The Emperor's Dream - Chapter Nine
“She’s good, I’ll give her that,” Yishan said as he rubbed his chin. They sat in the common room of Wanyi’s manor, looking over Meisun’s first report. Yishan had pulled up a chair on Wanyi’s left as they both leaned over the desk.
**Chapter One**
**Welcome to chapter nine 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.**
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71 Days Until the Vote
“She’s good, I’ll give her that,” Yishan said as he rubbed his chin.
They sat in the common room of Wanyi’s manor, looking over Meisun’s first report. Yishan had pulled up a chair on Wanyi’s left as they both leaned over the desk. Multiple pages of paper had been covered with the Mon woman’s careful handwriting. Most of it detailed the comings and goings of Tukharen, Samyi, and Kaoghi. The three had been active over the past week, having had meetings with each of the other Clan chiefs. They had also been out to visit with Ramreunya, who had set up a sizable camp on the plain outside the Buffalo Gate.
Meisun had also included a report of Ramreunya’s camp—something which Yishan hadn’t yet been able to do. Wanyi could tell it irritated his spymaster. But Yishan was a professional, and if anything he would take it as motivation to keep working harder.
“Indeed,” Wanyi said thoughtfully, “But it looks as if they have quite the head start on us, don’t they?”
After corroborating the information between Yishan’s and Meisun’s reports, Ramreunya’s general plan had become obvious. Tukharen and the rest would set about working on the other Clan chiefs, while Ramreunya leveraged his network of block printers. Those had apparently come to Shanshia months ago, and were conveniently set up in the Ram district of the city—Tukharen’s jurisdiction. With the power of the printing, combined with whatever lackeys they had hired to stand on street corners and distribute handbills and pamphlets, they were poised to sway public opinion in favor of the proposal. If the people were convinced of the merits of the Tohk way of living, then they could in turn put pressure on their respective Clan chiefs.
As for Wanyi, now that Tukharen had already gotten to Jinhua, he had no allies left on the Council. He didn’t know where the other chiefs stood, but if the other three had already been visiting with them, it didn’t bode well. On top of that, he had no printers.
All he had was Yishan, a strange Band of Montililun traders, and a certainty that the Hukan people must remain free.
Wanyi sighed and leaned back in his chair. He pulled his l’anti wand from his belt and began absently twirling it in his fingers, a habit he had picked up since he had started carrying it every day.
“See if you can confirm these extra points that Meisun has,” he said. “If she can prove reliable with all of this, then she and her team are far more skilled than I had anticipated. And if it turns out she’s trustworthy with this work, I might be able to find more responsibilities to give her.”
“Are you sure that is wise, Wanyi?” Yishan asked. “You’ve only just met this woman. And you are already considering bringing her into your inner circle?”
“I’m not sure at all,” Wanyi said, shaking his head. His grip tightened around the wand. “But our chances are already slim. We need all the help we can find. We need allies. Even if they come at a price.”
“Just be sure it is a price you are able to pay.” Yishan stood and moved to the door, stepping into his boots once he had crossed the threshold. “I will do as you have asked, sire. Fair winds to you.”
Wanyi watched him go, and began twirling the wand once more.
Just trust me on this, old friend.