Second Born

by Lance Wilson

  Byrdi is like stone, not giving anything away in his thoughts or his emotions.

  “You have gained important knowledge of Bai Shi-zi’s province, his army, and his rebellion. This is extremely valuable to me.” Kage says his voice no longer friendly, but cold and business like.

  Kage watches to see how this information lands, but nothing, Byrdi is still like stone.

  “You also possess significant knowledge of my army, my weaponry, and my plans. This is extremely valuable to Bai Shi-zi.” Kage says his eyes like piercing daggers.

  “Again, you flatter me.” Byrdi says chuckling.

  “No. I am a businessman. I recognize what is valuable. And I buy it. In this case, I value your loyalty.” Kage says simply

  Byrdi takes a moment and considers the implications of what Kage is saying before he answers.

  “I didn’t know loyalty was something that could be sold.” Byrdi says a bit insulted by the implication that he could be bought, before oh yes he could have been bought, but not now, not now that he has finally found himself.

  “Then perhaps you will give it, as a token of future friendship, for which, as a friend, I would be in your debt.” Kage says smiling at him; again the smile is overshadowed by another emotion.

  “Then I will consider it.” Byrdi says lying out right; he cannot be bought any longer.

  “And I will be grateful.” Kage says and gestures that it is time for him to go.

  Byrdi bows a bit and smiles, but the smile is only a formality. Then turns and walks off.

  Once outside the office Byrdi walks past Patroclus and Swanbeck out into the streets where Simon joins him. Byrdi looks around; he cannot stand to see the town change like this. Finally after a long moment Byrdi feels its time to tell Simon what is on his mind.

  “I’m leaving” Byrdi says and takes a deep breath.

  “Leave? Why would you leave now? No white man has ever been in your position. Do you have any idea what it will mean to have Kage as your friend? You want land, you want women, and you want boys?” Simon says looking over at him.

  With a man as powerful as Kage as a friend he would be a fool to leave, he could have everything in the islands of Salatar at his hands. Byrdi only starts to walk faster but Simon stops him stepping in front of him.

  “Nathan. I wanted to leave, too. For three years. You must believe me there is a majesty about these people—can you imagine what your own country would be if it had half the drive and the discipline and the belief and the bravery of these ridiculous little people?” Simon says calmly taking a deep breath. He has to know; he must understand this change of heart.

  Raised voices from across the street soon take the full attention of both Byrdi and Simon. They see Yoritomo surrounded by four Imperial Army soldiers. The soldiers are rough and imperious, drunk with power. They carry gleaming rifle. The soldiers bark orders. Yoritomo stands proudly, responding calmly.

  “Whit is this?” Byrdi asks his voice angered; Yoritomo has done nothing wrong that he can see.

  “My God, it’s the edicts…” Simon says already beginning to see in his own mind what will happen.

  “What edicts?” Byrdi using all his nerve not to jump in and beat the soldiers.

  Byrdi arrives, as the situation is clearly growing volatile, the soldiers are pointing to Yoritomo’s head, screaming. This is too much for him and Byrdi takes a step toward the soldiers.

  “That’s enough” Byrdi growls at the soldiers trying to make his way through.

  One of the soldiers screams at him and raises his rifle, following the example all the soldiers raise their rifles, Yoritomo reaches for his sword this makes it even more imperative that he get through

  “” Byrdi shouts at him finally making his way to Yoritomo.

  One of the soldiers smacks Byrdi in the chin with a rifle butt. Byrdi reels, and by the time he stands straight again, four others are pointing their

  Bayonets at his face. Simon quickly makes his way to Byrdi and takes hold of Byrdi’s arm.

  “Don’t be stupid.” Simon says pulling him back a bit, but it is to no avail. Byrdi will not budge.

  Byrdi makes eye contact with Yoritomo, there is a look of sorrow and compliance between the two and Yoritomo puts his sword away.

  The Salatar soldiers continue to scream at Yoritomo. They force him to his knees. Rifles pressed to his head. Yoritomo bows his bead, speaking quietly, as if praying. Byrdi witches in horror all one of the soldiers removes his bayonet, another grabs Yoritomo’s hair, jerks his head back and begins hacking off Yoritomo’s traditional top-knot of hair. The scene that unfolds before Byrdi is one of brutality and blood. It is a kind of rape of the soul as they hack Yoritomo’s hair. Yoritomo remains kneeling, head down, blood flowing down his face. The soldiers laugh and move on with their job done. The leader of the soldier swinging the topknot of Yoritomo’s hair like it is a kind of trophy. Byrdi kneels by Yoritomo. Yoritomo looks up at him. There are tears in his eyes.

  “I will take you to Bai Shi-zi’s house.” Byrdi tells him and help his up.

  Simon’s eyes grow huge and smiles at him. He will finally get a chance to see the legendary Bai Shi-zi.

  The three of them arrive at Bai Shi-zi’s house around dusk. Bai Shi-zi’s house on the outskirts of Saddrith Mora is spacious and harmonious. Utterly Salatar. Vulkoori guards in full regalia, stand menacingly outside. Ujio kneels with Yoritomo, dressing the wounds on his head. Simon sits across the room talking quietly to the mammoth Nakao, taking notes in a small notebook. Nakao has been brutally shorn of his topknot as well. His shame is apparent. Servants help dress Bai Shi-zi in his exacting Vulkoori wardrobe as Byrdi is ushered in.

  “Captain, I had not thought to see you again.” Bai Shi-zi says not quite looking at Byrdi.

  “I’m leaving tomorrow. But before I go I need to tell you what’s going on here.” Byrdi says feeling it is his duty to his friend to tell him exactly what he will be up against before he leaves.

  “You mean the Gatling Guns and the howitzers, is that how you say it?” Bai Shi-zi says a smile on his face.

  So Byrdi was his friend, he had brought Yoritomo here, to his brothers, and now he is telling him the force he faces, even though he has already heard that Kage was trying to buy him.

  “They’re about to close a trade agreement that will bring this country more weapons than you can imagine.” Byrdi says knowing exactly what kind of force the Kainith elves wield when they bring down their full fury.

  “Yes, if the emperor agrees but Kage knows the Emperor must be convinced there is cause to need those weapons before be will sign.” Bai Shi-zi says letting him know that it is all part of a plan.

  “And you are to be the cause…” Byrdi says a bit shocked at all this.

  “Quite brilliant, isn’t it? Kage passes laws sure to cause a Vulkoori revolt, creating a need for the weapons. The Emperor sees that the weapons are needed so he agrees to the entire treaty, giving your country what it wants and the Kage Zaibatsu what it wants. And my country is sold to yours.” Bai Shi-zi says as the servants take his shirt off to dress him for the meeting he is about to go to.

  As Bai Shi-zi dresses, Byrdi notes that Bai Shi-zi’s body it at battleground of old scars, so like his own.

  “Today the Council passed two edicts. The first called for the elimination of our traditional topknots.” Bai Shi-zi says and lowers his head.

  “I know.” Byrdi says in a whisper.

  “The second banned the wearing of sword.” Bai Shi-zi says and smiles to himself seeing the shock on Byrdi’s face.

  Byrdi stops. He knows what swords mean to the Vulkoori.

  “Hand them to me, will you?” Bai Shi-zi says gesturing to the Vulkoori long and short sword.

  Byrdi picks up Bai Shi-zi’s two swords. Looks at him de
eply.

  “If you do this, they will kill you.” Byrdi says plainly

  “I am hard to kill.” Bai Shi-zi says a smile on his face.

  “You don’t know what their weapons can do. All your men butchered… Just for pride.” Byrdi says almost at a growl.

  “Not for pride. For the emperor.” Bai Shi-zi says hoping to show him what he is trying to do.

  “But the emperor is the one signing the agreement.” Byrdi says shaking his head

  “He has not signed it yet.” Bai Shi-zi says chuckling at him. He still has a bit to learn.

  With gentleness and care he holds out Bai Shi-zi’s two Vulkoori swords.

  “Is it worth it? . . . Just for these,” Byrdi says looking hard into Bai Shi-zi’s eyes.

  “I cannot live without my soul… Can you?” Bai Shi-zi says looking deeply into Byrdi now.

  They regard each other. Byrdi cannot help but look down. Bai Shi-zi smiles, he finally gets it.

  Byrdi nods to him knowing that it is time for him to go. Bai Shi-zi is about to attend this meeting and now with Yoritomo with his brothers, he can be on his way knowing all is well here. Byrdi leaves Bai Shi-zi’s gate and sets off on foot. As Byrdi walks, he becomes aware that he is being followed. Two dark figures lurk some distance behind him. After a few moments, he whips around to face them. They stand for a moment, and then melt away into the shadows. He knows that they stood there so that he saw them, they wanted him to know that they are there and that they are watching.

  The Council of State meets in an august chamber. Many of the Council members wear Western clothes. Cigarette smoke billows. The young Emperor sits on a dais off to the side, as befits his ceremonial role in the proceedings. Kage is speaking but stops looking at something all the Council members turn and gape. Bai Shi-zi strides into the chamber, his swords proudly displayed.

  “Minister Bai Shi-zi, you honor us.” his face showing of all invitation. But his voice is slick and oily.

  “It is my honor to join again the men who are leading the islands of Salatar into her glorious future.” Bai Shi-zi says the sarcasm subtle so that few catch it.

  “You arc perhaps unaware of this Council’s edict regarding the wearing of swords?” Kage says with a sly smile on his face.

  “I read every edict with singular attention.” Bai Shi-zi says with pride.

  “Yet you would bring weapons into this chamber?” Kage asks a smile of victory on his face.

  “This chamber was protected by my sword for four hundred years” Bai Shi-zi says his eyes like fire at Kage.

  “We need no protection we are a nation of laws now.” Kage says gesturing around at the council

  “We are a nation of whores. Selling ourselves to our Western “allies.” Does the islands of Salatar no longer need its patriots?” Bai Shi-zi says snarling at everyone, everyone but the emperor.

  “Who is the patriot? The man who would keep his country trapped in the past, or the man who would help his people into the future?” Kage speaks with a whisper of a voice but still holds the room’s attention.

  “A future with no honor” Bai Shi-zi says lowering and shaking his head.

  “Honor means less to me than feeding our children. And teaching them. And giving them modern medicine so they will live.” Kage says making things out to sound as if this is the only way go move into the future, that if they didn’t move forward it would be the end of the islands.

  “And lining your own pockets in the process.” Bai Shi-zi says telling the real reason that Kage is pushing for progress.

  The two stare at one another barely concealed hostility.

  “Minister Bai Shi-zi, it is with great regret that I ask you to remove your sword, as this body has declared in its edict.” Kage says smiling knowing that he will not, and this will mean his imprisonment, seeing his victory so close.

  “This sword serves the emperor, and only he can command me to remove it.” Bai Shi-zi says his hand grasping at the handle as he stares at the emperor.

  As he does this murmurs fill the room. To ask the emperor to speak to you directly was unheard of, and considered arrogance.

  “Ah, but it is our tradition that the Emperor’s voice is too pure and great to be heard in such worldly circumstance as the Council of State.” Kage says full aware of the fact that Emperor doesn’t speak to anyone in council of state.

  One last time, Bai Shi-zi meets the Emperor’s eye.

  “Then, with great regret, I must refuse to give up my sword.” Bai Shi-zi says lowering his head, a bit of disappointment filling him.

  “Minister Bai Shi-zi, I must invite you to accompany our soldiers to Himeji Castle, where you will be our honored guest. I think you will find the surroundings there quite harmonious.” Kage says smiling, the thought of Bai Shi-zi in a cell making him overjoyed

  Guards with Mauser rifles move into position around Bai Shi-zi.

  “Brothers… One day you will know what you have done and feel what I never will… shame.” Bai Shi-zi says looking around at the council chambers.

  With a nod from Kage the guards lead Bai Shi-zi out. Bai Shi-zi holds up his head with pride, as he is lead away. To him this is not a mark of shame, but of pride and honor, at least he is standing up for the honor of the islands.

  The next afternoon a bearer is loading the last of Byrdi’s luggage on the back of a rickshaw. Byrdi emerges from the building, sees the same two disreputable men who followed him earlier lurking nearby. He resists the temptation to confront them. Instead he climbs into the rickshaw and it starts off. But a moment later, Simon has jogged alongside, huffing and puffing.

  “Thought I’d missed you. Were you going to leave without even saying goodbye?” Simon says in between the labored breaths.

  “I have a fear of sentimental Priests.” Byrdi says with a smirk on his face.

  “You Sod, Christ, give us. Second here” Simon says giving him a huffed look

  Byrdi indicates for the bearer to stop. Once the man stops Simon stands next to him his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath.

  “You’re making a mistake, I promise you. Bai Shi-zi’s under house arrest, Kage’s made his move, he’ll need you more than ever” But Simon stops and gives Byrdi a good look. He can see exactly that Byrdi has no intention of helping Kage.

  “Oh, my goodness. How silly of me. All that time you were with him, up in those mountains, I told you they were a remarkable people.” Simon says with a bright smile on his face.

  Byrdi smiles at him but doesn’t answer, this means he is not admitting his alliance to Bai Shi-zi, but he isn’t denying it either.

  “Then you should get out. Because Kage will become rather impatient with anyone who isn’t on the team.” Simon says now with a vary sober face

  Simon then watches as Byrdi’s eyes shift. Simon follows the glance and finds two men behind them; Simon can only see the men for a second or two before they meld back into the shadows. Again both Simon and Byrdi know that they wanted to be seen. These are Umbragen and are only seen when they want to be.

  “Case in point.” Simon says worried.

  “Who are they?” Byrdi says his eyes blazing with anger.

  “Umbragen, but I’m sure you know that, don’t know what clan and it really doesn’t matter” Simon says with a shiver.

  “What do they want from me?” Byrdi says a bit of a growl in his voice.

  “To make sure you’re on the side of God and Country, or to make sure you get the hell out.” Simon says making his own religious sign over his chest.

  “You’ve been a great help, Simon. I thank you.” Byrdi says with a smile

  “Look who’s getting sentimental now.” Simon says sarcastically.

  For a moment there is a look of sentimentality between the two of them and then Byrdi nods for t
he bearer to continue.

  Byrdi stands at the gangplank around sunset. Porters wait with his luggage. Byrdi looks back into the crowd wondering if he can get a look at the Umbragen, but there is nothing, no sign of them. Somehow though he seems to be feeling them, he can almost feel there eyes watching him. There is a blast from the steam whistle. And Byrdi looks from the ship to the crowd, to the bustling, chaotic city behind them. Finally, he looks out at the harbor and the ocean, beyond which used to lie his home.

  “Take me back to the quarters” Byrdi says making his decision.

  And Byrdi starts back into the city. He cannot abandon them, the Vulkoori. He knows that this could mean his life. But he knows the battle coming ahead. He can’t explain why he has this newfound kinship with the Vulkoori but he has it now and he has already lost too many families to war and battle, maybe if he is lucky he can keep this family.

  Once inside the quarters he sits in the middle and waits for it. He knows the Umbragen are following him, and that they will report to Kage that he hasn’t left. They may even know why, that he has decided to side with Bai Shi-zi, in which case he will wait for his attack. He stays in his room tell a bit after sunset and the street darken in the night. He takes a deep breath and decided to allow them a better chance at him. No point in hiding. Getting up he stretches out and leaves the inn and begins to walk down the shadowy streets, lit only by torches. As he walks through the streets he begins to have the same feeling of being watched. Soon he comes to a section of the streets where there are a couple of intersections giving a large space where no buildings stand. Soon two figures begin to meld out of the shadows and Byrdi can see the Umbragen, three of them, there hands on their swords, strapped across their backs. Behind him another fades out of the shadows. The three Umbragen begin to close in. Byrdi stands completely still. They grow closer. Byrdi appears to close his eyes. And the sound of the approaching footsteps

  Fade. Byrdi focuses and takes long slow breaths, his mind sharp and focused, he hears the Umbragen draw their swords. Opening his eyes Byrdi can see everything clearly almost as if it has been slowed down just for him. Byrdi jumps into action grabbing one of the torches and smashes it across the Umbragen’s face. Rolling to avoid a deathblow, he grabs the fallen man’s sword and eviscerates another of the Umbragen, the two remaining Umbragen strike. He parries the blow of the third attacker, whirls to slice the legs of the fourth, whirls again to cut off the head of attacker he smashed the torch on to, who has returned to the attack. Meanwhile, the third attacker charges just as the fourth Umbragen is trying to stand. Byrdi sees where he will hit and side steps the attack allowing the charging Umbragen to impale his fellow Umbragen. The Umbragen is in shock as he slides his sword out of his clan brother, but Byrdi takes advantage of the shock and quickly takes the head of the Umbragen.