Kate Elliott - An earthly crown

"I humbly beg your pardon, Tai-en," Echido added, "if I have by my rash action troubled you. I recall that this planet is under an interdiction of your making and the emperor's approval."

"No," said Charles, "no, I don't mind this once. I've never seen anything like that. It was…" His voice betrayed his awe. "… beautiful. But it must not happen again, here or elsewhere in this palace, not as long as there are natives on the precincts."

Echido bowed. "To have given you pleasure, however brief, Tai-en, is a great honor to me."

"I am pleased," said Charles, acknowledging Echido's gift. "David has a map of the palace, and I would dearly like to know what other-art-is hidden here, and how it might be brought to life. How did you do that?"

"But surely-" Echido hesitated. "Tai-en, every princely and ducal house holds to itself a motto, I believe you would name it in your tongue. Said thus, it illuminates both the noble lord himself and what his family has created in his name."

"Ah," said Charles. "Of course. How did you know the Mushai's motto? Surely it has been a long time since his name was spoken in the halls of the emperor.''

"Uncounted years," said Echido. "Tai-en." He bowed. "But all know it, still, because its very words are-as reckless as he was. So it remains with us, over time uncounted and years beyond years. 'This hand shall not rest.' That is one way it might translate into your language, although I am sure the Tai-endi Terese could render a more accurate, fitting, and poetic translation."

"I am sorry," said Charles, "that she is not here to see this."

"I, too, Tai-en, am saddened by her absence. Our acquaintance was brief, but I count myself favored that she dignified my presence with her attention." He folded his hands in front of him. David knew that the arrangement of fingers and palm had meaning, that it signified an emotion, a statement, a frame of mind, but he could not interpret it. Tess could, but Tess wasn't here. No wonder Charles refused to let her go. She was invaluable to his cause.

"We must go," said Charles. "I hope no one was awake to see this display, however much I am pleased to have seen it myself. Otherwise there could be awkward questions." He started to walk. Maggie let go of David's hand and paced up beside the Chapalii merchant. David fell in next to Charles. They paused at the buttressed arch that led into a long hall lined with alternating stripes of pale and black stone. Echido and Maggie kept walking, but Charles turned to look back into the vast hollow behind them. From this angle, no lights shone, not even faint ones. It was as black as a cave. Only the immensity of air, palpable as any beast, betrayed the cavernous gulf beyond.

"So what will your motto be?" David asked, half joking.

"I've been reading The Tempest lately," said Charles, his voice as colorless as Echido's. "After what Maggie said. There's a little phrase the sorcerer Prospero says to the spirit Ariel, who serves him." Here in the darkness, David felt more than saw Charles's presence, familiar and yet strange at the same time, here, where he might learn what lay now at Charles's heart. Charles still faced the huge chamber of the dome. His breath exhaled and was drawn in. On the next breath, he spoke.

" 'Thou shalt be free.' "