established a new system of government. Though Misra had struggled since breaking from the empire, they had managed to find trade with an island in the south. The Empire had felt the loss of Misra's bountiful fields, but thus far had not been able to spare the men to retake the province.
"Other provinces are beginning to learn from the example of the Misra province. We have heard whispers of a revolution."
"Then stop them. Do you truly need me to remind you how you should do your jobs?"
"If it were only that simple Empress." The advisor sounded pained and Chien wished there was a way he could see their faces as well as hear their voices from his hiding place. Were they frustrated with their Empress's lack of understanding in how to handle her people? Would they stay loyal to her or to someone they thought could stop this mess. "We cannot stop multiple rebellions all at once."
"Why would they rebel? They are a part of the greatest Empire of their time."
"They cry for food, Empress. For homes to shelter their families. The waters last year washed away many homes and many have not been able to rebuild." The Empire was starving. Mai was so focused on expanding she had ignored the needs of the people and now they were suffering for it.
"The waters last year ruined many things. It is selfish of them to worry only of their own needs." If the advisor had an opinion on that thought he did not share it, "Take a contingent out to the Misra province then. Kill how many ever are necessary to bring it back under our control."
"Empress, that may be just a bit extreme—"
"There is nothing too extreme when one's reputation is at stake. Make an example of them. Other revolutions will not follow. Already we have allowed that ridiculous show of freedom go on for far too long."
"Of course Empress."
"Excellent. And now my minister of War. What objections do you bring?"
"My concerns are simple Empress." The minister's voice was cultured and polite. "If we send soldiers from the palace, it may weaken us at the palace for an attack."
"You think someone would be bold enough to invade my palace?" Mai laughed. "I would personally cut down any man stupid enough to do so." Her threat was not an idle one. Mai had been well trained by her father in the art of sword play, and Chien knew she practiced almost daily. She was certainly strong enough to hold the Throne of Swords, but there would always be that piece she lacked.
And despite what she preferred to believe, it had nothing at all to do with her gender. Women had held the throne in the past after all. It was her character that was flawed.
"Of course, my Empress. But who do you intend to lead such a force. Surely not your new general."
"You do not like General Bao?" Mai was amused.
"He is young. He does not have the experience of some of your other generals. And with the people beginning to question…" The minister paused as if not sure whether he ought to continue, "My men have heard talk that they say you are not the legitimate holder of the throne. They claim that nephew of yours in the rightful heir." Chien had heard that talk, too. He had helped to spread some of those rumors.
"They would be wrong. And any who spread such a rumor shall be killed." Mai's amusement had faded quickly to be replaced by cold steel.
"They would be comforted if they could see that you possessed the Sword of the Heavens." Centuries ago when the Golden Dragon had returned to the heavens he had left two relics behind. The first was the Throne of Swords, given to his children to prove their right to rule over the land. The second had been the Sword of the Heavens to prove his blessings upon whoever held the sword.
That was why Mai had sent Bao to the Xing province. She believed that the former Empress had hidden the sword with her family. In the thirteen years of her rule, Mai had never understood. She thought of the sword as simply a ceremonial thing, but she was quickly learning that it was so much more. If she were meant to hold it, the sword would reveal itself to her. Otherwise, like now, it would continue to allow itself to be hidden until its true carrier was revealed.
"Those commoners," Mai spat the word, "They do not have the right to set their eyes upon it! How dare they question my right to this throne? Let the man who believes himself more worthy attempt to unseat me. No, I will not display my brother's sword like some gaudy treasure."
"Yes but—"
"You wonder why General Bao was promoted so quickly. He learned at a young age not to question his superiors. Perhaps you should take from his example." Even hearing her speak his name made Chien's stomach roil in rage. She did not have the right to speak it. He stopped himself before the rage could go too far. This was not the best way to deal with his idiotic infatuation with the one man who could easily bring him to ruin.
"Of course, Empress." The minister sounded appropriately cowed. "There is the matter of the soldiers as well."
"The soldiers?"
The minister sighed, "Your son has taken to challenging them of late."
"That is the sort of things men do, Minister."
"He has killed quite a few of them as well." Tuan's temper would destroy the Empire's army long before any enemy.
"Then they obviously lacked the skill to perform their duties. Would you have me reprimand my son for weeding out the weak?"
"Of course not." Chien wondered how Mai could not hear the frustration in her minister's voice. "There is also the matter of your heir."
"I have tried to get them to call off that stupid duel." Worry seeped into her voice. Mai may have been a number of things, but nothing mattered more than her sons. She could not protect them from their own stupidity, however. All it had taken to set them against one another had been a few innocent questions and sly insinuations. Child's play.
"It may not be a bad thing, Empress." The minister's tone was tentative. "I know you were reluctant to set them against one another, but it would do some good to see that the future of the throne has been secured."
"Not at the expense of my children's lives!"
"Of course, Empress. But there is no stopping it now. The princes are quite stubborn." Not to mention both of them were convinced that they would defeat the other with ease. Minh was so taken with his brilliance and Tuan with his strength that they were blind to any reasoning their mother attempted.
"They are." Her tone was fond. "They're very much like their father that way. But you are right, I cannot stop them, only pray that they both return to me when it is done." That prayer would not be answered, not if Chien's plan went as intended. Mai's sons were as bad as she herself was, vicious men who believed that anything they wanted should be theirs. Many a maid had gone missing while in employ at the palace. Chien would feel no guilt at their end.
He stood carefully, no longer interested in the conversation. He had the information he wanted. His aunt could not keep control and soon, when she could not produce the Sword of Heaven, the people would lose further faith in her. If he was willing to wait, her reign would fall apart on its own. These small revolutions were proof enough of that.
Chien could not wait that long however. Anticipation made his hands shake. So close. He could not wait any longer. There would be no more of pretending the fool. No more watching his aunt destroy his empire, kill his people. There would at last be an end to this story and his father's throne would finally be his.
Chien had to crawl free carefully, thankful that he had not dared to wear one of his more elaborate robes, but a training robe instead. He might have cried to see rips in his favorite silk. Once he had managed to pull himself free, he paused for a moment to ensure that no one had heard him. It would not do to find himself caught running from the Empress's room like a guilty servant.
The dust shook free from his blonde hair after a quick run through with his fingers and he hoped he looked inconspicuous enough to make it back to his rooms without pulling anyone's attention. With one last glance around, Chien slipped from the Empress's war room, down the hallway and down the steps to the light wind and steady sun of the outside. Spring was fadi
ng quickly into summer, the flowers of the Phoenix Tail tree just beginning to bloom. Chien paused for a moment to admire them. There was one tree for each of the emperors who had reigned over the empire. Each of these trees was a lasting legacy of the wisdom of the men who had ruled.
If Chien needed anything right now, it was wisdom. He wandered closer, his hand brushing against the rough bark of the trunk. None of the trees were marked, but Chien found that if he listened closely enough, he could feel them. He stopped first in front of his grandfather's tree. The trunk was sturdy, the branches short. His grandfather's time had been one of stability and little growth. He had died when Chien had been very young, but Chien could remember him still as a very steady and calm man. He had died peacefully in his sleep.
In comparison, his father's tree was struggling to survive. He had not understood it when he had been younger, but his father had always been sickly. For the longest time, they had believed that his older sister would take her father's place. But then their father had declared his youngest son his heir instead. Chien had always wondered if his grandfather had sensed something inside of her. The space beside his father's tree was empty. Mai had not yet proven herself. She could not plant her own tree yet.
The heavy hand that settled upon his shoulder startled him and he turned, prepared for any manner of things, his hand going automatically