The Peasant (9 page)

I
suspected that the grounds belonged to some noble whose home stood deep within the gardens. If true, the home was probably a palace, and the Lady whom I'd met, nearly an Empress. Before intruding the next day, I scouted the property by walking around it. Nearly an hour passed before I returned whence I'd started. To purchase so much land in Emparia City, the palace owner must have gotten special dispensation—Imperial dispensation.—
The Political Geography
, by Guarding Bear.

* * *

About a year after Brazen Bear and I wiped out the Imperial battalion, I went to Emparia City to place a proposal before the Lord Emperor Smoking Arrow.

Our plan had worked. Aged Oak had more influence than I thought. That muckraking clam-digger from Cove persuaded Smoking Arrow that my brother and I could deliver twenty taels per family in Caven Hills taxes. Smoking Arrow accepted the face-saving solution and executed the “rebels” whom Aged Oak had “captured.”

The test of our control over the Caven Hills came a year later. Taxes were due. Brazen Bear and I had no trouble collecting the taxes. The natives brought the taxes they owed
to
us. They'd have licked our balls if we'd have asked. Our problem was
depositing
the taxes in an Imperial Bank.

The Caven Hills was so poor we didn't have a bank. The nearest Imperial Bank was in Nest. We couldn't take the taxes there. If Scowling Tiger could, he'd ambush us and steal the taxes, then take them to the Emperor and claim he'd regained control of the Caven Hills. If that happened, we'd have no taxes to deliver—end of rebellion, eh? The face-saving “solution” wouldn't stop Scowling Tiger from trying to reclaim the prefecture.

To avoid that, I had my spy in the Prefect's administration whisper that we'd deliver the taxes directly by traveling westward around Nest toward Eyry, and thence to Emparia City. Scowling Tiger wasn't very smart to think we'd actually try that. All the land was under his control. While he sent out scouts and warriors to intercept us, we went northeast to Cove, laughing all the way to the bank. There, we deposited in Smoking Arrow's name a quarter million taels in taxes. Alone, I went on to Emparia City and requested an audience with the Emperor.

I didn't know how long Smoking Arrow would make me wait. The more in disfavor a person, the longer the delay—that's politics. I took up lodging in the best hostelry where peasants could stay, a place called the Peasant's Back.

The wait was excruciating. After three days I got so bored counting the flies and cockroaches in my room that I decided to take a walk. That visit was my first to Emparia City, and my first absence from my wild unruly land. I soon tired of wandering along crowded dusty streets, of looking at ugly stone buildings. I wanted trees and grass and bushes and hills. Oh, how I yearned to be home again!

From a wide avenue near the castle, I spied a thick copse of trees some distance away. Walking toward it, I hoped to find an unspoiled patch of forest within the city. When I got there, I saw trees, grass and bushes—all so carefully manicured I almost kept going right back to the Caven Hills.

I sighed. At least it was green.

Abutting the street for a hundred paces, the gardens looked empty. I saw no one at all wandering amidst the trees. The street was nearly empty as well. Across the street from the gardens were large hedged yards. Mansions peeked at me from over tall bushes. I didn't think the lack of people odd—few appeared to live in the area. Shrugging, I entered the gardens, walked along a raked gravel path, found a pleasant patch of grass and sat. Nearby was an empty bench of carved stone, two shady alders and a paracone bush. I breathed the scents of foliage deeply, wishing I were home.

“What are you doing here?” someone said.

I looked, my sword half-out of its sheath.

Behind two armed guards stood two women, one behind the other, all of them wearing activated electrical shields.

Sheathing my sword, I looked at the woman with black hair and flashing green eyes, the one who'd spoken. “Forgive me, Lady, if I'm intruding,” I said with a half bow. “I only wanted the grass beneath my feet. I find this city oppressive.”

Since I couldn't see her signature and find out her name, I examined her dress and her companions for some sign of who she was. What I saw surprised me.

They weren't companions. The two warriors were personal guards and the woman was a personal servant. The Lady was far more important than I could ever hope to be.

“You're not from Emparia City?” she asked.

“No, Lady, I'm from the Caven Hills. As I said, I meant not to intrude.” Standing, I bowed deeply and turned to go.

“Do you know the Upstart?” she asked.

“Who, Lady?”

“Guarding Bear, the one who led the rebellion.”

“I've met him, Lady—once.”

She threw her head back and laughed. “That was prudent, Bear.”

I smiled, her laughter a joy to hear. My very distinctive face was often on the psychic flow. Everyone knew Smoking Arrow had thrown sops to the executioner. After he'd learned the appearance of my face and signature, he'd consulted the flow with the Imperial Sword to find out what I was doing. He'd added to my infamy to insure he'd catch me quickly if he decided to declare me a criminal.

“I thought it better not to reveal that I know the rebel leader well.”

“Since that might get a person killed, indeed,” she replied.

“Am I that dangerous, Lady?”

“You're a rebel.” She shrugged as if that explained itself.

I smiled. “Would the Lady honor this humble peasant with a little of her time? Please, Lady, sit for a moment.”

“Thank you, Bear, I will. I was walking nearby when the sentries saw that someone had intruded.” Then she smiled. “The intruder was only you.” Stepping between the guards, she lowered herself to the bench delicately, like an autumn leaf in a gentle breeze. The personal servant stood behind the bench and the two warriors at either end, all of them watching me carefully, as though I'd attack her.

Does this land belong to some noble, I wondered, the house hidden so deep in the gardens that I couldn't see it? Does it belong to her? Since Emparia City isn't part of any prefecture, the property laws in the city are different from those in the provinces. Anyone can own up to a certain amount of land, even a female, and build whatever he or she wants. The thought of her being so wealthy shocked me.

“You do me much honor, Lady. I didn't know I'd become so famous that word of my doings would reach
your
beautiful ears.”

“I'd call it notoriety, Bear,” she replied. “Not fame.”

“So would I, Lady, if I didn't want to impress you. Since fame and notoriety are two sides of the same coin, I haven't exactly lied, eh?”

“They might be two sides of the same coin, but they won't buy you equivalent merchandise.”

“No, they won't.” She's no empty-headed noble, I thought, and she's immune to flattery. “How do I turn the coin over, Lady?”

“Your deposit in Cove certainly helped.”

“I guess most people already know about that, eh?”

“You duped Scowling Tiger into thinking you'd bring the taxes to Emparia City yourself. Well done.”

What else does she know? I wondered, intrigued by her. “You also heard that he'd have ambushed us and taken our taxes.”

“I did. How did you know he promised Smoking Arrow
he'd
deliver the Caven Hills taxes? Somehow, Bear, you have a frightening ability to besmirch Scowling Tiger's face. If you keep doing that, you won't live very long.”

I grinned and said, “But, Lady, I find it so amusing.”

Laughing, she pounded her knee with her small, dainty fist. I found the gesture curiously masculine for a person so feminine.

“In truth, Lady, I've done only what I thought right for the people of the Caven Hills. For too long we've suffered in ignorance. I hope to remedy the situation. As Aged Oak said, 'to pilot the prefecture from poverty.' No stinking outlander noble like the Lord Prefect Tiger will stop me.”

She looked at me with a raised eyebrow, as though I were a fresh, cool breeze on a sultry summer day. “Tell me the truth, Bear. Most people believe you're a peasant warlord who cares less for the Caven Hills than you do for Scowling Tiger. Tell me, why'd you revolt?”

“You don't know?” As she shook her head, I wondered why that information hadn't reached the people most able to use it. Not one Imperial official, not even Aged Oak, had asked the same question. Did they care so little? I wondered. “My village, where my father was Elder, owed half the taxes from the year before and couldn't pay this year's taxes. Only two of the ten village families earned more than fifty taels per year. We had no choice. Thirty taels was already too much. The Lord Emperor's increase was the straw that broke the peasant's back.”

She nodded, looking thoughtful. “An odd turn of phrase, Bear. Most people
I
know say, 'the
servant's
back.' Are all the villages so poor?”

“Nearly all, Lady. All the villages around ours owed back taxes. Some of them had been in debt for three generations—
before
the increase.”

“Infinite knows why you rebelled, eh? Well, some people warned Smoking Arrow he'd have trouble. He got more than anyone expected. What now, Bear?”

She asked the question so casually. I wondered whether she was genuinely curious. Does she want to help? Is she perhaps my enemy's minion? I couldn't answer the questions. She
was
influential enough to know what Scowling Tiger said to Smoking Arrow and felt comfortable enough to call them by name. “Forgive me if I don't answer, Lady. I don't want you caught between me and the Lord Tiger. While I bear him no personal grudge, he most certainly has reason to bear
me
one.”

The servant touched her shoulder, and she glanced back, then nodded. “I have business elsewhere soon, Bear. First, you have admirers in high places who can't do what you've done because of those places. Second, your deposit was both foolish and prudent. Third, this humble lady would ask you please to forget your conversation with her. I have much more to lose than you, Bear.”

Seeing the simple honesty in her face, I wondered what that had cost her. I repaid her in kind. “Yes, Lady, I'll forget. I'd guess you're as famous as I am infamous—or at least enough that the flow would tell me your name. For your safety and mine, I won't consult it.” Then I frowned. “I'm sorry you need to go. I've enjoyed our conversation very much.” Standing, I bowed to her as any peasant would to a noble.

She returned my obeisance as if we were equals. Smiling, she disappeared into the trees like a wraith, her servant and warriors behind her.

Walking back to the hostelry, I felt pleased and puzzled both. She warmed me in all the right places and scared the Infinite out of me too.

The next day I endured more endless hours of waiting for the Emperor's summons. That afternoon I found the gardens again about the same time of day, hoping to meet her there.

Within minutes the Lady's personal servant appeared with two different guards. “You're not welcome here, Peasant. Please leave.”

“Eh? I don't understand. Just yesterday—”

“Has the Infinite addled your brains? I said you're not welcome here.” Suddenly, she guffawed and pounded her knee with her fist, then looked at me blankly. “Begone, I said.” The two warriors glanced askance at her, looking unsure of her sanity.

“Forgive me, I must not have heard you. I'll leave immediately.” Bowing, I left. The laugh and pounding of the knee had been a signal. The Lady, expecting me to return, had instructed her servant to do as she did.

The next day, the Lady appeared minutes after I stepped into the gardens. Her servant was with her, but she didn't have any guards. She
was
wearing her shield again. “Infinite be with you, Bear.”

“And with you, Lady. You look well.” I sensed she wasn't, but couldn't say so.

“Thank you, Bear. Forgive me my indisposition yesterday.”

“Nothing to forgive, Lady. I'm not worthy of your notice, much less your presence. You expected I'd return.”

She smiled. “The two guards who were with me the day before yesterday don't remember what happened.” She glanced away. “Having a Wizard convenient is almost necessary.”

A psychological Wizard? I wondered. “Do you regret having their memories erased?”

Frowning, she nodded, and something about her changed. “I don't encourage it, I don't condone it, I don't like it! Sometimes, the needs of government disgust me so much, I wish anarchy would come through here like a hurricane. When I consider what I'd have to give up of course I don't want any change at all.” She giggled at herself. “I'm so silly, aren't I?”

She's different today, I thought, wondering what had happened. “Your spirit looks heavy, Lady. I'm sorry to see it.”

Her mask fell away. She looked furious. Then the fury left her face. She sighed. “I want a cure for the cynicism of nobility, Bear, or at least an inoculation against its infecting me. I admire your idealism, your genuine desire to help your peasants. I'm sorry I laughed at you the other day. I didn't mean to be cruel. When I said some people think you care less for the Caven Hills than for Scowling Tiger, the opinion was my own. When a man of your origins finds himself in authority, he often adopts the methods and attitudes of his oppressors. Sometimes he adopts them to throw off his oppressors and finds he can't
un
-adopt them. He keeps them in repressed revenge, not realizing he's doing to others what his oppressors did to him. I couldn't believe that a person of your station who suddenly gained your power would
want
to help peasants.”

I thought about the callous attitudes underlying her opinion, so characteristic of nobility. About her ambivalence toward nobility, of whom she was one. About her simple honesty the first time we talked, when she asked me to keep our meeting secret. About her candor now. About the masks she needed to wear. About the caring I saw beneath her masks. About the price we pay for wealth, fame, influence—all those intangibles our society pressures us to want. About the self-respect that's too often the price.