The Emperor's Head

37. Failure

Jun

I heard his voice.

The bay of animals distracted Jun from his wonder. Someone had cut his arms and legs free from the pole, and his body slumped down to the ground. He had more strength but didn't want the Emperor and the crowd to know.

I need to preserve my power for Bolin, but how can he rescue me now? What is his plan? How did I hear his voice?

After months of working with Oyun on understanding the bond, they had never been able to speak to each other through it.

Maybe it was my imagination.

Mindlessly, Jun rubbed his wrists, bringing life back to his fingers and relishing the burning pain that came with it.

Why have they not released the animals?

Jun finally turned his attention away from his hands and examined the crowd. He hadn't realized how silent they had become.

All heads were turned toward the Emperor, who stood gazing down at Jun. The Empress stood next to him; her severe features pulled into a scowl. In her face, he saw the Crown Prince and wondered what would have been different if he had inherited her famed intelligence instead of his father's cruel perversion. Oyun had described the Empress with almost respect. He presented her as if her intelligence would have been a gift in a different setting.

But the power of the Empire sat firmly with Emperor Wei, and Empress Huiyang had proven either ineffective or unwilling to counteract his poor leadership.

Perhaps if the Emperor dies, she could be a powerful dowager and bring the Empire back from the brink of destruction. Maybe the Empire does not need me.

Something in the look in Empress Huiyang's eyes and the behavior of her son led Jun to doubt his hope.

If I die today, I will not have to see what becomes of the Empire. Maybe it is time for the old dynasty to die. Do these people truly deserve the Imperial Flame? Do they deserve my sacrifice?

Jun looked at the citizens in the arena. He knew they did not represent all of the Empire. They were those who chose to live in the capital and could survive this close to the Emperor. But their faces were so ugly with greed and lust. They hoped to see a good show, see the animals rip Jun apart. They could sit in an arena filled with the dead and still cheer for each lash that struck Jun's back. They could not have believed that all the men, women, and children lined the edges of the arena committed crimes. They had to accept the Emperor had a right to destroy an entire clan for one man's actions.

What type of Empire are we? Do we deserve to survive? Should we let the south conquer us?

The thought of the Southern Empire taking over Jiali chilled Jun. Neither Oyun nor Bolin had discussed it much, but from what they had said and from what books Jun could find, he knew their ruling dynasty was no better than the Choa.

But none of it will matter when I die.

The hope that had flared at Bolin's words faded as Jun held the Emperor's gaze.

"Release the beasts!" The Emperor ordered with a smile, then turned to the crowd. "The Yewan end now!"

You are wrong. Di survived. She holds the last of the Yewan bloodline in her veins. She can bring back the clan if her island mentor allows it.

The ringing of metal scraping against stone invaded the arena leading the crowd to cheer. The roars of hungry animals whipped the crowd into more of a frenzy.