Read Online Temple of the Traveler: Empress of Dreams by Scott Rhine - Free Book Online
Authors: Scott Rhine
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and pushed him to the ground.
“Easy, we don’t need to fight,” said another, softer voice behind the general. “Honored sir, twelve of your people were already injured, two died. We just need you to acknowledge Sandarac as emperor. He already holds most of the world.”
“I cannot.”
“You’ll starve until you do!” threatened the general.
“I cannot because I have already resigned my post at the college in favor of the true emperor—Pagaose.”
“Damn,” said the shorter man behind the general. “This complicates matters.”
“He’ll sign anyway,” insisted Navarra. “Lock him in the tower. Chain the sailor in the barn for now; he’ll row with the other captives when the warship returns with more supplies for the siege.”
Chapter 7 – Expenses
On the first morning of the weekend, Pagaose worked out alone with Niftkin standing guard. “Any more shipping incidents discovered?” the emperor asked.
“Only at night, sire, and only ships known to be in deep water.”
“Since under ideal conditions it takes over twenty hours to reach the nearest shore from Center, that means every ship that tries to leave the Inner Islands. Serog can use darkness to her advantage and rest when we might be able to fight her. Spread the word to travel only in short hops and only during sunny days.”
At breakfast, Anna asked, “Since you have no testing for two whole days, what do you want to do?”
The emperor shrugged, “Brush up on the law and try to free up finances for our day-to-day expenses. We’ll start with the Royal Zoo.”
Once he was cleaned up, they went on a jaunt down the hill to his private zoological gardens. The foliage was overgrown in most places, forcing Niftkin to whack a path with his short sword. Most of the cages were empty and the caretaker wasn’t at his post. The tiger was old, losing teeth, and almost blind. A pile of chopped meat lay beside it, swarming with flies.
Anna’s favorite was the otters; they splashed and frolicked in the water provided to them. “They’re so playful!” Seeing her brighten this way warmed him inside.
The path ended in the sun bear enclosure. There was a painting of the creature over the entry arch. After searching for several minutes, they found no such animal. “Pity,” he said. “If there was one animal I wouldn’t mind on my coat of arms, it’s the sun bear.”
Pagaose returned to his palace and examined the expenses reported for the previous year. “In addition to the caretaker, there are seven assistants. They provide tons of meat to twenty-eight wild animals, plus tons of grain for numerous species of birds and fish.”
“The only fish I saw were the ones the otters were eating,” Anna noted.
“There were koi and some sort of blue fish under the bridge we crossed.” The emperor sighed. “The zoo may have been beautiful once, but someone has been using it as an excuse to rob the coffers for years. Most of the creatures could be released into the wild. The peacocks could probably live on the lawn of any college.”
Niftkin shook his head. “The otters couldn’t be released into the wild; they’re too used to humans now. The first time they climb into a fishing boat and eat the catch, they’re dead.” Anna covered her face in horror. “One of those fishermen will just pick up an oar and smack . . .” Pagaose waved his hands trying to shush the guard. “No?”
“We won’t let that happen,” the emperor insisted, glaring at his head guard. “Bring me the alleged caretaker.”
“Where can we keep the otters?” Anna asked.
“We’ll find somewhere they can stay.”
She hugged him so hard that she knocked the wind out of him. “Thank you!”
Uncomfortable, he said, “You missed checking the brewery yesterday. Weren’t you going in today?”
When she left, he had to sit down.
A few hours later, two guards arrived with a drunken, unshaven toad of a man who cursed nonstop. They announced, “Murali of
“Easy, we don’t need to fight,” said another, softer voice behind the general. “Honored sir, twelve of your people were already injured, two died. We just need you to acknowledge Sandarac as emperor. He already holds most of the world.”
“I cannot.”
“You’ll starve until you do!” threatened the general.
“I cannot because I have already resigned my post at the college in favor of the true emperor—Pagaose.”
“Damn,” said the shorter man behind the general. “This complicates matters.”
“He’ll sign anyway,” insisted Navarra. “Lock him in the tower. Chain the sailor in the barn for now; he’ll row with the other captives when the warship returns with more supplies for the siege.”
Chapter 7 – Expenses
On the first morning of the weekend, Pagaose worked out alone with Niftkin standing guard. “Any more shipping incidents discovered?” the emperor asked.
“Only at night, sire, and only ships known to be in deep water.”
“Since under ideal conditions it takes over twenty hours to reach the nearest shore from Center, that means every ship that tries to leave the Inner Islands. Serog can use darkness to her advantage and rest when we might be able to fight her. Spread the word to travel only in short hops and only during sunny days.”
At breakfast, Anna asked, “Since you have no testing for two whole days, what do you want to do?”
The emperor shrugged, “Brush up on the law and try to free up finances for our day-to-day expenses. We’ll start with the Royal Zoo.”
Once he was cleaned up, they went on a jaunt down the hill to his private zoological gardens. The foliage was overgrown in most places, forcing Niftkin to whack a path with his short sword. Most of the cages were empty and the caretaker wasn’t at his post. The tiger was old, losing teeth, and almost blind. A pile of chopped meat lay beside it, swarming with flies.
Anna’s favorite was the otters; they splashed and frolicked in the water provided to them. “They’re so playful!” Seeing her brighten this way warmed him inside.
The path ended in the sun bear enclosure. There was a painting of the creature over the entry arch. After searching for several minutes, they found no such animal. “Pity,” he said. “If there was one animal I wouldn’t mind on my coat of arms, it’s the sun bear.”
Pagaose returned to his palace and examined the expenses reported for the previous year. “In addition to the caretaker, there are seven assistants. They provide tons of meat to twenty-eight wild animals, plus tons of grain for numerous species of birds and fish.”
“The only fish I saw were the ones the otters were eating,” Anna noted.
“There were koi and some sort of blue fish under the bridge we crossed.” The emperor sighed. “The zoo may have been beautiful once, but someone has been using it as an excuse to rob the coffers for years. Most of the creatures could be released into the wild. The peacocks could probably live on the lawn of any college.”
Niftkin shook his head. “The otters couldn’t be released into the wild; they’re too used to humans now. The first time they climb into a fishing boat and eat the catch, they’re dead.” Anna covered her face in horror. “One of those fishermen will just pick up an oar and smack . . .” Pagaose waved his hands trying to shush the guard. “No?”
“We won’t let that happen,” the emperor insisted, glaring at his head guard. “Bring me the alleged caretaker.”
“Where can we keep the otters?” Anna asked.
“We’ll find somewhere they can stay.”
She hugged him so hard that she knocked the wind out of him. “Thank you!”
Uncomfortable, he said, “You missed checking the brewery yesterday. Weren’t you going in today?”
When she left, he had to sit down.
A few hours later, two guards arrived with a drunken, unshaven toad of a man who cursed nonstop. They announced, “Murali of
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