by Brian Thomas
The emperor locked glances with Mika as his mind struggled past his anger to apply the prophecy’s words to the current situation. Zu Wah, though not his son, was nevertheless a son of the Wang House by association with his first wife, Butterfly. By testimony now verified by the truthsayer he had been murdered to save a cockerel. Coupled with the killing of his fakir by unknown mystics perhaps the prophecy was coming into its time.
Could the killers of his fakir be those who “plot to bring the House down”? The emperor had a sick feeling he could indeed see the prophecy being fulfilled in his own lifetime. If it was a true prophecy, his power would never be greater than it was now and his enemy was dangerous enough to be foretold in prophecy. If the emperor had felt beleaguered at the death of his fakir it was redoubled now by his concerns over the prophecy. “But the song Mika. What does it mean, how do we still its song?”
Mika turned to Xiou and barked at him. “What happened to the chicken, this cockerel, where is it?”
Xiou blinked at his new interrogator, bemused by the interest in one of his chickens. “The cockerel, Lord? I do not know. It was left behind at the village when I was taken.”
“Truth.”
The emperor turned on Master Li Yeu. “What of this bird, do you have it?”
Master Li Yeu, unaware of the prophecy, was shocked by the question. Yet he sensed the wrong answer would infuriate the emperor. “Your Excellency, this is the first I have heard mention of this cockerel. I did not know its importance but I could return immediately and secure it for you. With your leave I will go immediately.” Li Yeu had forgotten all thoughts of reward and sought only to evade the emperor’s anger. For some reason he did not understand, the stakes had suddenly been raised and he sensed he was in great danger.
“Truth.”
The emperor clenched his teeth and fists, so far as his twisted nails would allow him. Fools! The perfect opportunity had slipped through their fingers and he would never trust any but his own most loyal men to bring him the right bird. Master Li Yeu shrank from the emperor’s vitriolic glare.
Mika commented calmly. “We know the words of prophecy sometimes twist the meaning, making it different to what it might first appear. Perhaps it has another meaning, other than to silence the bird’s crowing.”
“Then what other meaning does it have?” The emperor’s tone was acid and everybody present, other than Mika, the concealed empress and the emperor, were at a complete loss as to what they were talking about. With the emperor in his current mood none would venture to find out, lest his unwelcome attention focus on them rather than some other poor unfortunate.
Mika gave a slight bow. “I know of no other for the moment, Excellency.”
The emperor turned to his general. “Aidi; go to this village. Kill all the birds in it and be sure none escape, especially the cockerels.” The emperor nodded emphatically. “Kill everything that lives, no exceptions!”
Mika interjected thoughtfully. “There are mystic forces at work here, it would be best to burn their carcasses afterwards General.”
The emperor nodded. “Destroy the whole village, including all those who live in it and any who have passed through it since our nephew’s murder. It is to be raised to the ground.”
Mika spoke quietly to the emperor again. “A song heard in one place might be repeated in another your Excellency. It would be best to be sure.”
The emperor nodded, not really needing the encouragement. “Any who were in the village at the time of the murder are also to be slain, none are to escape. Discover if they know anything of a bird’s song and if they passed on such knowledge to anyone since the murder, if so, they are also to be slain.” General Aidi saluted not overly surprised at the command to raze the village and slay its occupants. He had already gone so far as to order his men make ready to leave when he heard of Zu Wah’s murder, in anticipation of the emperor’s revenge. But he was unprepared for the latter part of his commands. “You understand?”
General Aidi hesitated but at the thunderous expression on the emperor’s face confirmed his orders. “Kill all who heard the village’s cockerel sing, by your command Excellency.”
“General Aidi!” called the emperor, causing the general to turn back. “And bring me this rogue priest’s head. Anyone found harbouring him or offering aid is to lose their lives and those of their family, all of their possessions to be confiscated. There is to be nowhere he can run to or hide. He cannot be seen to escape our revenge. When you find him, be sure his miserable carcase is paraded in enough cities there can be no doubt that no one can escape our displeasure or revenge.”
General Aidi gave a quick salute and left to fulfil the emperor’s commands. The emperor turned to T’ze, who had been standing to one side watching events materialise, speculating whether he and the Temple had escaped retribution. “T’ze. We are fortunate to have you as our loyal guardian and we shall keep you close to protect us. I believe Si Li is correct and enemies plot against us, on this and the Spirit world. Send a message to the Temple, that we too have seen through this plot to set us against each other but we remain resolute in our mutual support. Tell Si Li I understand his decision not to execute the possessed priest, this Li Chin.” The emperor spat the name out like a bad taste before he leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “However, this priest has dishonoured our House and now he is clear of the Temple, I want a Temple edict that any priest is to kill him on sight. Also, tell Si Li I want him to send me mystics to help guard against further incursions by demons or others of that ilk.”
T’ze bowed before replying. “The Temple will celebrate your Excellency’s vision and I am certain Si Li will be honoured to offer what support he can for your protection.”
The emperor stood, everybody else sinking to their knees as he did so. “Mika, kill these miserable maggots who watched royalty die and did nothing to stop it. Make their death slow and painful, so that others may learn cowardice and disloyalty will not be tolerated.”
Mika bowed as low as he could without causing his coned hat from falling and asked. “And Master Li Yeu, Excellency?”
The emperor glared at the rigid form of Li Yeu, who had lost all colour at the command. “His men seek our nephew’s murderer. Let him live and see he has his reward.” The emperor left the chamber, T’ze and his advisers following in a blaze of bright silks behind him, everyone else bowing head to the ground as he swept past.
Mika let the emperor and his advisors draw ahead before he broke off, walking towards the administration area and his own little empire where his rule was no less absolute than the emperor’s. Mika was looking for Feng, irritated he had not seen his head official for several weeks. If he did not know better he would suspect the man was deliberately avoiding him. Spotting Feng across a room filled with regimented writing desks occupied by scribes sitting cross-legged as they penned away at official documents he started to cross the room when he became aware that a group approached him. Mika suppressed the mild irritation he felt at seeing Butterfly, the empress. Butterfly had her own small entourage in tow with them all heading straight for him.
He rose from a bow as she reached him. He worked hard to keep his face from betraying his thoughts and his eyes putting the lie to his words. “Good day Empress Butterfly. It is a pleasure to see you in the administrative quarters. My condolences at the death of your nephew, a most disturbing event which mortifies us all I am sure. Would you like me to provide a tour of operations as a distraction, or is there something particular you wished to see me about?”
The empress’s eyes narrowed as she regarded Mika. “Save your charm for those who will be impressed by such things Mika. I know you do not welcome visitors into your realm. My foolish nephew managed to get himself killed by his own guardian and while there is loss of face at the outrage it will provide my husband an opportunity to demonstrate his power. For my family, House Wah, it may be a blessing in disguise. It will allow another with a mind for commerce and the strength of will to i
mprove the House’s fortunes to step in and take Zu Wah’s place.”
As always, Mika was wrong footed by the merciless cold creature which nested behind the stunningly beautiful public façade of the empress. “And the prophecy holds no concerns for you Empress?” he enquired.
Butterfly waved a hand dismissively. “Meaningless gibberish. I have heard hundreds of prophesies and never have I heard of one that has been of any value or moved our interests forward with any certainty. Let the emperor believe in other people’s fantasies and act as he wishes, I will trust to my own resources to keep our interests secure.”
Mika was slightly shocked she should be so disparaging about the emperor with so many people close at hand and possibly able to hear. Knowing how all things could be reported out of context and with devastating effect Mika bowed again, avoiding the temptation to see who might be in hearing range other than the empress’s own entourage. “It is indeed wise to cover all possibilities My Lady.”
When he rose again Butterfly was regarding him with a knowing smile. “You are very careful Mika. The courageous rush in and usually end up dead. The likes of you and I are better commanding such foolish individuals, in the implementation of grand schemes.”
Mika tensed at the possible implication he lacked courage but acknowledged the empress’s commendation, pretending not to have noticed the implied slur while certain the ambiguity was deliberate. “Great minds to lead and strong arms to fight are indeed the best way to prosper My Lady.” he replied, showing no outward sign of offence.
Butterfly gave a small laugh and reaching out with the edge of her fan stroked Mika’s jaw line. “My poor Mika. I tease you terribly. But I see we have much in common and for that I like you. You place no faith in this prophecy the emperor sets such great store in either. You, like I, would rather rely on the sharpness of your own mind and logic.” Losing some of her humour she added. “Let the emperor focus on his prophesies but I shall be looking to something more tangible.”
Mika raised a speculative eyebrow. “You do not believe the emperor’s fakir was killed by another shaman while he spirit walked?” Mika was surprised. He had heard the empress had been known to dabble in the dark arts and deferred to a number of favoured shamans of her own.
Butterfly sniffed dismissively, waving his enquiry to one side. “My own shamans tell me there is no one with sufficient power to get past the protections in place around the Sun Palace. The fakir used the juices from frogs to reach his heightened state, it was probably through taking too much of the toxic hallucinogenic that he murdered himself. There are any number of herbs which will end a man’s life without having to resort to anything so demanding, if one wished him dead.”
Mika frowned in thought. He had followed the general view the fakir had been deliberately killed and by someone of similar talents. Mika had no mystic abilities and tended to listen as avidly as his emperor to the explanations put forward by the emperor’s shamans in this area, despite the empress’s assertion he eschewed them.
The empress tapped him impatiently on the arm with her fan to gain his attention again. “The Great Houses of Guang and Tanyeu thrive and cast their avaricious eyes over their borders at Wah province, my ancestral home. I have something in mind which will redirect their attention to their northern borders. Perhaps you could think of something similar in the south. This would give House Wah the opportunity to make headway against its neighbours, where it has for too long fallen behind.”
Brought back from his reverie on mystics Mika was cautious in his reply. “The Sun Palace cannot be seen to be connected to such machinations. Should they be discovered it would rally support to the two Great Houses and the emperor would have to be generous in any settlement to keep the peace, losing much face.”
Butterfly didn’t attempt to mask her impatience. “Do not concern yourself Mika, I am no fool. I will ensure there is no direct connection with the emperor but I present you with an opportunity, a weakness in the two Houses for you to take advantage of.”
Mika was already wondering what he might do to take advantage as the empress suggested. If he were successful in redirecting some of the trade profits from the two Houses of Guang and Tanyeu towards the emperor’s coffers he would emerge well, whereas discovery could have disastrous consequences in acting without the emperor’s endorsement. The empress might survive the emperor’s pique but Mika’s own survival would be more tenuous. Nevertheless, “I will think on it My Lady and see what might be done.”
Butterfly smiled again, a picture of serenity and charm. “I am sure you will. I do not like either House Guang or Tanyeu, this will be fun Mika.” In an uncharacteristic good mood Butterfly left Mika to his own devices.
Returning to his earlier thoughts on entering the room Mika looked to where he had seen Feng but his subordinate was no longer in sight, causing Mika to frown in irritation. Forgetting why he wanted to see his irritating subordinate in the first place he went instead to his own quarters, pondering on what new scheme he could put into play that would satisfy Butterfly.
Feng stood with his back pressed tight against a stone pillar, trying to stop his hands from shaking and conscious of the cold sweat that covered his body. He knew it was foolish to avoid his master. His prolonged absence would arouse Mika’s suspicions and make him angry. But the fear Mika would discover what he had done was like a cancer, eating away at his courage.
Feng had been desperate. His beautiful little Maya had needed the services of a court healer with his expensive medicines. Well beyond the reach of a lowly court official of Feng’s standing he could think of no other course which could save her. Thankfully the healer and his medicines had worked and Maya was again the bright and cheerful child she had been before the illness took her. The pride and joy of his life, she was worth the sacrifice of his life if necessary to save her.
Nevertheless, now the immediate fear of Maya’s illness was gone he worried endlessly about the consequences of his actions to save her. The risk of discovery grew by the day and the success of his solution to secure aid for Maya by far surpassed his original expectations, increasing the chances it would eventually be discovered. He had created a monster, a tiger and he had only a precarious hold of its tail. Feng was terrified the moment he let go his disloyalty would be discovered and the tiger would turn and devour him and his entire family.
Not for the first time Feng cursed the diligence and honesty of the man he had selected for his agent, his partner in crime. All Feng had wanted was a small sum. Enough to purchase the healer’s services and medicine, harbouring no expectation or avarice beyond that. He had realised from the outset it was only a matter of time before it were discovered, its success drawing unwanted attention the most likely cause of its discovery.
Feng almost laughed but knew that if he did he would likely lose control, to collapse in helpless tears. Seeing the empress leave and Mika turning towards his own apartments deep in his own thoughts, Feng relaxed again. It seemed for the moment he remained safe, his crime undiscovered. On the outside at least, Feng eventually regained his calm He almost appeared his normal self as he moved away from the partial sanctuary of the pillar into the room of palace scribes. His crime was undiscovered and his family remained safe, for the moment at least.
Chapter 15
Lieutenant Zun watched the mingling crowd in the tavern from his table. It was a discreet table against a windowless wall with wooden screens on either side. Zun had snuffed out the candle in the lantern on their table so their booth had its own pool of gloom from which he was able to observe the friendly revelry of the tavern, which was bathed in the warm glow from lanterns hung all about the common room. It was obviously popular with the lower classes and trades-people of the town, who were enjoying the bawdy songs being played by a trio on a small raised platform in one corner.
Zun and Sergeant Mading had entered the village a few days ago. They had shed their uniforms, acquiring the simple gowns of traders, of good quality but not osten
tatious. Zun hoped the disguises implied they were honest and moderately successful but not of a noble House. He had to consciously remind himself he should not adopt a martial aspect, while Mading repeatedly stopped in the middle of saluting at every instruction Zun gave him.
So far they had appeared to carry their disguise off reasonably well, both he and Mading being accepted at face value by those they had stopped and talked with. Adopting a more relaxed intelligence gathering method as one of the general population, rather than a symbol of authority, had generated a wealth of information not offered when he had tried to do the same in his uniform. Instead of having to question reluctant witnesses all he need do now was engage in casual conversation, sometimes helped along by tobacco or rice wine, and information was simply volunteered. He marvelled at how easy it had been, though there was much conjecture and hearsay which required considerable filtering. Nevertheless, Zun was starting to feel that perhaps they had picked up the priest’s trail again, or very nearly.
Zun could see Mading working his way through the jostling crowd, his large bulk brushing people aside as he tried to squeeze unobtrusively past them. Zun pushed a clay beaker of rice wine towards Mading as he dropped on to a stool, which strained under his bulk. He had spent a good deal of time in his sergeant’s company in the last few days. Whilst there remained the distance between a swordmaster who held command and his subordinate, Zun had nevertheless felt a mutual respect and liking develop between them. Not friendship, it was nevertheless a comradeship which would have had no opportunity to flourish within the normal constraints of their rigid and formal daily routine. Mading gratefully cupped the clay beaker in his hands. Zun had reluctantly conceded that however good their disguises were Mading was far more effective at soliciting information from people. Mading was from these people, whereas Zun had spent all of his life either in a military academy or barracks surrounded by soldiers and warriors, absorbing their culture and sense of superiority. Try as he might, the difference showed through and people just weren’t as forthcoming as when he was not there with Mading, despite Mading’s imposing bulk.