Chapter 21
Inon lifted his eyes and they met Sheiji’s in the crowd. Sheiji ducked his head, but it was too late. Inon’s eyes widened, then he turned abruptly and walked back to the line of soldiers. Sheiji sighed with relief; he too had changed. It was possible that Inon had not recognized him. All the same, Sheiji thought it would be best to leave.
“Let’s go,” he whispered to Suyo and darted through the crowd that had gathered to hear the exciting news. He did not stop running until he reached their temporary hideout, a cave just outside the city. When he reached it, he found that Suyo was not behind him. So he sat down to wait.
Sheiji was not surprised at the news. In fact, he wondered why Sui-Tsai had not declared himself king much earlier. He was not angry. He was actually a bit relieved with the false security that he no longer had to continue his journey to Jiwu. The people had a king; what did it matter if it was Sheiji or Sui-Tsai?
Sheiji’s conscience began to bother him. He knew that it did matter. He knew that the Kingdom would fall to pieces if Sui-Tsai were king. He knew that he had a duty to his people to protect them from ruthless tyrants like Sui-Tsai. But Sheiji refused to acknowledge his responsibility. He didn’t want to give up his carefree life for the responsibility of a kingdom.
Suyo did not return until long after dark. Sheiji was awake and waiting for him, “Where have you been? I told you to follow me?”
Suyo looked warily at Sheiji, “I tried, but someone grabbed me. It was that soldier fellow who read the proclamation.”
“What did he do?”
“He asked where you had gone,” Suyo replied. “I told him I didn’t know you, but he didn’t believe me. He took me to their camp for questioning. I didn’t tell them where we are staying, though.”
“Good. Thank you, Suyo.”
“Was that your brother?” asked Suyo hesitantly.
“No. Just a friend who wants to find me,” Sheiji replied.
“To bring you back to your brother?”
“No, to make me fight for my inheritance,” Sheiji said.
“Do you want your inheritance?”
“I did at first,” Sheiji sighed. “But now, I do not. I would rather live out here where I don’t have anything to worry about except how to get my next meal or where to sleep at night. If I claim my inheritance, I’ll have slaves and people to care for and a thousand other things to do.”
“That’s not what this life is, Kitu,” Suyo said. “It’s not a place to hide from responsibility. You can’t run from your troubles all your life or you’ll turn out like a different boy I once knew. He ran and ran and one day his past caught up to him. You have to face your life. You have to face your fears.”
Sheiji shook his head stubbornly, “They don’t need me. Let my brother have the inheritance. I don’t care.” Suyo opened his mouth to speak, and then closed it again.
Slowly and deliberately, Suyo rolled out his blanket and spread it neatly on the ground as he did every night. Without removing his turban, he lay down. “I don’t like cowards.” He turned his back to Sheiji, rolled up in his blanket and fell asleep.
Sheiji lay awake thinking. Suyo’s words stung. Was he a coward? He wasn’t afraid to return, he just didn’t want to. That didn’t make him a coward, did it?
He heard a noise at the cave entrance and drew his dagger. He had not needed it often, but he practiced and was even better than when he had left his palace. Sheiji sat up and tiptoed to the opening. He saw a movement off to the side and his reflexes took over. He jumped and had the dagger at the intruder’s throat in less than a minute.
“Vua? Sheiji?” the voice cried out in a loud whisper. “Please take the knife away. It’s me, Inon.”
“So I see,” Sheiji replied coolly, keeping the dagger at Inon’s throat. “What do you want?”
“I was looking for you,” Inon replied hurriedly. “Where have you been?”
“That doesn’t concern you. Why do you look for me?”
“Everyone thinks you’re dead. When you didn’t arrive at the next house, we thought Sui-Tsai’s soldiers…” Inon trailed off. “But you’re alive, Vua!”
Sheiji slowly drew his dagger back. He did not return it to its sheath inside his tunic, however. “No. Vua is not alive. Only Kitu is. Go home and leave me be.”
“Vua, please!” Inon begged. “Why did you not go to Jiwu?”
“Sui-Tsai’s soldiers made me lose my way. I would have died of starvation had it not been for the boy you tortured tonight to find out where I was. How did you find out? He said he didn’t tell.”
“There are other ways, Vua,” Inon replied softly. “Will you go to Jiwu now?”
“No. I do not wish to be king. Sui-Tsai is king, not I.”
“Do not say such a thing!” Inon cried. “You are king, and you cannot deny it. It is not something you choose, but something you are born into. You were born to be king, don’t you understand? From the moment your father set eyes on you, he wanted you to be king. Why? Because he could see it in you. He could see that you, Sheiji-Yueng, have what it takes to be a gracious king. Sui-Tsai? Never.”
“I am no longer Sheiji-Yueng. I am Kitu, the orphaned street boy. I am not royal. I am not a king. I am a street beggar brat. I am nothing!” Anger made Sheiji’s eyes hot. He didn’t know why he was angry. Maybe because Inon was right and he didn’t want to believe it.
“The people are oppressed. We’re fighting wars with everyone. Taxes have doubled. Murders have become commonplace in the palace,” Inon said in a low voice. “It will only get worse. Sui-Tsai is ruthless. He will bring Imatsuro to ruin. I don’t want that.”
“Then why don’t you become king and fix it?” Sheiji cried. “You’re Kawa’s son, too.”
“Where is your lotus charm?” Inon asked.
Sheiji removed the charm from his sash where it was hidden and thrust it angrily at Inon.
Inon took it reverently and held it up to the moonlight. “You see it is your destiny.”
“Just because Fa-Ying made up a charm of a white lotus over a purple lotus, does not mean I’m king.”
“Fa-Ying did not make it up,” Inon looked surprised. “It was foretold at your birth that you would one day overcome a powerful foe, though he be a close relative, and that you would bring about the golden age of Imatsuro with your justice and wisdom. It is said that after this prophecy was told, a maid noticed a white lotus blooming from the same plant as a purple lotus and that became your insignia.”
“How do you know all this?”
“Fa-Ying sent me to look for you. He feared you had given up on your kingdom. I see he was right. I did not believe it, for I thought you were a trustworthy man, Sheiji. Maybe I was wrong.”
“You would never have spoken to me this way in Taiyunyi,” Sheiji growled.
“True. But I have changed too. I’m willing to risk your wrath if it might get you back on your throne.”
“What do I gain by becoming king,” Sheiji asked.
“You are not king to gain anything, but to do service to your people. You have a duty, Vua.”
Sheiji stared at the dagger in his hand.
“Sui-Tsai has arrested Fa-Ying,” Inon said, breaking the silence. “He’s in the dungeons. Now that Sui-Tsai is king, he could have Fa-Ying executed.”
“What!” Sheiji cried. “Executed?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll go,” Sheiji whispered. “I’ll go to Jiwu and get help. If only for Fa-Ying.”
“Thank you, Vua. I will do what I can to keep him safe while you go,” Inon replied. He bowed to the ground and kissed Sheiji’s feet. “My loyalty is with you, Vua. I’ll die for you if I must.”
“Go back before they catch you out,” Sheiji said. Then he turned and marched inside the cave.