Fall of the Swords Collection

Chapter 7

To design a courier implant, you must remember how complex every implant is. Your implant must, first, render a courier unconscious when recording and relaying the message to and from the subconscious mind; second, it must check the face and psychic signature of the recipient; third, it must trigger the message to come forth only after the recipient recites the proper code; fourth, it must erase the message after recital; fifth, it must detect when someone probes the courier"s mind and, in that event, erase the message. All these steps insure that no one can intercept, decipher or alter the information, not even another psychological Wizard.—Implants and Their Uses, an instruction manual.

Implants and Their UsesGuarding Bear sighed and looked at his guest. “Thank you for listening to my story. I appreciate your letting me chew on your ear. Did I mangle it—or bore you to sleep?” The retired General chuckled, sighed again and closed his eyes.

The guest"s expression didn"t change.

“Incurable!” He pounded the desk with his fist.

The guest didn"t flinch at the sudden outburst.

Guarding Bear scrubbed his face with calloused palms. “You know why I told you that story, don"t you? My daughter"s sick, and I don"t know what to do. Stories bring me calm when nothing else will. Why am I so upset?

“I"m Guarding Bear!” he protested, as though that meant something.

“For twenty-nine years, I"ve been the Peasant Upstart Usurper. The people revere me as the greatest general of all time, and I"m wealthier than the Emperor Flying Arrow.” Sighing, he looked across the desk. “And I don"t know what to do.”

The guest regarded him impassively.

“You"re right. I do know what to do. I"m sorry I lied to you, my friend. You"re the one person I should never lie to. I"ll have to ask Soothing Spirit for help. The most talented medacor in the Eastern Empire won"t fail to cure her, but to get the Imperial Medacor"s help, I"ll have to ask him!” Guarding Bear jerked a thumb over his shoulder.

dohimBeyond the window, a warm afternoon sun lit Emparia Castle, the home of Flying Arrow. From the top of Emparia Castle protruded a spire, an erect pinnacle of stone thrusting toward the sky. At the peak of the spire was a small platform, the only part of the entire castle not protected by electrical shielding. From this platform the Emperor often disseminated his opinion or exerted his dominion. The circuits of the Imperial Sword enabled Flying Arrow to reach the far corners of the Empire with even his meager talents.

The guest remained silent.

“What"s so bad about that?” Guarding Bear smirked nonchalantly. “Nothing at all,” he said calmly. “I"m not afraid of him! I"m not!” He smashed his fist into the desk again. “Infinite blast it, I"m a peasant! I"m no stinking noble! I don"t care about face! I don"t want my nose the right shade of brown!”

notThe figure across from him didn"t respond.

“I"m lying again, eh? I am afraid of him.” Guarding Bear sighed and ran his hands through his hair. “Look at me. I"m forty-five years old, but this weathered leather says otherwise, eh?” He pointed at his face. “I know. It"s my nose—practically a shapeless blob. See this livid welt?” He rubbed the scar on the bridge. “That"s where an Emperor"s blade almost removed the top of my head. The years haven"t been kind to my face. And look at these unruly tresses.” He pulled on a lock of black, shoulder-length hair, his temples gray. “So curly and tousled I can"t even comb it. My hair"s always a rat"s nest. I"m not famous for my meticulous grooming or pretty face. Thank the Infinite, a man with my influence doesn"t need fair looks.”

amorneedGuarding Bear sighed and continued. “Appearance? Influence? What good are they if they won"t heal my daughter? She"s such a cute baby, turquoise hair, nine months old, a lovely child.” His voice became thick and full. “But ill, terribly ill. Six medacors couldn"t tell me what"s wrong with her. She"s so sick that I"m sick with worry.

I"m“Infinite blast it,” Guarding Bear muttered. “I shouldn"t have retired eighteen months ago. Flying Arrow wanted me to scour the mountains clear of bandits. I retired rather than fight another senseless war. The Emperor was so furious that he"d have executed me if his aunt and I weren"t mates, eh? He"s still angry with me, and now I need his help.”

stillGuarding Bear swiveled slowly in his chair. “Look at that pile of rubble. They worshipped me there. "Commanding General of the Eastern Armed Forces," they called me. Only a noble would need a title that long. Now, after thirty years without a defeat, I"m only the Prefect of the Caven Hills, a title much too long for a peasant like me.”

Guarding Bear grinned. “Of course, I"ve neither won nor lost the struggle for control of the Empire. Flying Arrow and I are still vying for control, our battle unfinished.”

The guest didn"t lift an eyebrow.

“I tell you right now, my friend, I know I"ll win. Oh, I won"t sit on the throne, but my sons or grandsons will—and you know why, don"t you? Everyone knows that malicious little secret, eh? Ten consorts have come and gone without issue. Flying Arrow has an empty quiver,” Guarding Bear whispered, as though divulging a secret.

IThe guest didn"t reply.

Guarding Bear smiled. “You knew that, eh? How couldn"t you know? You haven"t lived in a cave for all fifteen years of his rule. I don"t have to do anything, my friend, and the Arrow Dynasty falls. I learned as a young man never to lose patience. One of my sons or grandsons will be the next Emperor—if I have the patience to wait.”

anythingThe guest appeared to watch him.

Guarding Bear frowned across the desk. “I"ve had a rough, exciting life. In my rise to power and fame, I"ve lost more than I want to remember. What hurt most was my brother"s execution—his death nearly destroyed my sanity. My ancient enemy Scowling Tiger contrived it all, and I"ll never forgive him. Never!

Never“For twenty-nine years, I"ve scratched and clawed for power and influence in a society that flattens Peasant Upstart Usurpers such as me. I"m nothing if not resilient: In a span of five years, I lost my brother, defeated the Northern Empire, and drove my brother"s betrayer from the Empire in the civil war. If I can do all that, Infinite help those who oppose me.”

Guarding Bear frowned. “I"m not happy I did all that. The skulls I"ve left behind are a crushing weight on my shoulders. Even so, I"ve grown weary of retirement. The rigors of battle and travel exhilarate me, but the killing…” He shook his head and whispered, “Infinite forgive me the killing.”

Looking toward Emparia Castle again, Guarding Bear found that his fear of Flying Arrow no longer stopped him. “My daughter"s illness disturbs me deeply, my friend, but it"s an annoyance in light of what I"ve endured. There, within Emparia Castle, is the man who can cure my daughter. There, I"ll go.

“Thank you for listening. No man can have as good a friend as you.”

Guarding Bear stepped around the desk, as if to help his guest to the door. Instead, he planted himself behind the figure, put his hands on the shoulders, and looked toward the castle. “Again, my friend, thank you.” Slapping the unyielding shoulder, Guarding Bear turned and left the office.

The guest continued to stare out the window, the posture rigid, the expression hard and unforgiving, the eyes looking stonily forward. Carved from a large chunk of obsidian, the bust on the desk depicted the retired General Guarding Bear.

Determination and anxiety at war within him, Guarding Bear strode the corridor to a stairwell. Having to ask for Flying Arrow"s help churned his bowels but blunted his resolve not at all. Descending, he made his way toward the nursery, where his mate stood over their daughter.

Bubbling Water hadn"t slept in four days, refusing to surrender the infant"s care to anyone, even for a few hours. Dark rings circled her eyes. Her blue-black hair hung lank.

With a glance, Guarding Bear asked the only question unanswered between them—whether their daughter was better.

Her eyes hollow, Bubbling Water shook her head. “I don"t understand why the medacors couldn"t even tell us what"s wrong with her.”

wrongEqually puzzled, Guarding Bear linked minds with the girl.

Rippling Water was miserable.

He withdrew behind his mindshields. Throughout the four-day vigil, they"d always spoken as if she"d live, neither parent wanting to consider her death. “One medacor won"t fail to save her,” he said.

“The Emperor"s still angry at you, even after eighteen months.” Bubbling Water sighed. “There"ll be the Infinite to pay for Soothing Spirit"s help.”

“I"ll pay it.”

Looking at him, she smiled. “My Lord, my love, I pray the price isn"t your life.”

“I, too, My Lady, my love,” Guarding Bear replied, “but better I die so she might live, eh?”

Bubbling Water nodded. “It"s more than her life for yours, but we lose nothing by asking.”

Guarding Bear closed his eyes, thinking of all the people who depended on him. After a brief, silent prayer, he summoned a servant; one appeared quickly. “Take the following message to the Lord Emperor Arrow: Greetings, Lord Emperor Nephew. Your cousin Rippling Water is very sick and needs to see the Imperial Medacor. I beseech you to hasten your reply. Your servant, the Lord Guarding Bear. Take the message to the castle immediately.”

“Yes, Lord.” The servant bowed and left.

“Perhaps I should have added the obligatory flattery,” he said.

“Our daughter"s health is more important than the Emperor"s vanity.” She frowned and whispered, “Now we"re committed.”

Guarding Bear looked at Bubbling Water, his mate of twenty-eight years, thinking: We"re two against the terrible. She disobeyed her sister, the Matriarch and Empress, to mate me. After Steaming Water had died in childbirth, Bubbling Water had become Matriarch and reared her sister"s boy as though her own. Having reared Flying Arrow, Bubbling Water fears the Emperor little, but like me, she can"t avoid running afoul of him.

No one in her position could. Under her was the Water Matriarchy, the most fruitful in all four Empires. All women belonged to one matriarchy or another. Boundaries between prefectures or Empires didn"t limit them; neither did political, social or ethnic divisions. Only gender restricted membership. Collectively, the matriarchies influenced the course of the Empire, and the largest of them, the Water Matriarchy, often opposed Flying Arrow.

Guarding Bear embraced his mate, emitting reassurance, grateful for her. He heard her sigh, and knew she loved him. With the edge of his mind, he felt her touch their daughter with a tendril of talent.

“Her fever"s gone up two tenths of a degree,” Bubbling Water said. “Servant!” Instantly, one appeared. “Ice water in a tub! I"ll have to bathe her again.”

Bubbling Water lifted her hands, palms up. The child rose from the crib, and the diaper unwrapped itself. The servant returned with the tub, and Bubbling Water immersed the child with only her face was above water. Bubbling Water shot him a glance.

Meeting her worried gaze, Guarding Bear smiled with a reassurance he didn"t feel. Leaving the room, he snorted the stench of sickness from his nostrils.

Back in his office, standing at the window-wall, Guarding Bear looked toward the castle, hating the sight of it and what it represented. Guarding Bear was Flying Arrow"s closest male relative and the next Emperor should Flying Arrow die without an heir. Everyone knew he shot pointless arrows.

Guarding Bear saw motion atop the castle spire.

A surge of energy engulfed him, masking all his other senses. Flying Arrow"s psychic signature tainted the energy. The insignia of seven arrows filled Guarding Bear"s sight, the beam so narrow only he received the message.

“Lord General Guarding Bear,” rang the Emperor"s voice, “You, your mate and daughter will attend upon the omniscient Lord Emperor Flying Arrow, seventh of his Imperial lineage. At sunset, in the eastern hall. And be less neglectful of my cousin"s health.”

As quickly as it"d come, the energy receded, leaving the General in a sweat. Flying Arrow had summoned Guarding Bear with the Imperial Sword through the electrical shields surrounding the Bear Family residence. All Eastern Empire shields recognized the Imperial Sword"s signature and disabled themselves. And no human shield could withstand the Imperial Sword"s emissions, the Sword being the figurative and literal source of the Emperor"s authority.

A guard burst in. “Lord General, the house shields fell for a moment!”

“The Lord Emperor has summoned me.” Guarding Bear probed and found the shields back in place. “Stand down all alerted forces. Code: Headless arrow. Arrange an escort for the Lady and my daughter. They"ll leave immediately. I"ll follow soon with a pair of guards.”

“Yes, Lord General.” The guard expelled a breath and wiped his forehead. “By the way, there"s a messenger here to see you.”

“Leave him in the corridor,” Guarding Bear said, modulating his voice.

“Yes, Lord General.” The guard bowed and left the room.

Guarding Bear wiped the sweat off his face, calming himself.

Falling shields was usually the first sign of attack. A network of warriors went on alert, their orders to mobilize five minutes after shield failure unless countermanded. While no one but an Emperor could breach an electrical shield from the outside, treachery or sabotage might bring down the shields from the inside. The order to stand down would now spread to warriors secreted throughout Emparia City.

The summons had come quickly after he"d dispatched the messenger. Guarding Bear didn"t wonder why. The imperial minions who always watched his house had intercepted the messenger soon after he left. As the most immediate threat to Arrow Sovereignty, Guarding Bear could hardly urinate without the Emperor"s knowing.

“Why summon me with the Imperial Sword instead of a messenger?” the General asked the bust on the desk. “Why give such priority to a simple summons?” Guarding Bear knew better than to think that the Emperor honored him. The summons was Flying Arrow"s move in their perpetual chess match. The move too quickly made, the Emperor had betrayed his premeditation. “He knew what I"d do,” Guarding Bear said, alarmed. “He expected me to ask for his help.”

knewexpectedWith Rippling Water"s illness so mysterious, and Flying Arrow"s summons so eager, Guarding Bear knew his daughter had become a pawn in the struggle between them. He felt furious that the Emperor already stood poised to capture her, wanting to shield her from the hazards of the game.

Guarding Bear gestured the messenger to enter, then retreated to his desk.

The travel-worn man made his obeisance.

“How did you get in, Lord Mouse?” Guarding Bear amused himself by calling the couriers various rodent names, not wanting to know their real names.

“The safehouse three streets up, Lord General,” the courier said, “from there into the sewer to here. No one stopped me and I doubt anyone saw me.”

Guarding Bear nodded, disliking the squint-eyed man. “You"re carrying secured information?”

“Yes, Lord General,” the courier replied.

Guarding Bear nodded and said, “Broken arrow.”

The courier"s face went slack for a moment, then assumed some of the sender"s characteristics. In the northern border dialect, he said, “Infinite be with you, Lord General. The Emperor Snarling Jaguar was seen traveling eastward through the northern foothills of the Windy Mountains with forty warriors and a shielded, curtained palanquin containing a tiger cub. The Emperor acted more concerned with protecting the tiger than his own person. Later, this same procession headed west with the Emperor"s brother, the bandit Leaping Elk. A third contact later saw Scowling Tiger traveling east with, I presume, the same tiger cub. Suggest it might be a menagerie animal, but can"t confirm. All agents legitimate. Burrow Coordinator awaiting instructions, Lord.”

Guarding Bear kept his face bland as the courier stirred. “Thank you, Lord Mouse. Return message. Code: Bandit scum.” He waited for the courier"s face to go slack again, then recited the message: “Jungle cat message received. Excellent synthesis. Continue to watch Snarling Jaguar. Don"t interfere. Assume that the animal is from the menagerie and find out why he gave one to that despicable bandit. Report as needed, Burrow Coordinator. Well done. End message.”

A city near the Empire"s northern border, Burrow was a mere twenty miles south of the fortress where the bandit Scowling Tiger lurked, waiting for Flying Arrow or Guarding Bear to make a fatal slip. Why would Snarling Jaguar give my ancient enemy such a valuable animal? Guarding Bear wondered. Selectively bred for ten generations, the Imperial Jaguar Menagerie animals were like the Swords. With their talents a man might usurp an Empire, as Snarling Jaguar"s grandfather had.

Regaining consciousness, the courier rubbed his cheeks as though waking from a nap.

“Follow me, Lord Mouse. You"ll change into uniform and accompany me partway to the castle. Another will replace you along the way, and then you"ll return to your post. Munificently remunerated, of course.”

“Eh, Lord General?”

“Paid well, Lord Mouse.” Guarding Bear led the way to the in-house barracks, three floors down. Greeting the quartermaster, he ordered a quick bath and change of clothes for the courier.

The Captain of his guard, Silent Whisper, approached. “Lord General, the Lady Matriarch is ready to leave, and all units responded to the countermand.”

“Good, Lord Captain. Escort the Lady to the castle yourself and "casually" meet me on the way back, eh?”

“Yes, Lord General. We"ll leave immediately.” Frowning, Silent Whisper thumbed the hilt of his sword, as if eager to use it. “Uh, I, uh, didn"t like what I saw, Lord.”

“What did you see?” This is my new Captain, Guarding Bear reminded himself, knowing the man unaccustomed to his style of command. “Please speak your mind freely, Lord Captain.” I"ll have to turn him over to my mate, Guarding Bear thought. Her hand is much more sure and gentle. I don"t have the patience to train another Captain of my personal guard. Too many have died fending off assassins.

“I saw responses to the alert from places I shouldn"t have, Lord.”

“Such as Imperial counter-insurgency forces?”

“Possibly, Lord General,” Silent Whisper said.

“Thank you for telling me, Lord Captain. I"ll look into it when I get back.” Guarding Bear knew he needed to refurbish the shield-alert system. Forefront in his thoughts, however, was the courier"s information. Now he knew that the price of his daughter"s life wouldn"t be his own. The information would buy her cure, Snarling Jaguar due to arrive in two days to settle a border dispute with Flying Arrow.