Chapter 23 A Distracting Disguise
Ready To Drown In Drink
Jiho Ryu sat with his hands clasped in his lap. The Zinferan emperor’s index finger tapping the round table in his chamber.
The last maid filed out, closing the door behind her.
“Tell me your thoughts, Jiho. I’ve practically heard them screaming at me the past few weeks,” the emperor ordered roughly. He eyed the decanter of wine on the table between them longingly. He wasn’t supposed to drink any more according to his physicians, and it had been rather upsetting to hear.
Jiho smiled, then lifted his gaze to the ruler. “I’m sorry, Your Excellency. I will try harder to think more quietly.”
“Don’t get clever with me,” the emperor warned, though a gentleness in his tone indicated he wasn’t all that bothered.
Jiho chuckled softly, his right foot bouncing a little.
“I don’t understand your fixation with Elisara,” he began delicately.
“I know she is intelligent, and that she has a very interesting ability. However, she has no support from her birth family and has been alienated not only among the nobility, but throughout the entire kingdom, as a result of Soo Hebin’s rumors.
To name her as an heir… I am sorry to say, I agree with the Daxarian queen.
It does not make sense. Your Excellency, if you had another five years to turn the tides in her favor, we could manage something. But when you have less than a year…”
The Zinferan ruler eyed Jiho calmly. “You know me better than most, Jiho. Why do you think I want her?”
Jiho grimaced before answering. “Because your mother adopted her and had great expectations of her. And because your mother was able to do the impossible and rise in power, you expect Elisara will do the same. But she is not your mother. She does not want to be here in Zinfera. She wants to be with her new family, and I do not mean to offend you, Your Excellency, but becoming an enemy of the Ashowans is in no one’s best interest.”
“We will see if the Ashowan family holds on to their power after they deal with whatever is happening on their shores,” the emperor pointed out, tilting his head casually. “What do you make of the concubine Her Majesty Katarina Reyes recommended? Deoh Rin?”
Jiho leaned forward in his seat. “I see why the queen and her mother believed she would be a good option. She is levelheaded and does not let greed get the best of her. She does have some power behind her—her brother is a noble. Rank five. He owns most of the shipping vessels in the small towns between Haeson and Gondol. He has two sons. Her cousin is a noblewoman, a widow in Bani who was married to a rank six. Deoh Rin has maintained the most men-at-arms under her and has not given a single one to Soo Hebin’s army. ”
The emperor’s eyebrows rose. “That is quite reasonable. Can Deoh Rin withstand the chaos of Zinfera?”
Jiho let out a long breath. “If we start making amends with Daxaria, they will help. And if they can’t, they will speak to Troivack on our behalf.”
“I believe matters between us and Daxaria are fine as they are. The new queen burned down part of my palace and slaughtered a number of my men. If there weren’t so much confusion right now pertaining to Soo Hebin’s treason, the people would be screaming for a war of revenge.”
Jiho nodded somberly. “I’ve already done what I can to spread the word that Soo Hebin was attempting to hold the queen and her mother hostage, and that she aided the first witch in escaping Troivack.”
The emperor tilted his hand. “It will take time.”
Silence settled between the two men for a time. The warm sunshine of the day gleamed against the polished floorboards, and distant chimes rang in the breeze outside.
“Should I let your advisers know you wish to call a meeting to name an heir?”
The emperor hesitated. His eyes turned thoughtful as he settled back into his chair. “Not yet. I want to personally interview no less than five candidates. I’d prefer if it were some of my older children that have survived here in the palace.”
“Your Excellency, we could try to track down some of your other offspring that Soo Hebin sold,” Jiho suggested a little too quickly.
The emperor’s gaze flitted up to him. “I will assign a small unit of men to investigate. I fear most of my resources will be spent reorganizing the military and nobles.” He paused to cough. “Tell me, are there any who remain loyal to Soo Hebin?”
Jiho cleared his throat. “After Lord Yangban’s recent…
outbursts, and his wife taking over his affairs, things have been quite unstable for her followers.
Particularly with the death of Captain Woo suppressing the common people.
Her followers are not only lacking the ability to intimidate due to the key leaders being disposed of, but they are disorganized. ”
The emperor gaped. Then, with a brief closing of his eyes, he lifted his wrinkled hand to touch his brow. “And of course, I’ve already been told the Ashowan family is responsible for Captain Woo’s demise.”
Jiho’s eyes trailed along the beautifully painted ceiling. “I was not present for any of these events, so I cannot say with complete certainty—”
The emperor sighed. “Assemble the advisers. I shall inform them about the five candidate slots, as well as the search for my lost offspring.”
“I… would like to raise one small possible problem,” Jiho ventured. “Be wary about the nobles who may simply place their own children in front of Your Excellency claiming to be of your blood. Especially with the younger children, this could be done with the purpose of status climbing.”
“I can simply say that none of the offspring that are found can be considered as a candidate. I will, of course, consider them. But the nobles won’t need to know. That can be kept between us.” The emperor cast an affectionate smile at Jiho, who inclined himself politely in response.
“Then I’d best leave and see to putting these exciting events into motion.” Rising from his seat, Jiho clasped his hands in front of himself and bowed once more.
“Did you…” The emperor cleared his throat, raising his chin proudly. “Did you miss me, Jiho?”
Lifting his eyes to the old monarch, Jiho smiled with his mouth closed. “I did.”
The emperor snorted. “Liar.”
Jiho stared at the emperor for a long while until he looked back at him. “No one is like you, Your Excellency, and it is good you are awake.”
Another long spell of wordless communication passed between the two men.
Eventually, the emperor nodded, his face touched with age spots and creased with understanding. Pain weighed down his shoulders as he waved away Jiho. Taking his cue, Jiho rose, bowed wordlessly, and departed.
Alone, the monarch stared out the window.
In a way, he wished he had never woken up. It was one thing to fall into a dreamless sleep. It was another to prepare the world so your absence would be easier for the ones you cared about most.
★ ★ ★
Shivering on the slick dock, Tam, his family, Hamil, Bes, and Henrietta waited. The old Daxarian sailor limped over to them, clutching a lantern.
Despite the fact that the sun had not yet set, the rains had come again, and heavy mists rolled off the water.
“If you’ll come with me, we can arrange for you all to stay at the inn,” the sailor explained without bothering to lift his face to them. His short, well-kept white beard was easy to see in the dim light.
Their ship hadn’t even been able to make it to the docks of Rollom.
Captain Sun, though an experienced captain and sailor, had never learned how to navigate the rocky shoals that surrounded the southern isles of Daxaria. And so they’d had to send for help from the nearest island.
The Isle of Quildon.
“Out of curiosity, whatever happened to the old cottage the Ashowan family used to live in?” Tam asked before thinking better of it.
He had heard the stories of his father’s youth there on that very island, but he himself had never visited. So despite the fact they were trying not to reveal their identities, he thought it worth the risk.
The old fisherman gave a long, world-weary sigh.
“We had to make it a shrine. Too many people kept coming by wanting to see it. No one could ever live there in peace. It’s a waste of a good cottage, but at least it’s good for our people.
It’s why an island this small even has an inn.
Everyone wants to see where the Daxarian hero grew up. ”
When no one asked a follow-up question, the fisherman waved them all forward. “This way. Mind your footing. The rains have made this path slick with the mud.”
Tam looked down at Luca, who was sniffling, then at Penelope, whose trembling lower lip was tinged with blue.
Bending down, he scooped both children up in his arms with a grunt and continued forward after the man.
The four sailors who had joined them on land picked up the three trunks they’d packed. Behind them on the dock, Captain Sun spoke with another sailor about requesting aid from the Rollom harbormaster in the morning.
Tam cast a glance back at Eli. She nodded, confirming that she felt alright to climb as Annika laced their arms together.
Hamil offered his arm to Bes and Henrietta, and both accepted gratefully.
By the time they reached the top, night had fully descended over the group, and Tam had to put the children down, his muscles screaming at him. Before he could try to roll out the ache in them, Penelope and Luca each seized his hands. They moved closer to his sides as he continued onward.
Fortunately, the whitewashed inn was only a short way off the path up ahead. The windows glowed, and four chimneys puffed out thick smoke.
Clambering up the wooden steps onto the porch, Tam threw open the door without bothering to read the front sign. He ushered everyone in, including the sailors carting up their trunks. As he stepped inside, a wall of heat hit Tam’s face that almost hurt when it met his frozen skin.
“I heard we have some shipwrecked guests!” A woman’s voice drew the drenched group’s attention over toward a roughly constructed counter.
She had thick, curly honey-blond hair, thin lips, and kind green eyes; she appeared to be in her early forties.
She strode over to them. “My name’s Johanna.
You tell me what you need, and I’ll do what I can to help. ”
Tam swept his gaze over the rest of the room to see that the small tavern part of the inn was mostly empty, save for three men wearing black wool coats and sitting in front of the stone fireplace with pints in their hands.
They all had black beards and pale skin.
They looked part Troivackian.
Like Tam.
They eyed him with interest, but Tam pretended not to notice.
“Apologies for the imposition,” Eli said.
“My husband and I can share a room with the children. The three women can be in a room together, while I believe the young man over there”—she gestured toward Hamil—“can share a room with the captain and his first mate, if that sounds agreeable to everyone?”
Annika bowed her head in assent, and Tam glanced over to Bes and Hamil, who managed to nod despite their chattering teeth.
“That should work. I only have one other room, though the barn is watertight, so the rest of your crew can rest there. If that is not amenable, I do know some of the families on the island are open to housing a few folk here and there for some coin.”
“That should be fine, thank you, ma’am.” One of the Zinferan sailors inclined himself politely.
Johanna smiled in appreciation. “Well.” She plunked her hands on her hips. “I’ll go send my daughter up to start making the beds, and in the meantime, how about I serve you all some stew and ale?”
To Tam, it sounded heavenly, but his mother spoke before he could say as much. “I don’t suppose you have any Troivackian moonshine on hand, do you?”
At this question, the three men in front of the fire fully turned in their seats and beheld Annika.
“Finally,” one of them called out, a slow smile climbing his face, revealing blinding white teeth. “Guests with taste! I happen to have a bottle or two stowed behind that counter that I’d be happy to share for the right price.”
Annika gave a half smile of appreciation. “Tell you what. I’ll pay you coin, but if I manage to outdrink any of you, I get half of what I paid back.”
The men chortled.
Tam stared at his mother’s profile flatly, and Eli looked at Tam in concern.
“You have yourself a deal, ma’am,” the Troivackian who had made the offer retorted.
Annika beamed. “Wonderful.” The duchess made her way over to the men while everyone save for Tam and the children—who had no idea what was happening—watched anxiously.
“Tam, I understand it has been a long day, but your mother might make herself ill,” Eli whispered.
Tam turned his dry expression down to her. “Eli… do you remember how much moonshine you had to order and pick up when you worked at our keep in Austice?”
She frowned and nodded slowly.
“My mother is the one who drinks eighty percent of that order.”
“In a year?” Eli exclaimed in shock.
“In a season.”
Eli turned her bulging gaze toward the duchess’s back. “Tam, is she well?”
Tam sighed. “She’s about to be. Don’t worry, we’ll go check on her in a bit. First, I think we’d better find some blankets for the kids.”
While Eli’s feet may have started moving toward the counter, where Tam was already heading with the kids at his side, her attention remained glued at the table where the duchess was in the process of removing her cloak and sitting gracefully down beside one of the men.
Seeing this and chuckling a little to himself, Tam found he was curious how Eli would react when she saw his mother’s true passion.
Drinking games.