by Brian Thomas
Melong replied testily. “Of course he would be the target for our anger. The only question is whether the worm would retain sufficient honour to end his own life or whether we take it from him! But I cannot believe either would be sufficient to assuage the emperor’s anger against what he will see as the perpetrators behind the crime, the Temple.”
Si Li tapped the relevant line in the text. “You must look beyond your anger at our lever and your fears for the Temple. The message in the prophecy is that we must “expel” him from our ranks, “exile” him, and we must be seen to do this by the emperor’s Sword, T’ze. This is the meaning of “before the emperor’s sword”, not a requisite sequence of events as we have previously thought, not before the host of swords arrive to crush us, but in front of his champion, T’ze. This is the route to our salvation!” Si Li concluded triumphantly.
Melong was slower to accept overturning what had been the established interpretation of the prophecy for generations, trying to find cause to reject Si Li’s own interpretation. “But this worm has broken his vows to the Temple, thereby placing its very existence in jeopardy. The punishment you propose for the shame he brings upon us is too lenient. This will be interpreted by the emperor as tacit endorsement for his actions, enraging him against the Temple even further. What convinces you the emperor will be satisfied with the mere banishment of the man who murdered his nephew and makes his elite guards look inept?” Melong dearly wanted to believe there was hope of surviving the emperor’s vengeance but could not see how this might be.
Si Li nevertheless remained confident in his interpretation and would not be shaken by Melong’s protestations. “This is the warning and instruction to the Temple. We must not demand his life but exile him and be seen to do it!” Si Li held up his hands. “I do not know why this lesser punishment should be enough to placate the emperor’s anger and prevent him seeking retribution from the Temple but this is the instruction to us, the underlying message in the prophecy.”
Frustrated at the lenient punishment being proposed for a fallen priest and concerned it would result in an enraged retribution against the Temple by the emperor, Melong retorted. “And what makes this worm a truthsayer? You have no proven ability of his mystique in this regard, and what of the “lie to be perpetuated”? We would risk a great deal for a partially interpreted prophecy we barely understand, not fully knowing what actions we need to take to make it come good!”
Si Li sat back on his heels while he thought. “This text refers to a branch on The Tree of Futures in which the Temple lives long and is strong. If it is a true prophecy it points a way to our own salvation. We know the prophecy was left by one of our own and was intended to guide us towards the actions leading towards our preferred future. Perhaps we need to hear what truth the “guardian who is not a guardian” has to tell us, so that he becomes a “sayer of truth” rather than someone with the ability to tell if another speaks the truth, a truthsayer as we have come to know them.” Si Li now spoke with conviction certain he had the correct interpretation, if not the understanding to support why it was right. “Our fallen priest will also be the truthsayer, so we must give him the opportunity to speak his truth before we impose our vengeance of exile, expunging him from our ranks. And we must do so in front of T’ze, so T’ze, the emperor’s sword, can report back to the emperor. We must do this if we are to save the Temple from doom, even if we are ignorant why. Do this and the fallen priest will be our saviour. I know this could be possible, because our fallen priest is Li Chin and we could be in no safer hands than his.”
Melong looked sharply at Si Li. “The one you chose as our lever, the fallen priest, is Li Chin?” Melong sighed shaking his head slowly. “Then I am sorry for your loss old friend. I know he is like a son to you.” Melong contemplated silently for a while, before replying gently. “Then so be it. We will do as you say, for I know of no other way of staving off our certain destruction. I will support your argument to the other elders if necessary.”
Chapter 6
Li Yeu looked down at Zu Wah’s chamberlain and the headman from one of his smaller outlying villages, both kowtowing with their heads to the floor. He could barely credit what he had just heard.
Despite his blank features Li Yeu was simultaneously excited at the opportunity Zu Wah’s death may offer and sweating at the risk of being associated with the massacre of a member of the royal family. For a brief moment Li Yeu considered having them both killed. He could bury them and let another take the risk of bearing the grisly news to the Sun Palace. However, there were also the Wah household servants to consider and the villagers where the slaughter had taken place. There would also have been many people who had seen them travel along the road from the village and arrive at his manor. So many deaths would be a hard secret to maintain, especially after Zu Wah’s murder in the vicinity was discovered. There were always spies who would be only too quick to pass on the news to his enemies, or to gain favour with the province’s governor. No, there were already too many involved to keep secret that the news had been brought to him.
Li Yeu had to suppress the hot anger he felt towards them, struggling to maintain the semblance of serenity incumbent upon a master. The temptation to at least order the death of the two men before him for bringing this trouble to his House was strong. Even this he could not do as they would be needed to tell the tale firsthand. He also needed them to shoulder the inevitable vengeance for bringing the dreadful news to the Sun Palace, lest the emperor’s anger fall upon him instead. He could not avoid bringing news of such importance to the Sun Palace other than in person and without these two it was likely to be his own head that would fall as a consequence.
Li Yeu’s duty was clear and, having decided this, his safest option was to fulfil that duty diligently. He must also act decisively to realise any opportunity from the situation. He called over the captain of his guard with a casual lifting of a finger, its curling nail exaggerating the gesture. The captain genuflected in front of Li Yeu, his dark lacquer armour clattering as it hit the tiled floor. Despite his age the captain showed no signs of his advancing years, other than flecks of grey in his long black topknot as it fell across his armoured shoulders. “Captain Kanto. Prepare the household guard to escort me to the Sun Palace. Select your best men and be sure they reflect the honour due House Yeu. They will be under scrutiny by friend and enemy alike.”
Captain Kanto knelt upright. “At once, Master!”
“Also, have your lieutenant lead a separate force to intercept this renegade guardian. He is to be taken into our custody, or if he refuses, killed. Dead or alive, he is to be brought directly to me at the Sun Palace.”
Captain Kanto touched his head to the floor again before replying. “If the guardian killed twenty men of a royal life guard, Master, a sizeable force will be needed to capture or kill him. If we take the household guard as escort to the Sun Palace this will only leave regular soldiers to secure the guardian. Do you wish that I mix our force to spread the household guard and the soldiers?”
Li Yeu placed his hands inside the sleeves of his ornate silk gown, irritated at this evidence of his own meagre resources. If he was not to appear an impoverished rural bumpkin at the Sun Palace and consequently lose all face he needed to demonstrate the power and wealth of his House. Anything less than the full complement of his household guards would be evidence to the contrary.
Maintaining face was everything in the Great Game of politics within the empire and especially at the Sun Palace. If the lieutenant were to succeed in securing the murderer the rewards would be enormous. Li Yeu would become fabulously wealthy overnight. Whereas, if his men died trying to capture the guardian the emperor would still be obliged to reward such loyalty accordingly, though to a much smaller degree. Perhaps. However, to do nothing would likely cause the emperor’s frustration to be directed at him for his inactivity.
Li Yeu must be able to demonstrate he had done all he could, even if it was doomed to failure from the outset
. “We need the household guard to provide an appropriate escort to the Sun Palace. It is obvious from the road he took the guardian is returning to the Temple, no doubt to warn them of his deed.” Li Yeu flicked a hand disdainfully at Xiou. “The headman even confirms the guardian said as much before leaving the village. I expect the miscreant will be restrained by the Temple and handed over to whoever demands him first. They will be eager to disavow themselves of their wayward priest, to deflect the wrath which will surely be directed at them by the emperor. Your lieutenant will have little to do other than collect a helpless prisoner, so long as he moves quickly. If, however, he does not encounter the guardian on the way to or at the Temple then he is to return here and send a messenger to the Sun Palace. Otherwise, do as you think best for the capture of the renegade guardian Captain Kanto.”
Jumping to his feet Captain Kanto saluted with a fist to his chest before running to carry out his orders. Entering the barracks he considered the options open to him. He was proud of the ability and loyalty of the Yeu household guards. Most of them had been born into their roles, replacing their fathers who were household guards before them or at least selected from within the domains of the Yeu household at an early age.
Despite this, he suspected not one of them would be able to survive a contest against the least capable of the royal life guard slaughtered so easily by the Temple priest. The fighting ability of the priest must be truly magnificent to have defeated them simultaneously, before seeing off a hundred regular soldiers without even receiving a scratch! There was no doubting the core of the story as it had been confirmed by the members of the Wah household servants who had also been reluctant witnesses to most of the conflict.
The only mystery was what had caused the priest, a sworn guardian of long standing, to turn against his master. The remainder of the Yeu forces at his disposal, the regular soldiers, were experienced but not trained or equipped to the same standard as the household guards. A minimum guard of twenty men would have to remain at the manor. That would only leave Lieutenant Zun forty men to secure the priest. Not enough if the priest refused to come peacefully as seemed most likely, or enough to force a whole temple of priests to hand over one of their own if they did not wish to.
It was not for a warrior to question the orders of his master but Kanto had already disregarded the ease with which Master Li Yeu implied the priest could be taken. If he had not already been secured by the Temple before they met up with him it would be little more than a suicide mission. Kanto gritted his teeth as he concluded Li Yeu had considered such a loss acceptable, a sop to the Sun Palace to deflect its anger from his master and to curry favour.
As Captain Kanto strode into the barrack’s training ground he could see Zu Wah’s retinue were carefully segregated and guarded, while the rest of the barracks was being turned out for inspection. Lieutenant Zun had already anticipated there would be need for an escort to the Sun Palace and Captain Kanto could feel his chest swell with pride for his lieutenant and men alike. Lieutenant Zun and the Master’s life guard were impeccably dressed in the Yeu House uniform, looking as good as he knew them to be. Whatever their task, they would perform it with honour and pride. “Lieutenant Zun!”
The lieutenant broke from his men and jogged over to Captain Kanto, saluting fist to his chest, as he came to attention. “Captain!”
“I go to the Sun Palace with the household life guard as escort for the master. You will take forty of the remaining regular soldiers and go to the Temple in The Clouds where you will apprehend or kill the priest, Li Chin. You are to take the priest, alive if possible or dead if not, direct to the master at the Sun Palace. If you have not apprehended him on leaving the Temple send a messenger to the Sun Palace and return here. You are to leave as soon as you are ready; any questions?”
Lieutenant Zun quickly went through the same assessment his captain had made, arriving at the same conclusions. Duty and honour was all. Bowing deeply he looked Captain Kanto directly in the eye on rising. “Immediately, Captain!” Saluting with fist to his chest he turned to select the forty soldiers he would take with him.
Captain Kanto gripped his hands fiercely behind his back, watching the lieutenant race to fulfil his orders. The lieutenant was a Swordmaster, possessing a rare ability with the sword. He was also a capable officer who would make a good replacement for Kanto when he was killed in battle or retired. The House of Yeu would not lose face as a result of the lieutenant’s actions and he could even conceivably return with the rogue priest.
Though, even as he tried to convince himself of this Kanto fought not to let his anxiety show, or the burning behind his eyes become tears as he watched his only son prepare to fulfil the orders his father had just given him. With a silent prayer to the Spirits to watch over his son and full of trepidation that he may have condemned Zun and his force to their deaths, Kanto forced emotion aside and began preparing for his own journey to the Sun Palace.
Chapter 7
Li Chin had made directly for the Temple, taking only the briefest of rests to remain steadfastly on his journey. The emperor’s revenge would inevitably extend to the Temple and it was only a matter of time before his wrath descended upon them, with all of its considerable force. It was imperative he warned them of the danger his actions had placed them in so they could take what precautions they could before it was too late. The road had worked its way deeper into the mountains and Li Chin was now regularly switching direction as the gradient increased. The mountain pass marking the end of the climb and the final turnoff for the Temple was almost in sight.
The clear skies of a few days ago were now completely masked by a build-up of dark thunderheads, which had brought a premature darkness to the afternoon. Though the rain had held off so far the humidity hung heavy in the air. The weather threatened to break at any time, making the atmosphere oppressive and in complete harmony with his own sombre mood.
In acting independently he had disregarded the Temple’s obligations to the royal family under the covenant, which had ensured their reluctant tolerance of each other for over two thousand years. If he had taken the same action a few hours earlier, while still during his term of bonded servitude as guardian, he would have slain his own sworn master. This would have been a desecration of the guardian’s oath, a crime so far as he knew never previously committed. Though it would have made no difference to his decision, a realisation he found disconcerting given the rigid adherence to his oaths up to that point. Nevertheless, he would be perceived as a fallen hero, a thing of contempt without the inner strength to maintain the warrior code, as he had sworn to do. Even if it meant his own death.
The warrior caste was an elite and prestigious one, its members arrogant of their skills and single minded courage. It was this which set them apart and above the rest of their society and nowhere was this more so than with the Temple priests. Honour, or face, was everything to them and fear of failure was greater than any fear they might have of death in battle. There was no tolerance or sympathy for those who did not rigidly adhere to the codes without deviation. They were despised and shunned lest their failure prove to be a contagion.
Over the last few days Li Chin had accepted the Temple would reject his reasoning. Nevertheless, he now believed the Temple’s provision of guardians to the ruling family for its own preservation to be wrong. Rather than save lives by preventing large scale conflicts, he believed far greater lives were lost across the empire over time. The shame of having broken his vows and the anticipated rejection he faced was only mitigated by the resolute commitment he had now made to never knowingly commit another evil, in either his own name or that of another.
Despite his concerns at the inevitable pariah status he would soon assume, Li Chin felt a sense of liberation. His duty was now only to himself and he would be his own judge of what he should or should not do, unfettered by oaths. The path he had chosen was a difficult one, not least for the impact it would have on others whom he cared for. But their lives, their choi
ces, were their own and he would not be responsible for acts he had not performed. From now on he would hold others responsible for their own actions and would not accept they could assign their responsibility due to oaths or for any other reason. To do so was to tacitly accept evil and ensure it was perpetuated.
Reaching the final turn in the road Li Chin paused, taking in the view of the Temple just visible in the distance between a break in the clouds. Having acted on his earlier decision to slay Zu Wah and break his oath to the Temple, the next step of his new philosophy in acting independently was simple, if not easy. A warning. An explanation and a direct challenge to the Temple’s adherence to the covenant with the emperor. This much he owed them. For though they might reject and despise him he still respected and honoured them. With this thought uppermost in his mind, Li Chin started the final leg of his journey to the Temple. Even though he would probably be executed there at the Temple’s hands as the Temple’s only demonstrable defence to the emperor of their complete innocence of Li Chin’s crimes against him and his family.
Chapter 8
T’ze stood in front of the bridge spanning the chasm to the Temple, which covered the top of an otherwise isolated pinnacle. It was the only route in and no less formidable than he remembered it from when he had received his training here, many years ago. T’ze felt great pride in the Temple, his brethren and their noble ideals of helping the Hansee. Their creed was to all the people of the land not just the elite. He along with the other priests suffered much, especially those who served as guardians, to realise these ideals and bring their knowledge and wisdom to the people. Regrettably, there was practically no opportunity to treat directly with the population and the only perceptible benefit the priests brought the masses were the moderating influence they could sometimes exert over their masters. They could not prevent the evils perpetrated upon the people but they could moderate them. Though this sometimes required the priests themselves implementing a lesser evil to avert a greater one.