The Emperor's Dream - Chapter Nineteen
Wanyi held his breath, letting the cold water hit his face before it fell back into the basin in his bedroom. He scrubbed himself vigorously, using the feel of his toughened, callused hands against his skin to wash the sleep from his eyes.
**Chapter One**
**Welcome to chapter nineteen 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.**
3 Days Until the Vote
Wanyi held his breath, letting the cold water hit his face before it fell back into the basin in his bedroom. He scrubbed himself vigorously, using the feel of his toughened, callused hands against his skin to wash the sleep from his eyes.
He toweled off, then crossed the room to his wardrobe, his bare feet shielded from the cold stone floor by a sheepskin rug. He had just tied his belt around his diani when a knock sounded at the door.
“A moment!” Wanyi called, hastily stuffing his l’anti wand into his belt. He hadn’t expected visitors this morning. Today he would meet with Meisun, Yishan, and Chengroh to begin making their plans for the final few days before the vote, and for what might come after.
If only I could figure out what Ramreunya wants with that dragon, he thought.
He opened the door to Wuming, one of the servants responsible for keeping the estate clean, clutching a sealed letter in trembling hands. Her short, black crest feathers were folded flat against her head, and she shifted her weight anxiously from foot to foot.
“Are you in danger?” Wanyi whispered, pulling his wand from his belt and scanning the hallway for threats.
Wuming shook her head rapidly. “N-no, sire. N-not now. I just…here!” She thrust the letter out to him.
Wanyi half expected the letter to burn him from the way she recoiled after he took it from her shaking fingers. He turned it around to inspect the seal, and immediately understood the reason for the girl’s anxiety.
Ramreunya’s Golden Tree.