Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 6 by Various Read Free Book Online Page B

Empress."
    "Excellent. And now my minister of War. What objections do you bring?"
    "My concerns are simple Empress." The minister's voice was cultured and polite. "If we send soldiers from the palace, it may weaken us at the palace for an attack."
    "You think someone would be bold enough to invade my palace?" Mai laughed. "I would personally cut down any man stupid enough to do so." Her threat was not an idle one. Mai had been well trained by her father in the art of sword play, and Chien knew she practiced almost daily. She was certainly strong enough to hold the Throne of Swords, but there would always be that piece she lacked.
    And despite what she preferred to believe, it had nothing at all to do with her gender. Women had held the throne in the past after all. It was her character that was flawed.
    "Of course, my Empress. But who do you intend to lead such a force. Surely not your new general."
    "You do not like General Bao?" Mai was amused.
    "He is young. He does not have the experience of some of your other generals. And with the people beginning to question…" The minister paused as if not sure whether he ought to continue, "My men have heard talk that they say you are not the legitimate holder of the throne. They claim that nephew of yours is the rightful heir." Chien had heard that talk, too. He had helped to spread some of those rumors.
    "They would be wrong. And any who spread such a rumor shall be killed." Mai's amusement had faded quickly to be replaced by cold steel.
    "They would be comforted if they could see that you possessed the Sword of the Heavens." Centuries ago when the Golden Dragon had returned to the heavens he had left two relics behind. The first was the Throne of Swords, given to his children to prove their right to rule over the land. The second had been the Sword of the Heavens to prove his blessings upon whoever held the sword.
    That was why Mai had sent Bao to the Xing province. She believed that the former Empress had hidden the sword with her family. In the thirteen years of her rule, Mai had never understood. She thought of the sword as simply a ceremonial thing, but she was quickly learning that it was so much more. If she were meant to hold it, the sword would reveal itself to her. Otherwise, like now, it would continue to allow itself to be hidden until its true carrier was revealed.
    "Those commoners," Mai spat the word, "They do not have the right to set their eyes upon it! How dare they question my right to this throne? Let the man who believes himself more worthy attempt to unseat me. No, I will not display my brother's sword like some gaudy treasure."
    "Yes but—"
    "You wonder why General Bao was promoted so quickly. He learned at a young age not to question his superiors. Perhaps you should take from his example." Even hearing her speak his name made Chien's stomach roil in rage. She did not have the right to speak it. He stopped himself before the rage could go too far. This was not the best way to deal with his idiotic infatuation with the one man who could easily bring him to ruin.
    "Of course, Empress." The minister sounded appropriately cowed. "There is the matter of the soldiers as well."
    "The soldiers?"
    The minister sighed, "Your son has taken to challenging them of late."
    "That is the sort of things men do, Minister."
    "He has killed quite a few of them as well." Tuan's temper would destroy the Empire's army long before any enemy.
    "Then they obviously lacked the skill to perform their duties. Would you have me reprimand my son for weeding out the weak?"
    "Of course not." Chien wondered how Mai could not hear the frustration in her minister's voice. "There is also the matter of your heir."
    "I have tried to get them to call off that stupid duel." Worry seeped into her voice. Mai may have been a number of things, but nothing mattered more than her sons. She could not protect them from their own stupidity, however. All it had taken to set them against one another had been