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Chapter Twenty Two

Unknown Dangers

"You've our assurance that we come in peace, Your Majesty," Ursula told the king, standing at respectful attention as he inspected her. Her force had landed on the Windian coast the day prior, and had been greeted by a group of suspicious Windians who had insisted (rather forcefully) that she pay her respects to their king. Being under orders not to start any wars, Ursula had been forced to swallow her pride and accompany the windians as their "guest." Her task force had been stationed outside the city, under the watch of their hosts.

"Yes, an armed regiment is a very peaceful signal, General," the king agreed sarcastically. Ursula, a proud woman, bristled at his tone, but held her peace as the man continued, "Tell me, what does the Empire want?"

"Your Majesty, our orders have nothing to do with your subjects," she informed him, reluctant to give information to those who might be of hostile intent. She knew the Ludians remained at odds with her people, but what stance the Windians took on such things was unknown. "I don't really know what the emperor's intentions for your nation are, but we are merely passing through."

"To do what, General?" the king asked with increasing impatience. It was clear he didn't enjoy dancing around the issues any more than she did. "While I understand the value of maintaining military secrecy, surely you understand that I can't simply allow an Imperial force to wander around in the Alliance without knowing their intentions."

"My mission is to return to the Empire with one of our missing citizens, Your Majesty." She remained silent on further details for the security of her mission, though the kitsune admitted to herself she would also rather not speak of her orders, least the king think her mad. A dragon was hardly a common quarry for an Imperial officer.

The king was silent a moment and she could nearly see the gears turning in his head. At last, he seemed to reach a decision. "Tell me, General," he inquired slowly. "This wouldn't happen to be a woman you're looking for, would it?"

"How did you know that?" she demanded, sufficiently surprised that she accidentally blurted out confirmation to his question. Embarrassed and angry at the outbreak, she continued in the same vein. "What do you know of this!?"

The king smiled, and Ursula realized she had offered him the upper hand without meaning to. "I know relatively little of your mission. But, you see, we had a rather unusual guest a while ago, and considering her connections to the Empire, I rather doubt that your arrival here is coincidental."

Ursula regarded him for a second. "Your Majesty, please tell me more."

Fou-Lu leaned back against the wall in one of the rare-used corridors of his palace, for once finding a moment to catch his breath and hid from his subjects at the same time. They were running him ragged, he observed with wry exhaustion as he let his eyes sag closed for a moment.

It seemed only a moment before a voice woke him. It was soft and unintrusive, as if its owner couldn't decide whether to interrupt or not. "Majesty?"

Senses dulled by stress, he had to open his eyes before recognizing the voice. "General," he said with some relief and a bit of genuine pleasure at seeing the other again. The crisis had created an excess of work for both, and they had hardly seen one another for several days. "I hadst feared thou wert that damnable advisor come again to hound me." Fou-Lu was of an opinion that if people would let him alone to try and fix things, he might actually get something done. As it was, he seemed to spend most of his time trying to placate his panicked citizens.

"If you're speaking of the man I think you are, he won't be bothering you again, Majesty," Rhun informed him, taking a step back as he saw his emperor was awake. "He collapsed in one of the halls just a few minutes ago."

"Though I wouldst offer mine regret, 'twould be a falsity." The dragon came up from his slump against the wall to regard Rhun. His friend was looking almost as stressed as he. "Thou wert seeking me, Rhun?"

"Yes, actually," he replied somberly, "We received more news of the poisonings today, and I volunteered to carry it, considering our camaraderie."

"Foul news, then," Fou-lu observed impassively, not particularly welcoming whatever it was. The nation was in dire enough straits without taking it any further.

"Very." Rhun paused a moment and leaned up against the wall opposite Fou-Lu. At Fou-lu's questioning look, he explained, "A sudden dizzy spell. I haven't been sleeping enough, lately."
"Nor I," the dragon admitted ruefully. "Anow, thou hadst best be informing me of this news, least we both be forgetting and taketh a bit of rest instead."

"Yes." The general agreed, seeming to regain control of his tired mind. "Well. Before you drift off again, the poisonings are no longer confined to Chedo, Your Majesty. We've had reports…six villages around the Empire have been struck. The water supplies were poisoned. There were…no survivors." The emperor sighed and looked simply too tired to be upset with the news, so Rhun continued imploringly, "My lord…something must be done. There is panic the city, panic and the rumors of the Ludians, coming to kill us all. In insisting upon peace, you have set yourself against the masses. They will revolt if something isn't done."

"Dost thou think me mindless?" Fou-Lu snapped, suddenly angry with the situation…and himself. "Full oft I have tried, and yet mine efforts bequeath naught. What ought be done, then, General? What advice haveth thee? What counsel?" Fou-Lu was a dragon, and could stand alone against any mortal he had ever met, but should his subjects rise against him it could prove the end of the empire. One person could only subdue so many without supporters.

"I can offer nothing, Your Majesty," Rhun said, his tone apologetic.

Fou-Lu sighed, then noticed for the first time just how run down Rhun really was. The human trembled slightly, and his skin was paler than normal. "Be thou well, Rhun?" he asked with concern, his anger spent with his outburst.

"I…" The general shook his head, and Fou-lu realized his pupils were dilated oddly, considering the lighting in the room.

He reached the general's side just in time to keep him from splitting his head open on the floor as he toppled.