Chapter 9: A Rude Guest

Chapter 9: A Rude Guest

Sakura

My father visibly calmed himself with several deep breaths before he responded. The emissary from the Imperial clan. Hes difficult to speak to.

Raif gave his brother an incredulous look. Youre kidding. An ambassador from the emperors family, being difficult to get along with? Big surprise there, younger brother.

Ren smirked. True. But this one seems keen on getting his throat slit before I can even so much as properly understand why he is here.

What did he do?

He tried to

The tent opened and a tall man, with nearly pale white skin and a bald head tattooed with the black crown of the Imperial Clan, stormed out. Duke Ren, your unwillingness to show proper deference and respect to a Count sent from his Eminences own familial clan has been noted. It is no dishonor to serve one of the Dragon Blooded. I am sure that

Another man, this one wearing red robes emblazoned with a black emblem of a tower looming over a long wall, a symbol I recognized as that of the King of the Northern Kingdom, strode out. His skin was just as pale as the Count sent by the imperial clan. But he was short, as was common among people from the northern kingdom. His hair was black and cropped short save a single strand of thick woven, braided hair that ran down just past his shoulders.

I am sure the Count does not think to offer threat or insult to the Duke, within his own realm? This second emissary said, bowing as one would to an honored peer to Ren, Raif, and then to me.

Though you bring dark tidings of turmoil within the Jade Empire, it is important to keep a civil tongue. Though, who am I to speak of such hardships? For I bring glad tidings. My King will soon ascend after all. And whatever tumult the central provinces are experiencing, the northern kingdom will, of course, offer whatever help we can in quelling such problems. He gave another respectful bow to the imperial embassy.

Yes, well. Even if your King does ascend to such a lofty perch, it would do him, and his servants, of all ranks well to remember whom they serve at the pleasure of. The taller, paler man from the central provinces glanced first to his counterpart, then to where Ren and Raif stood. Raifs hands twitched on the hilts of his swords when his eyes landed on the pompous jerk. No matter their stage of achievement along the great path of cultivation. Or their status within their provincial government. His eminence rules all the empire, not just the petty Royal Courts.

Uncle Raif looked like he was chewing glass, and my father looked little happier. Before either of them could respond, my mother appeared, a forced and strained smile plastered on her face. Gentlemen. The tea is ready. Let us hear your news, and proposals, while we can still enjoy it. If the steep sits too long, it will grow over strong.

She was the picture of grace as she slipped between the two groups of men and ushered the ambassadors back into the large tent. When they were gone, Raif asked his question again.

So, what did he do?

Ren nearly laughed as the tension left the air. He demanded that I pour his tea.

I gave out a little gasp, and both my father and uncle glanced my way and chuckled. Sakura knew that a lower level cultivator asking someone of a higher stage to do such a thing was a massive breach in protocol, baring familial relations, a substantial difference in their social status, or some form of ailment. I covered my gasp with a hand, as was only proper.

Yes, this one seems unaccustomed to entertaining those of a higher station. Or cultivation level. My father shook his head. Such attitudes are dangerous where his masters will does not extend.

Dangerous for him. Raifs eyes burned with a type of rage I had never seen in him before. The only way I can describe it was blood-lust. It wasnt from his chie aura, he had that under tight control. But I felt an almost oppressive sense of danger come from him, and instinctively I took a step back. When he saw this, his face softened, and he winked at me. But not for you, dear.

I must go. Please dont terrify my daughter too much. Ren jabbed his brother in the ribs lightly, and the two clasped hands before my father disappeared again into the tent.

A few minutes later the after effects of that spike of power from my enraged father, and my uncles naked bloodlustb cooled. My emotions evened out enough for me to ask one of the thousands of questions running wild in my head.

So, what just happened?

Raif chuckled and motioned for me to follow him. I did so, and he lead me around to his King Turtle. He began scrubbing a small set of scales that looked mildly irritated, with a soft brush coated in medicinal lacquer that smelled like bat droppings.

You might not have put two and two together yet. You and the rest of the empire. But the northern king is at the very peak of the King rank. He is about to ascend. Probably is already, no one knows for sure. But some of his loyal Dukes and Counts have been sent out to harold in his ascension to the Emperor rank. All those centuries fighting the threats along the northern wall gave him plenty of opportunity to seek opponents who would challenge him. They say he can transform himself, temporarily, into a snow lion. Much like how our Emperor and his children can transform into human form.

Isnt that good news? I asked, confused how some social preening like he was describing could cause anything more than a few ruffled feathers. Another great spirit to protect the empire from outside threats is a good thing, I would think.

Raif nodded as he continued to brush the lacquer softly into the set of half a dozen thick and slightly off color scales. If this were an ascension of a Duke like your father into a Prince, or even a Prince into a King, you would be right. But the empire has only ever had one Emperor level cultivator at a time. And it has always been a dragon blooded.

A memory of Sakuras came to mind, and I took the opportunity to push for more information. There have been human Emperor cultivators before, though. Maung the Conqueror, leader of the great crusade into the east, was just one of them.

He quirked a smile. You always did love the story of Maung and his foolish crusade into the unknown east. Let me ask you, little niece, do you know who it was that sent him along that path?

The Gamera let out what for it might have been a small gasp of relief. But the noise was loud enough to rupture the eardrums of a mortal if they had been standing too close.

I fell backwards.

I tried to correct my balance by swinging my leg down in a spinning kick that would see me land in an approximation of a warriors stance. A move that Sakuras muscle memory had perfectly memorized. Unfortunately, that muscle memory didnt account for the fact that the floor of the ankle deep river was made of rocks.

Rocks covered in slick algae. I fell face first into the river.

Raif was there in a blur of movement. He lifted me bodily out of the water with one hand. Before I could so much as blink, a thick blanket that doubled as a towel covered me.

Please excuse her appearance, gentlemen. It is my fault entirely. I requested my nieces help in looking after our spirit beasts. She obliged. We thought you would be in counsel for longer.

So my uncle does have a silver tongue when he needs it. I bit my own tongue, the Genji side of me preventing my Sakura nature from either blushing or exploding in anger. It was hard. Teenage hormones are difficult things to master. And it seemed I was going to have to learn to do so again.

Yu broke away from the group of men and led me back to Crash. There, she handed me a new set of clothes, helped me tame my hair, and offered me several dry powder shampoos that smelled like flowers. After a quick sponge bath, she helped me apply the cleaning powder and scents, and I felt like an entirely different woman.

Girl.

Woman in a girls body? I still wasnt entirely certain who among the two personalities that were slowly merging in my mind was more mature.

Come now. Your father and the others will be back soon with their hunt.

Hunt? I asked, Sakuras memories providing me little information on why a hunt would be appropriate here.

Yes, Yu wasnt even trying to hide her annoyance. Your father invited those pompous know-it-alls to go hunting. Your uncles patrol was in the area hunting a wild mating pair of rhinoceros beetles before their brood could put the trade routes nearby at risk. I suspect he was hoping to take their larva back to the border for his common born troops. But your father saw it as a potential bonding experience. You know men, such activities lead to lifelong friendships. If they are done right. Even if the competition comes to blows. She snickered slightly as she pulled the last clasps of my traveling dress together around my lower back.

I knew what Rhinoceros Beetles were back on Earth. My father had shown me his prize winning brood. They were large, hard shelled beetles as large as a grown mans hand. Each one had a unique horn shape that they used to push opponents around in duals men like my father had gambled on.

Sakura had little to no understanding of what they were. All I could remember were a few instances where she, where I, had seen commoners use giant bug creatures tamed to help with manual labor. But those were soft shelled creatures, usually the size of dogs or draft horses at the largest. And none of them had looked like the gigantic beetles from Earth that shared their same name.

Dont worry. Your father and uncle can handle a few beetles. Come, we must see to dinner preparations.

***

By seeing too, my mother meant ordering the border guards to haul out their cook pots, and scrub them clean. It didnt take long for the burly soldiers to finish, but my mother didnt stop there.

She ordered all three pots filled with water, and fires started under them. Once they were about the task, my mother pulled me aside. That leaves us to hunt, harvest, or purchase the ingredients other than the hunters course. Thats your fathers job, but the rest of it is up to us.

Genji had never been hunting before. But Sakura had, and from her memories I had enjoyed the chore, though not so much as my brother had. Sakura had hated hunting, not because she disliked the task, but mainly because of her younger brothers over enthusiasm for it usually spooked their target, ruining the experience.

I know how little you enjoy hunting. Apparently my parents didnt understand why I had disliked hunting before now. Luckily, elderberries are quite common along the roadways in these lands, so we can pick them on our way to the village.

Village?

Yes, daughter. You dont think your uncle was operating out here on a long patrol, do you? This isnt his post. No, he was here visiting one of his former men-at-arms, a man who rose to knighthood some years ago and retired to this region after he was injured fighting those knife-eared savages at the eastern border. He was given a hovel and some lands nearby as his retirement prize, and from what Raif says, it has grown into a proper little village. One with a market.

She smiled at me, waiting for my response. Sakura enjoyed visiting markets, but not for the reason my mother seemed to think. Sakura had enjoyed visiting markets mainly because it gave her, gave me the opportunity to scout new potential projects, and to mingle with the locals.

I overheard the soldiers say that there is a tailor there who I am sure can help improve your traveling wardrobe.

That made me smile. The traveling dress I was wearing was loose, and mother had been forced to synch it as tight as possible for fear of it slipping in places. And it still felt looser than I liked my clothes fitting. I had, it seemed, lost some weight because of the fever.

That sounds wonderful, mother.