Chapter 10 #2
“Going over land is too slow. And now Kacha will have a good idea of our route. We must change it so that whatever news those fleeing rats take back to the cat they want to serve is inaccurate.” Tallu smiled, and it wasn’t a pleasant thing.
“They will find out very quickly how unhappy Kacha becomes at men who fail him.”
Saxu frowned before his eyebrows rose in understanding. “The trading routes along the river.”
“We’re far enough into the mountains now that we have access to all of the rivers that we didn’t on the eastern side of the Imperium,” Tallu agreed. He looked at me.
“I was going to have a quiet word with Lady Jolushi this morning. Perhaps their province might pay the emperor in boats rather than taxes.” I smirked, and Saxu nodded.
“We can go to the coast. Neither Bemishu nor Kacha has any sort of navy to speak of, unless they’ve managed to build boats in the weeks it took you to get here.
Once we get to the coast, we can travel south to Tavornai. ”
“That’s dangerous,” Saxu said. “If the pirates don’t get us, General Namati’s navy will.”
“We were trying to get to him anyway. If we are captured, all the easier.” But I frowned. “Is there another route?”
Saxu shook his head. “Almost all of the other rivers go past the capital. And the only ones that don’t grow too narrow or too shallow for us to transport all of our soldiers.”
“And I suppose this time you won’t let Tallu and me go off on our own?” I tried to turn it into a joke, but Saxu shook his head.
“With only three Dogs, I could not, in good conscience, support such a plan.” He frowned, thinking. “If we were fast, we might manage it. None of the pirates have electro mages, and Namati has only a few.”
We waited as he pondered the solutions that would not come. Finally, he raised his eyes, almost smiling. “I hope you find success with Lady Jolushi, Prince Airón. I believe it is our best chance to reach Tavornai safely.”
The rest of breakfast was spent discussing plans for the route south, and both Saxu and Rede showed their intimate knowledge of the inner Imperium that the rivers would take us through.
The inner Imperium was made up of the provinces with the oldest ties to the Imperium; the land Tallu had once called a small kingdom following the river.
Only it turned out that it wasn’t one river so much as dozens that met and parted based on geography.
By their judgment, unless we met with catastrophe, we could reach Tavornai in two weeks rather than the two months the journey would take by land.
After breakfast, General Saxu and Commander Rede took their leave, and Tallu and I both waited until Sagam indicated we were alone. Around us the greenhouse was quiet, without even a breeze to sway the branches.
I frowned at Tallu, and he shook his head. “He might be right. Mimicking my father does not make just me and Empress Koque uncomfortable. It confuses the court. I am my own man. And yet acting as Emperor Tallu in this time of crisis is more difficult.”
I understood what he wasn’t saying. Confusing the court had been our objective, but to our allies it seemed counterproductive. The delicate balance was one we would have to be careful to maintain.
“I’m going to meet with Lady Jolushi. Hopefully, we can have the issue of transport resolved quickly. What will you do?”
“When you meet with her, ask her how many members of the court have already requested a meeting. She has been granted a great favor, and they will be looking to see how they can receive equal benefit.” Tallu moved his jeweled fingers thoughtfully.
“She can let them know that she spied closely on her neighbor and only acted with evidence. That it was protecting the Imperium rather than murder that found approval.”
“Letting the whispers do the work, rather than looking like the mad emperor who demands his people murder each other.” I took a last drink of tea. It had gone cold and sat bitter in the back of my mouth.
When I walked out of the garden, I noticed a number of courtiers lingering nearby. I could tell they wanted to speak with me, but I remembered. Whispers. That was how Tallu had gained his power. That was how he had shown his father loyalty.
Turning to Irad?o, I said loudly in Imperial, “His Imperial Majesty was so impressed with Lady Jolushi’s initiative. To think, one of his own people made the move herself, not relying on His Imperial Majesty.”
Irad?o took it in stride, even though we usually spoke only in Northern. “Is that rare in the Imperium?”
“I have no idea. I only know that such strength gains His Imperial Majesty’s attention.
When the traitor generals are defeated, His Imperial Majesty will need strong members of his court to form a new council.
” I looked around, pretending I didn’t see all of the courtiers suddenly whispering to each other.
“I must summon Lady Jolushi and speak with her about the emperor’s appreciation. ”
We headed back to my quarters, and Nohe sent a servant to summon Lady Jolushi, as Homisu adjusted my outfit, the unhappy moue on his face expressing that he wasn’t sure how I had made such a mess of myself in the two hours since I had left his attentions.
If I hadn’t been aware of time passing, I might not have known how quickly Lady Jolushi must have rushed to my rooms upon receiving her summons.
Nohe, tactful as always, ordered the rest of the servants out, moving to the side of the door in case we should need anything.
Irad?o lingered near the window, looking out it and into the garden beneath.
“His Imperial Majesty was impressed with your indoor garden,” I said.
“It is some comfort in the winter months, when the snows and cold take hold of everything. It also offers some heat. The glass traps the warmth inside.” Lady Jolushi opened her fan, keeping it in front of her face as she considered me.
“I am glad it pleased the emperor. I would be happy to provide the craftsmen, should His Imperial Majesty wish to recreate it in any of his palaces.”
“I am sure the emperor would be grateful for all of the support you offer, Lady Jolushi. Killing Lord Helli after you made sure he was aligned with and supporting General Kacha was a great show of your loyalty to His Imperial Majesty,” I said.
Her eyes cut to me, her fan guarding her expression.
“I am happy to serve Dragon Chosen Emperor Tallu. His support will allow me to quell any whispers of discontent among lesser nobles living in the province. I am more than happy to share the estate with him for as long as His Imperial Majesty desires.”
“I’m sure nothing more would please him than to enjoy such a beautiful estate for the entire season—perhaps for the entire year.
But with the unrest throughout the Imperium it would be selfish of us to request it.
” I waited, watching her eyes over the edge of her fan.
The fan was a dark green, the individual blades decorated in golden veins, as though each segment was a leaf from her garden.
“No one would ever call the emperor selfish,” Lady Jolushi said. Which might be true. Even when he was acting selfish, no one would dare raise such an accusation against Emperor Tallu.
“No,” I agreed. “Yet, nevertheless, His Imperial Majesty wishes to travel as quickly as possible to Tavornai.”
Lady Jolushi was quick on the uptake, her eyes brightening immediately.
Clearly she was a woman with as keen a political and geographic knowledge as Tallu.
“Prince Airón, I would be remiss if I did not offer our meager boats. They travel south to deliver lumber along the river. They are unworthy of carrying Dragon Chosen Emperor Tallu, but they would allow him to travel south much faster than the caravan.”
“How generous of you, Lady Jolushi. And it is such a shame that these boats do not have room for the rest of the court. Merely the soldiers that Emperor Tallu needs.” I watched the veins of gold on her fan as it moved in a quick fluttering motion. “Such a shame.”
“My greatest regret,” she agreed. “The court will have to be informed.”
“I’m sure, if you inform some of your favorite, closest friends in court, the news will quickly travel. It would be an annoying burden for His Imperial Majesty to have to tell the court directly.”
Lady Jolushi’s chin dipped in agreement, her eyes fixed on my face. “So, this is the true price?”
“I have no idea what you mean.” I frowned as though in bewilderment. “Price of what?”
“His Imperial Majesty could not have married a more worthy partner,” Lady Jolushi said.
“He and I are immensely happy together.” I smiled. “If you could have one of your servants show the boats to Nohe and the steward of the emperor’s residence…”
“Of course.” Lady Jolushi stood, folding her fan in one motion against her palm. “His Imperial Majesty will forever have my gratitude, no matter what future payments are required.”
“I’m glad we understand each other.” I watched as she bowed, her fingers forming a triangle before she straightened and walked out the door.
Nohe closed it silently behind her, the servant’s eyebrows going up in surprise.
I lay back on the couch. “Is it too early to go back to bed?”
Nohe chuckled when I used the hand motion indicating I was joking. “I will go track down her servants, Your Highness, and see what is required to make the boats habitable for Your Highness and the emperor.”
She disappeared, leaving one of her replacement servants at the doorway.
It was hard for me not to look at her and see Zolle.
The new servant looked very little like her; Zolle had a pale pearl skin and wore her hair pinned up in the imperial manner, while the servant wore hers in a long plait that was more common to those who lived near the conquered lands.
Even her skin lacked the imperial shine indicating someone of pureblood.