Chapter 12

The ministers gathered in the court room, eager for the king's arrival to adress the pressing issues at hand. The sound of the crier alarming the ministers of the king's arrival sent them all into a synchronized bow.

"Long live the perfect king of Mono".....Their voives echoed, as he sluggishly walked past them.

The royal dressers took off the king's cape and dressed the throne for him to sit. A lazy and nonchalant look sat across his face as he watched the ministers rise back to thier feet.

"Why did you call this meeting so suddenly and again in the middle of my prayers?"...He started.

The king's messanger gently opened a scroll in front on him, reading to him the content of the letter written in Chinese and greek characters.

"Polis has refused to continue to produce weapons for us until I release thier spies, Is that correct?".....The king asked.

"Your highness while we were unaware, the association of merchants withdrew thier traders as a form of protest against us for locking up thier men"....A Minister in a blue gown spoke up.

"Your highness, If we don't do something about this, we may lose our face amogst our neighbours.".....Another minister joined in.

"The other nations will think we have become weak and vulnerable and wage war against us to overthrow our great land"...Another added.

"Yes"...

"Yes"....

"Yes"...The other ministers agreed.

The king with a piercing glare on his face gave a quick glance to the ministers and then to Minister go vani and then to the scroll.

"You all sound like cowards!"...He shunned them, leaving them speechless and a bit embarrased.

"Do you not understand the sayings of our forefathers that tell us 'A man's dignity is to be treasured more than his life', They Already mocked us by sending spies into our land. They think we will give heed to whatever nonsense they throw at us because we have given them the impression that the strength of our army lies in thier hands"...

"But Your Majesty, The strength of our military partially lies under thier control. if you act rashly like this , How will we come out of the consequences?"...Minister yanqua chipped in.

"By making our own weapons".....He replied, leaving the whole hall including the servants in a shock.

"Your Majesty this is not a desicion to make out of anger, please think about this ".....Minister kwom begged. He was the minister of foreign affairs and a good friend to the king of somali, a neighbouring nation.

"I have made my decision!".....He declared without not so much as a flinch or stutter.

"Behead the three spies and prepare for the production. send out news and get help from as many as we can trust. We cannot afford to be put to shame this way"....

He rose to his feet and stormed out of the court room, leaving the ministers murmuring amongst themselves, some still in shock at what had just happened.

"What does that useless man think he's doing?"...Minister Yanqua stormed down the passage way angrily, Minister kwom and Go vani following closely behind.

"I believe his missing child has made him loose his sense of reasoning"…..Kwom chipped in.

"If We cut military ties with polis, we'll lose the tax funds"...Go vani whispered to the both of them.

"We can survive without our tax funds. What we'll lose is our only grip on this government. He might have made this decision out of grieve but it's a big card against us"…..

"What even gave him that idea?"…

Yanqua scoffed.

"He thinks the miserable bombs and guns those experimenting fools built is enough to go against a land as mighty as polis"…..

Go vani and Kwom burst out laughing.

"You're right!"….

"True"...Their voices overlapped.

"But on a serious note, what do we do about this decree?"…..Go vani's expression suddenly became serious.

"We wait"…..Yanqua replied.

"You're not seriously asking us to not do anything, are you?"...go vani snapped.

"I have a feeling the Bofima will change everything"... an evil smirk grew on yanqua's face.

*********

"How are we going to gain access into the palace?"...Yan spread a sheet over Jemima, gently leading her into the cart.

"You figure it out. Aren't you the smart one?"….She sarcastically replied.

"What's with the attitude!"...

"What are you talking about?"…..

"You've been snappy since last night and all morning. Is everything okay with you?"…..Yan seemed a bit aggravated.

"It's nothing okay, it's nothing. Pull the wagon and let's go"...Jemima snapped.

With a sigh, Yan picked up both ends of the wagon and slowly dragged them.

"I don't want to return to the palace"…. She blurted out, feeling sorry for her outburst earlier.

"Is that why you've been on edge?"…. He spoke softly, effortlessly pulling the wagon behind him down the bumpy road.

She wanted to ask him about Yiro but that would only make her seem jealous. She held back her curiosity and looked away from him, into the green fields moving with the wind.

"Yeah"..…..

Yan clenched his teeth, eagerly staring into the muddy street that led to the palace gate.

"The palace guards always ask the farmers for their signatures. My father has one but I don't. That's the only way a commoner with a wagon is gaining access into the palace, what do we do?"...He started.

"Miss Zing"...

"What?"...He barely heard her.

"Miss Zing is the queen's cousin. She sneaks Chaff and limo (popular hard drugs produced in Mono, similar to cocaine but used to preserve diseased corpse for future burying) into the palace. Every three days, different dirty looking beggars drag filthy wagons into the palace pretending to be collectors, but I know they are the ones being used to sneak in the drugs. You'll pretend to be one of them while I cover myself with this tarp, that's how we'll sneak in"...…

"Seems you have dirt on this woman, I haven't heard anything. Why haven't you used it yet?"....he chuckled.

At the sight of his laughing, she smiled.

"I'm saving it for the day she pisses me off"….she joined in the laughter.

Yan's expression suddenly changed.

"I see the gate."…..his words killed the atmosphere.

Jemima quickly covered herself and then the wagon with the old tarps she had found in them.

Yan took a deep breath and moved quickly to the large wooden gate with silver outlines and a large silver hook, holding the gates together. The two guards guarding the gates moved close to him in attempt to stop him; thier spears crossing each other, making it difficult for Yan to pass in between them.

"Where do you think you're going"....One of the guards started, His thick deep voice giving an empowering feel to his question.

"I collect___"...…

"No!, leave at once now!"...The guard interrupted, rudely shunning him.

"Where is your signature?"...The other guard spoke, holding back his partner.

"I do not have it sir. I am here to collect the unused woods in the palace for the small buildings in the village"...Yan replied.

"What's in the wagon?"...the guard asked again.

Hastily, the other guard reached to remove the tarp and quickly Yan blurted out,

"Miss Zing sent me to come quickly with her package. Shall I tell her that you held me back instead?"...…

Both men froze. Disappointment and disgust growing on thier faces. Without any further hesitation they pushed the mighty gate open and gestured to Yan to go in. He dragged the wagon with him, bending his head in attempt to hide the smirk on his face.

Realizing he was in the palace, he slowly lifted his head amazed at how everything still looked the same. Memories from fifteen years ago came flooding his mind as he sighted the Yoshino cherry tree where Manina would chase him around everyday. He held back his tears, turning towards the huge pond flowing with water from the mouth of the lion statue hovering over it. That feeling of the palace winds he knew too well made him feel young and special again. He reminisced of his past life when everything was as it should have been.

"Get out of the way!"...Horsemen yelled.

His wondering thoughts scrambled back into reality as he moved a step backwards giving way for the trodding horses to pass.