Traveler of the Blue Road - Part 4 Chapter 6 - The World on the Wall

 Traveler of the Blue Road

(Book 7 of the Guardian of the Spirit Series)

Author: Uehashi Nahoko

Translator: Ainikki the Archivist

 

 Part 4 - Confrontation

Chapter 6 - The World on the Wall

   

     Prince Raul returned to the Talsh Sun Palace on Chagum’s third morning spent in confinement. It had rained all through the previous night; when Chagum looked out of his windows in the morning, it was still raining. The sky was dark with thick clouds. Chagum would be granted an audience with Prince Raul sometime in the afternoon.  

    After the audience was arranged, Chagum sat near a window and looked outside. He’d dreamed about Shuga. They’d been discussing something, but he couldn’t remember what. When he’d awakened, all he’d felt was the lingering ache of homesickness.  

    I wish Shuga were here. I’m sure he’d have some idea of what to do. 

    Chagum closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Shuga had taught Chagum everything he knew about diplomacy and negotiation. That knowledge would certainly be useful to him now. He wouldn’t falter here no matter what. He had to understand what kind of person Prince Raul was and what his intentions were for the conquered New Yogo in no uncertain terms. 

    But he couldn’t push too hard in negotiations with Prince Raul. Chagum being here was something of a double-edged sword: if Prince Raul gained his cooperation on roughly equal terms, then New Yogo would be absorbed into the Talsh empire with only a limited amount of Talsh resources and little to no loss of life. But if Chagum negotiated badly here and came off as weak or ineffectual, he was sure that Prince Raul would pounce on that weakness. He didn’t think Prince Raul expected that outcome. It wouldn’t work in his favor if Chagum were deemed incompetent; Prince Raul had brought him all this way. If Chagum wound up being useless to him, then Prince Raul would have wasted a lot of resources and time. 

    Chagum chose to believe that Prince Raul wanted to try taking over New Yogo without bloodshed first. Why else would Chagum be secluded here, waiting to be used as the decisive game piece that would deliver New Yogo into Talsh hands, if only to save it from destruction? 

    Chagum clenched his fists. He refused to be used like this. There had to be other options. 

    Shuga, wherever you are, I hope you’re praying for me. 

 

 

    A messenger arrived from the Sun Palace and announced that it was time for Chagum’s audience with Prince Raul. As Chagum walked down the wide halls of the Sun Palace, all he could hear was the measured thumping of his own heart. Chagum and the messenger stopped before a huge door. Dim white light shone down on them from the hallway’s lamps. 

    Two armed imperial guards opened the door for Chagum and the messenger, then closed it behind them. The room Chagum entered was as large as the other Talsh spaces he’d seen. It was lit like the hallway with the pale white light, though most of the illumination came from the room’s large stained glass windows instead of lamps. The sky outside the windows threatened rain. The quality of the light revealed that it was some time past noon. 

    In the middle of the room there was a raised platform with stairs on two sides of it. The platform held an enormous throne that looked more like a bench than a single seat. A somewhat short and compactly built man reclined on this throne with one elbow supported on an armrest. There was a sheathed sword on a pedestal next to the throne, within easy reach of the man’s right hand. 

    Prince Raul. 

    Chagum faced the throne and stepped onto the room’s carpet, which was blue and embroidered with a pattern in gold. He walked directly toward Prince Raul and stopped before the raised platform. As he neared Prince Raul, Chagum noticed Kurz sitting in a smaller but just as elaborate throne just below the platform on his right side. Hugo stood behind Kurz’s throne.  

    Chagum didn’t even glance at Kurz or Hugo; he kept his focus on Raul. He walked to the very edge of the blue-and-gold carpet runner in front of the platform and stopped. One of the room’s guards fetched him a chair, but he declined to sit. 

    Prince Raul laid stretched out on the bench-like throne with his face resting against his hand, appearing entirely at ease. He watched Chagum approach from his high vantage point. He wasn’t smiling, but Chagum thought he saw a hint of mirth in Prince Raul’s eyes. 

    “Please take a seat, Crown Prince Chagum,” Prince Raul said. 

    Chagum didn’t move. 

    Prince Raul shifted slightly and sat up. “Hm. I forgot that you don’t speak our language. Hugo, translate for me.” 

    Hugo bowed, then translated what Prince Raul had said into the polite register of Yogoese.  

    Chagum still didn’t move. 

    Prince Raul’s eyebrows went up. “So you won’t sit?” 

    Chagum nodded. “I would like us to speak to one another on equal terms.” 

    When Hugo translated Chagum’s words, Prince Raul grinned. The light in his eyes was cold and sharp like ice. 

    “It’s obvious that you’re in an inferior position here, Crown Prince Chagum. You’re here to beg for mercy, after all.” 

    Chagum’s eyes flashed. “I have not come to beg for mercy.” 

    As Prince Raul listened to Hugo’s translation, he picked up the sword on the pedestal next to him, then struck the pedestal with the sword, still sheathed. The sound of the strike echoed through the room. The guards standing near the door stood up straighter. 

    Prince Raul got lazily to his feet. His eyes shone with an inner light as he gazed down upon Crown Prince Chagum. “Since I claimed victory in Sangal’s war and managed to get my hands on you, my reputation has improved. My father, the Emperor, has given me total authority over the invasion of the northern continent. If I order it, two hundred thousand Talsh soldiers will sail to New Yogo, burn your country to the ground, and kill everyone they see.”  

    Prince Raul sounded bored. “That’s not a boast or a threat. I don’t hesitate to kill infants and children when I see a need. Does that appall you? For your foolish act of pointless resistance, I could order your family’s palace burned. Maybe I’ll have the soldiers cut your mother’s ears off and sever all of your little sister’s limbs while you watch and listen to their screams. You have no way to defend them—or yourself. New Yogo knows nothing of war. 

    “I think we could take over Kosenkyo—call it three months from now. I’m sure your people will put up some resistance, but all that would lead to is suffering and death.”  

    Prince Raul’s expression was chilling. Chagum kept his eyes on him and didn’t flinch, but he had to suppress a full-body shiver as Prince Raul kept speaking. 

    Prince Raul stood high over Chagum and asked, “Despite all this, you say that you have not come to beg for mercy?” He used the same tone as he might to throw a dog a bone. 

    He didn’t need to say anything more. Chagum understood that Prince Raul had just obliterated all hope of keeping New Yogo safe and free as casually as snipping a thread. This was the first time Chagum had ever bargained for the life and soul of his nation. He took a deep breath, gathered his courage and said, “You ask strange questions, Prince Raul. Did you only bring me here to get me to beg for mercy?” 

    Prince Raul frowned. “What is your meaning?” 

    “Mercy is for when your opponent is weak and pitiable. I only answered as I did so that we could negotiate country to country, as the representatives of our own nations. I don’t understand the intent behind your questions.” 

    Prince Raul’s eyes narrowed, but they were no longer cold or forbidding. He snorted. “Negotiation is for opponents of equal standing. The gap in power between us is too large. Isn’t offering someone in a worse position an advantageous compromise essentially mercy?” 

    Chagum answered without hesitation: “Perhaps, but I don’t think you would have brought me here unless there was something you wanted from me. That’s what we’re negotiating here, Prince Raul.” 

    Prince Raul blinked, then laughed reflexively like he couldn’t help it. He took quick steps down the stairs of the platform and came down to Chagum’s level. His leather boots squeaked on the bare floor as he approached. He placed himself directly in front of Chagum, then rested his chin in one hand.  

    “Come with me,” Prince Raul said. “There’s something I want to show you.” 

    Prince Raul passed by Chagum’s side. Chagum thought that he seemed excited about something. His aura was like the resonating boom of thunder after a lightning strike. 

    Chagum followed after Prince Raul without saying a word. They crossed the receiving hall quickly, then entered the hallway and turned right. The next room over from the hall appeared to be some kind of office or administrative space. The office’s width was quite narrow compared to the receiving hall, but it was a very, very long room; Chagum couldn’t see the far wall from where he stood. 

    The dark gray sky was visible from the office’s high windows. It looked like it was raining. Near the center of the room, Prince Raul stopped moving and turned to face Chagum. He pointed to the wall above the room’s entrance. 

    When Chagum turned to look, his eyes went wide. An enormous map was drawn on the wall. At the very top of the map, Chagum saw the Nayoro peninsula and the Sangal peninsula running parallel to it. Part of Kanbal and all of Rota were also distinctly visible. Sangal’s island chains dotted the Yaltash ocean between the northern and southern continents. Even the smaller nations to the west of Kanbal, about which Chagum knew little, were outlined in painstaking detail. 

    Chagum’s own homeland represented only a tiny corner of this map. Most of the map was comprised of the ocean and the southern continent. Country borders were mostly marked by thin blue lines, but Chagum noticed that some of them were outlined in red. 

    “The countries marked in blue are part of the Talsh empire,” Prince Raul said. “Those marked in red are territories that I govern personally. Take a good, long look. This is the shape of the world as it currently stands.” He no longer sounded bored or lazy; his tone was almost cheerful. Hugo continued to translate in a dispassionate tone. 

    “Sometimes, other nations grow bold. The Aru Jira are a savage race that live in a wasteland desert. Once we lure them out of their lands and destroy them, root and branch, their territory will belong to Talsh as well, though the main benefit to us is that they will no longer be an annoyance. 

    “The great wasteland is called Oram Hal Ih. Beyond it are the Karzu no Hai—that means ‘white mountains’ in your language. There are certainly other nations on the other side of those mountains. Many of my men are scouting and searching for them. “ 

    Raul glanced over at Chagum and asked, “Have you ever seen a map like this before?” 

    Chagum shook his head. “Never. I’ve never seen anything like this.” 

    “And what do you think, now that you’ve seen it?” 

    Chagum gazed in awe at the giant map and told the truth of what he felt: “The world is so huge. I want to see it all.” 

    Prince Raul smiled and said in a tone that was almost friendly, “When I saw this map for the first time when I was ten years old, I though the exact opposite. The world is much too small.” His tone carried strong conviction. “There are so few nations left for me to conquer. I still feel dissatisfied now, as I did then.” 

    Chagum faced Prince Raul squarely. 

    “You’re wondering why Talsh would want to keep expanding its borders at all, aren’t you?” Prince Raul asked. He was still smiling. “You might say it’s inevitable. You and I think differently. Our roles in this discussion are likewise different. Kurz here is the Emperor’s right-hand man. He might try convincing you with some smooth talk or inarguable reasons, but I have no need to speak that way to you.” 

    Prince Raul lifted his hand and pointed to the northern continent. “This is my last prize. By conquering New Yogo, I shall gain a foothold on the northern continent. Then it will only be a matter of time until the nations of the north are outlined in blue ink.”  

    He paused. “I’m guessing that it will take around four years to conquer Kanbal and Rota.” Prince Raul explained his plans for conquest as calmly as if he was reading them from a scroll. As Chagum listened, he became convinced that the Talsh invasion strategy would be effective. 

    Four years. That’s all the time that’s left. 

 

 

    Hugo saw the light leave Chagum’s eyes.  

    Is it over already? 

    Hugo felt nothing but pity for Chagum. There could be no possibility of equality between Crown Prince Chagum and Second Prince Raul. Chagum had finally realized that. His own nation was a speck on the map compared to the vastness of the Talsh empire. If this were a card game, the Talsh would be cheating: the deck was stacked too much in their favor. 

    Prince Raul also seemed to sense Chagum’s sudden change of heart. He looked extremely pleased with himself as he explained his invasion plan. He rested his hand on Chagum’s shoulder and said, “Please don’t worry too much, Crown Prince Chagum. I always consider the welfare and happiness of the people conquered by the empire. I’d rather not kill them if I can help it. If they submit to my rule, I will shelter them under my wings and make their lives better and easier. You’re seen this with your own eyes during your travels, so you should believe that I’m not lying.” 

    Chagum didn’t say anything in response. He simply stared. 

    Prince Raul gripped Chagum’s shoulder and guided him toward a desk. He picked up a sheaf of papers that was stitched together along one edge. “This is my plan for governing New Yogo,” he said. “Take a seat there. I’ll sit down here and go over it with you.” 

    Prince Raul explained his plan in mixed Yogoese and the Talsh language. He was meticulous and explained everything a page at a time. Hugo stood beside him and translated everything into polite Yogoese. 

    The plan was incredibly detailed. It encompassed what kind of taxes would be levied after the conquest, and on which goods and which industries. Chagum was drawn in by Prince Raul’s clear understanding and care regarding how New Yogo’s economy actually worked. Talsh was clearly practiced at integrating smaller nations like New Yogo into their system of government. 

    “So that’s it,” Prince Raul said when he reached the last page of the plan. “Do you have any questions?” 

    Chagum looked Prince Raul in the eyes. “Do you consider the differences that are unique to each nation you conquer? New Yogo’s people are not warriors, by and large. The population is quite small in comparison to the larger empire. Paying for war expenditures with high taxes would put an undue burden on them. I would expect them to revolt.” 

    Prince Raul laughed. “You grasp policy implications quickly. I can see how strong-willed you are. But surely paying a tax is a fair enough trade for saving their lives? And there is a way to make the tax burden lighter. They can pay with the voluntary conscription of their fathers and sons into the Talsh army instead of money.”  

    Prince Raul’s tone became friendly again. “Well, it seems that you understand our plans well enough. If all goes well, New Yogo will be just another cogwheel in a mechanism, moving along with all the others. If things go really well, it may be permitted to function more or less independently. You can make this easy on yourself...though you might get bored at how easy it would be for you to rule with Talsh support.”

    Prince Raul set down New Yogo’s governance plan and stood up from the desk. “Subjugating Kanbal and Rota will undoubtedly be difficult, but it should only take a few years. As soon as that’s done and over, you and your people will be able to live in peace.”

    Prince Raul leaned closer to Chagum. “I would make you New Yogo’s Mikado. You would still have the right to govern your own people as long as you follow the broad outlines of this plan. And the vast majority of your people would live.”

    Hugo saw the smile in Prince Raul’s eyes.

    “I have the support of some very influential people on New Yogo already,” Prince Raul said. “Support for you in the imperial palace has understandably waned since your disappearance. I would rather have the support of a Mikado candidate to implement this plan, but it’s not impossible with only my current allies. These allies desire you to become the next Mikado as well. Your youth works in your favor. You will have enough time and support to shape New Yogo into a reborn nation, like a cicada emerging from its pod after a long sleep.”

    Prince Raul was still smiling as he said, “I think the choice here is simple. If the Mikado dies, you’re next in line.”

    Chagum’s expression didn’t shift, but his lips slowly drained of blood. Prince Raul thought that he was entirely too honest for his position. He was indisputably intelligent, but also entirely unused to cruelty. He didn’t want to sully his own hands with something as distasteful as patricide.

    Prince Raul brushed his thoughts of Chagum’s weakness aside and said, “There’s no need to do the deed yourself. Think of it as following the natural order of things. You were always going to be the Mikado after your father, anyway. Like I said before, I doubt you’ll find being the Mikado terribly difficult. Open your borders and follow my guidance: that’s it. That would lead to the best outcome possible for you and your people.

    “The hardest part will probably be getting the other lords and retainers to go along with it all. I’m not expecting that to be easy. But don’t worry,” Prince Raul said in a reassuring tone. “I’ve considered that, too. New Yogo has never gone to war. I expect the lords will capitulate after one big battle. They’ll be shocked by the difference in power between themselves and Talsh. I shall seize all the chances I can to demonstrate to your lords why they should support you.”

    A chill ran up Chagum’s spine. His expression nearly shifted, but Prince Raul didn’t seem to notice.

    “I’ve planned for every possibility that I could foresee, so I have no concerns. You’re smarter than I anticipated, Crown Prince Chagum. I find myself wanting to support you so that you’ll do well. You’re strangely charismatic. I don’t think you’ll have any trouble at all turning your people and retainers to your cause.”

    Prince Raul tapped Chagum’s shoulder with his closed fist and laughed. “So let’s do our best here. We may be working together for a long time.”

    Prince Raul paused as if he was expecting a response. When he received none, his eyebrows rose. He was still smiling, but his eyes were cold and unfeeling.

    Chagum snapped his mouth firmly shut and stared at Prince Raul in silence for a while. Then he said, “Free the sailors that were made prisoner at Kalsh.” His voice was so quiet that it was barely audible.

    Prince Raul appeared perplexed.

    “Please return those prisoners to me,” Chagum went on. “I lost the flagship, so I can’t return to New Yogo without them. It would be a disgrace. But if I return with them with me, my father won’t be able to dismiss me as easily.”

    Prince Raul smiled. “I see. That’s fine. Let’s send you back to New Yogo in triumph, so that your people will see you as a hero. Your father should have no reason to see you as disgraced then.”

    Prince Raul pushed Chagum’s shoulder a bit. “You’ll be popular as the Mikado; I can tell.”

    He dropped his hand from Chagum’s shoulder and started walking away. He stopped after a few steps and turned. “Ah. I almost forgot. There is one other thing I wished to discuss.” 

    Prince Raul faced Chagum and said, “You have a younger brother and sister, correct? We can leave your sister alone for the most part. We’ll select someone suitable for her to marry. But your younger brother may cause trouble down the line. It would probably be best to disinherit him before he can challenge your claim to power. He’s still quite young, is he not? If he died of a fever at his age, I’m sure no one would find it strange.”

    Chagum’s blood froze to ice. He wants to kill Tugum, too. Prince Raul knew about his family. He should have expected that. Army General Radou would certainly try to stand up Tugum as the next Mikado over Chagum once his cooperation with the Talsh became known. He’d neglected to factor Tugum into his own plans; the oversight made Chagum want to kick himself. 

    Chagum stilled his expression and thought quickly. Even if Tugum could be used against him, Chagum didn’t want him to die. He refused to let him be killed.  

    There must be a way to prevent that. It would have to be something that Prince Raul would agree to. 

    He searched for a way to save his brother like a mouse seeking a path out of a maze, but the situation seemed hopeless. He wasn’t a cruel or cynical person. Going along with Prince Raul’s plan was essentially the same as giving the order to kill Tugum and the Mikado himself.  

    Just when Chagum despaired of ever finding a way out of the maze, he got a flash of inspiration. The path in front of him was suddenly made clear. 

    Of course. I should have thought of this before. 

    Chagum looked up at Prince Raul and said, “Make my brother the next Mikado.” 

    For the first time in the entire discussion, Prince Raul appeared genuinely surprised. “What?” 

    “I want to make Tugum the next Mikado instead of me,” Chagum said. “It’s a selfish request. I have no desire to be the Mikado. But it also looks better from your side. If I depose my father to become the next Mikado, I’d be perceived as power-hungry and self-interested. But if Tugum becomes the next Mikado instead, no one could accuse me of acting for my own personal gain. 

    “New Yogo has a long tradition of making only the oldest son the Mikado. Going against that tradition would be ugata kaim—usually forbidden. But New Yogo is about to be remade into something else. Like you, I’m trying to consider every possible situation in order to ensure happiness for my people.” 

    Chagum’s nervousness receded as he spoke. He felt like he’d just unwound a particularly complicated knot. “I’ll act as co-regent with the Holy Sage until Tugum comes of age at twelve. By that time, most of the difficulties and obstacles we have spoken of should be done and over with. I will begin the difficult work for him, so that he can govern more easily when the time comes.” 

    And then…if I survive….I’ll run away. I’ll run away from the palace. 

    The thought was vaguely comforting, like warm sunlight on autumn leaves. 

    Prince Raul was dumbstruck. He looked at Chagum like he couldn’t believe his eyes. 

    “You don’t want to rule?” 

    Chagum smiled at Prince Raul. It was an entirely genuine smile. He was about to get his heart’s desire: freedom. “I’ve never wanted that once in my entire life.” 

 

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