by Brian Thomas
Lieutenant Dae bowed, grateful another was willing to take up the mantle of authority and providing him with instructions. But he was still confused by what had happened. “But who is the enemy, who should we be guarding against Guardian?”
Li Chin wiped his blade clean on the jacket of a fallen life guard, sheathing it with a cold hiss and click as the blade went home. Li Chin’s face showed nothing of his thoughts as he recognised the fallen guardsman, a man he had spent much time with over the last five years and knew well, as with many of the guard’s brave comrades. Looking away from the man to the lieutenant Li Chin replied coldly. “Whoever chooses to attack you is the enemy. Now that Master Zu Wah is gone you must guard against everyone until a new master is in place and the House is seen to be strong again.”
Putting authority into his tone he added. “Quickly; there is no time to waste here. Your duty is to protect the family and they were in danger from the moment Zu Wah fell. Go!” Turning from the startled lieutenant, Li Chin headed for the side road leading to the distant mountains and the Temple.
Momentarily confused at what the guardian had said and which House would have the strength or audacity to launch a direct attack at a member of the royal family, Lieutenant Dae’s mind quickly focused on the commands he had received. He snapped to attention and saluted Li Chin, who had already turned to leave. Spying his first sergeant amongst the milling soldiers and emerging villagers he called loud enough to be heard over the rising hubbub, quickly instructing him to gather the men and march them at the double out of the village the way they had just arrived.
With positive direction Lieutenant Dae’s misgivings were pushed to one side, especially as those instructions would remove him and his men from the vicinity of where the demon had been so recently. Perhaps the demon could not be seen by normal men. Even now it could be stalking them, ready to strike them down and he would be defenceless.
Striding to the head of his still forming men he raised his arm and called them forward into a quick march, there was no time to lose if they were to reach the Wah family palace in time to prepare against further attacks. Lieutenant Dae gave a last look around at the fallen bodies of the life guard, suppressing a shudder when he considered what kind of creature could cause such devastation. Even the guardian looked dazed by the success of the attack. Covered in blood as he was he must have been in the thick of the battle and had been lucky to escape.
Lieutenant Dae chewed his lip in consternation as they marched out of the village. Even the guardian must have been bested for the demon to have reached their master. When the next attack came, as he knew it must, he hoped it would be the opportunist attacks of avaricious neighbours. At least they could see and fight men!
Chapter 4
After the sergeant finished questioning her, Laulun weaved her way past the motionless bodies of the life guard to her husband. He had remained hunched over since being abandoned by Chow and she was still not sure if he had survived the conflict unharmed. Kneeling beside Xiou, who was drenched in the blood of those slain around him, Laulun gently raised his head from the ground and took his lined face between her hands. “Oh Husband, what have you done? Your foolishness nearly got us all killed.” As Laulun spoke tears of relief cascaded from her face to the bloody ground where she knelt.
Seeing their father still lived, his daughter, Shushan, and younger son, Astay, ran from under their shelter, leaping the bodies of the dead to cling to their mother and father as they also sobbed out their relief. Xiou gathered his wife and sobbing children in his arms, fighting the reaction which was making him shake like a leaf, though his mind raced with new dangers looming while still marvelling at surviving the last. “I fear it is not over yet Wife.” While he tried to calm his jangled nerves and shaking hands he could see the chamberlain crawl from where he had been hiding under the raised wooden floor of Xiou’s own house.
The chamberlain called out in confusion to the soldiers of his own House as they streamed past at double march, returning down the road from where they had just arrived without waiting for Zu Wah’s retinue. Xiou knew he had been given only a brief reprieve by his wife’s quick thinking account to the sergeant, which excluded his own part leading up to the massacre. Soon they would come to their senses and then his wife and family would be in trouble again.
Seeing the frustrated chamberlain starting to gather his shocked staff around him Xiou quickly gathered what strength he had and gripped Laulun firmly by her arms. “Listen carefully, Laulun, there is no time to argue. They will come to their senses in a minute and they will insist I go with them, to be a ready victim for their House’s anger at what has happened. I have no choice and will have to follow but I fear for you and the rest of the village. The madness of what happened here makes no sense to me who saw it with my own eyes. Nevertheless, their House will seek revenge, while others will try to make political gain from it. We may all yet become victims to their manoeuvrings but in the meantime you must do what you can to save yourself, our children our friends and our neighbours.” Gripping her upper arms more firmly, he looked directly into her red rimmed eyes as Laulun shook her head forlornly in protest. “When we leave you must gather all those who remain here and take them away. Hide, find new homes, but do not come back. Our village is as dead as these soldiers.”
Laulun, tears streaming from her eyes, knew the truth of what he said and the danger that still remained for those who had survived where a master had been slain. “But what if it is not as serious as you think?” she protested in anguish, despite what she knew instinctively to be right.
Xiou shook Laulun gently, his voice insistent and urgent as he glanced apprehensively across to the chamberlain who was reviewing the carnage about him with grim resolve. “Go to your sister’s and if all is well I shall go there first to find you. Then you must go further afield, to another province where you are unknown and cannot be found.” His head sank before he bolstered his resolve and continued. “You must assume the worst for me and make a new life, save our children and all those of the village you can, but wait for none. If they will not go you cannot save them, but you must save yourself and get our children away, for they will not survive without you.”
Laulun’s shoulders sank at his words and tears streamed from her eyes, dripping on to her smock they left damp circles in testimony to her growing despair. He shook her gently again. “Wife, you must do this and you must do it well!” Xiou looked anxiously over his shoulder at the chamberlain again. He was beginning to browbeat his staff under control and take command of the situation. “Laulun, quickly, we have little time. I will do what I can, as you must!” He said earnestly.
Laulun straightened her shoulders and, sniffing, she looked her husband in the eyes before replying. “Be sure to come back to me Husband, for I have become used to your troublesome ways. Do not worry about us.” Her crying for the time under control she gave a weak smile at the parting they now both believed inevitable.
Xiou relaxed slightly and raised his hand to stroke his wife’s cheek tenderly. “And I would miss your sharp tongue, Wife.” They were smiling weakly at each other as the chamberlain’s gaze locked on them. Turning quickly, Xiou looked sternly at his wide-eyed children. “Obey your mother and do as she says. She heads the family while I am away.” Then there was no more time and seeing the chamberlain walk over he pushed them firmly away.
“How far is the nearest noble House, old man? Who is your master?” the chamberlain snapped at him.
Touching his head to the ground before rising to his knees Xiou replied, “Master Li Yeu. His manor is another day’s travel down this road, Lord.”
The chamberlain looked over his shoulder at his staff before turning back to Xiou. “We must lay the bodies in a house, the largest you have and then you must accompany us to your master and explain what has happened here. He must decide what happens next but I am certain we shall be instructed to continue to the Sun Palace and the emperor.”
Xiou bobbed his
head and pointed to the building behind him. “Use my home, Lord. I will point the way to my master’s manor. He has many soldiers and I am sure he will escort you to the Sun Palace.”
The chamberlain narrowed his eyes. “Oh you will be going with us. I saw what happened, even if I neither believe nor understand it. I fear others will believe it no more than I. You are at the centre of what happened here and heard what was said better than any. You will be coming with us to bear witness for those who will ask. I and my staff may be executed for what has taken place but if we are do not think you will survive us, old man.”
Xiou bowed his head in compliance as the chamberlain called his second over. “Bathe the Master. Bind him so he will appear whole and dress him in his gold gown with the red trim before placing him in his litter. We shall take him with us when reporting this crime. Gather the men of the village and lay the life guard in the headman’s house. Collect their swords and place them in their hands alongside their bodies. Treat them with respect and dignity for they were men of honour, warriors who died to avenge our master’s slaughter. Others not of House Wah will look to gauge our weakness but all they must see is our honour and glory, with every one of our warriors willingly giving up his life in defence of our master. Do this quickly; we must be on our way to the House of Yeu to report this crime.”
Turning to Xiou the chamberlain placed his hands together before staring down at Xiou in distaste. “I have no wish to jeopardise my own life by relying on your testimony but I have no choice. You were able to see and hear more than myself and the Sun Palace will want to question you firsthand. Be careful what you say, old man. The Truthsayers will know if you speak falsely and the Sun Palace will rip out your entrails to read the truth in them if they believe you seek to conceal it from them.”
Xiou lost what little colour remained in his face as he realised the murdered master had been a member of the royal family. He was doomed for sure and the village along with him, unless they made their escape as he had warned. Xiou gave what he believed must be his last glance to Laulun and their children as he was bustled away, trying to convey as much command as he could in that fleeting moment for them to heed his warning to leave.
His last sight of them was of Astay crying while he clung to his mother’s gown and Shushan, his greatest pride, glaring with unconcealed hatred at the chamberlain and his men as they dragged her father away with them. Xiou’s chest felt almost ready to burst with worry at how they would fare but there was no more he could do now, it would be down to them and the Spirits.
Chapter 5
Si Li’s spirit slowly immersed into his body and he opened his eyes to see Melong who had been tending him while he spirit walked. Si Li had been totally drained of energy by the journey and would have been weak as a result even if he had not witnessed the events he had. Only Melong’s steadying hand kept him upright while he recovered his senses and regained some strength.
Melong had grown concerned Si Li had overextended himself beyond his ability to recover. He was relieved when he saw the colour slowly returning to Si Li’s face and his dilated pupils gradually regaining their focus. Melong tentatively ventured, “You found the lever and you were able to influence him as we wished?”
Si Li hesitated before he answered and the haunted look he had not shaken off started to make the small hairs on the back of Melong’s neck tingle. “I found him and yes, I fear for us all that I was able to influence him.”
Melong sat back allowing Si Li some space. “He did not act as you anticipated?”
“I had thought that he would refuse his master an unjust act. That he would walk away and demonstrate that we have limits, though represent no direct threat.” Si Li paused, gathering his thoughts and strength to continue.
No longer able to wait, Melong prompted. “You found a dilemma and primed our lever; so what happened?”
Si Li looked up at Melong with a puzzled frown. “I thought the objective achieved and that he would refuse.” Si Li dropped his gaze. “I am afraid the lesson went home too well. The intended lever became a sledgehammer, which turned on its old master, killing him and his entire life guard. Our message has not yet reached the emperor but when it does I fear it will be somewhat more strident than we had intended.”
Melong was unable to contain his shock and anger, his face draining of colour. “Great Spirits, what has he done? The emperor will destroy the Temple and with it the Hansee Nation’s hope for a future.” Still reeling from the news, Melong’s anger took a stronger hold. “You say he killed his master? This is inconceivable. How could a Temple priest break his oath as guardian, it binds body and spirit stronger than steel? The vile worm has broken a tradition of generations and shamed the Temple. He will bring ruination and instigate the Temple’s downfall with his shameful betrayal!”
Si Li absently corrected Melong, while he still gathered his wits and tried to digest all he had seen. “No. When he slew his master he was no longer a guardian. His tenure having expired he was merely a Temple priest again.”
Melong responded hotly. “You argue over semantics! So, the guardians’ oath remains sacrosanct but a Temple priest still killed the emperor’s nephew and by this act will bring the emperor in to open conflict with the Temple. He broke his oath of loyalty to the Temple and the Temple will be destroyed as a consequence, whether he was guardian or priest!”
With a new energy born of hope, Si Li pushed stiffly to his feet and went to his shelves holding a stack of scrolls. Searching through them for the one he remembered, Si Li muttered. “Zu Wah, his master, was not his sworn master. They were on their way to the Sun Palace following the death of Zu Wah’s father, for Zu Wah to be appointed as the new governor and to swear his fealty to the emperor.”
Melong was becoming increasingly vexed at Si Li’s bumbling indifference to the catastrophe he had just influenced into existence. “The worm killed a member of the royal family and an entire life guard! Dear Spirits, the emperor’s vengeance at such a loss of face will be merciless and devastating.” Melong, rather than listening to any more of Si Li’s mumblings was envisaging the emperor’s forces already gathering to wipe the memory of the Temple from the face of the land.
“The master was not his master and the guardian was not a guardian!” Si Li said with suppressed excitement as he at last found the scroll he had been searching for, gesturing with it in emphasis at Melong.
Exasperated by Si Li’s continued lack of concern for their predicament, Melong replied testily. “You split hairs in a fine argument the emperor will sweep aside with a host of vengeful swords Si Li!”
“Perhaps not.” Si Li replied, as he found the section he wanted and laid the scroll on the table so he and Melong could examine it together. “I thought the situation felt familiar and here it is, in the Temple Prophesies!” Both elders leaned over the old scroll reading the text Si Li pointed out. “When the guardian, who is not a guardian, slays his master, who is not a master, and the life guard has no life, then must those who seek harmony and wisdom vow revenge and cast out the Truthsayer to perpetuate a lie before the emperor’s sword, to avoid its edge.”
They puzzled over the old text before Melong sat up dubiously. “This prophecy has vexed the minds of Temple elders for generations and has only been retained because the first elders were warned of its significance. But it is no less ambiguous now than before, surely? We have long known “those who seek harmony and wisdom” are the Temple, but what of the rest? It is the emperor who will vow revenge, not the Temple. The references to truthsayers, guardians, life guard and the emperor’s sword all place the events at the Sun Palace and outside our ability to influence with impunity, even if we could understand the underlying message meant to aid us. It is worthless at best and dangerous without our full understanding.” Melong finished dismissively. The implied threat of the emperor’s sword edge had always been interpreted to auger ill for the Temple and had long since been assumed to warn of circumstances that could signal the Temple
’s final downfall.
Si Li studied the scroll intently. “Think! If our lever is the “guardian who is not a guardian” his indenture to Zu Wah, his master, had expired before he slew him. So “his master, who is not a master” must be Zu Wah, who was only nominally in his post of governor for the Wing-Ho province following his father’s death. They were all on their way to the Sun Palace so Zu Wah could swear his fealty to the emperor, where the title would officially be invested upon him.” Si Li tapped the scroll with a finger. “I saw our intended lever crush Zu Wah’s life guard and they must be “the life guard that has no life.” These events mark this prophecy as being a true prophecy and relevant to us now!”
Melong frowned as he followed Si Li’s reasoning, momentarily marvelling that a single priest had despatched an entire life guard but was still dubious. “But what of the rest, the reference to cast out a “truthsayer” and which “lie” is it we are perpetuating? How can we have the power to do these things at the Sun Palace when the emperor deliberately restricts our access there?”
Si Li was staring at the text with a deep frown. “I believe we will be receiving the “emperor’s sword” shortly.” Looking up at Melong, Si Li continued. “We were both at the Sun Palace when it was despatched to deliver our lesson in humility and its reminder of the emperor’s ultimate power.”
Melong frowned down intently at the scroll, testing the veracity of Si Li’s suggestion against the text. “You mean T’ze is the emperor’s sword? That would place the event here at the Temple, rather than the Sun Palace.”
“Our lever is on his way to the Temple now and will be here shortly. He has broken his vows of fealty and loyalty to the Temple and would, therefore, be a likely target for the Temple’s anger and vengeance, not just the emperor’s. This would also make him the “truthsayer” the scroll speaks of.” Si Li speculated.