Book 12: Chapter 9: Ceremonies
The next several days were much busier than Sen would have liked. Much of the preparation that the army had initially done for its march had to be redone. Partly to shore up stores of fresh food that Sen wound up putting into storage rings, and partly to account for all of the new bodies that would be joining them. In addition to the people that he had personally conscripted, the sects had done something he hadn’t expected. Each had provided contingents of their own to accompany the army. There was enough from each sect to represent a meaningful percentage of their collective strength. Sen just hadn’t been certain why they had done it at all. Lai Dongmei had laughed when he voiced his confusion. Sitting up on the bed and stretching, something Sen found more than a little distracting, she provided the answer.
“Politics and fear,” she told him.
“I’m not certain I understand,” he said.
“Sects have always jockeyed for position with each other, but it was largely out of the eyes of the mortals. Frankly, we didn’t need or want to maintain positions with the king because he was mortal. You’ve rather upset the equilibrium.”
“Ah, I think I see. Now that a cultivator is in charge, they feel like they need to establish and maintain their position with me.”
“That’s part of it. This is where the fear comes into it, and there are several different flavors of it. There’s the blind fear that, if they don’t curry favor, one of your teachers will come by and explain why that was a mistake.”
“That’s probably not an unreasonable fear,” admitted Sen.
“Then, there’s the somewhat more practical fear that if they don’t volunteer people to assist you, you’ll decide that none of the sects are worthy of continued existence.”
“Less reasonable,” said Sen. “It’d create too much chaos.”
“I know that. You know that. Hells, even they know that, but they’re still afraid of it.”Sen almost checked his sigh. He’d worked hard to instill fear in these people. There was only so much complaining he could do if he’d succeeded in the task.
“I guess it’s not entirely bad if they think I’d do something like that, even if it’s not likely.”
“Not entirely bad, but it’s not entirely good either. That, however, is more of a long-term problem. Finally, you have the more rational fears. Most of the sects are worried that the people you fight with, meaning people who enjoy more frequent contact with you, will inevitably gain your favor. That means the army and those poor souls you pressed into service. Meanwhile, the sects will be here, far from your gaze. At best, you’ll hear reports, and reports are more likely to contain negative information than good information. None of the sects want you returning with a small mountain of complaints about their behavior as your starting point for how to deal with them.”
“So, they’re sending their own people along to try—” he hesitated. “To try to what, exactly? Win my approval?”
Lai Dongmei chuckled and shook her head.
“No. Only the most naïve would see that as achievable. They’re just hoping to keep your opinion neutral.”
Part of Sen wanted to be disgusted by the whole thing, but he knew that was because he was so focused on the immediate future. The sects were looking down the road and considering what might happen if he won. It would be catastrophic for them if he returned to the capital thinking that they were all nothing but nuisances who contributed nothing but more problems.
Rubbing his face with his hands, Sen said, “I hate this so much.”
“I know, but it is one of the prices for power,” said Lai Dongmei before she frowned a little. “Are you still planning to march tomorrow?”
“I am. The generals say that they’re ready, so I don’t want to delay. If I do, some new disaster will appear that everyone will think they need me to solve. I’ve done what I can to stabilize things here. You all just need to limp along without my invaluable insights,” said Sen with a smirk.
“I’m sure we’ll manage without your unmatched genius, somehow.”
“Do you know what time it is? It’s not afternoon yet, is it?”
“Not quite yet. Why?”
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“I have to go do some ridiculous things that I’ve been putting off.”
“Ridiculous things?”
“Ceremonies,” answered Sen with a shudder.
***
Sen cringed inside as he looked over the dozen mortals who knelt in two lines before him. They all wore expressions of excitement, nervousness, and a bit of awe. He was thankful that the room buried deep inside of Lu Manor was quite dark, save for the small fireballs that he’d conjured and positioned near the ceiling. It meant they were less likely to see how uncomfortable all of this made him. Lo Meifeng had insisted, yet again, that he do some kind of ceremony for this.
“You know,” he’d told her with more than a little heat in his voice, “I’ve never even been to a ceremony. It seems like a lot to expect me to create one.”
Lo Meifeng had stared at him, blinking rapidly, before she said, “I hadn’t even thought of that. Then, just take them to a dark room. Say some pompous and vaguely ominous things to them. Then, hand out the robes and masks like you’re handing over divine treasures.”
“Meifeng, that sounds ridiculous.”
“That’s because it is ridiculous, but they won’t care.”
“I think they will.”
“You’re just going to have to trust me. They won’t.”
Glancing around at the mortals, he had to admit that she was right. They were all taking this ceremony so seriously. That only served to make him even more uncomfortable because he knew how fake the entire thing was. Just don’t let it show on your face, he ordered himself. If you make it seem important, they’ll probably think it is. Adopting a tone that he hoped would sound pompous enough, he started to speak to them.
“You have all applied yourselves admirably to your work. That is good, because there will be much work ahead of you. In time, you will speak with my voice throughout this kingdom and beyond. It is a privilege. It is also a duty both great and terrible. Houses may rise or fall when you speak. Lives may be spared or taken. The very future may turn on what you do in my name. Do not dishonor me. Do not dishonor yourselves. Hold true before all opposition, knowing that the full weight of my power stands behind you.”
All of them stared at him with shining eyes and rapt attention. I feel like such a fool
, he thought. Doing his best to maintain a stern expression, he continued.“These,” said Sen, gesturing to robes and masks that had been carefully arranged on a covered table beside him, “will be your symbols of office. While few know them now, a day will come when everyone will know what they mean. Stand forth, Zhang Fen.”
Sen had made a point to memorize a list of their names. Now, he just needed to remember which face went with which name. A woman in the front row stood and made her way toward him. He could see her trembling a little, which made guilt bubble inside of him. It felt like he was tricking her. He picked up a robe and slowly placed it in her outstretched hands. They all waited while she put them on over what she already wore. Sen picked up a mask and carefully settled it in place. In the dim light, he found the thing a little creepy.
“Zhang Fen, you are now an Azure Hand,” said Sen, making up the name on the spot.
Oh, by the thousand hells, thought Sen. That is such an absurd name. Yet, the mortals all wore bright expressions. I guess it doesn’t matter what I call them, he thought. Zhang Fen bowed so low that Sen briefly worried the woman would topple forward, but she safely returned to an upright position and moved to one side where Sen gestured.
“Stand forth, Chen Rong.”
Sen endured the repeated process of handing out the robes and masks until he was the only one who didn’t have one. There was an odd sense of being left out that briefly flared inside of him before he shoved it back down. Once everyone was robed and masked, he looked them over in did his best to nod in approval.
“Some of you will remain here to continue your training with Lo Meifeng. Some of you will be accompanying me to receive practical training in the field. In time, those remaining here will join the army, while those who go with me will return here to take up your official duties.”
Duties that I’ll need to define rather clearly, Sen thought, adding one more thing to his lengthy lists of unfinished tasks. Focusing again, he rattled off a list of six names and ordered them to be prepared to leave the next day.
“Now then,” he added, aiming for a lighter tone. “With the formalities complete, I’ve arranged a small feast for you. Eat and celebrate!”
He snapped a finger, and the door swung open. Servants bustled in at first with tables and chairs. They followed that up with dishes and trays of food. Sen stayed long enough to eat a few bites and take a few sips of wine before he made excuses about pressing matters back at the palace. The truth was that his presence made them all stiff and uncomfortable. Better to let them enjoy their success in comfort.
***
“Kill me, now,” Sen whispered under his breath to Jing.
Jing gave Sen an amused look before he turned to look out over the room. There had been a formal dinner during which Sen had eaten practically nothing. He’d been forced to make numerous announcements, including reaffirming that Jing was the governor in Sen’s absence. A fact that caused many sour expressions on the faces of the cultivators in the room. They didn’t like the idea that they now had to bend to the will of a mortal. Sen, on the other hand, found the situation rather entertaining. Once the meal had concluded, though, there was some manner of after-dinner gathering the name of which Sen had forgotten one second after he heard the word.
The cultivators and nobles had mostly separated into two different parts of the room. From time to time, someone from one group or the other would approach with a question that usually sounded like a scheme to accrue power to Sen. He’d wanted to foist all of those questions off onto Jing, but had been told that the decisions were still his until he left the city. Sen suspected that Jing just wanted to watch him be annoyed by everyone.
“It’s not that bad,” said Jing quietly. “Only another two or three hours.”
Sen considered that before he, rather plaintively, said, “Please, kill me now.”