The Dragon by Ree Soesbee

Author:Ree Soesbee [soesbee, ree]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Fiction, General, Fantasy, (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯)
ISBN: 9780786918836
Google: clAZAAAACAAJ
Amazon: 0786918837
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
Published: 2001-05-15T06:00:00+00:00

The empress was radiant. Even if Hitomi had not known her plan, she would have assumed that Kachiko had something ready for the days' events. She moved silkily across the empty throne room floor, making certain that each flower and cushion was carefully arranged for the emperor's audience with the Great Clans. Samurai gathered just outside the doorway, in the gardens of the Hantei, and Hitomi could hear their low talk through the shoji screens of the chamber.

"All is ready, my lady?" she asked softly, keeping her hands folded in her lap.

"Yes, my friend," Kachiko smiled radiantly beneath her lace mask. "And you know your part?"

"As well as I know my name, Empress."

"Then let us not delay the Imperial Court. They deserve their spectacle. After all, it is what they have come to see." A regal smile parted her perfect red lips, and Kachiko

locked her honey-gold eyes with the cold black ones of her kneeling Dragon retainer. Then, assured that all was as she had planned, Kachiko swept toward the gardens without another word.

"Yes, Empress," Hitomi lowered her head so that Kachiko would not see her smile.

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Hitomi listened from the rear of the hall, kneeling behind a carefully placed standing screen. The guests slowly filed in from the gardens, murmuring behind their fans as the emperor's sycophant, Seppun Bake, greeted them. "Samurai, nobles all, the 39Hantei, Lord of the Seven Hills, Emperor of the Emerald Empire and favored son of the Goddess Am-aterasu, awaits inside to hear your council. May the light of the Shining Prince never fail, and may the light of the Celestial Heavens illuminate the empire through his wisdom and his guidance." Bake shriveled into his fine robes, slinking back into the throne chamber.

Through the cracks between the standing screens, Hitomi peered out at the room. Images of tigers and cranes were patterned on the paper of the screen, but through it, Hitomi watched each of the Great Clans bow to the huge Emerald Throne on its mahogany dais. The chamber was splendid, with ornate enamel embellishing the broad beams of the ceiling. A magnificent tapestry depicted the fall of the kami from the Celestial Heavens. On the dais rested the glittering Emerald Throne, symbol of the empire. The throne was similar to To-gashi Yokuni's ivory one, but far larger and grander—despite the tremendous rift that cracked its emerald back. The carvings on the throne depicted the sun goddess and her favored son, Hantei. It was wide enough to support two men, and stood taller than any other chair in Rokugan, carved from a single emerald during the first days of the empire.

As the guests bowed their heads to the floor, a palanquin was carried in from the rear of the room. Magnificently jeweled sides sparkled in the light of the afternoon sun that streamed through the open garden doors. Samurai servants, bearing the mon of Crane, Seppun, and Otomo, bowed as the doors of the small palanquin were opened to allow the Shining Prince to ascend his throne.

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