by JC Kang
It was worse than when the First Consul had grabbed her. At least then, it’d been an enemy. At least then, her handmaidens had supported her. Now, even the imperial guards refused to intervene.
Humiliated and defeated, she surrendered and allowed Tian to drag her toward the inn. Hair curtained her face as she hung her head, but anyone could tell she was crying from the unconstrained sobs. So much for maintaining a dignified façade.
At least he could be less rude. If he only had a fraction of chivalry, like his sophisticated, charming brother.
Tian motioned toward the guards. “You four come with us. Don’t show the princess any extra attention. Xu Zhan, you stable the horses. Keep guard outside the main entrance. One of us will relieve you. Soon.”
The stench of steaming shellfish assaulted her nose as soon as the door opened. Her stomach churned. Kaiya covered her mouth.
The Hard Shell, despite its weathered exterior, was actually quite comfortable on the inside. About twenty round tables, each surrounded by several empty chairs, occupied the spacious main room. Covered in soot, a large unlit hearth stood at the far end. A balding barkeep paced behind the smooth bar, drying off tankards and ignoring the four locals who sat there. While they laughed over mugs of red wheat beer and shared fish stories, a fifth man folded his arms on the bar and cradled his head face-down.
Kaiya didn’t resist as Tian pulled her to a table close to the hearth. He motioned her to a chair so that her back faced most of the room, while he plopped down across from her. The four guards took up other chairs, two on either side of her.
“Let’s eat something,” Tian said. “I need to think.”
He should have thought things through before. Kaiya gnawed on her lip.
An uncomfortable silence hung over the table until a barmaid came and listed what was on the menu for that night. Kaiya’s skin prickled. All the main dishes included some sort of shellfish.
Without even asking her, Tian ordered a cheap clam dish and potatoes for each of them. She didn’t have the energy to protest. Only Zhao Yue, who loved to eat, seemed pleased by the choice.
She beckoned the barmaid over. “Please bring a quill, ink, and paper.”
The server shrugged. “Will you be staying the night?”
Tian’s eyes flicked toward the bar for a second before turning back. He nodded. “What’s available?” His gaze shifted back to the bar.
Kaiya focused her hearing in that direction, picking out the deep, slow breathing of one of the men. He was pretending to be asleep.
The barmaid’s screechy voice interrupted her concentration. “We have two small singles, four doubles, and three large common rooms that sleep eight.”
The jingle of Tian’s pouch under the table sang of copper coins. There was disappointment in his voice. “We will take seven beds. In a common room.”
Share a room with men? How could the son of a prominent family be so inconsiderate and uncultured? That, after he treated her like a child and ordered food for her. And he’d told her guards to ignore her. Who was he to punish her? She shot Tian a furious scowl.
He returned it with an aloof rise of his eyebrow, and then turned away.
That was too much. “Young Lord Zheng—”
Tian’s livid glare bore into her, and his hand signal made it clear that she was not to talk.
Heat flared in her cheeks. Who was the princess, and who was the half-rate spy?
The barmaid grinned at them, muttering “lover’s quarrel” under her breath. She thrust a charcoal pencil into Kaiya’s hands. “Sorry, we don’t have a quill or ink down here, though there should be one in the room.”
Kaiya glowered at Chen Xin, sure that he would understand her silent order. Go get the writing instruments, or there will be hell to pay later.
Chen Xin looked from her to Tian and back before standing, bowing his head, and hurrying towards the steps.
Kaiya turned her head to watch him go. The sleeping man at the bar shifted on his stool.
An awkward silence hung over the table. Kaiya crossed her arms and turned her head to the side, while Tian leaned back in his chair and stared at the table. She would glance back at him, only to find his eyes on her, and jerk her head back.
Chen Xin returned and interrupted their battle of wills, placing a quill and inkwell in front of her with a bow of his head. His voice trembled. “There was no paper.”
It was all she could do to keep from throwing her hands in the air. With a sigh, Kaiya withdrew the love letter from the dashing lord from her tunic.
Tian couldn’t believe that this petulant girl had once been a stately and confident princess. When future historians extolled the legendary charmer of dragons, he hoped his own ancestors would be around to tell his side of the story.
The letter could have been an imperial heirloom, the way she gazed at it. She unfolded the rice paper coversheet, with her name written in a confident script. Flamboyant even. Whoever penned it was undoubtedly ambitious and vain.
Brow furrowing, she smoothed out the cover sheet and jotted a long letter in Hua script. She folded it in half twice. On the back, she signed her given name in lieu of the stone name chops that had been sent ahead on the Golden Phoenix. On the front, she crossed out her name and wrote Ambassador Wu.
She then unfolded the letter. As her eyes roved over it, a smile tugged at her lips. With a deep breath, she closed her eyes, and then tore it in half. On the back, she wrote another letter in Arkothi print. She folded it in half twice, and then wrote a second message on the other half. Folding it in half twice, she looked up. And scowled at him.
Tian cast his gaze down. Whatever she was up to, it was bound to get them in trouble.
She turned to Chen Xin and proffered the first letter. “After you finish eating, return to Iksuvius and deliver this letter to Ambassador Wu.”
Chen Xin received it in two hands, head bowed until Tian cleared his throat.
The princess snorted and held up the second letter. “Take this to the Lietuvi embassy at first light tomorrow, and deliver it into the hands of King Arvydas. After he reads it, he will hopefully ask you to bring him here. Do so, unless you suspect treachery.”
She then showed him the third letter. “If the king refuses to see you, then allow yourself to be caught by the Teleri with this letter. If you are caught before delivering the messages, do everything necessary to destroy the letter to the King of Lietuvi first, then Ambassador Wu’s next; but make it seem that you are trying to destroy the third letter without actually doing so.”
Bowing his head, Chen Xin received the three letters in two hands.
Still acting like an imperial guard! Surely even the yokels would find it amiss. Tian glanced at the bar, where the patrons ignored them. Thank the Heavens. Still, she was sending a soldier to do a spy’s job.
Their food came. He and the guards virtually inhaled it, all propriety forgotten after a long, grueling day. The princess just nibbled at the potatoes.
More people entered and joined the party at the bar. At least some people here were enjoying themselves.
Chen Xin wiped his mouth and took his leave. Tian stood, too. There was no point in escalating tensions with her, but his instincts screamed to read the content of those letters.
“I will relieve Xu Zhan.” Tian followed Chen Xin out. He quickly caught up. “Let me see the messages.”
Chen Xin hesitated, his uncertainty so unlike the brash young imperial guard who’d brought his ten-year-old self before the Tianzi a decade before.
Tian extended his hand. “This is a matter of security. The princess might endanger herself. And in any case...she didn’t seal them.” Chen Xin probably wasn’t so gullible as to believe such flimsy reasoning, but it had been worth a try.
“The princess didn’t have anything to seal them with...but although I hate to say it, you are the more level-headed right now.” Chen Xin handed Tian the letters and continued towards the stables.
Tian scanned quickly
through the letter to Ambassador Wu, picking out the key points without actually reading it in its entirety.
... did not succeed in boarding Golden Phoenix... make sure sets sail for Hua immediately... ensure safety of [obscure character for Iksuvi] queen... did not succeed in killing First Consul... will seek revenge on our country... Teleri probably believe I am in compound, use to your advantage, but do not sacrifice yourselves needlessly... [obscure character for Kanin] has provided aid, please extend thanks... am sending a message [obscure character for Lietuvi] king asking to meet... not revealing current location in case messenger intercepted... am entrusting Zheng Tian to protect me... will send word from safe location... inform the Tianzi.
A smile pulled unbidden on Tian’s lips. She might be acting like a child, but the princess still had a clear head. She told enough without giving away too much, and it did seem she understood he was trying to protect her. But what about the letter to Lietuvi, who was complicit in the events that would unfold tonight? She could get herself in trouble with it. He folded up the first letter and unfolded the letter to the King of Lietuvi.
Your Royal Highness, King Arvydas of Lietuvi:
By now, you have probably heard that Cathay and Teleri are at war. We know that you have conspired with Teleri to occupy and annex the Kingdom of Iksuvi, and are therefore an ally of our enemy. However, Cathay and Lietuvi are not at war with each other, and it may be that we share a common foe. We also have information that may make you reconsider your agreement with the Teleri Empire. Please meet with me tomorrow morning at the fourth waning crescent, at a location that you will be led to by my messenger. The city should be in pitched battle in the east, leaving our position unguarded.”
Princess Kaiya Wang of the Empire of Cathay.
Tian nodded. There was no denying her reasoning. She kept the door open to dividing the Teleri and Lietuvi alliance, thereby helping to protect Iksuvi. It might also provide a possible escape route for them. Finally, he read the third letter, the one which Chen Xin should reveal in the event he was captured:
Your Royal Highness, King Arvydas of Lietuvi:
As per our arrangement, we will be supporting your alliance with Iksuvi, which will ultimately envelop the Teleri western army. We have five thousand musketmen and twenty warships which will be sailing up the Alto River and landing at Altogrina. With this defeat, the Teleri Empire will lose its foothold in the Nothori region.
Princess Kaiya Wang of the Empire of Cathay
Tian blew out a breath. She’d planned better than him, especially with the instructions she gave Chen. If all went perfectly as she planned, then the young Lietuvi king would meet with her here. The princess would presumably tell him of the deal between the Teleri Empire, altivorcs, and Rotuvi. They would make a new friend.
However, if Chen Xin was caught, it would make it seem that Lietuvi was in collusion with Cathay and Iksuvi against Teleri, and would at the very least cast suspicion on their alliance, if not completely divide them. Tian had started to fold up the letters when he again noticed the writing on the back.
The letter to the princess: it bore the red chop mark of Zheng Ming—his first brother and heir to his home province of Dongmen.
Tian had once idolized his brother, but it had been ten years since they last met. As a first son, Zheng Ming would most likely be married to the daughter of an important family. He’d been trained as one of the few remaining cavalry officers in Hua. His skill at mounted archery had gained him fame during the annual Spring Festival tournaments held in Hua. Flamboyant and charming, he was well known for his quick wit and oratory skills. A perfect match for the princess.
And this was a personal letter. It had nothing to do with either national security or the princess’ safety. There was no need to know about her personal matters. Tian sighed. It was none of his business. He began to fold the letters back up and return them to Chen Xin in the stables.
Then, unable to contain his curiosity, he put the two pieces together and read.
CHAPTER 22:
Unexpected Visitors
Lying helpless on Iksuvius Heights, all Geros could do was watch the iridescent moon pass through two phases. His muscles tightened and joints locked up more and more as time dragged on. Around him, his soldiers shuffled and struggled to loosen their bindings, to no avail. He would miss out on leading his invading army tonight. Worse, he might never move or speak again, cursed to live out his few remaining years as an invalid.
Geros was about to give up all hope when a young Cathayi man dressed in yellow-and-red robes reached the top of the Heights. He wiped sweat off his forehead and bowed deeply. When he spoke, his accent was thick. “Your Eminence, my princess sent me to care for you.”
Care for him! The thought of being indebted to her was demeaning. Geros opened his mouth, but only a croak escaped. He had been able to speak in a whisper right after the girl ambushed him. His condition must have since deteriorated.
The priest bowed, before kneeling down to examine his wounds. “The princess did this to you?”
Yes! The bitch! That priest wouldn’t be grinning like that once Geros cut his head off and stuffed it on a pike. He did his best to nod, but his head weighed more than a warhammer.
The Cathayi placed three fingers on Geros’ wrist. His brow furrowed. “Show me your tongue.”
His tongue felt like sand and barely moved. What could this priest do to undo the princess’ craven attack?
“The princess has blocked the flow of your life energy. I will restore it.” The priest withdrew several thin needles from a silk brocade box, and without ceremony inserted them in Geros’ arms and legs. Each spot felt like a jolt of lightning racing up his limbs and into his core. The heaviness immediately diminished.
“Your constitution is strong. You will make a full recovery. Rest for now.” The man turned toward the wounded Bovyans and began examining and adjusting their bandages. In some, he inserted more thin needles.
While the Cathayi worked, Geros’ energy gathered, a drip at first, then a trickle. Relief washed over him. He would not be crippled for the rest of his life. Furthermore, despite this setback today, he could still move forward with his plans tonight.
He rose and shook out his limbs. Though languid, at least the feeling had returned to his hands and feet. In three steps, he bounded over to the priest and seized him by the throat. The effort nearly winded him. “Where is the princess now?”
The priest’s eyes rounded and his voice choked. “Back. At. The. Embassy...”
Geros released him, shoving him back. He hid his wheeze for air, lest his men see him weak. “You saved my life today, and for that, I will spare yours. I suggest you flee the city now, because I will raze your embassy and kill everyone there.”
The priest’s face blanched, and he scuttled backward with bobbing bows. When he reached the edge of the pavilion, he turned around and fled in a flash of red and yellow.
Geros snorted derisively as the man escaped. Coward. Just like the princess and the rest of her ilk.
With no blades immediately available, he fumbled at untying his aide-de-campe. “Go to headquarters. Convey my order to surround the Cathayi embassy and kill any man who tries to leave.”
In the fading sunlight, Jie counted the Teleri soldiers amassing around the embassy walls. Inside the compound, two hundred musketmen watched from the battlements, while imperial guards armed with repeating crossbows deployed behind a line of shields at the main gate.
Only a skeleton staff remained—just enough to give the guise that the princess was still there. The ambassador had ordered all non-essential personnel to flee, both for their own safety and also to reduce the number of mouths to feed in the event of a protracted siege. With the princess disguised as a wandering monk somewhere in the city, the temple priests had been sent out as decoys.
Jie returned to the main residence foyer. There, Ambassador Wu paced, with sweat trickling down his head.
“Godfather, you summoned?
”
He nodded. “Little Jie, I know your primary responsibility is to the princess and not to the embassy. However, I need your help now. I am going to meet with a Teleri general who waits outside the main gate. Accompany me as I listen to his demands, see what you can pick up. Of course, we must maintain the deception that the princess is here.”
Jie bowed her head. “As you command.”
She followed a step behind him as he trudged towards the main gate, his slow pace seeming even more labored than usual. Yet he held his head high, like the captain of a sinking ship, the honor of his two decades of service in Iksuvius radiating in his dignified expression.
The imperial guard parted, opening a path for the two to walk. Up ahead, General Marius stood cross-armed on the other side of the gate, flanked by two gigantic officers. His eyes widened as he caught sight of her. Having shed a court gown in favor of utility clothes that she could fight in, Jie grinned at his shock. He probably still believed they’d slept together the night before.
Marius composed himself before they arrived at the gate, stiffening in his stance. “Ambassador Wu, the First Consul demands that you surrender the embassy and turn Princess Kaiya Wang over to us.”
Ambassador Wu smiled grimly. “You know what our answer will be. You also know that your shields and armor cannot stop our firepowder. We have stores to last us a year.”
“And what happens after a year, Ambassador? The First Consul is patient.”
Ambassador Wu laughed. “Do you think the Son of Heaven will stand for you holding his beloved daughter hostage? Within a couple of months, expect an armada of warships on your coast with a flight of phoenixes ready to extract her.”
Jie sucked on her lower lip. Hopefully, Marius would believe the bluff. Although Hua kept a handful of lesser phoenixes in the imperial aviary, they had limited endurance and range, and only flew during the New Year’s parade. The highly sensitive birds would never survive a trip by sea.