InsidethewallsoftheImperialCity,dailylifewasgoingonmuchasitalwaysdid—peacefully.Thehugecity,nearlythirtysquaremilesofstreetslaidoutinperfectgrids,wasabastionofcivilization.Instarkcontrasttothedusty,loud,andsomewhatchaoticnatureofthetradinggarrison,thecitylookedeverybitthecosmopolitancenterithadspetobe.ThecitizenswhomadetheImperialCitytheirhometookprideinthemarketsthatbustledwithinternationaraders.Templescouldbefoundinnearlyeverysectionofthecity,theirpresenceacalmingreminderoftheancestorswhowatchedoverthepeopleandputtheirtrustandpowerintheEmperor.Boulevardswerelinedwithelegantestates,andcityplannershadmadesurethatgreenparkswereprominent,addingtothesenseofserenity.Boat-filledcanalsandharborsbrokeuptheotherwiselushlandscape.
Inthenorthwestcorner,lookingoverthecityfromatopahill,stoodtheImperialPalace.HometotheEmperor,itwasthegrandestbuildingintheentirecity.Whiteandgold,itlookedasifithadbeenfreshlypaintedthatverymorning.Brightlycoloredbirdsflewoveritsgate,landingtonestinthebranchesofthemanytreesthatsurroundedthebuilding.Fromadistanceorupclose,thepalacewasmadetoinspirepeaceandconfidence.
Anditdidboth.Usually.
Insidethethroneroom,theChancellorlookedupattheEmperor,whosatonhisthrone,hisfaceunreadable.Hefe,ashealwaysdidinthemassivespace,dwarfedandabitinsignificant.Butheknewthathewasn’t.AfterdecadesofworkingattheEmperor’sside,hewastheman’smosttrustedadvisor.WhichmeantheknewthatthenewshewasabouttodeliverwasgoingtoupsettheEmperorgreatly.
Takingadeepbreathandbowinghishead,theChancellorsteppedforward.“YourMajesty,”hebegan,hopinghisvoicedidn’tsoundasshakyashefe,“sixofournortherngarrisonsalongtheSilkRoadhavefalleninacoordinatedattack.”Thedozensofofficialscribeswhosurroundedtheleaderkepttheirheadsdown,buttheChancellorsawthemshiftnervouslyontheirfeet.TheEmperorhimselfremainedsilent,hisbodyinshadow.TheChancellorwenton.“Alradeinthenorthernregionhasbeendisrupted.”
“Andmycitizens?”theEmperorasked,hisvoicelow.
“Slaughtered,”theChancellorreplied.“Thissoldieristheonlysurvivor.”Henoddedtoayoungmanwhowaskneelingnearby.Evenfromadistance,theChancellorcouldseetheguard’sfacewasdrawnandpale.Whathehadseenatthegarrisonhadbeen,inhisownwords,nightmarish.Hehadspokenofawingedwitchandfiercewarriors.EvenjustthinkingaboutitmadethehairsontheChancellor’sarmsrise.“Ifearmoreattackswillfollow.”
Standingup,theEmperorsteppedoutoftheshadows.Whilenotatoweringfigure,theEmperorexudedpowernheless.Hiseyeswerebrightandwise,andonlyafewagelinescouldbeseendespitetheresponsibilityhecarried.Eventhoughthenewshadclearlypainedhim,theEmperorremainedcalm.Itwasthattrait,amongmanyothers,thatmadehimsuchabelovedleader.
“Whoisresponsible?”heasked.