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Chapter Twenty Seven

What Fools These Mortals Be

"You called, Your Majesty?" Rhun asked, raising an eyebrow at the dragon as he closed the sickroom door behind him. The emperor offered a glance that made the human grin as he walked to sit again at the dragon-god's bedside. "All right, Fou-Lu. How may I help you?"

Fou-Lu eyed the cheerful human, feeling somewhat better than he had when Rhun had seen him earlier that day. He had slept since that time, letting unconsciousness numb the pain that his wounds forced him to endure. But now the dragon was awake and it was boredom that drove him to call for Rhun's presence. In truth, he also had genuine need to speak with the general about matters, particularly the ones that had put him in this sickroom to start with. "I wouldst thee bespeaken of what thou ken of these recent eventualities."

"What I know of Saruk, you mean?" the human asked, losing some of his smile at the serious topic. "Prior to this, I had very little to do with him, although I knew his family." His tone implied he hadn't particularly wanted to have anything to do with the family in the first place.

"His family…," the dragon mused, shifting uncomfortably as one of his muscles spasmed and pulled on one of his wounds, "They wouldst be behind him in this venture?" The likelihood of the usurper pulling off his highly organized scheme alone was small, and the backing of a noble house would certainly explain the resources he had spent in the process.

"I imagine it is likely," the general said slowly, shrugging as he added, "As I said, I know the family, and they're all a fairly despicable lot." A moment passed before he admitted, "I took the liberty of ordering the surviving family members arrested until this mess can be sorted out."
Relieved he wouldn't personally have to hunt the traitors down, the dragon murmured, "Thank thee, mine friend. That maketh one less concern I needs must think on."

The human nodded, apparently relieved that the emperor approved of the action, then ventured carefully, "If I may ask, Fou-Lu, how exactly did Saruk manage to put you in this condition?"

Fou-Lu hesitated; his pride still stung at being outmaneuvered by a human. At last he begin stiffly, "…He did sendeth one of his poisoner to attend to mine slaughter me, but I didst descry the wretch and drag the situation of his contact from his specter. I didst see little other option but to seek his master mineself, for the poisoning grew daily with nary another trace of the perpetrators. I see now that 'twas but a trap, but the events prior had worn great upon me and I thought most unclearly at that hour. Upon arrival…one who appeared as the brother of this Saruk didth assail me and flee into a near building." The dragon, still little better than before, coughed and cleared his throat before continuing with some strain, "Mine ire great, I madeth pursuit. The building …'twas stacked with flammables and soaked in oil. The traitors entrapped me within with the brother of Saruk and lit the edifice. I didst taketh mine dragon form thus that I wouldst not be as susceptible to the dread flame and 'twas thus I survived the conflagration. Yet, the walls had been weakened by the traitors and the building and the two adjacent collapsed upon me and dideth entomb me alive." Voice seeming to grow hoarser as he spoke, Fou-Lu finished raspily, "'Twas then a day ere I couldst claw mineself free and maketh mine way to mine throne room."

As Fou-Lu attempted to catch his breath, the human commented, "Impressive. He planned well, one must admit." As he finished the statement, Rhun offered Fou-Lu a glass of water someone had left by the bed and helped the dragon raise his head enough to swallow.

"Aye," the divine emperor agreed after the cup was withdrawn from his lips. "And that one ensured I would be in little condition to defend myself by arranging the poisonings, as well."

Rhun shook his head in disgust at the new information, setting the water glass aside as he did so. "I'm somehow not surprised. His family have always condoned ruthlessness to get their ways."

Fou-Lu sighed and the room was silent for several minutes. At last, Fou-Lu voiced a weary question to his friend, though he expected no real answer. "…Why, Rhun? What be the motive of mortals to act in such a fashion? What driveth them to this… madness?" Fou-Lu had never really understood humans and his naivete toward them often troubled him. They confused and bewildered him, even as he did the same to them. Humans…they betrayed those they should follow and yet could hold loyalty even when it had grown pointless and foolish.

The general looked to genuinely consider the question, answering seriously, "Power, most likely, Majesty. I'm afraid there plenty who would kill you for the sake of the throne, had they the ability to do so. Others gained advantage from the war or the policies you put a stop to and would see you disposed of for that reason. The fact that you have discontinued the war has probably caused the most anger toward you." He quickly added, as he noticed the emperor's rapidly deteriorating mood, "Fortunately, most of the dissatisfied are too afraid of you to make a move, my friend."

The dragon did not look reassured in the least. Suddenly feeling the pointlessness of his situation, the Endless murmured, "…Power and riches, and for this to seek the death of such as I and to pitilessly poison hundreds in the process…what fools these mortals be…" Sometimes he wondered at the point of it all. Perhaps, once Yahla had returned to him again, they could flee this mortal confusion, and spend the eternity peacefully together with each other…and their offspring.

Attempting to bring Fou-Lu out of his depression, the general interrupted the emperor's flow of thoughts. "I have wondered about Saruk's motive, though, my friend. I am beginning to think that there was more to it than a bid for the throne or attempts to restart war."

Raising his line of sight to include the human, the dragon asked with some curiosity, "What be thy suspicions, then?"

Suddenly uncertain whether or not to continue in the conversation, least Fou-Lu become even more depressed, the general at last admitted, "…Saruk recently lost a brother. I believe his name was Rasso…if I recall correctly, you ordered him killed when you reorganized the military." He watched the emperor's reaction with concern, suddenly worried he'd simply made things worse than they had been.

The dragon-god's golden eyes widened behind the fringe of his bangs. "Thou art saying…" He paused, eyes locked with Rhun's, "Thou meaneth that for that disposal of a corrupt, murdering official, hundreds innocent of crime perished?! For vengeance, for the pride of a noble family the deaths of my people?! Why?! Why be humans such…?!" He broke off abruptly, visibly shaking.

"…Fou-Lu…?" Rhun ventured anxiously as the angry spark in the dragon's aureate eyes faded and died. The dull despair that replaced it alarmed the general to no end. He had to lean close to the injured dragon to hear his next words.

"Sometimes…I dost wonder…what point be there to mine effort?" the dragon mused listlessly, his eyes unfocused and his expression blank. The dragon's white knuckled hands clutched at the bed sheets as he continued, "I dost serve this Empire, makest sacrifice of mine time and peace of mind to protect those who liveth upon this sphere. And as I dost labor to please them, I canst but know I ne'er will please them all. Why persist this futile attempt to fulfil the purpose I was summoned for? And yet… I continue…and yet full many of those who I labor so for deserveth not e'en to draw breath…!"

"Fou-Lu!" the general exclaimed, attempting to break the dragon out of his depressed and increasingly disturbing thoughts.

He succeeded, to a point. The dulled eyes refocused on his face, pale hands relaxed their hold on the bedding, and the dragon-god murmured contritely, "Forgive me, mine friend. I ramblest. Pay no heed to I." He turned his face from his friend and stared with desolate eyes at the wall nearest him.

"…Fou-Lu." The man rested his hand gently on the Endless' shoulder and Fou-Lu, at once overwhelmed with his own despair, accepted the unspoken comfort his friend offered.

Something wet ran down the side of his face, and the dragon cried.