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Chapter Nine

Free and Forced Labors

The mortal Yuna had been busy…very busy…

The area was covered with his 'experiments' and notes, which Fou-Lu leafed through briefly. The pages were tattered and ink-splotched, but mostly legible. His face hardened as he noted the contents, and he replaced them with a grimace. They detailed a variety of atrocities, many of which involved sentient creatures as the subjects, and all of which were definitely inhumane. It was typical, and fit in with what he had gathered of Yuna's personality. Surveying the rest of the room, Fou-Lu stared momentarily at one of the experiments the kitsune had put on hold, where he had apparently been doing something unnatural to a frog. This mortal wouldst pervert nature herself…were he not e'en now beyond the veil, I wouldst kill him another time.

He had seen similar and even more disturbing things in the rooms surrounding, including a large variety of cages and operation tables intended to secure unwilling subjects. There had been a room entirely full of torture devices. It was dominated by a rack, on which countless victims had been stretched and tormented. A wooden frame designed to crucify people had been placed beside it. In the corner was a scavenger's daughter, rusty from the blood of the victims it had secured over the years. Nearby, there had been an iron maiden, an steel frame in which a victim was enclosed and impaled on the spikes inside. A shelf had been full of smaller devices- thumbscrews, pincers, pliers, hooks, clamps, metal brands, iron boots, a number of weights, manacles and shackles of every imaginable kind, and a whole array of knives. Others had been there as well, instruments whose names his did not know. Leg irons and chains had littered the area, and suspicious bloodstains had turned the stone floor red. Several different restraints had been laid up against the walls. Included were a Scold's Bridle (a metal cage for the head with a bladed gag) and a neck iron with spikes about the rim.

The papers here detailed the outrages that Yuna's devices had been put to. They were as numerous as they were terrible.

A torch had been lit to illume the way, and Fou-Lu lifted it from its stand. His nocturnal eyes did not need its light, but the flambeau could serve other purposes. As he lowered it to the dry parchment, he smiled grimly. There art certain things that ne'er shouldth be known… Aged paper made a satisfactory blaze, tongues of yellow and red flame licking up through the entire pile of research. For once, even a Water Dragon like Fou-Lu found fire useful.

The little pile of embers was still smoldering as he moved on into the next room.

Like many things in Yuna's rooms, it was an abomination, a creature that had been twisted out of recognizable shape and form. From waist up, it was a women, delicately beautiful and golden haired. However, where its hips started it became swollen and gross, a bloated mass of entrails that reached such size that they became part of the building itself. It had been human at one point, though it was impossible to tell what clan, and drew to mind the body of an engorged queen termite. Presently, it appeared to be sleeping, which was a blessing as he hardly wanted to see how badly the mind of the subject had been damaged.

The fool… Fou-Lu thought in shock as he circled Yuna's most terrible experiment. Didth he truly believeth he couldth create an Endless? Greater fool he…a mortal canst not gaineth such power by such a method…

Approaching the head of the creature, he intended only to put it out of its misery. His sword flashed to hand, but he hesitated as he was about to plunge it down into the monstrosity's writhing guts. Surely, it would be a mercy…but perhaps…On an impulse, he banished the blade and put his hands to either side of the creature's face. Eyes lidded, he sent a tendril of power into the perversion's body. This probably wasn't a good idea…he was already tired, and it wouldn't do to become too vulnerable.

A bright glow overtook him, encasing his skin in a blue shimmer that danced in sparks and glimmers along the length of his body. The gleaming wave spread out from his hands, sinking down into the flesh of the creature and passing through the floor and walls as if they were as insubstantial as mist. As it infused tissue and blood, it grew lighter, turning to a gold so very bright that Fou-Lu was forced to turn his head away least he be blinded by it.

When the glow faded, a mortal lay where an unnatural Endless had been before, and Fou-Lu withdrew his hands, feeling suddenly his age (six hundred and thirty-five.) He sagged, then backed up suddenly as the little mortal opened her blue eyes.

They stared at each other for a moment, his gaze cool and collected, hers frightened, before the little windian sat up. She hugged her knees to her chest, golden hair running over her back. White wings folded themselves tightly around her as she seemed to shrink into herself. "Who…where?" the girl stammered, her voice a child-like soprano.

Taking pity upon her, Fou-Lu answered. He dropped the 'royal we' seeing as it would only confuse the poor child. "Mine name is Fou-Lu…and thou art within the aqueducts that didst fuel the Carronade. And thou art…?" he queried, looking the mortal woman up and down. She was naked, but it would hardly bother a dragon, for they are prone to going nude anyway. And besides, it wasn't like he was interested…he had eyes for only one female.

"Elina," the girl replied, apparently too shaken to recognize his name. "Please…what happened?"

The emperor eyed her curiously, smoothing a white strand of hair back out of his face. "Dost thou not recallest what was done to thee?"

Elina froze, then a series of shivers racked her slender form. "I remember…" she whispered. "How could I have been so blind to believe that they wished me well." The windian lowered her face to her knees, silvery tears running wet down her long legs. Fou-Lu watched dispassionately before offering her a handkerchief he had found in among Yuna's possessions. Elina took it gratefully and blew her nose, after drying off her face. It was a delicate sound, at odds with the usual full-blown snort most humans employed. Even when crying, the mortal still managed to look beautiful, without the reddened splotching most of her race got.

"Thank you," the windian said after another good blow. She held the hankie back out to him, apparently recovered. The sodden bit of cloth hung limp and unappealing from her fingers. "Here. I'm sorry… I've gotten it all wet and dirty," she apologized.

He waved her off, eyeing the kerchief with distaste. For what reason wouldst I be wanting a rag sullied with mortal excretions...? "'Tis not mine in any matter. I but happened upon it. Thou mayest keep it."

"Thank you," Elina repeated, sounding rather insipid. She buried her face back in the soggy fabric.

Watching her cry for ten minutes straight did nothing to improve Fou-Lu's temper. Thy wailing is tiresome, mortal! Wilt thou not cease? he thought moodily, trying to block out the sound of her whimpers. Eventually, he snapped in irritation, "Quit thy wailing, woman! Thine mortal form hath been returned unto thee! Thou hast naught to cry about!"

The mortal hiccuped and looked up at him through red-rimmed eyes. "You're right…and I'm sorry. I'm being horrible, aren't I?" She shakily got to her feet, to all appearances unaware of her nudity. "We were never properly introduced, were we? I'm Elina, princess of Windia. Was it you that got rid of that awful curse? What did you say your name was?"

Fou-Lu blinked, then narrowed his eyes calculatingly. Several wheels turned in his head, and he smiled slightly. A windian princess… "Yes, 'twas I. I be Fou-Lu, God-Emperor and founder of the Fou Empire."

The woman froze, one hand going up to cover her partly agape mouth. Wide-eyed, she protested, "But that's impossible! The First Emperor died centuries ago!"

Smirking, he replied dryly, "Hardly. A god doth not die. On a differing matter, art thou ware that thy body be utterly unclothed?"

"What?" she asked blankly, before looking down at herself.

Her scream made him wince and his ears rang in protest as Elina attempted to cover as much of her exposed body as possible.

After staring a moment, Fou-Lu sighed. "Wouldst thou like mine shirt?"

Somewhat more decently clothed, the princess apologized profusely for borrowing his clothes and dealing injury to his eardrums. Fou-Lu was starting to think apologizing profusely was the only thing she was good for. "I'm so sorry…" She was wearing his undershirt like a tunic. Even though he wasn't too much taller than she it still came down to her mid thighs. It merely emphasized how tiny she was. His outmost shirt had been wrapped about her waist and tied with the sleeves. As everything was silk, it clung and left very little to the imagination, but the human still seemed reassured by its presence, even if she wasn't as composed as she usually would be.

Fou-Lu, on the other hand, was just as comfortable and compose as ever, even though he was half-naked. However, the girl's constant apologies were harping on his nerves. "There is naught to apologize for, so I wouldst appreciate thy dropping of the subject." The windian blushed and mumbled something, so he changed the topic. "How camest thee unto this pass? What doth a princess the Alliance," he said with a sneer, "Do within the Empire?"

Elina looked ready the cry again, and she crumpled the hankie in her hands. The soggy cloth clung to her fingers as she picked at a tattered edge. "I was stupid. We have a temporary truce, and I thought…it might encourage peace if I visited this land."

"'Twas not the case, I wouldst guess." His sarcasm wasn't lost on her, and she stiffened and looked away.

"A scholar name Yuna offered to guide me through the Empire, and I accepted…" Her voice was sad and soft, that of a lost child recounting past folly. "But when they got me into the Empire," she sniffed, a tear running down her cheek, "Yuna took me here and told me I was a fool and would be used in the Carronade. Only, instead…" She ducked her head, apparently unable to complete the thought.

"Thou wert turned to an Endless," Fou-Lu finished for her, arms crossed contemplatively on his bare chest. Elina nodded miserably, several more tears tracing their way over her pale cheeks.

They stood silently like that for some time, before Elina ventured rather tremulously, "You did say your name was Fou-Lu, didn't you?"

"Yes," he replied, never glancing her way.

"How can that be?" she pressed. "The First Emperor ruled hundreds of years ago. By now he would be well over five hundred years old! No one can live that long!"

"Thou art assuming, princess," Fou-Lu turned his head to regard her perfunctorily. "That the First Emperor thou speakest of was mortal. He was not."

Elina, heir to the Windian throne, met his gaze and noticed for the first time the oddities surrounding him. The eyes that regarded her in such a blasé manner were golden, as if they had been gilt with aureate overlay. His hair was white, inclined to reflect the colors around it. And the ears in which twin rubies dangled were pointed. Her voice sounding suddenly too loud in her ears, Elina asked breathlessly, "What…are you?"

The dragon smiled slowly, arrogance in the tilt of his head. His teeth were a bit more pointed than they probably should have been, and Elina shuddered. "Thou needs not know, little one. Suffice to say I be perdurable, and mine power is beyond mortal imagining." Elina was silent as he went on. "What I be mattereth little. Thou wilt return to thine Alliance," Again, the sneer at the mention of that name. "And informest unto them that this war be o'er, as it ought have been hundreds of years prior. Thou shalt be telling them that the First Emperor hath returned to his throne, and that Soenil perished by useless defiance."

"Emperor Soenil is dead?" Hugging herself, she asked the next question. "Yuna…the scholar…what of him?:

Impassive, his gaze never faltered. It was cool and collected, and (to a windian princess) very frightening. "He and his associates have perished. They no longer art a threat to thee."

She hesitated, her voice hushed. "You killed them, didn't you?"

Fou-Lu ignored her questions. "Travel unto Windia." He tossed her a bag of coins, yet another handy thing he had found among Yuna's possessions.. "Use this to pay thy way." As an afterthought, he picked up on of the sheets of blank paper Yuna had left lying around. A pen was quickly scrounged up, and Fou-Lu scrawled out a note, folded it, and stamped it with hot wax from a nearby candle and the signet ring he always carried and never wore. After checking the sigil, he gave it to her. "This shall permit thee pass any guards here and beyond to our borders. I wouldst quit this place, wert I thee."

Distressed, Elina protested, "But I haven't anything to wear!"

A sigh. "Verily…I mayest regret this later, but I wouldst suppose thou canst keep the shirts."

Another day, another difficulty. Won-Qu had not yet returned, and Fou-Lu was wondering whether he should send A-Tun out as well. Of course, it had been little over a day since Won-Qu had set out, but still… And, to top things off, he had just been informed that the Causeway was broken, which meant it would be practical for him either to fix it or build a new one…of course, when did he have the time?

Fou-Lu sighed and went on writing, quill pen inking up the pads of his fingers. The writing utensil not only blotted up his hands, it also bespattered the parchment he was presently writing on. After several more smears of ink, he threw both away and retrieved a new pen and paper. A-Tun, who sat next to him, laid his head down on the desk.

He was writing out a rather official document, a declaration of peace between the Alliance and the Empire. Permanently, unforeseen circumstances notwithstanding. It would be written, signed, and sealed by him, and a delivered to the Alliance's ambassadors. They would work out the smaller details with his own emissaries, and the Alliance would hopefully agree that, yes, the war was over.

If they did, they would at least be smarter than many of his own soldiers. Fou-Lu penned the last few lines, signed, and started to seal up the document. Many of the mortals subject to his reign had always been at war with the Alliance, and were unwilling to think of them as anything but ancestral enemies. The fact that the war had gone on for generations and most of his subjects had a relative or friend that had been killed in it didn't help. Finally, the letter was sealed, stamped, and signed. It lay crisply folded on his desk, and he gazed moodily at it. 'Tis ironic so small a thing shalt have so great an effect… or ought, shouldeth all go well…

A knock. Fou-Lu opened the door to admit the messenger, who gasped out that Captain Ursula had arrived. After handing the letter to the courier and giving instructions on its delivery, Fou-Lu strode off in search of the elusive captain, A-Tun padding behind him. Finally, he would be able to talk with someone capable.

"You want me to do what, Your Majesty?" the diminutive captain asked with some disbelief. The kitsune, black haired and dusky, with the bone structure of a bird, eyed him as though he was insane. Her fragile looking body held a good mind, but one that balked at the idea of the person she was supposed to find. Dragons were supposed to be children's tales…

"Thou art to find a dragon," Fou-Lu responded, his tone making it clear that he was serious. Had she doubted that, his face bore an unmistakable no-nonsense look. "A female of our race, with child. In a mortal form, she is alike ourself, white of hair and gold of eye. In a transformed state, she taketh the guise of winged humanoid, green of skin and well scaled. She hath a tail," he added, apparently as an afterthought.

"Is that so?" Ursula appeared somewhat skeptical, but the fact that she was presently talking to a dragon with several hundred years under his belt helped dissipate her doubts. "It is a simple enough task to find her, I suppose. I've heard dragons are fairly noticeable. Where was she last seen?"

The emperor smiled grimly. "Therein layeth the problem. She mayest well be anywhere. We dost not know."

This news apparently didn't make the kitsune's life any easier. "What's her name? It may help me find her."

"Yahla. She is our wife," Fou-Lu said, still smiling.

Ursula stared at him a moment before she shook herself. "I don't even want to know."

"Wise decision." Fou-Lu looked amused. "When thou hast found Yahla, thou art to bring her hither. Upon finding her, thou wilt followest her orders as if they wert ours, save any that contradict our orders to thee. Layest no hand upon her. She is our wife, and pregnant with our heir. Thou wilt protect her at all costs." The smile faded and his face grew stony. "An you fail, thou mayest as well not return. Shouldest mischance strike and she be dead, thou wilt return with her body."

"You want me to bring her back even if she's dead. Got it. I'll carry out your wishes, Your Majesty," she promised, tiny face solemn. Fou-Lu smiled. The captain might not believe in the existence of the person she had been sent to find, but she was dedicated enough to venture forth anyway. He had expected such from her performance records.

"Thank thee, Captain. We wilt hold thee to that."