Enlightened Empire

Chapter 294

From the shore, a harsh wind sliced through the empty streets of Rasacopa. Over the past few years, the people of the city had been full of optimism and energy, the spring in their steps more obvious with each passing season. Their king had improved all of their lives, as well as shown everyone a path to advance. At the same time, the strength of their island, and with it their security, had grown with every new raiding ship that left the shipyards. The people had been happy, life had been good.

Even before his alliance with the Southern Kingdom of Medala, the Green King Taoco Hulpatec had been considered an outstanding ruler by his people. Calm, strong and devout, he had portrayed the image of the ideal king for them. Under him, the Green Island had solidified its status as the most powerful of the Verdant Isles.

And the loyalty and fervor of his subjects had only grown after the alliance. Over these past few years, the island's growth in power had been visible to everyone in Rasacopa. The impassable jungle south of the city had begun to make way to farms and enclosures. Every day, the markets were filled with new and wondrous things for the people to discover and explore, imported from distant cities. Even more, with the island's growing wealth and ambition, opportunities for work had been plentiful and lucrative.

Only a few days before, the people of Rasacopa had still openly wondered when the Green Island would finally break through the bindings of the Colored Kings and dominate the Verdant Isles as its new hegemon, creating an empire on the waves to match those empires to its east and west.

Now however, these grand plans were no more than distant memories. Fear and insecurity had driven the people back into their houses. After the announcement of the king's sudden death, the people had first been shocked, and then terrified.

Now that their great leader was gone, everyone anticipated a war against the other Colored Kings, who no doubt stared at Rasacopa's wealth in greed. It was such an atmosphere that had swept the lively streets of the city clean. Only a few souls were brave enough to venture out of their homes and into the outside world. Or in some cases, downtrodden or numb enough that they wouldn't care about tomorrow.

As they did every day, the regulars at the Deep Well had been drawn into their local tavern to enjoy some gossip together and drown their worries in liquor. Unaqha, the strong, tasteless rice wine of the Verdant Isles, had long become a part of their daily diet, and most of them would struggle without it. Even now, when the tavern was almost as empty as the streets, they continued their traditions.

Despite the overall mood of the city, the house's patron would still open his doors to his guests, so long as there was money to be made. Though even here, the dire news of the recent days had left its mark. Just as the regulars were settling in with their first drinks of the day, they turned to the same depressing topics as everyone in town.

“What a pain this is,” one of them sighed and downed his first drink. “It's as if we've already lost and the war hasn't started yet.”

“Any word from the other isles yet?” a second drinker asked.

“Nothing,” the third claimed. The three drunkards were somewhat infamous figures in the city, always sitting together in the same spot in the same tavern. However, despite their bad image, they were well-connected within Rasacopa. “My daugher-in-law's brother is a sailor, and he says that everyone has been asked to stay ashore for now, even the warriors. We won't hear anything from outside our little island, at least not us lowly folk. I'm sure the big ones high up are handling things by themselves. Nothing we can do anyways.”

“Who? Who's up there and handling things?” the first drunkard asked in an upset tone. “The king is dead, and so is the prince. Who's there to take over? Is anyone in charge at all?”

“What about Princess Sumaci, or the Lady of Green?” the second guessed. However, the first drunkard snorted dismissively.

“The lady has never been involved in the courts. She's too delicate to be a king in the first place. And when has anyone last seen the green princess in Rasacopa?” the third said with a sneer on his face. “Has she ever been home, does anyone remember? Is she even a Verdant woman anymore? She's even missing her own father's funerary rites. Who would want someone like that to rule us?”

For a while the three drank silently, before the first drunkard added: “If nothing else, at least there's still Captain Tayali to give orders.”

“That's right!” the third hit the table with enthusiasm. “I heard that during the king's assassination, the captain fought to the last, slashing his way into the Tullpuna Court when the traitors attacked our king. He almost reached in time, but was just too late to save King Taoco. But at least he managed to retrieve the bodies of the king and prince, and save some of our warriors.”

The first drunkard nodded.

“Yeah, he even got injured in the attempt, but still got most of our navy back home safe and sound. My daugher-in-law's cousin also said that the captain ordered the curfew for the sailors. I'm sure Captain Tayali will help keep things together for us ordinary folks.”

All throughout their talks, the second of the drunkards had been weirdly quiet. At last, he replied with a mumble.

“I don't like it, a warrior taking the role of a king just like that. It's not proper. ”

“Someone has to take charge,” the first argued.

“But we still can't confuse heritage, can we? Even if you don't like Princess Sumaci, she's still the king's nominal heir. You think King Hulpatec's spirit would want some warrior to take the role from his own daughter?”

“Hah,” the third laughed in anger. “For all we know, the king didn't care much for his daughter. Why else would he send her to a foreign country as a hostage?”

The first of the drunkards could feel the atmosphere tense. All these years, the three had been friends, but now it felt like they were about to split up over issues they couldn't control. Thus, he spoke up before his two companions could.

“In the first place, can a woman handle a war?” he asked. “Because my brother is convinced that a war is coming soon. He knows someone in the palace.”

“That's right. Getting through the war is the most important right now,” the first agreed. “If nothing else, Captain Tayali can support the lady and defend us when the time comes. What happens after that is still written in the stars.”

Again, silence descended among them, before the second asked another uncomfortable question.

“What do you think happens to us in a war?”

“What else but a victory?” the third said with fake bravado. “My brother said that our fleet has grown larger than the fleets of all other isles combined. We'll beat them back and then things will go back to how they were before.”

“That's right,” the first added. “Even if they backstab us, we're still the strongest of the Verdant Folk. I say let them come!”

To underline his point, he banged his cup on the table, splashing liquor everywhere in the process. Despite his outward fervor, his words felt subdued, and disappeared into the almost empty tavern like a pebble into the raging sea. In the end, the drunkards returned to their brooding mood from before, each of them hoping for a different kind of savior.

Within Rasacopa sat the Green Court, ruling seat of the green king. Though it carried a humbler name, it was a compound akin to a palace in other countries. Cut off from the main city by walls and moats, it contained many buildings and courtyards designed to serve and assist the Green King in his rule. In true fashion of the Yakua, much of the Green Court was built to project martial might.

Yet within this compound existed a courtyard filled with levity and grace. This courtyard had been occupied by Sisa, the Lady of Green, wife to the former Green King Taoco Hulpatec, ever since their marriage.

The lady was a soft-spoken person who had always stayed away from political intrigue. After the birth of her two children and a miscarriage that had almost taken her life, she had fully retreated from public life. Instead, she had devoted her time to the fine arts, writing poetry and prose, as well as being considered one of the great painters on the Verdant Isles. As a result, the lady's court had always had the atmosphere of a picturesque mountain pond, clear, calming, and harmonious.

Now however, the mood was dark, like in so many other places all across the Green Island. Even the many painting on the walls of Lady Sisu's own quarters failed to lighten the mood. The biggest change to the lady's room was her own dress, which was made of much heavier cloth than usual, black in color and of an austere cut. Her brow was hung low, to reflect the darkness in her heart, her eyes focused on the unfinished painting on the table before her. In defiance of such a suppressing atmosphere, the lady's personal maidservant bravely entered the room to deliver a message.

“Lady Sisu, Captain Tayali is here to see you.”

“Thank you, Inchi.” The lady replied without turning around. “Tell the captain that I am not ready to see anyone at the moment.”

Sisu planned to listen for the maid's retreating steps and the closed door before she would continue her painting, but the steps never came. Instead, her servant spoke up again.

“The captain said that there is an urgent issue to be discussed.”

This time, the lady put down her brush and turned around. Her servant stood halfway between her and the door, with an uncomfortable expression on her face. Sisu was sure that the captain had pressured her to convey the message or she wouldn't be this insistent. Thus, she decided to be more explicit and take the blame for her refusal on herself.

“In that case, I am inconsolable that the captain will have to remain anxious about the issue for some time longer. This lady will return to public life when she feels ready to do so.”

“Very well.”

Relieved that the rejection would no longer be her fault, the maid turned to inform their guest of the lady's decision. However, before she could reach the door, it was already flung open. Accompanied by two armed warriors, an old acquaintance of Lady Sisu's burst into the room.

“Greetings, Lady Sisu, on this fine day,” the intruder said. The lady looked behind the middle-aged man and the armed guards he had brought into her court, but couldn't find any of her own warriors who should have guaranteed the safety of her quarters.

He must have brought more than these two and suppressed my men. Or maybe they are no longer mine.

Despite the worrying implications of the intrusion, she tried to show no weakness in conversation.

“Captain Tayali. These are my private quarters. No one is allowed inside,” she insisted.

“Please excuse me for the rudeness, Lady Sisu. But I can't just wait outside while we face the greatest threat of our lives. The country is in grave danger from our former brothers, and both the city and the court are already in chaos. We can't remain without leadership in times like these. The Lady of Green needs to step up and stabilize the court.”

“Oh? This lady was under the impression that captain has been handling the role of leader quite well by himself. Word is that captain has conducted himself without flaws since he has returned with this lady's dead husband.”

Although her words were mild, her tongue was sharp. Anyone in the room would know that she wasn't sincere in her praise, and was blaming the captain instead. For one, she implied a mistake Tayali had committed before his return, namely his failure to protect his king and master, to return alive with his dead lord, a great shame for any warrior.

Further, her words implied that Tayali had covered up his flaws since his return and done his utmost to look in charge, in an attempt to take over the island. It was a heavy claim, and immediately, the smell of gunpowder was in the air. As expected, Tayali's face sank when he heard the lady's response.

“I have important matters to discuss with the lady, and they concern the security of the island,” he said. “Everyone, could you leave us alone for a moment?”

With a bow, the captain's two guards made their way outside. Lady Sisu assumed that they would be waiting at the entrance, to make sure no one would interrupt them. However, there was still someone left inside. Rather than leave straight away, the lady's young maidservant looked towards her master with an insecure expression.

“Inchi, you may excuse yourself,” the Lady of Green said in a firm tone. The girl glanced over to the captain before she replied.

“But lady, staying alone in a room with a man may harm your reputation.”

At last, Lady Sisu's face softened a bit. Rather than worry about offending her master or the captain, the girl had only been concerned about her lady's well-being. Even if no one else in Rasacopa was, at least this girl was still on her side.

“How could the reputation of an old widow be harmed anymore?” The lady showed a warm smile. “This lady is no longer relevant to anyone, and her reputation matters little these days. You may leave.”

“As you wish.”