Traveler of the Blue Road - Part 1 Chapter 2 - Letter from the Sangal Kingdom

  Traveler of the Blue Road

(Book 7 of the Guardian of the Spirit Series)

Author: Uehashi Nahoko

Translator: Ainikki the Archivist

 

  Part 1 - The Mikado and the Crown Prince

Chapter 2 - Letter from the Sangal Kingdom

 

     Chagum looked up at the sky, thoroughly enjoying the first sunny day of the season. He was at the imperial family’s villa in the mountains, where standards for propriety were a bit more lax than they were in Kosenkyo’s imperial palace. His servants and retainers had left him alone to enjoy the day, for which he was extremely grateful.

    Despite the relative freedom that the mountain villa afforded him, Chagum still wasn’t allowed to wander around wherever he pleased. In the absence of his retainers, he was expected to remain in the courtyard’s garden.

    Chagum pushed his freedom to its limit by climbing up onto the huge boulders of the courtyard’s rock garden. He jumped onto the largest boulder and sat down. From this height, he could see over the walls that surrounded the garden. The lake just outside the mountain villa was clearly visible. This place had been Chagum’s favorite ever since he was a little boy.

    Most of the rocks in the garden were covered in a layer of fine moss because of the recent heavy rains. The ground was still sodden, but Chagum’s high seat on the boulder was warm and comfortable. He watched the reflection of the snow-covered mountains in the surface of the lake. A few birds flew over and dipped their wings in the water.

    Watching the lake always made Chagum contemplative, almost meditative. That lake contained the Palace of the Flower, which called out to people in their dreams and enticed them to enter. He remembered the sadness of the First Queen who had fled into her dreams to escape her grief.

    Chagum’s mother, the Second Queen, loved the mountain villa just as much as he did. She said it eased her heart to be there. Whenever he visited his family at the imperial palace, the Third Queen would only speak in short, noncommittal words and phrases. She spoke ill of Chagum to Tugum and the rest of his family, sometimes to his face. The Second Queen tried to shield Chagum from the brunt of this abuse. She wasn’t the kind of woman to speak ill of anyone, so staying at the imperial palace for too long was intolerable for her.

    Who needs the imperial palace, anyway?

    Chagum let out a loud, wordless yell like a challenge. If there was anyone here who was spreading nasty rumors about him, he’d deal with them personally--with his sword, if necessary.

    Common people could learn a trade, create tools and art, and buy and sell their wares. They didn’t have to fight or argue with other merchants to be successful if they didn’t want to. It would be nice if government and politics worked the same way. Why did people pick sides, vie for power, and put down their opponents? It seemed so arbitrary. Why even pick sides and make enemies in the first place?

    His mother had gotten much thinner and more withdrawn over the last year. She was obviously ill. She lived in constant fear that her only son could be assassinated at any time.

    I wish I could give up being the Crown Prince and just be the Second Prince again.

    He was sure that he’d feel a lot better if he could renounce his title, but that was impossible. The Mikado was descended from a god. Making a second son the Mikado while the eldest son still lived would be completely contrary to tradition. In New Yogo, such an idea would be deemed ugata kaimu--fighting against the current of established policy. If he even proposed such a thing, he’d be refused immediately.

    Going against tradition ran the risk of changing the ultimate fate of the nation. Chagum would be the next Mikado unless he died of an illness or an accident. His fine eyebrows drew together in a frown. He brought his balled fists down on the moss-covered boulder to vent some of his frustration.

    When Chagum heard faint footsteps behind him, he placed a hand on the hilt of his dagger and turned around. He saw someone wearing red clothes walking through the trees at the edge of the garden. His eyebrows shot up in surprise. He moved his hand away from his dagger and shifted in his seat to greet his visitor.

    A young girl in richly embroidered clothes the color of a sunrise emerged from the trees and waved at him energetically. "Hi, Chagum!"

    "Mishuna, did you run away again?" Chagum asked.

    Mishuna was the daughter of the Third Queen. She looked up at Chagum, scrunched up her face and laughed.

    Such a laugh would be considered scandalously undignified by her mother and attendants. Chagum’s own reputation would only worsen if he encouraged her, but he couldn’t help but laugh when he saw her like this. He remembered how hard she’d laughed after losing her two front teeth. Her attendants had begged her to keep her mouth closed, but that had only made her laugh harder.

    Typical sibling relationships were uncommon in the imperial family. Chagum and Mishuna should probably be enemies since they had different mothers, but Chagum felt nothing but affection for her. Mishuna often slipped away from her attendants so that they could meet.

    "Be careful, now. Your attendants will scold you if you get your dress dirty."

    Mishuna nodded and lifted her skirts to prevent them from dragging on the wet ground. "Can you see the lake from up there?" she asked.

    "I can. Do you want to come up and see?" Chagum jumped down from the boulder and boosted her up. "There. Can you see it?"

    "Yeah!" she said in a lively tone. She smiled down at Chagum.

    The Third Queen’s procession must have just arrived. They definitely hadn’t been here yesterday. Chagum guessed that Mishuna had dashed away to see him at the earliest opportunity.

    "Why did you run away? I don’t want you getting into trouble."

    Mishuna leaned toward him and whispered, "Prince Tugum threw a huge fit when we got here, so I used the distraction to make my escape." Mishuna always used the three-year-old Tugum’s official title when she spoke of him. Her mother had doubtless instructed her to do so. "And I knew you’d be here, so I wanted to visit."

    Chagum smiled tightly. Her attendants were probably looking for her. She had to know she wouldn’t get much time alone after running off. Chagum was happy that she’d decided to spend this sliver of unsupervised time with him.

    "Chagum," Mishuna said in a slightly more serious tone. She seemed like a sweet and simple-minded girl; most people underestimated how intelligent she was. "I think you should go back to the imperial palace. Now."

    "Huh? Why?" Chagum asked with genuine surprise.

    "A messenger from Sangal arrived at the palace yesterday. That’s why mom and I came here, to tell you about the messenger. I overheard my grandfather and uncle talking. They seemed glad that you were gone when the message came. They--they were laughing."

    Chagum forced his expression blank. The messenger had probably come for him specifically. He’d received several such messages since his adulthood ceremony. Most of the time, personal messengers required a quick response. Since Chagum was currently absent from the imperial palace, the Mikado might accept the message and act in his stead.

    "Thanks, Mishuna," he said. He picked her up and hugged her. Her clothes were heavily perfumed with shala bark. He always associated the smell with her. She was still so small, and so kind. She should be able to play in the garden’s wildflowers and not worry about messing up her clothes.

    Chagum said goodbye to Mishuna and hurried to his mother’s rooms inside the mountain villa. The Second Queen was embroidering something in her lap when he entered. She looked up at him and smiled warmly.

    "Did something happen?" the Second Queen asked softly.

    Chagum told his mother about the message that had arrived at the imperial palace. The corners of her lips twitched downwards. "I see. I tire of all the bickering and competition at court. Try not to get too angry with anyone. I worry about--retaliation."

    "You worry too much." Chagum sighed inwardly at his mother’s concern. "But I take your point. I need to leave right away. Please feel free to stay here and rest as long as you like, mother."

    Before he left, Chagum leaned in close to her and whispered, "I’ll be fine. I promise."

    She smiled weakly at him.

    Chagum strapped the sword he’d been given at his adulthood ceremony to his belt, nodded to his mother, and left.

    The Second Queen noticed that Chagum was taller than the Mikado now. Still she could see a little bit of the boy left in him as he walked away. It was hard for her to accept that Chagum was so grown up.

 

    Chagum dressed for departure and traveled slowly back to Kosenkyo by cart. The sun had completely set by the time he returned to the imperial palace. The Mikado’s audience with the messenger from Sangal had already begun. He was irritated that his father had decided to hold the audience without him present, but at least he hadn’t missed it completely. He was dying to hear what the messenger had to say.

    Transverse flutes sounded out to announce Chagum’s arrival outside the audience hall. The people inside all fell silent the moment they saw him. Chagum pushed the huge door of the audience hall fully open and strode into the room.

    The Mikado sat upon a throne inlaid with jewels and mother-of-pearl on a raised dais with two stone steps beneath it. The throne glimmered softly in the light of the room’s lamps. To the left and right of the throne were the Holy Sage, the Army General of New Yogo’s army, his lieutenant, and several government officials. All of the people present were either members of the imperial family or Master Star Readers; consequently, the Mikado was able to present himself to the assembly without sitting behind a bamboo blind.

    Everyone was seated when Chagum entered. They rose and bowed when he closed the door behind him. There was a large map of the Nayoro peninsula and Sangal laid out in the center of the hall. Chagum skirted the edge of the map and approached the Mikado’s throne. He stood on the step below the Mikado, which was his designated place, and bowed deeply.

    "Please forgive this interruption," Chagum said. "I have only just arrived from the mountain villa."

    The Mikado nodded. "Please take your seat."

    Chagum sat down on his own throne and looked around the room. The government officials and Star Readers lifted their heads and looked at him. Shuga was among them. He usually smiled when Chagum looked his way, but today his expression was uncharacteristically grim. He was sitting next to the Holy Sage with Gakai and another man clustered around him. Chagum wanted to ask Shuga what was wrong, but he couldn’t do that now; he’d come in too late.

    "Scribe, read the message from Sangal now," the Mikado said in a tone of mild irritation.

    The scribe brought his forehead to the floor, then stood up and unfurled a scroll. He read the message in a loud, clear voice. It came from the King of Sangal and was addressed to the Mikado. As Chagum listened, his initial vague uncertainty crystallized into genuine anxiety.

    The Sangal navy was engaged in a fierce struggle with Talsh forces. The Talsh kept pushing them further and further back, toward the north. They would soon invade Rasu. The King of Sangal had sent this letter to plead for aid before Sangal was entirely subjugated. Sangal desperately needed reinforcements. The Sangal kingdom was the wall that protected the northern continent from the war-torn southern continent. The King of Sangal emphasized that if Sangal fell, New Yogo would be attacked soon after. He’d sent a similar message to the King of Rota, but New Yogo was closer to Sangal than Rota was. The King of Sangal wanted to the Mikado to send as many troops as possible to the island of Kalsh, and quickly.

    The scribe sat down when he finished reading the message. The audience hall was silent as everyone considered the King of Sangal's words. The Mikado faced Chagum and asked quietly, "What do you think? Should we send reinforcements?"

    The Grand Admiral of the navy, Tosa, was tempted to click his tongue. He was the father of the Second Queen. "The Crown Prince is not familiar with the situation beyond what is given in this letter," he said. "Perhaps it would be better to ask after he has heard all of our reports."

    Chagum looked around the room, waiting for any others to speak. After a pause, he asked, "May I examine the letter?"

    The Mikado frowned slightly, but he nodded. The scribe passed the letter to Chagum. Chagum read its contents over again, then faced his father. "Is this single scroll the only message that the King of Sangal sent?"

    The Mikado nodded.

    "Why would he request reinforcements in such a way? It seems we should have heard more from Sangal before the situation became this dire." He tapped the signature at the end of the scroll. "This concerns me as well. Why is this letter from the King? Why not Princess Karina, or Queen Zina?"

    Many of the government officials in the room exchanged uncomfortable glances.

    "In Sangal, women wield much political power and influence," Chagum said. "As I’m certain you’re aware, I’m on good terms with the royal family of Sangal. When I visited Sangal a year ago, Princess Karina promised to share any and all information regarding the Talsh threat with New Yogo in exchange for assisting her against a plot to assassinate her brother and father. But she has sent me no requests for reinforcements. Her messages suggest that the war is progressing quite differently."    

    The Mikado grimaced at Chagum’s revelation.

    "I know you’re friendly with Sangal’s royal family," the Mikado said. "But this message was sent from one ruler to another. I should think that the information in it would carry more weight than if it was sent from the King’s sister to the Mikado’s son."

    Some of the government officials laughed.

    Rage burned in Chagum’s chest. He gritted his teeth and got himself under control. He made an effort to speak calmly. "Forgive my presumption," he said. "I hadn’t considered that. But Princess Karina has sent me several updates on the war situation over the last year. I haven’t heard from her in some months, which is one reason I’m so concerned about the provenance of this letter."

     Chagum looked to Shuga for moral support, but Shuga refused to look at him. Chagum steeled himself and went on, "I have a strange feeling about this letter."

    "Do you believe it’s counterfeit?" the Mikado asked.

    "No," Chagum said. "I recognize the signature. It’s definitely written in King Karnan’s handwriting."

    "Then what is so strange about it?"

    The atmosphere in the room intensified. Chagum held his breath and let it out slowly. There was definitely something off about the letter, but he didn’t know how to explain his discomfort in words. He considered it likely that Sangal had already fallen to the Talsh empire, in which case this letter could be a trap. He wanted to say something to that effect, but words stuck in his throat.

    "I... Reading this letter gives me an uneasy feeling. That’s all."

    The Mikado shifted his gaze from Chagum to the assembled officials. "Is there anyone else that wishes to express an opinion?" he asked.

    Navy Admiral Tosa raised his hand slowly. "Forgive me if I’m mistaken, but I believe that most of us previously agreed that reinforcements should be sent."

    Chagum’s face stiffened. He realized that Tosa had tried to warn him in order to prevent him from embarrassing himself. Even now, he was speaking as briefly as possible to bring Chagum up to speed.

    "The main point of debate seems to be how much of the navy we should send," Tosa said. "There is a possibility that enemy forces could be luring us into a trap. The area around Sangal Yasheera is all open sea. It would be easy for the Talsh to ambush us there. Sailing to Kalsh has known risks. We might not be able to turn back at this time of year."

    The General of New Yogo’s armies, Radou, suddenly stood up. "There’s no need to even consider turning back until the Talsh army is defeated. If a trap is waiting for us there, that must mean that Sangal’s capital has already fallen."

    Tosa said nothing. His fine-boned face was weather-beaten and bronzed by the sun, but for all his experience as a sailor, his expression greatly resembled a scholar’s deep in thought. He was unlike Radou in almost every way. Radou was already itching for a fight with the Talsh; Tosa preferred to consider the situation from every side before committing himself to a course of action.

    "I believe that it is possible that Sangal has already fallen," Tosa said.

    Radou shook his head. "Who cares about possibilities? We’re talking about what we know, not conjecture," Radou said in a tone of finality. He looked up at the Mikado.

    "I think the navy should be sent, Your Imperial Majesty. If Tosa fears a trap, we should send a large fleet to counter it. If Sangal has fallen, the Talsh have a clear path to attack our nation next. In this case, defending Sangal is the same as defending ourselves. Sangal would owe us a great debt for coming to their rescue. Sending a mere token force is out of the question. The King of Sangal would not have sent this letter unless he needed enough support to beat back the entire Talsh army."

    Many of the government officials in the room nodded.

    "I guess we’ll be sending the entire navy, then," Tosa said quietly.

    Radou’s thick black eyebrows drew together. He glared at Tosa. "Yes. I have no confidence that we can defeat the Talsh unless we send the maximum possible number of men."

    Tosa shook his head a little. "If Sangal really has joined hands with the Talsh empire, we’d risk losing all of our forces. We must also protect the coast and the harbor."

    "You’re worrying about a problem that isn’t there!" Radou shot back instantly. "Our land forces can protect the coast and the harbor even if the fleet is lost. We’d still have our cavalry forces as well."

    Tosa frowned. "We’d lose access to our trading partners. New Yogo would be completely cut off."

    "It’s a necessary risk. Our elite forces will fight the invaders for every inch of land they claim. Our country is blessed with the sacred favor of the gods. It won’t fall easily."

    "It’s true that sealing off the harbor and fighting a land battle would slow the invaders down," Tosa said, "but when should it be sealed off, and for how long? The loss of trade harms our nation just as badly as a loss in battle. It erodes our ability to supply and defend ourselves."

    Silence fell--silence that lasted. Chagum’s gaze flicked back and forth between Tosa and Radou. He tried not to focus on either one of them for too long lest he be accused of favoritism later. Shuga had warned him never to reveal his thoughts and plans without consulting his trusted allies first.

    You really intend to cut us off from our allies, and from trade? You’re a fool, Radou.

    Why wasn’t Tosa pushing back more strongly against Radou’s ideas? Everything Radou said was speculative; he was assuming the loss of the navy as a foregone conclusion. Shouldn’t they be discussing scenarios and strategies that were more likely?

    Tosa did seem to be trying to shift the direction of the conversation. He clearly understood that if Sangal had fallen to the Talsh, then there was only one sure way to save New Yogo from the same fate. The other officials in the room remained silent.

    Chagum endured the oppressive atmosphere for a few moments, but he couldn’t hold himself back for long. "Father. Sending our full navy to Sangal would weaken our defenses considerably. We should send messengers to Rota and Kanbal to request aid. That’s what I think."

    Every face in the room turned toward his. Radou’s face contorted with rage. "Forgive me, Crown Prince, but are you suggesting that the army I command is not sufficient to the task of protecting our nation?"

    The Mikado lifted his right hand in a silencing gesture. Radou muttered darkly to himself and sat down.

    The Mikado looked directly at Chagum and said, "Are you saying that we do not have the strength to defend ourselves without begging foreign kings for help?"

    Chagum was surprised at the force of the anger and contempt in his father’s eyes. He’d never seen the Mikado so angry. His throat went dry, but he held his father’s gaze.

    "We wouldn’t be begging for help," Chagum said. "We’d be calling on our friends. If New Yogo, Kanbal and Rota all support one another, we can’t lose. The Talsh cannot defeat us if we stand together."

    The contempt in the Mikado’s eyes lessened somewhat as he reined in his anger. "My son," he said, "I want you to listen well and remember these words. Our nation is blessed by Ten no Kami, the God of the Heavens. If it is ever threatened, all I need do is extend my hand and call on the power of the god. Our nation needs no support from others. It never has. It never will."

    The Mikado dropped his gaze from Chagum and faced the collected officials. "All right. I believe I’ve heard everyone’s thoughts. I shall consider and make a decision in private."

    The assembled officials left their seats, knelt down, and bowed deeply to the Mikado. The Mikado entered into private consultation with the Holy Sage in a separate chamber. The government officials surrounding Chagum whispered to one another in hushed tones as the Mikado withdrew.

    Chagum hated being left behind. He couldn’t let matters stand as they were--but he had no choice.

 

 

    The Mikado deliberated for two days before making a decision. He would send twenty ships to Sangal as reinforcements, which amounted to roughly a third of New Yogo’s naval forces.

Immediately after he gave the order, soldiers and sailors poured into Choron harbor from every direction. Ships loaded up weapons, food, medicine and other supplies in great haste. Foreign merchants that arrived in the harbor at the same time thought that New Yogo was bracing for some kind of terrible disaster. Soldiers chased merchants down the street, even when they had no goods to sell; many shops and stores temporarily closed up or moved to another city to wait for the uproar to die down.

    The large front gate in front of the harbor was a severe-looking landmark that served as the navy’s first travel checkpoint. There were many such checkpoints between here and Sangal to guide trade ships and travelers. These were all unique to New Yogo; with any luck, no one would know how many ships New Yogo had sent until the navy reached Kalsh.

    A rumor that Choron harbor would be closed as soon as the navy left the harbor spread like wildfire. Merchants made immediate plans for departure so that they wouldn’t be cut off from their supply lines. Some of these merchants lingered near the harbor’s large gate, mixed in with a few people from Sangal. One of these was Princess Saluna’s secret messenger.

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