The Dragon Star (Realms of Shadow and Grace: Episodes 1-3 of 7)

THE THRONE - TIN-TSU

THE LIGHT of the sun rose above the curve of the horizon, shining through the warped, centuries-old glass of the large eastern window of the Grand Hall, illuminating its interior in a golden glow before passing through the identical western portal and crossing the gardens beyond to warm the closed eyelids of High Tahn Tin-Tsu, the man destined to be zhan of the Daeshen Dominion by the time that same sun fled from the world and left it in darkness.

Tin-Tsu opened his eyes. He stood on a balcony similar to the one he had prayed upon a few hours prior. How strange the answer to his prayers. How unexpected. He touched his side where the palace physician's bandages wrapped his ribs. His flesh would be tender for days, and likely bleed again, but the old healer's hand had been just as steady with the needle and thread as when he had sewn Tin-Tsu's arm all those years ago as a child. More than anything, more than his mother's smiles and kisses, more than his sister's embrace, those stitches had made him feel at home again. A home much changed from the one he had left.

Seventeen years past, his father had been a zhan in his prime. Ten years later, he lay dead from an infected wound incurred from the rusted metal of a Tanshen soldier. His father had always insisted on being on the battlefield for a major conflict, to ensure the enemy felt not merely his army's might but the bite of his own blade. Tin-Tsu's brother, Fan-Mutig, had followed his father's example, dying from two well-aimed arrows in battle only months prior. A battle lost even as the troops lost their leader. Too many arrows and not enough cover. A defeat that Tin-Tsu only learned of when he had been summoned for the funeral. And the inevitable coronation. A crowning that he had been ignoring as best he could. He blinked against the light of the sun. He could continue to ignore the inescapable for a few more hours.

A knock came from within his private study. He did not reply, knowing who it was and that the man would enter without bidding.

"Come join me," Tin-Tsu said when the door to the study opened. A moment later, Sub-commander Tonken-Wu stood beside him, bowing briefly before staring out over the gardens.

"Prime Councilor Kao-Rhee has instructed me to inform you that the preparations for the coronation proceed without incident, my tahn." Tonken-Wu clasped his hands behind his back. "High Commander Nedag-Tong also wishes me to convey his assurances that the palace is secure and will remain so in all instances."

"Do you believe the palace is secure, Tonken-Wu?" Tin-Tsu did not look at the young warden.

Tonken-Wu hesitated before speaking.

"No, my tahn. I do not."

"Why not?" Tin-Tsu breathed in the subtle scent of the flowers that opened to the light of the new day in the palace garden.

"If there can be one hand of night-slayers in the palace, there can be two." Tonken-Wu appeared deeply concerned by the thought. "And it would take only a single man to poison a cup or cast an arrow." He glanced around the gardens as though expecting the suggestion of his words to create reality at any moment.

"I agree." Tin-Tsu savored the aroma of dew-drenched lilacs rising up with the sun-warmed air. "Do you accept my wise councilor's assessment of the source of the attempt on my life?"

Tonken-Wu vacillated again before making his reply.

"No, my tahn."

"Why not?" Tin-Tsu cocked his head at the warden.

"While it might make sense for the Tanshen usurper to try and end your life, he is not the only one who stands to gain from your death." Tonken-Wu stared down at his feet.

"Explain." Tin-Tsu returned his attention to the gardens as Tonken-Wu spoke.

"Your death would destabilize the court and the dominion, but not enough to allow the Tanshen an upper hand in the battlefield." Tonken-Wu raised his eyes even as he lowered his voice, casting his gaze about the gardens and balconies. "We have rallied our best archers from the far reaches of the dominion to counter the type of assault that took your brother's life. While your death could provide the Tanshen Dominion a political advantage, it would not assist them in prosecuting the war. It might even hinder them by rallying the nation in response to such a breach of decency. However, while your sister could assume the throne as guardian zhan for a future son, with no clear heir, several of the lesser tahns might see your passing as an opportunity to advance their own station through marriage. And then there is the prospect that a third, unknown party might wish you dead to further goals we can only guess at."