A Reality better than the Dream

17.- A closer relationship

When the emperor was about to rest, Tangren noticed the necklace around his neck. He tried to understand going here and there around the emperor, but he finally could not make any conclusion and so he asked him straightly.

Tangren: Oh, my Lord, this necklace is among the rarest ones in our world. It is made of the precious wood of the sacred trees on the highest Holy Mountains. It is very difficult to be made and only very few people, mostly saints, wear such ones. It is said that it protects the one who wears it. Who gave it to you?

Oren gave him a stare not revealing anything. But Tangren continued.

Tangren: These Holy Mountains are located only in the land of Queen Iris' kingdom. Is she the one who gave it to you?

Oren (sighing): Yes, it is her gift to express me her gratitude. It was hers before. Her teacher in scriptures, Hermes, had made it for her.

Tangren: Ooh, the Saint! She is very generous, indeed. She gave you a gift precious to her heart. I can understand why her teacher loved her enough to make such a gift for her. But the gift now is yours, a man really worthy of it. Her teacher would be very pleased, if he knew it... But... when will we meet her again after she leaves?

Oren (coldly): Tangren, focus on your tasks!

Tangren: It is exactly what I do, emperor. (He was shaking his head whispering). Being an emperor has finally many disadvantages... too many!

Tangren was always like this. A very capable, serious, loyal and truthful person. But he had also an entertaining side, a rare but existing one. When you met him for the first time, you could never suspect that there was such an entertaining side of his. So, Tangren decided to approach the queen, whom he, anyway, liked. He made endless discussions with Iris, when the others were absent, and so learned too many things about her life and she about his. They were laughing and speaking as if they were friends for years. She had learned the names of all his family members, his wife, the nature in his homeland, their habits, food, everything. The same did Tangren. He wanted not only to help the emperor to approach her more closely, but also he found her very simple and adorable. But... that man, the emperor, was too strict and lonely to diminish the distance! He was too slow and he didn't want to admit his interesting... but what interesting?... this was not a simple interesting, the emperor had never such simple interestings, he was a man for "all or nothing"... it was something deeper, since he had made such an effort to know about her and help her. Of course, he had to make her trust him first, but... emperor's character was in fact more fast in action. Now he behaved as if something was between them, what exactly? Tangren knew nothing about that old incident, when the emperor had insulted heavily that very young Iris. The emperor was not a gossiper.

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Iris's map with the innumerable notes had been copied for the emperor's two generals and for Sheng. Iris had added on hers their notes. Emperor Oren was watching carefully all the comments and arguments. It was still difficult for him to combine her beauty and soft appearance with her strong mind and character. Obviously, his generals felt alike. Only in her eyes somebody could see this strength with the sweetness together. He was so absorbed in her that he was caught unprepared when she, suddenly, said:

Iris: I sent one of my confidants to check the situation in that town near the borders. The political situation, the safety of the walls of the town, the food supplies and any information which could be useful for us. He would only gather information. I fear that somebody or something would cause a big economic disaster to press us... One area of the town walls is too weak. And the fountain of its water is easy to be controlled by the barbarians, since King Bendin has abandoned his duties. We need to store water very soon. These are the weak points, look here and here...