Rows of the chieftain’s personal honor guard were in the chamber. Their eyes were reddish and exhausted, but they were strong. Each one was at least a peak-initiation-realm demon, and each one could draw on the power of their homeland. They walked through an opening at the center of it all. The chieftain sat on an elevated platform. He looked down on them as though they were ants. Both Cha Ming and Shneraz bowed lightly. The Stargazer Chieftain lifted his hand, and the drummers stopped.
“You have come to my home seeking an audience,” the chieftain said. “On behalf of the Kingfisher Guard, no less.” He motioned to the closed box beside him. “You have brought a gift that is sufficiently honorable. Please, let us speak. Let us eat.” He clapped his hands. Two youngsters of the Star-Eye Clan brought cushions that Cha Ming and Shneraz sat on awkwardly. “Don’t worry, I’ll come down.” The chieftain stepped off a carved chair of heavy living wood. He grabbed the cushion on it and tossed it on the floor at the base of the platform. “Sit,” he said. And sit they did.
Cha Ming wondered how they would eat, given that the dishes were on the floor and far away. But soon, the many dishes moved. A wooden bowl flew out to each of them. The dishes floated up to chest level and began wandering between them to where they could comfortably reach. The king seemed to pay them no mind and reached out for whatever was closest. Every dish could be eaten by hand, and those that couldn’t had been skewered with a small stick. The Monkey Clan wasn’t much for utensils.
No bananas! Sun Wukong whispered as Cha Ming eyed a golden fruit. It looked delicious and juicy.
I hate you all, Cha Ming replied and grabbed something else—a spicy skewer with something that resembled roasted avocado. The three of them ate in silence for a while before the chieftain finally spoke. He looked to Shneraz.
“You have journeyed far and spent much effort to speak to me,” the chieftain said. “Tell me, what has brought you, child of the dragon?”
“I would love to speak of it, but important matters must come first,” Shneraz said. “May I ask how I should address you?”
The chieftain grinned. “All who lead Stargazer City are called the Stargazer Chieftain. I had another name once, but until I die, or another claims my crown, it is mine. What of you, child of the dragon? What of you, little human?”
“Please call me Lord Golden Oblivion,” Shneraz said. “My mother was Lady Golden Rancor.”
“I knew Golden Rancor,” said the Stargazer Chieftain. “She died bravely.”
“She supported our tribe to her dying breath,” Shneraz said. “It is a pity we lost the mountains.”
“The humans pressure us so,” said the Stargazer Chieftain said regretfully. “And you, little human? Descendant of those who oppress us?”
Cha Ming licked his lips. “My apologies, Stargazer Chieftain. I am ignorant of these things you speak of. I came from a lower plane and know nothing but friendship from demonkind.”
The Stargazer Chieftain sniffed the air. A breeze ran across them toward the chieftain. “Ah. I smell it on you. A bond of brotherhood. Favor of the turtle and the dragon. When you leave, I will give you a token. You will be allowed back into our city, an honor few humans are given.”
“Many thanks for the privilege,” Cha Ming said.
“It is deserved,” the Stargazer Chieftain said. “Now tell me, child of the dragon: Why are you here?”
“We have come to inquire about bandits assaulting caravans leaving your territory,” Shneraz said.
“This problem is known to me,” the Stargazer Chieftain said. “Though I care not about these caravans. Humans are always stealing from our territories. Let them all suffer the same fate.”
“But surely it affects the wealth of your territory,” Shneraz said.
“Worry yourself not over our wealth,” the Stargazer Chieftain said. “As you see, we have plenty to spare. The humans think they can cripple us? I care not. We have greater problems to worry about. Now tell me, how many guardsmen does your emperor keep in your prefecture?”
“Why would you care about such matters?” Shneraz asked. “The empire is neutral to any disputes regarding the kingdom.”
“What matters is I wish to know,” the chieftain said. “And you also wish to know matters I would rather not speak of.”
Shneraz gulped. His eyes flickered to Cha Ming. “It is not difficult to obtain this fact. Roughly ten thousand at bronze rank, five hundred at silver rank, and fifty at gold rank.”
Cha Ming cursed inwardly. Don’t undersell yourself, he sent to Shneraz. You’re putting us in a bad position.
“I suppose that information is worth something,” the chieftain said. “You are both silver ranked?”
“In combat prowess, yes,” Shneraz said.
“You will show us, of course,” said the chieftain. “We will keep to tradition. But where are my manners. Allow me to introduce one of our elders, Lord Empty Death.” A thin man with a black wooden staff walked up. He bowed and took a seat, helping himself to the many floating dishes. “How fares your health, elder?”
“It would fare better if those bastards from the Iridescent Phoenix Clan hadn’t killed a quarter of my team in the last skirmish,” the elder said. His head was balding, but the fur on his tail was graying. In his eyes floated the Warrior constellation. He looked bitter and angry. “We’ll make them pay for this. Mark my words.”
“You must calm yourself,” the chieftain said warned. “Preserve your strength. Together, we will make them bleed for what they’ve done. But no more of this. Guests have arrived from the Kingfisher Guard.”
“Oh?” the elder said. He glared at both of them. “What convinced you to entertain young fools and waste our clan’s resources?”
“They offered a gift,” the chieftain said. “One that might bring you health.”
The elder made a rude gesture. “I don’t need gifts from humans. Let someone else use it.”
“If you insist,” the chieftain said reluctantly. “Your sacrifice for our clan is noted.”
Shneraz cleared his throat. “I was wondering if I could inquire about the bandits.”
“Are you implying we know something about them?” the chieftain asked.
“I meant no disrespect,” Shneraz said.
“Your clan was never subtle,” the chieftain said. “No matter. Things change. I remember that once, there were hundreds of thousands of you. You lived in your mountain home. Now, how many remain?”
“A thousand,” Shneraz said bitterly. “At most.”
“Trapped in cages people call homes in a city that doesn’t even welcome them,” the chieftain spat. “Your people should have accepted our offer for refuge.”
Shneraz snorted. “It was not an offer we could consider. We couldn’t have lived in your lands. To do so would be going against our roots.”
“But you would fight,” the chieftain said. “You would live.”
“We would forsake who we are,” Shneraz said. “We are a people of steel and gold. We are artisans. Your home is a place of life and growth. Conflict would be inevitable. At least in human lands, we can survive.”
“Perhaps,” the chieftain said.
“Chieftain, I was wondering if I could ask a few questions,” Cha Ming cut in. By now, it was clear what was happening. Shneraz was getting rolled over by the chieftain. His elder was helping him. They didn’t want to talk and steered the conversation in other directions. Sending Shneraz covert messages wasn’t enough.
“Oh? And who are you to ask this of me?” the chieftain said. “Your leader speaks, does he not?”
“Actually—” Shneraz said.
“I am the leader,” Cha Ming said.
The room went quiet. Shneraz coughed uncomfortably.
“I see,” the chieftain said. He waved, and the half-eaten dishes went off to the side, clearing the area around him. Gone was the warmth from before.
“Typical human,” Elder Empty Death growled. “You dare insult our chieftain by having a subord
inate speak directly to him?” A pressure appeared in the room, and it weighed down on both of them.
I knew it was a bad idea to let him take charge, Cha Ming thought. But what was done was done. Now he had to calm the other party, or they’d be sent home without anything. At worst, they might be beaten or killed. He thought back to the one acquaintance he had as a reference point and immediately knew what to do.
Cha Ming bowed his head. “My apologies. You are quite right, Stargazer Chieftain. This is a grave offense. Please forgive my companion, for he wished to be given the honor of speaking with you. You are a well-known and powerful leader, and he knew it was beneath his station, but he knew the risks, and I was willing to let him. Who would I be to refuse a man the opportunity to speak to his idol?”
Shneraz’s jaw dropped. The chieftain blinked. The elder scowled. Finally, the chieftain grinned and laughed out loud. His laughter traveled to overhanging platforms on the Tree of Life, and many new faces looked down on them from above. The rich laugher lasted for a full minute before it ended. “You certainly know how to apologize properly,” the chieftain said.
“I have been told that speaking honestly is the best policy in your tribe,” Cha Ming replied, once again prompting a confused look from Shneraz. Fortunately for Cha Ming, he had loads of experience in dealing with Sun Wukong. Exaggerated, shameless flattery was definitely the way to go.
“Very well, ask your questions, cunning human,” the chieftain said.
“I would never dare call myself cunning in your presence,” Cha Ming said. “But please, let us ignore the bandits. You care not for them. Please tell me of your wondrous city. Your Tree of Life shines brightly in the night, and the people are happy.”
“Happy as can be,” the chieftain said. “They are well fed. But as you can see, there have been difficulties.”
Cha Ming nodded. “I’ve been told of your tribe’s great strength. It is a pity you’ve needed to defend your homeland to such an extent.” He looked to the honor guard present. They were strong, but every one of them wore the telltale signs of burnout.
“Our ancestors were gifted beyond measure,” the chieftain said. “We have great strength, but we pay the price. Still, we will fight when we must. Every member must do their part.”
“That is only the right thing to do,” Cha Ming said. “Though forgive me, I wasn’t under the impression that humans were encroaching on your sovereign lands.”
“Humans?” the chieftain said. “No. This is a conflict between tribes, nothing more. But we will defend the Tree of Life. It protects us, and we protect it.” He looked to the east, where dark shadows obscured the sky. “It is unfortunate that the Iridescent Phoenix Clan does not remember friendship.”
Elder Empty Death scowled. “What friendship was there ever? They are pretentious and believe themselves above us. They have ingratiated themselves with the humans.”
“Perhaps,” the chieftain said. “If they come, we will feed the jungle with their blood.” The honor guard growled and cheered. “My homeland does well enough, human child. The trouble with the caravans hurts us, yes. It is a pity there are bandits entering our territory, but ever has there been that risk.”
“I would never think otherwise,” Cha Ming said. “But I agree, it is a pity. They seem to be targeting shipments from your lands in particular.”
“See? See how they work with the humans?” Elder Empty Death said. “It must be the Iridescent Phoenix Clan.”
“I don’t think the Iridescent Phoenix Clan is responsible,” Cha Ming said.
“Oh? And what would you know?” the elder asked. He took his staff and thrust it at him. Cha Ming felt a chill. He activated the Clockwork Boots of the Golden Dragon. His perception of time slowed, and he jumped to the side just in time for the cane to strike his shoulder. It exploded with pain, and though it regenerated, the pain didn’t go away. The elder was frighteningly strong. “I should kill you for even being here,” he said aggressively. His eyes glowed light red, and the stars in his eyes began to spin.
“Elder.”
“I should smash you to a pulp and send you back to the prefecture. Emperor be damned!”
“Elder!”
The elder paused, and the glow slowly faded from his eyes. He looked back and saw that the Stargazer Chieftain had drawn his staff. He trembled and put away his own demon weapon. “I’ll be returning to my quarters. I must rest.”
“Thank you for dining with us,” the chieftain said, and the elder left. “Please, sit, human guest. Eat and replenish your strength.”
Cha Ming sat, and the dishes began floating again, though some came closer than others. They were untouched medicinal plants. Cha Ming ate one tentatively, and the pain began to ease.
“Sometimes, he is not himself,” the chieftain said softly. “It is our unfortunate reality. The years have worn on our troops.”
“It’s fine,” Cha Ming said, though secretly, he was alarmed. The elder hadn’t just tried to wound him. There had been the murder in his eyes. He was strong, and his demon weapon and qi had torn into his vitality stores and ripped through the domain that constantly protected him. Had he not dodged in time, he would have died or been mortally wounded. The elder had used just enough energy to claim he’d done it by accident. He wasn’t just aggressive. He was cunning. “I don’t wish to dwell on your clan’s issues, of course. The caravans concern me, and I was hoping I could get more context. How do they benefit you?”
“Truth be told, they do provide substantial income,” the chieftain said. “We receive goods whenever the trade caravans return, and we purchase them with inkwell jades we earn from exporting. Without them, it is difficult to obtain what we don’t have.”
“Such as?” Cha Ming asked.
“Alchemical ingredients that are not grown in our jungle,” the chieftain answered. “Metal. Advanced products like metal-based or earth-based inks and rare construction materials. Artifices. They even used to bring luxury goods. But now?” The chieftain shook his head. “How can we ask for such things when we are constantly fighting?”
“I imagine trade will sour unless this problem is resolved,” Cha Ming said.
“Yet I cannot spare the troops to guard caravans when our border territories are under constant attack,” the chieftain said. “Better to give up on trade with the humans. We managed before they came. In an era of demons before humans transcended.” He sighed. “Is that all you wish to know? I know this information is poor repayment for the gift you have brought.”
Cha Ming shrugged. “It is a difficult puzzle. I have one last matter I wish to inquire about, though I hope you do not take offense. It concerns three dozen strangely colored demons. They are from your tribe.”
“Ah,” the chieftain said. He hesitated before speaking. “They were useless, so they were cast out.”
Cha Ming frowned. “You seem to lack resources, and people can make up for that.”
“Yes, and normally, they could stay,” the chieftain said. “But the situation is perilous. You might not have noticed the tension in the air, but all who live here can see it. We are fighting hard, and our clan bears the brunt of it. It pained me to exile these clanmates. It is not our way. Yet we cannot show weakness. We must have strong warriors, and the builders must support them. If they cannot, we have no place for them.”
“You believe you’ll be challenged?” Shneraz asked. He hadn’t spoken in a while.
“Perhaps,” the chieftain said evenly. “Your mother led your tribe in the past, did she not?”
Shneraz nodded. “It never came to a battle, but the Golden Spear lineage was waning. We could not provide for the clan like we used to. The Golden Shield line replaced her when she fell.”
“She was fortunate,” the chieftain said. “To die in battle is preferable than to die to a challenger. One benefits the clan, while the other costs it.” They said no more on the matter.
Much time passed as they sat and ate. They ate till they were full, after w
hich servants entered and retrieved the remaining dishes. The floor was cleared and swept, and servants entered with large bowls of white powder they used to mark the floor in a circular pattern.
So what comes next? Cha Ming asked. You never did tell me.
I wanted it to be a surprise, Shneraz said with a grin.
“Warriors, who wishes to honor our visitors?” the chieftain said. His chair was back on the platform. He was holding a bowl of snack foods—an ominous sign.
“I wish to challenge the child of the dragon!” one said.
“I wish to challenge the staff bearer, the human who would call a demon his brother,” another said. They summoned their demon weapons and entered the circle.
“Wait, what?” Cha Ming asked.
Shneraz laughed. “This is the Monkey Clan, Cha Ming. A feast isn’t a feast without a good fight. They won’t let us leave until we’re limping.”
Cha Ming gulped. You were in on this, weren’t you?
I said you’d have some fun near the end, Sun Wukong said. You’d better not embarrass me, kid. There’s a lot riding on this. Honor. Dignity. You know the drill.
The human and the dragon stepped into the arena, knowing full well that by the end of this, they would be exhausted.
Chapter 17: Builders of Roads
To any outsider, Stargazer City was a wonder. It was a demon city unlike any other that contained marvels that couldn’t be found anywhere else. It was well lit, day or night, and the rampant gardens that grew throughout the city provided enough sustenance for its inhabitants.
The city was also growing, unlike its counterparts in neighboring lands. It was full of industry, and the streets were even paved with stones pulled out from deposits in the jungle or imported from the mountains. It might not have many alchemists, but its herbology was top notch, to the point that the only difference between it and alchemy was whether you liked your medicine cooked or raw. It didn’t lose out much to human cities. At least, that’s what Mi Fei thought in the first few hours she wandered.
Crown of the Starry Sky: Book 11 of Painting the Mists Page 28
