The military presence alongside the palace was heavier than in front of the palace. Soldiers were everywhere. The wagon stopped alongside a large pair of doors and soldiers immediately congregated around the cage. The door to the cage was opened and the prisoners were ushered out. Bin-lu and one other prisoner had to be untied from the bars and were kept separated from the rest of the prisoners. All of the prisoners were made to form a single column, which was flanked by soldiers on both sides. Bin-lu and the other special prisoner were pushed into position at the end of the column. The door to the palace was opened and the column marched into the palace.
Inside the doors was a large, bare room. On the other side of the room there was an intersection of corridors. The column of prisoners turned to the right, but the flanking soldiers for Bin-lu and the other special prisoner were led straight ahead along a different corridor. The corridor was unremarkable and ended at a flight of stairs. They climbed the stairway and it emerged in a large and elegant area of the palace. The floor was white marble with a flurry of red streaks running through it. From the stairway, the marble floor extended hundreds of paces. It was also dozens of paces wide. It resembled more of a plaza than a room inside a building. The walls were covered with a rich red material and had dozens of alcoves; each alcove contained a sculptured bust on a pedestal. Two huge ornate doors interrupted the right side of the wall. Opposite the doors were marble steps leading to the front of the palace. The ceiling was so high that Bin-lu had to crane his neck to see the intricate woodwork that comprised it. The whole ceiling was a carved wooden mural of a battlefield.
Well-dressed people roamed around this plaza. Some scurried with haste down corridors directly off the plaza, while others dallied and talked in groups. One woman, leading a group of six, small children, stopped and stared at the prisoners as they passed. The woman was obviously a foreigner, but the children were not. Everyone else ignored them. The soldiers herded Bin-lu and the other special prisoner to a marble bench outside the massive set of ornate doors. The four soldiers flanked the two prisoners as they were instructed to sit on the bench. Several long moments later, a distinguished looking man, who Bin-lu thought might have been a noble, approached the prisoners. He stared at them for some time before talking quietly to one of the guards.
After the quiet conversation was over, the noble left and returned promptly with two more soldiers. He stationed the additional guards near the other special prisoner and then disappeared through the massive doors. Bin-lu glanced at the other prisoner in wonder. The man was older than Bin-lu and his faced was badly bruised. One eye was swollen shut and a recent cut ran down the side of his face. Bin-lu noticed that the man's arms were taut and his hands were curled into rigid fists. To Bin-lu, the prisoner appeared like a wounded animal poised to strike. Sitting next to the other prisoner suddenly made Bin-lu feel very unsafe.
The noble reappeared through the massive doors and commanded the guards to escort the dangerous prisoner through the doors. The prisoner refused to move. Two of the soldiers seized the prisoner's arms and dragged him off the bench, while the other two soldiers drew their swords. The prisoner tried to shove the soldiers away, but they held him tightly. One soldier placed the tip of his sword at the prisoner's throat while the two soldiers holding the prisoner bent his arms behind him and secured them with a cord. The four soldiers forced the bound prisoner through the massive doors, and the noble followed them. Bin-lu sighed audibly and the two remaining soldiers looked at him.
"It is much better not to resist," instructed one of the soldiers. "It only becomes harder on you if you do."
"I have done nothing wrong," answered Bin-lu. "Therefore, I have no reason to resist."
The soldier nodded almost sympathetically. Bin-lu sat staring at his feet wondering why he was a prisoner. Two more soldiers entered the large area from one of the corridors and stood talking across the room. Bin-lu heard laughter from the soldiers. The laughter seemed so out of place to Bin-lu, as if it belied the seriousness of his predicament. One of the soldiers guarding Bin-lu turned and walked over to the new arrivals. More laughter came from the small group and the remaining soldier's attention was riveted on his fellow soldiers. The remaining soldier glanced at Bin-lu and then at his fellow soldiers. After a minute of indecision, the soldier walked over and joined the small group. While he kept his eye on Bin-lu, the soldier joined in the conversation of the group. Bin-lu felt the presence of someone next to him on the bench, and he turned to see who was there. His eyes rose in surprise as he recognized the woman who had stared at him when she was escorting the six children earlier. She sat with her head bowed.
"Do not look at me," whispered the woman. "Stare at your feet. I need to talk to you while the guards are not present."
Bin-lu's brow creased into a frown, but he obeyed the woman's command.
"Where did you get that necklace?" asked the woman.
"I am holding it for someone," Bin-lu muttered softly.
"Was that person's name Tedi?" inquired the woman softly.
"Yes," whispered Bin-lu.
"He is alive," the woman sighed softly, although Bin-lu could hear her voice quaking. "You say you are holding it for him, so I expect that you plan to see him again. Is this true?"
"Yes," answered Bin-lu as he saw the soldiers' attention drawn to him and the woman. "The soldiers are watching us."
"Then I must leave," the woman sobbed softly. "You must deliver a message for me. Promise me that you will make sure that he receives it."
"If he survives his journey to the Island of Storms," whispered Bin-lu. "I told him not to go there. What is this message?'
Bin-lu heard the footsteps of the soldier approaching as his boots marched across the marble floor.
"Tell him that his mother is alive," sobbed the woman. "I teach children here. Tell him that I love him, but he is not to come here. He will surely die if he does."
The woman also heard the soldier approaching, and she rose swiftly and marched away from Bin-lu. The soldier stopped approaching when the woman left. He stood halfway across the room for a moment, and then turned and rejoined his friends. Bin-lu was pondering the conversation with the woman when the large doors opened and the noble returned. The two soldiers, who were supposed to be guarding Bin-lu, hurried over to stand by the bench.
"Bring the other one now," commanded the noble.
One of the soldiers told Bin-lu to rise, and he promptly obeyed. The two soldiers flanked Bin-lu and followed the noble through the large doors. Bin-lu marveled at the splendor of the massive room he had entered. Even the plaza held no beauty compared to this new chamber. The floor was stark white marble; it contrasted sharply with the long, crimson carpet that ran down the center of the room. Bin-lu's eyes followed the vivid carpet to a raised platform and rested on a massive golden throne. An imposing figure sat in the throne and was resplendent in white and gold. A large golden crown sat upon his head.
Two rows of marble columns paralleled the carpet and divided the massive room in thirds. The outer thirds of the room were filled with people, many of them sitting on plush cushions. Soldiers lined the walls behind the people. More soldiers were stationed on the platform around the throne. Bin-lu suddenly realized that he was about to meet the Emperor Hanchi.
The noble led the way along the crimson carpet to the base of the stairs before the throne platform. The soldiers stopped and indicated that Bin-lu should stop as well. The noble continued for several paces and then bowed to the Emperor.
"What is this man's crime?" the Emperor asked loudly.
"He wears the jewels of the Emperor," answered the noble.
Bin-lu gulped when he heard the answer. Confusion reigned in his mind about the necklace. He wondered if Tedi had stolen the necklace from the Emperor, or maybe his mother stole it and gave it to Tedi.
"Bring him closer," commanded the Emperor.
Bin-lu saw the soldiers tense as he approached. He stepped up next to the noble and bowed as the o
ther man had. Emperor Hanchi stared at Bin-lu, but the distance was still too great for him so see the necklace.
"Bring me the jewels," demanded the Emperor.
Bin-lu started to walk forward and the noble firmly place his hand on Bin-lu's arm. "Give me the necklace," the noble said. "You will stay here."
Bin-lu nodded and unclasped the necklace and handed it to the noble. The noble carried it to the Emperor, and Hanchi studied it.
"This is an exquisite work of art," beamed the Emperor as the noble returned to stand next to Bin-lu. "How did it come into the possession of a fisherman from Barouk?"
"I did not steal it," answered Bin-lu. "A foreigner wanted use of my boat. I hold the necklace until he returns the boat to me. I am not a criminal. If it was stolen from you, surely it must have been the foreigner."
"Perhaps," mused the Emperor, "but all jewels in the Empire belong to me. How many foreigners were there?"
"Three," replied Bin-lu as he began to worry about losing the necklace and not being able to get his boat back. He also began to realize that the necklace had not been stolen from the Emperor, but rather all precious things were claimed by Hanchi.
"How did they arrive in Barouk?" quizzed Hanchi.
"They came on horseback," answered Bin-lu. "They said they came from Ongchi."
An officer behind the Emperor stepped forward and whispered something in the Emperor's ear. The Emperor nodded.
"Were these young men or old?" questioned Hanchi.
"They were my age," replied Bin-lu.
"I believe you speak the truth," nodded the Emperor. "I find no fault against you. You may go."
"What about the necklace?" asked Bin-lu. "They will not return my boat unless I give it to them."
"Still your voice if you wish to live," warned the noble.
"All jewels are the property of the Emperor," scowled Hanchi. "Do you wish to dispute this?"
"No," frowned Bin-lu as he bowed to Hanchi.
Bin-lu looked up and saw the Emperor admiring the necklace. He realized that his presence in the room had already been forgotten. The noble touched Bin-lu's arm and nodded towards the large doors they had come through. Bin-lu turned and marched out of the room with the noble. The soldiers followed, but once outside the room, they left.
"What am I to do?" Bin-lu asked the noble. "How am I to earn a living without my boat?"
"You could join the army," suggested the noble. "You will have to soon anyway. I can take you down and sign you up."
"I must return to Barouk," Bin-lu shook his head. "How am I to get there?"
The noble sighed, "I will get you a ride with the next prisoner wagon going east."
***
The Lanoirian soldiers raced past Boris and Niki. Master Khatama turned and saw that the soldiers were heading for the dock.
"The fisherman who fled must have summoned them," Boris mused.
"There is fighting on the dock," advised Niki as she pulled the white hood tighter around her head.
"So I see," nodded Boris as he watched the drama unfold.
The twelve martyrs had drawn their swords and gathered around Lotfi. The fishermen on the dock scattered. Some dove into the sea while other ran down the dock to the beach. One fisherman did not run fast enough and a martyr shoved a sword into his back. The fisherman fell to the dock screaming. Two of the martyrs jumped onto a large vessel and began throwing fishing traps and nets overboard. Lotfi boarded the vessel and stood defiantly staring at the approaching soldiers.
"He is going to use magic against the soldiers," warned Niki.
"You are very observant," nodded Master Khatama. "You are also correct. Do you know how to create a magic shield?"
"Of course," scowled Niki. "I am a mage. Do you want me to shield us?"
"Not us," instructed Boris. "Put a shield between the ship that Lotfi is on and the dock. The soldiers will have enough of a problem with the martyrs without Lotfi's interference."
"I don't know if I can do that," frowned Niki. "I have only used shields around myself and people close to me."
"Pretend that you are on the bow of that ship," suggested Master Khatama. "Visualize yourself there, and then cast your shield."
Boris watched the disturbance on the dock as Niki struggled to erect the shield. The soldiers charged the twelve martyrs and deadly sword battles began. He watched as Lotfi hurled a fireball at the clump of soldiers, but the projectile hit a shield and failed to strike the soldiers. The martyrs were efficient at cutting down the soldiers until some of the soldiers in the rear started throwing Lanoirians Stars. The stars allowed the soldiers to strike without getting into the reach of the martyrs. Lotfi shouted a command, and the martyrs leaped aboard the ship and cut the lines tying it to the dock.
The martyrs used long poles to push the ship away from the dock and the sails were hoisted quickly. Lotfi glared at the soldiers on the dock as the ship slowly picked up speed. He moved steadily towards the stern as the ship passed the end of the dock. Lotfi concentrated on the Lanoirian soldiers and raised his hands. Whatever spell the mage had been casting fizzled, and Lotfi snapped his head toward the beach. His eyes roamed over the crowd of fishermen and eventually settled on the couple standing next to the merchant's wagon.
Boris turned to Niki who was still concentrating on her shield with her eyes closed. He gently laid his hand on her shoulder and her eyes opened.
"You can stop now," Boris smiled. "Save your energy."
"Did I do it?" asked Niki eagerly. "Did my shield work?"
Boris paused for a moment before answering, "Your magic skills need some work. Let us not worry about it now. Do you have any particular talents in healing?"
"Oh yes," grinned Niki. "I traveled with a master mage who bought healing books for me."
"Good," smiled Boris as he extracted the passes, which the officer had given him, from his pouch. He studied the signature on the passes to learn the officer's name.
"Who are we going to heal?" asked Niki.
"The wounded soldiers," replied Master Khatama. "Let's go to the dock."
Boris led Niki to the dock and examined the casualties as he approached the officer. Four martyrs were dead. Three soldiers had died and seven more were wounded, plus the wounded fisherman. A soldier stepped towards Boris and Niki and blocked their path.
"Leave the dock," ordered the soldier.
"I need to have words with Officer Tang-shei," retorted Master Khatama. "We can help your wounded men."
The officer had heard Boris's words and walked over to stand before Boris and Niki.
"What can the merchant offer to my men?" asked the officer. "Do you have salves and potions in your wagon?"
"My fellow traveler has certain skills that aid healing," Boris said as he nodded towards Niki. "We wish to do whatever we can to ease the suffering of your men. They acted boldly and with courage."
"Very well," nodded Tang-shei. "Where do you wish to start?"
"Take us to the most severely wounded," suggested Master Khatama.
"The worst of the lot is sure to die," frowned Tang-shei. "He was my brother, Tang-hong. You should use her charms on someone who will live."
"Let us see him at least before we move on to the others," suggested Boris. "He has nothing to lose."
Tang-shei nodded sadly and led the way to his brother, who had a severe slash across his abdomen. The soldier's uniform had been ripped open to reveal the wound and his intestines were hanging partially out. Boris knelt next to the man and clasped his hand in a friendly embrace. Niki's mouth was hanging open and her face was a picture of revulsion.
"Kneel, Niki," Master Khatama said softly. "This man needs your help."
Niki knelt mechanically, but Master Khatama could see her hands shaking. He squeezed the soldier's hand again to give him a sense of hope and then gently pushed the intestines back into the man's abdominal cavity.
"Talk to him, Tang-shei," suggested Master Khatama. "Tell him that we are here to heal him."
The officer nodded and knelt next to his brother's head and began talking softly to him.
"I am not sure what to do, Master Khatama," whispered Niki. "I have never seen a wound this bad. I don't think there is anything that I can do."
"I will hold his wound together," offered Boris as he placed his hands on the man's abdomen and eased the gaping wound closed. "Surely you know a spell to speed the healing of a cut. This is just a larger cut than you are used to."
"I will try," frowned Niki, "but you don't understand how hard this magic is. I don't think it is possible."
"Just try your best," smiled Master Khatama. "That is all any of us can do."
Niki shut her eyes tightly and began murmuring an incantation. Master Khatama's large hands covered the gaping wound and held it closed while she worked her magic. He noticed that the soldiers had gathered around the body and frowned.
"Officer," Boris said, "can your men secure clean water, build a fire on the beach, and find some clean rags. We do not want infections plaguing your men after they are healed."
Tang-shei nodded and issued orders to his men. The soldiers scurried away, eager to please their officer.
"I appreciate what you are trying to do," sighed Tang-shei, "but the other wounded really need help or they will end up like my brother."
"Then be happy," smiled Master Khatama as he removed his hands from the body. "If they end up like the courageous Tang-hong, they will live to fight another day. He will be scarred, but I do not think he will mind."
Tang-shei gasped as he looked at his brother's wound. Tears came to his eyes as he saw the wound was closed. His brother's eyes opened and he smiled up at Tang-shei.
Abuud: the One-Eyed God Page 27