Guardian of Heaven and Earth - Rota - Part 2 Chapter 1 - An Enemy Among Allies

  Guardian of Heaven and Earth

-

Rota

(Book 8 of the Guardian of the Spirit Series)

Author: Uehashi Nahoko

Translator: Ainikki the Archivist

 

 Part 2 - Enemies Among Friends

Chapter 1 - An Enemy Among Allies

   

     The peaks of the Misty Blue Mountains were covered in a fine layer of white snow. Villages and towns near the mountains had a hard frost overnight; they shone white from above in the bright light of the morning. 

    The council meeting held between the Mikado, Gakai and Army General Radou was as frigid and intense as the atmosphere outside. The Mikado surveyed the members of his council with a gravely serious expression, then said to Radou, "How prepared is the army for the impending invasion?"

    Army General Radou was sweating profusely. He glanced sidelong at the man sitting next to him: his brother Karyou. Karyou was also a general in New Yogo's army, second-in-command only to Radou himself. There was little family resemblance between them at all; looking at them side-by-side, it was difficult to believe they were brothers. Their personalities differed almost as much as their appearances. Radou liked to intimidate others with both his face and his boomingly loud voice and wore all of his emotions on his sleeve. In contrast, Karyou was a stern-looking man whose hair had just started going gray; he almost never showed any hint of emotion in his face or in his voice.

    Karyou unwrapped a scroll that he was holding in his hand. "Forgive me for imposing, Your Imperial Majesty, but I have been tasked with handling the preparations for our land and sea forces in recent weeks. Please allow me to update this council on the current state of our forces."

 

 

    After Sangal's pacification by Talsh became clear, the Mikado and Army General Radou had crafted a defense plan. The first step had been to fortify Kosenkyo and areas around the city, which meant that choke points and fortifications had been made at critical places on New Yogo's border and along all of the roads leading into the capital. These fortifications were built relatively quickly, but keeping them all manned was a struggle; there simply weren't enough troops. Looking at the Mikado's plan from the outside, it seemed quite solid, but it had obvious weak points.

    The most obvious was that even if the fortifications were sufficient to protect Kosenkyo, everything to the south of it would be swallowed up in Talsh's initial invasion. Fortifying the roads meant that fewer people in the army were available for other tasks, which also meant that supplies and information traveled more slowly. The Mikado also couldn't conscript every able-bodied man for the army; people needed to remain in the fields to keep growing food and bringing in the harvest, otherwise the army would starve, as would the rest of New Yogo's people. If New Yogo lost the harvest in the southern part of the nation when the war started, the entire war effort would be in serious trouble. The northern and central sections of the country didn't grow enough food to support themselves.

    Army General Radou said the same thing about all such obvious weaknesses: "The Mikado is the soul of the nation. No matter how much land we lose, the first priority must be to protect the Mikado and preserve the imperial capital. There is no need to fortify the entire nation against invasion. If there aren't enough hands to do the work, call in others from distant places. Let us proudly display our preparations and hold our heads high."

    However, letting the Talsh know about their war plans and the weaknesses inherent in them would be a grave blunder. It was vital that the entire country appeared to be protected and fortified before the Talsh navy arrived. That was why the borders were locked down so severely, and why the penalty for crossing them was so harsh. No information could be permitted to leak to the enemy. Radou had also insisted that spies be sent to Sangal and Talsh to report back on their plans and movements.

    All in all, a year and a few months had gone by since the initial implementation of this plan. The fortification of Kosenkyo continued, but was not yet complete. Fortifications were being built along all of New Yogo's borders, including the critical southern one. Men had been conscripted from all over the nation to work as builders and fight as soldiers in the coming war--but compared to the forces that Sangal and Talsh could send to invade, New Yogo's military might was paltry at best.

    As Karyou explained the current situation in overly polite language, Shuga felt his heart turning to ice from terror. He couldn't move. While Karyou did speak politely, he didn't share his brother's belief that the Mikado was the soul of the nation and should be the only thing that the army protected. He reported the facts, even when they reflected unfavorably on New Yogo's war efforts. Shuga understood that the forces currently assembled might be sufficient to hold off two or three attacks, but after that, New Yogo would inevitably fall to the Talsh. Their numbers were an advantage that was too great to overcome.

    Karyou's voice echoed loudly in the otherwise silent hall. "According to our spies in Sangal, the rakkaral were much stronger and more numerous than usual. It seems that Talsh won't be able to send Sangal's navy many reinforcements by sea this year. The first battle will almost certainly take place on New Yogo's border with Sangal. The forces mustered there amount to upwards of sixty thousand men. We should send as many men as can be spared there as quickly as possible."

    A government official sitting to Karyou's right raised his hand. After the Mikado gave him permission to speak, he said, "Is it really advisable to send farmers and shopkeepers to the front line, when many of them never even held a sword before a few months ago? The enemy forces will certainly make short work of them."

    Karyou waited for the government official to stop speaking, then said, "That is precisely what the enemy will expect, and that is why we will be at an advantage. Our aim is to stop the war with this single battle. If the enemy looks down on us, they will underestimate us, and that will be the source of our triumph. Give a man a sword, or a spear, and ask him to defend his home, and he will do it. Why else did we conscript these men if we don't expect them to fight? And if they do wind up scattering, the veterans will be behind them. They will have still lured the enemy deeper into our territory, making it more difficult for the enemy to escape."

    The government official who had asked the question nodded his head in understanding. Shuga looked at Karyou with a haunted expression. He hated his strategy. Even if it won the war, countless innocent people would be dead. He saw no greater meaning in such a sacrifice; it was wasteful and cruel.

    Calling for reinforcements and holding a defensive position until they arrived made a lot more sense to Shuga as a strategy. But New Yogo hadn't called on any other nations for reinforcements. For better or worse, the country was attempting to weather this invasion crisis alone. Time was on Talsh's side; they had no need to rush. They could afford to pick at New Yogo bit by bit until all their defenses and resources were exhausted. Next year, they wouldn't have any problem sending in fresh troops from the southern continent, and then the war would essentially be over.

    No matter how many men New Yogo conscripted, virtually none of them were soldiers. They had no time to become skilled fighters, either--and every battle would mean more lives lost. Everyone in this hall must surely know that--but no one said it aloud.

    Shuga wondered if anyone here believed that Army General Radou's plan would actually work. It took a lot of soldiers simply to defend the fortifications, but those weren't all that needed defending if New Yogo was going to win. There didn't seem to be a way to win using his strategies. All he was trying to do was to help New Yogo resist invasion for as long as possible.

    Shuga couldn't stop thinking about the traitor in their midst. Despite all of Army General Radou's precautions, Shuga knew that someone in this room was likely passing information to the Talsh empire. He covered his eyes with one hand. All we're doing here is wasting time.

    It was at this moment that Shuga remembered something critical. People are strange creatures. Usually, people embark on the path to their future through some determination or hard work, but never really think about how far they had to go once they've achieved their goals. And yet, step by step, the future is made. Shuga's memory was of something that had shaped and influenced him forever afterwards...but he didn't know if he should trust it. Still, he had no time to hesitate.

    Shuga lifted his head and gazed at all the assembled officials in the chamber. Karyou locked eyes with him. There was nothing particularly threatening or interested in his gaze, but Shuga still sensed something like caution coming from him. He frowned slightly. Why would Karyou be cautious of him? Had he noticed that Shuga was about to speak? Did he intend to interrupt him? Shuga knew Karyou to be a perceptive man. He was, after all, unlike his brother in almost every respect.

    Shuga rolled up the scroll in his hand, then raised it. He faced the Mikado dead on and said, "Excuse me. May I speak?"

    Everyone in the chamber turned toward Shuga. The Mikado acknowledged him with a nod. "I have seen a new portent in the heavens," he said, clearly and distinctly. "I feel I must share my knowledge and understanding of it, Your Imperial Majesty."

    The Mikado frowned at him. Many of the collected officials in the room exchanged worried glances. Star Readers were supposed to bring their reports on the state of the heavens to the Mikado first, before anyone else heard them. The Mikado was the one who chose what information to share with the people and the officials who served him. What Shuga was proposing to do went against all norms and conventions.

    Shuga continued speaking before he could be interrupted. "It is the responsibility of Star Readers to read what the heavens say and convey it to Your Imperial Majesty to determine the import and meaning of what is read. I would like to share this portent before further judgments are made in matters of war. I would of course have brought this to Your Imperial Majesty much sooner, but I only very recently learned of it. I attended this council meeting in order to share what I have seen."

    The Mikado shifted his gaze toward Gakai, who had turned bright red with fury.

    Gakai had been summoned to the Mikado's side two days before and hadn't returned to the Star Palace since answering the summons. Shuga undid the ties of the scroll he held, partially revealing the portent that he'd discovered and read in Gakai's absence.

    The Mikado looked from Gakai, who was still red-faced, to Shuga. He frowned. "What new portent has appeared?" 

    Shuga bowed. "As Your Imperial Majesty is well aware, deciding on the meaning of a portent is not simple to do in the span of only a few days. All interpretations have a bearing on all the others that have been made in past years, especially in the last six months. Reading this portent in the context of all the others has proved complex. I believe this portent has appeared now specifically in reaction to our current military situation. "

    Shuga unfurled the scroll in his hand and displayed it for the Mikado to see. A map was drawn on the scroll in gold ink that caught the light of the lamps, and in the center, a strange symbol graph that looked like a star chart. As the Mikado looked it over, Shuga said, "I will explain the meaning of this portent as best I can. I have consulted with my fellow Master Star Readers in this matter, and we believe that this portent heralds a time of great change for our nation.”

    The gathered officials all started speaking loudly among themselves. The Mikado stared through Shuga, still frowning, like he was trying to discover whether or not Shuga was telling the truth.

    “I understand why the appearance of this portent seems so sudden,” Shuga said. “The timing seemed suspicious, even to me and my fellow Star Readers, but I believe that other events in recent years have been building to this portent of great change,” Shuga said with his eyes cast down. “The portent itself may be interpreted as a crossroads. Taking one path will lead to one future. Taking the other will lead to a completely different one. Regardless of the path chosen, the portent indicates that old things shall be swept away to make way for the new.”

    The officials standing around Shuga looked like they’d just been struck with a whip. They fell silent. All eyes fell on Shuga.

    “The choice of which path to follow falls to you, Your Imperial Majesty.” Shuga’s cheeks felt stiff from nerves. His eyes shone with a bright inner light.

    The collected officials understood that the future of the nation--and the Mikado’s ultimate decisions in this council--depended completely on what Shuga had to say.

    “The current path leads to the soaking of our land in the people’s blood. It has always been the Mikado who guides us away from such sad and tragic outcomes. I believe in Your Imperial Majesty’s ability to guide us correctly, as you always have.”

    The Mikado said nothing for a while. Shuga stared straight at him, no longer keeping his eyes cast down. The Mikado felt a growing sense of anger at Shuga’s brazen disrespect.

    “You are saying that the other path is to avoid war,” the Mikado said. “That’s what you want, isn’t it?”

    Shuga held himself still as he answered, “I am an apprentice of the Holy Sage. It is not my place to decide what path should be taken. War is not upon us yet; the portent appeared before any fighting began. I find its dual nature significant partly for that reason. All I wish is for Your Imperial Majesty to have all the facts when making decisions.”

    There was a rustling of silk in the otherwise silent hall as the Mikado stood up from his jeweled throne. The assembled officials looked at the Mikado in shock.

    “So...you are a coward,” the Mikado said. “Do you fear death?”

    The Mikado looked away from Shuga; his eyes swept the room, resting on all the officials’ faces. He spoke in a voice full of emotion: “My ancestors fled from the war-torn southern continent, where impure and impious nations devoured one another like beasts. New Yogo is not a nation formed in the image of those others; we receive direct guidance from Ten no Kami. Would anyone say that our nation is not pure and perfect due to the god’s guidance and long years of peace?”

    Tears fell silently down the Mikado’s cheeks. No one made a sound. The Mikado, usually reserved and completely calm, was openly weeping and shaking from head to toe.

    “I believe in the pure heart of my father, the God of Heaven. He would never abandon his child at such a time of terrible need. I believe with my entire heart that Ten no Kami will save us.”

    Tears dripped down the Mikado’s face and onto the floor. He made no move to wipe them away.

    “Are all of you afraid to die? Are you really so against the idea of defending our nation, even to the last man? Would you prefer me to kneel before the corrupt lords of the south and let our beloved country pass into their filthy hands?”

    Some of the collected officials started crying as well. Shuga saw men, especially high-ranking military officials, clenching and unclenching their hands as they attempted to calm themselves. These were some of the most vital council members present: they had the authority to command New Yogo’s armies into any danger. Almost all of their cheeks were wet.

    “Mikado,” some muttered. “Emperor...”

    General Radou stood up and said in a voice like a shout: “We, too, love this nation with all our hearts, Your Imperial Majesty. No one here would think to deliver it into the hands of our enemies. We will fight to the death to repel them, without fear or regret. Ten no Kami has blessed us.” He paused. “Yes, let us fight! Fight! Fight to the last man! Our army is protected by Ten no Kami! The betrayers of Sangal and corrupt Talsh forces don’t stand a chance against us!”

    Shuga heard resounding shouts of agreement from all around the chamber. He cast his eyes down.

    The Mikado spoke slowly, still weeping. “I choose the path of purity for our nation. I beg you all: believe in me.”

    Every man present knelt down and brought their forehead to the floor.

    The Mikado declared the end of the council session. Men rose from their knees and called out to their neighbors. Shuga drew himself up swiftly and made his way out of the chamber into the dim hallway outside. No one called out to him when he left.

    “It’s so unfortunate that the future is truly so certain and set. I understand that we must rely on Ten no Kami, but you and the Master Star Readers must have seen this portent for a reason.”

    Shuga turned around to look at who had spoken to him. His expression was pained and mildly regretful. Shuga had expected some people in the hall to address him with contempt; it wasn’t a Star Reader’s place to decide matters as important as the future course of the nation. But this man--

    Is he the traitor? Did he take the bait?

    Shuga turned into a side-corridor that led back to the Star Palace. He felt someone following him, getting closer. His pursuer was Karyou, Army General Radou’s brother. He clasped a scroll over his heart. When Shuga faced him, he nodded in greeting.

    Karyou whispered so that he wouldn’t be easily overheard. “I’d like to speak to you, lord Shuga. Meet me at the palace’s sacred site tomorrow morning at dawn.”

    Shuga felt himself trembling all over. The traitor is lord Karyou?!

    He’d never expected his bait to entice the likes of Karyou Yugaraku. Shuga watched his figure recede in the crowd as Karyou walked quickly away from him.

 

 

    The next morning, Shuga stood in a grove of trees near the imperial palace’s most sacred and holy site. The air was thick with the smell of bark and leaves. Shuga had traded duties with another Master Star Reader the previous night to ensure that he wouldn’t miss this meeting.

    He had arrived early to draw sacred water from a clear spring and pray. The most sacred site in the palace was not a temple, but a large mound of earth covered by a large hexagonal roof. There were no statues or decorations adorning the space. Small windows had been cut into the roof to allow the sunshine in. Shuga watched the light of early dawn creeping over the sacred site and waited.

    When earth and water combine, life is formed, he thought. Everything the gods have made comes from the water of the heavens and the foundation of the earth. It seems so simple, but I think that’s the truth.

    Shuga looked at the sunlight dancing over the earth and prayed. This place is holy. I feel very much like I am one with the world in this place.

    Shuga stood up slowly and faced the Mikado’s palace. It was dawn. He left the sacred site and walked behind it, toward an artificial hill that marked the edge of the Mikado’s garden. It was still too early for the gardeners to come and tend the space, so everything was quiet and deserted. The morning air felt cool as he walked along the artificial hill with dew rising around his ankles.

    There was a man standing behind an ornamental boulder near the bottom of the artificial hill: lord Karyou. He was alone, but he carried a short sword. He gave off a completely different impression than he had the day before, when he’d seemed to be as cold and emotionless as a pillar of ice: now, Shuga thought he detected a note of honest fear in his expression.

    Karyou was past fifty years old, but the only sign of it was the slight graying of hair at his temples. He suddenly seemed much younger than his brother, despite the relatively small gap between their ages.

    Huh. I wonder if anyone has ever thought that Karyou, the Lieutenant-General of New Yogo’s armies, looked young and scared before.

    “You came. Thank you,” Karyou said with a smile.

    “I’m not sure why you wanted to meet in such an out-of-the-way place,” Shuga said, “but yes, I’m here.” He tilted his head at Karyou, making no attempt to conceal his confusion. “Please tell me what you’d like to discuss.”

    Karyou nodded and started speaking quietly. They were partially blocked from view by the boulder he’d hidden behind, but the trees to the opposite side were sparse; they would be able to see anyone trying to sneak up on them easily. Anyone approaching from the direction of the hill would also be visible as they descended. There seemed to be little chance of them being observed or interrupted.

    “Crown Prince Chagum’s motives and intentions were widely known inside the palace,” Karyou said. “He must have written down many of those motives and intentions in the letter he sent to you. I hardly think you’re entirely ignorant of my intentions.”

    I see. So Karyou knows about all of that as well? I should have expected as much. I have to be very careful here.

    Karyou grinned. “Crown Prince Chagum was a brave hero. It’s a shame he died so young. With him gone, our nation’s fate seems sealed. If only he’d returned safely from Sangal, maybe more people would have realized that.”

    “What do you mean, ‘our nation’s fate seems sealed?’ Do you believe New Yogo will fall to the Talsh empire?”

    “Of course. Isn’t it obvious?” he replied without an instant of hesitation.

    Shuga looked at him with trepidation. His smile collapsed.

    “Crown Prince Chagum is dead. I am the Lieutenant-General of our armies and must consider the reign of the next Mikado. Is it so surprising that I’ve been in contact with our nation’s enemies?”

    “No.” 

    Karyou’s eyes glinted like steel. “I see you understand. As Lieutenant-General, I have a firm grasp on our communication network and can easily acquire news from Talsh. I’ll know before anyone else about any incoming attacks.” 

    Karyou stared at Shuga. “You’ve been wary of me for a long time. I knew about your own information campaign, using merchants from Sangal and Talsh to pass information into the country. You and I think alike, I think.”

    Shuga took in everything Karyou was saying silently, just listening. A shaft of morning sunlight filtered through the trees above them and shone directly into Karyou’s eyes; he looked down.

    “This country is on the knife edge between destruction and salvation,” Karyou said. He raised his eyes to look at Shuga again.

    “Do you not believe in the power of Ten no Kami’s protection?” Shuga asked.

    Karyou tilted his head slightly. “Do you believe in it?”

    Shuga didn’t answer.

    Karyou kept talking as if his answer didn’t matter. “Ten no Kami watches over this world--that’s all he does. When earthquakes strike, or floods wash villages away, or people murder one another, the god simply watches and does nothing. I believe in Ten no Kami, but I’m not like my brother. I’m not expecting some kind of last-minute miracle to save us.

    “You must believe something similar, right? Otherwise you would never have presented that star portent the way you did.”

    Shuga was shaken to the core. Karyou had been the one whispering in his brother’s ear this entire time. He was in charge of logistical details and organizing their defenses. Shuga had never expected him to think so similarly to himself--it was almost as shocking as learning he’d turned traitor.

    Karyou smiled at him. “The sacred has, perhaps, less meaning to men like me. I’m thirty years older than you, and served the previous Mikado as well as this one. I expect I’ll serve the next one, as well.

    “I also must consider my niece’s future. She is a bit foolish and strong-willed, like my brother. Her image will need burnishing if her brother is to be made the next Mikado, to protect her reputation as well as his.”

    “You are more considerably more honest than I was expecting,” Shuga said.

    Karyou shrugged. “Is there any reason I shouldn’t speak honestly with you?”

    “Aren’t you concerned that I might report what you’ve said to the Mikado?”

     Karyou laughed. "You've always been an honest sort. And you're right. You could very well have spoken out yesterday to lure me into some kind of trap so that I'd ruin my own reputation. But what would you have to gain by that? The Holy Sage is in no position to perform his duties. Crown Prince Chagum is gone. You won't hold on to your position long by making more enemies. Besides, even if you did report me to the Mikado, who do you think he'd believe? Me or you?"

    Karyou looked at Shuga with a composed smile. "Lord Shuga--aren't you also considering how to save our country's people from being needlessly slaughtered? The current strategy will lead to nothing but ruin. Just look at Sangal; they've been completely taken over in just two short years. And they cooperated from the start and received the best possible treatment. It's foolish, reckless, and cruel to have us all fight to the last man. We'd be destroying everything that makes our nation worth fighting for. I think the Talsh understand that, too."

    "So you would save the body of this country by sacrificing its soul?" Shuga asked, 

    Karyou shook his head slowly.

    "The Mikado is not the soul of this country. It's the people. And I must think of my nephew's future."

    "I see," Shuga said coldly. "You saw the tears on everyone's faces yesterday, didn't you? They were moved to tears by nothing more than the Mikado's words. It seems that the country's soul is something that's beyond your ability to understand."

    Karyou nodded. "That's why I need you, lord Shuga. The coming days will certainly bring a great deal of change, but the outcome of that change won't be destruction. I intend to see that our people thrive. The Star Readers are the ones who guide the Mikado in determining the correct course for the nation. This isn't something I can do without your help. I don't intend to deceive or betray anyone. When I heard you describe the portent you'd seen yesterday, it was like the voice of the heavens was speaking to me. A portent of great change, where old things will be swept away in favor of a new future. That's what I want for New Yogo."

    Karyou paused for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice was quieter. "The Mikado and my brother's plan won't achieve that. Their strategy will result in our army being decimated and the survivors being made into Talsh slaves. Would you rather have that, or preserve our nation as best we can in its current state, with the son of the Mikado ruling after him?"

    Shuga looked down and considered. Birds twittered in the branches of a tree above his head. He could hear them calling to one another clearly, as if they were sitting right on his shoulders. Morning light cut through the trees and shone on Shuga's downturned face. Before he could reply to Karyou's question, Karyou spoke again: "You can't possibly hold out hope for an alliance with Rota. I know Crown Prince Chagum proposed such an idea before he departed for Sangal, but the Mikado would never agree to such a course of action."

    Shuga blinked.

    "Isn't that right?" Karyou asked.

    "Yes," Shuga said, "unfortunately."

    Karyou smiled bitterly. "Besides, Rota isn't in the best position to help us right now, anyway. Their kingdom is divided. I'm sure the southern clan lords would love to find some way to weaken the king's power; sending men to help us would almost certainly weaken the royal family's position. Your spies have likely told you this already, but the southern lords have been bought and paid for by the Talsh for quite a while. It's only a matter of time before Rota falls to them as well."

    Shuga felt goosebumps crawling up his arms. "How do they intend to accomplish that?"

    Karyou shrugged. "The same way they did Sangal, by putting pressure on markets and cutting off supplies from the south. The southern lords control almost all the wealth in Rota, so they'd be the ones most harmed by such a strategy. It's in their best interests to cooperate with Talsh as much as possible. The Island Guardians of Sangal were also primarily motivated by greed. That was Sangal's undoing. I happen to know the Talsh Emperor's first son has been trying to get the King of Rota to open Tsuram harbor to trade with the Talsh empire for many years."

    Shuga's eyebrows drew together. "Not the Second Prince, Raul?"

    Karyou nodded. "It looks like Second Prince Raul doesn't have his father's backing for invading the northern continent. Hazar, the First Prince, seems to have that right. Prince Raul is attempting to conquer New Yogo to gain a foothold and sweep over the remainder of the continent before his brother conquers Rota--and his brother is attempting to conquer Rota so that he can conquer the continent before that can happen. It's obvious that they're working at cross purposes," he said in a slightly cynical tone.

    "Do you intend to use their infighting in some way?" Shuga asked.

    Karyou didn't answer immediately. He smiled a little. "I would use any advantage and any tool available to save our nation. I believe our best chance for a positive future for everyone lies with Prince Raul. I would throw away my station and my pride along with everything I own to achieve such an outcome."

    Shuga took in Karyou's smile with a grimace. I wonder if he intends to kill his brother as well as the Mikado, Shuga thought. He'll have to, if he wants to hand the country over to Prince Raul. Shuga didn't want to believe Karyou was capable of such an act, but he considered the possibility likely. If his brother and the Mikado were dead, he would be the highest-ranking official close to the Crown Prince. His own power would increase dramatically.

    But were Karyou's intentions really so cruel and self-serving? It was difficult to tell from his rhetoric. He seemed to sincerely believe that Prince Raul would set the nation on the right path and save it from being destroyed. 

    Shuga looked Karyou in the eyes and said, "So Talsh intends to use Rota to betray us as Sangal did, yet still desires a peaceful conquest? The only way the southern lords would agree to such a thing is if they got something in return--perhaps the right to govern our nation? Or a higher standing within Talsh?"

    Karyou nodded calmly. "Yes, if Prince Hazan wins. And he might. Moe than half of Rota might as well be under Talsh rule already. It may be that the Talsh will conquer Rota before they conquer us, which will put us in an even worse position."

    The sun brightened suddenly as if it had just emerged from behind a cloud. Sunshine made the dewdrops around Shuga's feet sparkle. Shuga breathed in and smelled fresh clean earth. Shuga stood still in the full light of the morning and thought of Crown Prince Chagum. He had crossed the sea alone in pursuit of an alliance with Rota, but it seemed his dream of a peaceful and cooperative future had been impossible from the start. Shuga held out no hope of an alliance with Rota.

    But that didn't mean Shuga had given up on saving New Yogo. Far from it. No help was coming. He had to step up now, for the good of the nation. He didn't know how; his path was still shrouded in darkness. He still felt that he had to try--for Crown Prince Chagum's sake.

 

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