A cough drew their attention to the forgotten host. Prince Gong averted his gaze, but not before Gil saw the look in his eyes. Yearning, almost jealousy. Not for Charlotte, exactly, but for what they had, even the struggles and careful juggling of emotions.
“There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Prince Gong again pointed to the viewscreen. “As you can see, we’re prepared for all eventualities. Even an unauthorized entry to Xuanyuan, as unlikely as that may be with our encrypted frequencies controlling the wormhole.”
Satellite cannon lined the exit from the wormhole. Gil let out a low whistle of appreciation. Not even one of Her Majesty’s warships would be able to sustain that kind of firepower for long.
“Too bad you haven’t protected the rest of Zijin so effectively,” Charlotte said sharply. “You can’t guarantee that this is the only pathway through which you’ll be attacked. What about the rest of your planets and settlements?”
“Precautions have been taken,” Prince Gong reiterated with a brisk cutting motion of his hand. “If you wish to discuss strategies, I suggest you take the issue up with His Majesty.”
“But you’re instrumental in your country’s defenses, are you not? I’ve done my homework, Your Highness. I know exactly what duties are yours. I know how pivotal you were in securing his throne with his lady mother’s assistance. He’s very young yet, and so you’re a trusted and experienced adviser when it comes to military provisions.”
Gil braced for the man’s displeasure at their lady’s prodding, so he was surprised by the prince’s genuine smile. “Indeed, my lady, yet I only defend according to the Emperor’s edict. I understand you speak from a position of concern for my people, so your questions only deepen my admiration for you. Yet without the Emperor’s approval, I’m not at liberty to give a foreigner any further details of Zijin’s defenses.”
Gil tried to hide a smile, but Sig snorted. When she sniffed with displeasure, he laughed out loud until even Charlotte’s frustration dissolved into a smile. “Very well, Your Highness. You’re off the hook for now.”
As they neared Xuanyuan, the cannon became even larger, both massive laser and ion cannon that could obliterate a small moon.
“It’s not defenses, exactly,” Charlotte said in a low voice. “It’s a statement.”
Prince Gong nodded. “Everything about Xuanyuan is a statement, my lady. Few are allowed to enter this space. Even fewer are allowed into the inner sanctum of the Forbidden City proper.”
“How far from Zijin are we exactly?”
He shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. There’s no known star chart for this region. We’ve never found any other route to Xuanyuan. The ships that left to explore and map the region have never returned.”
“And what if your cooperative little wormhole suddenly begins to collapse? What will your Emperor do then?”
Prince Gong gave another shrug, but he averted his gaze from her probing questions. “This wormhole has existed for hundreds of years, my lady. I wouldn’t be worried that it might collapse anytime soon.”
He’s lying about something, Gil decided as they began the final descent toward a massive space station that dominated the viewscreen. For all they knew, there was another wormhole waiting just on the other side of Xuanyuan to take them back to Zijin proper.
Gil spared a glance to the back of the barge. The wormhole now flared a deep violet. The return frequency? Or some other location entirely?
The idea of going through such a hole—voluntarily—without knowing where it went or if one would ever get home made him queasy. What kind of person was willing to take such a risk?
As the barge was docked, Charlotte fingered the locket she always wore. Gil didn’t understand the technology, but he knew that the locket was the key to keeping Sig alive. The same technology had managed to heal her from a brutal lazor strike just weeks ago. Someone who didn’t know her might assume she was merely nervous, but she was never nervous. As they exited the barge, she lightly touched the control panel.
She’s probably bugging their ship.
The game was afoot already and all he felt was inadequacy. This kind of political waltz was not anything he was comfortable with. Protection and law enforcement, he knew, granted with an Americus flare. He knew next to nothing about Britannian politics and he was completely ignorant of the Zijin constituent. He couldn’t even assist her with her gown.
Not like Sig.
Hell, the man probably knew more about the great Houses than she did herself.
Gil pushed his frustration away with an inward huff. That was absolutely not true. No one knew politics like the legendary Lady Wyre. Why did she keep him around when he was such a handicap? When all he could do was play the country oaf?
He didn’t doubt her love, but he yearned to prove himself invaluable in some way. To take his rightful place at her side as her husband. He didn’t have connections, fine breeding, or even wealth or titles. All he had to offer was himself—the greatest gift he could possibly give her.
If only Sig realized the same thing.
Chapter Nine
Surely no other place in the galaxy could compete with the man-made splendor of Xuanyuan. A distant Zijin Emperor had carved out his palace from the nothingness of space. Not even a moon or asteroid had provided a foundation for the impressive space station the current Emperor called home.
Charlotte tried not to gape about her like a foreigner, but quickly succumbed to the overwhelming magnificence. A long docking station protected the main palace rather like a moat or wall would have protected castles of old. Heavily armored soldiers lined the walkways, their hard eyes tracking Charlotte’s party as they approached. Other barges lined the docks, but soaring red walls blocked access to—and view of—the inner city. High above, the defensive walls melded with the clear overhead dome enveloping the entire station. The only entry she could immediately see was directly ahead.
Once through the narrow door—and through the wall that was nearly three feet thick—she was surprised to see a wide-open and entirely empty courtyard. Stone tiles stretched as far as she could see, both ahead and to either side, wrapping around the massive outer walls. “How large is Xuanyuan?”
“Approximately the size of two Londoniums to our calculations,” Prince Gong replied proudly. “Each Emperor leaves his mark on the city by expanding it in some way, so it’s constantly growing and changing.”
“But how do you power it? Are you orbiting a planet? Where do you get your resources?”
Prince Gong smiled. “All in due time, my lady. Our scientists will be delighted to converse with someone of your renown.”
The walk across the courtyard seemed to take an eternity. Guards mounted on the high walls stared down at them, increasing the sense of anxiety. She could all too easily imagine the carnage if an army somehow managed to fly through the wormhole, escape the massive cannon and breach the outer docks, only to enter this inner sanctum. Even running at top speed, it would take long minutes to cross the courtyard—all while hundreds of soldiers rained fire and hell down on them from the high wall’s vantage points.
“I’m the most infamous assassin in the known universe, with too many kills to count…” Sig bent so he whispered in her ear, “…and this place is making even me sweat. There’s no way I could cross this plaza and live to tell about it if they decided to stop me.”
She nodded her agreement, but it was too late to turn back. “We’ll just have to hope we don’t have to find a way to escape on our own.”
Even when they finally passed through another archway, it wasn’t to meet the Emperor’s party. Another equally large courtyard awaited, this one decorated with fanciful statuary. Dragons and phoenixes in flight and repose guided them along the white-marble path. They even crossed a stream of flowing water with a delicate arching bridge. The happy gurgle of the stream and the peaceful trek made it seem like a dream.
Am I really here, in the Forbidden City, nearly ready to meet the Emperor?
Again, the courtyard walls soared upward, giving soldiers an impenetrable perch high above to eliminate any encroachers. Ahead, a massive stairway led up a white-marble mountain towering over the courtyard. Two red carpets stretched up the stairs, each wide enough for a carriage. In the center, something was carved into the marble steps.
“Only the Emperor crosses the dragon.” Prince Gong pointed to the intricate carving. A sinuous scaled dragon wound its way up the stairs.
Charlotte slowed her step, wishing she hadn’t tightened her corset quite so much. Plus that gave her more time to process everything she was seeing. So much gorgeous artisanal work. So very little technology. Odd, when the entire space station was a glowing example of exquisite technological advances.
Even the soldiers on the walls were armored like in olden days. It wouldn’t surprise her if they carried swords and pistols instead of lazors or ion cannon. Yet she’d seen the massive cannon protecting the wormhole exit, and the Imperial assassins’ technological advances had certainly been impressive. Xuanyuan itself was an incredible testament to man-made technology, yet this part of the palace grounds was deliberately primitive.
At least on the surface.
Curious, she touched the locket again to load a small amount of nanobots onto her gloved fingertip. Then she pretended exhaustion, pausing to brace her hand against a particularly fearsome dragon’s gaping jaws. “A moment, Your Highness. My current fashion choice has left me winded.”
“Of course, Lady Wyre. The climb is considerable.”
She breathed as deeply as possible despite the constriction around her rib cage and then set out again. Since Gil had her arm, she even pretended to lean on him a little more. He certainly didn’t mind.
Finally, they reached the top of the staircase. The party stopped again to stare.
Ahead, a massive palace of wood and gilded columns rose from the white-marble plaza. The tiled roof gleamed like pure gold, sharp peaks decorated with dragons and other creatures. Marvelous, yes, but then Charlotte’s eyes went up to another palace that hovered above the other. She craned her neck back and thought she could make out yet another palace even higher above. How far up did they go? How did they hang one above the other as though they floated on air?
Her mind raced through scientific alternatives. They’d already shown their understanding of positive and negative charges. Perhaps each palace was like a gigantic magnet, placed so the poles opposed one another. She couldn’t imagine how they’d managed to generate enough power to infuse such a massive electric charge, though. Not for long-term usage like this. Some kind of hover technology based on air flow? But there were no roaring sounds of wind or generators.
Perhaps it was something simple.
They could be using some kind of superstrong clear plastic to give the illusion of hanging palaces, one above the other. Perhaps the same material as the dome. Nodding to herself, she decided that must be the solution. She’d be interested in the chemical composition of such an ultrastrong polymer, but she was confident it must be similar to Londonium’s original dome formula before they’d moved to a magnetic field. Though she wasn’t arrogant enough to assume they hadn’t developed something that worked even better than her formula.
If they had, she’d definitely copy every note she could find about it.
Regardless of the technology, it made a fantastic impression. The Emperor was the Son of Heaven. Naturally, his palace must appear to hover magically in the air, inside a divine city that also floated unmoored in deep space.
“Tài Hé Diàn, the Hall of Supreme Harmony,” Prince Gong said. “Our largest building in Xuanyuan.”
Nine arched doors led them into a spacious, ornate hall. Every inch of the surfaces was covered in carvings, tiles and gold. Thick pillars were wrapped in golden dragons glittering in the old-fashioned lamps and candles. She had to admit the soft glow did look magnificent, making the fanciful dragons seem to come alive, sparkling in the light.
The massive Dragon Throne loomed in the center of the hall, covered in the ornate beasts, naturally. Even Majel’s throne wasn’t as ornate or as large. Her entire council could join her on that dais with room to spare.
“Only very formal ceremonies are still held here, like coronations and weddings. I hope you’re not offended that the Emperor isn’t receiving you here.”
“Of course not.” She smiled, trying to keep her conversation as authentic and open as possible so he wouldn’t be suspicious of all the things she kept touching. “Honestly, I’m quite relieved that there won’t be pomp and circumstance. May I take a closer look at the throne?”
“Be my guest.”
Even the Dragon Throne got a bug, just in case there was some unusual technology lurking in the gilded monstrosity that she ought to know about.
“Above, you can see the Xuanyuan Mirror.” Prince Gong indicated a large chandelier hanging above the throne, from which hung several large balls. “Legend says that if a false Emperor takes the throne, the Mirror sees the usurper and will fall to crush him.”
“So if I sat on the throne,” Sig drawled, arching a brow at Charlotte, “that big ball would fall on me?”
“So they say.” The prince grinned. “Of course no such calamities have ever been recorded. You’d be the first, if you wish to give it a try.”
“I think I’ll pass this time.”
Charlotte suspected he was thinking, I have a contract to complete first.
As the prince led them behind the throne, she couldn’t help but wonder whom Sig had been hired to assassinate, and by whom. Zijin politics were complicated enough without worrying about who might not survive the next few days. Yet she wouldn’t press him for details.
He had to know that he could trust her. If he wanted her to know, he’d tell her.
Although waiting for him to approach her might finally put her in her grave where Majel had failed.
Sig enjoyed the tour just because Charlie ate up every single detail. Her eyes glowed as brightly as the antique lamps on the walls. Animated, she asked endless questions, which Prince Gong surprisingly answered for the most part. He had amazing patience and fortitude to deal with a woman of Charlie’s immense curiosity.
I hope he’s not the one I’m supposed to kill, because I rather like him.
Though he’d killed plenty of people he liked.
“If you’ll come this way, we’ll proceed to the next level.” Prince Gong led them behind the massive throne to a small dark door. They all stepped inside with room to spare, though it was dark and close like a water closet. He pressed a small button on the wall and the floor began to rise. “The lifts are powered by turbines beneath the main structure.”
The roof slid back soundlessly and they rose into seemingly nothing. Sig reached out and felt a clear plastic, rounded tube. “I don’t particularly care to be rising twenty feet or more in the air with only plastic keeping us afloat.”
She squeezed his arm and laughed softly. “Then I highly recommend that you not think about the plastic dome providing our oxygen and keeping us from tumbling away into the vacuum of space.”
“Plastic may be a misnomer in this case,” Prince Gong replied, returning her smile. “The material’s actually a hybrid between polymer and glass. It makes for a lasting impression when the Emperor descends from the upper levels for a ceremony. To the people waiting in the courtyard below, it looks like he’s floating on thin air.”
“The Son of Heaven,” Charlie whispered. “So how many levels are there above us?”
“There are currently four levels. First, the public level, which is available for ceremonies. The Emperor’s advisers and clerks meet with him in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.”
“Public, as in anyone can come through the wormhole?”
The prince smiled apologetically. “My mistake. Public, as in whomever the Emperor has invited to enter Xuanyuan. He rarely leaves the city himself, so the best way to keep his finger on the pulse of Zijin is to meet
regularly with his advisers.”
Perhaps it was one of these trusted advisers whom Sig had been contracted to kill. He didn’t think so, though, unless the person was very, very powerful. In his research of the current political situation, no single adviser had the power to sway the Emperor. That was left to the Dowager Empresses. Maybe the Emperor wanted to cut that leash and rule on his own. Few assassins would kill a woman, but that had always been Sig’s specialty.
“This level is more private. It’s a place for the Emperor to pause and meditate before a ceremony.” The elevator didn’t stop, but Sig didn’t guess they were missing much. From the glimpse he caught of the interior, it was very much like the larger hall below, just more subdued. The elevator stopped on the third level and the prince indicated they should disembark. “This level is for more intimate gatherings. It’s considered an honor to be invited to meet the Emperor here for dining.”
Charlie laid a hand on the sliding door to halt their exit. “Are there any particular customs we ought to know about so that we don’t accidentally commit a faux pas?”
“It’s very simple, my lady. Never turn your back on His Majesty. Otherwise, pay him the same respect and courtesy you would to your Queen and all will be well.” Then he turned and looked at Sig and his friendly demeanor sharpened to a honed edge. “Of course, your men must now surrender their weapons without argument to the Imperial guards. No one enters His Majesty’s presence while wearing arms.”
“Of course,” Charlie replied easily, giving both of them a nod. They’d prepared for this eventuality, but it didn’t mean that either of them liked the idea of sitting by helplessly while someone was trying to kill her.
With a hard smile, Gil handed over his ancient, six-barreled pistol to the waiting guard. He accepted the gun and the other guard stepped back to allow Gil entry.
Lord Regret's Price: A Jane Austen Space Opera, Book 3 Page 8
