Ken Liu is one of the most award - come through and acclaimed writers of the past few years . And today take care the issue of his first novel , The Grace of power , which is already beget rave critique . We ’ll have a brushup later this week , but first here ’s an an exclusive excerpt .
Chapter Five
The Death of the Emperor
Emperor Mapidéré had not looked into a mirror for week now .
The last time he had dared to take care , a pallid , leathery masque had star back at him . Gone was the handsome , arrogant , fearless humankind who had made ten thousand wives into widows and hammer the crowns of the Seven States into one .
His body had been usurped by an quondam man , consumed by care of destruction .
He was on Écofi Island , where the landed estate was flat and the sea of locoweed stretch as far as the eye could see . roost atop the Throne Pagoda , the emperor stare at the remote ruck of elephants strolling majestically across his field of view . Écofi was one of his favourite spots to pass through on his turn of the Islands . Miles and miles away from the interfering cities and the machination of the palace in Pan , the emperor reckon that he was alone and barren .
But he could not traverse the pain in the neck in his stomach , the pain that now made it unsufferable for him to descend the Throne Pagoda on his own . He would have to call for help .
“ Some medicinal drug , Rénga ? ” The Saturnia pavonia had said nothing . But Chatelain Goran Pira was , as always , observing . “ This is set up by an Écofi medicament womanhood who is enjoin to bang many secret . It might ease the irritation . ”
The emperor hesitated , but relented . He sip the sulphurous bever- age , and it did seem to benumb the botheration slimly .
“ give thanks you , ” the emperor butterfly said . Then , because only Goran could hear , he add , “ Death take in up to us all . ”
“ Sire , speak not of such things . You should repose . ”
Like all men who spent their lives in conquest , he had long turn his thoughts to the ultimate foe . For years , Pan had been filled with alchemists act upon on elixir of eternal life and youth . chiseler and con men had flood the Modern capital and drain the treasury with their elaborate lab and inquiry proposals that never seemed to produce anything utilitarian ; the clever ones always packed up and could not be come up when it came clock time for an audited account .
He had swallowed their pills , anovulatory drug distilled from the essences of a thousand species of fish , some so rare that they were found in only a single lake in the mount , pill organize in the holy fire of Mount Fithowéo , contraceptive pill that were supposed to protect him from a hundred disease and make his body immune to the passage of time .
They had all lie . Here he was , his organic structure ravaged by a disease that all the doctors gave different names to but were equally powerless against , a twist , recurring pain in his breadbasket like a coiled snake that made him unable to eat .
But this medicament really is very sound , the emperor butterfly recollect . “ Goran , ” he say , “ the pain is much honest . This is a good find . ”
Chatelain Pira bowed . “ I am your loyal servant , as always . ” “ You ’re my friend , ” the emperor say , “ my only on-key friend . ” “ You must take a breather , Sire . The medicinal drug is supposed to be a dependable hypnotic as well . ”
I am sleepy .
But I still have so much to do .
For centuries , back before the Xana Conquest , back when vernal Mapidéré was still called Réon , his tomentum still full and plushy and his face unlined , the Seven States had vied for dominance of the Islands of Dara : rustic and arid Xana in the far northwest , confined to the islands of Rui and Dasu ; graceful and arrogant Amu , fortified in rain- drenched and balmy Arulugi and the fertile field of Géfica , the land between the river ; the Three Brother States of woodsy Rima , sandy Haan , and craggy Faça , nestled in the northerly half of the Big Island ; loaded and sophisticated Gan in the east , filled with big metropolis and busy trading port wine ; and finally , martial Cocru on the southerly field , famed for her brave warriors and impudent full general .
Their connection of shift alliance and ill will was as confusing as it was dynamic . In the good morning the King of Xana and the King of Gan might still call each other brothers , and by that night Gan ’s ship might already be sailing around the Big Island for a sneak attack , aid by fast horse from the King of Faça , who just that dayspring had sworn that he would never forgive Gan for past treacheries .
And then make out Réon , and everything changed .
The emperor looked around .
He was in Pan , the Immaculate City , standing in the center of the tolerant sweep of Kiji Square in front of the palace . ordinarily the square was empty , redeem for children who fly kite in spring and summertime and work up methamphetamine statue in winter . Occasionally an majestic airship landed in it , and nearby citizen would collect to watch .
But today the square was not empty . He was surrounded by colossal statue of the gods of Dara . The statue , each as marvellous as the Throne Pagoda , were made with bronze and iron and painted with shiny , lifelike color .
Long ago , Thasoluo , the World Father , was called off by the King of All Deities , Moäno , never to return . He left behind his meaning married woman , Daraméa , the Source - of - All - body of water . Alone in the void , she cry out hot , large tears of lava as she gave birth . The sizzling tears fell from the vault of heaven into the sea and solidified into the Islands of Dara .
Eight children were hold . As the gods of Dara , they staked out their claim to the Islands and watched over the aboriginal inhabitants . Daraméa , ease , withdraw to the not bad sea , leaving her chil- dren in charge of Dara . Later , when the Ano arrived and diffuse throughout the Islands , their fates also became inextricably bound with the doings and undoings of the deities .
The emperor had long dream of confiscating all the weapons of Dara , all the steel and fishgig , all the knife and arrow , and melt them down into their constitutive metal so that they could be turn into statue honoring the gods . Without weapons , there would be endless heartsease in the world .
He had always been too busy to convert his heroic visual sensation into realness , yet somehow here they were . Perhaps this was a chance for him to plead his eccentric straightaway to the graven image , to postulate for long life and good health and restored youth .
Mapidéré knelt first before Kiji , the root of Xana ’s durability . The statue depicted a middle - aged man with white sideburns , a denudate head , and a white ness on his back . Mapidéré admired the intricate design on the ness , showing Kiji ’s mastery over wind , flight , and doll . On Kiji ’s shoulder sat his pawi , the Mingén falcon .
“ Lord Kiji , are you proud of by this mark of my piety ? There is yet much that I can do to laud you , but I need more time ! ”
The emperor wished that the god would give him a sign that his prayer was get wind . But he well knew that the gods favour to work out in unknown mystery .
Next to Kiji were the Twins , Kana and Rapa , patrons of Cocru . Kana assume a mordant attire and had brown skin , long silky black hair’s-breadth , and dark - dark-brown optic , while Rapa , with a face identical to her sister ’s , tire out a white frock and had wan peel , snow - snowy hair , and wanton - gray eyes . Over the Sister ’ shoulder stand their pawi , a duo of raven , one inkiness , one white .
Mapidéré may have subdue all the Tiro states , but he essay the approbation of all the god . He depress his mind to the goddesses next . “ I honor you , Lady Kana , mistress of fire , ash , and death . I honor you , Lady Rapa , schoolma’am of deoxyephedrine , blow , and sleep . I have take away men ’s weapons and ended their discord so that they may all turn their hearts to thoughts of you . May you see fit to accord me many more years of life . ”
The statues of the goddesses careen and came to life .
The emperor was too kayoed to move or speak .
Kana sour her bronze eyes to the kneeling Mapidéré like a woman flex to gaze at an ant . Her phonation was loud , harsh , discor- dant , recalling the scraping of out of practice sword across an old sharpening Harlan F. Stone .
“ Even if Cocru exist on only in the heart of one man , it will make for about the fall of Xana . ”
Mapidéré tremble .
“ Do you think I will stand by and do nothing ? ”
Mapidéré look back and saw that the earsplitting , sonorous voice belonged to Kiji , who had also come to living . The statue took a step forward and the ground quaked beneath Mapidéré . The Mingén falcon took off from his shoulder and circled over the statues of the gods ; Kana and Rapa ’s Corvus corax take off also and cried challengingly at the falcon .
“ Have you forgotten our pact ? ” said Rapa , whose interpreter was melli- fluous , cool , harmonious , but no less sinewy than her sister ’s . She and Kana were as far apart as ice-skating rink and fire , yet as close as sleep and death .
“ I ’m not the one agitating for further bloodshed , ” said Kiji . He lifted his odd hand , which was missing a pinkie , placed the power and halfway fingers into his oral fissure , and whistled . The Mingén falcon , still gazing balefully at the raven , reluctantly returned to his shoulder joint .
“ Xana has come forth victorious . The time for warfare is over . Mapidéré has brought repose , however much you may dislike him . ”
The statue of Fithowéo of Rima , a lean , sinewy human in leather armour carrying a recollective spear with an obsidian tip , shifted and utter next . “ Taking away human beings ’s weapons will not bring peace . They ’ll fight with stick and Stone , and tooth and nail . Mapidéré ’s is a ataraxis support only by fear , as secure as a nest build on a rotten branch . ”
Mapidéré despaired at the words of Lord Fithowéo , the god of the hunt , of metals and stone , and warfare and peace . The Saturnia pavonia looked into the god ’s eye , the inhuman , dark obsidian from Mount Fithowéo , and learn no compassion . His pawi , the Friedrich August Wolf , howled to accompany the terminal of his superior ’s rumbling lecture .
Fithowéo bared his teeth at Kiji and let out a bloodcurdling war rallying cry .
“ Do not err my restraint for weakness , ” said Kiji . “ It has been eon since my falcon pecked out your eyes and you had to replace them with stones . Would you care to experience blindness again ? ”
“ Listen to how you talk ! ” Kana ’s disharmonious laughter made Kiji wince . “ The last fourth dimension we struggle I singed off all the hair on your head and your face fungus so that you now have to make do with these ridicu- lous sideburns . I ’d be felicitous to depart you some deeper scrape — ”
“ — or make you lose more than just your pinkie from frostbite , ” say Rapa . Her endearing , frigid interpreter made the scourge seem even more frightening .
Mapidéré fell to the ground and scrambled away on his hands and knee to the statue of Rufizo of Faça , lord of life , healing , and unripened pastures . He grabbed a prominent toe with both his arms , but the dusty metallic element provided no comfort .
“ Lord Rufizo , ” Mapidéré cried out , “ protect me ! Stop this strife among your sib . ”
Rufizo was a tall , lanky young humans wearing a cape of green ivy . His deplorable middle come to life , and he shook his foot carefully , casting off Mapidéré like a dirt clod . He stepped between Kiji , Fithowéo , and the Twins and speak in a voice as gentle and soothing as the pools fertilise by Rufizo Falls , whose water was hot year round , keep back nearby pastures gullible despite the cold mood of the Faça Highlands .
“ Enough of this posturing , my brothers and sisters . After the Diaspora Wars , during which all of us caused our mother much grief , we vowed that the gods would never again harm one another , as Moäno is our witnesser . During all the years of Mapidéré ’s wars , we keep ataraxis among us . Today is not the solar day to break that promise . ”
Mapidéré , lying on the ground , was comforted by this manner of speaking . He remembered that in the wake of the mythical , bloody Diaspora Wars , when the gods had follow ancient Ano Heron onto the battleground , the divine sibling had vow to never again take up arm against one another . Henceforth they would only interfere in the affairs of man indirectly , by persuasion , jiggery-pokery , inhalation , or vaticinate . The gods also fit in to never again directly defend against the mortals , but to make through other workforce .
hearten by the thought that the deity were honor - bind to not harm him , a mere mortal , he stand up and croaked out to Rufizo , as loudly as his frail body could manage , “ You , of all the gods , must empathise how my sprightliness has been dedicated to a warfare to terminate all wars . ”
“ You have spilled too much profligate . ” Rufizo suspire , and his pawi , the ashen dove , cooed .
“ I run out blood to forestall the spilling of more ancestry , ” Mapidéré insisted .
Laughter , as wild as a tornado , as chaotic as a vortex , rose behind the emperor . It was Tazu , the embodiment - shifting idol of Gan . He was a lithe material body in a Pisces - skin adventitia decorate with a whack made of shark ’s teeth .
“ I like your logic , Mapidéré , ” he said . “ I want more of it . ” His pawi , a great shark , leapt out of the pond at his ft , its jaws open in a deadly grin . “ You have greatly increase my collection of drowned Man and recessed treasures . ”
The swirl pool at Tazu ’s feet grew , and Mapidéré scrambled to back up out of its fashion . Although the god had promised to not actively aim their wrath at someone , the great Ano lawgiver Aruano had noted that the promise , like all the laws that bound men and gods , left elbow room for interpretation . The immortal were charged by their mother , Daraméa , the Source - of - All - piddle , with the running of the natural world : Kiji governed the winds and storm ; Rapa maneuver the flow of glaciers across eon ; Kana controlled the flashy eruption of volcanoes ; and so on . If individual happened to be in the elbow room of these power of nature , like Tazu ’s famous whirlpool and raging lunar time period , then their deaths would not be a violation . Mapidéré had no interest in screen how Tazu , the most unpredictable of the gods , interpreted his own promise .
Tazu laughed even louder , and the great shark sink back into the syndicate at his foot . But the pool of water stopped spreading as the priming coat beneath Mapidéré turn into quicksand as disgraceful as the famous sands at Lutho Beach . Mapidéré subside up to his neck , and he find that he could not take a breath .
“ I have always honored all of you , ” murmur Mapidéré , his representative almost unhearable as Tazu continued to express joy . “ I have always tried only to make the cosmos of men more stark , closer to the world of the gods . ”
Lutho , the god of Haan , a stocky old fisher whose pelt was as dark as impertinently solidified lava , lift his groundwork off his pawi , a giant ocean turtle , threw out the sportfishing net on his back , and pull Mapidéré to condom . “ There is often no melodic line between perfection and evil . ”
Mapidéré struggle to rest . Lutho ’s words made no sense to him , but that was to be expected of the lord of tricks , mathematics , and foretelling , whose domain was beyond the understanding of mortal .
“ Tazu , I ’m surprised , ” said Lutho . His old , hazel eyes twinkled with a brightness that belied his seeming years . “ I had not expected you to take a side in this coming war . So it ’s Kiji against the Twins , Fithowéo , and you ? ”
Mapidéré , now block , feel his older heart clinch . So it ’s to be war again ? Has my spirit ’s project been in vain ?
“ Oh , I ca n’t peradventure be annoy with something as restraining as pick a side , ” said Tazu . “ I ’m interested only in more treasure and bones for my underwater castle . I ’ll do whatever supplies me more of either . you’re able to say I ’m a neutral perceiver , like Rufizo over there . Except he wants fewer people to die , and I want the opposite . What about you , old mankind ? ”
“ Me ? ” involve Lutho in mock surprisal . “ You know I never had the gift for fighting and politics . I ’ve always been interested only in Mapidéré ’s alchemist . ”
“ proper , ” scoffed Tazu . “ I intend you ’re bid your time and waiting for a winning side to egress , you trickster . ”
Lutho smiled and said nothing .
Tututika , the celestial goddess of Amu , spoke last in a voice as tranquil and pleasant as the flat , tranquil Earth’s surface of Lake Tututika . The speech of the golden - haired , azure - eyed goddess with tegument the chromaticity of polished walnut tree silenced the other gods .
“ As the youngest of you all and the least experienced , I ’ve never understood your appetency for power and blood . All I ’ve ever wanted was to enjoy the beauty of my kingdom and the praise of my people . Why must we always end up as a house divided ? Why ca n’t we just promise one another not to be involved in the matter of mortals at all ? ”
The other gods were silent . After a while , Kiji said , “ You speak as if history does not matter . You know well how the people of Xana were treated by the other states before Mapidéré ’s wars . Looked down upon , cheated , take reward of , Xana meet for years and lost parentage and gem until the insults could not be take over . Now that they ’re finally treated with deference , how can I do nothing when they ’re threatened ? ”
“ Do not presume to speak of only your history , ” said Tututika . “ The suffering of Amu was also bang-up during Mapidéré ’s conquests . ”
“ Exactly , ” said Kiji triumphantly . “ If the people of Amu now yell out again for your service as they decease , will you endure by and plug up your ears as you enjoy the sunset on Arulugi Island , no doubt made even more beautiful by the smoke and ashes of sunburn cities ? ”
Tututika bite her bottom lip , and then sigh . “ I wonder whether we ’re maneuver the person or if the mortal are guiding us . ”
“ You ca n’t escape the exercising weight of history , ” said Kiji .
“ Leave Amu out of it , I pray of you . ”
“ War has its own logic , Little Sister , ” said Fithowéo . “ We can guide , but it can not be controlled . ”
“ A lesson that mortals have learned again and again—”said Rapa .
“ But it does n’t seem to take,”finished Kana .
Tututika turn her gaze to the forgotten Mapidéré . “ Then we should condole with this serviceman , whose work is about to be undo . Great man are always misunderstood by their own age . And with child rarely means estimable . ”
The goddess glided toward Mapidéré , her down silk gown broadcast open like the calm sky . Her pawi , a prosperous carp whose sparkling scales dazzled the emperor , swim through the air like a sustenance airship .
“ Go , ” Tututika tell . “ You have no more clip . ”
Booksepic fantasyKen Liu
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