The True Confessions of a Nine-Tailed Fox

Chapter 14: Drought

The next morning, the dragon woke early and rushed off to the conference, fired up with zeal and shadowed by a dour Nagi. The glare she shot at my cage on her way out screamed that she didn't want anyone else advising the dragon, not even the pet fish she'd personally presented to him. If I were still in Cassius' court, I'd start worrying about assassins – but here, I didn't care. Dying just gave me a fresh start and a different set of chances to earn karma.

All day, I swam in circles around my cage, waiting for the dragon to return. He did so after dinner, looking droopy and exhausted as always. When I waved my fins, he trudged over and shook his head. "He said he'll look into it."

Not a particularly promising start, but then again, I hadn't expected immediate results. I had counseled persistence, after all. That's okay! I chirped. He doesn't have to give us more rain right away. As long as he does eventually, it's fine!

Ignored off on the side, Nagi was shuffling through papers while eavesdropping. "When the stakes are this high, 'eventually' isn't 'fine,' little one," she reproved me. "Your Majesty, we just had a drought the year before last. The farmers have only just begun to recover. We cannot afford another drought this year. You must be proactive in convincing the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea to grant us rain."

Before the dragon could answer, I argued, He is being proactive. He's going to keep pesteri– I mean, reminding and reminding the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea.

"That's not enough!" Nagi lashed out. "You're just a fish! What do you know about politics and kings?"

More than this self-important adviser to an insignificant water spirit in an inconsequential creek. I could play this game better than she ever would. Keeping my voice sweet and respectful, I inquired, What do you think we should do, Prime Minister?

"All along, I've said that we must present His Majesty with gifts to raise his esteem for us! To prove that Black Sand Creek is full of loyal and valuable vassals!"

Yes, well, bribery worked much better when you offered a bribe worth taking. What sort of gifts would prove our loyalty and value?

She stared straight at me, challenging me to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Me? I gasped, feigning shock. For good measure, I clapped a fin to my mouth. Am I really that special?

Her air of superiority returned. "You're a talking fish, little one. You're unawakened, but you have a mind. I've never seen or heard of anything like you." (Of course not – she lived in Black Sand Creek. Although, to be honest, neither had I. After all, the Goddess of Life didn't grant special dispensation every day.) "You are the greatest treasure we have to offer."

Oh.... Oh.... I pretended to process this, calculating furiously all the while. I certainly brought more joy into my dragon's life than I would into the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea's – but how much more? What weighting factors did Accounting apply? If only I could sneak into their offices and read their ledgers! Well, I guess...if it's for the sake of Black Sand Creek...I would be happy to –

Up until this point, the dragon had watched in silence, but now he burst out, "No! Absolutely not!" Cradling my cage protectively, he glared at Nagi. "You heard the same thing I did – he's gotten obsessed with natural philosophy. He'll order his scholars to vivisect her to study how her mind works!"

Eeek!

I'd already gotten vivisected once, in soul form, by the Goddess of Life. How much worse would it be when I could feel both physical and spiritual pain?