Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 6

secured his weapon, Chien asked lazily, "So where are you headed at any rate?"
    Bao frowned at him but answered, "The Xing province."
    The Xing province was in the eastern part of the kingdom and had long been a part of the empire. There was no risk of rebellion there. To his knowledge the governor of that province was focused on keeping his people as peaceful as possible in hopes that the Empress's gaze would not turn upon them. His mother had come from the Xing province. She'd once told Chien that moving to the palace had been a different experience entirely.
    "Why the Xing province?"
    "The Empress is searching for— Why do you want to know?" Bao stopped himself.
    "Merely curious. You'll be gone for so long." Bao did not look fooled. Chien couldn't help but wonder why the Empress would send Bao to Xing? To search for something? Her favorite general? Then it occurred to him: Mai was searching for the sword of heaven.
    It was written in their history that long ago, when Gods walked the earth, so too had the Dragon. His name had been lost to time, but he had grown fond of humans and their ingenuity. Before he ascended to heaven, he granted one man the insight that would allow him to bring humanity into greatness. That man had become the first Emperor and his throne the Throne of a Thousand Swords so that he might serve as the Dragon's avatar upon earth.
    Since then, only the strongest were permitted to sit upon the throne, their worthiness proven by the blessing of the Dragon in the form of the Sword of Heaven. The last Chien had seen of it, his mother had taken it to the temple following his father's death. Obviously his aunt believed that his mother had hidden it near her home.
    Bao leaned down and caught Chien's lips in a hard kiss. "I shall see you upon my return."
    Chien knew he ought to have said no then, but he'd kept silent as always. The politics he could handle, but this swirl of feelings for Bao, the way his heart seemed to beat faster every time he saw Bao, the disappointment he felt knowing he would not see Bao for the next couple of weeks, that was something beyond him.
    And frustrating. So very frustrating. He was in charge of himself. Bao's only usefulness was as a source of information.
    "The Misra province?" His aunt spoke, her voice full of disgust and high enough to pull him from his memories. Misra, a small province in the south, had been among his aunt's first push after she became Empress for further control of the continent. After eight years of being ruled by a tyrant of a governor, the citizens of Misra had finally revolted against him and the Empress's rule. Since then, they had established a new system of government. Though Misra had struggled since breaking from the empire, they had managed to find trade with an island in the south. The Empire had felt the loss of Misra's bountiful fields, but thus far had not been able to spare the men to retake the province.
    "Other provinces are beginning to learn from the example of the Misra province. We have heard whispers of a revolution."
    "Then stop them. Do you truly need me to remind you how you should do your jobs?"
    "If it were only that simple Empress." The advisor sounded pained and Chien wished there was a way he could see their faces as well as hear their voices from his hiding place. Were they frustrated with their Empress's lack of understanding in how to handle her people? Would they stay loyal to her or to someone they thought could stop this mess. "We cannot stop multiple rebellions all at once."
    "Why would they rebel? They are a part of the greatest Empire of their time."
    "They cry for food, Empress. For homes to shelter their families. The waters last year washed away many homes and many have not been able to rebuild." The Empire was starving. Mai was so focused on expanding she had ignored the needs of the people and now they were suffering for it.
    "The waters last year ruined many things. It is selfish of them to worry only of their own needs." If the advisor had an opinion on that thought he did not share it, "Take a contingent out to the Misra province then. Kill how many ever are necessary to bring it back under our control."
    "Empress, that may be just a bit extreme—"
    "There is nothing too extreme when one's reputation is at stake. Make an example of them. Other revolutions will not follow. Already we have allowed that ridiculous show of freedom go on for far too long."
    "Of course Empress."
    "Excellent. And now my