by Paul Heisel
After he had gathered the paltry information, Feln returned to Iristi and told her he wasn't feeling well and was going to retire for the evening. He made sure the merchants and nobles heard him. There were courteous comments about his health. Feln caught Iristi's eye and he thought that she understood what he was doing, so there would be no surprises if she came back to an empty suite. After speaking with one of the servants about having soup delivered to his room, he departed for the exit and greeted the guards. He frowned at them and walked back to his room with one of them in tow.
Once inside the suite, he regained his weapons and put a lump of clothes and blankets under another blanket, making it appear he was asleep in the massive bed. It was a cheap ruse, but he had nothing better. Feln used his chi and blinked, becoming invisible. He stood near the door and waited. A moment later there was a courtesy knock, then the door opened. The servant he had spoken to at the dinner announced himself and stepped inside. He had a steaming bowl of soup. The servant saw the lump in the bed, so he put the soup on a table and stepped outside.
It would be harder to get back in, but he would figure that out later. What he had to do now was find Chang. He was away from his room and he let his chi drop, and he walked the corridors until he reached a common room where the central staircase was located. Then he went up to the next level where there were double doors and two guards. The guards were in neat dark green uniforms, more fashion than function, each holding short spears. They didn't balk at his approach; they simply crossed the spears over the door and barred entry.
"My name is Feln-en-Xialao-Narneth, Most Favored of Safun," he announced. "I have an appointment with Chang."
"No one is to see him."
"I'm giving you an order, move your weapons and let me by."
The guards didn't respond. They were steadfast in their opposition, but didn't appear overtly hostile.
Feln decided he would have to wait until the door opened so he could slip by while invisible. He assumed that servants would be bringing Chang food for the evening. That would be his best opportunity to sneak inside. There was nowhere to hide in the enclosed landing, so Feln went down a level and waited in the common area. There was a man and woman, guests, lingering here. The latecomers to the banquet were arguing about jewelry or clothing, Feln wasn't sure which. As soon as he made his presence known, they stopped talking and moved through the archway and into the adjacent hallway. There were comfortable chairs and small wood tables here. Oil lanterns lighted the area. Feln took up a seat in a corner where he could see the staircase - someone had to go upstairs eventually.
About an hour later two guards came up the central stairs. Feln blinked and followed, hoping they would open the double doors. He had no such luck, as it was a change of the guard. If the doors weren't going to open on their own, he would need a diversion, a way to get through the doors while the guards were occupied. It was getting late and Feln figured he would have to try a different time. Feln followed the guards down the stairs, giving up for the evening, as his plan wasn't working. He was about to return to his room when one of the guards started talking. Feln stayed on their heels as they went down the central staircase.
"I don't care, we still have to do it," a guard said.
"It still feels odd guarding empty space."
"Shut up. Orders are orders."
At the next landing Feln stopped, darted into a hallway, and became visible. It was a possibility that he hadn't considered, yet it made sense. This was the seat of power and where decisions were made, but would this be where an ill man would spend his days? Would he not have a simpler more comfortable place close by? The upstairs suites he guessed, once occupied by the younger Chang, were now empty. He had moved out to be in a place where he could heal, where the normal activities of the day wouldn't burden him. Yet he needed to be close enough to be summoned if required. Feln decided that he wasn't done for the night. He would travel down to the basement and visit the one place they hadn't toured.
At intervals he let his chi drop, preferring to conserve his magic for when he needed it. The corridors in parts of the palace were dark, and with his dark robes closed tightly, he could easily sneak in the shadows. For a time, he saw no one except servants on various errands. He bypassed doors and found another stairwell that took him below the first floor. The area here was sectioned off and served as a barracks, and as Feln recalled from talking to Heng earlier that the guards served two weeks at a time on a rotation within a larger group of soldiers chosen to protect the palace. There were plenty of soldiers around; he figured Chang wasn't living here. A methodical search of the first level of the basement unveiled storage areas for dry goods, supplies, materials to fix the palace, casks of wine and ale. Another staircase led him farther underground. This area appeared vacant save for the torches lit along the corridors; the rooms he found were filled with wooden boxes, furniture, chairs, statues, and the like. Dust covered them and Feln could tell no one used this part of the basement. Down another corridor he found more promising signs of activity. The dust on the floors revealed a trail along the dimly lit corridor, and he followed the twisting and turning trail until he came to what he sought.
There was a heavy door banded by metal at the end of the partially lit corridor. Two soldiers stood at attention, rigidly staring ahead into the air. There was no reason for this door to be guarded other than it led to an important area. Lanterns, on hooks set into the walls, provided light. Feln crept closer, invisible and concentrating, not wanting to be discovered by making too much noise. There was no way to get past the guards and the door without being detected - the same conundrum he had faced in the floors above. He needed an alternate plan, so he waited, becoming one with the stone walls. Either a distraction or a person traveling through the doors would do. Minutes later his alternate plan showed up.
A woman he had seen at the dinner arrived. She was dressed in a fine yellow silk dress in a style similar to Iristi's and wore an elegant black box hat. She was middle aged, forty years old Feln guessed, and was moving with great urgency. In her hand, she had a bundle wrapped with white linen. It smelled of freshly baked bread. As she approached the door, the guards parted, unlocked and opened it. Feln slipped in behind her, bypassed the guards, and followed.
She rushed along in the dank corridor, walking at a quick pace. A lantern was hanging on a hook hammered into the rough-hewn stone wall. She grabbed it and increased the flow of fuel, the lantern brightened. Feln wondered if she was a courtesan, perhaps one of Chang's women, but the way she moved and looked didn't fit that label. He expected a courtesan to be younger and well, more alluring. She had a motherly quality to her, as if she were rushing to care for her sick child. Could she be his daughter?
The corridor twisted and turned, snaking along for a good distance. It was dark and damp, and had a subtle moldy smell. The stone was worn - this was a well-traveled path. The floor angled up, and they ascended sharply until they reached another door, this one was unguarded. The woman opened it and pulled it shut before Feln could slip through. Taking his time and with great care, he opened the door inch by inch, made sure it was safe, and went through, closing it behind.
He was inside of a small room. The interior walls were made of finished wood planks and contained no windows. It felt like he was in a house, and judging by the ascent it probably was above the ground. The room was bare except for an empty sleeping pallet and dusty chairs. There were no decorations. An open door went to a hallway and Feln sneaked to where he heard voices. The polished wood floorboards below him creaked and he came to an immediate halt. Footsteps. The woman appeared from a side door, staring down the hall right through him.
"Come dear, there is no one there," a man said. "We have guards everywhere in this house."
"I may be getting on in years, but I'm not deaf. I heard steps on the floorboards!"
Feln remained still and silent. The woman continued to stare right at him. She looked the opposite way.
"
The guards would have stopped anyone trying to follow you," he said. "Get back here."
"Yes Uncle." She returned to the room.
"Get a chair and show me what you've brought! A treat I hope!"
Feln heard a chair scraping across the floor and he took advantage of the noise, slinking ahead until he was in the doorway. The hallway continued to a four way intersection where a dangling iron chandelier blazed away with light provided by stout yellow candles. Farther down the hall was another door, closed, and there were no signs of additional guards in the immediate area. He remained concealed, but figured he couldn't hold out any longer. The magic was waning and he was getting tired.
The bedroom was elegant and decorated with treasures beyond Feln's imagination. To his left were sets of armor, three sets bright as gold, two sets dark as pitch, all hung on wooden manikins to display their complete glory. Exotic weapons lined the walls, each fastened to wooden racks. Deeper in the room was a divider that blocked his view of what was there. He could see, though, piles of books that nearly went from wood plank floor to the finished wood plank ceiling. To his right was an old man sitting upright in a bed. The bed was bigger than two normal beds put together. Nearby was a large ironclad leather chest, it was open, gold and jewels glittering from within. Additional chests, closed and locked, sat in the corner, stacked in columns to head height. The bottommost chests sagged from the weight above and several had split from the load. Tables and chairs were scattered about, open books and scrolls were on the table tops. The room look lived in. Chang had been here for a while.
"A treat indeed," she said. "I brought you sweet cakes from the dinner. Your favorite."
"Oh Shuo, you know the way to my heart. You've always been my favorite niece."
"Hush Uncle. I wish you were well enough to join the celebrations. Perhaps you'll be feeling better tomorrow? You've been getting stronger every day. I'm so happy about the good progress you've been making."
"I may be strong enough to attend to my simple duties, yes, perhaps. The healers have helped I think. Whatever illness I had is gone, in time I will regain my former strength. It just takes time."
Feln stepped aside and let the magic dissipate, becoming visible just outside of the doorway. This had to be Chang. He wasn't sure what he should do now. Should he announce himself? Or just walk in and start talking like this was normal? Or should he hide, wait until the woman was gone? The other option was to leave, not to disturb the old man and wait for their scheduled meeting to take place, if that ever happened. He was here, though, and he should take the opportunity. The downside was not knowing what Chang's reaction would be because he had bypassed the guards. Feln let out a deeply held breath. He had to do this his way, and if it failed, it would be his problem. If Chang was a leader, he would understand his actions.
Feln rapped on the entrance lightly and came into view. Shuo dropped the cakes to the floor and yelped. "I mean you know harm," Feln said. He put his hands in the air.
"A likely introduction from an assassin," Chang said. The old man coughed, then he laughed as if Feln was no threat. "You look more monk than assassin in those robes. Did you follow my niece to this place?"
"Uncle, I swear to you I did not allow this man to follow me!"
"Shuo, please pick up the cakes," Chang said as he pulled the covers back and swung his skinny legs over the edge of the bed. He shivered as cooler air hit him.
"She's correct," Feln said. "I made my way past your guards."
"And how did you do that?"
Feln pulled back his robe and revealed the belt of the Most Favored.
"Are you telling me they let you by because you have a belt?"
"No. I was able to get by them without their knowledge. I followed Shuo through the door. That explanation should suffice. There is nothing wrong with your guards."
"I would like you to tell me how you did that, but I don't seem to be in position to demand answers. I'm Jun-ba-Ku-Chang, Most Favored of Emesia."
"I'm Feln-en-Xialao-Narneth, Most Favored of Safun."
A gurgle issued from Chang. The old man held his breath. The ruler of the Ku family exhaled. Feln could hear the congestion in Chang's lungs. The old man reached for Shuo's chair and pulled himself up. It took ages. He balanced on wobbly legs and bowed.
Feln returned the courtesy.
"Uncle, I'm going to get the guards."
"Shuo, there is no need for that. If this young man wished us harm, we would already be dead. To attack me in my bedchamber would be foolish." He turned to Feln. "Did you know that there are at least a dozen guards who would be here if a cry of warning went out?"
Feln shook his head and watched Shuo. She seemed nervous, as if this were her fault.
"Shuo, relax." Chang sat on the bed. His slight bodyweight barely made an indentation.
"Yes Uncle."
"I knew of a man named Narneth, but he was killed years ago. Nasty time that was. Shisaru almost went to all-out war with Safun. As you can imagine, I'm full of questions. The Most Favored of Safun has been missing for twenty years. I'm curious Narneth about many things, particularly why the Most Favored of Safun has to sneak into my private residence - I presume to talk?"
"I prefer Feln. Narneth was a name of necessity, not choice."
Chang nodded. "I understand necessity. You may call me Chang."
"Of course. Let me get to the point. I know your time is valuable and that you're not feeling well, so I will make my request. I have come to Hiru to address a matter which I have brought before your court earlier today. I want it resolved quickly and to my satisfaction."
Chang smiled. He pulled back his silvery hair from his eyes. "Shuo, please go to your room. I'll call you when we're done."
"Yes Uncle."
Shuo scurried away, taking the sweet cakes with her. As soon as she was out of the room, Chang slouched over as if a weight was upon his shoulders. He looked weak. "Feln I'll consider helping you if it's within my means. But you have me at a disadvantage. I have no idea what you are speaking about, so you're going to have to be more specific. As a fellow Most Favored, you must understand that no decision can be made blindly without knowing the…uh…details."
Feln grabbed the nearby chair and sat down, then leaned forward so he was looking Chang in the eye. This was a kind, reasonable man, not the ruthless ruler he had envisioned. Maybe that was the image Chang wanted to project, Feln didn't know, but he would soon find out who Chang was.
"I have traveled from Hou with Iristi Matsuda, a woman of great importance to their city, and to all of Emesia in my view. Do you know of her?"
"The name is familiar," Chang said. He shivered.
"Cold?"
"A bit."
Feln glanced at the nearby fireplace, noting the coals. He stood up, walked over, and threw two wood logs on the glowing embers, knowing it would make the room far warmer than his liking. A moment passed and the wood caught fire. As he waited for the heat to radiate, Feln admired a set of armor near him. It was black leather, nary a scratch, and gleamed from endless polishing. The helm was grotesque, another depiction of a cruel monster. A person dressed in it would look daunting on the battlefield.
"That is my favorite set of armor," Chang said.
"Why is it so special?"
"I never fought in it."
Sitting down, Feln folded his hand underneath his chin and rested his elbows on his knees. "Is Iristi familiar to you? She was supposed to have been married to one of the more prominent men in Hou, but he died an untimely death. Then there was a written decree for her to come to Hiru."
"I have heard of Iristi. She was going to be married to Wafu, he was a samurai of good reputation until he moved to Hou. You have jumped into the middle of things though. I think we should start at the beginning. It might help me remember. I have been ill."
"I will do that."
"But first, I'm curious how you came to have that belt," Chang said. "It has been missing for twenty years. The last owner of th
e belt was Sari-un-Xialao-Ling. You are her son, no?"
"You're correct. I never knew her, though, as she was taken away on the day of my birth."
"I knew your mother and I'm interested to learn of her fate. You have my attention, the fire is warm, and I'm eager to hear about you and Iristi."
Feln nodded and began, crafting the story with as much truth and detail as he dared.
#
Iristi sauntered into the bedroom and dumped her clothes on the floor and stumbled, nearly knocking the cold soup from the table. There was an unmoving lump in the bed, Feln, and she stripped off the remaining clothing she had on. The room was cooler than she liked, but that didn't concern her. The night had been splendid and she had indulged in too much wine. She had enjoyed the evening of socializing with the local nobles and merchants. News and rumors were numerous in Hiru, and by far the most interesting tidbits were about Chang. He had been stricken ill and hadn't been seen in public for two months, supporting speculation that he was near death. This led to additional speculation about the primary issue facing Emesia; selection a successor, a man or woman to become the Most Favored of Emesia.
Iristi slid along the silky sheets into the cold bed, shivering, and reached over to Feln for warmth and, she hoped, affection. All she found was clothing rolled up. She discarded the lumps from the bed, her hand caressing the spot where Feln should be. Her head was spinning. She stretched and moved her naked body against the slippery sheets, trying to create friction for warmth. Soon she became comfortable and breathed a deep sigh. She was wishing her husband to be was in bed next to her. After caressing the empty side of the bed on last time, she closed her eyes.