An Emperor's Fury: The Frayed Rope

by Paul Heisel

  “You don’t fight for him at all?”

  “We can be called upon to defend in times of great need, yes, that is always a possibility. But if one of the dragons is killed in battle on the behalf of the Emperor, there are concessions he must make. Lands of the ruling families must be given to the clan. This is a major deterrent and something the Emperor doesn't want to do.”

  “Why did he command you to find me?”

  Sli rubbed the underside of his chin along the log, stripping off the bark with his hard scales. “I was told to search for your belt, not you. As to why, I don’t know. I have been looking for the belt for twenty years. Twenty years…a short time for a dragon, so I thought nothing of it. I’m still middle aged, in dragon terms, and have many more centuries of life left in me.”

  “What I want to know is why? Why did he want the belt?”

  “You’ll have to ask the Emperor that. I roamed from place to place from time to time, trying to find the belt. But I couldn’t find it. Not until you returned did I have an idea where it was. What I don’t know, though, is how you can hide it from me. At times there were only pulses, inklings that it was near. Even this close, I can't feel the belt as strongly as I should.”

  “Let me ask you this – is my belt attuned to you?”

  “It is. I must be able to locate the Most Favored anywhere in Pyndira. The other dragons that are in the service of the Emperor are attuned to the other Most Favored belts.”

  “One each for each family?”

  “Yes, and one for the Emperor and one for the Warlord of Pyndira.”

  “They can locate the other Most Favoreds through the magic of their belts?”

  “Of course.”

  Feln gathered the stripped branches and bark, then set them on the glowing coals. He extended his hands, warming them. Once they were warm enough, he grabbed his belt. “I think you can only sense the belt when I take it on and off.” Feln removed the belt.

  “Ah, yes, I can feel it strongly now.”

  Feln put the belt on again.

  “Now it’s gone. You have extraordinary control over your belt. You hide it well.”

  The bow that followed from Feln was sincere.

  “You are respectful, Most Favored of Safun. Thank you for your kindness.”

  “You said before that you agreed to perform one service for me. How did that happen?”

  The sound Sli made wasn’t a pleasant one. “I was imprisoned, that is all you need to know. Yuki helped me, even though he went against his father’s wishes. I will perform this one task for you and one task only. No more favors. Only one. Don’t expect me to come to you on a whim. It won’t happen. I serve the Emperor!”

  “Certainly,” Feln said trying to soothe the dragon. He could tell that Sli was agitated about this situation. What had happened to this magnificent creature?

  The dragon snorted and the fire winked out. It flared up again moments later.

  “What will you do after you deliver me to Safun?”

  “Look for a mate as I was promised,” Sli said. “There are few dragonlings these days, and the clan must proliferate. Despite my service to the Emperor, I must do my part to keep our clan strong. I’ll take a mate and remain there until the Emperor summons me back to the palace.”

  “Thank you Sli for your help.”

  “As soon as we get to Safun, I will be on my way. I will not linger or help you with anything else.”

  “I got it, this is a onetime event.”

  “Good,” the dragon boomed.

  “I’m curious, can the magical bond you have with the Emperor’s belt be broken?”

  “Not with this collar on. It has been this way for centuries. I will serve until I’m too old or too crippled, then another dragon from my clan will take my place. When that time comes, the collar will be removed and I will be free. I have heard from my predecessors that there will still be a magical connection with the Emperor, that it never goes away, but I won’t be bound.”

  Feln yawned. “Maybe things will get better now that you’ve found me, maybe the Emperor will be more agreeable to letting you have some freedom. Rejoining your clan to make dragonlings could be a start.” He yawned again.

  Sli laughed. “I only have this opportunity because of Yuki. Just as my service to you is a onetime occurrence, so is me spending time with my clan to sire dragonlings. I'm done talking. Sleep well human.”

  #

  Sli swooped from the sky, landing far enough outside of the city of Yanekeni, the capital of Safun. The dragon explained that it had been a long time since he had come to Safun’s capital, and the Safun army would probably think he was attacking. Feln figured Sli wanted to be on his way, and that going into the city would take more time. He left Feln a mile distant from a roadway in the forest, clear of any obstacles and traveling people. They bid each other farewell, then Sli took to the skies and flew to the southwest. Feln hoped the dragon would find what he wanted, and he hoped the Emperor wouldn’t mistreat such a wonderful creature again.

  The road was well-traveled and worn, Feln could see that. It was afternoon, and when he appeared out of the forest, the travelers on the road didn’t pay him any mind. Around him hills rolled, making the trek toward the city exhausting, but Feln found he had energy today. The countryside was lovely and invigorating. It was green here, lush, with forests, farms, and ranches spread out. Ahead was the capital city, Yanekeni, no longer a dot on a map to him. He could see it located up the valley, perched on large, flat hills. Parts of the city extended on either side of the defensive walls, and it looked as if it had been constructed over several different time periods. There was no distinct theme to the architecture; it looked like any other city he had traveled through in Pyndira, no one style dominated. Around him the people, his people, went about their day. On the way to the outer gates, he saw that the outermost farms were busy with harvest, so the flow of traffic and goods on the road was staggering. He noted children playing near the road, flinging mud created by the recent rains at each other. Even the scolds of their mothers didn’t deter them from their fun. From this distance, he could see that this city was well-defended. The construction of the walls, the number of defensive towers, and the presence of soldiers was impressive. After giving his name, Feln, and telling the gate guards he was visiting a friend named Suun, no further challenge was offered. He was sure they didn't know Suun, so he figured visiting a friend was uninteresting to them and didn't warrant additional questioning. Inside the city, Feln recognized militia, peacekeepers, roaming with their blue uniforms, each armed and attentive. Merchants were registering at a central building while others were coming out with wagon loads of goods.

  Feln stopped at the first merchant he found and asked where the palace was located. The woman, who was selling decorative baskets and cooking pots, pointed toward the higher hills in the distance. There was a structure set into the hill and it was surrounded by thick stone walls. It looked remote to the main sections of the city, built as if to oversee everything from a comfortable height. He began walking, moving as fast as he could without attracting unwanted attention. Activity sprouted around him, inns and taverns were overflowing with patrons as midday approached. The central market he went through was buzzing with hawkers. Merchants, nobles, and common folk joined him in the climb toward palace. He imagined it was like Hiru or Daiwer-dar; people would come to the court seeking an audience with the Most Favored – him. But he wasn't there, so he wondered, who would they ask for? A chamberlain? An advisor?

  The palace ahead was dark and defensible, but didn’t have the layers of elaborate defenses that he had seen in Hiru or the incredible amounts of open space at the Emperor’s palace. It looked rather plain; tall, thick walls with towers had been built into the hillside and switched back on each other, making it an undulating path to the palace. Each level appeared independent of each other and could be defended. The gates were open and each had two guards. He did receive a few questioning glances, probably be
cause of his monkish appearance, but no one stopped him after he told them he needed to speak with Suun. When he reached the top, he realized the palace was set back into a small mountain, and there seemed to be various structures supporting the palace built in and around the area. None of the people were going to what looked to be the primary part of the palace, what he presumed was the seat of power. He thought that odd. All traffic was going into a small structure that looked like a manor house like the one he had in Amuyakin. There were guards watching attentively and people milling about, court attendees were coming and going just as he had seen in Hiru. He wondered, where would Suun be? At the palace? At the manor house?

  The walk to the palace seemed to take longer than it did in reality, as he was caught up in anticipation. This was his home, wasn’t it? But not without Owori, he thought. He hoped Suun had found her and relayed his message. He couldn’t imagine his life without Owori. Being away from Iristi had been good for him, and it had strengthened his resolve to get home to Owori. The pathway to the palace narrowed because of the numerous statues lining the sides of the avenue, creating a set of obstacles for anything larger than a horse. Each statue depicted a different warrior in a variety of poses. The first on his left was that of a woman, and he thought, it had to be his mother. The statue was of her standing straight, proper, with a faraway look on her face. She was wearing the Xialao family uniform, carved to exquisite detail into the off-white marble. The brass plate said Sari-un-Xialao-Ling. He continued down the laneway, stopping at each statue to take a gander. The other names weren’t familiar except for the Xialao. The statues depicted men and women in fearsome poses with their stone blades flashing, and two were mounted on horses. After the twentieth statue, he realized it would take a while for him to investigate all of them. The others statues would have to wait, as the palace was right in front of him and he had no reason to delay.

  After the statues, the avenue widened to reveal the front of the palace. It was a substantial structure, but not as large as the Emperor’s or Chang’s by any means. It was made of grayish stone blocks, inset with designs he didn't recognize. Windows covered with curtains, concealed any view of the interior. High balconies looked unused, doors were closed, and not one window was open. The stone stairs leading to the main entrance had dirt and leaves on them, and Feln wondered about the absence of foot traffic. Was this the wrong entrance? Was it not used? He stopped and looked. On either side, and located many yards away, were short stone fences three feet high. They would keep visitors from wandering to the side into grass, landscaped bushes, and free growing ferns. Everything was well-cared for, yet this area felt vacant. It made him hesitate. He went forward anyway, the enormous iron shod double doors greeted him with indifference, or so he thought. He felt a tingle of chi, and as he approached, the door opened two inches. There was a musty odor, not noisome, just old smelling. With his hand, he pushed the door open and he entered the palace. It was dark save for the sunlight illuminating the woolen fabric shades that covered the windows. He called out and no one answered. The palace appeared abandoned. He opened both double doors completely, letting in the light so he could see the interior. Why was the palace defunct?

  The atrium was dusty. Black marble, flecked with gold, lined the floors, similar to the tiles in the manor house in Amuyakin. Dust eliminated any sheen they must have had. There were stuffed chairs and small wooden tables along the sides, as well paintings of landscapes on the walls. A balcony overlooked the atrium, but Feln didn’t see the stairs. A wall divided the atrium from other places in the palace. There was no activity, and the dust indicated no one had been inside for a long time. Feln wondered, had this been shut since his mother died? Feln turned toward the double doors, dust kicking up, and he discovered two guards were marching up the stairs. They wore unblemished leather armor and carried long ebony spears. The crest of a sword was etched into the left side of their breastplate. He prepared for anything, not sure what their intent was, his hand searching for his katana. It could be that they thought he was intruding? He should have gone to the other structure and asked for Suun! The guards made it to the top, stepping in time now straight toward Feln. They didn’t enter the palace though or accost him in any way. Instead they bowed to him, then took up positions outside of the door and disappeared from his view. Feln eased out of the door with caution, but he didn't fear an attack. Both guards stared straight ahead.

  “Welcome home,” one of them said. “We were told you would be coming. News traveled like wildfire when you told the gate guards you were here to see Suun. No one comes here to see Suun.”

  “I need to speak with her immediately,” Feln said.

  “She’s on her way.” The guard stood rigid and resumed staring ahead.

  Feln looked down the avenue. Curious people were walking toward the palace. A few broke into a jog. Some were dressed in noble robes and gorgeous gowns, others looked as if there were stable hands and gardeners. Additional guards arrived as well, all crowding around the steps but not coming up. More people came and fanned out among the statues, filling in the available open space. Pushing through the crowd came Suun. She slipped by the people, then others made way for her. The athletic woman came up the stairs two at a time. She wore the family uniform, blue fabric with a gold sword sewn on the left side of the chest. Her curly blonde hair twisted in all directions, not distracting though from her lightly tanned face and bright blue eyes. Suun was smiling.

  “Feln! You made it!”

  Feln bowed.

  “I wasn’t expecting you this soon! Emato said you would be arriving. How did you get here so fast?”

  He surveyed the crowd, the conversations waned until it was silent in the statuary. “Another time,” he said. “I thought I asked you to come to Daiwer-dar?”

  “I sent a note back telling you that I had to stay here – you must have left before it arrived. It doesn’t matter now. Welcome to Safun,” she said. “Welcome home.”

  “Thank you.” He was aware now of hundreds of people watching him. It was eerily silent. Feln stepped forward to the edge of the top step. He figured he should say a word or two, though he wasn’t sure what those words should be.

  “My name Feln-en-Xialao-Narneth, Most Favored of Safun…the son of Ling,” he added.

  The cheer that followed was as loud as any noise he had ever experienced from a group of people. They hollered and screamed, whistled and clapped. Among those cheering he could see people crying. Feln stood motionless, his eyes watching the crowd. He could see older people shuffling forward and being assisted by young men and women about his age. He turned to Suun. She was beaming with pride. The small group of elders was coming up the steps, getting closer to him. Their faces were a mixture of emotions. They were sobbing, others were stone serious and somber. They came forward and stopped in front of Feln. They bowed with respect. No one spoke.

  Feln turned to Suun. “I don’t understand what they want.”

  “They want to mourn their loved ones,” Suun said. “When your mother disappeared, she left members of her staff behind. They were trapped when she didn’t return. Those doors,” she nodded toward the huge double doors, “if closed can only be opened by the Most Favored of Safun. When the Most Favored closes them, as your mother did, it seals off the palace. There was no way in or out by any means, physical or magical. All entrances and exits had been sealed with the magic. When she left, their sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers were trapped.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Feln said.

  “Come with me,” Suun said. “The servants will make the palace ready for you by tomorrow.”

  The crowd parted in front of them. Servants moved into the palace, followed by the mourners. There were more murmurs. He saw happy faces, he saw sad faces. Suun pulled him forward, taking his elbow with her hand and guiding him along. Her grip was gentle iron. They broke free of the crowd and made their way past the statues and across the courtyard. More people had gathered. Guards were firmly telling th
e crowd to disperse. They made it to another structure, a smaller manor house, but still a substantial building. It was built of solid granite blocks and looked weathered. The building was old. It was boxy, simple, but built with sharp angles and a sweeping roof, like what he had seen in Hiru. There were defensive areas, but not many soldiers that he could see. He took another look around – the defenses for the manor were minimal.

  “Don’t need them,” Suun said, as if she knew what he was searching for. “This isn’t like Hiru where threat of invasion seems to be inevitable. Our outer defenses are enough. If an army were to get this far into Safun, all would have been lost long before they arrived.”

  Feln followed Suun up the steps and through the double doors. The interior was worn as well. The wood flooring had been repaired numerous times with the stain not quite matching on several planks. An ornate iron chandelier filled the interior with candlelight, flickering now and again with the movement of the air. Old faded silk tapestries covered the walls. Each depicted a different battle. There were administrators here, just as there had been in Hiru and Daiwer-dar, and they bowed as they approached.

  “Long ago this served as the palace for Safun,” Suun said. “A thousand years ago the Most Favored had the other palace built and he linked the safety of the palace to his belt. There are no records how he did it, but the palace is impenetrable by any means if you wish it to be so. Only the belt can open it. We’re not sure why he did that. Just be aware that if you seal the main palace, it will be sealed, and no one can go in, and no one can go out.”

  “Is this where you live?”

  “Yes.”

  Suun directed him toward the back of the room. There were more steps. She led him upstairs through a narrow stairwell. The steps were well worn and the wood, like the floors, had been replaced recently. It felt old in here, a living and breathing piece of history. The walls showed signs of ancient battles, sword strikes had nicked the walls. Suun was watching him.