A Reality better than the Dream

13.- Visiting the emperor - New war-schedules

When they arrived at Emperor Oren's palace, late in the afternoon, Iris was truly tired and pale. These stupid journeys! She couldn't endure them. The Emperor went out of his apartments and waited for them to get out of the carriages. They bowed to him politely and he greeted them. He noticed that she was exhausted.

Oren: Queen, your rooms are ready. You look tired.

Iris (frowned): Mm! The queen cannot even stand...

He smiled at her simple childish manner.

She didn't pay any attention to the surrounding and was led to her rooms. These rooms were really spacious and nice, with light colors and... at last!... a female maid to serve her. But Iris was so exhausted that she fell soon asleep. The maid had no chance to ask her anything about her needs, only to change the clothes she was wearing. Oh, the woman was so beautiful!

But Oren and General Sheng entered the central hall to discuss. Sheng explained to the emperor that she hates the journeys and gets tired very quickly. She was very disappointed when her grandmother agreed for the journey. The emperor laughed, but he didn't make any comment. She was so stubborn in facing him as a dangerous man! He had certainly to handle a great difficulty with her.

Iris slept till the next day. Now she noticed how nice her apartment was, as if it was made according to her taste. But the emperor could not know it or make a room especially for her! Ha! The only thing she had been remembering all these years of this palace was something sad and gloomy and the emperor's dark angry figure, like a nightmare. Later, she entered the central hall to meet the emperor. He was already there with his two generals and General Sheng. They obviously admired her beauty but in a proper manner. Then they entered another spacious room and laid on a big table their maps of the area. After two hours of discussion, Iris brought her own map and gave the single copy she had made to the emperor.

Oren: What's that?

Iris: My own map. I have made only one copy, because I had no time to prepare two more for your generals and another one for General Sheng. I am very sorry for this. This one is mine. I made them quite hastily...

She laid down her map very carefully and began explaining her concerns. Some areas were not suitable for a battle, but the barbarians, being used to such irregular and rough conditions and with lighter weapons and armors, would perhaps try to pull them in these areas to battle. For example, areas with light mud, where their heavier weapons and armors would prevent them from moving freely. She had marked the ones she knew. Then, the roads for supplies should be controlled. The barbarians had the habit to attack when the crops are not enough for the inhabitants and the army, in order to make the folk suffer. She had also marked two big towns near the borders with the barbarians, very important for the economic life of all the kingdoms, for which she had a great concern. The bigger one was in the kingdom of king Bendin, having borders with the barbarians, and the smaller one in the emperor's kingdom, having borders mainly with the civilized part of the barbarians which was devoted absolutely to the emperor. And many other details, like the position of the sun in the sky so that the soldiers get not blind. These all things should have been arranged before the battle. The battle itself was something different.

Iris: Oh, I know that the Emperor has made a great effort to bring to some of these wild tribes civilization, in habits, education and relations. His connection with them could be a great help, because accidentally their area divides the whole area of the barbarians in three parts, with them between the other two... here..! (she pointed on the map)... So, during the war there would be an obstacle for their movements between each other.

General 1: How do you know what our emperor has done about them? You are a new queen...

Iris: Mm? (Shrugging) I know it too long before I was enthroned. I have studied history and I know many things about those who have governed the world, in different areas and ages. The most important changes had taken place twice: at the beginning of this era and now with Emperor Oren. Those first ones had tried to put the world in order with pure power and inevitable cruelty, because the world was then at a real mess, and the present emperor, thousands of years now, using power to bring civilization to the world. Ooh... am I wrong?