Page 1 of Tethered Thrones
Prologue
SYAORAN
Icrept to the door, trying my damndest to move silently, just like I had always imagined the former spider noc king would move. Like a shadow.
Everyone knew that there was now a giant centipede on the monstrous throne that had overtaken our land, but the thought of that creature sent a shiver down my spine even more than King Hadi had.
I shook those thoughts away and concentrated on my slippers moving over the marble palace floors, sure they weren't making a sound until I reached the small gap in the door that advisor and strategist An had carelessly left open.
Once upon a time, Father had been open about his plans. He had practically boasted about the war. Even when things weren't going well, he would rage in public, screaming and shouting. Lately though... lately something had changed, and I wanted to know what.
Things in general were changing. There was something in the air.
Holding my breath, I peeked through the small gap in the heavy wooden doors, witnessing a sombre scene.
My father, Emperor Gaulu, was bent over a large, detailed map of Naran. I could see his worried face, the lines deep between his brows. In this lighting, he looked older, and he looked scared.
His strategist, Advisor An stood with his back to me. I could only see the gilded edges of the robes hanging over his shoulders and the salt-and-pepper hair tied in a knot atop his head, but I could tell by his stooped shoulders that he was just as concerned.
“According to our sources, they are heading east, here.”
He indicated the spot on the map with the tip of his pointing stick and looked at the emperor.
“Do you know if Sun has contacts in Jade Moon Village? It is barely even a village.”
“TheBatu Sun has contacts everywhere. He became a living legend in this war. He is favoured by the people,” Emperor Gaulu said. “He was favored by me too.”
His voice sounded so heavy.
Whatever had happened, it was serious, and it seemed that it had something to do with the famed noc killer, Batu Sun. I had seen the warrior many times, but he stayed close to my father when he visited, and he never seemed to smile. I had always felt that he was hard and serious with little room for anything else in life but killing monsters.
“Well apparently, he is favored by nocs now too,” An sneered. “It seems that he must be irresistible to all.”
I had to hold back a snort at that assessment. There had always been rumors about Batu Sun being easy, but I couldn't really imagine it of the older man. Then I realized the implication of what he said. Batu Sun mingling with nocs? I had no great feelings for the man either way, but it couldn't be true. He was too unwavering. Too loyal. A strange uneasy feeling squirmed in my gut.
“What do you propose that we do?” my father demanded.
An straightened his shoulders, looking down at the map briefly before pointing to arrangements of soldier figurines on the map that represented our various armies.
“We send word to the generals in the west first, then the others. We tell them that Sun has defected, that he is a traitor–”
“No. No one will believe it.”
“Surely, if the news is from the emperor himself–”
“We must find him and destroy him!”
Emperor Gaulu's voice echoing through the room with such sudden volume nearly made me gasp, but I held a hand over my mouth to stop any noise.
“Surely executing your top soldier without warning or explanation will cause unrest amongst the people of Naran.”
“I don'tcareabout the people of Naran!” Emperor Gaulu spat, seething. “This world was meant to be mine! I made sure of it twenty years ago! Yet the nocs took our capitol and they took Yin Valley. They have taken mytopsoldier from me and now he hasbothgodstones!”
This time, it was impossible to keep the shocked noise I made from escaping.
My father's gaze flew to the door and our eyes met through the gap. Red hot fury filled his eyes.
I stumbled back, but it was too late.