Chapter 15: 1000 Gods and 100 Princes
Arya was not sleeping. It was not normal for her to be so restless. She didn't know why she felt so torn up inside.
She felt the motion of her bedmate as Maud turned in her sleep, one hand coming to rest against Arya's back. This was something else Arya didn't understand. She had urges, longings, as any woman does. In the past her desire had been strictly for her spouses. She never felt desire for anyone else. At least not before Stygai.
Arya was not wanton. This was one of the things she and Dany had always argued over. Daenerys was insatiable in Arya's opinion. It wasn't that she was incapable of feeling lust. She could be quite randy in bed. But she had never possessed the unquenchable appetite that Dany had, in her opinion.
Not until Stygai. When she had driven the presence from her mind she had thought it gone forever. But it had left something. She hardly noticed at first. Not until they had left Asshai. But it had become more noticeable with each day that passed. And then, after once again dancing with death, it came to the fore full force.
Now it was unbearable. She wanted to get off constantly. It was downright painful. Her thirst for pleasure seemed to occupy her every waking moment. She still resisted the impulse to bed one of the men, though no doubt that could satisfy her cravings better than Maud could. That was still a step she was unwilling to take. But she found it increasingly difficult to avoid expanding the number of her partners.
The thing in Stygai had wrought a change in her. Some part of her that she had always kept hidden even from herself was taking over.
She didn't like it.
Arya wasn't the only one who noticed the change in her. The Queen was known for her sobriety, so her sudden binge drinking caused alarm. Wine was the only way Arya was able to keep the cravings at bay.
As they broke fast the next morning Asha was able to leave her bed and join them. She still looked ill and haggard. But it was a good sign that she was able to stand on her own feet. As they ate she noticed Arya downing cup after cup. Previously, Arya only drank tea when breaking her fast.
"Is something wrong?"
"What could be wrong?" Arya spoke more sharply than was warranted.
The Hound responded before Asha could. "Maybe the fact you seem determined to get drunk before midday."
"What if I am?" Her belligerence continued unabated. Everyone at the table stared at her.
Brienne then spoke up. "Will all of you leave us please? The Queen and I have something to discuss."
Nobody argued, though Arya glared daggers at Brienne. It wasn't The Stare, so Brienne wasn't the least intimidated.
She waited until everyone else had vacated the room. She then shifted seats to be next to Arya. "Do you wish to talk about it?"
Arya was still angry. "I have nothing to say."
She lifted her cup once again. This time Brienne grabbed her arm. Arya almost lashed out. Perhaps it was awareness of how alien she was behaving which stopped her. She dropped her cup and hung her head.
"You can't understand."
"Can't I?"
Arya thought about that. If anyone could understand her frustration it would be Brienne.
She was feeling the need right then. "I can't explain it. I have never been disappointed with my partners. Yet now I can't think of anything else."
This was a lot for Brienne to pick through. "You have been travelling for over a year."
"But it never bothered me before. Except for… you know. I have never felt any desire for it. Not to the degree that I do now."
"If you're not satisfied…"
Arya waved that away. "Any of the Queensguard would fuck a sheep if I asked it. This isn't about needing a man."
Brienne misunderstood the cause of Arya's disturbance. "Jon holds nothing against you. And Daenerys is in no position to condemn anyone. I'm sure they'll forgive you."
"I know that!" Arya took a deep breath. "I do not want to betray myself."
Up on deck Asha stood woozily next to the main mast. Crackjaw walked up to her. "We should be nearing the coast soon." She just nodded. "You all right?"
"I'm getting better. These past three weeks have been the worst in my life. Even in the roughest seas I have never been so sick."
He knew. He had been there through all of it. There's not a man in the fleet who would not have taken her place. But it was hard to witness.
"Did that maester ever say what caused it?"
"I don't understand his talk. He says the venom was worse than any poison he's ever seen. Guess he would know."
She nodded. "I've seen manticore venom. That kills straight away. Never heard of one that keeps you alive."
"He said it had to do with what part of your body it attacked. Like the Tears of Lys he said. All gibberish to me."
The lookout called down from the crow's nest, "Land ho!"
"Sooner than expected."
4th Wife, Empress Mi Pha was quietly fuming. She was frustrated, which was an all too familiar feeling. To say her marriage was not going well would not do the situation justice. Once again she barged into her mother-in-law's apartments, ignoring the injunction not to do so. Not finding the Empress Mother in the sitting room she continued into the inner sanctum, the place the Empress Mother expressly forbade anyone entry. Even her son, the 18th Azure Emperor.
The Empress Mother, Bu Ray, stood staring into the light of the rock column set in the center of the room. It was shaped a lot like a candle and stood near as tall as she was. Mi Pha didn't understand the magic of how it worked. Only that the old woman used it to spy on people.
Mi Pha didn't like her mother-in-law spying.
Bu Ray failed to react to Mi Pha's sudden entrance. The younger woman stood there quietly until the Empress Mother deigned to look upon her. The light died and Bu Ray turned to her daughter-in-law.
"I have told you not to behave in such an uncouth fashion." The old woman showed no emotion. She never did. It was one of the most vexing aspects of her personality. Joy or sorrow, it was impossible to know her mood.
"Forget that!" Mi Pha was far from unemotional. "The guards on the wall have reported the arrival of the barbarian fleet outside the harbor."
"Yes, I know."
That was Bu Ray's usual response. "What are we going to do?! My dear beloved, your son, will not bestir himself."
That she spoke so openly of her husband was a bad sign, as Bu Ray knew. Not that the reaction was unwarranted. Bu Ray had long been aware of just what Mi Pha thought about her betrothed. Her opinion did not count for much.
"It is… irrelevant. They cannot harm us."
"You said they humbled all the wizards of Asshai!"
Bu Ray hated being challenged, but her expression never changed. "So they did. It matters not. They will not become violent. Not here." Mi Pha's face spoke eloquently the rejoinder she had prepared, so the Empress Mother headed her off. "Despite what you may think, they are civilized people. They do not resort to violence flippantly."
Mi Pha's opinion of foreigners wasn't so benign. "You don't know that! The stories I have heard about this queen…"
"My sister of Leng chose to aid her. I consider the matter settled."
The Empress Mother always referred to Bermüda as her sister, though how anyone could compare an empress of Leng to one of Yi Ti only the gods knew.
Bu Ray often spoke as if she could read minds and she did so now. "Is it that you consider a barbarian queen inferior to your august self? Or is it something else you fear?"
Mi Pha reacted as if stung. "I fear nothing!"
As with every other emotion she had Bu Ray did not exhibit any skepticism. But then she didn't need to. Mi Pha felt the hot flush filling her cheeks.
"Does your inability to breed cause you bother? I do understand the feelings of the young in such matters."
If I do not breed it is because of your son! Though she dared not say it aloud.
"My son will make the correct decision."
Such was Mi Pha's frustration that she said openly, "Your son will make whatever decision you tell him to!"
She stormed out before the old woman could remonstrate with her.
The life of the emperor's consorts was supposed to be full of luxury and bliss. At least that is what the old stories always said. The most popular tales and songs spoke of women happily dying beside their men or cleverly obtaining revenge after their dear beloved's murder. Always with them committing suicide afterwards, of course.
Would that the old hag had followed the songs, Mi Pha thought.
The tales of the barbarians and their ships were becoming more common by the day. It hadn't taken long for news of the destruction of Carcosa to reach them. Soldiers sent by Ti Do had ridden all the way there and back before the alien fleet had reached Asshai. What they had seen and what they had heard alarmed Mi Pha.
What was more alarming still was the reaction, more accurately the lack thereof, from either the Empress Mother or anyone else in court. Mi Pha had no love for foreigners. Or trust for them either.
Occasionally rumors would percolate through the palace of strangers from distant lands. Some of them from the far, far west. She had heard stories of their strange ways and odd appearance. She had never seen one and didn't know if she believed them.
But the tales being told about this barbarian queen, oh, she believed those. Word had it she commanded dragons. Mi Pha had never believed in dragons. Tales for children. Or so she had assumed before Carcosa.
Suddenly, from out of a side corridor, came Shang-nu. He was Ti Do's chief lieutenant and a royal pain in the ass. He fell in beside her and shifted his pace to match hers. Mi Pha hated his foreign ways and his foreign looks. His skin was darker than was normally considered acceptable within the palace of Yin. His accent was harsh and guttural. His interest in her was of a most inappropriate kind.
"Has the queen received the answer she wanted?"
That's how he was, so forward. The man did not know his place. "It is not for you to know my questions to the Empress Mother."
He feigned concern. "This one cares greatly for the life of the queen. Is not that his duty?"
"My life is the Emperor's and none of your concern."
"Ah. But does the Emperor cherish his queen? This one has heard not."
She hissed in spite of herself. It was a frequent jab of his. She had entreated her lord husband Bu Do to put the man to death for his insolence. Unfortunately, Bu Do feared his great general Ti Do and Shang-nu was Ti Do's favorite.
"This one has heard the queen longs for a son."
The man really was growing bold to say this to her openly. She was well aware of his thoughts regarding her. To date he hadn't dared to do anything about it. It was only a matter of time.
"One needs to watch his words lest he give offense."
He stopped as she marched on. But she could feel his smile as she left.
Jon watched as Obsidian banked through the sky. Daenerys didn't like flying as a rule. Like him she usually only did when she wanted to go somewhere. But this was a duty she felt compelled to. She had strapped their daughter Rhaella to her chest. She took all the children flying from time to time. To accustom them to it, she said. They all liked it better than she did.
Jon did too on occasion. In fact, he hated flying. This was so odd given that he had more control of the dragons than either of his queens, or even the ancient Valyrians themselves if Kinvara was to be believed.
Obsidian landed and Dany hopped off. Rhaella was giggling with delight. Dany handed her daughter over to her nurse and walked over to join her husband. The two walked arm in arm back into the castle.
"It'll be her first nameday soon," Dany said by way of small talk. "You still want to go through with the party?"
He hated parties. All the dressing up and sham politeness didn't suit him. Still, he did enjoy dancing.
"We must have one," he insisted, not really convincingly. "The high lords must feel that their social station means something."
Titles really didn't mean much anymore save for the King and his Queens. But people still respected them for some reason. And it had to be said, the High Born still owned more land than anyone else even if it was greatly diminished.
Talking of small things, the two made their way to their children's apartments. The nurse followed behind. As expected, the older kids were at their lessons. Ned was playing nearby. He had a little target dummy he liked to throw balls at.
The children's new tutor had arrived a moon previously. He made a stark contrast from his charges. With skin black as coal and his low cut hair curling like sheep's wool, he could not have come from anywhere other than the Summer Islands. His beard extended to his chest and was as dark as his skin. He was the first, the very first, maester to originate from the Isles. Not only that, he was also the first Summer Islander to make archmaester. His ring, rod, and mask were of pewter, the metal for teaching and record keeping.
Reggia was sitting half asleep nearby.
The kids looked up from their writing. "Hey daddy!" Dany sighed. It was so normal that they would be more enthusiastic over seeing their dad. "Maester, I mean Archmaester Walimu promised to take us to his islands." Cat was sooo like her mother. "He's been telling us all about how weird they are." She looked at the black man. "Sorry."
Archmaester Walimu smiled, not the least offended.
Rhaegar asked, "Can we visit the isles dad?"
"When you have dragons of your own."
This was a sore subject for the children. They were constantly hounding him for when will they get their own dragons.
"I want to see the birds!" Cat protested.
Walimu spoke indulgently. "I will have some brought here."
"You can do that?"
"Assuredly."
Later, after he had sent the children to the beach with Reggia to draw seabirds, Walimu spoke with their parents.
"Surely you didn't tell them everything?" Dany asked.
"I was proper according to your etiquette. The children of my land learn of such things earlier in life than yours I have noticed."
"Would that I had such an education. Your people are so much more open than ours."
"Tis true. Perhaps it is because your people value courage and honor in adversity more than mine."
"Don't sell yourself short," Jon said. "I think your people value bravery. Maybe they just don't see the need to demonstrate it so often."
"Perhaps," he allowed. "You are concerned with the development of the young ones?"
This was still a hard subject for Dany to face. "Cat was injured because… her teacher would not accept that she was growing up."
"Yes, I had heard. It was most unfortunate.
"We were hoping you would know the best way to explain it to them."
He was sober, understanding what she didn't say. "Love is natural. And children must mature. Trying to hide the truth of it does them no good. Yet I do understand your hesitancy. It is true that experiencing love too soon can be most hurtful. And I have noticed the fondness the two older ones have for one another."
"We do feel they need to learn patience," Jon interjected.
"Do not despair. Your children have more sense than you think, great king. I do believe they understand the harm they may do by trying to move too quickly. Nevertheless, it is the nature of the young to be impatient. I will keep an eye on them."
"We thank you Archmaester."
On leaving the archmaester they made their way to the Room with the Painted Table. This was where they met with visitors. Waiting for them there was possibly Daenery's least favorite person.
Jaqen stood up from the seat at the head of the table when they came in. Dany did her best to ignore him.
"You have something to report?" Jon asked him.
"A man does." Jaqen always seemed amused by everyone. They were sure it was mostly an act. "The King's Master of Laws asked a man to spy upon those of the Faith. A man has done so."
This got Dany's attention. "What did you find?"
"Those who speak against the Queen are increasing."
"Are they really speaking openly against us?"
"Not against the King. Not so openly. It is the Queen they mostly speak against."
Jon didn't like this. "Why?"
"A man can only guess. A man thinks the people do not want to blame the King who they give thanks for saving them. Instead the King's people find it easier to blame his woman for leading him astray."
Dany was understandably upset. "Do any of them remember that we helped him?"
"There are those who remember, but those of the Faith choose not to remind anyone of this. One of the King's ladies has vanished and none know when she might return. Some say she never will."
This only served to infuriate her more. "Do they give all the credit to Arya?" Her tone was very belligerent.
Jon was alarmed. "It's not that they give her credit…"
"Some of them do. Apparently they think she was preventing me from perverting you."
Before Jon could think of an answer Jaqen exclaimed, "Her grace is correct. Many of the Faith have convinced themselves that the King's other wife was of their faith despite her being of the North."
Jon found this hard to fathom. "Why do they think she married me then?"
"She is of the North. They explain many thinks by saying she is of the North."
Knowing Arya as they did, this left the two of them sputtering, though for different reasons. "Don't they know she follows the Old Gods?"
Dany didn't care about that. "She's more perverted than I am."
Jon yelled, "Dany!"
They both looked at Jaqen, but he showed the same face as before.
Jon took a deep breath, not wanting this conversation to be any further sidetracked. "Stick to what they are saying."
Jaqen nodded. "His grace's children are also spoken of."
"And what are they saying?" dreading the answer.
"It is said his children with his Dragon Queen are abominations." Jon had to clamp his hand over Dany's mouth to keep her from interrupting. "They say his children from his Westerosi Queen should inherit instead."
"They are aware that being King no longer means what it used to?" Dany glared at him resentfully, but he kept his hand over her mouth.
"It matters not. What is real and what people believe are two different things. Many still care who will wear the crown after the King is gone."
Dany managed to bite Jon's palm and he let go. "My son is his heir!"
"The Queen may think so, but those of the Faith intend to change this if they can."
Jon, knowing Dany, grabbed her shoulders and spun her around. "You are not doing anything crazy."
"I'm not being crazy! I am going to acquaint them with a dragon."
"No you are not!" He turned back to Jaqen. "Where are they meeting?"
"A place called Stoney Sept."
"Where else," Dany muttered.
"Perhaps I should visit them instead." Jon spoke more to himself than either of them.
Dany, knowing Jon, was suddenly alarmed. "You are not going there without me."
"You think I can't handle this?" He was offended.
"Yes. You are a great man Jon, but you can be so innocent at times. You're as like to go walking straight into them alone and unarmed as you are to bring an army."
He stared at her resentfully because that was exactly what he had intended.
Jaqen interjected, "It is not necessary. The Master of Laws is already planning to take action."
This angered Dany too. "Davos? You informed Davos before us?"
Jaqen showed no change. Jon though knew his wife at least as well as she knew him. "It's all right."
"It's not all right! They serve us!"
"Davos is my Master of Laws! It's his job to police their behavior."
Dany didn't say anything, but her glare was all too familiar to him.
Arya came up on deck, fully armed and armored. Her Queensguard was waiting for her in similar condition.
Summer was docked in the great harbor of Yin, second only to that of Volantis. Thousands of ships of all sizes filled the water off the port. Most could not tie off at any of the long piers and had to ferry their cargoes ashore with boats. Summer had a privileged berth, tied directly to the dock.
The Yitish had left them dangling for two days. The Ironborn had used the time to trade and check out the city. It had been an effort to keep locals off the ships.
A messenger had finally arrived after mid of day. The man spoke to them in High Valyrian surprisingly enough.
"We have been invited to an audience with His Glorious Majesty Bu Gai, the 17th Azure Emperor."
Marwyn hadn't known that Arya spoke High Valyrian. "That's not what he said." Marwyn turned sheepish. "The Emperor's name was Bu Do and his title was the 18th Azure Emperor. And it wasn't an invitation."
"What was it?" though Brienne had her suspicions.
The Hound didn't speak High Valyrian, but he could guess and his weren't suspicions. "They commanded us."
The Queensguards yelled in outrage. Arya wasn't any more pleased. "Archmaester, tell this stinking outhouse to go back to his Emperor and tell him…"
"We can't say that!" Marwyn had visions of hordes overrunning their ships.
"I take orders from no one!" Spouses excluded.
As Marwyn argued with her in an effort to prevent an incident the herald, realizing he had goofed, spoke again. "Please forgive this most unworthy messenger. I, perhaps, used poor language. I am used to being sent to speak with inferiors." Arya had to admit, his High Valyrian was impeccable. Better than hers. Better even than Dany's. "Your majesty is of course a great queen. The Empress Mother expressly commanded that I address you as such. Your Highness is asked if she will met with his Great Magnificence Bu Do, the 18th Azure Emperor."
Arya wasn't the least mollified. Nevertheless, she wasn't looking for a fight. So she had accepted the invitation. That didn't mean she was going to take risks. Thus, full armor despite the heat. What the others took notice of was that she was already wearing her helmet. She had never left the ship wearing her helmet.
Asha, looking a hell of a lot better than she had for weeks, stood at the top of the gangplank. "You sure you want to do this?"
It was a justifiable question. They had gotten themselves involved in other people's problems despite Arya's determination not to.
Arya was a long time answering. "They have something planned since they knew we were coming. Whether it's because of what happened in the Great Bay or magic, we cannot risk their plots. If I have to take action better it be now."
"Even with all our advantages we can't fight the whole of Yi Ti."
"I am aware of that. I won't allow it to reach that point. If we have to run we'll run."
Asha nodded acknowledgement.
Arya left Summer followed by her Queensguards. The herald was waiting for them. Arya hadn't bothered to learn his name.
With a healthy escort of soldiers, the herald proceeded to lead them through the city. This proved to be a trying experience. Why the worthies of Yi Ti had failed to provide them with transportation they didn't know. It probably wouldn't have helped. Yin had to be the most congested city any of them had ever been in. Worse than Kings Landing by far. Yin was easily the largest city in the world with only Volantis coming close. Its population might have rivaled the North of Westeros in size. As a result they actually had to stop at an inn for the night before they ever got near the palace.
In spite of her august rank Arya found herself having to share a common room with her Queensguards. "I never imagined so many people could live in such a small space. I had thought Kings Landing was big."
Lyanna wasn't impressed. "Being crowded together like pigs in a sty is not something to be proud of. How can anyone breathe in this shit-stinking place?"
"Almost as bad as that eunuch," Alys said, referring to the herald.
Joella asked Brienne, "Did Varys smell like that dickless wonder who led us here?"
"No. He always covered himself in perfume. Come to think of it, I never did find out why."
Maud said, "If you cut off too much of the cock they can't control their piss."
Obella snorted, "And people keep saying eunuchs are women."
That got a laugh from several of her companions.
Yimi said, "I don't know. Old women smell pretty bad."
"Yeah, but we aren't old."
"Not yet."
A few of them glanced at Arya, not sure if she would take offense. It wasn't an intentional slight and the Queen showed no indication of noticing.
Lyanna noticed that Joella looked almost crestfallen at Yimi's comment. "What's wrong?"
Joella was very sad. "I know when I joined the Queensguard I agreed to the likelihood I was never going to have a baby. But the more I've traveled on this journey the more I want one."
There was a long silence before Obella broke it. "Why would you? You'd only end up smelling like an old woman."
Her effort at humor fell flat. "You want one. You told me yourself."
Obella was dead faced after that. Alys tried to cut the tension. "It is natural. Women desire to have children."
"Not all women," Brienne cut in. "For a long time the Queen didn't."
The fact that the Queen was younger than most of them wasn't lost on them. "Most young girls don't," Maud said. "But when you start to bleed your desires change."
The Queen shocked them by saying, "Mine didn't. I changed because I died."
Arya almost never talked about her literal experience with death. None of them ever knew what they were supposed to say regarding it.
As the only one there with actual experience with motherhood, none of the others could lecture her on it. Brienne, who was well aware of just how unlikely she was to ever gain such experience, asked, "Are you afraid of becoming an 'old woman'?"
Arya grunted. "I am one." This made all of them laugh.
They got up early the next morning. They were served food and wine, but no payment was asked for. Evidently their visit was being supported.
It took several more hours of travel before they finally reached the palace. Palace didn't do the place justice. Nor could it truly be described as a palace. It was more like a city within the city. Much like the Black Walls of Volantis. The Great Doors, gates large enough to allow access to a full-sized dragon, were red and bronze. They opened even as the group approached.
But this was not the end of their journey. None of the women needed to be told that this place was built large specifically to impress visitors. The palace was designed as a giant square with high defensive walls thirty feet high. Towers were at each corner and gate, of which there were four. Each was a full forty feet tall. Against all four walls were buildings of every description; barracks, blacksmiths, temples, hostels, armories, and stables.
The center of the square is a giant courtyard at least a mile across. It reminded Arya of the palace at Carcosa. We should have brought Marwyin with us. Arya wasn't sure the Archmaester would know why the Yitish build their palaces like this, but he would at least have a theory. In the center of the courtyard was the main palace building, a pagoda-like structure several stories tall. It rivaled the Red Keep in size.
Before the group reached the doors of the main palace Snowflake and the Cannibal finally made an appearance. Arya, of course, had kept track of the dragons through the eyes of Snowflake, but she hadn't told anyone else. So it came as a surprise to everyone, the guards on the walls included, when the two beasts flew low over the city. The heard screams of panic from everywhere.
Arya smiled.
Brienne leaned down toward her. "You could have warned us."
"And ruin the surprise?"
Asha was just as surprised as anyone. Crackjaw stood next to her as the Ironborn watched the two beasts circle the city a few times before flying off. There was pandemonium in the streets.
"The Queen likes to make a spectacle," Crackjaw said. Asha snorted.
The dragons having flown off to who knows where, the herald led them the rest of the way to the main palace doors. All of their legs felt like wood by the time they got there, though the Westerosi were amused to see that the natives were just as affected by the prolonged march as they were.
No doubt this Emperor thought it would wound our pride to be on shaky legs by the time we reached him.
Disappointingly, the march still wasn't over. The doors did not open into the main hall as it would in a Westerosi keep. Instead they found themselves having to travel further into the palace down several twisting corridors. All of this was of course by design. As with the journey to get here, forcing visitors to walk endless hallways was intended to weaken them in the presence of the monarch.
Nor was the ordeal over when they finally reached the throne room. Incidentally, this proved far smaller than they had expected, barely large enough to fit the group and all the guards. Add in the people who were already here and the room was filled to bursting.
Speaking of which, standing at the back of the room was a large crowd of women dressed in diaphanous gowns. Many held fans and all had highly stylized hair. More guards in addition to the ones that escorted them stood along both side walls. A group of what looked like eunuchs were to one side. One was particularly noticeable for he was very fat.
The throne itself stood on a dais at one end of the room. Sitting in it was a boy who had maybe seen seventeen namedays. With him were two men and three women. The two men were clearly soldiers dressed in blue enameled armor. The women were dressed in the same fashion as the crowd of geese behind them. One was older, perhaps having seen forty or so summers. The other two were only a few years older than Arya. She had to admit that all the women, including the old one, were very pleasing to look at.
"Kowtow!" commanded the fat eunuch. "You stand before his Magnificence, his Gloriousness, his Mightiness, Smiter of Barbarians, Ruler of the Entire World, Overlord of All the Seas, Bu Do, the 18th Azure Emperor of the Golden Empire of Yi Ti."
Nobody moved. None of the Queensguards spoke Yitish, so they had no idea what he said. The only action Arya made, aside from glaring at the man, was a noticeable tightening of her grip on Visenya's Dagger.
"Kowtow!" he yelled again. The guards were getting nervous. The Westerosi could hear the muted whispers of the women behind them. "Kowtow!"
Arya's eyes locked on the boy in front of them. She began to think he was even younger than his size would indicate. In the face he looked like he was barely a man. His arms were thin and sticklike. Hardly the kind you would expect on any warrior. His clothes looked far too big for him. He was also frightened and showed it. She even wondered if he was going to piss himself.
Dismissing him, she looked to the two men standing to his right. These two were certainly a threat. They both had the appearance of hardened warriors. One was unusually tall, though not nearly Brienne's or Sandor's height. The other was an older man, maybe as old as the woman, but she could see his body was hale and strong.
"Kowtow!" The eunuch was almost frantic now.
Shifting her gaze left, Arya looked over the women. The two younger ones could have challenged Cersei in looks. Both had midnight black hair done up in coifs. The taller one had a sharp, pointed face with large slanted eyes. They reminded Arya of snakes. The other's was more rounded, though she too had the large almond shaped eyes. She looked more intelligent. And more belligerent. Arya could almost feel the hostility in her.
"KOWTOW!" The fat man was practically jumping up and down. He raised his arm as if to signal the guards.
Arya flipped down the visor of her helmet. Her Queensguards followed suit.
Bu Do squeaked. The elder warrior whom Arya guessed was the chief general of Yi Ti barked out a command. What struck Arya was it was in a language she didn't know.
Before the guards could do anything the older woman also issued a command. Arya noticed, despite the sharpness of her voice, the woman had no expression on her face. "STOP!"
The general yelled back. "They threaten the Emperor!"
The woman's voice was calm. "You could not harm them no matter how hard you tried." She turned her gaze back on Arya. "They wear the armor of the dragon."
The shorter of the two younger women said, "We must drive them out!"
The old woman looked gravely at her. "Would that were possible." She moved past the other two and placed herself front and center. It was pretty clear that she was the true power. She cared nothing for the fact that she was standing in front of the Emperor.
"Dragon Queen." She addressed herself directly to Arya. "Do forgive our servants. They do take their duties seriously."
Arya moved to the foot of the dais and raised her visor. "They insult us."
"They are not used to such… prominent visitors. I am Bu Ray, the Empress Mother."
Arya acknowledged the title. "I am Arya Stark, Queen of Westeros."
"I know. I have been following you for some time." She turned to the other two women. "These are the consorts of my son."
"Both of them?"
"All of them."
Arya turned to look back at the flock of geese at the back of the room. These continued their gossiping and giggling. Arya's opinion of them dropped dramatically. She looked disbelieving back to the Empress Mother.
Bu Ray was just as unreadable as before. "Empress So La, 1st Wife of Emperor Bu Do." The taller of the two bowed slightly. "Empress Mi Pha, 4th Wife of Emperor Bu Do." This one didn't bother showing respect.
"What about two and three?"
"Do you care?"
"No."
Mi Pha couldn't conceal her smile.
Bu Ray now turned to the two men. "General Ti Do, Commander of the Capital City Army. His… underling, Shang-nu." For the first time the Empress Mother was unable to hide her emotions. It was gone in a blink.
Arya glanced at them, then dismissed them. She could see out of the corner of her eye that the general was incensed by her dismissal.
"Everywhere I have traveled I find people watching me."
"That is no surprise surely. You are a power in the world. Naturally others would be curious."
"What I am curious about is what you know of my kingdom."
"Nothing." The Empress Mother's forthrightness rocked Arya a little. "We are not interested in the affairs of…"
"Barbarians?" The old woman remained silent. Arya laughed. "Yes. No doubt you think about us that way, just as we think that about you."
The muttering behind them got louder. The snake-eyed strumpet said, "The smelly barbarian gabbers like a monkey."
Arya noticed that Mi Pha did not like her co-queen very much.
Bu Ray did not bother turning around. "If you wish to be uncouth you may go to the aviary and play with the monkeys." Mi Pha could barely contain her amusement. So La struggled to match her mother-in-law's composure.
Arya asked the Empress Mother, "Does the 1st Wife know the blade?"
So La answered for herself. "I am skilled in pursuits more proper for a lady."
Arya's smile was a challenge. "Yes. No doubt there are many here who have enjoyed the fruits of your talents."
Gales of laughter rang out from the crowd of ladies. Even the guards couldn't hide their amusement. Ti Do tried to look stern and failed. His underling didn't bother and grinned. They were joined by Mi Pha who could no longer hold in her glee. Despite herself she found herself liking this foreigner.
So La's face twisted in rage. "How dare you!" She stormed forward, no doubt intending some action which was sure to have lethal consequences. Fortunately for her, her mother-in-law grabbed her before she could. "Release me!"
"If you wish to die do so in the privacy of your apartments. I wish to speak with this foreigner."
The Emperor suddenly squeaked, "Stand back! I command you!" He even sounded younger than he looked.
It was noticeable that nobody in the room paid him any mind. The two women didn't even look at him. After glaring at her mother-in-law for a bit, So La returned to her place next to the throne.
The Empress Mother was not amused. "You have a sharp tongue."
"And a sharper sword."
"There is no need for violence. We respect strength. You have made a great journey and proved yourself."
"Proved myself?" Arya didn't like what the Empress Mother was implying.
"You may be a queen within your own kingdom, but that means nothing here. Would you like to be a queen in the greatest kingdom on Earth?"
There was a shocked intake of breath. The Boy Emperor himself looked stunned at his mother's question.
"You mean here?" Arya didn't bother to keep the disdain out of her voice.
"You may take a place within his majesty's harem."
There was dead silence from the geese.
Arya was smiling, or rather smirking. "And what number would I be?"
"His majesty has forty-seven wives."
"And I would be forty-eight? Or are you planning to bump me up to number one? Or maybe number three?" She could tell from their expressions that this was what the two behind her feared.
As before, the Empress Mother showed no emotion. "That has yet to be decided. It depends on you, if you prove yourself valuable."
The Queensguards could not follow the conversation. They had to gage it by Arya's reactions. So they were just as surprised as the Yitish when their Queen started laughing. And she kept laughing. The halls rang with her chortles. Brienne became worried Arya would injure herself.
"Marry? That thing?" She pointed mockingly at the Boy Emperor on his throne. "Does he even know where his pole goes? Has he made a woman out of even one of his 'wives'?"
She knew from their expressions that her mockery hit its mark. For a moment the mask slipped and she saw rage on Bu Ray's face.
"What does he do all day, play and the mud and make toy snowmen? You insult me you old hag!"
Now it was Arya's anger that shined through. The natives were too shocked that anyone would dare speak to the Empress Mother in this way that they didn't know how to react.
"I already am married, to a REAL man! My man saved the world, including your little sticking sty! Your miserable little kingdom would fit in the North of mine and still leave room to spare. I am Queen of the LARGEST KINGDOM ON EARTH!"
There was dead silence. None of the Yitish dared to contradict.
Arya switched to Westerosi. "I am Arya Stark, wife of Jaehaerys Zaldizes Zokla, First of His Name, King of the Andals, the Roynar, and the First Men, Protector of the Bay of Dragons, Great Khal of the Dothraki Sea, Defender of his people and Protector of the Realm. And I will not tolerate insults!"
None of the Yitish knew her language, but they didn't need to. The guards fingered their weapons nervously. The Empress Mother had specifically ordered them not to do anything. She had warned them all that the barbarians were too strong to fight and none of them, save Ti Do, was willing to challenge her.
Arya stepped ominously onto the dais and proceeded up the stairs until she stood side-by-side with the Empress Mother. Bu Ray was taller than she, but it mattered little for Arya was dressed head to foot in nearly impregnable armor. Bu Ray only wore silken gowns.
To her credit the Empress Mother did not back down.
Arya spoke so quietly only Bu Ray could hear, though the others tried real hard. "I know what you are after. You are not the first. If you try to take them they will burn you to ash. If you kill me they will take their revenge and all the armies of Yi Ti cannot stop them."
With that she spun on her heels and marched out, her Queensguards filing in behind her.
There was a long silence in the room afterward. Finally Ti Do exploded. "You allow a barbarian to speak to you that way?!"
Bu Ray's eyes had never left the door. "I am not as foolish as you. She is beyond you."
"Perhaps we can ask her again? Offer something? What do barbarians like?" The Boy Emperor was desperate to please his mother. He was terrified of this foreign woman, but he knew his mom wanted them to marry. "Surely she likes presents. Don't you like presents So La?"
Just as before, nobody paid the slightest attention to him. He kept speaking, entreating. Bu Ray ignored him and Ti Do's glare and took her leave. So La and Mi Pha similarly evinced no interest in Bu Do's babble and followed her. Ti Do gave the Boy Emperor a disgusted look before he too left.
So La was actually relieved that the smelly barbarian refused the Empress Mother. She wasn't about to say so. Being well practiced in acting the sycophant she played it now. "The barbarian woman doesn't understand the great honor you were offering."
Mi Pha was having none of it. "Don't be the fool!" So La looked daggers, but Mi Pha had never been afraid of her. "She knew exactly what was being offered."
Bu Ray said, "Do not insult your husband Mi Pha."
They had reached the Empress Mother's apartments. Mi Pha waited until they were safely inside before continuing. "It is no insult when it is the truth! She saw clearly what he is. What you made him to be."
"You blame me?" Her tone was less scolding than curious.
"Of course I blame you! He is your son! Instead of making him a man you have kept him a boy."
So La agreed, but wasn't about to say so. "Ridiculous. He is the son of Bu Gai, praised be his name."
Mi Pha looked at her with scorn. "Bu Gai didn't speak five words to him. Bu Do was raised by the Empress Mother. Or those of her choosing."
Bu Ray had reverted to her frozen stoicism. "Why would I do such a thing?" It was impossible to tell if she was upset in any way.
Mi Pha's suppressed emotions came pouring out. "To control him! To be your puppet! He sits the throne so you can rule!"
So La interjected, "The Empress Mother will pass on her responsibilities when he is grown."
Her false effort at mollification fell flat. "When will that be? In another twenty years? Has he made a woman of you? Assuming you aren't one already."
This barb struck home, for it was a commonly believed rumor that So La was less than faithful to her Emperor. The two women tensed to launch themselves at each other. Bu Ray admitted to herself that this might actually be entertaining. Neither woman was particularly strong or trained in fighting skills.
Nevertheless, if there was one thing the Empress Mother disliked it was uncouth behavior. "Do keep control of yourselves. You are not barbarians."
Her words kept the two from attacking each other, but it did nothing to calm Mi Pha's temper. "What good does that do? I am a wife without children. This barbarian queen comes here a woman grown, her son to inherit his father's crown. I am older than she yet I am childless."
"Calm yourself, Mi Pha. You assume too much."
So La, as always, couldn't resist getting involved. "Where did you hear such things?" She tried to make herself sound scornful and failed miserably. She too was acutely conscious of her lack of offspring.
"I listen!" Mi Pha snapped back. "You would be better off if you did likewise." She turned back to Bu Ray. "One does not need magic to hear rumors. Everyone knows that this queen destroyed Carcosa. Some say she even killed the Yellow Emperor."
"Foolishness."
Mi Pha wasn't going to let herself be sidetracked again. "It is said she gave birth to dragons. That she and this king of hers slew the devil who ruled the demons that attacked us. Two dragons flew over the city when they entered the palace."
Bu Ray sounded almost bored. "What would be your point?"
"What are we going to do?!"
So La stopped her act. She wanted to know the answer too.
The Empress Mother allowed her disdain to enter her voice, though her expression never changed. "This turn of affairs is not unexpected. Some of us do consider such things."
Bu Ray turned from them and walked over to a side door. This led to the Empress Mother's sitting room. She slid open the door to reveal a woman kneeling down waiting. The woman appeared to have been waiting for some time. She was dressed entirely in black, with a black scarf wrapped around her face. Only her eyes showed.
Throughout the entire confrontation with the barbarian queen the Emperor's wives had not felt what they did now; fear.
Bu Ray's voice was cold. "What words fail to accomplish the genjin will achieve."
END CHAPTER 15