[The Princes IV] [A Raven in the Garden] Si sat on his small throne, waiting for his fathers arrival while his cousins and his father’s grown cousins stood in front of the throne also waiting. The entire court was waiting for the Emperor to arrive. There was one noticeable exception; Alden was missing again. The cousins kept glancing at Si, but the looks weren’t one of accusation, Si had been with them the entire time and they were sure that Si hadn’t done anything for Alden to receive punishment again. Si felt a great deal of pride that all his cousins now stood in front of him, none with a hair-tail. The boys had cut their tails two days earlier to show their solidarity to Si. The orphans that Si had saved from the slavers were now being called Sionnach’s Eighty and every Courtesan, House, and News Network speculated on what the Prince was going to do with them - Si had no idea. The Lieutenant of the Black Guard, Si didn’t know what had happened to the Captain, banged on the floor to get everyone’s attention. The Guard opened the main doors of the throne room and a man entered carrying a drum, beating a slow rhythm. Emperor Tarin entered next with Prince Alden walking next to him. The Emperor was bare-chested and Prince Alden carried a lashing stick in his hand. Si stood. What was his father doing? The Emperor walked slowly to the beat of the drum and stopped in the center of the Great Seal of House Kitsune, and knelt down on the stone floor. The Emperor bowed his head and Prince Alden raised the lash in his hand and laid it gently on the Emperor’s back. Prince Alden repeated this three times. The Throne Room was silent, not a single person spoke or moved. Never in ten-thousand years had an Emperor ever had a lash laid on his back, nor had any Imperial Heir. The Emperor drew the ceremonial blade at his waist next and reach behind and cut his hair-tail off. The Minister of Historical Artifacts rushed forward and took the lash from Prince Alden and the Emperor’s hair-tail and whisked them away; probably to be placed in the Imperial museum. “I have wronged you, Prince Alden,” said the Emperor. “Will you forgive me?” “I forgive you, my Emperor,” said Prince Alden. “I have wronged you, Prince Sionnach,” said the Emperor. “Will you forgive me?” Si understood, never be first, never be last, never humiliate your enemies, and always be humble. Si flew off his small throne and ran to his father. Emperor Tarin held his arms out and Si jumped into his arms. The Emperor stood and held Si as he had when Si was a baby. “I forgive you, father,” cried Si. “I forgive.” The Senior Butler came forward and wrapped a white cape embroidered with gold around the Emperor’s shoulders. The Court thundered in applause, it had been a wonderful spectacle, but many whispered that was all it was. The Emperor had shown weakness and there were many that was ready to exploit that weakness. Si was the weakness. Several Great Lords stood in the shadows and discussed the weakness. The Emperor’s love for his son was a chink in the Emperor’s armor, and they were more than willing to drive their swords into that weakness. “Soon I will take what is rightfully mine,” whispered Lord Haru Wolf of House Wolf, first born bastard son of the late Emperor. The minor House Lords loyal to the aggressive Lord Wolf gathered closer. They wanted war, invasion, conquest, and the wealth that came with it. Emperor Tarin had ceased the invasions of Darai, a world rich with plunder. The time might be very close to correct a mischance of birth. “Have you found a way through the Palace defenses,” asked one of Lord Wolf’s minor House Lords?” “I am working on it,” said Lord Wolf. “I need some more time.” Emperor Tarin carried Si out of the throne room until the boy started wiggling and then Si walked next to his father out into the gardens. The sun was just starting to set and golden rays of light shown through the Cherry Blossom trees that adorned the garden. “I want to explain something to you, son,” said Tarin in soft tones that indicated his father intended a more informal talk than they usually had. “What, father?” asked Si. “Do you know why I left you at the star port?” asked Tarin. “Akio explained it to me,” said Si. “If there is danger we have to separate to protect the Empire.” “You must promise me that if you are ever in a position to escape when I am not, you must go,” insisted Tarin. “You can beat anyone, father,” said Si proudly confident that his father could do just that. “Promise me,” said Tarin. “I promise,” said Si. Father and son walked the garden silently, Si threw a few rocks at the fat lazy fish in the stream. They walked past the front gate and the Emperor gave out a few of his own cherished coins while Si gave out the ones he had in his pocket. “Father?” “Yes?” “How old are you?” “I will be 835 years old in two months.” “Will you live forever?” “No.” “How long will you live for?” “None of us know, we are just as mortal as anyone else, accidents, injury, sudden illness, or any numerous thing can happen that our bodies can not heal fast enough from.” “I wish I could live forever, father.” “Perhaps you will.” Si followed his father around the gardens talking idly about everything and nothing at the same time, it was perhaps the most pleasant talk he had ever had with his father. Si ran ahead to a footbridge and leaned over the edge and spit in the water. “Princes don’t spit in the water, Si.” “Okay.” Tarin walked onto the bridge and stood behind his son. Si watched the fat lazy fish silently for awhile and put his hands on the railing. “Thank you for this nice walk, father,” said Si solemnly. “I’m ready now.” Tarin looked down at his little son, so brilliant, so clever - and then Tarin realized what Si was ready for. “Oh son, what makes you think I’m going to kill you,” asked Tarin. “The Statues in the hall outside your office,” said Si. “Four of the Emperors killed the heir for getting too famous.” Tarin pulled his son around and knelt down to look him in the eyes. The boy was so small, and the world must seem so big to him. Tarin had held the Imperial Throne for far longer than anyone could have predicted. He was a second son, and not bred to be an Emperor, he had the wrong mother for that. Tarin had been intended to be the Imperial Companion and lacked the genetic manipulation that would have made him a ruthless Emperor. Si was correct, he should kill the boy, and perhaps if he did it would save his position as Emperor. Si did have the correct mother and the genetic coding given only to one that would be an Emperor. The boy had ten-thousand years of breeding behind him, he knew exactly what his father should do right now. Tarin would not, could not ever do such a thing. “Never, Si,” said Tarin. Si threw his arms around his father and knew, perhaps not consciously, but he knew that at that moment, his father’s love for him had just doomed House Kitsune to fall. “Lord Tolnor is serving pizza,” said Si. Tarin smiled at his son, he was ready to die a moment ago and now his thoughts turn to pizza in the blink of an eye. The mind of a six-year old is a wondrous place, and more so one plagued with the images and thoughts he could not hope to understand yet - Si’s subconscious would continue to hand him knowledge as he needed it until he could master the memories that were not his own. Tarin did not have the advantage of the genetic memories and could never truly understand what went on inside Si’s head. Was Si aware that he was being guided by the false memories, or was it so natural that he reacted as if by his own instincts? Certainly it was not normal for a six-year old to chase down and attack a sixty-ton space cargo container. Tarin wondered how much of that had been Si and how much was a genetic instinct to attack a threat. Impaling the slavers Tarin was certain was the memories from some distant Emperor in Si’s past. “I’ll call the Black Guard to escort you,” said Emperor Tarin. “I’m not a baby,” protested Si. “The old palace is right there, I can walk on my own.” “Straight there, no detours,” said Tarin. “Yes, father,” said Si giving his father one last hug and marching off. Si waited until he was out of his father’s sight and veered off towards the darker portions of the gardens. He wasn’t exactly sure why he wanted to go there, just that he felt he needed to. The shadows were deeper here, this was the gardens of the old palace and the hedges were taller, nearly blocking Si’s view of the old palace. The lanterns were further apart and ancient, having been placed there thousands of years ago. Si followed the path, then another, and another, branching around in spirals from the occasional benches placed for those that liked the privacy and quiet of the darker and more remote places of the palace. Many behind the throne deals had been struck out among these old gnarled Cherry Blossom trees and tangles of ivy and roses. “Greetings, Prince Sionnach,” said a voice quietly. A dark figure stepped out of the shadows and faced Si, Si turned and another dark figure blocked his retreat. The hedges to his sides were to tall and thick to escape in that direction. Si dropped on the ground and curled into a ball and started sobbing. “Don’t kill me, please,” begged Si sobbing loudly. “You can cease the act,” said the dark figure. “You were aware I could have disabled you faster than you could have reached for your panic button on your wrist. So you dropped to the ground to give yourself a few more seconds and curled into a ball in order that I not see you have your finger on top of the panic button.” Si sat up and looked at the dark figure - Si’s eyes were dry and his eyes narrowed as he calculated his next move. “And yet you haven’t pushed your panic button,” said the other dark figure behind him. “You are curious and hesitate, otherwise every security light for miles would be on right now and the Black Guard snipers on the roof of the Palace would have shot us, or tried.” Si mentally kicked himself. Of course, that’s why he had never been able to find the snipers that protected them at the front gate when they gave out coins; the snipers were up on the roof. Si didn’t bother getting up but instead crossed his legs and looked up at the dark figure. “Are you Ravens?” asked Si. “I am Lord Raven, and this is Lady Raven,” said the dark figure in front of Si. “I’m going to kill lots of Ravens,” threatened Si. “I have no doubt you will, but not tonight,” said Lord Raven. “Are you willing to listen?” Si waved his hand and pretended not to be interested. “Though we told your father otherwise, we did not intend for you to rescue those orphans,” said Lord Raven. “We expected you to give the petition to your father and let him decipher what it meant. Then he would have been the hero, his popularity would soar, and he would remain the Emperor.” Lord Raven sat down on the ground and crossed his legs in the same fashion as Si. Si carefully inspected this odd looking creature, he looked nothing like Si did, or anyone else. Lord Raven rather did look a bit like a Raven, he was humanoid, sort of, his face angular and thin, and he wasn’t any bigger than Si was. Why was everyone afraid of these small bird-like creatures? “We did not anticipate your actions and caused exactly what we are trying to prevent,” said Lord Raven. “I don’t understand what you’re saying,” said Si. “Don’t insult me, hatchling,” said Lord Raven. “You’re test scores and personality assessment indicate that you have the intelligence and maturity far beyond a typical six-year olds.” Si stayed silent - never be first, never be last. Si would let this Raven have his say first. “I suspect that many of your scores are being hidden from the public,” Lord Raven continued. “I have seen the science experiments in your room. Those experiments would baffle university students; your notes on trans-dimensional travel are enough proof to tell me you will likely be the most brilliant scientist the galaxy will ever see.” Si fought hard not to show the shock on his face, these sneak birds had been in his room. “Hatchling,” said Lady Raven coming around and sitting to the side of Si. “We are aware of the Kitsune experiment to breed intelligence and infuse the awareness of previous Emperors into the perfect Imperial heir. Which Emperor are we speaking to right now?” Si almost got up to walk away, but he doubted these Ravens would let him. He had heard the exact same question from the doctors and scientists that interviewed Si regularly, and even his own father didn’t understand. Si didn’t have anyone’s memories inside him. He tried to tell people that. He couldn’t see past events, or conjure up any special visions. He was smart and intuitive, and maybe he was a science whiz, that’s all, but nobody would believe him. Si raised his arms and closed his eyes. “I am Emperor Takuiem Neto Sakuta, conqueror of the five known worlds of the galaxy,” Si spoke in a low and ominous voice. “I will destroy you.” Lord Raven actually laughed and then raised his hand. “Stop, stop, hatchling,” Lord Raven laughed. “Oh my this is rich, what an arrogant and foolish species you come from little hatchling.” Si dropped his arms and opened one eye. Lady Raven looked at Lord Raven wondering what the joke was. Si had a grin on his face, very much enjoying his little joke. “Don’t you see,” said Lord Raven. “This hatchling doesn’t have any genetic memories, the entire Kitsune breeding experiment has been a fools quest, akin to the ancient alchemists trying to turn iron to gold. All they have managed to do is produce a wonderfully genius little science prodigy.” “But we have seen the results,” said Lady Raven. “They have produced ruthless Emperors and conquered the galaxy.” “What we have seen, my love,” said Lord Raven, “is hocus pocus wrapped in myth; it’s a fantasy that keeps the twenty-seven worlds of the Empire in fear and controlled.” Si was getting bored. “Any species so single focused to pursue a silly experiment for ten-thousand years is arrogant beyond reason. Then with their natural size and physical strength along with their unusually long life span has produced a culture that is aggressive and brutal.” “Are you going to tell me what you want?” asked Si losing his patience with this little birds assessment of his species. Lord Raven wanted to question Si further. He had unraveled this mystery in only a few moments, it was not a wonder that the Imperial heirs were always kept so sequestered. The Kitsune paraded them around, having the hatchlings march about, but never allowed them to actually speak with anyone until they were old enough to perpetrate the fraud on their own. “Your father is in danger as is your House,” said Lord Raven. “I have tried to help your father but he won’t see me. I now believe we are beyond the point that House Kitsune can be saved.” “My father can beat anyone,” boasted Si. “Yes, of course, but too many Houses are now moving against your father and I don’t believe you have much time left,” said Lord Raven. “Why do you want to help us?” asked Si. “I don’t want you or Lord Wolf on the Imperial Throne,” replied Lord Raven. “Why?” asked Si. “Even without telling me you intend to seek revenge against my people, you have demonstrated aggressive and brutal behavior, and you are intelligent enough to destroy my planet. Lord Wolf is also aggressive, and stupid; an even worse combination.” “My father stopped beating you up and you want to keep him, right?” asked Si. “Yes, but I’m afraid that battle is lost,” said Lord Raven. “You still haven’t said what you want?” asked Si impatiently. Si had been sitting next to his father since he was three-years old listening to endless petitions and though the decisions he made were still simple, he knew when a petitioner was stalling because he didn’t want to just come out and say it. “I want to make a deal?” said Lord Raven. Si was absolutely at the end of his patience. This strange Raven bird kept saying the answers but then walked right past them. Si decided the Ravens must not be very smart. “What deal?” asked Si. “I will try to save your father, but I doubt that will be possible,” explained Lord Raven. “I will save you, shelter you, help you get revenge against those that killed your father and destroyed your House.” “You didn’t say get back the throne,” Si pointed out. “That I can not help you with, but revenge, yes, revenge is something a Raven can do,” said Lord Raven. “But I have no doubt you will win back the Imperial Throne on your own.” “What do you want from me?” Si already knew - even his youngest cousins would know how dumb this Raven was being. “When you are Emperor you will never attack my planet and leave us in peace forever,” said Lord Raven. “Denied,” Si grinned. “I see, you want revenge against me as well,” said Lord Raven, “for what I have done to your father. Alright, then once you have invaded and extracted enough blood to satisfy your need for revenge, you will…” Lord Raven paused to rethink his offer and looked up at the sky. The Kitsune moons shone brightly in the sky and cast a beautiful glow over the tops of the trees. “…you will stop your invasion at the Moons of Dara, leaving my world in peace forever,” said Lord Raven. “Agreed,” said Si thinking Lord Raven was an idiot. “Every Lord Raven from this day forward will work towards fulfilling this contract,” said Lord Raven. “But once the contract is complete, one of my descendents will hunt you, wrap you in chains, and throw you in the deepest dungeon for the crimes you will commit against my people.” Si stood and brushed himself. “Catch me if you can,” taunted Si walking past the foolish little bird. Si thought the deal was dumb. Lord Raven should just let Lord Wolf kill me and my father, and then sneak in the palace during the attack and hide until he can kill Lord Wolf. The Empire would crumble after that and he would have gotten what he wanted without making dumb deals. Si was positive now, Ravens were not very smart. Si skipped along the path back to the old palace, tonight was pizza night and his father wasn’t defeated yet and might never be.