Please let this be nothing more than a clan matter. Nothing more than what a mere elf can handle.
Sweet Princess, if by the slightest chance that you can, please keep my son safe.
Day light had completely set, but you could still see Eluna’s image linger in the sky. She was at full bloom last night, so it was not hard to spot her amongst Wernos’ light.
Dei had to squint if he wished his eyes upon her. There were barely any clouds, so Wernos was extra bright today. Thankfully it was still early morning, and Dei wouldn’t have to suffer the Sun at his highest.
“Where to, Dei koh?” Zhe trotted in close.
Dei, Jin Zhe, and four of Zhe’s best hands were all mounted on their personal hooves. Bold Wind carefully tapped his forefoot on the concrete paving. Dei shared his mount’s discomfort. That lot were waiting within the palace gates, and so were forced to stand around on this fancy straight floor. Not good for the hooves’ legs. Even Dei didn’t enjoy the rigid straightness of concrete. Palace life was not meant for a warrior or his steed.
“Dryfox House” Dei answered.
“Dryfox… Is Dei koh finally going to give Cor Tse koh the slap? Reports say Cor Tse koh has been in the region for the last few days to check on his mining camp. Lung daikoh supposedly razed the place.” Zhe seemed too happy about that news.
“No” Dei informed. “I need to check in with His Highness.” Zhe was an old friend, so Dei spoke casually. But in front of his own hands, Zhe had to maintain an honourable tone.
“This wasn’t in today’s schedule. Did Dei koh hear something about His Highness?” Zhe wondered.
Dei brought his gaze upwards again. “The Goddess was in full lune last night. I have a hunch.” Even Bold Wind was now staring up at the Goddess.
Zhe studied Dei for a moment. “Is more of a contingent required?”
“The fewer of us, the better.” Dei looked around at those gathered. “There is no point brewing people’s curiosities with a full parade marching about. The Cor might overreact if they hear about an unaccounted Zyur unit in their area.
Zhe looked to each of his guardhands in reassurance and then nodded. “Dei koh knows the ability of each of us here. On Dei koh’s command…” Zhe and his guardhands straightened up.
Dei gestured for a couple of hands to lead up front. “No banners.”
The guard stations on the way towards Dryfox House were barely garrisoned. On all the main roads to Swayking, each of the guard stations should have had a sizable unit. Only one roadblock further from the region’s borders held anything considered formidable.
I gave Cor Tse the honour of becoming Protector of the Light, Dei considered. And yet this whole region could let destruction leak through all its cracks.
At the roadblock, Dei asked for the commanding officer. The commanding yan slopped his way over until he looked up and finally noticed Dei waiting.
“Larchu Zyur daikoh!” Teng Stim, the Cor officer, overlapped his hands before him and bowed. “Teng Stim did not expect to receive Larchu Zyur daikoh. What a surprise.”
“We need no formalities here.” Dei pointed around to his party. “It’s just me, Jin Zhe, and a few of our trusted. We did not wish to draw any attention.”
“Yes, Larchu Zyur daikoh.” Teng Stim, hands still lapsed, gave another bow.
“Please.” Dei waved a dismissive hand. “Just ‘Dei’ is fine.”
Teng Stim looked around at any subordinates nearby. “Dei… koh.” Teng bowed again.
Dei shrugged at Teng’s stiff manners. “We passed several of the guard stations on the way up here, but they seemed quite empty.”
Teng Stim’s eyes couldn’t hide that he understood.
“Where is Cor Tse?” Dei asked.
“Ummm, Dei koh,” Teng Stim scratched the back of his head, “There’s been several attacks here and in our other regions. Uprisings to manage. Rebels to clear off. Lung daikoh is said to still be around and continues to bully us. To be honest, we were hoping the Zyur would have a ‘firm’ word with Lung daikoh.”
“I have talked to Lung daikoh about this” Dei frowned. “Well, at least I’ve tried to talk to him about your clan. But setting ground rules with him seems to push him the wrong way, especially with me being his junior and all. Hopefully he respects my station as Minister of the Realm.”
“Dei koh,” Teng lowered his head as if bowing, “Lung daikoh attacked our mining camp. Everybody must have heard already. And with the current state of Center, we cannot sit and wait for you or the Daylight Order to fix things. We are better off making our own move while we can. Or else Lung daikoh won’t be the only one who’ll start to dishonour us.”
As much as Dei refused to allow the Cor to move against the Lung clan and disrupt the peace agreements, Lung Chun had already moved against the Cor even when he had been told not to. The Lung were supposed to be part of the Daylight Order, and were supposed to be a key influence in maintaining peace between clans. The Lung was the most influential family throughout the west. On the maps, they controlled the most area. The most people? That was questionable given the slow development of all the ‘western jungle’, but the Lung’s reach was still the widest in all of Center. Dei knew Lung Chun would act boldly. And he knew it’d be a matter of time before he had to punish the Lung for insubordination. Could the Cor be blamed for standing up against the Lung?
“Does that mean Cor Tse has mobilized towards the west?” Dei hoped not. Zhe groaned at the idea. Even Bold Wind huffed as well.
“No no, Dei koh.” Teng raised his chin. “The Lung are said to still be about in our region. So Cor koh is moving units around to reclaim anything taken. And to prove that any attack will not go unpunished.”
“So, Cor Tse is still here in Julienne?”
“Yes, Dei koh” Teng answered.
Dei looked about at the regiment at this roadblock. To the side, were many yan sorting through arms and gear. Likely a full unit, given Teng Stim was in charge. The Cor were clearly ready to offend.
“And what of His Highness?” Dei asked. This was the other major problem.
“His Highness?” Teng was surprised to be asked about the emperor. “There hasn’t been any reports from Dryfox House, so all must be well.” Teng shrugged with a smile.
“That’s good to hear” Dei nodded to himself. “I’m going up there to have a visit.”
“All of our yan stationed in Julienne were troops and officers from the Takeover” Teng smiled. “All will know you, so there shouldn’t be a problem getting through.”
Either news hadn’t reached Teng’s yan yet, or the shade operation had been kept hush. Goddess pray it be the latter.
With a jerk and a single step forward, Bold Wind was ready to leave.
“Teng Stim,” Dei straightened up. “Do join Cor Tse the next time he visits Swayking. We’ll have 10 suckling oinks roasting just for you.”
Teng overlapped his hands before him. “Larchu Zyur koh” he bowed. Dei and his party returned the honour and made way.
“We’d need 100 oinks, knowing the way Teng eats” Zhe laughed.
“Teng is a true solder,” Dei looked back at the roadblock. “He eats his worth.”
“It’s a shame he’s not with us” Zhe turned his head back as well.
“His loyalty is what makes him golden.” Dei peered upwards. “Maybe the heavens will see him join our side one day.”
“When the heavens wish to drain our meat supplies, maybe.” Zhe then dropped his jolly tone. “What happens if Dei koh crosses Lung daikoh?”
Right.
Lung Chun had violated terms and was still in Julienne. This very matter with the Lung was… it was a question to Dei’s authority as Minister of the Realm. Lung Chung was not just someone that Dei could let go.
Dei had already prepared his sanctions for when Lung Chun came to the Imperial Court – well, if Lung Chung did come to court. Surrender all possessions and claims taken from the Cor, formally apologize, and pledge loyalty to the Cor. Anything less would set the Lung as enemy of the heavens, and thus enemy of the realm.
A tremendous order, especially one to impose on one who carried half of Center. But if issued within the imperial court, there would be a considerable chance of compliance. Matters handled within imperial grounds were matters to be honoured, whether issued by the imperial family or not. But out here on the field, though… and not to mention that Dei only had 5 yan with him… How could one issue such a sanction? Lung Chun had successfully ransacked a Cor camp. He had to be marching with at least one full unit. More than one, more likely. And the fact that he had already displayed disobedience to imperial decree… Who knows if Lung would truly respect Dei’s order.
The odds of facing Lung daikoh and receiving his respect seemed slim.
Dei took a deep breath. “Zyur Dei will issue Lung Chun daikoh an imperial sanction from mouth, and will see Lung Chun daikoh carry out what is asked.”
“Lung daikoh may have a complete battalion with him,” Zhe reminded. “And Dei koh only is only 6 high. What if Lung refuses?”
“Zyur is Minister of the Realm” Dei said firmly. “It is Zyur Dei’s duty to uphold imperial matters. And it is Lung Chun daikoh’s duty to honour and accept Zyur Dei’s imperial orders, whether from mouth or from a sealed decree. Anything less will be accounted and handled appropriately.”
Jin Zhe and the other hands gave a firm bow. “Larchu Zyur Dei koh.”
Fortunately enough, the road to Dryfox House branched off into a smaller trail. The few Cor stationed at the crossing let Dei pass as soon as they saw his face. The ease of way meant that Lung had likely not come through here. But this was Julienne, and the forest around here was not hard to trek through. The awfully straight grid formation in which the foxpines grew made it easy for any regiment to navigate through. Hopefully, neither Cor nor Lung thought to take advantage of that, because as much as dealing with those two was urgent, there was a bigger crisis that Dei had to deal with.
His heir.
Diaries of the Moonlight Hours 