Dynasty of Summer

Prologue

"Lan Ming, wait for me!" his sister, Lan Tai called.

The boy raced between buildings, following the tall, beckoning figure. The crown pinned to his topknot bobbled as his feet kicked over smooth stones. Lan Ming didn't wait for his twin. He paused in the servants' yard, searching until he spied the old man peeking from behind a wall. As he ducked away, Lan Ming darted forward.

After rounding the bend, the ten-year-old boy stared dumbfounded. Solid walls blocked three sides in the outdoor storage area. Nothing more than straw brooms and broken wine jugs.

"Why are you hurrying?" Lan Tai puffed as she caught up.

"Did you hear him, the old man? He said mother's name!"

Lan Tai frowned. "That makes no sense. We're many leagues from home."

"But Mother was from this palace. Perhaps people here knew her while she was alive!"

"Lan Ming... Mother died long ago," she shook her head sadly. "And you're being rude. We're here for the Emperor's funeral. Father'd be upset!"

No sooner had she scolded, a grinding reached their ears. The two jumped back as glistening eyes pressed in wrinkly skin peered from a crack in the wall. Twisted lips spoke grouchily, "Well, what are you waiting for? Do you want to know the Ku Queen or not?"

Lan Ming gave his sister a challenging look. "See? He knows Mother!"

His twin's eyes grew round with worry. The dangling gold pins in her hair trembled from uncertainty. His glance traveled back to the secret passage, to the old man's eyes. He weighed his options. They were royalty. None would be foolish enough to harm them.

"I'm not going in there," Lan Tai backed away. Her words came from reason, but Lan Ming felt driven by a sense of adventure and filial piety. For his entire life, their mother was revered as a sprite. Some of the locals even claimed she was a goddess. Lan Ming and Lan Tai never knew her. She'd died giving birth to them.

"If mother is truly from another realm, perhaps this is where we'll meet her."

At this, Lan Tai looked to him as if he were mad. "The spiritual realm? You're asking me to enter the world of the dead?"

The cranky old man flicked his head with annoyance. "Decide now if you're ready. Do not waste my time," adding with a growl, "I'm not getting any younger."

Lan Ming made up his mind. "Sister, go back to father if you wish," he told her gently. "But I need to know." He saw her gulp before following the man into darkness. To his relief, he heard Lan Tai's steps follow before the heavy stone door swung shut. They were in a narrow tunnel. Lan Ming could sense his sister's discomfort, yet she followed, descending endless steps by the light of a small lantern.

The old man hadn't said another word. They moved in complete silence for a dozen steps before Lan Ming felt his sister's cold fingers grip his hand. A howl blew through the tunnels, moaning like a sick beast. Lan Tai moved closer, quivering. Guilt crept upon him.

She had no intention of being here. She's only come to make sure I'm safe.

Lan Ming squeezed her hand in gratitude.

The tall man slowed his steps. They'd arrived upon a landing. The last step was quite a drop compared to others, but the man jumped down easily. Lan Ming hopped after him but stumbled. He caught himself against a dusty wall.

He straightened to see Lan Tai crouching, before she rolled onto her torso to drop down. She too stumbled and the man rushed forward. Lan Tai let out a squeal and hunched away, fearful. Lan Ming's breath caught in his chest as he realized the stranger could indeed harm them.

To his relief the old man set her upright. Lan Tai blinked sheepishly with flushed cheeks. She dipped a curtsy in thanks. Lan Ming exhaled, now feeling confident the stranger was friend.

The tall man turned without a word and continued. A few paces away, he stopped and slowly moved his lantern. Lan Ming saw that he studied a door with an odd metal contraption on its face. Lan Ming watched in awe as the man worked the dials around. A moment later, there came a click. The door swung open, releasing a gust of wind.

They stepped through a moon door and were met with the warm glow of torches. Lan Ming's breath caught in his chest. Before them, endless scrolls were stacked neatly in cubbies, each labeled by date and topic. Scattered between carved sculptures were strange contraptions Lan Ming couldn't keep his eyes from. Some ticked and chimed while others were partially draped with muslin. He turned to his sister and saw that her eyes glistened as well.

"It's a library," she breathed. "What's a library doing underground?"

"These are the sacred texts of the Empire," the old man announced. "You are not to touch anything." He shuffled behind one of the many heavy shelves as the twins imploringly took in the cavernous room.

Lan Ming lifted a hand, meaning to dust off a label. Lan Tai hissed, tensing, "Brother! He said not to touch anything!"

"I'm not touching the actual scroll," he whined.

"Here it is!" The raspy old voice announced.

The twins peered down an aisle and saw the tall man moving quickly from about a dozen rows deeper in the chamber. In his arms he carried a heavy object tied in black and gold silk, the colors of Emperors.

The twins exchanged a look of curiosity as the nameless man set down the object with a thump. Gnarled and shaky fingers undid the knot, revealing an ornate lacquered box. Lan Ming wanted to finger the intricate designs, but remembered the warning to not touch anything.

Studying the mother of pearl inlays, Lan Tai asked, "Are these designs of people in trees?"

"And caves?" Lan Ming added, all but pressing his face into the lacquer.

"What are these large waves? Are they the rivers?" asked Lan Tai.

"It can't be," her brother frowned, "Those must be depicted by these long, squiggly lines." He pointed to another of the box's details.

"...Then the ocean..." Lan Tai whispered in awe.

"Enough, step back," the man snapped. He fumbled around his neck and retrieved an old bronze key. Fitting it into the lock he gave it a turn. It clicked open, allowing the lid to be removed.

The scent of old ink and faded orange flowers emerged, accompanied by a strong feminine scent. Intense longing gripped Lan Ming as something stirred, just beyond his memories.

Lan Tai whispered, brow furrowing, "I know this smell."

The old man ignored them and reached in to retrieve a scroll. It appeared to be hammered on the finest paper and attached to jade ends. Ceremoniously, he laid out gold silk, and carefully set the scroll on top. He cleared his throat and rolled out the first characters before calling their attention. "There were specific instructions," he announced. "These words are meant only for your eyes."

Lan Ming looked onto the paper and read, "A Summer Poem," scrawled as the title. "Oh no! Not another boring epic about the beauty of seasons. Aren't we here to learn about our mother?" he griped to the man.

"Look!" Lan Tai gasped, "The poet's name is Tai Xia. His family name is my given name!"

With interest piqued, Lan Ming deigned to read the first few lines. "The poet is a woman!"