The Emperor's Dream - Chapter Fifteen

**Chapter One**

**Welcome to chapter fifteen of 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.**

24 Days Until the Vote

Yishan’s pen scratched against the paper as he made a new note. Wanyi waited for him to finish before continuing.

“So that’s another thousand soldiers we can count on from Ninroh,” he said. “Wonderful.” Chengroh had just delivered the news—his conversation with the Stag Clan chief had proven fruitful. They now had four Clan chiefs committed to rejecting the proposal and defending Hukan from the Tohk.

“And I’ve another meeting with Kuozai this week,” Chengroh said from his place on the couch. “He was amicable during our first conversation, and I believe after a bit more work, he might come around. I know for a fact that several of his officers have expressed concern about the merger—something I believe we can attribute to our own printing efforts.” He nodded respectfully to Meisun, who smiled in return, her eyes green.

Wanyi’s common room was warm for a summer morning, but not yet uncomfortable. They had opted to leave the dining room table in its place, which meant Wanyi, Chengroh, Meisun, and Nensin were scattered about the couches in the room. Yishan sat at Wanyi’s desk in the corner so he could continue to write.

“Excellent,” Wanyi said. “And how do you think our battle for public opinion is going in general? Are people of the other Clans responding the same way as those Wolf Clan officers?”

Yishan gave an indignant snort, but said nothing. It was Meisun who answered.

“Well, our appeals to keeping Hukan free and resisting things like the Testing have been received well,” she said, “but our opponents have doubled down on reminding people of the Owl Clan’s supposed past failures.” She gave Wanyi a soft smile. “They know how involved you are in resisting them, Wanyi. And they know that many many will oppose you simply on principle. Their tactics haven’t been…entirely ineffectual.”

Wanyi sighed. From the corner of his eye, he saw Yishan’s white-knuckled grip on his pen. The man was as loyal as they came. “I don’t even want to see them.” Nensin gave a forceful nod.

“Shall we speak of other things?” Chengroh asked. “Wanyi, how goes your work regarding the Tohk soldiers? Have you managed to secure an audience with Tukharen yet?”

Wanyi saw Meisun’s eyes go suddenly devoid of color. He didn’t see her gray-eyed often, but it was fairly obvious that it came with sadness or hurt. Even if it was only on the behalf of others. Meisun, of course, already knew how his efforts at reaching Tukharen had gone. Nearly a month of sending letters, sending actual Sentient messengers, and trying to speak with Tukharen after Council meetings, and Wanyi had been ignored or rejected at every turn. He had done everything an honorable Clan chief could do besides storm over to Tukharen’s estate and challenge him to a duel for his disrespect. The thought had crossed Wanyi’s mind more than once.

Despite the comfort of Meisun’s sympathy, thinking of Tukharen mostly just made Wanyi angry. He felt his crest rising as he remembered the last several weeks, and took a breath to calm himself.

“It goes poorly,” he admitted. “I overestimated how much honor Tukharen had left. He hardly deigns to acknowledge me, even during our Council gatherings.”

Chengroh nodded, as if he had expected such an answer. He rubbed his chin, looking thoughtful.

Just then, a servant entered carrying a rolled up piece of paper tied with a black string. She waited just inside the door until Wanyi waved her over. She handed the message over wordlessly before bowing and leaving the way she came.

Wanyi quickly untied the string, aware of the others’ eyes on him. He unrolled the paper, revealing a single word written upon it.

No.

Tukharen—no doubt the author of the “letter”—hadn’t even taken the time to sign it. It was another slap to the face, a total departure from the ways of honor.

Wanyi let out a long breath and held the letter up for the others to see. “This is the most I’ve received from him since our first meeting.” He let the paper fall to his lap and leaned back heavily against the couch, allowing himself to slump down.

Meisun plucked it up gingerly and began studying it as if trying to find some additional hidden meaning in the single page. Her eyes changed to brown as she focused.

“That blasted swine,” Yishan growled through his teeth. Despite his obvious anger, he stood and walked around to stand behind Meisun, looking at the paper over her shoulder, working his jaw as he did so.

“Peace, Yishan,” Wanyi said. “It’s about what I’ve come to expect from Tukharen. I’ll just have to find another way to get to him.”

“I hate to add pressure,” Chengroh said, “but we don’t exactly have the luxury of waiting. If we don’t have a plan for dealing with those soldiers…I’m not sure the other chiefs will continue to support us.”

“I know, I know,” Wanyi said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “It’s time to start pursuing more drastic measures.”

“Measures such as?” Nensin asked, her eyebrows raised.

“I’ll think of something. For now, every chief who joins us brings more fighting men. We’ll have as many begin basic training in Lan Banti as we can. Even a little extra staff power on our side might help us withstand a siege.” Wanyi drew his wand and began tapping it on his palm. “Yishan, can you set to finding as many Banqilun and Hukan instructors who would be willing to aid us and organize the trainings?”

“Yes, sire,” Yishan said quickly. He bounded back to the desk to begin making additional notes.

“Thank you. Meisun, Chengroh, I think it's time we let the people know Ramreunya’s true intentions. Could you have your printers create recruiting materials? Be sure to mention the army on our borders. That ought to encourage enlistments.”

Everyone's eyes fastened on Wanyi. Yishan whipped his head around, spraying drops of ink across the paper he was working on as he did so. Meisun's eyes tinged gold. Chengroh choked on his tea. Only Nensin gave no obvious reaction. She merely narrowed her eyes, her white crest rising slightly as she regarded Wanyi thoughtfully.

“Are you sure this is wise, Wanyi?” Chengroh asked once he had recovered. “If you tell the people they're on the brink of being invaded, you could start a panic.”

“Wise? That remains to be seen. But it's time someone told our people the truth. Their homes are in far greater danger than they realize, and it is their right to defend them if they wish. They might panic, yes, but this gives them time to prepare. Otherwise, would you wait to tell the people until the day we reject the proposal? The invasion would be imminent at that point.”

Besides, Wanyi could use a bit of chaos in the streets. An idea was blooming in his mind. One he couldn't yet share with the others. If he failed, it would be in their best interest to have deniability.

Chengroh sighed and took another sip of his tea. “Yushagai help us, but he's right.”

“Just get the handbills printed, then give me a few days. I'll let you know when to start distributing them.”

Wanyi gave his wand one last firm tap into his palm as he surveyed the room. “Anything else?”

No one spoke. He inhaled deeply, savoring the scent of the summer morning as it wafted in the open windows. He exhaled. It felt good to have a plan. “Then let us adjourn.”

18 Days Until the Vote

Wanyi flew over restless streets. Even as the sun set, Shanshia buzzed like a bee hive after a bear had gotten its paws on it. Instead of staying at home where they belonged, people bustled about out of doors. Some bought provisions as they prepared to evacuate the city. Some tried to persuade their peers that staying and accepting the new leadership was best for them and their families. Others gathered into discontented mobs and roamed about, looking for anyone who looked like a chief for them to shout their anger at—or who looked like they belonged to the group that favored the proposal. Meisun and Chengroh’s most recent printing was working. The people of Shanshia were divided, just as their Clan chiefs were.

It’s a shame that it took the threat of another war for some of these people to begin caring again.

He soared over the River Shan and into the Ram district, with Ban slightly below him and to his right. Wanyi didn’t feel sorry for asking the hawk to accompany him on this nighttime mission. He was bound for enemy territory, and he needed companions he could trust.