by JC Kang
These stories continue in Dances of Deception and Finding The Faith
Thank you for reading Orchestra of Treacheries. The Dragon Songs Saga continues with Dances of Deception. Available on March 3, 2017. Join the Mailing List for monthly updates.
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Dances of Deception
CHAPTER 1:
Value of a Dragonfly’s Life
Zheng Tian knew many ways to kill the smuggler, but none to ease his own conscience.
A column of sun streamed in from the dusty warehouse’s skylight, reflecting off his target’s seventeen glittering rings. All it would take was the signal to assassinate him and his two bejeweled henchmen.
Hold the dragonfly with care, eight-year old Princess Kaiya’s voice chimed in his head, quoting an old Hua proverb. For even their fleeting lives have value.
What was the value of a man’s life?
Now twenty-one, Tian banished memories of the gentle girl to the recesses of his mind. Time to focus on the most distasteful of his duties. Just a dozen feet away, the olive-skinned Estomari merchant walked from crate to crate, checking items off a cargo manifest and barking orders.
The twenty-four wooden crates contained legitimate trade goods, for sure. However, Marcus Larruso also trafficked in the local girls, sending them to the South where their fair complexions and blonde hair would fetch a handsome price. Perhaps he deserved death.
Tian’s goals weren’t particularly noble, either. He wasn’t here to rescue impoverished girls from a short and miserable life of exploitation, far away from home.
Larruso reached the last of the two crates, while one of the heavily-armed bodyguards stepped onto the spot where he would die.
The power of life and death, in Tian’s hands. Perhaps that burden was a form of punishment, one which widened the gulf between his carefree youth and the ruthless spy he had become.
He flashed the hand signal from his vantage point.
Six Moquan Black-fist spies fell upon the three unsuspecting smugglers in clinical silence.
Old Tong, the most experienced of them, darted from between the last two crates. He covered Larruso’s mouth and slashed his throat with a black-lacquered knife.
At the same time, Pockmarked Zu dropped from the rafters. He stomped through the largest man’s knee and applied an unremitting chokehold. His victim’s frantic clawing only hastened his demise.
The most recent arrival to their embassy in Iksuvius, Chiming, burst out of the shadows and hacked at the man’s neck with his curved sword. Blood sprayed, and the man let out a choked screech before falling dead.
“Clear.” Six voices echoed the word in quick succession. The gift of the gods, so easily taken.
Zu eased the body to the hard-packed dirt floor. “Brilliant plan, worthy of the Architect.”
“And executed with the precision of the Surgeon and the Beauty.” Young Chiming’s eyes crinkled as he opened one of the many crates.
Tian snorted. His plan was not much more than picking a hiding place, and choosing the right timing against overmatched thugs.
“Now which one of you is the Beauty?” Old Tong looked from Chiming to Zu before shaking his head. He was old enough to have known the three legendary masters, all struck down in their youth a generation ago. Under clan orders, he never spoke their names, though he animatedly recounted their exploits when given a chance. “Neither, you’re both too ugly.”
Like the rest of his comrades, Tian held the deceased masters in awe. Nonetheless, he silenced the men with a scowl. “Chiming. Use a more certain technique. He made a sound. Others could have heard.”
The boy hung his head. “But you timed it so the rest of them—”
“It’s all right. Just learn from your mistakes.” Tian swept his gaze around the warehouse. “Now. Where’s our primary target?”
Old Tong motioned him over. “Here.”
Larruso lay dead, his curly brown hair matted in a pool of blood.
Tian sighed, unsettled at necessary killings. The Pirate Queen’s agent in the frigid Northwest, Larruso was a known associate of Tian’s former friend and current fugitive, Peng Kai-Long.
Tian gestured towards Young Chiming. “What’s in this shipment?”
“Just fine glassware.” The boy shrugged.
“And wool,” Pockmarked Zu added, looking up from another crate.
Tian tapped his chin. They’d tracked Larruso for weeks after receiving word of increased weapons orders. With a Hua trade ship coming into port later today, it would be the perfect opportunity to smuggle his cache. “No weapons?”
Old Tong looked up from a table and waved a blood-smeared sheet of paper. “Here is a diagram for repeating crossbows.”
Tian nodded. Without access to firepowder for muskets, Peng would need Hua’s other great invention. Or innovation rather, since the Repeater design had originally come from the Eldaeri people of the Northeast
“Here are the parts,” Shun said from the far corner. “Uncrated.”
Uncrated. So they weren’t being shipped home to Hua, to arm the dwindling insurgency. At least not yet.
Tian took the diagram from Old Tong and scanned it. He then traced the cocking mechanism with his finger. “This is an Eldaeri crossbow. Not one of ours.” Just like the ones he’d seen four years ago when the Eldaeri attended the wedding of Second Prince Kai-Wu.
“You’re right.” Shun tossed over the trigger component.
Tian swept it out of the air. “Dockworkers will arrive later. Shun, impersonate a merchant. Make sure the crates get loaded. The rest of you. Dispose of the bodies. The locals will miss this criminal. Then regroup in my office.”
“As you command,” his men responded in unison.
Three knocks rapped on the skylight, the prearranged signal from their lookout that someone was coming in.
The Moquan melted back into shadows, dragging the bodies with them. The door opened, revealing a young man with a repeating crossbow.
He took a tentative step in. “Lord Larruso?” A thick local accent weighed down his Arkothi.
Tian raised a fist, ordering his men to stand down before they killed the hapless servant. He stepped out into the light. “Lord Larruso is indisposed.”
The man looked at him, with his eyes intermittently glancing to the space behind him. “Who are you?”
“Feng. Trade officer. From the Cathay embassy.” Tian motioned to the crates behind him. “I am here to make sure everything is in order. This shipment is going out tonight.”
The man licked his lips. “By yourself? That’s not like him.”
“Oh yes. Lord Larruso had another matter to attend to. He told me to make arrangements.” Covering the blood stain with his hand, Tian flashed the cargo manifest. “You want to wait here. If you want. I can also pass your message to him.”
The man presented the crossbow. “I can’t read. I just wanted to make sure I assembled this correctly.”
Tian flipped it over in his hands. Hua had improved upon the inefficient magazine and unwieldy cocking mechanism a century ago. To think the most advanced weapon in the East was almost obsolete in his homeland.
He looked back at the man and shrugged. “I am only a clerk. I don’t know weapons. But I will leave this... thing... on his table. How about I write a note for you?”
The man nodded enthusiastically. “Just let him knowthe workers are confused and need directions.”
“I will do that.” Tian flashed him a warm smile as he walked the man to the door. As the fellow walked out, Tian flashed a signal to Tong. Follow.
Old Tong zipped through, and Tian closed the door and let out a long sigh.
“Why did you let him go?” Chiming emerged, shaking his head.
Tian held the boy’s gaze. “Shun, was he an immediate threat?”
&
nbsp; “No, the crossbow was uncocked,” Shun said.
Tian nodded. “Zu, was he close to Larruso?”
“No, Larruso’s lieutenants are all literate and wear their wealth,” Zu said. “He was just a local peasant, looking for work.”
Chiming cocked his head. “But shouldn’t we tie up loose ends? He didn’t matter.”
“What did you make of his bracelet?”
“Crudely weaved, with faded colors,” Chiming said. “Fraying in spots.”
Tian nodded. “Very good. What does that tell you?”
Chiming’s forehead furrowed.
“The poorest cannot afford rings when they exchange wedding vows. Unlike Larruso, he would be missed.”
The young Moquan shrugged. “What is one life worth?”
“A dragonfly. Now, clean up here. Then meet back in my office.”
Satisfied, Tian slipped out of the door and into the bright afternoon sunlight. He blinked a few times to let his eyes adjust, then set off for the embassy, just on the other side of Iksuvius’ West Marketplace.
Guilt pricked at him, even more so than the marketplace’s scent of oily foods, fresh vegetables and salted fish. Had they needlessly killed those men? He’d lost his innocence many times over since his banishment from the capital. What would his ten-year old self think of who he had become? Princess Kaiya would be disappointed.
Her again. He’d last seen her from afar on the battlements of Wailian Castle, one thousand, four hundred and twenty-two days ago. She rarely visited his thoughts in the last four thousand and twelve days. Maybe only on the handful of occasions when he had to kill an enemy of the state. Otherwise, there was no use wondering about someone he would never see again. Or who had undoubtedly forgotten about him. His chest squeezed. There were more pressing matters.
Tian started to pick his way through the crowded market. After four years, he’d grown accustomed to being surrounded by the large, light-skinned, fair-haired Nothori folk. Even so, their sweat stank of raw onions and goat’s milk. He weaved through them with careless grace, loath to brush up against their hairy bodies.
Along the way, he cut the purse of a brothel owner, and later slid a copper Iksuvi Kroon into the pocket of a destitute boy. When asked by his spies about this peculiar habit, he always shrugged it off as an exercise to keep his skills sharp. And if a child happened to notice his handiwork—or even tried to pick his pockets— he or she might be recruited as another set of eyes and ears for Tian’s information network.
A network whose information he had misinterpreted. The weapons weren’t meant to arm the insurgency back home. He had ordered an unnecessary murder.
***
True Colors of Betrayal will be available September of 2016.
Appendix
Celestial Bodies
White Moon: known as RenYue in Cathay and represents the God of the Seas. It's orbital period is 30 days.
Iridescent Moon: known in Cathay as Caiyue, it is the manifestation the God of Magic. It appeared at the end of the war between elves and orcs. It never moves from its spot in the sky. Its orbital period is one day, and can be used to keep time.
Blue Moon: known in Cathay as Guanyin's Eye, it is the manifestation of the Goddess of Fertility. It sits low on the horizon. Its phases go from wide open to winking.
Tivar's Star: A red star, a manifestation of the God of Conquest. During the Year of the Second Sun, it approached the world, causing the Blue Moon to go dim.
Time
As measured by the phases of the iridescent moon:
Full = Midnight
1st Waning Gibbons = 1:00 AM
2nd Waning Gibbons =2:00 AM
Mid-Waning Gibbons = 3:00 AM
4th Waning Gibbons = 4:00 AM
5th Waning Gibbons = 5:00 AM
Waning Half = 6:00 AM
1st Waning Crescent = 7:00 AM
2nd Waning Crescent = 8:00 AM
Mid-Waning Crescent = 9:00 AM
4th Waning Crescent = 10:00 AM
5th Waning Crescent = 11: 00 AM
New = Noon
1st Waxing Crescent = 1:00 PM
2nd Waxing Crescent = 2:00 PM
Mid-Waxing Crescent = 3:00 PM
4th Waxing Crescent = 4:00 PM
5th Waxing Crescent = 5:00 PM
Waxing Half = 6:00 PM1st
Waxing Gibbons = 7:00 PM
2nd Waxing Gibbons =8:00 PM
Mid-Waxing Gibbons = 9:00 PM
4th Waxing Gibbons = 10:00 PM
5th Waxing Gibbons = 11:00 PM
Provinces of Cathay
Province
Ruling
Family
Resources
Dongmen
Zheng
grain, stone, guns
Fenggu
Han
Timber, rice, grain
Huayuan
Wang
Livestock, rice, wheat, lumber, firepowder, guns
Jiangzhou
Liu
Timber, wheat, silk
Linshan
Lin
Wheat, millet, timber, porcelain
Nanling
Peng
livestock, steel, stone, gems, crossbows
Ximen
Zhao
Fishing, rice
Yutou
Liang
Fishing, rice, iron, copper, fish paste
Zhenjing
Wu
Ships, rice, fish
Human Ethnicities
Aksumi: Dark-skinned with dark eyes and coarse hair. On Earth, they would be considered North Africans. They can use Sorcery.
Ayuri: bronze-toned skin with dark hair and eyes. On Earth, they would be considered South Asians. They can use Martial Magic.
Arkothi: olive-skinned with blond to dark hair and light-colored eyes. On Earth, they would be considered Eastern Mediteraneans. They can use weak Mental Magic.
Bovyan: The descendents of the Sun God's begotten son, they are cursed to be all male and live only to 33 years of age. They are much taller and larger than the average human. Their other physical characteristics are determined by their mother's race. They have no magic ability.
Cathayi (Hua): honey-toned skin with dark hair and eyes. High-set cheekbones and almond-shaped eyes. On Earth, they would be considered East Asians. They can use Artistic Magic.
Eldaeri: olive-skinned with brown hair. Fine features and small frames, they are shorter in stature than the average human. In a previous age, they fled the Orc domination of the continent and mingled with elves. They have no magic ability.
Estomari: olive-skinned with varying eye and hair color. They are famous for their fine arts. On Earth, they would be considered Western Mediterraneans. They can use Divining Magic.
Kanin: Ruddy-skinned with dark hair. On Earth, they would be considered Native Americans. They can use Shamanic Magic.
Levanthi: Dark-bronze skin and dark hair. On Earth, they would be considered Persians. They can use Divine Magic.
Nothori: fair skinned and fair haired. On Earth, they would be considered Northern Europeans. They can use Empathic Magic.
Acknowledgements
First, I would like to thank my wife and family for the patience they have afforded me as I pursued my childhood dream of fiction writing.
A shout-out goes out to my old Dungeons and Dragons crew: Jon, Chris, Chris, Paul, Conrad, and Julian, for helping to shape the first iteration of Tivara twenty-five years ago. Huge thanks to Brent, who contributed so much backstory to the new literary version.
A huge thanks to my sister Laura for her spectacular job with the maps.
Thanks to the readers and writers on Wattpad for their encouragement and feedback.
And finally, to writers over at critiquecircle.com who motivated and helped me along the way.
Jason, for patiently providing countless ideas. Kelly, for amazing input, character development and all the other advice. Victoria, for showing me how to layer scenes. Andy, for unpar
alleled wordsmithing. Ernie, for teaching me the fundamentals of fiction writing. Lindy for your sharp eye. Taylor, Darryl, and Rick for the numerous suggestions. Laurel, Joyce, Tracy, Traci, Kathyrn, and Ardyth for beta reading; and all the others who critiqued.
About the Author
JC Kang's unhealthy obsession with Fantasy and Sci-Fi began at an early age when his brother introduced him to the Chronicles of Narnia, the Hobbit, Star Trek and Star Wars. As an adult, he combines his geek roots with his professional experiences as a Chinese Medicine doctor, martial arts instructor, and technical writer to pen multicultural epic fantasy stories.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Orchestra of Treacheries (Legends of Tivara, The Dragon Songs Saga)
Map of Cathay | Map of Ayuri Lands
Who’s Who in The Orchestra of Treacheries
Prologue: | Rude Awakenings
CHAPTER 1: | Chance Meetings
CHAPTER 2: | Love Letters
CHAPTER 3 | Challenges
CHAPTER 4 | Theoretical Conspiracies
CHAPTER 5: | Change of Heart
CHAPTER 6: | Seeds of Insurrection
CHAPTER 7: | Dragon in the Room
CHAPTER 8: | Second Chances
CHAPTER 9: | Audacity
CHAPTER 10: | Aftermath
CHAPTER 11: | Unwelcome Bedfellows
CHAPTER 12: | Sweat in Times of Peace
CHAPTER 13: | The Best Laid Plans
CHAPTER 14: | Resonance
CHAPTER 15: | Another Foreign Prince
CHAPTER 16 | Half-Truths and Misdirections
CHAPTER 17: | Patriot Games
CHAPTER 18: | Idle Pursuits
CHAPTER 19: | It Will Be a Good Year
CHAPTER 20: | Mirrors and Warnings
CHAPTER 21: | Bait and Switch
CHAPTER 22: | Song of Ayudra Island
CHAPTER 23: | What Happens in the Floating World