Chapter 6 - Emperor Josiah Wales

Ku Yong Empire - Ku Yong

Ku Yong Palace

"Report." Emperor Josiah Wales, a tall man of white skin with cropped black hair, barked as he sat on his throne understandably frustrated. The empire his great grandfather's great grandfather had built, from Ku Yong to Maide was locked down. Once the Red Rain began to fall, widespread looting and rioting began almost immediately.

Forced to send his armies into the streets in order to control this ordeal, his people were put under curfew. Trade and tourism had come to a halt, and, perhaps more frustrating than any other part of his situation, his firstborn son, Josuah, for whom he held little love, stood before him.

"Father, as you predicted, the final casualty count across the empire was just over thirty percent of the total population." Josuah gave his report grim and sorrowful. His eyes were red and puffed, and his posture defeated.

"And the citizens who remain?" Josiah asked his son. The question was given coldly, to avoid prompting emotional response from Josuah. Though he was his firstborn son, Josuah's weak heart and kind spirit made his Josiah's least favorite among his three children.

"The majority of the remaining citizens have collected their dead on the pyres in each city as commanded. The riots and panic that ensued shortly after the red rain began have been calmed, thanks to the effort of the Ku Yong Imperial Police and Army." Josuah answered his father quickly.

"Good," Josiah stood from his throne, and walked down the stone staircase to place himself in front of Josuah. "And what of the others?" he asked quietly.

Josiah's father had warned him long ago, just as his father and his father before had warned their sons. Someday the sky will turn red, and black clouds would rain red, and that on that day, a war of gods will shatter the lands. Josiah had always set his father's words aside as superstition. Yet, still, Josiah followed the protocol set up for this moment by his ancestors when the undeniable truth rained before his own eyes.

"There have been no reports of supernatural occurrences, or sightings of god-like creatures or men as of yet," the Prince responded, skepticism coating his voice. "There are however, a few men and a woman who arrived a moment ago, speaking of an audience they had with you."

Josiah did not see what relevance this meeting held at the present moment, as the meeting was one in regard to the funeral pyre that stood in Joziah's Square. The puzzled expression on Josiah's face pressed Josuah to continue.

"The leading man, a Jameson Taulk, says there is more to discuss than the pyre. When I spoke to him, he implied that he had knowledge of the current situation," Josuah finished.

"I see," Josiah turned on the spot, and returned to his throne. "There are matters I believe still need attending. Return to your duties, and send our visitors in."

With a bow, Prince Josuah Wales took his leave from the throne room. Josiah settled into his throne comfortably and prepared to meet with them.

I need solid facts if I am to continue responding to this threat correctly. As of now I only have the stories passed down through generations, the emperor thought to himself.

'What if the stories are as solid as facts come?' Though the thought rang clear in his head, it was not one that belonged to Josiah.

The Emperor nearly jumped from his throne. Am I hearing things? He asked in his mind, hoping the voice would reappear to answer his question. As he completed the thought, the throne room doors opened once again, and entered four men and one woman.

"No," the man in front, a tall white man with long black hair, wearing a long red coat, with black jeans and a white mesh shirt, said to Emperor Wales upon entering the room. Once he spoke, Josiah immediately recognized his voice to be the same one he'd heard in his head just a moment ago.

I just figured, the man continued telepathically, you'd believe me if I gave proof before the discussion.

"You have my attention. You are Mr. Taulk I presume?" the emperor responded aloud. For someone other than himself to place thoughts in his mind made the emperor wildly uncomfortable. Taulk had accomplished his goal of showing Josiah that he was not an ordinary being, so, the emperor decided he'd like to keep his thoughts to himself from this point on.

"Yes, those behind me from right to left are Beatrice, Claud and Ostia," Taulk responded gesturing to what Wales assumed were his subordinates. Then he gestured to the remaining man who stood beside him, showing his evident equality in status. "This is Benjamin White of Argot" he finished his introductions.

There was obviously no need for the introduce himself, as needed to request an audience to meet with him, so he instead moved into their reason for meeting.

"You requested this meeting to speak about the pyres, yes?" Emperor Wales inquired.

"Yes, in addition, Benjamin here," Jameson responded and gestured to Benjamin, "is an ambassador from Argot who has come on business to speak with us."

"I can't help but feel you have been invited into my throne room under false pretenses." Wales said. He spoke the words harshly, but the emperor remained in the same relaxed position he held when they first entered.

"Please accept my apology on behalf of myself and my friends here," the man Jameson introduced as Benjamin White responded. "Recent events have simply changed the priorities of my superiors."

Wales eyes lit up to his words. The man claimed to be from Argot, a nation that was independent of both The Ku Yong Empire and the United Nations Association(UNA). They were a people who did not often leave their home country, and being built on rich farmland, they sustained their own economy and currency.

Any solid information from this young man was beyond monetary value to the Emperor, but he was unsure of just how much information he would willingly give.

Here's hoping he doesn't know the value of information, Josiah thought to himself. "Who are these superiors of yours?"

"There's no need for probing Your Highness. We've come to share everything we know." Taulk said, obviously having heard his thoughts.

There is no hiding from you, eh? Wales thought with concentration.

Taulk gave a small grin in response.

"My superiors are the Rai Jin High Council. Members of which are normally spread across Caust, maintaining and managing our many branches around the world. As of now they are stationed in Argot, discussing various matters of importance now that the phenomenon you call 'the plague' has spread across the world," Benjamin said to Wales.

Upon their entry the Emperor did not think much of Benjamin. He was dressed in simple black clothing, a long black coat, trimmed with white fur covered most of him. His short black hair was unkempt, and his posture was that of a slouch. Yet, when he began to speak, his presence became impossible to ignore.

"I see," emperor Wales said quietly. "Rai Jin. The gods of Ku Yong were once called by that name."

"There are no gods, your highness," Taulk interjected. "Only stories made by men who cannot comprehend forces greater than themselves."

"Tell me then," Emperor Wales began. "What does it mean to be Rai Jin, and more importantly, what does your presence here mean for my Empire?"

Benjamin and Taulk shared a quick glance. Quick as it was, the look did not go unnoticed by the emperor. There was obviously a tension between the two that the emperor was not privy to.

Is there something you do not want me to hear? Wales privately asked Taulk.

"Rest your mind, Emperor." Taulk responded, answering both his words and thoughts in one. "We Rai Jin are a people just like you, only we have been given control over various elements of our natural and supernatural surroundings."

It was a simple enough explanation for the emperor to grasp. Moreover, it was confirmation of his father's words. "We have our own government," Benjamin picked up where Taulk stopped. "the Rai Jin High Council, being the most prominent branch. And though we adhere to the basic laws of man, our people have our own laws and cultures separate from yours."

"Then you are a society? Your own separate society?" Wales inquired, his eyebrows threatening to pass his hairline as genuine curiosity overtook him.

"We are." Taulk responded. "Though we have silently coexisted with your society and those of nearly every city in Caust. We do not have our own cities or strongholds. We do however have Rai Jin stationed in every city we hold sway."

"There are..." Emperor Wales was taken by surprise. Very unwelcome surprise. "You have spies within Ku Yong?"

Another short but noticed glance passed between Taulk and Benjamin. Two veins became visible on his forehead as the Emperor watched their every move. Anger erupted from within him.

"You said you came to tell me everything!" he bellowed.

"Speak now! Are there spies within my city?"

Wales focused on his next words clear as he could, allowing every bit of rage he'd repressed since the red rain struck his family's Empire to flow through his thoughts. 'You will tell the truth!'

A brief moment passed before Benjamin suddenly lifted a hand, attempting to once again reassure the Emperor that his trust had not been betrayed.

"As Taulk said, we have stationed ourselves in nearly every city worldwide, but our intentions are the preservation of peace between man and Rai Jin. There are some who attain the power of Rai Jin and decide to use their abilities selfishly, disregarding the safety or well being of others," Benjamin said. "Our leaders planted these men and women around the world to ensure the protection of both the lives of your people, but also the secrecy of ours."

"And I'm to take just your words at face value?" Wales retorted. Benjamin had proven himself a capable diplomat and speaker, but he had lived his entire life surrounded by politicians. He knew the best of them would give half the truth and conceal uglier facts to use to their advantage. The emperor was not convinced that he was being told the full truth.

"Is there another choice? If we were hiding information of value, we wouldn't reveal it to you because you're suspicious of us, would we?" Taulk interjected on behalf of his colleague.

"No, I suppose you wouldn't." The emperor conceded. It was not often that he was bested in his own throne room. Usually fear was factor enough to keep his subjects from speaking to him in the manner Jameson had shown thus far. Clearly fear would not affect these people, who the emperor assumed were all probably, in their own ways, as terrifying as Taulk.

Your thoughts are betraying you, your highness. Taulk's voice once again found its way into his mind. The emperor had been concentrating on the notions forming in his head with such intensity, that he had forgotten about the telepath's abilities.

Betraying me, how? The emperor tried to keep his thoughts under control. Thinking of anything, and everything except the people who called themselves Rai Jin, and the threat they posed to his Empire.

"Are you sure?" Benjamin randomly said aloud. It was random at least to the emperor's ears. A few seconds passed before he deduced that there was a conversation being had that he could not partake in.

"What are you speaking of?" Wales asked, his voice raised far past the necessary volume to reach their ears.

"I humbly apologize your highness. It seems we have business to attend to elsewhere. We will return soon and continue this meeting if you so wish it." Benjamin's response was strained. His words seemingly forced, and his posture suddenly upright and attentive.

Damnit. The telepath must've caught something in my thoughts. The emperor cursed himself for his sloppiness. Shit, he can hear me now!

"Let's go. Now!" At Taulk's command, quickly and surely the emperor's guests edged towards the giant doors of the throne room.

"You have not been dismissed!" the emperor shouted defiantly. This may well have been his only chance to attain information from these people. It was a chance he could not and would not let slip through his grasps.

"Imperial Guard!!" The emperor shouted at the top of his voice. "Take these people prisoner!"

The throne room doors burst open and a dozen fully armored men shuffled through in tight formation, spears in hand. Quickly, they surrounded the Rai Jin, and raised their weapons into attacking form.