Guardian of Heaven and Earth
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New Yogo
Part 4 - The Flood
Chapter 2 - Nightfall
It was past sunset, but the inside of Chagum’s tent was as bright as day. Chagum lay on his soft cotton shilya bedding, shivering and sweating profusely. He was asleep or unconscious with his mouth half-open and his breathing labored. Chagum had many visitors and guards watching over him, whispering and talking, but Chagum didn’t open his eyes.
The doctor claimed that Chagum must have collapsed from over-exhaustion. His shoulder was severely injured and he’d been traveling and fighting for weeks, which was enough to wear anyone out. “Sleep is the best medicine,” he said to Shuga. “We’ll let him sleep.”
It was the middle of the night before the doctor and nurse retired to their own beds to sleep, leaving Shuga alone in the tent with Chagum. Shuga supported Chagum’s head in his lap, encouraging him to drink down the medicine that the doctor had left slowly, pushing on his throat gently to make him swallow on reflex.
Shuga agreed with the doctor: Chagum definitely needed rest. The medicine Shuga was giving him was meant to help him sleep more deeply, since poor sleep wouldn’t help Chagum heal at all.
He finally pushed himself too far, Shuga thought. The war, the armies, the evacuation—it’s too much. No wonder he’s so desperate for rest.
Radou trying to kill him must have been a shock to the system. Radou’s dagger had not wounded Chagum severely, but the attack had profoundly affected the prince’s heart and mind. Shuga looked down at him as he slept and tried to encourage himself. Chagum would awaken soon, after a well-deserved sleep.
There was noise outside Chagum’s tent. Someone lifted the tent flap and entered. When Shuga turned to look who it was, he nearly jumped out of his skin.
Jin.
His arms were tied firmly behind his back. Kahm had pushed him inside; Shuga saw him as he also slipped inside the tent. Jin put his face to the ground and said, “I’m sorry for causing a disturbance. I had to see His Majesty no matter what. The guard said I couldn’t enter unless I was bound.”
Kahm folded his arms. “You serve the Mikado. For all we know, you work for Army General Radou, too, and he just tried to kill Prince Chagum. You aren’t trustworthy.” He glanced worriedly at Chagum.
“How is he feeling?” Kahm asked.
“He’s been sleeping,” Shuga said. “He has a slight fever, but the doctor said he would recover.”
Both Kahm and Jin appeared openly relieved.
“Lord Kahm,” Shuga whispered, “Lord Amusuran has saved His Majesty’s life many times in the past. If you’re that worried, you can remain in the tent with the spear trained on him.”
Kahm looked uncertain for a moment, but then he nodded at Shuga and untied the ropes binding Jin’s hands.
Jin went to his knees at Chagum’s side and placed his forehead to the ground. “Your Majesty…” His eyes overflowed with tears. “After suffering through so much to get back here, for something like this to happen…”
It had been a year since Jin had watched Chagum jump overboard and swim away toward Rota’s southern coast. Jin had believed Chagum’s goal of an alliance with Rota and Kanbal to be no more than a child’s dream, but he’d actually achieved it. He was still alive despite all he had been through, and he had finally come back.
Seeing Jin cry made Kahm start to weep as well. “Lord Amusuran…”
Jin clutched at his gut and tried to control his wracking sobs.
“We don’t have time to weep,” Shuga said. “None of us do. The country is still in danger. I expect the others are watching us?”
Jin nodded, then wiped his tears away with his fists. “They’re outside, in the camp.” He took a deep breath, then bowed before Chagum again. “The Mikado has commanded us to leave the Imperial Palace without him. He refuses our protection, although we are his shields. It is…unprecedented.”
Shuga’s eyes widened. “Were all of the Imperial Guards ordered away?”
“Yes,” Jin said. “I sent half to the Mountain Palace to defend Tugum and the nobles there. The rest accompanied me to the army camp to protect Prince Chagum.”
Jin cast his eyes down. “The Mikado said that Ten no Kami will defend those he deems worthy. He said nothing else to us.”
Shuga frowned, then whispered, “Is there anyone left in the palace?”
“The Holy Sage, his apprentices, maids, attendants and the aged servants with no other home have remained. The Mikado did not permit any of the court nobles or their retinues to stay--not even the Queens.”
Shuga opened his mouth to ask another question when he heard a ruckus outside. The Rotan Lieutenant Karon entered the tent, looking harried.
“Kahm received a message by hawk,” the Karon said. “We need to call a war council immediately.”
Kahm and the doctor entered the tent behind Karon. Shuga glanced between Kahm and the Karon and said, “Lord Kahm, Lord Karon, I have a request.”
“What is it?” Karon asked.
“I was an apprentice of the Holy Sage for many years and know the inner workings of New Yogo’s Imperial Palace. I beg that you permit the Holy Sage, his apprentices, and Army Lieutenant Karyou to attend this war council. They may have information that proves invaluable.”
Karon frowned. “Um…that’s…”
“You are outsiders,” Shuga said. “Members of an outside army, come to help us in our time of need. We are grateful, but you do not understand us. We wouldn’t expect you to. I ask that you let us speak for ourselves.
“Besides,” Shuga added, “I have an idea. One that might help us turn the tide in the war against the Talsh.”
“We’ll do it,” Kahm said. “Summon who you will.”
Shuga nodded gratefully. Karon appeared stunned.
“If Crown Prince Chagum were awake, he would tell us to listen to Shuga. He trusts him implicitly. If Shuga says we need more representatives from New Yogo at the war council, we’ll bring them there,” Kahm said.
Shuga made to follow Kahm out of the tent, but he glanced back at Chagum before leaving. He bowed deeply to the still-sleeping Chagum, then left.
“I’m all right with inviting the others, but inviting Karyou poses something of a problem,” Kahm said.
“I need him here,” Shuga said. “He’s the key to my plan. Please trust me.”
Jin nodded. “I have no obligations to the Mikado any longer.”
When Shuga looked back at Jin, he was weeping.
“I never thought I’d see that kid again. When he leaped into that ocean, it’s like he was reborn. We have to save him.”
Shuga nodded, then kept on walking after Kahm. Jin followed Shuga.
Later, many soldiers and guards gathered outside Chagum’s tent. Most of them glanced at the tent with wary apprehension. They hadn’t forgotten the attempt made on Chagum’s life. Though the war was raging and the world outside the camp was a very dangerous place at the moment, their primary concern was for Crown Prince Chagum.
Shuga approached the assembled soldiers and nodded his head.
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