InsidethewallsoftheImperialCity,dailylifewasgoingonmuchasitalwaysdid—peacefully.Thehugecity,nearlythirtysquaremilesofstreetslaidoutinperfectgrids,wasabastionofcivilization.Instarkcontrasttothedusty,loud,andsomewhatchaoticnatureofthetradinggarrison,thecitylookedeverybitthecosmopolitancenterithadcometobe.ThecitizenswhomadetheImperialCitytheirhometookprideinthemarketsthatbustledwithinternationaltraders.Templescouldbefoundinnearlyeverysectionofthecity,theirpresenceacalmingreminderoftheancestorswhowatchedoverthepeopleandputtheirtrustandpowerintheEmperor.Boulevardswerelinedwithelegantestates,andcityplannershadmadesurethatgreenparkswereprominent,addingtothesenseofserenity.Boat-filledcanalsandharborsbrokeuptheotherwiselushlandscape.

Inthenorthwestcorner,lookingoverthecityfromatopahill,stoodtheImperialPalace.HometotheEmperor,itwasthegrandestbuildingintheentirecity.Whiteandgold,itlookedasifithadbeenfreshlypaintedthatverymorning.Brightlycoloredbirdsflewoveritsgate,landingtonestinthebranchesofthemanytreesthatsurroundedthebuilding.Fromadistanceorupclose,thepalacewasmadetoinspirepeaceandconfidence.

Anditdidboth.Usually.

Insidethethroneroom,theChancellorlookedupattheEmperor,whosatonhisthrone,hisfaceunreadable.Hefelt,ashealwaysdidinthemassivespace,dwarfedandabitinsignificant.Butheknewthathewasn’t.AfterdecadesofworkingattheEmperor’sside,hewastheman’smosttrustedadvisor.WhichmeantheknewthatthenewshewasabouttodeliverwasgoingtoupsettheEmperorgreatly.

Takingadeepbreathandbowinghishead,theChancellorsteppedforward.“YourMajesty,”hebegan,hopinghisvoicedidn’tsoundasshakyashefelt,“sixofournortherngarrisonsalongtheSilkRoadhavefalleninacoordinatedattack.”Thedozensofofficialscribeswhosurroundedtheleaderkepttheirheadsdown,buttheChancellorsawthemshiftnervouslyontheirfeet.TheEmperorhimselfremainedsilent,hisbodyinshadow.TheChancellorwenton.“Alltradeinthenorthernregionhasbeendisrupted.”

“Andmycitizens?”theEmperorasked,hisvoicelow.

“Slaughtered,”theChancellorreplied.“Thissoldieristheonlysurvivor.”Henoddedtoayoungmanwhowaskneelingnearby.Evenfromadistance,theChancellorcouldseetheguard’sfacewasdrawnandpale.Whathehadseenatthegarrisonhadbeen,inhisownwords,nightmarish.Hehadspokenofawingedwitchandfiercewarriors.EvenjustthinkingaboutitmadethehairsontheChancellor’sarmsrise.“Ifearmoreattackswillfollow.”

Standingup,theEmperorsteppedoutoftheshadows.Whilenotatoweringfigure,theEmperorexudedpowernonetheless.Hiseyeswerebrightandwise,andonlyafewagelinescouldbeseendespitetheresponsibilityhecarried.Eventhoughthenewshadclearlypainedhim,theEmperorremainedcalm.Itwasthattrait,amongmanyothers,thatmadehimsuchabelovedleader.

“Whoisresponsible?”heasked.

TheanswerstuckintheChancellor’sthroatashefelttheEmperor’sgazeonhim.Itwasnearlyimpossibleforhimtohidehisemotionsfromtheotherman.“Rourans,YourMajesty,”hesaidatlast,thewordsbarelyawhisper.

Buttheywereloudenough.Awaveofshocksweptacrosstheroomasthescribesbegantowhisperamongthemselves.

TheEmperorignoredthem.“Wholeadsthem?”heasked.

“HecallshimselfB??riKhan,”theChancelloranswered.

“IkilledB??riKhan,”theEmperorsaid,hisvoicebeginningtosoundstrained.

“Hisson,YourMajesty.”