Please see introduction for disclaimer regarding this work.
Chapter Eight
Reformation and Requests
He had spent the last day getting the palace and capital back under control. Apart form the destruction of a few overzealous soldiers and corrupt officials, the transition went smoothly. Though there was some reluctance and fear among the populace, an equal number were overcome with awe and rejoicing. God-Emperor Fou-Lu, hero and ideal of all the Empire, had returned.
After throwing out the personal artifacts and possessions of the late Soenil (keeping only an aged portrait of Mal-Heu,) Fou-Lu had ordered the castle refurbished to how it had been during his prior rule and had also commissioned several new sets of clothes.
He had recalled all heads of the present army, leaving only skeleton crews, so to speak, to maintain the necessary posts. Several had been outright corrupt, and were disposed of accordingly, while a number were simply incompetent and were promptly relieve of their command. The remaining officers were informed without room for argument the new standards by which the military would be governed, along with his expectations and wishes. There were a few grumbles but no real protest, as he had also informed them of the consequence of disobeying. Officers whose duty had taken them too far from the palace had been informed of the change by messenger, and Fou-Lu had even arranged for the disposal and replacement of one particularly corrupt mortal at a distance. The man's name, Rasso, would soon be only a memory.
Fou-Lu had been rather surprised to see the number of women serving in the armed forces, for though it was lawful in his day, few women had chosen to follow such a career. Now, not only were there women soldiers, there were also female officers. Being used to dealing with strong females (he had married one) he treated them much as he treated the men, though with a slightly higher level of respect, as one never knew when a women suffered from PMS.
One particular officer of the feminine persuasion was said to be the finest in all of the Imperial Army, and he had sent an urgent message to recall her to the capital. He had a special mission for her, one of huge personal significance. He only hoped the Ursula would prove capable.
Presently, he was at a dilemma, wanting to rush out to find his missing spouse, but he knew well that he was needed in the capital. The mess the human emperors had left was phenomenal, and his presence was needed to force things back under control. Also, were he to leave, another mortal would probably seize control of the Empire and make even more trouble.
He could hardly leave someone to guard his throne, for presently there were only three living beings he could trust not to betray him. One was his wife, who was presently missing, and the other two were A-Tun and Won-Qu, who knew nothing of ruling.
Yet of greater importance, Yahla is lost, and she is weak and vulnerable. Mine senses canst not find her, but I mayest hardly abandon her. 'Tis a quandary I needs must answer…
Fou-Lu closed his eyes, his arms crossed thoughtfully from where he sat at the apex of his throne room. The body of Soenil was still there. Servants had made some gesture to remove it but had proved unwilling to touch their ex-emperor's remains. It didn't really matter. The floor was already heavily stained, and it served as a strong encouragement to his subjects' cooperation.
Few of the subjects in question had willingly attended him, but he had enlisted a bevy of servants to carry word of his retaking of the throne and to request the presence of the desired officials.
Enough. He would worry about Yahla later. For now, Fou-Lu would deal with the matters at hand. Having already dealt with the military as fully as he presently could, other matters pressed. Foreign affairs, for one. For now, he was spent, and wished most highly to rest his weary mind.
Fou-Lu blinked sleepily, and looked down to where A-Tun and Won-Qu sat at the base of the stair that led up to his throne, mirroring one another's positions. A-Tun sat calmly, lion-like tail curled gracefully behind him. The Lion's tannish mane, tail and paws were the only spots of color in his thick white fur. Won-Qu's blue coat contrasted in comparison, but the two were obviously brothers, though Won-Qu more closely resembled a hound and had two wolf-like tails. Fou-Lu smiled down at them as the two turned as one to gaze adoringly up at him. They were both fanatically loyal and loved him unjudgingly.
"What wouldst thou, beloved master?" A-Tun asked, seeming eager to discover and follow his master's wishes.
Still smiling, his stress somewhat relieved by the presence of his guardians, Fou-Lu said, "I wouldst take mine rest, for I be much heavy with mine toil."
"Surely thy chamber is open," Won-Qu ventured.
"Verily, but there art matters I needs must take care of. 'Twould be unwise to leave such things unfinished." The smile faded and he looked seriously at his companions. "I wouldst give thee an errand."
The two brothers groveled, baring their throats as many animals did to show submission. "Whatever thy wish, 'twill be carried out."
Pushing himself up, Fou-Lu walked slowly down the stairs, reaching out to rub his companions' manes. Won-Qu leaned into his touch, getting scratched behind the ear in return. A-Tun got scratched under his chin, as was his preference.
"I wish thee search for one thou hast not met. Her name is Yahla, and she is mine wife," the emperor said seriously, meeting the brothers' eyes. "Thou knowest of her, as I hast spoken her name unto you. 'Tis possible for me to givest thee her image and scent, but I canst not givest thee a place whence to began, for I knowest not mineself." He couldn't keep his face totally blank, and Fou-Lu knew some of his worry shone through. "One of thee shalt stay with me, and guard against ills until mine empire regaineth its stability. I wouldst know which of thee wouldst set forth to find mine wife and returnest with her." He looked from face to face.
Won-Qu hesitated, and then volunteered. "I wilt go, master. 'Tis mine brother A-Tun that hath been separated from thee these years, and 'tis he that knoweth best the capital and those within."
Fou-Lu smiled. "Thou art willing, mine old friend? Very well. 'Twill be so. I wouldst thou quit this place anon, for 'tis of vital importance." Normally, he ordered the two about, but after all they had done for him he tried to give them a choice in matters when it was possible.
"Yes, milord." Won-Qu managed a sort of bow, and, with one last rub against the master's shoulder, padded softly from the room. As he left, Fou-Lu sent him Yahla's smell and picture.
A-Tun was left alone at his master's side, and the emperor leaned heavily against him. "I be tired, A-Tun, and much ill-used. I dost wish to retire for the night. Accompany me."
His side aching from the sword wound, Fou-Lu made his way slowly to his chambers, A-Tun offering silent support at his side. His old rooms had been closed up since his time (apparently the succeeding emperors had felt uncomfortable sleeping in the room of a god) and, except for dust removal by the occasional maid, had been untouched for centuries. The room remained unchanged since he had left, and he scarcely needed any light to tumble in to the elaborate bed. He divested himself of clothes and curled up in a rather odd position in an attempt to reduce the ache of his side. He fell asleep that way, not even bothering to pull up the covers.
A-Tun padded over to where his master slept naked and beautiful. Fou-Lu's face had relaxed in sleep, and his hands were curled into limp fists. A fine layer of hair was tangled around his face, covering about a fourth of his features. What was visible was angelic, a glorious and truly godly beauty. His slender and muscular torso rose and fell with each deep breath, the only movement his body was indulging in. Further down, narrow hips led into smooth and slender legs, both of which presently threatened to entwine with one another.
A-Tun gazed fondly at him, then took a corner of the sheets in his mouth and pulled them up over the sleeping dragon's shoulders. Then the Lion seated himself in front of the doorway and prepared to spend a long night on watch.
"And thy report?" the dragon-god demanded, leaning forward to regard the mortal callously. Seated on his raised throne, the spy was far below him, and he looked contemptuously down at the human.
Nervously, the spy swallowed. "We have narrowed down our suspects to a single group, Majesty. 'Twas a group of nations that apparently supported thine enemy and caused the recent incident."
Fou-Lu's eyes narrowed, both at the news and at the fact that the mortal was referring to Yahla's wounding and subsequent coma as an 'incident.' "What name claimest they?" He wanted revenge. They had attempted to kill him (that was bad enough), but instead had killed his unborn child and perhaps permanently taken his wife from him.
The human shuffled his feet, uncomfortable under the Endless' steel gaze. "They name themselves as the Alliance…prior intelligence has reported them as threatened by thy great power and conquests and them in possession of weapons similar to those that came into the rebel's hands."
Face frozen, Fou-Lu asked. "Which individuals hadth involvement?"
"Most of their leaders and ranking officials, sire," the spy replied.
If anything, the emperor's face turned even stonier. "Very well. Thou art dismissed." As the spy scurried from the room, Fou-Lu summoned one of the messengers. "Summon mine officers. Thou wilt inform them there is to be a council of war."
"Thou are doing what?" Mal-Heu blurted.
Fou-Lu smiled slightly, amused by his friend's stunned look. "I be granting thee promotion. Thou didst not ask for it, but 'tis deserved. And we wilt need good officers in the coming war," he added, knowing the soldier would most like attempt to refuse the promotion.
Mal-Heu still looked rather shocked. "Which position are thou putting me in?"
"Wam-Ren's," the dragon replied casually, making Mal-Heu choke on his own voice.
"Thou are putting me in command of thine army?" the mortal demanded incredulously, turning sharply to stare at the dragon. "But why?"
"Wam-Ren is incompetent." His tone firm, Fou-Lu regarded his friend seriously. "Whilst he doth a fair job in times of peace, he wouldeth be a hindrance in times of war. 'Tis thee, however, that is greatly popular amongst the common soldier and more vitally a trusted and competent commander. I knowst thou wouldst ne'er betrayeth me nor attempth to misuse thy power. Moreover, I canst trust thee to giveth thine opinion and suggestions whenas 'tis needed."
Mal-Heu shook his head ruefully. "I would think myself undeserving. The number of ranks thou has raised me is ridiculous."
Fou-Lu grinned, though, like all of his smiles, it was weaker than it had been since Yahla's injury. "Mayhap. Thine opinion matters not in this case. I shalt givest thee the rank regardless." He waved a hand airily.
Mal-Heu snorted. "Thou would, would thee not? Very well. I accept, if only because I, too, wish to get a piece of those responsible for Yahla's condition. Murdering bastards."
The mortal suddenly wished he hadn't mentioned the subject as the smile vanished from Fou-Lu's face. The dragon's fists clenched unconsciously and long nails drew blood from his palms. "Indeed, there wilt be vengeance. 'Tis unfortunate, however, for many an innocent shalt be needless destroyed. Yet, 'tis necessary, for those responsible shalt hardly layth down their miserable life to justice, and were they willing to attempt mine death once they shalt not be loath to try again." Mal-Heu watched edgily as Fou-Lu frowned. "'Tis a dilemma. As mineself, I wouldst seek their deaths and those of any who wouldth stand against mine justice. Yet…mine summons was to endst wars and forgest a new nation. Instead, I be starting a new one. Be it fair to mine people? E'en those that are new-come to our nation?" The last few renegade nations that had refused to join the empire had just given in, apparently cowed by Fou-Lu's extermination of the previous rebels.
"Perhaps, thou art unware of the unifying aspect of war," ventured Mal-Heu. Fou-Lu looked questioningly at him. "A common enemy can bring the most argumentative of groups together. Mayhap it will serve as the glue that will bring this empire together at last."
Fou-Lu nodded distractedly to acknowledge the mortal's statement. "Mayhap 'twill be so. Leaveth me now, mine friend. There is much I must think upon er these issues be resolved in mine mind."
The soldier bowed from the waist and exited, leaving the dragon alone to ponder the folly of both mortals and himself.
Fou-Lu suppressed a yawn as he rode majestically at the center of the armed column. The clip-clop of hooves was all around him, accompanied by the tramp of foot soldiers. Most of the mounted were officers, though there was a unit of cavalry as well. War horses stepped high, braided manes and tails elaborately done. Spread evenly throughout the force, the chargers kept up a good pace, and Fou-Lu had caught several of the infantrymen eyeing them enviously. The patchwork force of men and horses was headed to the Carronade, and the soldiers and their steeds were mostly for the benefit of watching citizens, since Fou-Lu was mostly certain he could handle everything on his own. Mostly…he was rather tired.
Fou-Lu had slept poorly last night. He had been kept tossing and turning by dreams combined with a gripping sense of guilt that he was abandoning his Yahla. A-Tun had managed to drag him out of bed in spite of Fou-Lu's attempts to adhere himself to it, and the dragon had spent the morning uncharacteristically sleepy eyed.
He had taken most of the force residing at the capital, as he also wanted to keep his eye on them. Leaving a group of armed mortals alone at the seat of his power was too much like a recipe for disaster. Their mission was to deal with the Carronade and associated projects.
Fou-Lu had only learned of the gun's existence earlier that day and had set forth immediately to destroy it. He had been horrified upon hearing of a gun that shot hexes, for he was not only aware of the true horror and near-permanent damage done to hexed areas and the sacrifices such a gun would require, he also knew the danger associated with even using it. Besides, it reminded him too much of another gun, long ago. He was unhappy about abandoning the capital, but he had left A-Tun to guard it. Unlike the search for his wife, this should take little over a day, and the Empire could stand to wait that long, at least.
One of the officers accompanying him cantered up to his side, pulling on the reigns of his splotchy gelding. Foul had originally been startled to find that horses had started to replace Whelks as a beast of burden, but as he had never been that fond of whelks in the first place he had no problem making the transition. He himself sat poised on a black stallion and seemed to have melded seamlessly with the war-horse's saddle. He and the horse had an understanding…it would obey him and he wouldn't turn into a dragon and have it for dinner.
"Your Majesty," the officer exclaimed, managing a slight bow on horseback. The movement put him off balance, and the human nearly toppled off his mount. Apparently he had grown up riding whelks. "We're almost there. Might we know your orders, my lord?"
Fou-Lu turned in the saddle to regard the human, his piercing gaze making the mortal lower his eyes. His carriage on horseback was graceful and practiced, even though Fou-Lu had never actually ridden a horse before now. "We wilt reckon and infomest thee of thy duty at the time we reachest the city as see the contents there within."
The mortal blinked. "Say again?"
Fou-Lu ignored him and spurred his horse onwards. It was annoying how many of the present day humans seemed to have trouble understanding what he was saying. Idiots…
"I'm sorry, Sire, but you can't be serious!" Captain Shalmu, the ranking officer in the detachment accompanying him, exclaimed. The word 'serious' was particularly emphasized, as if he doubted the emperor's sanity level.
Fou-Lu's face remained mostly expressionless, but his eyes narrowed dangerously. To a wise individual, that would be a sign to back off. His voice became lethally soft, as if imitating the sleekest silk. "Thou wilt destroyest the weapon, Captain. 'Twas our order, and thou wouldst be wise to obey us. There wilt be no more hexes."
"But…God-Emperor! The Carronade is our primary defense against our enemies!" Shalmu had yet to realize the folly he was embracing by pursuing that line of argument.
"The gun be an offensive weapon, not one of defense. 'Tis meant to attack and terrorize, nary a once hath it been used to protect our people. 'Tis the weapon of a murderer, in that it kills as many innocents as guilty that it smites, and makes lands uninhabited for any to live there within. Thereto, it doth require human sacrifice, and imperils those who cast it." The emperor's voice was reasonable, seemingly friendly, and quite obviously a threat. His left hand rested casually on his thigh, the spot where the hilt of a sheathed sword would normally be. Yet another hint.
The human didn't seem to notice any of this. " Majesty, I'm afraid you're mistaken! We can't afford to throw away so powerful a---"
"Very well," Fou-Lu said pleasantly, cutting him off in mid-tirade. He thoughtfully drummed his fingers against his leg. "Be thou unwilling, thou art relieved of thy command. Remove thyself anon from our sight, er we slayest thee for thine insubordination." Fou-Lu's silvery blade appeared in his left hand and he suddenly looked menacing and cruel. This time, his threat actually got through to the thickheaded man.
Shalmu stuttered and stammered, then, after seeing his liege lord was quite serious, turned his horse. The gelding shied, then obeyed his command. The mortal started to gallop away, obviously still in shock.
"Thou shalt leavest the horse," Fou-Lu said, his voice ominous and devoid of mercy.
Pausing, the ex-captain dismounted with shaking hands, releasing the horse's reins to another soldier. Fou-Lu was still mounted, and the human stared up at him with some trepidation.
"And thy badge and sword," the dragon added, starting to enjoy himself. He was hardly a sadist…but the human so richly deserved it. Humiliating him was the least the emperor could do. "Thine uniform, as well."
The human, seeming finally to sense argument could have fatal results (and at very least humiliating ones), stripped down to his undergarments and stood shivering in the open air.
Fou-Lu gazed rather contemptuously at the small man, who had the start of a beer belly and a flabby chest. "Thou art lucky thine underthings art not Imperial issue." He was taking his anger at his own situation out on the man, but he didn't really care.
Gathering the shreds of his dignity, former military officer Shalmu fled. Fou-Lu wondered briefly how the man would manage to find a new job when he was running around in his underwear.
The dragon god turned to look at the startled soldiers and officers who had stopped to watch the scene play out, and smiled toothily. "Wouldst any of thee be wanting a horse?"
For some reason, after that no one contested the orders the emperor gave. The Carronade was destroyed in record time, potentially useful scrap metals piled up, the rest of the gun trashed entirely. In fact, it was so thoroughly destroyed that some of the people who actually lived there complained about flying debris.
Fou-Lu himself decided to inspect the aqueduct that had powered the gun to see whether or not it could be rerouted to a more useful purpose. He had also heard that several of the empire's scientists had research and experiment room adjacent, and wanted to deal with them…personally.
