The Lamb and the Gray Battle

October 5, 2022

Diyiren groaned as the crew fitted him with a microphone and lights were adjusted to brighten his face. He was offered a European chair, a cheap thing that probably cost 100€. He didn't hate European chairs, but he was a traditionalist. He smacked the hand that tried to touch his hair and crown. The makeup person held up both hands and backed away. Several little ants traipsed across the stage, clipboards and electronics in their arms. The director made a sign that the camera was rolling.

Franklin Muny said, "I'm honored by your presence, Your Highness."

Aurora Skye had scurried from the sound stage, disappeared into her dressing room.

Franklin produced a copy of Her Story. Recently delivered to his dressing room by way of demon post. "My own personal copy. I paid a high price for this a few decades again."

Diyiren examined his gold claws, the gold scroll on the black scales, picked at the sharp tips.

"You knew I had a copy," Franklin said.

Diyiren focused on the point, highlighted it for the camera. He wasn't naïve, but his bad day was getting worse.

Muny started with the usual tripe, about the centuries old debate of Mrs. Ao Guang's existence, whether she was dead.

"Some said you followed in your father's footsteps, raped a woman and took the child. That you either abandoned or consumed the mother. Or Nianzang did."

"Nianzang?" Diyiren said, enunciating each syllable.

"My apologies, Your Highness. Prince Nianzang."

Diyiren lifted himself off the seat enough to adjust his robes. "Satan was a rapist and murderer. Don't call him my father." As a joke, Diyiren added, "You may refer to him as the sperm donor, if you'd like," but Franklin Muny didn't know the remark was supposed to be funny.

Muny's heartbeat doubled, but his voice was as controlled as before. "After this book came out," he said, "the new debate has been if this is a work of fiction or an actual biography."

Diyiren said, "I don't hear a question. Nor are you offering me assistance with my problem."

"I apologize, Your Highness." Franklin Muny chuckled. If Diyiren couldn't hear the pitter-patter of that weak little organ, he would have thought Franklin Muny was delighted at that moment.

No videos of Ao Guang killing an army of people existed, but stories persisted. History books were filled with tales. But Franklin had watched this tame Ao Guang too long to be properly frightened. Hell, he'd just done a video montage of the life of Queen Elizabeth. He'd even pointed out, "Ao Guang just laughed. He hugged her. Look at that smile on his face. Queen Elizabeth is joking with him. An indomitable woman to manage that."

Muny said, "Is this book true? Did your wife write it?"

Diyiren had spent his life learning to be specific, accurate, exactly what he was supposed to be. He replied, "My wife dictated it one drunken night. Over the course of several nights, according to the author."

"So it's true?"

"It's her version of events. I have a different version. I'm not interested in debating whose truth is more accurate."

"Then she is in America, PC?"

"Your appearance makes you seem smarter than your present behavior, Mr. Muny," Diyiren said, folding his talons in his lap. He'd only been trying to contact President Gable for two weeks.

"Your wife said the reason you agreed to the law that banned demons from entering America, PC, was to prevent her from leaving."

"My wife is uniquely selfish. She thinks everything I do is about her."

"It's not?"

"She wanted to go to the virgin territories. I stopped interfering with her a long time ago."

Franklin Muny had a thought about Ao Guang's motives, but he didn't voice it.

Muny said, "She's called Lilith in the book."

"You are welcome to call her that."

"But it's not her name?"

"Of course not. Names, places, those are fabricated."

Muny nodded toward Diyiren. "You're called Finch. Dear Finch."

"Do not call me Finch or any form of it."

"I apologize, Your Highness."

Diyiren glared at the false light shining on him. He looked wan on the monitor. Dower too. But smiling would shock too many and he wasn't in any mood. His hair and crown were perfect.

"If the book is truthful, or is basically the truth, why quash it?" Muny continued. "Do you deny that you're the one who ripped this tome off the shelves and stopped all copies of it?"

"I don't deny it. Why would I? I've never bothered to hide the evidence. I have made it abundantly clear that the book is an affront and insult to me."

Lock it inside. If they know they can hurt you, they'll torture you until you beg. And then they'll laugh.

That was all Diyiren needed to rein his temper in.

"My wife," Diyiren said, straightening his robes again, "drew a map to herself, vomited her history on a complete stranger. She disregarded her safety and the safety of others. She is impervious to attack, so she assumes everyone around her is too."