Wren of the East *Complete*

Chapter 7: Inconveniences

Air blew through the open doors in the lower palace. The lords and chief merchants kneeled before Farrow and me. Their annoyance had only grown more apparent when Farrow had told them I would be joining them. They had voiced their concerns about my presence. Yes, I had only been in this kingdom since midafternoon the previous day, but I was his wife now. I needed to be present.

Farrow's attendant handed him another scroll, and he did his best to appear calm. But, since the men were farther away, they couldn't see the slight agitation in his features.

"Who is this scroll from?" I turned to Farrow.

His lips moved as he read over the scroll, and I noticed that he paused on some of the words.

"Emperor?" I touched his arm, and he jumped.

"What did you say?"

"Which merchant is that from?" I pointed to the scroll.

"Oh, it's from the Port Authority regarding the fisheries." He handed me the scroll.

I took the scroll from Farrow and quickly read over it. The numbers were troubling but nothing that should have given Farrow pause. I didn't move my face from the page but stole a quick glance at him. He was scrutinizing the page, like what was written was confusing.

I cleared my throat and turned my attention to the men. "Who is head of the port?

One of the men bowed down to the floor and rose back up. "I am."

I lifted the scroll. "For the month, the fishermen have brought back 10 barrels of shrimp, two giant tuna...

"I do not think the lady needs to worry about the matters of men." One of the lords addressed Farrow without looking at me.

I handed the scroll to my attendant. I noticed Farrow's jaw clench and his knuckles whitened from squeezing his chair. He began to push up from his chair, but I stayed with him, gently touching his hand.

"Lord Osamu, was it? I want to ask you a few questions." I put on my best smile and demure appearance.

"Of course, Lady Akira." His smile was cajoling.

I let my face fade into one I hadn't used in a long time. My father had told me there were moments when I would need to be hard. For example, to overcome men's assumptions that I was just a woman, not a royal.

"Lord Osamu, where are you sitting?"

"Below you, Lady Akira."

"Oh, you understand that you are below me, excellent. Now, who am I sitting beside?"

"Emperor Farrow, Lady Akira."

"Good. You see that my place is beside my HUSBAND. Yesterday, how did Emperor Farrow introduce me, my title?"

Sweat dripped from Osamu's nose. "He called you Empress Akira, Lady Akira."

I let a malicious grin fill my face. "Let me tell you in a way that you understand. I married Emperor Farrow, I sit beside him, this means I rule beside him. You are beneath me in title and position. I am an empress, not a lady. Even before my marriage, I was a princess and ruled a country independently. The Eastern Kingdom is thriving because of MY rulership.

"Do not think for one instance that you are better than me, that I have no place in the matters of the kingdom I now rule with my husband. Know your place and address me as Empress Akira, not Lady. Do I make myself clear, Lord Osamu?"

Lord Osamu dabbed his face and nodded his head.

"I did not hear you." I held my hand out, and my attendant handed the scroll back to me.

"Yes, Empress Akira."

"You may press your forehead to the ground. I will let you know when you can rise. I have pressing matters to address concerning the state of the fisheries. You are not port master Lord Osamu. So keep your mouth shut." I pulled the scroll open again and began reading the catches that had been brought in.

I glanced at Farrow, and his face had relaxed, but the same stony exterior was intact. Had the men below been closer, they would have seen the shine in his eyes.

----------

The men left after I had allowed Lord Osamu to finally get up. The others had to assist him in standing. I let a soft smile set on my lips, a viper in wren's feathers. Once everyone had cleared from the room, I relaxed. I inhaled and exhaled.

I turned to Farrow, and he was looking at another scroll. "Emperor?"

Farrow paused and looked at me. He swallowed and closed the scroll. "Yes."

"Was my voice clear enough for you?"

He reached out and ran a hand over my cheek. "Louder than any man to sit in this room before."

I pressed my lips together. "May I ask you something?"

"Of course."

I leaned in close to him. "Can you read?"

He went from placid to outraged in a second. "You're asking an emperor if he can read?"

I didn't let his reaction shake me. "I am."

"I can read." His teeth were pressed together, and his lips were tight.

This matter was delicate, and I knew that I couldn't continue the conversation further. At least not with so many eyes and ears. I stood and headed for our chambers.

"Where are you going?" He was right behind me.

"Our chambers. I can tell I've angered you and do not wish to press you further."

He strode past me. "Press me further? I gave you an answer, and there is nothing more to it."

Farrow threw open the doors to our chamber, and I followed behind him. I closed them and locked them. I looked across the room, and Farrow had opened the window.

I moved closer and stood beside him. The mount-lined bay was breathtaking and calming. Farrow leaned against the window but didn't look at me. I gently pressed my hand against his and was pleased when he didn't move his.

"Farrow."

"Don't." His lips were thin, and his eyes were tight.

"You can't read, can you?"

His lower jaw moved forward, then back, and then clenched. He glanced at me quickly and then away.

"Not well."

I pulled my hand away from him and stepped away. I closed my eyes and thought about what to say.

"No one can know. If they know that their Emperor cannot read, then they'll try and overthrow me."

"This is another reason you married me, isn't it?" I didn't face him.

"It is. You have taken a failing country to flourishing, and I have taken a flourishing country to failing. I cannot read the kanji, and because of that, I have made horrific mistakes with the merchant accounts. Moving currency from one to the other and causing a great deal of anguish amongst the people. I thought that maybe if I married you, you would second guess my decisions. Make the right ones, then I could simply implement them and hope no one noticed."

Breathing deeply, I turned to face him, only to find his back was to me. I went to him, wrapped my arms around him, and embraced him. He was flawed and afraid his people would hate him for it. Farrow took my hands in his and pulled them to his lips, planting gentle kisses on them.

"They tried to teach me, but I didn't understand. Not the kanji or the letters. I did my best to hide it, but it has become more and more difficult."

I rested against his back. "I will help you hide this and overcome it."

His shoulders relaxed. "Thank you, Akira."

I squeezed him. "You chose me as your Empress. I will strengthen you but not hurt you."

I only hoped we chose wisely.