On the seventh day, an Imperial messenger appeared at the Peasant"s Back, his cheeks tattooed with the six-arrow insignia. The messenger merely said, “The Lord Emperor Smoking Arrow commands you, Guarding Bear, to follow this humble messenger.” My bowels ground and heaved as I followed him to Emparia Castle. I couldn"t tell from the summons whether Smoking Arrow would execute me for my insolence.
“You asked to see me, Bear.”
As I eased back on my haunches in the audience hall, I told myself: He"s addressing me as all nobles would a peasant, and means no disrespect. “I did, Lord Emperor Arrow. May I congratulate the Lord Emperor on his son"s conception? May the Imperial quiver always be full.”
He waved away my blessing, which I realized he"d probably heard a thousand times since he"d ann
