Chapter Four
Emperor Xust swallowed the last of his millet porridge and smacked his lips satisfactorily. Servants hurriedly cleared the low table and washed his hands, drying them with a soft napkin. The Emperor was sitting on soft cushions in the Phoenix Pavilion of the Imperial Gardens,his composure serene. The morning breeze caused his white robes to flutter slightly as the servants arranged his tea set,a steady steam rising from the teapot. One of servants was about to pour his tea,but he waved her away and poured it himself.
Instead of drinking it, he set it down and continued to sit,his calm eyes reflecting the sunlight. It appeared he was waiting for someone or something. Maybe both. The garden was silent apart from the singing of the birds and the soft sound of water as it cascaded down an artificial waterfall.
Suddenly the middle part of the Pavilion exploded into a thousand colors as sunlight hit a stained glass in the roof at a specific angle,giving the place an almost magical look. Or maybe it was.
The Emperor sipped his now cold tea and watched Master Turune make his way into the Pavilion. The servants bowed to him, a favored friend of the Emperor. He dropped into an obeisance and sat cross-legged like Emperor, after his assent.
The Emperor drained his cup,and filled two cups. He placed a cube of sugar into one cup , pushing it to Master Turune,who put two cubes into the Emperor's. This continued, with them putting random number of cubes into each other's cup. To an outsider it would seem very confusing as to what they were doing, however,the message had been passed.
They both sipped thier tea, thier tongues welcoming the over sweet sensation of the warm liquid.
"How was your night,My Lord." Master Turune asked.
"It was fine by the grace of the Gods . And yours? Your children? Your wife?" The Emperor's face was serious.
Master Turune smiled at the joke. Everyone knew he had no wife or children." Sadly,they all woke up with two heads. Oh Gods, why should a poor soul like me have this bad cup."
They laughed softly and sipped thier sugary tea. The Emperor refilled thier cups and turned to Master Turune,his face expressionless." What are the Spirits saying."
Master Turune sighed wearily." Unfortunately,things are bad." Master Turune was a spirit - speaking Sungtai,the sixth rarest of the eight magicks,after Seeing. Emperor Xust waved a hand and the guards and servants hurriedly filled out of the Pavilion.
He continued." They keep telling me of strong negative energy and of something omnious. Most of them are getting agitated. It seems whatever this negative energy is, it is affecting Order and spilling into the spirit realm."
Xust popped a honeyed date into his mouth and chewed slowly. Something wasn't right. Surely if there was a negative energy the seers would've foreseen it." Have you spoken to any seer."
Master Turune nodded." The few I've spoken to can't sense anything. I even sent letters to the Minor Temples of the Great Mother in the other eight kingdoms,but so far no seer has Seen this negative energy."
Emperor Xust's composure was a direct antecedent of his thoughts. He was worried. Physical disturbances could easily be taken care of. However, something spiritual or magical was a whole different issue. He could remember the powerful demon that ravaged parts of Atamesia when he was a child. Shivers run through his spine.
The two old friends continued drinking thier tea and eating honeyed dates as they enjoyed the ambience of the garden. There was nothing they could do but wait. Hopefully the Oracle would See something.