. Bubbling Water probed Guarding Bear's palanquin. Activated electrical shields stopped her probe. On signal all the Bear Warriors would turn on their shields to obscure her during the diversion.
The procession stopped. Arrow Warriors blocked the gate.
“Get out of the Lady Matriarch Water's way,” the Captain Freezing Fire shouted rudely, deliberately.
“All travelers must have proper authorization, Lord Captain.” A Lieutenant stepped forward from among the blue-and-white ranks barring the path. The Lieutenant's voice and psychic signature seemed familiar to Bubbling Water, but his signature didn't carry his name. Unable to see his face, she didn't recognize him at first.
“The Lady Matriarch Water, mother of the Lord Emperor Arrow himself, needs no authorization, Lord Lieutenant.”
A Bear Sergeant stepped forward and drew his sword. “Lord Captain, I beg permission to send this filthy Arrow dog onward to the Infinite!”
“Permission denied, Lord Sergeant!” Freezing Fire ordered, pushing the man back. “Return to your place or I'll stain the earth with your blood.” The Sergeant retreated grudgingly, grumbling audibly. Freezing fire turned back to face the Arrow Warriors. “Would you have a bloodbath on your hands, Lord Lieutenant, or will you allow the Lady Matriarch Water to pass?”
So far, everything's going as planned, she thought.
“I don't care if she's the matron of a brothel sent to service the barbarian Jaguar, Lord Captain. Without authorization, no one passes.”
Then Bubbling Water recognized him: He was Tumbling Pigeon, Trickling Stream's mate. Why is he speaking so foully? Bubbling Water wondered, knowing him a kind and courteous man. Since he referred to the brothel, she thought, the Emperor must have told him exactly what to say! If we escape, Flying Arrow will have his head! Withering within, Bubbling Water guessed the Emperor had placed Tumbling Pigeon in command to make sure she paid no matter what happened.
“Lord Lieutenant, if the Lady Matriarch Water can't go there, the Lord Emperor Jaguar will come here.” Freezing Fire pointed beyond the blockade of Arrow Warriors. All the Bear Warriors flipped on their shields.
Outside the city, a battalion of Jaguar Warriors marched toward the gate. Their bright banners aloft, their armor glinted in the sun. Like an orthopteran pestilence, the ranks charged the gate.
Cursing at Freezing Fire, Tumbling Pigeon turned to bark orders at his warriors. They dispersed to take up positions outside the gate.
Scrambling from her palanquin, Bubbling Water dropped to her knees immediately. Thank the Infinite Sparkling Stream got through! she thought, crawling toward the rear of the procession, following the medacor and three warriors dragging Guarding Bear. The guards discreetly let them pass.
Milling near the rear was a group of rag-clad beggars. From under their clothes they produced similar rags.
Donning them, Bubbling Water, the medacor, and three warriors merged with the group of beggars. Two warriors draped the General's arms over their shoulders as if he were drunk. Noticing them on cue, a Bear Warrior threatened to scald them if they lingered.
Acting inebriated, the group of beggars moved down a side street, parallel to the city wall. From a staff stuck in mud hung a ragged banner of broken arrows, the ancient standard of resistance to Arrow Sovereignty. The beggars stopped to watch the antics of a fellow beggar too drunk to walk. While appearing to watch the sober warrior act like a drunk beggar, Bubbling Water listened for the second signal. The city wall was twenty feet away. The crack there appeared too small for even her slight form. Standing directly over the crack and watching events at the gate was an Arrow Archer.
She heard voices from the gate. The Southern Warriors must have reached it by now! she thought. No signal came. An argument ensued, followed by the distinctive ring of sword pulled from scabbard. Moments later the sound repeated a thousandfold. No, Lord Infinite, she thought, please don't let any blood spill—oh please!
To her relief, a voice demanded above the din, “Let us consult the Lady Matriarch Water!”
Weaving and stumbling, the beggars surged toward the wall. Two warriors supported the inert Guarding Bear as if he were merely unable to walk. The archer glanced down at them, smirked and returned his attention to the confrontation. One of the beggars entreated him. “Lord Archer, a pittance for this pitiable wretch?”
“I'm busy, wretch!” The archer waved off the beggar without looking down.
Reaching the wall, Bubbling Water stood to one side and looked whence they'd come. She saw no one following or looking toward them. The warriors slipped Guarding Bear through the crack, its edges crumbling. The medacor squirmed through next. Then Bubbling Water slipped through the crack, seeing that the repairs were mud.
Poking his head through behind her, a warrior handed her the Broken Arrow banner. “Piss on the Emperor, eh?”
Smiling, she stuffed the banner in her sleeve. Only then did she see the warrior was her son Rolling Bear. Suddenly, she was furious. “What the Infinite are you doing here!”
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