Chapter 21: Emperor
Kel dressed herself in a maroon kimono whirling with white clouds, and arranged her hair into the more recent style of the Court. The two chopsticks that held her hair in place were razor sharp, hidden in hair-thin metal sheets and accurate enough to kill a fly at twenty paces. Her shukusen was tucked into her bronze obi, and two daggers were concealed in her kimono, while one was tucked in a thin sheath neatly down her spine, and another was placed in one of her sleeves, so that it could be whipped out at a moment's notice. The semi-decorative belt knife at her hip was coated in Widow's Kiss, a deadly poison extracted from spidren venom. Though she didn't feel truly safe without her naginata or sword, Kel left her rooms and set off for the Emperor's chambers.
She had left Fredrik, Akane, and Tatsuya in the care of the imperial armsmasters, with an afternoon free to do what they wished. They were all given very small allowances from Kel's treasure hoard and most probably would set out for the craftsmans' district at the end of the day. Kel herself had left all her unnecessary jewels at her rooms, going unadorned to not attract attention. A pair of pearl ear bobs were her only decorations. She had left her face unpowdered and her cheeks unpainted. Kel hated that kind of court life- the make-up, as some people called it. It deserved the name, though, thought Kel absently as she strode through the halls. Her mind brought attention to her quick pace.
Yamani women did not stride, they… pattered. Their sock-shoes and kimonos were designed, almost, with immobility in mind. Kel had hers specially slit so that she could run and fight in her kimono without having to cut it with her sword. The servants, thoroughly Yamani, didn't express their distaste visually, but Kel could somehow feel it just radiate off their bodies like heat off of a fevered patient multiplied tenfold. She slowed her walk to a reasonable pace and took several side-halls to get to one of the emperor's rooms. He lived in one wing of the palace, along with his wife and chosen consorts. Kel didn't approve of it, but what could she say?
Kel was stopped at the large red paper door by a guard. He growled at her,
"What is your business with His Most Honorable Excellency, the Emperor?" Kel flashed him the token, and he nodded to his companion on the other side of the door. He opened it and led Kel inside.
"Follow me," he ordered. Kel followed him, warily taking note of all that happened around her. The halls were patrolled by pairs of Elite, while maids, clerks, and dressed-up women (the latter obviously concubines) could be seen in the open doors. After walking down the hallways, she and her guard came to another set of doors. These were simpler, but inscribed with spell-patterns and magic symbols. Kel was handed off to the guard there. Then she was led to another set of chambers, these more obviously delegated to the Emperor and his few Chosen concubines, as well as his wife. She stopped before a large white screen door. The guard bowed low to the ground and knocked at the frame.
There was an invitation to come inside called by the inhabitants within, and the door slid open. Kel's eyes set upon a small shakkan garden, where sunlight filtered in to the Emperor's secret Tea Room and small flowers were in bloom. A low table sat in front of a fountain that trickled merrily, with four comfortable cushions ranged around it. Two men sat there- one bedecked in the fine garb of relaxed royalty, while the other was obviously a military leader, as shown by his armored garb and helmet, which was sitting on the table. The emperor dismissed the military man, and Kel took his seat when the emperor motioned for her to sit. As she knelt on the soft red cushion, she felt the oddest sensation.
The leather of her hidden dagger sheaths squirmed and tried to twist away from her body. When that didn't succeed, there was an unseen but audible "pop", and the weight of the daggers disappeared. Kel looked around and saw them on the table. All the while the squirming and wrenching were going on all over he body, wherever she had a hidden weapon. Her shukusen even followed her belt knife to the table, and soon all of her weapons were on display. Most of them, anyhow. Her chopsticks were still in her hair. She bowed to the emperor, whose eyes displayed a sort of condescending amusement, whipped out a chopstick, and hurled it, catching a lock of his hair and pinning it to the wall, where the severed strands slithered down and away to the floor.
Kel held her breath. The Emperor could, and probably would, call in guards to chop off her head now. She bowed to the ground and watched his face through her bangs. His lips tightened, quivered, then returned to Yamani blankness. Kel shuddered, inside. We're in for it now, Kel, buddy, old pal. We are more dead than last year's Scanran pirates. Brie? Yes? Shut up. The Emperor cleared his throat.
"Well, you've shown me, haven't you, Keladry?"
"Shown you what, Most Honorable Emperor?" At his laugh, Kel sat up abruptly, barely concealing the shock she felt on hearing him express emotion, let alone letting her live.
"However much I guard myself, there are ways to get around it. Hmm… You are a valuable asset to my Council, Keladry of the Shang. I am very glad you are my friend, and not my foe, or so I hope. Come, come, enjoy some excellent green tea. Tea and knowledge; those are the two things that go better with age." Kel adjusted herself to a more comfortable position on the cushion-mat, and pretended to sip delicately at the tea cup proffered. In reality she was examining it minutely and watching her bracelet. It didn't glow, so Kel felt it safe to drink. The emperor, however, caught her examination.
"Do not worry, Keladry, the tea is not poisoned. I myself am drinking it!" Kel gave a little chuckle, but her wariness didn't decrease. The tea was delicious, undeniably high-quality tea. She sipped gratefully and inclined her head towards the Emperor.
"Most Honorable Emperor-" she began. The man cut her off.
"Nonsense. I will be frank with you. Call me Imonoyama. It is ridiculous to even imagine that you are subservient to me." Kel was startled.
"Most Honorable Emperor! I am the least of your subjects-" His raised hand cut her off again.
"Keladry- Phoenix. You hold as much power as I do, when one looks at the scope of things. And yours is more widely ranged. You, if you wished, could manipulate at least three other countries to launch full-scale attacks on the Islands. Understand that your unspoken influence in peacekeeping in the countryside has all the province folk bristling for their unseen protector. You are my equal, and I prefer not to lie to myself and to you. It isn't becoming." Kel was dumbstruck.
"Most- Imonoyama-san, I am honored. May I be frank?" At his nod, Kel continued. "I really didn't understand the responsibility I've taken on until now. Now I see what you mean by us being equals. If that's true, then… I need to ask a favor." The emperor nodded. "Well, I need a Yamani name. Something I can use in court and with foreign dignitaries so that my Tortallan name doesn't leak. My informants tell me that my rejection years ago is still remembered by those in the Tortallan court. I'd rather hold influence as a neutral party. I'd rather not go through the black market channels to get myself a new identity." The emperor nodded.
"It shall be done. I need your desired name." The emperor motioned, and out of nowhere a scribe appeared with a brush, ink, and roll of parchment.
"Suzumi Baura." The emperor nodded again and began speaking rapidly.
"You, Suzumi Baura, stowaway on the Tortallan merchant ship Dawnfire. Left in Yama's temple in the Yanjing province, you were raised by the priestesses for six months before the Shang Hawk took you to the Order, and you gained in rank until reaching the rank of Phoenix. So it is written, so shall it be done." The scribe was quickly writing it as he went on. The emperor sealed the document and waved at the scribe.
"Take this to my Chambers and don't let me forget about it." Kel was somewhat astounded. He acted so… familiar with his staff…
"Imonoyama-sempai?"
"Yes, Baura-chan?" Kel glanced wryly at the Emperor for his use of the honorific.
"Well, you seem so at ease with your servants. I suppose in the years I stayed here in the Islands you seemed so imposing and cold."
"Ah, but that was only in Court. Protocol is different there."
"What about the forty guards you had beheaded for not using the proper bow?" The emperor chuckled, not pleasantly.
"That was the reason I used for the public execution. It helps to instill a sense of authority. No, they were beheaded because I discovered one thing about them."
"What was it, my lord?"
"They were all members of the Association of the Dragon." Kel stifled a choke. That was why the emperor couldn't give his real reason to the public. Just as the Order was secret, so was the Association.
"I see, most honorable emperor. I must ask you about this upcoming ball to receive the foreign dignitaries."
"Ah, yes, your mother and father, as well as your brother Anders." The emperor nodded thoughtfully. "Do you want to be presented as Suzumi Baura? They might find it an insult." Kel shook her head vehemently.
"No, Imonoyama-sempai. They would understand. It's just that… does anyone else know that I am related to them?"
"No. Do not worry yourself, Baura-chan. No one knows that you are Keladry of Mindelan. I tapped directly into the ancient tie that the Palace has with the order, and using a shallow dish of my blood I scryed into your doings and history there." Kel frowned slightly.
"So anyone who wanted to could see into the Order's doings?" The emperor shook his head.
"No- the ability to scry into such a link is only passed down from heir to heir, similar to the Bazhir traditions of the desert. The best medium to work through is Royal Blood, so that is what I used. The information to scry this cannot be forced from me willingly or unwillingly. Even if anyone watched me do this ritual of scrying and preparing the materials, they would not be able to produce such results. In fact, that person would encounter a nasty reality."Kel, relieved, asked,
"What sort of nasty reality?"
"Their life-force would either be drained away, or their Gift, or even they would be inextricably linked to this link, but their body would remain inert and comatose as the spirit is torn between reality and the linkage of the scrying. Eventually they would die." Kel shivered, part from the situations described, partly from the cold, detached, and satisfied manner in which the Emperor said it.
"Anyhow, no one should be able to even scry me here in my Chambers unless I will it. So, any more questions?" Kel nodded.
"I wanted to know… Who are my family's escorts?" The emperor scratched his head thoughtfully.
"Well, I heard that the Crown Prince was planning on coming, along with his escort Lord Imrah, but I'm not quite sure of that. They haven't sent a response to my query, and it's hard to establish a magical connection between here and Tortall… Speaking of connections, I have something to give you…" The Emperor turned around and hurried from the Tea Room, then stopped and beckoned for Kel to follow him. Kel hurriedly wiped the corner of her mouth of green tea, put down her cup, and stood quickly, struggling against the sudden ascending-headiness. When the multicolored dots cleared from her vision, she followed the emperor down the hallway.
Kel was definitely confused. The Emperor was an imposing figure, gray streaks just now flaring back from his temples, with his square-cut beard trimmed neatly to shape. His head was covered with a simplified version of the Imperial Crown, easy enough to wear while walking to and from rooms of the Palace, bejewled enough for people to recognize him as emperor, and cheap enough to be thrown into the muck in a fight, if need be. His flowing robes of the nobility were a deep scarlet, embroidered with gold and the finest silk thread. He carried importance around him like a cape. The emperor striding through these halls was different from the one she had sipped tea with. Now that cape of importance was wrapped as tightly around him as a burial shroud. His easy demeanor and humorous attitude were now concealed under a hard shell of Yamani etiquette. Kel followed along silently. Suddenly a thought occurred to her. This is how I am, when I'm in public, now, isn't it? It certainly is, replied Brie. This is how every dignitary is in public… The Empress, the Emperor, the Tortallan King and Queen… Yes, now you see the life of the nobility, Keladry. A life hidden behind chilly masks of court political dances and etiquette. Oh no, now what have I gotten myself into? Don't worry, Keladry. I have faith in you.
Kel fell inwardly silent, as did Brie, until they reached their destination. These were the private rooms of the Emperor himself. Here was his absurdly simple sleeping mat, his low writing desk, his fine silk cushions, all simple, yet of the highest quality. He opened a cabinet behind his writing desk. It was similar to the one in the Phoenix's suite at the Order; inside was an elegant suit of Yamani armor. From beneath and behind the samurai sword-rest, he took a small box. He touched his lips to the brass lock and traced out a set of swirling spell-symbols on the unmarked, unfinished wood. There was a faint glitter, and the box was transformed. It was now made of the finest mahogany with inlaid gold. He opened it to reveal-
Nothing. The box was empty as he held it out to Kel. A faint shadow lined the inside, but besides air, there was nothing in it that Keladry could see. He chuckled at her confused look in her eyes. He quickly put the box on the table, grabbed a quill-sharpening knife out of thin air, seemingly, and sliced Kel's index finger as she drew it to herself, all before she could blink. Holding her wrist in an iron grip, he let a few drops drip into the box. There was a cheeping sound, and suddenly the shadow in the box liquefied and condensed into a quivering form. Before Kel sat a darking.
Kel was annoyed and slightly panicked. The reason she had not responded to the emperor's quick maneuvers, even though she had seen them coming, was because she didn't know what to do. If she had struck the emperor himself, gods know what could have happened. She got over her astonishment quickly and studied the small darking as intently as it studied her. It cheeped once more and began to speak in a wavering voice, as a head and tiny mouth distinguished themselves from the darking as a whole.
"Inkjet is called by the blood of a mortal… why do you bleed, and why do you call?" it asked, seeming, for all the world, indignant. The emperor spoke.
"By a pact made by your people and myself in my youth, I have been promised the assistance and alliance of four of your kind."
"I have been called from the Dragonlands, I admit, by the alliance of my ruler. What is your need?" Kel wisely kept quiet throughout the exchange.
"I have called for your help, as a mentor and guide to my equal and ally, Keladry of Mindelan, Suzumi Baura, Shang Phoenix, if you so will it. If not, then I shall call for another of your kind. But the working was supposed to match the darking whose temperament is most compatible with the person whose blood is shed. But I will not forcefully coerce you." The darking, if at all possible, seemed to laugh.
"Wise of you, human, and what pretty eloquence. I am happy to leave the Dragonlands and be your ally, Phoenix. Much is said and discussed in the Divine Realms that pertains to you. For a mortal, you stir up much controversy and sensation. What say you?" Kel was taken aback.
"I- I thank you for your friendship and alliance, Inkjet." The darking nodded.
"Then that is that." He slid down the table leg and up to Kel's shoulder. Kel found his upward movement somewhat distracting. It was like watching a raindrop roll up a window, instead of down. He perched himself comfortably on her shoulder.
"This will do as a comfortable perch, I think. Just a moment." Suddenly Kel felt a jarring pain in the back of her neck, like someone was pressing hot needles into the base of her skull. Rapidly the pain spread until it felt as if her brain was being prodded into little pieces by miniature white-hot fire pokers. And just as suddenly as it had started, the pain stopped. Kel shook her head as the another voice now whispered in her head. .:Hello, Keladry:. Oh no! Not another one! .:Another what?:. Another voice! .:What do you mean, Phoenix? Do you need to go to a Mind Healer?: No! I don't need a Mind Healer- I need all of you people out of my head! .:What are you talking about?: She's talking about me. .:Excuse me, who is this?:. Let me explain.
All of a sudden, the last ten years of Kel's life roared through her brain and into the entity of the small voice, the darking called Inkjet. The pain and pressure was unbearable. Kel frantically fought off rising wave after wave of nausea as images, sounds, and feelings ripped through her body. Every muscle of her body suddenly cramped tightly, and Kel tried to wince with pain, but that only hurt more. She finally gave up fighting off the blackness at the edges of her vision and gave in, falling to the ground of the Emperor's chambers with a soft moan. And finally, blackness enveloped her in its comforting embrace.