by JC Kang
Her head spun at the dizzying swash of national colors: an explosion of blues, scarlets, yellows, blacks, and golds. Yet the vibrant mélange of livery paled in comparison to the majesty of the prism-shaped hall itself. Spaced at regular intervals, arching metal columns framed the building. They vaulted some forty feet towards a central spine, with stained glass forming the walls.
The glass panels might have been a history lesson if not for the propaganda. The first few depicted stories from the Arkothi Empire, which had collapsed after the Hellstorm three hundred years before. The next showed their Sun God Solaris impregnating the mother of the first Bovyan, Geros I. The rest celebrated the Bovyan Knights of old, then the soldiers of the modern day Teleri Empire.
Kaiya suppressed a snort. While not known for their appreciation of fine art, the Bovyan rulers of Teleri sent a clear message in the awe-inspiring architecture: they were inheritors of the ancient Arkothi Empire.
Yet there was something more, something deeper than just the view. She closed her eyes and listened. A subtle resonance hummed with an uncanny familiarity. Where had she heard it before?
Perhaps the Temple of Heaven back home. Or Shakti’s Hill in Palimur, where she’d confronted Avarax.
She opened her eyes to meet a familiar face. Light-brown in complexion, with flowing black hair and a short, pointed beard, Sameer Vikram approached with a fluid grace. It’d been nearly half a year since they’d parted ways at the Temple of Shakti.
“Sir Sameer,” she said, switching to the Ayuri language. After months of not speaking it, her accent lilted in her ears. “I did not expect to see you here.”
“Nor I. What an unexpected pleasure.” Sameer pressed his hands together and bowed his head. A white cotton kurta shirt and matching surcoat hung to his knees. The gold embroidery on the collar and hems, along with his curved naga sword, all marked him as an Ayuri Paladin. A weariness clung to him, one that hadn’t been there just months before.
“I cannot thank you enough for your support when we faced Avarax,” she said.
“Support?” Sameer laughed. “I was merely a bystander. You were the only one who did not wither under the dragon’s stare. To be honest, I have never been so frightened in my life.”
“Your presence gave me courage.” Kaiya pressed her hands together. “But how is it that you are in Iksuvius? I did not hear of you taking a Cathayi ship. I would have ensured the most comfortable berth at no cost to you.”
He chuckled. “Your Highness, you assume that Cathayi ships are the only way to travel from my homeland to here. But to answer your question, I am en route to the ancient pyramid in the Kanin Wilds, by command of the Paladin Council. It will be the fifth I have visited. Perhaps Jie or your, uh, male friend, told you about our journey to Levastya?”
Male friend. Kaiya’s belly fluttered. Neither said male friend nor the Insolent Retainer had mentioned anything about a side trip. Tian shuffled beside her.
She turned to glare at Jie, who was apparently admiring the architecture.
With an eye on the others who jostled toward her, Kaiya turned back to Sameer and talk of pyramids. There were several different architectural styles, one for every region of the continent, dating back to ancient times. Her ancestors, slaves to the altivorcs, likely worshipped the Orc Gods at the pyramid in Hua. “If your duties find you in Cathay, I would be delighted to take you to our pyramid. However, in Iksuvius, I can only offer you a room in our embassy compound.”
Sameer waved a hand. “I appreciate the gesture, but I am staying with my father, who is the Ambassador from the Ayuri Confederation to the Nothori lands. Allow me to introduce you.” He beckoned over a dignified-looking gentleman with a darker skin tone. Streaks of white punctuated his long black hair, which was pinned up in an intricate braid. Unlike the white kurta of the Bahaduur, the older man’s clothes shone with a copper hue.
The ambassador approached with a broad smile of white teeth. He placed his hands together and bowed his head. “Princess Kaiya, it’s a pleasure to meet again.”
Kaiya pressed her hands together and bowed her head. “Ambassador Vikram. The honor is mine.”
“You know each other?” Sameer cocked his head.
The older man laughed from his belly. “I attended the wedding of her brother, Prince Kai-Wu. Her cousin, Lord Peng, introduced us, and a fabulous Blind Musician.”
Kaiya’s chest tightened. One was a traitor, her reason for coming to this frigid land; the other, Avarax in disguise. Both had made a fool of her. Never again. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. “I hope you found Sun-Moon Palace hospitable.”
He pressed his hands together again. “First rate. Please do me the honor of paying a visit to our embassy during your stay in Iksuvius.”
She turned towards Ambassador Wu, who’d been deflecting well-wishers. “Please see if there is time on my schedule.” Hopefully not, if Ambassador Vikram intended to reminisce about traitors and dragons.
Ambassador Wu bowed at her command and stepped forward to take over her conversation with the Ayuri. On her other side, Tian talked animatedly with Sameer, the first hint of warmth she had seen in him since their reunion.
She looked around the hall, her gaze pausing at the group of a dozen stout altivorcs who stood away from the conversations and crowds. Their coarse black tunics and large broadswords did little to enhance their blunt noses, huge foreheads, and blocky faces. The altivorc prince they protected, however, would put a human to shame with his good looks.
Kaiya shuddered. Her previous encounter with these ferocious humanoids involved a Maduran prince who’d tried to kidnap her. She turned towards Jie and whispered, “Find out who they work for.”
Jie nodded and slunk in their general direction. Despite her worry, Kaiya suppressed a giggle at the thought of Jie trying to be discreet while dressed in a gown designed to draw attention.
Indeed, it did. Before Jie had even taken a dozen steps, a gigantic Teleri general intercepted her with a friendly smile on his face. He leaned down and whispered in her ear. Kaiya barely picked out his words from the background noise. “Where is your husband tonight?”
Husband? That had to be a mistake. Had Tian and Jie eloped without anyone knowing?
Jie looked down and to the side, covering her mouth with her hand. It was a cute gesture, though with better execution, it might overwhelm a man’s willpower. Kaiya had practiced it enough.
A uniquely accented male voice from behind interrupted her thoughts. “Princess of Cathay. Well met.”
She turned to see a rough and wrinkled face with a ruddy complexion. Greying black hair hung freely from his shoulders, decorated with brightly colored bird feathers. His flaxen coat had tassels of braided horsehair along its borders, and was covered in the front with a rectangular plate of interlocking shells painted in red and blue.
A Kanin plainsman, famous for their magnificent horses and equally amazing equestrian skills. He placed his worn right hand over his heart and swept it out in an arc. He spoke in Arkothi with a heavily nasal accent. “The stories of your beauty do you no justice.”
She imitated his salute. “Well met, sir. I’m afraid you have me at a loss.”
“Yes, there are far fewer tales of my beauty.” He chortled with an endearing sincerity.
She leaned in with a conspiratorial grin. “The secret is to shower the storytellers with gold and jade. Before long, everyone in Tivara will know your name. How many of my platinum hairpins must I part with to learn yours?”
“My name is hardly worth a strand of your lustrous hair. So I will settle for a kiss.” His eyes sparkled mischievously as he patted his cheek.
She turned her head and covered her lips with a hand in mock modesty. “I am afraid these lips have never touched a man before, and as much as I would like for you to be the recipient of my first friendly kiss, my future husband would not be pleased.” She plucked a strand of her hair and proffered it. “Since you say your name is not worth a single hair, then I ex
pect to hear your entire family tree for this.”
“I would have preferred the kiss.” He pouted, not at all looking his age.
Tian came to her side and ruined their banter. “He is Ambassador Manuwaya from the Kingdom of Tomiwa. He is renowned for the role he played in the unification of their tribes a generation ago.”
“I can see why. He has quite a way with words.”
Manuwaya grinned. “In those days, words alone were not enough to unite the plains. I was better at negotiating with a spear than my mouth.”
Kaiya bowed her head. “I apologize for being presumptuous.”
His laugh was infectious. “That was then. Now I am just an old man trying to impress a pretty face with tall tales of past martial prowess. And you cost me a kiss, Mister Zheng. You will have to let me win our next game of mahjong.”
Kaiya pressed a hand to her chest. “Mahjong? I did not realize our national pastime had found its way so far north.”
“Oh no, Mister Zheng taught me, and we occasionally play over your country’s delicious rice wine. I presume he is trying to get me drunk while we discuss trade.”
She looked towards Tian, eyebrow raised.
“Military supplies,” Tian said. “Our guns to arm their palace guard, their corn wafers to feed our soldiers when they travel.”
Manuwaya waved him off. “Of course, we are interested in cultural exchange as well. Please ask your father to send a trade mission to Tomiwa, hopefully with you at the head. Our king is a connoisseur of fine teas and teacups, most of which he acquires from the Ayuri Confederation. However, the Cathayi teas are the most famous, and very hard to obtain. He owns one single Cathayi teacup, which he treasures above all others for its exquisiteness. I know now after meeting you, my dear, that your country, besides teacups, produces other unique beauties as well.”
Kaiya turned her head to the side and smiled. “For our teas and cups, we would certainly hope to acquire some of your peerless horses. They are renowned throughout the world—strong, intelligent and courageous, much like their masters, the Kanin people.”
“They are headstrong, brash, and difficult to break,” he responded, his tone proud.
“The people? Or the horses?” She flashed a hint of a smile.
Ambassador Manuwaya burst into a loud guffaw. Turning to Tian, he said, “Mister Zheng, I have been completely disarmed! Our king’s son is a debonair and spirited warrior, who is indeed hard to control. But perhaps your princess could tame him!”
Spirited, to be sure. Prince Tani had visited Cathay the past New Year, and made a proposal of a different nature. She looked to Tian to gracefully extricate her from the sudden shift in topic.
His face remained devoid of expression, making Kaiya wonder if an Aksumi necromancer had switched out her childhood friend with a zombie.
First Consul Geros’ commanding voice, booming over all conversations, rescued her instead. The room quieted and all eyes turned to where he stood on the dais. “Greetings, distinguished guests. Take your seats. We have prepared several courses of Nothori and Arkothi delicacies for you to enjoy.”
More strange foods. Her poor skin might erupt with ugly red blotches by the end of the night. Kaiya’s stomach twisted in dread anticipation as dozens of male servants circulated through the crowds and ushered guests to assigned seats. There must’ve been over forty tables, each surrounded by ten heavy wooden chairs with armrests and black upholstery.
From the livery, dress, and military symbols, it seemed that the kings of Northwest countries—participants in the Northwest Summit—sat at the front center table. Other guests sat at distances commensurate with their importance. It appeared that everyone who was anyone in Iksuvius was there. Teleri generals, influential Iksuvi families, government officials, and ambassadors. As representative of a sovereign state, no doubt she’d sit somewhere in the middle.
A servant placed a hand on her elbow—so rude! No one else was getting grabbed—and guided her toward the front. After several steps, she looked over her shoulder.
Other servants guided Tian, Jie, Ambassador Wu, and her handmaidens toward the back. The ambassador protested. He moved to follow her, only to be blocked by a Bovyan soldier.
Her own usher kept an insistent tug on her elbow, pulling her along until he came to a halt. Kaiya turned to see where they had stopped, only to find a wall of elite guards in the livery of their respective nations. Standing in stoic attention around their rulers, they parted to make space for her to pass. Her eyes widened.
She stood directly across from First Consul Geros himself.
To his left, seventeen-year-old King Arvydas of Lietuvi rose to his feet. He wore a dark-blue jacket over a scarlet, high-collared shirt. Like most Nothori nobles, he was tall and well-built. Sandy blond hair, coifed flat with oil, framed his heavy features. Wisps of light-colored hair shadowed his upper lip and jaw line. Despite his youth, he exuded an air of confidence, perhaps bordering on foolhardiness. “What a pleasant surprise that such a jewel will adorn our table.”
“There must be some mistake,” Kaiya said. To sit here would suggest Hua was joining the Northwest alliance—and becoming a vassal state to the Teleri.
“None at all,” the Teleri Ambassador Thieros said. “The First Consul wished to give the Cathayi princess all due respect and place her here, with her noble peers.”
Or rather, make it look like she was submitting. Kaiya waved off the suggestion with a sweep of her hand. “That is not necessary. Cathay is a mere observer to this gathering and would not deign to aspire to more significance.” Gripping her toes to the ground and borrowing the pulsating energy of the chamber, she sang, “Please allow me to join my countrymen.”
Ten syllables of command, necessary to maintain the formal wording of diplomacy. Far more than she’d ever tried. Her vitality guttered. She thrust a hand out to the chair to keep from collapsing.
Still, the dignitaries all nodded.
The magic had worked! Now to return to the safety of—
“Nonsense,” Geros said. “Take it as my atonement for being such a boor at the gates. Now, I insist you be seated.”
Kaiya kept herself from gaping. The First Consul had somehow resisted her power.
The usher pulled out the empty chair, right next to King Gunvyldas of Rotuvi, who harbored Cousin Peng. With hair and long beard greying, he bore lines of care drawn by a lifetime of failed dreams. His light-blue coat seemed as dreary as his demeanor.
Had they intentionally chosen this seat for her? Two years before, Rotuvi’s soldiers had pinned down General Lu at Wailian Castle, necessitating her use of the Dragon Scale Lute to subjugate Lord Tong’s rebellion. Now, King Gunvyldas protected Cousin Kai-Long.
The First Consul, at eye level with her despite being seated, again motioned for her to sit. Behind her, soldiers moved closer.
There was no other choice, besides embarrassing herself and Hua by making a scene. Kaiya settled on the edge of the chair, next to Queen Ausra and King Evydas of the host nation, Iksuvi. Both were young, fair-skinned and blond; both tall and attractive by Nothori standards. The queen wore a white satin dress that spilled loosely down to her ankles. Its plain neckline plunged low, revealing a lilac-colored topaz necklace that matched her violet irises.
King Evydas’ light blue eyes glinted, his face held tight in uncontained anger as he exchanged glares with King Arvydas. Ambassador Wu had mentioned something about an attempted coup in Lietuvi a year before, rumored to have been staged by Iksuvi, but more likely financed by the Teleri. Who knew for sure? Even if these kings squabbled among each other, their countries remained ostensibly independent only through the tribute they sent to the Teleri Empire each year.
Kaiya shifted the outer gown over her shoulders, as if it would warm her from the frigid stares the young rulers exchanged.
“Such a beautiful dress!” Queen Ausra ran her hand over the silk, again demonstrating the Northerners’ disregard for personal space.
Kaiya offer
ed a gracious smile. “Thank you. Your gown is lovely, as well.”
“Do you like it?” Ausra beamed. “We buy the silk from your country, and the dyes from Vyara City. Of course, it all comes in on Cathayi ships.”
The First Consul brushed a hand over the table, which was carved from a single cross-section of a tree trunk. He met Kaiya’s gaze. “Greywood trees, brought in from the Kanin Wilds. When we establish an easier way to bring them here, we will build a fleet of ships to rival yours.”
Kaiya acknowledged Geros’ impossible daydream with a curt smile, then turned back to the queen and their talk of fashion. “Yes, the Ayuri have an eye for vibrant colors. I bought several sari on my trip to Vyara City.”
Ausra clapped once in excitement. “Vyara City is so beautiful. I went one time with my father, years ago. He exports the Nothori snow crab that the Ayuri so love. Those old memories are still so fresh in my mind! The Crystal Citadel is simply amazing, both in sheer size and design. The architecture is so beautiful.”
Kaiya nodded. “As are buildings here in Iksuvius, which I could not help but admire last evening when I arrived. They are nothing like the ones we build in mountainous Cathay. Yours are constructed to withstand the bitter cold sea winds, and yet they are aesthetically beautiful in their simplicity. It is reflective of the Nothori people’s practicality.”
Lietuvi’s boy King Arvydas snorted. “It is a practicality borne from centuries of combating bitter cold, both from the Heavens and our fellow man.” He glared at King Evydas.
Iksuvi’s king scowled back. “I could not agree more. The bitter cold causes crops and the human spirit to wither, especially in the absence of benevolent leadership.”
Arvydas pointed his fork at his counterpart. “Though, as the famed Lietuvi historian Istorikyas wrote, Nothing is more frigid than the cold corpse of a dead king.”
Evydas’ eyes narrowed and his hand strayed to a butter knife. The soldiers of the three Nothori kingdoms edged closer, their hands resting on sword hilts. The First Consul smirked. Had he instigated the hostilities to keep his vassals divided and ruled? His smug grin suggested he would not be intervening any time soon.