The Emperor's Dream - Chapter Thirteen

**Chapter One**

**Welcome to chapter thirteen 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.**

38 Days Until the Vote

Wanyi quietly led Meisun to the aviaries, his stomach fluttering. He wasn’t sure if he felt nervous because of Meisun’s company or because he was afraid of being seen alone with a Montililun woman so late at night. He knew he ought to be more worried about other things, but he wasn’t quite ready for his time with Meisun to end.

For her part, Meisun seemed equally eager to see the hawks that Wanyi’s family kept for bonding. Three wrought iron aviaries stood in a row near the edge of the manor grounds. Two were tall and slender, with slightly domed roofs and openings at the top for the hawks to come and go as they pleased. Each one housed a mating pair of hawks, their nests, and their offspring. The last aviary was shorter, wider, and more square. Numerous birds of varying species roosted quietly in its nesting boxes and small trees, save for the nightjars which occasionally sang proudly into the night. These smaller birds were used as messengers and other related work, though some were housed simply because one of the manor’s occupants had befriended them.

Are you awake? Wanyi asked Ban as he undid the latch on the Sentient door to Ban’s aviary.

I am now, friend Wanyi, Ban said drowsily, not leaving his nest. He didn’t need to see Wanyi to communicate. Is something the matter? Intruders?

Wanyi felt a pang of guilt for waking the hawk, and for what he was about to ask, but he had already begun it. No use stopping now. Would you mind lending me your wings for a short while this night?

Of course, friend Wanyi. Ban poked his head out from the edge of his nest where Wanyi could see him. Do you need me to accompany you?

That won’t be necessary. Rest as much as you can. Thank you, friend Ban. Wanyi’s guilt deepened as he sensed Ban’s loyalty. Perhaps this trip with Meisun wasn’t for the best. Ban would be able to sleep after they had bonded, but the effect of lending his wings to Wanyi would still cost him a bit of his strength, small though it might be.

Wanyi opened his mouth to tell Meisun that he had changed his mind, that perhaps it was better if they walked instead, but the enthusiasm on her face stopped him short. He had to make sure she got home safely, didn’t he? And flying was the most efficient route.

“Yes?” she asked innocently, her green eyes seeming to shine up at him.

“Erm, nothing,” Wanyi said. “Just a moment.”

He opened a bond with Ban, widening the flow of Kuanghi until great hawk’s wings sprouted from between his shoulder blades. They gave off a faint azure glow in the night.

Wanyi felt slightly less guilty for waking Tong, the male in the other hawk aviary. He didn’t bond often with Tong, as the older hawk stayed close to the manor grounds most days. Which was well, because Tong would have to accompany Wanyi and Meisun, since she wouldn’t be able to maintain a bond over the distance between Wanyi’s manor and The Enchanted Shanty. Unless she was far more skilled at Lan Kuanghi than she let on.

It took a few tries for Meisun to open a bond with Tong wide enough to summon wings of her own. Her eyes lit up to a joyful green as her wings bathed her face in a pale blue light.

“They suit you,” Wanyi said. And he meant it.

She beamed up at him.

“Are you ready?”