The Queen's Decree
Zyon by holyflpncows
We set off heading southeast to find Admiral Jin.
We all agree he’ll likely be the easiest to track down and deal with. Kanbei is reported to be insane, killing for sport. Umatoko is aloof and hard to track down. That leaves Admiral Jin, who has a fixed capital for his land and isn't randomly attacking. Every mention of his title makes my right arm itch, the band with my badge becoming an uncomfortable weight and reminder. Not wanting to wallow in past memories, I urge my borrowed horse forward to Feng Da. I'm curious how his work was recognized here, in exile land. “Your renown stretches all the way out here!” I begin. “How does such a talented artist also have incredible fighting skill?” Feng Da turns and looks at me. “I appreciate that you think I’m talented,” he says with a slight nod. “I’ve gained some notoriety, certainly. My fighting skills are actually a result of sport. I engage in the dueling arenas frequently. I find it focuses me. I must be honest, I miss the competition.” A smile plays on his lips. Enticing. “Ah, very exciting!” I smile. “In light of recent developments, perhaps we can spar. I could use the extra practice as I’ve gotten quite rusty.” I flop my arms around a little. A smile fully emerges. “I would appreciate a sparring partner! I have seen that you have skill with a blade. My contemporaries in the arena would probably poke fun at me; I’m about six weight classes above you!” He chuckles a bit to himself. “Ha!” I laugh. “Maybe I’ll be able to keep you on your toes!” I grin widely and give a quick farewell salute. I fall back behind Feng Da, a smile still playing on my face. I drink in a good look at his backside as he rides further ahead. I'm quite looking forward to sparring with him.Evening approaches and we stop to set up camp. I help Wen clear out a section of grass to pitch some of our tents. To pass the time, I ask about his powers. “So Wen, you weren’t born with the powers you have, correct?” He glances away from parting the grass to me. “I was. Didn’t know entirely about them at first, though.” He gives a little shrug. “Oh. When did you discover it was gifted from Lune?” I prompt. “When things only went weird at night.” A wry smile appears on his face. “Funny to think I used to have less control than I do now, but it was just little, useless things.” I frown. “Useless? I would think gifted powers would be quite useful.” “Harmless beams and auras of moonlight never put food on the table, or clothes on our backs. It took years before I could start a little fire—or chill something—with the power.” Wen gets quiet. “Too many of us died while I was figuring it out, and too many more died after.” “I’m…very sorry to hear that.” Another question itched to be asked. “What brings you out here then? There are plenty more people back west that you could likely help now with a better grasp on this power.” “We’re invisible to anyone in the empire until we can afford taxes.” He glances wistfully at the sky. “People say there’s magic, or treasure, or some great promised land out here. I’ll find treasure to sell and buy our way into a living, or I’ll find a way to get everyone out here.” His grass clearing becomes intense as his determination picks up. “And if none of that works out, then I’ll find the power to punish the one that did this to me—to us.” I raise my eyebrow. “Punish the one? Just one? For which injustice?” Does he seriously mean Lune? A goddess? “Lune poisoned everyone I know with hope when all of us were going to starve no matter what. If she can’t provide a way to save them, after putting all that expectation on me when I was that young? I’ll make her eat the power she saw fit to give me.” Wen practically spits the words out of his mouth. My grass flattening stops as I stare at Wen. “That’s…” I struggle to think of a good translation to Eastern Common, “balls-y, Wen. Do you think even with the power she gave you it can contend with her full power?” “If I’m not enough to challenge her, then she’ll have to kill the one she blessed at birth. Maybe she’ll think twice about doing it again.” I feel the brash determination radiating off him, and it worries me. I think for a moment. Would it be beneficial to tell him? Would he choose to confront Lune first instead of aiding his people if I did? “There may be a way,” I begin. “I don’t know if you know, but,” I hesitate. Would he use this information recklessly? “All the gods were once mortal. It’s said that the way to ascension is still…accessible.” “I’m not trying to take her place.” Wen looks away and is quiet for a minute. I feel relief seep into me. “But if that’s the only way to get her attention, then I’ll have to keep an eye out.” The relief isn't enough to consume my worry. “I only bring it up because I would rather you still live in some capacity than—very likely—give up your life in futility. I’m sure Shen Po feels similarly. You may hate what she’s done, but you could still save lives, given a little more time I’m sure.” If he was going to try and confront a goddess, he may as well be as prepared. “I’m not running to fight her the first chance I get. Something out here has to be able to help my village, one way or another. But that’s—” He nods to me, his brow unfurrowing. “You’re nice for saying that.” My cheeks heat up as they turn a little pink. It's strange receiving a genuine compliment from someone so young. Lately, most compliments I received were lustful praises of my aging body. Flattering, but not meaningful. “Soooo… ” Wen says into the silence. “You came from some kind of money and you’ve obviously fought before. What’re you doing out here?” I clear my throat. “Ah, I wouldn’t say I come from money,” I remember his situation growing up. “Though I suppose my family was doing fine,” I add and gesture to my long coat. The fabric is a faded blue, the white hemming discolored and tattered now. The uniform is a far cry from the sharp, crisp look it used to have. “This and my fighting came from my time in the Fleet back in West." I gesture in that direction. “I’m out here for stories. Legends. Myths. Anything that can give me an answer.” “An answer? I mean, do you have a question?” Wen presses. My jaw tightens and my fists close shut at the slip. “I suppose it’s more of a solution for my problem I seek, rather than a typical question.” I look as far away from Wen as I can. “And you’re being vague because you don’t want to talk about your problem,” he says pointedly. I eye him and shake my head. “I don’t like to talk about it, but you also wouldn’t understand anyway,” I manage to squeeze out of my now tight throat. Wen frowns. “That’s… fair, I guess.” His enthusiasm wanes. “If you want help with it while we’re out here, I’ll want to know what I’m getting into, but until then.” I nod and take my leave, a clearing now ready for tents and camp to be set up. I'm still a little concerned that Wen might seriously consider taking on Lune, so I look for Shen Po. Perhaps he can give Wen more guidance.
I approach Shen Po. “Are you aware of your pupil’s intentions with your goddess?” Shen Po looks over at me, immediately irritated by my question. “He’s not my pupil, and that’s not how this works. You don’t have intention with a deity, but they sure as hell have plans for you.” “You might want to impart that wisdom on Wen then, before his taste for vengeance turns to thirst and gets him killed.” Shen Po is visibly trying to stay calm. “He’s angry and confused—annoying definitely—but not stupid. He knows when to run, he’s made it this far by doing what it takes to survive.” I puff out a frustrated breath. “I see. So you have the compassion in you to bring him out here and that’s where your concern for him ends?” “Look, Vae,” Shen Po’s voice rises, “I don’t know what you think is going on here, but this kid needs to go to East, and I need to find East. I am not his mentor, he’s not my ward and I’m sure as hell not his father. I’m just a tired man who happened to be traveling in the same direction.” “Unfortunate.” I walk away, muttering under my breath. Can’t he see the influence he has on Wen?
During morning watch, I jump at the sudden screaming coming from Shen Po’s tent. Everyone else bolts awake, peeking out of their tents. Wen is the first to check and comes out of the tent nervous. “He’ll be ok.” Wen walks away from the tent and prepares to leave. We all slowly follow Wen’s example and get ready for travel, earlier than normal. Shen Po is the last to be ready. He keeps back from the rest of us for the entire day, talking to no one.
That evening we make camp next to a crumbling wall. Pssssaaat crnkllsht. I stop setting up my tent and glance around. What is that strange noise? It's faint, but is getting louder and continually droning. Psssshtt schhhh. I've never heard anything like it. Everyone else slowly stops and looks around as well. As the noise grows louder, grating against my thoughts, I realize I'm not hearing it through my ears. It's just inside my head. My eyes widen. That isn’t good news. I turn to Shen Po, who had begun to look around the wall. My eyes widen even further as I watch Shen Po do two things I'd never seen him do before. He draws a small sickle out of his pack, and then he smiles. Shen Po walks beyond my line of sight and I run to catch him. I halt as I round the corner. Shen Po is walking towards what can only be described as two walking brains and a floating eye with tendrils coming from its top and bottom. Shen Po’s laughter spurs me back into a run. As I reach him, I catch one of Zyon's daggers flying at a walking brain. I grab Shen Po’s shoulder and step in front of him. “Shen Po,” I say and look him in the eyes. Tears are streaming down his face. “Are you ok?” His laughter dies down and his expression grows confused. There’s a rush of wind as silvery bolts of energy zip by us on either side, heading toward the brain creatures. Shen Po glares angrily over my shoulder at the tentacle creature and puts away his sickle. “Stay out of my head!” Shen Po shouts. I back away quickly as the area around him becomes bathed in moonlight. Satisfied that he's back to himself, I turn my attention to the monstrosities. The one-eyed monster shoots three beams from the tips of its tentacles and I hear a sickening thump further behind me followed by a feline yowl. I grit my teeth and charge forward, pulling out my saber and dagger. The creature moves back, my strike missing by a hair. It lurches and grabs Zyon, pulling him underneath its body. I twist out of the way, readying another strike and making room for Arslan to step in. Arslan swings at the creature, his blade covered in dark flames. Zyon screams in pain, still stuck in the monster’s grip, out of our reach. The tentacle creature begins to levitate off the ground and Zyon falls silent, still tangled in the creature. The pool of blood on the ground tells me everything about Zyon’s situation. I slash once more at the creature before it’s out of my reach. Another magical bolt from Shen Po sears the creature and it plummets from the sky. Wen works quickly to situate Spark, who had smashed into the stone wall. I lower my weapons, watching as Arslan furiously pulls Zyon’s corpse from the mess of tentacles. I walk away. There's nothing I can do now; it's too late.
Arslan grunts as his shovel scrapes the hard dirt. I watch flames consume the corpses of the monsters while Arslan finishes digging the grave. Feng Da and Spark lower Zyon into the hole. Shen Po approaches the grave and stumbles through burial rights. I look to the sky. “Sit liberum volare spiritu tuo,” I whisper and shuffle to my tent.
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