by Brian Thomas
Sheywen smiled again, reminding Mading of a cat looking at a mouse when it wasn’t particularly hungry, anticipating it for the future. “Can you and your men ride?”
This time Mading was surprised. “Horses?” He had never seen a horse in his life and he assumed that neither had any of his men. He had heard they didn’t fare well in the empire and when traded from the barbarians were used to pull chariots, rather than for riding. Masters didn’t like looking up at those socially beneath them and it wasn’t healthy doing things the masters didn’t like.
Sheywen grinned, this time with genuine humour. “I will take that as a no. I have horses for my men and will be getting more for those who join me. You and your men will run to keep up as we travel and we will train you along the way. I need men who can ride, so learn quickly or you are useless to me.”
Mading was interested despite his initial caution. He and his men were expected to ride horses that were to be given to them, presumably nearer the empire’s borders where most horses were traded from the barbarians. Testing Sheywen’s reaction for their destination he mused, “I have heard the barbarians ride them, so it can’t be that difficult. We will learn.”
Sheywen laughed again, slapping the table loudly. “I like you Mading. We will be leaving by the north gate at daybreak tomorrow. Meet us outside.” Sheywen stood, still chuckling at his own joke which he failed to share with them as he left.
Zhi poured out what was left of the wine between them. “What do you think then, Sergeant? He looked like an academy officer, but didn’t sound like any I’ve seen before. Is this a good deal for us?”
Mading took the full beaker and drained it in a single gulp, like a proper soldier should. “It will fill our bellies until it isn’t. We will learn to ride and might get to keep the horses. The Spirits know what they might be worth and it is better than what we had five minutes ago. Drink up. We are going to buy some food and supplies to take back to the men. If we are running while Sheywen’s other men ride we will need the food inside us this evening and again before we leave in the morning.”
Zhi raised his beaker in a quick salute to the Spirits, tipping what he could of the wine down his throat as he rose to follow Mading, spilling it either side of his mouth in his haste to keep up. It seemed that things were looking up and they had a new employer again.
Chapter 28
Feng breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Mika who had been heading straight for him stopped by a palace runner who summoned him to the emperor. Watching his exasperated lord turn away to answer the summons Feng shook his head at his own foolishness. Mika’s frustration at Feng before he had been waylaid was clear to see and Feng’s success in avoiding Mika of late was merely stoking Mika’s anger. Feng wondered unhappily what difference it would truly make how angry Mika was once he discovered Feng’s misdeeds. After all, you could only remove someone’s head once, after that it didn’t really matter. Perhaps it would be better if Mika were angry when he found out, ordering a quick beheading in a fury rather than something more drawn out and far worse if he were cool and had time to think of it.
Feng was unconsciously rubbing his neck, a habit lately causing more than one person to ask if he were well. This morning, like many mornings before, Feng had said goodbye to his wife and beautiful Maya thinking it might be the last time; that today he would confess his crimes and in doing so avoid his punishment being extended to his family. But once again, as the opportunity presented itself he had avoided rather than grasped it.
The previous evening Feng had received another visit from his partner-in-crime, or rather his partner’s man. Feng’s shoulders hunched in resignation. The dealings between Feng and his partner had become sufficiently mundane that his partner was now confident enough to send his man, rather than attend in person. Did he have no concept of the danger they were in! Worse, instead of specie the man had presented him with a money order! When Feng had challenged it the man had shrugged and explained its value was too great to risk being delivered in coin without escort, they thought he would be pleased with the money order rather than having to explain and manage a large quantity of silver coin.
Feng shook his head, sadly this time in that he found himself cursing men for being honest. But his partner represented more danger to him than any highway bandit and Feng wanted to weep at the perverse nature of his situation. He pressed fingertips to his tired eyes to prevent actual tears falling. When he dropped his hands away he saw elaborately embroidered slippers tapping impatiently on the flagstones before him. Looking up quickly Feng was shocked to see the empress standing in front of him, frowning and in a black humour which those who knew her had learned to fear. Feng threw himself to the ground apologising profusely for not seeing her approach, babbling mindlessly before realising he would be better to keep quiet. Otherwise it wouldn’t be Mika who took his head. The thought almost caused him to giggle in the most inappropriate fashion.
“Where is your master?” the empress demanded tersely, her frustration mounting at not finding Mika.
Feng used what self-control he had to force calm and was relieved that he at least sounded as he should. “My master has been summoned to counsel the emperor, your Excellency.” Feng returned his head to the floor, attempting to keep it out of her sight and subsequent line of thought, his nose only inches away from ribbon bows that fluttered on the end of her slippers as they continued to tap away, a clear sign of her irritation..
“When he returns tell him my plan in the North is in play and I want to know what it is he plans to do. His continued delay is proving costly to my family’s province and I want to see results. Otherwise we shall see if another could fill his position more effectively. Tell your master I have waited long enough and that when I return he had better have a plan.”
Feng threw himself flat on the ground as had all of the scribes in the copy room, the empress leaving more frustrated and angry than when she had come. Feng took little comfort it was not only his own head at risk. It merely emphasised his vulnerability to the arbitrary tantrums of those in power and only increased his melancholy. With a swirl of colour and important bustle the empresses’ little retinue left the copy room. Feng and all the scribes rose. The scribes picking up their pens and starting off where they had left as though nothing had happened.
Feng, however, sat up with new resolve. When next he saw Mika he would confess his crime and face his punishment. The constant worry of being discovered was crushing and already destroying him in its own insidious way. The decision made and the worst possible outcome now inevitable Feng felt his anxiety slip away.
There was more than one kind of courage and Feng felt pride that he too was an honourable man, instinctively feeling his decision was right. Even if it weren’t he no longer wished to continue with his burden of guilt. There would be no preamble, he would just present Mika with the facts and walk to the block as he surely would have to. Feng smiled feeling refreshed and younger, wondering at the contrary nature of man that he could feel so relieved at his imminent execution now that it was no longer a possibility but a certainty.
T’ze stood to the side and slightly behind the emperor, trying to remember the last time he had seen the sky. Since T’ze had returned to the Sun Palace the emperor had been haunted by the prospect of unknown agents, spiritual and physical, conspiring to bring down his dynasty. The emperor had confined his activities to the heavily guarded inner palace, spending most of his time in the family’s private chambers surrounded by guards and mystics, the latter constantly patrolling the astral plains. After two such mystics who categorically decried finding any astral agents acting against the emperor had been declared charlatans and beheaded those remaining subsequently reported persistent attempts by unknown forces to penetrate their defences. Kept on constant alert as a result they were exhausted but alive.
Though initially kept secret the inner circle of advisers was now privy to the prophecy foretelling the demise of the emperor’s dynasty if they could
not stop the bird song. Now the advisors believed the prophecy was referring to what had commonly become known as the Chicken Song. The army’s unsolicited attempts to quell it, ignorant of its portent and their subsequent orders to do just that, had been disproportionate. Whole cities had gone up in smoke, tens of thousands perishing in the flames. This had inevitably been interpreted by the Great Houses who controlled the cities and derived their wealth from them as a direct attack against them by the Sun Palace. They had launched bloody defences against the imperial soldiers to protect themselves and their towns.
There had been a number of battles with over a quarter of a million men caught up in the fighting before the emperor’s generals were ordered to pull their men back. The other Great Houses had watched with foreboding as the imperial soldiers had set about the mayhem, ignorant of the reason behind the heavy-handed reprisals and wondering if they would be next to suffer from the emperor’s unwelcome attentions. To calm the situation and in fear of driving the Great Houses into collaboration against the emperor the Sun Palace agreed the emperor’s army would make no more direct reprisals. Instead, it was the responsibility of the relevant Great House to administer proportional punishment on perpetrators within their own domains.
Once the imperial soldiers had been withdrawn, however, the Great Houses had exercised their spite and made no visible effort to curb performances of the offending song. In the meantime, the chaos resulting from the emperor’s reprisals had boosted interest in the cause and proved a fermenting pot for the song so it was now ubiquitous throughout the Hansee Empire, common people seeming almost to dare reprisals by the emperor’s soldiers who were known to be under orders to do nothing.
None of the emperor’s advisors had considered it necessary to inform the emperor the song continued to spread, instead saying it was being dealt with locally and easier to control now the prophecy was better understood. More than one advisor was missing from their ranks of a year ago, their heads and bodies buried in different plots and none of the remaining advisors wished to present bad news, possibly joining their predecessors as a result.
T’ze clenched his jaw as he considered his own duty to the emperor as his guardian, deciding it best not to inform the emperor of the true position regarding the Chicken Song. A disproportionate reaction was the most likely outcome harming the emperor’s position further.
The emperor had been listening to a report from General Aidi, regarding the attempts to capture the rogue Temple priest and the people from the village where his nephew had been murdered. After the general’s report there was a long pause, the emperor eventually responding quietly but furious. “I lose track of the various military dispositions General. But it seems more than four hundred thousand of my own soldiers and several hundred thousand soldiers from Great Houses supporting our endeavours have in just under a year achieved nothing. Please enlighten me General Aidi, is it the incompetence of the soldiers or of their leaders that such tremendous resource delivers these poor results?”
General Aidi was reporting to the emperor from his knees. “I believe it is neither of these things Excellency. Your empire is vast, containing many millions of people. We seek one man, a Temple priest and by your own advice possessed of demons endowing supernatural powers to their host. Despite his description being widely circulated he is no doubt disguised and is able to walk amongst us undetected. There is great upheaval in the areas of the empire we search, with large movements in the population who seek to escape the conflict in their own provinces, making it difficult to isolate one amongst so many and to target strangers in an area where many new faces appear daily. The task is a difficult one Excellency.”
“Too difficult a task for you, General Aidi?” the emperor enquired, heavily laced with threat.
General Aidi bowed, aware of the thin ice he skated on. “The very nature of the rogue priest means he periodically reveals himself. I believe contingents of my men may even have located him but been too small to contain him, perishing in their attempts to do so. He will continue to disclose his presence by his actions and eventually he will be snared with sufficient numbers to take him. Of this I am certain, Excellency.”
The emperor regarded his general without saying a word for whole minutes, a nervous tick which had developed recently under his left eye making it appear as though he were winking at the motionless general. “Then what else is required to complete this difficult task?”
General Aidi hesitated, wanting nothing more than to end this useless search consuming enormous resources and causing instability across the empire as a result. But he knew that would not be an option. To ask for nothing extra would be tantamount to admitting he thought nothing extra could be done, an extremely dangerous admission for him personally at this time. “More men would aid the search and possibly bring it to a successful conclusion more quickly, Excellency.” which was correct even if unlikely, he consoled himself.
The tick in the emperor’s cheek became more pronounced as he stared down at his general. At last he replied. “Take what you need, without reducing the level of our personal guard at the Sun Palace.” After General Aidi had kowtowed and sat back up on his knees the emperor enquired, “And what of the people from the village?”
General Aidi was careful in his reply again, not to sound dismissive or offhand. “The initial reasoning for seeking the villagers was to learn more about the bird song and to possibly capture the bird concerned. As it became clear what the prophecy actually referred to I have focussed our efforts and resource on finding the Temple priest who still represents a danger to your Excellency and who was in fact the perpetrator of your nephew’s murder.”
The emperor’s hands had gone white as he gripped the arms of his throne. “But they were there and witnessed the murder of our blood, doing nothing! They must be punished!”
General Aidi bowed again before replying. “Many thousands of peasants are on the roads. We have no way of determining from so many which is the group we seek, whether they have settled elsewhere or even if they still live. In the interest of securing the greater goal of protecting your person I respectfully submit we continue to focus our efforts on finding the Temple priest, Excellency.”
Wang remained quiet trying hard to maintain the decorum he wished to project as emperor, whilst growing pale as he fought the impulse to scream at his kneeling general. Eventually he regained control again. “Do as you think General but do not be too lenient on these peasants. If they will not give up the traitors and help in your search then they should suffer the consequences.” As though reminded of a stray thought he added. “The peasants on the road in such great numbers you refer to. Have they been displaced in punishment by their own Great Houses for continuing with this vile song?”
General Aidi hesitated before answering, deciding it would not hurt if he agreed with his emperor at least once. “Indeed so Excellency. Though, their numbers are also boosted by hostilities between the Great Houses, the most serious by far being the conflict between House Guang and House Tanyeu. Both Houses have large numbers of soldiers in play, manoeuvring for position and engaging in several clashes. I understand peripheral estates are also being caught up in the conflict, which shows little sign of abating. I have not been near the area of conflict but have relied on copy reports from my subordinates in the region. Due to our own military dispositions we have not intervened as we normally would have. Many peasants in the areas affected are being displaced or are simply trying to evade the conflict, Excellency.”
The emperor tapped the arm of his throne impatiently before turning to Mika. “We cannot have this distraction drawing soldiers from the main objective and sucking other Houses into the conflict, which it will do if left to its own devices knowing the two Houses concerned. Call in their advisers Mika and determine what it will take to resolve the disagreement this time. Threaten them with my intention to make an example of them given the current level of unrest in the empire if their difficulties are not resolved without dela
y. Though, I do not want to disrupt our search to follow through on this threat. Do what you must to make the problem go away Mika and quickly.”
Mika bowed low in abeyance to the command, wondering as he did so what it would take to pull the two Great Houses apart when for generations their favourite pastime had been baiting or killing each other. “It was a subject I had intended to raise with you myself and I will see to it at once, Excellency.”
The light in the audience chamber was dimmed momentarily as a cloud passed before the sun, catching the emperor’s attention. He glanced between the offending window and his two shamans currently patrolling the astral plains to determine if it boded more than a mere cloud. Everybody else in the chamber waited patiently until the cloud passed and the emperor relaxed again, his tension and fears contagious. The regular reports of bad news in the empire recently made it easy to believe in the prophecy and that there really were mysterious agents working against them.
The emperor looked back to his advisors and aides, impatiently ordering, “Go, I am retiring to my inner chambers.” As he rose they all kowtowed, making a collective sigh of relief at having survived another audience with their increasingly volatile master.
It was two months later before Mika was able to receive the ambassadors from the Houses of Guang and Tanyeu. They had come direct from their provinces, armed with current information and the authority to negotiate on behalf of their masters.
To arrive by the designated date both of them had been obliged to take a chariot. An uncomfortable and undignified means of transport for civilised men such as these. Mika smiled, pleased by the thought. It would put them both in the right frame of mind ahead of negotiations, reminding them who the real power in the land was and that they had been compelled to obey his summons promptly; their discomfort was of no concern to the Palace or himself.