Autumn's Final Dynasty

Even during the Strife of Ten Brothers and One Tyrant, the only fighting on Jade Palace Mound was done by god-like martial artists. If the Sword Saint attacked the Mound, the Second Consort or Her Majesty the Empress would kill him – not a teenager with a great body. The last time the Mound saw armies fighting was during the collapse of the Qianqiu Dynasty a thousand years ago.

As improbable as it was for anyone to spot a threat in the northern wilderness, it was that much more improbable for some spook to spot a threat inside Old Keep Ward. Old Keep was the most isolated part of Jade Palace Mound. Its walls went back four thousand years. The base of Watchtower Thirty Eight was part of that original construction. 

Garrett took some pride in the fact his tower was so ancient.

The palaces inside Old Keep Ward were denser and more fortified than those built on the larger Mound – but also less comfortable. At least half of Old Keep Ward's courtyards were deserted. The other half were occupied by minor families with ancient names and no power.

No political power.

The Second Consort lived in Old Keep. Garrett knew the spook was not spying on her. Consort Chen's courtyard was not visible from Watchtower Thirty Eight – and not even the Emperor would spy on Snowblind Tigress. As for Old Keep's other residents, spying on them made no sense for the opposite reason. Senior officials could search whoever they wanted, whenever.

Something strange happened.

The unwelcome guest appeared to receive instructions from an invisible source. He folded his fancy eyeglasses and left without a word. He left without a word every day, but this time his departure was abrupt. Furthermore, Garrett had never noticed anything like instructions before – and the young recruit tried to be as observant as possible. The atmosphere atop the tower improved. After swatting away groping fingers a few more times, however, Garrett got angry all over again.

"You did that on purpose!" he growled.

"What?" asked Resk.

"I'm trying to get the best evaluation I can," said Garrett, "and you're trying to ruin it."

For a moment, Resk looked wounded by the accusation.

"It's not like that," he said.

"Of course it is! We're both going to get written up by that spook, but only one of us cares."

Resk tried to close the distance. Garrett wasn't having it. He may not have been a god-like martial artist, or even a young hero, but there was at least a spark of mhoddim interface in his system. He set his foot down, raised up his hand in a gesture of stop, and released a ripple of force.

Resk stopped.

"You've been holding out on us," said Resk.

"You stay on your side, and I'll stay on mine," said Garrett.

As it happened, the spook's spot was on Garrett's side. Garrett took out his ordinary glasses.

"You've got it wrong," said Resk. "The highest evaluations go to recruits who don't try too hard to get the highest evaluations. But sticking your nose into spooky business will end badly."

"If he saw an emergency," said Garrett, "and we don't make our own report, the blame is on us."

"Do you see an emergency?" asked Resk.

All Garrett saw were flower gardens and small courtyards. They were pretty, but he could visit similar gardens in his hometown. There was no obvious emergency. The only person he saw was a little girl having a tea party with imaginary friends. She was around ten or eleven years old and a bit chubby, with a round face, short hair, and cute clothes.

Garrett smiled. She reminded him of his own little sisters.

It made him sad to think this little girl only had imaginary friends to play with. She entertained them with so much enthusiasm, he wanted to visit her himself. His sisters loved it when he sat at their tea parties. Garrett was training in all manner of observation, including lip reading, but was not skilled enough to understand everything the little girl said.

A young man entered the frame.

Unnaturally pretty, less careful observers might have mistaken him for a boyish young woman. To Garrett, however, a distinctive male throat gave him away. The young man was Warakirikoban. The islanders were rare hundreds of miles inland, nevermind on top of Jade Palace Mound. His clothing showed exceptional craftsmanship, and his regalia was….

Garrett lowered his glasses.

"I told you not to look," said Resk.

The dirty old corporal had positioned himself behind Garrett again. The humidity of his breath brushed Garrett's cheek. Resk could move fast and quiet when he wanted. His body was as close to Garrett's as it could be without touching. A tingle filled the space between them.

Garrett couldn't argue. It was true Resk told him not to look.

Regulations maintained that members of the royal family could only be observed under exceptional circumstances. Consort Su was from Warakirikobu. The young man having tea with the little girl was therefore most likely the Fourth Prince.

"You've seen the Little Princess," said Resk, "and the Fourth Prince. What do you do?"

Garrett closed his eyes and exhaled.

"File a report stating I witnessed a restricted individual," he said.

"Wrong," said Resk.

Without thinking, Garrett turned his head. Resk's mouth was as close as it could be without touching. His lips smelled strongly of saliva.

"You ask the Captain what you should do," said Resk.

Garrett nodded meekly. Resk backed away without appearing to move at all. That was admittedly kind of cool. Garrett apologized for yelling. Maybe the corporal really was looking out for his favorite recruit. Garrett even made himself available for pats here and there. Within reason. When the shift ended, Garrett visited Captain Sennue and explained the situation. 

He refrained from mentioning inappropriate behavior by unnamed parties.

"If I write what I saw," said Garrett, "someone might say I'm making fun of the prince for having tea with a little girl."

"Write these two things," said Captain Sennue. "First, you observed an individual you had reason to believe was not a proper subject for observation, and so you stopped observing. Second, you will provide a verbal account to anyone with proper authority who inquires about the incident within the next week."

"Will anyone inquire?" asked Garrett nervously.

"What do you think?"

Garrett considered.

"Anyone who inquires will be representing that they have the power to observe a member of the royal family," he said. "If they're wrong… what happens?"

"As for you," said Captain Sennue, "a person who shouldn't be observed entered your view. As soon as you understood, you stopped. Commendable. Instead of trying to duck responsibility by not reporting the incident, you asked for advice. Commendable. The Fourth Prince is cherished not only by his mother, the Fifth Consort, but also by Her Majesty The Empress, Second Consort, and Crown Princess. Anyone suspected of bullying him dies."

Garrett plunged to the stone floor and insisted he meant no harm.

"You won't be accused," said the captain, "because you'll only talk if someone with authority asks. If someone does order you to talk…."

"...but doesn't actually have the authority," said Garrett.

Captain Sennue made a neck-chopping gesture.

"Captain?" asked Garrett. "Who's the Little Princess?"

"Due to a recent edict," said Sennue, "only the Emperor's direct children officially bear the title of 'prince' or 'princess.' Unofficially, Princess Iba Algi is an exception. Her great grandfather was the Last Emperor of the former Lechun Dynasty."

"I've heard about Last Lechun Emperor," said Garrett, "but not the Princess."

"Do you know Moonlight Chamber?"

"Rumors."

"According to those spooks," said the captain, "Princess Iba Algi is the number one latent threat to the security of Great Yao. Do you want to guess who they put in second place?"

Garrett did not want to; a guess popped out anyway.

"The Fourth Prince?"

Sennue nodded.

"I look forward to your report," he said.

"You're hoping someone steps in this, aren't you?" asked Garrett.

"Yes. But never mention it again without an order."