The Emperor's Dream - Chapter Eight

**Chapter One**

**Welcome to chapter eight The Emperor’s Dream, an epic fantasy novella from the wider world of The Mhong Chronicles. I’ll be publishing chapters each week, but remember, these are some of the very first drafts, which means you’re in on this at the very beginning. Thank you for being here, friend. I hope you enjoy it.**

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78 Days Until the Vote

They arrived back in Shanshia just as the sun crested the horizon. Rays of light illuminated the Council Hall like a heavenly haven above the eastern half of the city. The morning air was relatively crisp and cool, which made it a bit easier to continue on after traveling through the night. As they passed through the Buffalo Gate—on foot, because Wanyi had already sent Ban ahead to get some rest—Wanyi stopped to lean on his spear and take a deep breath, savoring the smell of home.

The return journey from the Nanshi Forest had gone smoothly. All three of them were too tired to argue or to pick any further fights. Wanyi’s guess had been correct—though he tried to conceal it, Fahyo had seemed just as eager to get back to Shanshia as Wanyi had been. The guards at the gate had raised eyebrows when they saw the bound Montililun man escorted by a Clan chief, but had otherwise given them no trouble.

The Enchanted Shanty was just opening when they arrived. Meisun was sweeping the small platform in front of the door when she saw them, the morning sunlight glinting off her hair. She wore a blue robe today, of a similar shade to the Owl Clan blue of Wanyi and Yishan’s diani, along with a white skirt.

“What is this?” She cried, her eyes golden. “Fahyo, what has happened?”

“Miss Meisun,” Wanyi said before Fahyo could respond, “We can explain what this is all about, but first we would like to ask you a few questions about your business operations. May we come inside?”

Meisun’s eyes shifted to brown as her hands went still on the handle of her broom. “Very well,” she said, ushering them inside.

The shop felt surprisingly dim after being outside in the morning light. The ground floor’s single window didn’t admit much sun, so lanterns illuminated the darkest corners. Even so, the place felt oppressive to Wanyi, like the very air itself was heavier than it ought to have been. Quite a different feeling from the last time he had visited.

Has it really only been a day and a half since I’ve been here?

Meisun disappeared into the back room for a moment before returning with a couple of stools. She set one out for Fahyo, then gestured for Wanyi to take the other. “Now,” she said, hands on hips, her voice measured, “Why does my brother look like he lost a tavern brawl, and why is the chief of the Owl Clan here inquiring about the specifics of my business?”

Tired though he was, Wanyi remained standing. The stool, sized for a Montililun, would have been awkwardly short for him. “My colleague and I were investigating reports of a threat on our border with the Tohk Empire, which is where we found Fahyo. Thinking him to be an enemy, we…struggled. Regrettably, I inflicted this wound upon him.”

“Struggled?” Fahyo snorted. He turned his bruised eye, which was beginning to turn purple, toward the light. “Those two chased me down and attacked me!”

Wanyi struggled to maintain his composure and keep his crest from rising. “I distinctly remember giving you the opportunity to surrender, Fahyo. It didn’t have to come to blows. I only knocked you out to stop you from killing me.”

“Enough!” Meisun shouted. She had been silent throughout the entire explanation. She sat down heavily on the empty stool, her braids swinging as she did so. Her eyes had changed to a dark crimson red. “I can believe that Fahyo would be enough of an idiot to not surrender, but what does this have to do with my shop? If you, chief Wanyi, detained him mistakenly, and he reacted out of self defense, why can’t we simply settle accounts and be finished with it all?”

Her question hung in the room like smoke without a chimney to escape from. The only sounds in the room were those that came from the street outside. Wanyi took a deep breath to calm himself, but Yishan spoke before he could.

“Good lady,” The spymaster said, his tone surprisingly meek, “We simply must ask you a few questions regarding your business practices. With your cooperation, and a quick look at your ledgers, we’ll be out of our way, and you’ll be as free as the great sky dragon Yushagai in his trek across the sky.” He gave Meisun a winning smile.

Wanyi barely stopped himself from gaping at Yishan. The man was like one of those players in the performances that his mother enjoyed so much. Even Fahyo’s gruff demeanor faltered, his good eye wide with surprise.

Meisun, however, clearly wasn’t fooled. She leaned forward on her stool and narrowed her eyes at Yishan, their shade changing to brown once more. After a moment, she turned and addressed Wanyi. “And just who might this be?”

“Ah, yes. This is my head clerk, Yishan,” Wanyi said.

“Your head clerk who arms himself and accompanies you to the border to investigate threats against your nation?” She nodded toward the bow that Yishan still held in his hand.

A valid question. But Wanyi couldn’t very well let her suspicion rest on Yishan. As long as Meisun thought the gangly man had gone with Wanyi, that was safe enough.

“We Owl Clan are few in number now, “ he said honestly. “Each of us must perform many duties. And if a loyal man has multiple gifts, then I would have him use them all. Unlike our visiting neighbors from the north.”

Perhaps that last comment had been inappropriate. As he had spoken, something had begun burning in Wanyi. A sense of rightness had empowered his words. Yes, Sentients were capable of multiple gifts. Yishan was an excellent example of that. Silent Lord, even Wanyi himself had effectively used Lan Banti in addition to Lan Kuanghi in the last day. He rested his hand on his l’anti wand at his belt.

Meisun’s eyes widened briefly, as if she had seen something surprising. Wanyi thought he saw her irises flicker to violet—a shade he hadn’t yet seen—before returning to brown. Then, she nodded slowly. “Very well, then. What are these questions that you have?”

Wanyi released a breath he hadn’t realized he had been holding. It was only a start, but it was a start. He was suddenly reminded of how tired he was. But this was a conversation he had to see through.

“First off, can you explain to us why Fahyo was visiting the Nanshi forest yesterday where there just so happened to be an army of Tohk soldiers camped?”

Surprisingly, Meisun laughed, a light, melodic sound that soothed Wanyi’s mind. “Is this what you are afraid of, chief Wanyi?” she asked, eyes green. “That we’re working for the Tohk?”

“Well…” Wanyi said, feeling foolish, “yes. Considering recent events in Shanshia, that’s exactly the sort of thing we must concern ourselves with.”

“Then we can settle things quickly: we have had no dealings with the Tohk Empire, and we do not intend to. Betraying our gracious Hukan hosts wouldn’t be good for business.” Meisun smiled, her eyes flicking back to green. It looked natural on her.

Yishan coughed. “So you wouldn’t mind if I took a look at your ledgers, Miss? Just to make sure?” His overly cordial facade had relaxed a bit.

“Of course not. They’re on the table in that back room there. Go have fun, Master…”

“Yishan.”

Meisun waved Yishan on, and he vanished into the back room. Just before he closed the door, Wanyi caught his eyes narrowing determinedly. Yishan would be careful—watching for potential surprises while also seeing what information might have been hidden. If the Montililun were hiding something, Yishan would sniff it out.

“Now then,” Meisun said, turning back to Wanyi. “While your man is doing that, why don’t we just cut to the quick—we can help you.”

Wanyi cocked an eyebrow at her. “And what makes you think I need help?”

“I can see your determination to keep Hukan free. I’ve seen your anger—and your fear—every time Ramreunya and his empire come up. And if there are truly Tohk soldiers assembling on your borders, then you’re in a tighter spot than I’d like to be.”

Her words hit closer to the truth than Wanyi would have liked. He had heard that Montililun were empaths, able to see the emotions of others with their color-shifting eyes. Was that what Meisun had done? Or had he been that free with his true feelings? He wasn't sure which possibility unsettled him more. He crossed his arms casually, intent on remaining as impassive as possible.

“And if I were in such dire need as you say, how would you propose to help me?”

She exchanged a look with Fahyo, then flashed Wanyi a knowing smile, her green eyes alight with excitement.

“Well first, I would sell you enchantments. That spear of yours looks like it could use some strengthening, for one.” She eyed the two splintered notches where Fahyo’s swords had bitten into the shaft.

Wanyi creased his brow. He had expected more than for her to simply peddle her wares at him. “Is that all?” he asked. “There are other Montililun in the city, even in the Owl district. What makes your shop any different from the others?”

“Tch, tch, tch. You didn't let me finish. I said the enchantments were the first thing I’d sell you. But that's not all.” Meisun raised her hands placatingly. “Other establishments sell Singing services, of course, but I'm talking about our other, more…lucrative…product. Information.”

“Information,” Wanyi said flatly. “Of what kind?”

“Any kind you like. Public opinion, enemy troop counts. I can tell you what chief Tukharen had for breakfast this morning.”

Wanyi’s crest rose slightly. “Tukharen? How did you know he was involved in this?”

Meisun shrugged and cocked her head, giving him a coy smile. “Little Montililun traders can go many places where chief Wanyi of the Owl Clan would make waves. For example: a lone Montililun traveler scavenging for his supper in the Nanshi Forest would simply be asked to turn the other way if he happened to run into a company of Tohk soldiers. Wanyi the chief, though…could he have been spying on a foreign military?”

“Enough,” Wanyi said, holding up a hand. “You’ve made your point. Now, if I were interested, what would stop you from sharing my own plans with your other…clients?”

“Exclusivity comes for a price, of course,” Meisun said. “But it’s the only type of deal I make. Double timing with the sorts of information we gather is one of the easiest ways of ending up on the wrong end of a spear.” She nodded at Fahyo. “Or a fist.”

“It was that blasted l’anti wand,” Fahyo grumbled.

“Or a wand.”

The offer was tempting. Meisun made good points. Wanyi couldn’t investigate his enemies himself without drawing attention, and Tukharen and the rest would recognize Yishan if he did too much himself. Yishan’s network was good, but Wanyi was more or less a stag surrounded by wolves. Ramreunya. Tukharen and the rest. Even Jinhua wasn’t going to come to his aid anymore. That one still hurt.

No, if Hukan was to remain free, Wanyi needed allies. Even if he had to buy them.

“How much?” he asked.

“Start at ten gold per week, and we’ll have the whole Band out as your eyes and ears. Reports as often as you ask for them. Complete confidentiality.” Meisun counted off on her fingers as she listed the terms. Her eyes had changed to brown, now that she had set aside her playfulness.

“Ten per week? How full do you think my coffers are?”

“Full enough for me and the rest of my Band to eat well and enjoy our new lives here in Hukan. Surely they pay you chiefs well enough, don’t they?”

Wanyi’s crest rose, but he refused to respond to her jabs. “I can do eight per week,” he said. “With Singing services added in. That’s plenty, and you know it.” He was used to overpaying anyway.

“Deal.” Meisun held out a hand, and Wanyi took it. Small though they were, her hands were surprisingly tough. Perhaps Fahyo wasn't the only one with sword training. 

Just then, the door to the backroom opened.

“Everything looks to be in order,” Yishan said with the same smile he had given Meisun earlier. Like a bird with teeth. 

“Excellent,” Wanyi said as he stepped away from Meisun. “Shall we be off then?”

Yishan nodded, and they began to take their leave. 

“I expect I shall be hearing from you within the week, then?” Wanyi asked Meisun as he paused in the doorway.

“Yes,” she said, with a smile, her eyes bright green once again. “I believe you shall.”

**That’s it for this week! If you’d like to support the work I’m doing here, you can buy me a coffee here. Or, if you’d like to become a monthly supporter, you can do so by becoming a paid subscriber below. Whatever floats your boat. I’m grateful either way. See you next week!**