Traveler of the Blue Road
Part 4 - Confrontation
Chapter 3 - Rain in the Imperial Capital
Chagum passed through the Gate of the Sun leading into the Talsh capital of Rahan on a day of rain.
“It’s been years since it rained in Rahan,” Sodok muttered. “Weird.”
A thin mist covered the city like a shroud. Chagum stared silently and took it all in. Even blurred by darkness and cold fog, Chagum could tell that the city was beautiful.
He saw water flowing through aqueducts and thought it looked like a man-made river. White flowers lined the street on both sides. More flowers of various colors bloomed brightly in planter windows. The buildings were all wide, tall, and made of the same kind of stone that Chagum had seen at Manon. There were few people on the street due to the rain, so Chagum could easily see how neat and orderly everything was.
Hugo was outside Chagum’s horse-drawn cart riding on his own separate horse. He remembered the first time he’d come to Rahan. Then as now, he had ridden in on a horse. The hugeness of the city had oppressed him like an enormous weight. He was still discomfited by the city’s size; coming back always surprised him a little. Kosenkyo was only about a tenth the size of Rahan.
The lower city of Rahan wasn’t served by the aqueducts; Hugo hoped that the people who lived there would be able to fill their rain barrels today.
Hugo wondered what Chagum was thinking now. When he glanced at him through the cart’s window, his expression was as still and unreadable as a statue’s. Maybe he couldn’t see much because of how dark the sky was; his face was still mostly covered. Hugo thought he looked a little paler than usual.
As the cart progressed further into the city, something in Chagum’s demeanor changed. He appeared strong-willed and willing to fight--for what, Hugo wasn’t sure. His grim expression conveyed his understanding that the lives of all of New Yogo’s people rested on his shoulders. Hugo pulled up on his reins to quicken the horse’s pace and ran ahead of the cart until he couldn’t see Chagum anymore.
Chagum was smart, brave, and kind-hearted. In a more peaceful time, he might have become a wise ruler, beloved by his people. Hugo closed his eyes for a few moments.
Prince Raul was a terrifying man. He cared little for himself or his own advancement, but rewarded those who served him well with easy generosity. He also cared little for convention or tradition; the policies he favored were all ones that he considered the most profitable and advantageous, not just for himself but for the empire. He was relentless in pursuit of his goals. If he had to sacrifice the lives of tens of thousands of men to get what he wanted, he would do so without an instant of hesitation.
Crown Prince Chagum was not capable of successfully opposing such a man.
Still, Hugo felt sure that Chagum was going to try. Not for his own sake, but for the sake of saving his nation. Chagum would do everything he could to keep his people safe.
But any road Chagum chose would end in bloodshed. If he chose to rule over his nation as a puppet of the Talsh, the destruction of New Yogo would be slower, but it would still happen.
Hugo’s dark eyes remained fixed on the road ahead. There were times when survival demanded sacrifice. Chagum was still a boy and cared sincerely about others, but as he grew older, he would become as jaded as every other politician that Hugo had met.
Cold rain misted over Hugo’s face as the Talsh Emperor’s palace came into view. The forest below the palace was a pale spring green; he could tell at a glance that it was as scrupulously tended as always. The forest was considered somewhat small, but Hugo knew that it was about the same size as the imperial palace in Kosenkyo.
The weather started clearing up. Weak sunlight cut through the tree cover and shone down on the forest road. When Hugo looked up, he saw the magnificent Sun Palace of the Emperor of Talsh looming overhead, eclipsing his entire field of vision. Several smaller palaces surrounded it on every side; these were the residences of the Emperor’s family.
When Chagum caught his first glimpse of the Sun Palace, his eyes went wide. The walls and towers were shiny from the rain and gleamed bright white.
The walls look like they’re made of snow.
He’d seen this kind of stone before; it came from a place to the north of the Misty Blue Mountains in the land of Kanbal. The stone was very rare and tremendously expensive, but it seemed that the Talsh had built an entire palace out of it.
Thinking of Kanbal reminded Chagum of Balsa. He rested his head against his windowpane. Balsa would never believe it if he told her where he was going now; he scarcely believed it himself. The idea that he would ever make such a journey had never occurred to him as a child.
An elaborate gate decorated with gold and gems came into view on the road ahead. This must be the outer gate of the palace. The people inside could probably see Chagum approach from their high vantage point. He saw riders coming out to meet them. The day before yesterday, most of Chagum’s guards had ridden ahead to announce his arrival; he saw some of them in the group of riders emerging from the other side of the palace’s gate.
“Welcome to Rahan, Crown Prince Chagum,” one of the riders called out. He looked at Hugo. “I’ll be guiding you from here with your permission, toruan. The Crown Prince shall be staying the guest palace, Rai Kol, which is to the southeast of the northern palace, Kal Gol. These orders come from the northern army’s High Commander, Kurz.”
Hugo frowned slightly, but he nodded in acknowledgement of the orders. The mounted soldiers passed under the palace gate and vanished from view.
Sodok looked up at Kal Gol, the northern palace. “Hm. They’ve stopped flying the flag of the hawk.”
Chagum looked askance at Sodok.
“That means that Prince Raul is currently absent from the palace,” Sodok said. “He left his High Commander in charge of what to do with us until he returns.”
Chagum frowned. “Prince Raul isn’t here? Why not?”
Sodok smiled slightly. “Prince Raul is often absent. He helps keep the peace in Talsh’s territories and conquered nations. I suppose that would be a strange thing for a prince to do in New Yogo.
“Still, this works out in your favor. You’ll be able to rest from your journey before meeting Prince Raul.” Sodok looked at Hugo, who was a little ahead of the cart.
Hugo’s expression was ashen. Chagum suddenly felt a lot more nervous. What kind of person was High Commander Kurz? Chagum had never even heard of him before, but Hugo’s entire attitude had changed when he’d heard Kurz’s name.
Flowers bloomed on both sides of the road that led to the palace. The cart passed through a large park, then stopped directly in front of the palace gate. The palace had so many towers that it was hard for Chagum to count them all. Each one was topped by a black, rounded cupola that reflected the sunlight. The ridge of the palace roof was decorated with a pattern of ivy leaves embossed in gold.
Chagum’s escort stopped right in front of the gate. Only warriors of the highest rank, Haku Ul, were permitted to pass through.
Chagum closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, he didn’t look at the gate. He listened to it open and felt the cart lurch into motion.
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