Five Kingdoms (15 page)

“My God,” Tristus breathed, when he was able. “Have you ever seen anything so lovely in all your life?”

Behind him, Taya’s response came meekly, as if the sheer grandeur of the fortification ahead intimidated her. “Not in all my dreams.”

“It is quite impressive,” even Shirisae admitted.

Sharing the saddle of her great black beast of a horse, Tarfan harrumphed. “It looks like an articulate box for trapping the foolish.”

Tristus did not take the old dwarf as seriously as Tarfan might have preferred. He said, “You make such a statement after blatantly giving Xu Liang your wholehearted trust.”

“I gave it to Xu Liang, mind you, pup. This grand fortress, I’ll trust as far as its threshold and no further.”

“I’ve known only one other as suspicious as you, elder one,” Shirisae said to her stout passenger.

Tarfan offered another grunt of a sigh. “And in this your sibling and I might finally agree on something!”

While the Andarian
, dwarves, and elves stared in fascination at Dhong Castle, Xu Liang sent Wan Yun ahead as an envoy to announce their arrival, and to request an audience. All seemed to go well. The bodyguard returned just when they were upon the first wall and rode with them through the open gates. Xu Liang didn’t have to see the eyes of the guards along the battlements overhead to know that they were firmly on the peculiar strangers led by one of their own. Some of the men would have recognized Xu Liang for what he was, if not who, and they would talk. Those at the Imperial City would not be caught completely by surprise when Xu Liang finally arrived. The Empress would be concerned. Jiao Ren would be opposed, but he would not argue too much. The young general had only spoken out against Xu Liang openly and vehemently in his nightmares. In spite of his continuing dreams of irrational conflict, Xu Liang was relieved to see that reality still seemed to be firmly in place in Sheng Fan.

The Mountain Fortress of the Peacock

X
iang Wu was
nearly seventy, but his hair remained black and the creases of age only added dignity to his handsome features. He moved steadily and proudly, sure of his being alive, not of his advanced years. It seemed, as Xu Liang looked upon the governor of Ying, that his true father would live forever, scarcely changing while the seasons slipped by. Xu Liang was glad to be at Dhong Castle, and deeply honored in the presence of the man who had sired him.

The pleasant stir of reunion was promptly quashed by the severity of the circumstances and the cutting tone in Xiang Wu’s voice while he stood by a window, looking out into the courtyard at the collection of barbarians at his doorstep. He had yet to allow them indoors, and so long as they were left out in the chill air, Xu Liang decided to leave his personal guards with them as well. He begged the others to mind the guards, to stay put if they gestured for them to do so, and to be patient while he spoke with the lord of the castle.

“You have been gone a long time, Imperial Tactician,” Xiang Wu informed him, as if Xu Liang were not already aware of just how long his journey had taken him, or how far from Sheng Fan. “We had begun to wonder whether or not the Heavens had forsaken you and let you perish in the barbarian realms. It came to be of particular concern when Our Imperial Highness sent an envoy to inform us that she would like us to begin considerations for candidates to be appointed to the office of Imperial Tactician.”

Currents of relief rushed through Xu Liang’s body. “The Empress is well, then?”

Xiang Wu shot him a glare that, in his excessive weariness, caused him to flinch inside helplessly. “You did not acquire your station in this life through stupidity!” the governor snapped. “You will surely lose it through such if you continue along this ruinous path!”

Xu Liang allowed a space of silence to calm the air, then said respectfully. “I will ask again, Lord Xiang Wu: Is the Empress well?”

Xiang Wu glared at him a moment longer, then cast his gaze to the night sky. “She is alive, but she is no longer under your protection. She has not been for some time, and while you still hold your place, others work tirelessly and meticulously at pulling it out from under you. Your favor with the Empress may not be what it was when you left. It is unlikely to be restored if you arrive before her with a troupe of outsiders.”

“Our Imperial Highness will understand their purpose.”

“But will she understand yours?” Xiang Wu asked. When Xu Liang frowned curiously, he added. “Don’t be naïve. Do you think that people would not speak in your absence, that their words would not reach the Empress’ ears? Rumors can ruin a man, as quickly as they can grant him favor. It is especially bad for you while conditions at Fa Leng worsen. Ha Ming Jin will take the province and once he has begun to expand his territory—and to officially claim it his and not the Empire’s—others will follow. The Song will fall and you, Lord Xu Liang, will most assuredly fall with them.”

“If there is discord within the ranks of the Imperial Court, I am confident that I will be able to restore order upon my return,” Xu Liang said calmly. “I will go to Fa Leng myself, if necessary, and Ha Ming Jin will be forced back into Xun. All that I would ask from you at this moment, Governor, is your continued support. If you are unwilling to shelter myself and my current company, I will leave your castle tonight. However, I will require supplies for my journey from here to the Imperial City.”

Xiang Wu stared for a moment, revealing nothing of his thoughts. And then he said, “Huang Je, come forward.”

Xu Liang frowned with interest as a man he had utterly failed to notice stepped out of the distant shadows of the room. He was layered in indigo and black brocade. His hair that was not quite black was held up with a purple ribbon, wound tight to hold the tail that was woven into several long braids, symbolizing the long-tailed bird of the kingdom he served.

The man appeared unarmed, but Xu Liang recalled that this man with roots that reached outside of Sheng Fan, did not require a weapon to make himself dangerous. The former entertainer, who had become Xiang Wu’s personal bodyguard, had already established an impressive reputation for himself throughout Ji, as well as in Ying. His acceptance was assisted by the knowledge of his father’s identity among officers of the Empire. In a small way, the man’s presence and position gave Xu Liang some hope for tolerance toward the outsiders he’d brought into Sheng Fan.

Xu Liang nodded to Huang Je in greeting and the young guard bowed in turn, remaining in an obeisant position while his lord offered him instruction.

“Huang Je, I would like you to personally see to the escorting of Lord Xu Liang’s party into the castle. Guide them to the barracks.”

“Provide them with fresh accouterments, if the governor pleases,” Xu Liang put in respectfully.

When Huang Je rose and looked to his master, seeking approval, Xiang Wu nodded, then waved him away. The guard left without making a sound.

“There is barbarian blood in that one,” Xiang Wu admitted, after Huang Je had gone. “But there is also Fanese blood and besides that, he has proven his honor and his valor many times over.”

“I am aware of Huang Je’s deeds,” Xu Liang reminded his natural father. “Though I witnessed none of them, I do not question his honor because it is you who speaks on his behalf. Therefore, I say to you that the men and women presently in my company have proven their honor to me on several occasions. They are worthy of your trust.”

Xiang Wu gave no verbal reply. He simply bowed to Xu Liang and faced the window again. “Goodnight, Lord Xu Liang.”

Xu Liang bowed, lower than he did when making a simple gesture of respect, letting his deep appreciation be known. “Sleep well, Governor Xiang Wu,” he said. He added silently;
thank you, Father
.

The silence of
the mountain stronghold was astounding. In Xu Liang’s absence, Tristus and the others had been largely ignored. There were men nearby—Tristus could hear them moving about along the battlements and around the gate they’d come through—but beyond allowing the company passage, not one stranger had approached them.

“What do you make of this?” Tristus asked Alere quietly, then glanced over at the elf and rather wished that he hadn’t. The look on Alere’s face was of such plain distrust that it made Tristus immediately more uncomfortable than if they’d been left under armed guard.

But then, he supposed they
were
under armed guard. He had no doubt that an ill move would have those with weapons upon their group swiftly. It nearly made him wish that they’d have waited outside of the fortress walls to receive whatever hospitality they were to receive, if any.

It was in the midst of that thought when a man approached. The stranger was of noticeable height, adorned in dark, though still colorful layers that boasted imagery of what appeared to be peafowls. His features were sharp, and quite fair, exotic in a way that differed even from what Tristus had already seen of Fanese countenances. As well, the man had a poised gait that could only be noticed. Undoubtedly, he would respond swiftly to any perceived offenses.

The arrival of this individual insisted upon another glance in Alere’s direction. The elf’s expression had not improved. At the very least, it didn’t seem to have grown worse.

“He’s a strange one,” Taya murmured under a breath that could only be visible in the chill night air.

“Hush, dear Taya,” Tristus said to her quietly, laying his gaze upon the newcomer once again. If this was to be another incident of prejudice similar to D’mitri’s, Tristus would rather not incite confrontation so soon into their arrival within Sheng Fan. As they’d had Shirisae to mediate on their behalf with D’mitri, they had Xu Liang to do the same here, but the circumstances of this fortress were inarguably quite different than they had been at Vilciel. They’d already been warned that prejudice would not be an odd case, but that the majority would be inclined to assess them based upon their region of origin first.

The representative of Dhong Castle approached Xu Liang’s guards, as Tristus suspected he might. A conversation in Fanese ensued, as Tristus suspected it would. “I wonder why Xu Liang didn’t accompany him?” Tristus said, when it occurred to him that the mystic was nowhere nearby.

“He’s been away from his homeland for some time,” Shirisae reminded. “There is undoubtedly much to be discussed with his peers.”

“I’m sure you’re right about that,” Tristus obliged, though still felt a pang of worry. With how he’d behaved since leaving Vilciel, his anxiety over nearly anything regarding Xu Liang was absurdly elevated. He wished, more than anything, to right the situation somehow, but he found it increasingly uncomfortable to be in the mystic’s company with his feelings now an unsightly piece of their conversational décor. Neither of them had to acknowledge the ungainliness of the subject, but they were both aware of it…at all times, it seemed. In spite of that discomfort, he still found himself longing for Xu Liang’s presence.

“They’re allowing us to stay,” Alere said, drawing Tristus’ attention.

He disregarded the hints of cynicism in the white elf’s tone and wondered how he could possibly have known that. In the following moment, it became quite obvious while the newcomer was walking away from them, and Xu Liang’s eldest guard began ushering them forward and off of their mounts.

They all proceeded to follow instruction. There was some hesitation among them, but nothing that delayed anyone overmuch, not even the elves.

“Is it possible that we won’t see or hear from Xu Liang until morning?” Tristus wondered aloud, though it was not his intention to begin a discussion. Perhaps for that reason, he acknowledged Alere’s response only internally.

“Is it possible that we might be imprisoned overnight?”

Tristus wanted to believe that it should not have felt like a valid question for the suspicious elf to pose, but it did feel valid, given their circumstances—given how foreign their environment was, more than anything.

“I’ll not be kept in a cage,” Tarfan was the first to protest.

Before anyone else’s misgivings could contribute, Tristus said to all of them, “We must trust Xu Liang, and in his absence, we have only the option to trust his guards.”

“The option to leave is not lost yet,” Alere said.

Tristus frowned. Helping Taya down to the ground. “But none of us are going to,” he said. He wondered if he’d said it more forcefully than he had intended to when Alere proceeded ahead of him without further word.

“That elf,” Taya murmured when her feet were firmly upon the stone yard.

Shirisae’s sleekly armored form slid down to the level of the courtyard beside them. The light of a winter moon stroked the more exotic details of her helm, which she secured amid her gear. For the moment, she had elected to keep
Firestorm
fastened to her back. The serrated edges of the fanciful halberd appeared to glow. Doubtless, it was not from the moonlight alone;
Dawnfire
had also taken on an added edge of light. He had noticed that their two Blades, in particular, had a tendency to respond to the presence of one another. It seemed to require more important circumstance for the others, or for all of them to glow at once—circumstances such as reunion, or threat. Perhaps their lack of glow now could be taken as a lack of threat, though Tristus doubted Alere would be comforted so easily.