02 Dragonwall by Forgotten Realms

Author:Forgotten Realms [Realms, Forgotten]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-04-10T12:10:53.608000+00:00

Ju-Hai had quietly begun his own search. So far, neither he nor Ting had met with success. It seemed as though the tube had simply vanished. Ju-Hai's reverie ended when the emperor spoke to Kwan Chan Sen. "What is our situation?" The old man slowly rose to his feet and addressed the entire Mandarinate. "From what we saw last night, the barbarians have ten thousand men, twice the number of our defenders." Ju-Hai stood and turned to the emperor. "Divine One, may I speak?" The Son of Heaven studied the Minister of State with a look of strained patience, but finally nodded his head. "Please be brief. We have serious matters to consider." "Thank you, Emperor," Ju-Hai responded, quickly bowing. "Shouldn't we consider what the messengers told us?" Sighs of exasperation rustled around the room. In the last two weeks, two messengers had arrived from Shou Kuan. The first had come sixteen days ago. He had reported that Batu and the provincial armies had trapped the barbarians in Shou Kuan. The exhausted rider had presented a request for siege equipment, reinforcements, and food. The second messenger had arrived just four days ago, reporting that General Batu was riding to Tai Tung with a Tuigan delegation and a peace proposal. Although they had carried the proper seals, the men had been greeted with nothing but suspicion. Both times, Kwan Chan Sen had suggested that Batu had sent the messengers to lay the groundwork for a traitorous trap. The emperor and the other mandarins had agreed, and the men had died at the hands of Ting's interrogators. The other mandarins were no more inclined to listen to Ju-Hai Chou than they had been to believe the messengers were legitimate. Without exception, they greeted the Minister of State's suggestion with intolerant scowls and impatient moans. Noting the reaction of the other mandarins, the emperor said, "Minister Ju- Hai, we have considered the words of the messengers and have all reached the same conclusion." The Divine One turned back to the Minister of War. "How do you plan to defend the city, General?" The ancient mandarin answered immediately. "With the exception of your guard, I have placed all forces in Tai Tung under my personal command--" "Take my guard as well," the emperor interrupted. "If the city falls, they will do me no good." Kwan bowed his head. "Thank you, Divine One. They will prove most useful--" The ancient Minister of War was interrupted again, this time by the chamberlain. "Excuse me, honored ones," he said, moving toward the center of the room. "I thought you would want to know that General Batu is at the city gate demanding entrance." "He dares show his face personally?" The emperor asked, pushing himself to the edge of his throne. The chamberlain nodded. "He is dressed like a barbarian, but several guards recognized him." "To believe we would open the gate to ten thousand enemies, he must take us for imbeciles!" Kwan objected. "The impudent knave!" Ting said, speaking for the first time that morning.

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