“Just kill me now,” she whispered with quivering lips. “If you won't let me go, then kill me.”
“Tomorrow,” the man replied. “Your time will come tomorrow.”
Neva's body lay limp against the wall. Any spark of fight doused by her tears. “I'm so sorry, Marcel.” Her neck failed to hold her head up. “I tried.”
AS HE CLIMBED A TREE to get a better view of the town's layout, Zen heard the loud drunken commotion. Most of the buildings displayed the flickering lights of lanterns, but there seemed to be little or no signs of life outside the cluster of raiders in the town square.
He pulled Enapay's spyglass from his belt for a better look. Sure enough, many of the raiders gathered around a raging bonfire in the center of town.
To the west, he spotted a building standing apart from the others. The village was comprised mostly of simple architecture with structures of wood and stone. This one seemed to be a palace among the shacks. It stood four stories, and its roof line was a series of jagged crenellations. Zen assumed it was Cheng's chosen dwelling.
After several more minutes of surveillance from afar, he put away his spyglass and decided it was time for a closer look. He swept eastward, away from Cheng's castle and the drunken pirates in the town square. Zen took quick but silent steps, and he drew his pistol as he approached the back of a stone building. The windows were dark, and no sounds came from inside.
Zen slid along the wall and turned the corner slowly only after chancing a quick peek with one eye. He waited a few seconds before continuing towards the front of the building. He looked left and right before finding the handle to a large sliding door and opening it. Zen grabbed an old lantern hanging on a wooden beam. He used its dying light to see. Other than old tools and empty crates, the building looked innocuous. The next two buildings he infiltrated were similarly void of anything significant. The raiders had cleared out both structures, presumably taking anything of any value after they drove the Oraibi tribe from their own village.
The fourth building he approached was wood and painted red. He found its entrance. With a quiet pull of the door, he led with his revolver and slipped inside.
It was a large supply room filled with grains and farming tools. Taking up most of the area were long, bulky crates from wall to wall. He inspected the entire building and counted twenty of these crates. Holding the lantern closer to them, he recognized the symbol stamped on the lids. It was a dragon's winged silhouette. A culebre. The Iberian Empire's royal symbol.
Zen searched for anything he could use to pry open one of the containers. He found a crowbar nearby and used it to remove the lid. Zen held the lantern over the crate's contents. The black metal of a cannon reflected the light back at him, cold as a grave and smooth to the touch.
Zen's mind raced to form a plan. It might be possible to sabotage the cannons. He scanned the walls, searching for anything he might use. As he moved to take a step towards the farm tools, the loud thunderbolt of gunfire destroyed the silence from the street outside.
A gruff voice yelled, “I'm talking to you, Nabeho spy. Come out right now, or I will put a bullet through your partner's head!”
Zen felt cold beads of sweat form on his forehead. Enapay or Toksu had been captured.
“If you don't come out in three seconds, I will pull the trigger. I swear it,” the man from outside called out.
Zen glanced at the Iberian cannon still in its crate. Zen let out a shaky breath and exited the red storage building. He walked out into the dirt street and saw the torches and gas lanterns that cast new light on this end of town.
“I surrender.” Zen put his arms up. It was the first time his lips had uttered those words, and it was as painful as swallowing glass.
In the distance, Zen watched a familiar hulking figure walk towards him. Toksu's nearly bald head hung low, and he was flanked on both sides by several armed raiders. The bandits and raiders all wore gray dusters and flashed menacing looks on their ugly, dirty faces.
Toksu approached slowly, averting his eyes downwards and sighing. Behind him was the man Zen knew was their leader, Cheng.
“He's not Nabeho,” one of the raiders said, pointing a rifle at Zen.
Cheng nodded. “No, you are not, are you?” He pushed Toksu forward under the light of the street lamp. “You are the one from Nihon we have all been talking about.”
“I'm sorry.” Toksu took his place next to Zen.
Cheng was stocky, solid. He held a pistol, but he also had a Xian straight sword on his belt. He wore a long dark beard, his hair equally wild. Cheng's sharp eyes narrowed as he stepped forward, keeping his gun pointed at Zen's face.
“You are this so-called Dragonfly-man they described,” Cheng said, an amused smile cracking from underneath his beard. “What is your name?”
“Zenjiro.”
Six raiders surrounded him, but he felt the stares of dozens more hidden in the darkness. Even if he could harness Ishen, he wouldn't stand a chance. Too many guns were pointed at him.
Cheng paused. “So how are things on the islands? Still killing each other I suppose?”
Zen felt the heat of anger, but let it subside. “Nihon is unified now, unlike Xia. While the Jin and Sui factions continue to bicker, the Iberian Empire builds its forces only miles from your western border.”
“My western border? Listen boy, I am an outlaw. Exiled by my own people. I was a distinguished officer in the Jin army, and they discarded me like trash. I could have been king. No, I could have been a living god to those fools!”
Judging from the wicked look in Cheng's eyes and referring himself as a living god, the man had to be insane. Drunk with delusion. But it made no sense how he ended up in Agrios. Xians always executed their traitors.
“This is my city now. I killed the Oraibi natives, and the Nabeho fortress is next.” Cheng holstered his revolver. “Why, Zenjiro, are you here? Why are you helping the Nabeho?”
Zen had to think quickly. “I am the same as you. Banished by my people. So I came to Agrios to seek fortune. The Nabeho hired me to help them protect their village.”
It was a convincing lie, he thought.
Cheng leaned forward. “How much are they paying you?”
“Ten thousand ibers once I help them defeat you,” Zen replied.
Zen couldn't tell if Cheng was buying this. The criminal, in his insanity, was impossible to read.
“That is all?” Cheng laughed, and his men did likewise. “My men told me of your fighting skills, said you took out four of my soldiers all by yourself. Zenjiro from Nihon, surely you are worth more than that.”
More wild laughter came from beyond the edge of the light, but Cheng's expression hardened.
Zen's neck tightened with each hyena cackle.
“You are a terrible liar, Zenjiro.” Cheng stood with his arms crossed. “You were not banished by your people. I know of Nihon and your ways. The Nihonese value honor above all else; your warriors are some of the bravest in all the world. You wear the clan emblem of a noble warrior. Dishonored warriors meet death by their own swords in order to preserve honor. Seppuku. Right?”
Zen took a deep breath. His body prepared for action. If they were going to kill him, he was going to go out fighting.
“Remove his weapons,” Cheng ordered as he drew his own pistol and pressed it against Toksu's damp forehead. All the fight drained from Zen's body.
Two raiders stepped forward and held him with dirty hands while another removed his belt, pistols and sword still attached, before scurrying away. Toksu's face twisted in anguish, as if preparing for death.
Cheng motioned to one of his men to come forward. “Take as many men as you need to do a three mile sweep of the area.” He glowered at Zen. “By chance, did you two get here by airship? I hope you did.”
He turned to another raider. “Check the storage building and make sure our weapons weren't tampered with.”
The sun would rise in another couple of hours. Enapay was supposed to
leave if Zen hadn't returned by dawn, but it was obvious he was no longer sticking to the original plan. He assumed Enapay had told Toksu to follow him, and Cheng's men would eventually find the Dragonfly in the forest during their search.
“Since the Nabeho favor torturing their captives so much, maybe I should return the favor. I still have questions, Zenjiro. Questions you refuse to answer truthfully.”
Cheng turned around to address his pirates. “Tomorrow will be a busy day for us. After our contest in the morning, we will interrogate our prisoners.”
Cheng holstered his sidearm. In one swift motion, he unsheathed Zen's sword and spun around with astonishing speed. Zen ducked, feeling the breeze of the steel cut through the air above his ear. Toksu hadn't moved, despite the blade coming dangerously close to his left arm.
“You are fast,” said Cheng with a smile. His eyes steadied on Zen's chest, staring at the Kanze emblem embossed on his armor. “How appropriate, since they said you move like a dragonfly.”
Zen straightened himself. “I have never been defeated in battle.”
Cheng examined Zen's katana. “Such a boastful one. Tomorrow, you will learn what real pain is like.” He glared at Toksu. “You too, giant.”
He held the katana up, letting the sparse lantern light reflect off of the steel. Zen fought the urge to spring forward and get his sword back. In Nihon, it was sacrilegious to covet another man's sacred weapon.
“Is it true they say a warrior's soul is forged in his steel?” Cheng asked, still admiring the katana.
Zen remained silent. Cheng looked as if he was going to swing once again, but he slid the sword back into its scabbard instead.
“You Nihonese are such romantics,” Cheng said.
More than another dozen armed pirates came out of the shadows and ambled into the street. They surrounded Zen and Toksu with their rifles.
“Put them in the prison with the woman.” Cheng gave them an icy glare before stepping back into the darkness. “We have a busy morning ahead of us.”
EMPEROR HIDEAKI WAITED FOR THE arrival of the Xian ambassador in his study. He sat behind his desk, but he was in no mood to work today. He wondered where Zen was and what he was doing. He would have reached Agrios by now, and Hideaki implored the spirits to keep his son safe.
A knock came at his doors, and the royal guard swung them open and allowed the Sui faction's emissary to enter the chamber. Li Zang had an athletic build but possessed the face of a courtly scholar. His simple blue and white robe flowed down to his feet, while his tall triangular hat gave him an extra five inches in height. Li's round spectacles reflected the morning light coming through the large windows behind him.
“It is with great honor I come to you as a representative of Xia,” Li said in fluent Nihonese. “We received the news of Nihon's unification with wondrous applause, and we hope to continue our strong friendship.” Li bent his head low.
The ambassador's use of the Nihonese language was flawless, and Hideaki was both pleased and impressed.
“I hope your journey was a comfortable one,” said Hideaki in Standard before taking his seat.
Li raised his face and took his seat. “Yes. Your hospitality is without equal.”
Hideaki grew tired of diplomatic pleasantries. “It is of profound importance that our two great countries come together during this time of global strife and uncertainty. As your two ruling factions continue to devour lives and resources in your protracted civil war, there are threats looming outside of the Sun Nation. Iberia will soon be marching into Western Xia.”
Li lowered his head, his face solemn and serious. “Supreme Chancellor Song is aware of the gathering forces at our western border. However, we are locked in a stalemate with the Jin as to which ruler is the rightful heir to the throne.”
“I can appreciate your situation,” said Hideaki. “However, if Xia continues down this path, neither Chancellor Zhi nor Chancellor Song will have a country left to rule. The Iberian Empire's victory over your Russiyan neighbors is complete. No one could have predicted such a swift victory, but they have been employing new technology far more advanced than what Xia or Nihon currently possess.”
“Yes, refugees from Russiya crossing our northern border have described such weapons.” Li's face tightened. “Xia's land is rich in resources and manpower, both of which Iberia craves.”
Hideaki said, “The Sun Nation Alliance must rise again. I have worked steadfastly with the rulers of the other Eastern Powers. In fact, Australasia and other countries of Oceania have ratified their acceptance into the Nihon Dominion.”
Li's eyes widened. The recent Nihon expansion must have been news to him.
“If Xia fails to heed the warning signs, your country will fall. Your division makes you vulnerable, and Iberia will unleash its monstrous exomechias into Xia like hungry steel demons. When they are through with you, they will set their sights on Nihon.”
“I assure you, Xia is well aware...”
Hideaki slammed his fist upon his desk, rattling his stack of books. “Koreya has long declared its independence from you, and your own chancellor surrendered that territory without even a feeble attempt to squash their rebellion. What of Hindia's uprising in the South? Your grasp on that long-held territory has slipped from your hands. Iberia knows of this too, and sees it as further evidence of your growing instability.”
Li began to speak, but Hideaki cut him off. “Hindia has chosen its own ruler. After expelling your weak military contingent and governor from their country, General Basu is on his way here to discuss an alliance. Nihon has secured two military bases on the Koreyan Peninsula.” Hideaki paused, allowing Li to collect himself. “Supreme Chancellor Song has a choice.”
Once Li's mouth moved to speak; however, he remained silent.
“He can continue his pointless war, further eroding what is left of both the Jin and the Sui armies. My forces will swoop down upon the Eastern Sui like a hawk, displacing your chancellor and appointing my own viceroy to rule over your provinces.”
Li's hands shook like cherry blossoms in the wind.
“Or, Song can come to his senses and submit to Nihon rule and join our growing dominion. We will offer our greatest military leaders and industrial backbone to your people. We have been developing our own new weapons. Once you join us, the Jin will follow. Xia will be whole once again.”
“Under Nihon rule,” Li muttered.
“Xian leadership is weak,” Hideaki said, allowing a trace of his rancor to linger in his voice. “You have massive armies, but they are comprised of ill-trained men with obsolete weapons, and they are led by equally useless generals. To make matters worse, your civil war has demoralized both factions. With Nihon leadership, discipline, and industry, your people will be able to stand up against the Iberians.”
“I do not know how willing Xia is to become a puppet state of Nihon.” Li finally brought his eyes up to Hideaki. “We already conceded the Koreyan peninsula to your kingdom just one year ago. Chancellor Song will not easily give his half of Xia to you.”
“Chancellor Song will remain in power, ruling over the East as my representative. He will maintain his lands and his authority under the Nihon banner. The alternative is not as generous.” Hideaki motioned for Takeo to approach.
Li jerked his head to the right, as if he failed to notice Shogun Takeo standing in the far corner of the chamber all this time. Takeo moved to the emperor's side and gave a quick bow before handing Hideaki a large scroll. The shogun remained still, his sharp eyes falling on the Xian politician.
“Take this to Song,” Hideaki said as he held the scroll out for Li to take. “All of my conditions are written, including the taxes and other tributes the Eastern Sui provinces must provide to the Nihon Empire. It is lenient and allows for much freedom for your people. Our rule will not be oppressive. Stern, but beneficial for both our countries.”
“Understood, Your Excellency,” Li said.
“Time is of the essence,” said
Hideaki. “Chancellor Song will have five days to concede to my terms. There will be no negotiations. If he fails to sign these documents in five days, Song will find my forces marching towards Beiping.”
Li's mouth drew open in protest. “Five days? There is much to review.”
Hideaki knew this would be Li's reaction to the deadline. “I will not give Chancellor Song the opportunity to recall the bulk of his forces back to the capital. Five days, or Nihon will rain down upon Beiping and unseat him. That is final.”
Takeo once again left the corner and stood next to Li's seat. The ambassador looked up at the shogun for a long moment before standing and bowing his head to Hideaki.
“Talk some sense into Song,” Hideaki said. “Make him see the light in what I have said. If he values his crown and his legacy, he will join me.”
Without a word, Li brought the scroll to his chest and exited the study. Takeo escorted him to the doors, allowing the royal guard to take the ambassador back to his ship.
“Takeo, share with me your thoughts,” Hideaki inquired.
“I think Li will convey the gravity of the matter to his ruler, and persuade him to forgo further bloodshed,” Takeo replied as he sat in the empty chair across from the king.
Hideaki hoped Chancellor Song wouldn't call his bluff. Nihon was not prepared for any such invasion of the Sui territories. Takeo was the most effective military leader in the country, but he could not work miracles. He would need more time before undergoing such an operation.
“Chancellor Song is intelligent,” continued Takeo. “As you said, they have left their capital vulnerable by battling the Jins out west. There is too much at risk for him to reject your treaty.”
Hideaki said, “I agree.” He looked up at his map and his eyes followed the drawn outline of the Koreyan peninsula. “How are things progressing in Koreya?”
“Things are ahead of schedule,” replied Takeo. “Dr. Sanu has recently completed her first round of experiments. I am personally taking a steamship across the strait to see for myself.”
The emperor sighed despite the shogun's good news. Takeo stood up and bowed, preparing to take his leave. For a heartbeat, Hideaki pushed his work from his mind.