The Peasant (17 page)

I nearly fainted with relief. A lump in my bowels moved to a more comfortable position. I had to break wind but didn't dare in the Emperor's presence.

“I don't condone the killing of tax collectors and warriors, Bear.”

I nearly gagged with terror. A lump in my bowels ground around a corner. I broke wind involuntarily. Thank the Infinite it made no sound. My own flatulence wafted up around my head like an invisible cloud of swamp gas. “I don't condone the needless killing of anyone, Lord Emperor Arrow.”

“Lying will get you killed, Bear!”

“Forgive me, Lord Emperor Arrow, I've said only what I think. If that offends you, please take my head. I'm not a lackey who'll tell you what you want to hear. If that displeases you, please invite me onward. While I don't condone the killing of tax collectors and warriors, Lord Emperor Arrow, I'll kill them when I have no other choice.”

Smoking Arrow stared at me. His scrutiny shriveled my scrotum. “Few Caven Hills families earn more than fifty taels per year, eh?”

“Yes, Lord Emperor Arrow.” Who told him
that
? I wondered. His abrupt change of topic startled me. I had the feeling Smoking Arrow often held several conversations at once.

“Your proposal is interesting, Bear. Why did you ask for my review?”

“To bring the problems of the prefecture to your attention—and that we have a solution to those problems.”

“Few Prefects encourage Imperial curiosity in their affairs. They all like to think they're emperors within the Empire. How do you explain the poverty in the Caven Hills?”

“Inertia, Lord Emperor Arrow. Our people have become so accustomed they can't imagine conditions being better. The Prefects have become so accustomed they can't imagine
making
conditions better.”

Smoking Arrow frowned at me. “Yet you say you can modernize farming so much that the Caven Hills will be as productive as other prefectures?”

I smiled. “Lord Emperor Arrow, we defeated the Imperial battalion despite their outnumbering us two-to-one because we adapted our strategy and tactics to the terrain. We'll double agrarian production despite the geography because we'll adjust our methods to the terrain.”

Smoking Arrow lifted a sheaf of parchment from the dais beside his pillow. “That's what you mean by 'terrace farming'?”

“Yes, Lord Emperor Arrow.”

“How long will this take, Bear?”

“Ten years, Lord Emperor Arrow.”

“Ten
years
? You might not live ten
minutes
!”

“That's as the Infinite wills—or as the Lord Emperor wills.”

“Yes, it is.” Abruptly, Smoking Arrow stood and touched the hilt of the Imperial Sword; the diamond flashed.

I also stood, knowing improper my sitting while he stood.

Through the door behind the dais entered two servants, levitating a tall covered object between them. They set it a pace to the side of the dais, at the forward corner. Stepping up to it, Smoking Arrow pulled off the cover. “I offered the Lord Tiger ten thousand taels for this particular piece. He refused to sell it—'at any price,' he told me.”

The statue depicted a warrior, his blade held high as though to strike a killing blow, three arrow shafts protruding at different angles from the left shoulder, a sheared-off spear head impaling the right thigh, the left arm ending at mid-forearm in a stump, on the features a terrible scowl.

I recognized the statue instantly.

“Ah, you already know who this is, Bear. Did you and your brother leave other statues on the battlefield? If so, please collect them.”

“Forgive me, Lord Emperor, I don't understand.” Did Smoking Arrow think I'd give him the evidence of our insurrection? Collecting the statues was like handing him my sword and asking him to take my head.

“It's a beautiful sculpture, Bear. If you have others of similar quality, I see no reason you shouldn't sell them. Here's
my
proposal, Bear: Gather all the statues you can and bring them to me. I'll announce an auction and invite the nobility of the Empire. Depending on the quality, the bids should start between two thousand and five thousand taels, eh? For my modest services I get half of all profits. What say you, Bear?”

I realized I'd never be poor again. My elation bouncing around inside my skull, I said, “Twenty-five percent, Lord Emperor Arrow.”

“Eh? Your ingratitude dismays me, Bear. Surely, my sponsoring this event is worth more than that? Forty-five.”

I'd be shitting taels even if he asked for ninety percent. He expected me to bargain because face demanded it. Finally, we agreed on forty percent. The Emperor covered the statue of Howling Tiger and ordered it removed from the audience hall.

Still standing, Smoking Arrow touched the Imperial Sword hilt again.

From the door behind the dais issued a column of exalted nobles; their finery put my shabby garb to shame. I swore by the Infinite I'd never wear anything but the highest quality silk again. They split off into two columns and lined up between myself and Smoking Arrow, four to each side.

“These are the members of the Imperial Ruling Council, Bear. When they tell me what I want to hear, I invite them onward. I'll suffer no lackeys among my advisors. I hereby convene this meeting of the Imperial Ruling Council.” Smoking Arrow eased himself to his haunches.

The men and women who'd entered also sat.

As I began to sit, Smoking Arrow ordered, “You will stand, Bear.”

“Yes, Lord Emperor Arrow,” I said. Knowing they'd decide my fate that day, I began to sweat. Two of the nobles attracted my attention instantly. One because he looked at me almost the entire time, the other because she didn't look at me once.

Wearing striped silk robes of white, tan and black, his left fist propped on his thigh, Scowling Tiger stared at me as if I'd pissed in his face. He'd have killed me on the spot if he could've avoided the Emperor's disfavor.

The other noble, her jade-green eyes set wide on her face and her lustrous black hair styled fashionably, was Bubbling Water. Her sister had given her the Matriarchate the day before. I felt the absence of her gaze upon me, remembering her warmth during our conversations. I didn't betray that I recognized her, not wanting the others to know she and I'd already met. She looked nervous. One perquisite of the Matriarchate was a seat on the Imperial Ruling Council, and this was the first time she'd attended council. She sat within five paces of me. Her perfume wrapped me in heavenly delirium.

“First point: My decision is to mandate percentage taxation across the Empire, as the peasant Bear suggests. What say you, Lords and Ladies?” Smoking Arrow looked at the first Council member to his right.

Brown of hair, of eye, of skin, the Sorcerer Flowing Mind said, “I approve of your decision, Lord Emperor Arrow.”

Beside him, tiny at five feet tall, the Matriarch Spreading Oak said, “I too approve, Lord Emperor Arrow, but I can't believe a peasant suggested it.”

Beside her, unrelated to her, was the Prefect of Cove and Commanding General of the Eastern Armed Forces, Towering Oak. “I approve, Lord Emperor Arrow, but ask a ten-percent reduction in taxes,” Aged Oak's father said.

Next to him was a man without a strand of hair on his head. The Imperial Medacor Soothing Spirit said placidly, “I also approve, Lord Emperor Arrow.”

Smoking Arrow stopped further voting, the majority having approved the decision. “Does a Lord or Lady here object to percentage taxation?”

No one answered. After a moment, someone said, “Lower the rate, eh Lord Emperor?”

“Very well.” He sighed. “Taxation at thirty-five percent approved. Second point: My decision is to modernize agriculture in the Caven Hills, per the peasant's proposal. Having read the proposal, what say you, Lords and Ladies?” This time, Smoking Arrow looked at the first Council member to his left.

The Empress Steaming Water was black-haired and green eyed but not nearly as beautiful as her sister. “Before you put the peasant's proposal into effect, Lord Emperor Arrow, put the Caven Hills to the torch,” she said contemptuously. I wondered how her being pregnant had changed her attitudes; mothers guard their young ruthlessly.

Next to her, his gray eyes hooded by lids thick and heavy, was the Prefect Prowling Wolf. “The affairs of another prefecture don't concern me, Lord Emperor Arrow; therefore, I abstain.”

Beside him was Scowling Tiger. Since entering, he'd stared malevolently at me. As he spoke, he didn't look away. “Lord Emperor Arrow, remove this stinking peasant's head today, and I'll obliterate the rebels tomorrow and implement the proposal the next day.”

Next to him was the Matriarch Bubbling Water. She looked far older than her sixteen years and far more beautiful than I remembered from the day before. “I agree with your decision, Lord Emperor Arrow. However, I ask the Empire to assemble a team of chemathons and kinathons to help with the terracing.”

Smoking Arrow looked across from her at Soothing Spirit, the Council still a vote away from a majority. The Medacor cleared his throat and said, “I don't know enough about farming, Lord Emperor Arrow. I also must abstain.”

Next to vote was Towering Oak, his height five-four, his name a joke. He glanced at Smoking Arrow. “I approve, Lord Emperor.”

“The Council has a majority. Lord Mind, Lady Oak, do either of you object to the peasant's proposal?” Smoking Arrow asked.

Both shook their heads.

“Terracing the Caven Hills approved.” Looking at the Commanding General, the Emperor asked, “Have you thought about the matter we discussed, my friend?”

Towering Oak glanced toward Scowling Tiger, then looked at Smoking Arrow. And sighed. “I don't like it much, Lord, but you're right. Except possibly my youngest, I don't have a son worthy to succeed me as Commanding General.”

Smoking Arrow laughed with sudden, genuine warmth. “What a conniving whelp
he
is, eh? We'll have to watch him. Aged Oak's young yet; he'll learn the limits of his ambition.”

“Indeed, Lord, indeed. Is now the time?” At the Emperor's nod, Towering Oak said, “Lord Prefect Tiger, I formally ask you to become General of the Second, Fourth, Eighth and Ninth Battalions of the Eastern Armed Forces, and my second in command.”

Scowling Tiger glanced away from me to look at Towering Oak, surprised. “Forgive me, Lord General, I … I'm not worthy of such a station,” he stammered. “I'd never consider taking it from your own son, Lord General Oak. Please, I must refuse.” His left fist never moved from his thigh.

“You mustn't refuse, Lord Prefect; you'll train under me for my position.”

“Eh? Uh, forgive me, Lord General Oak, the Infinite's addled my brains. I thought I heard you say you'll train me to become Commanding General.”

“That's what I said, Lord Prefect Tiger.”

Scowling Tiger leaned back and looked toward the far wall, his mind briefly leaving the room. Remembering where he was, he snapped back into his body and put his head to the floor. “With humility, Lord General Oak, I accept the incomparable honor of being your second in command, Infinite help me to serve with distinction.”

Towering Oak nodded. “Lord General Tiger, I accept the—”

“Do all that flattery later,” Smoking Arrow interrupted. “Third and final point: My decision is to invest the peasant Guarding Bear as the Prefect of the Caven Hills. What say you, Lords and Ladies?”

“Forgive me, Lord Emperor Arrow,” I said, wishing I hadn't spoken.

“How dare you, peasant!” The gray eyes smoldered at me.

“I dare because I think making me Prefect inadvisable, Lord Emperor Arrow. Forgive me, but one can't lightly take away a hereditary position. May I suggest, Lord Emperor, that you ask the Lord Prefect Scowling Tiger to appoint me regent Prefect for five years?”

Smoking Arrow looked at me as though I were stupid. I'd have the Infinite to pay if they approved the Emperor's decision as stated. Smoking Arrow's gaze flicked toward Towering Oak, pointing out that he'd preserved Scowling Tiger's face already. The Emperor had tossed him a sop. The situation demanded I also do something to save the Prefect's face. Otherwise, Scowling Tiger would be my lifelong enemy, if he already weren't. I glanced at the Prefect. Scowling Tiger looked at me as though I were scum, knowing now the reason for his promotion.

“What would that accomplish, Bear?” Smoking Arrow asked.

“The Lord Tiger will lose less face, Lord Emperor Arrow.”

“A peasant who understands face?” Smoking Arrow laughed. “I like your suggestion, Bear. Very well. My decision is to
ask
the Lord Prefect Scowling Tiger to appoint the peasant Guarding Bear regent Prefect for a five-year probation, but responsible only to me. What say you?”

The Sorcerer Flowing Mind said, “I abstain, Lord Emperor Arrow.”

The tiny Matriarch Spreading Oak said, “I agree with your decision, Lord Emperor. We'll see if the peasant can do what seven Tiger Prefects couldn't.”

“Execute the rebellious peasant this instant, Lord Emperor!” Towering Oak said, smiling coldly at me.

Beside him Soothing Spirit said, “I must abstain, Lord Emperor Arrow.”

Nervously, Bubbling Water said, “I agree with your decision, Lord Emperor Arrow.” She looked directly at Smoking Arrow. “However, if this council approves your decision, the Caven Hills will have a native Prefect. The peasants will place more confidence in him than they would an outlander, eh? The Empire
must
take this opportunity to help its poorest prefecture. Please forgive me for speaking at such length, Lord Emperor Arrow.” She bowed to hide the color in her cheeks, embarrassed. Silently, I congratulated her for having the courage to speak her mind.

Left fist still propped on thigh, Scowling Tiger glanced contemptuously at her and returned his stare to me. “I disagree with your decision, Lord Emperor Arrow. The most uncouth warrior can do twice as well as this stinking peasant. As I said before, remove his head today, and I'll obliterate the rebels tomorrow and implement the proposal the next day.”

Prowling Wolf's gray, hooded eyes flicked toward me. “I disagree with your decision, Lord Emperor Arrow. Investing a peasant with noble station sets a precedent and throws our society into chaos, as does your tacit pardon of the rebels. If you don't execute this peasant immediately, all peasants will think with swords they're Emperors!”