Temple of the Traveler: Empress of Dreams

by Scott Rhine

  She found him covered in blood, searching the pools and bedding. “There you are. I was worried. We killed them all. Ember’s leg is broken near the knee. Komiko is tending to her.”

  “Are you hurt?”

  “No, I was so angry I reached into a man’s ribcage and crushed his heart. It made a mess. We found Violet’s body stuffed in a cabinet, too.”

  Either because of the incense fumes, the sight of the floating corpse, or the detailed description of the carnage, Sarajah was shivering. He sat beside her and put an arm around her. “The weirdest thing: for the first time since the Battle of the Falls, I’m not hungry.”

  “All this turned your stomach?”

  “Um . . . no. I think I absorbed some kind of energy from the people I fought. This might be why the creature I met in the Halls asked me not to kill anyone. My body might be developing a dependence.”

  Not knowing what else to do, Sarajah wept.

  Chapter 27 – First Lesson

  Nightglow made burn salve and liberally applied it to her mother’s stomach. However, the pain was still intense. The emperor sat by her side. Sarajah came in to inform them, “I’ve splinted Ember’s leg, but she’s not going to dance by spring. It doesn’t feel right that she gets disqualified for helping me. Komiko is nursing her.”

  “We all know she was never very fond of me, but I owe her a debt of honor. The dead man beside her was former Commander Taka, a vile man; he had orders to kill Anna at one point. Ember performed admirably. We can arrange a professional nurse for her,” Pagaose offered.

  Lady Evershade croaked, “Highness, the two heroines are incredibly . . . fond of each other.”

  “Good friends, to be sure.”

  Both older women shook their heads. Nightglow covered her mouth.

  Pagaose’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh? How do they . . . ?”

  “As often as they can,” Lady Evershade assured him.

  “Several of my handmaidens had this proclivity.” Sarajah explained the mechanics briefly. “Komiko and Ember have made great progress refining Pinetto’s coursework.”

  “Fascinating.” He drifted off for a moment, then shook his head. “No matter. You’ve done this empire a great service today, Lady Evershade. Not only are my guests intact, but Lord Ashford has been forced to support me to show his patriotism and disassociate himself from the attacks. The other schools quickly did the same. My appointment as emperor is made unanimous—all due to your quick action. How is it that you had so many weapons handy?”

  “The girls wished to incorporate elements of their special skills into the dance.”

  “Hmm . . . so they both said, in exactly those words.” He withdrew the bird carving that was sky blue over both wings. “I am a poor emperor who has little to offer; yet the little I have, I share with you.” He placed the carving on her bare stomach, and she gasped when the wave of relief came. “It doesn’t take the pain away, merely reduces it slightly. It may enable you to sleep tonight.”

  Lady Evershade transfixed him with her eyes. “Yes.”

  “Violet’s funeral will be after the coronation,” he said, causing the lady to close her eyes. “She never hurt anyone. Senseless. Cleanup in the dome is going to be tricky since only women can enter. I couldn’t bear to touch one of those stones, with all that negative energy; I think I’m going to level the place.”

  Nightglow lowered her face. “Sire, my mother would gladly entertain you until she can no longer speak. I must beg you on her behalf to attend your other duties.”

  “Your duties, too,” insisted her mother.

  “Then who’s going to take care of you?”

  Ironically, Anna ended up caring for Lady Evershade’s pain with the exact bowl of sedative that she had used. She stood guard, fearing that, even drugged unconscious, the noblewoman might wreak havoc. The loyal fox took a piece of bacon from its mistress’s plate and curled up at the sleeping woman’s side.

  ****

  At dinnertime, the emperor appeared at the lady’s left bedside. Anna went to fetch food of her own. He’d been there some time, scratching notes on a map. The fox was now on his lap. “Dragon hunting?” she asked, voice cracking.

  The fox perked its head up at her voice.

  “With your suggestions and a dozen helpers, I’ve narrowed the count of islands that we need to investigate to five. Two are close enough that my scouts should report tonight. I’m so confident we’ll find her island that I’ve sent my message to the Mandibosian Ambassador.” Pagaose handed her his cup of tea. “The honey will help.”

  Her little finger brushed his hand, and he wanted to kiss her on that bed. He might have, but seconds later, Nightglow entered with a tray.

  “Mother, you’re looking much better. There’s even some color in your cheeks.”

  Lady Evershade sipped the emperor’s tea. “Did you send the invitations for me?”

  “Yes, Mother.”

  “You’re doing work from your sickbed?” the emperor asked.

  “I am making the work come to me. I need to sell property for Scribbles, and on his list, I noted a request from his highness to check the contents of the Royal Museum near my home. I decided to combine the two tasks. I am throwing a tea for select wealthy citizens at the museum.”

  “You can’t walk that far in your condition,” he said.

  “I’ll take a palanquin,” she replied. “I ran a business and threw parties nine months pregnant, and that was more of an inconvenience than a little burn.”

  “I’m sending Duwara and some of his men with you as a guard.” When the noblewoman opened her mouth to object, he asserted, “No more on this topic or you’ll be confined to your room for contempt.”

  Lady Evershade sipped the tea to conceal her smile. “What did today’s lesson cover?”

  “It was scandalous,” the girl whispered. “While the observer from the purity council was there, Pinetto lectured on fidelity and trust. For the magic to work, don’t abandon or change partners. He married his. He suggested the men ask us questions to get to know all about us. When we did this for some thirty minutes, he asked each man three questions. They got nearly every one wrong. When he asked the women, we got them right.” The satisfaction in her voice was evident. “The men got an hour of homework to practice asking questions and listening. Women have to do it all the time. Then he did origami, showing us the interlocking pyramid things. When he joined them, they made a pretty star with eight points.”

  “I thought there were only six,” said the mother.

  “When you flatten it, there are. The two points in the center aren’t visible. Only half the twenty men there could fold the shape. Frond and his wife worked together. They’re so sweet.”

  When the cup was drained, the emperor asked, “May I get you another?”

  Lady Evershade suppressed a smile. “You shame me with your kindness, sire.” But she held out the cup anyway, waiting for the touch, anticipating its effect on him. To cover, she asked, “What’s on the tray? It smells divine.”

  The girl turned to get the food and Pagaose snatched the cup. Not only was he rewarded with the thrill of her touch, but the cup was laden with lustful impressions. She shifted the carving so he could see her navel. The girl was unaware of the flirtation. “Pinetto said that after a hard night of magic making, a grateful wizard should reward his assistant by making breakfast. I have to say, I’m liking this religion of Archanos more and more. Most men burned toast or scrambled an egg. Niftkin’s was the most colorful, with peppers and ham—tasty too. However, his highness took the prize.” She unveiled a puffy egg confection.

  The chaperone asked, “What is this?”

  “Cheese soufflé,” explained the emperor. “I learned from a friend at the Library. You pick these things up as a bachelor for over a decade.”

  “For me?” asked Lady Evershade, sitting up.

  “You need your strength,” he said.

  The girl sat in the chair on her mother’s left. “Then Pin
etto joked that the creativity of the meal is a reflection of the night before.”

  Pagaose slid the tray up, covering her exposed flesh. Lady Evershade countered by trapping his hand against the side of the bed, out of her daughter’s sight.

  He squirmed as she took a bite with the fork in her right hand. “Mmm. Heavenly,” Lady Evershade said. Then she slid her fingers between his, interdigitating. The fox moved from his lap, uncomfortable. It began sniffing the air in the direction of the food. “Then what happened when the monitor left, dear?”

  Nightglow gestured in the air. “He explained pleasure spots and took questions of a most indecent nature. Frond knew a lot.”

  Lady Evershade took a morsel of food, placed it gently between her lips, and let the fox pluck it from her mouth like a kiss.

  “Ick,” the girl commented. When the girl stood to pour a drink for her mother, the emperor quickly disentangled his hand.

  “What sort of questions?” asked Lady Evershade.

  “Did you know that Imperials can have as much sex with non-Imperials as they want without having babies? Well, almost never. He wrote calculations on the board to show how many hundred years you’d have to try to be sure of success.”

  The mother smiled. “Every man on this island is aware of that fact, darling. What was the first pleasure spot?”

  “Mother, there’s a man in the room.”

  “He was in the room when your class discussed it. I’m curious what my tuition money is buying.”

  “You’ll never believe it: kissing. He said if it’s done right, it can light a ward point.”

  “Indeed. That sounds like much more interesting homework,” her mother observed, glancing at the emperor.

  ****

  Pagaose walked out to the dueling circle at sundown. The dragoness didn’t keep him waiting long. “Your sailors are sniffing where they ought not.”

  The expedition scouting Abranega Island hadn’t returned on time. Were they all dead now? Was it a coincidence that his last enemy, the Marchion, had ruled that cursed place? “I wanted to send a message. I know where you sleep.” He didn’t dare appear weak, but he had to know. “Were there any survivors?”

  “I’m permitted to consume criminals. With all the extra flying I do, I need the energy.”

  He winced. Niftkin had used the vague term ‘freelance’ when referring to the paid explorers. “Were there any survivors?”

  “One, but I siphoned his memory before nudging the wreckage toward another island. The images of my feeding on his companions disturbed him so much that he begged me to excise them . . . much like your guilt.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “Speaking of which, where’s my carving?”

  “Safe. I keep it close to my heart at night.”

  “Excellent. It is working?”

  “It’s very useful.”

  “What did my daughter choose?”

  Pagaose listed his concessions, including, “Her first thought was for your safety.” He left the promise vague. Serog didn’t need to know he couldn’t kill her.

  “She is a good child.”

  “I offered her a seat beside me on the throne.”

  The dragon drew back.

  He continued, “It would’ve been ideal for everyone, but she refused out of love for her favored.”

  “The bearer of the Defender, Baran Togg, is fortunate indeed,” the dragon whispered.

  He hid his surprise and didn’t correct her. He covered with a wry laugh. “He hasn’t been lucky so far. She still has her virtue. Every time they try, something intervenes. He’s patient.”

  “Tell me of my daughter’s beloved.”

  “I don’t think that’s my place.”

  She put her chin on the stone, farther up than she should have been able to. The wizard battle had scorched away the protective markings. Describing both Tashi and Baran, he said, “You know he was in the Brotherhood of Executioners. He’s done many missions and distinguished himself at the Battle of the Falls. She admires his strength, integrity, and determination. He admires her body . . .” The dragon made a sound he recognized as a snicker. “Also her skills and intelligence.”

  “You’ve sent her far away?”

  “To the land Archanos gave her. She leaves after my coronation.”

  The dragon’s head shot up. He kept his hand on the sword as he taunted, “Sandarac has lost before a single arrow has been loosed. I hold both major swords, the Book of Dominion, the Book of Dawn, the College, the power of the Door, and now dreams.

  She smelled him. “Indeed, I can tell you’ve been practicing. But you have only one sword; my daughter controls the other and will not side against me.”

  “Yield and I will give you peace and a place of honor in our society. I could give you criminals to eat. If Sandarac brings arms against me, I will crush him. Tell Humi’s pet I’m giving him one last chance to deal. I don’t want anyone else to die in this pointless war. You know what will happen if I unleash the magic of the Traveler.”

  “He will want neutral territory—Muro.”

  “No, let’s use your island after your daughter leaves. Waterday night, we’ll each bring one ship and we meet alone.”

  Serog growled. “You know he cannot walk unaided.”

  “Fine, we can bring seven guards each, but I want your guarantee of safe passage to and from the meeting.”

  “You have my word. I will tell Sandarac the rest.”

  ****

  That night, after curfew, Nightglow snuck to the guard wing. Niftkin had fallen asleep in the study of his two-room apartment, with a ward manual on his lap. She crept up to him and planted a warm kiss on his mouth. He started at first, but kept his silence and she kissed him again. After a few bits, she moved the book and took its place on his lap. At the half-hour mark, the crystal around her neck began to shine. She smiled, stood, and sauntered out of the room. The head guard watched her leave, biting his knuckle till it turned white. These were the rules of the night visit.

  ****

  Pagaose appeared in Lady Evershade’s dream. She was wearing the tight bragging dress from the day before. He slid the straps off, and pulled the dress down and off her feet. She lay on her back so she could watch him undress her. Her underwear moved down slightly as the bow on one side caught the strap. He stopped tugging just as the first sign of hair on her virtue appeared. He untangled the dress and whipped it off in one quick motion.

  Her breathing was ragged already.

  He pulled out an artist’s brush and a pot of dark jam. “Now it’s your turn to suffer. No sounds,” he said. With agonizingly precise calligraphy, he repeatedly traced the words across her body: ‘Property of Emperor Pagaose!’ He added several random swirls and flourishes; however, the exclamation point was always in the same place.

  She had to bite her lips a few times but stared at him haughtily when he’d finished his fifth message. Her raised chin was a challenge.

  “Now, I get to lick the jam off.”

  Her eyes grew wide. Her body arched as she held in the sounds of ecstasy. She succeeded until he reached the exclamation point.

  She awoke, calling out to Osos, sweat covering every inch of her body.

  Anna was in the real bedroom, with a cool compress. “You’re burning up. Here, take another dose of this painkiller and you’ll be able to sleep all night.”

  Lady Evershade guzzled the liquid, eager for what awaited her return to the dream state.

  Chapter 28 – Rehearsal

  Windsday Pagaose met all morning with the complete College of Wizards to set the expectations for his reign. Lady Evershade took the entire entourage of dancers to the museum reception to meet with everyone else of importance in Center.

  “Why did Ember have to come along?” Komiko complained as she set up tables with the men.

  Lady Evershade had his majesty’s bird carving on a gold chain around her neck. It artfully hung down to her burn and took away the sting. Her outfit was an outrageo
us ensemble of gold folds and a matching fan. The fox reclined next to her on the golden cushions of her palanquin. “Ember has a palanquin and, more importantly, she has a juicy story to tell. Gossips will come from all over to hear the horrors she faced or a hint of what the royal bedchambers are like. A good story will sell our properties better than anything.”

  “I was there, too.”

  “You are not a delicate noble who made the ultimate sacrifice for her love, yet is unable to attend the dance. Don’t pout; you’ll be able to escape the vultures.”

  Nightglow grinned. “Mother, half these people are your friends.”

  “Pish. You know I’m right. Get used to it. This is what being a noble wife is like. Behind the scenes you press the hands, ignore the boredom and pain, and politely beg for what your husband cannot.”

  “You make parties sound like a chore,” laughed Komiko.

  Lady Evershade smiled. “Just for that, you get to be the door greeter. You need adequate jewelry. Here, take my pearl necklace.” She handed over a string with fifty tiny pearls. “They have emperor’s sand in the center, so they’re protective. Remember that: through irritation comes perfection. Smile at everyone, call them and their escort by name, and say one nice thing about each. If the wife shows up after the mistress, send her to the portrait gallery and signal Nightglow to warn the mistress. If the mistress shows up later, she’ll know what to do.”

  “There’s an etiquette to cheating?” asked the witch.

  “My dear, society could not function without it.”

  “How do I know who’s sleeping with who?”

  “Whom, dear. When spreading vicious and damaging gossip about the private affairs of others, one must always use proper grammar and posture.”

  Bovinia giggled.

  “Lady Vapordoom usually arrives early and knows the latest rumors. Place the invitation list on a table within earshot of where you’re standing, and she’ll fill in anyone who’ll listen. After a few hours on the front lines, I’ll ask you again if you think parties are fun.”

  “Then why do you do it?” demanded Nightglow.