Goushou
Goukou
had a hard time of it in his fifteenth year. The problem was Goushou, who was
now turned eleven and becoming unmanageable. His fits of anger increased and
there was never any saying what would set them off. A chance remark from one of
his tutors, being refused a second helping at dinner, a blot of ink from his
brush as he was practising his letters- any and all of these would send him
into a screaming rage. He would strike his tutors, throw the dishes from the
table, rip his paper to shreds, and then, often as not, change to dragon form
and fly from the palace, to be sought after in vain by his frantic attendants.
He would return hours later, bone-weary and miserable, and fall into slumbers
so deep he could scarcely be roused from them.
Gouerh
was displeased by the stories he heard from Goushou's tutors and attendants. He
lectured Goukou on the need to pay more attention to his brother and whipped
him when Goushou's wildness passed all bounds. Goukou would plead with Goushou
to restrain himself, and Goushou would burst into tears and be sorry. But next
time it was the same all over again.
Shantsu
observed his pupil's unhappiness and the second brother's behaviour, and at
length sought audience of Gouerh. The dragon king received him with an anxiety
he was at difficulties to hide, thinking only ill news about his heir would
bring his son's Older to seek him out. Shantsu allayed his fears at once.
"My
lord, I must ask your favour. I make bold to speak out of my proper sphere. It
is the matter of Lord Goushou."
Gouerh
frowned, but not at Shantsu. "My second son is a thorn in my side. Speak,
I pray you. I would hear your thoughts on him."
"Lord
Goushou is a red dragon, and such as he are likely to be troubled more than the
common run by the approach of manhood. Nor is it unusual for them to be early
in their development. Though Lord Goushou lacks half a year until his twelfth
birthday, I think he is ready now to begin his study of the forms. The excess
of nervous energy he displays would seem to need the discipline and the release
that only they can provide."
Gouerh
raised startled eyebrows. "But is that not an unusual proceeding? To bind
a boy's hair when he is still eleven seems almost indecent."
"It
is not unknown, my Lord. My second brother bound his hair some time before his
twelfth birthday, being at that time as well-grown as a boy a year older. My
lord counts no red dragons among his near kin, I believe? Their sensitivity to
the energies of the universe give them a greater need for the disciplines that
bring harmony and stability to the soul."
"Ahh,"
Gouerh said. "If that is indeed the case I will make preparations for
Goushou's Binding. But Goukou is scarcely of an age to be his Older in proper
form. I fear you will have the burden of Goushou's training added to your
present duties."
"That
is as well, my lord. This will allow me to instruct Lord Goukou closely in the
matter of training others even as his own training continues."
"But
you will be going home next year for the half-way respite. I had counted on
Goukou to be near the middle of his own training before he had even to begin
the earliest forms with his brother. If Goushou is as precocious as he seems he
will be well-advanced into the mouth and hand forms by the time you
leave."
"It
is more likely that we will extend the normal period of habituation for Lord
Goushou, in view of his youth. What is needed is a focus and channel for his
psychic energies, and once that is provided we may proceed leisurely in the
training itself. But even if he proves in need of the more advanced activities,
by the time I return home Lord Goukou will have chosen a Third for himself who
will be able to assist him. I will make sure that that person is capable in all
respects of the duties he must carry out."
Gouerh
smiled at Shantsu. "I hope Goukou's Third has even half the capabilities
you do, Shantsu-dono. I and my whole family are beholden to you for the care
you have had of my son, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Shantsu
bowed. "The King does me honour," he said. "It is my privilege
to serve so noble a family, and my pleasure to have a pupil as apt as Lord
Goukou."
Thus
it was that Goushou bound his hair at the age of eleven, Goukou tying the knot
for him, and began the earliest forms in company with Goukou and Shantsu. And
indeed the daily exercise had a soothing effect on him and he became more
tractable. Not much later Gouerh received an overture from the Ruler of the
Eastern Continent, who was desirous of another child by him. The timing was
unfortunate, he thought; he would have wished to be home as his young sons
passed through the period when they most needed a father's presence and
guidance. But this would hardly do as a reason to refuse the invitation of so
powerful a monarch. As was usual, his brother Goushun assumed control of the
kingdom and the family during his absence. Goushun was a quiet man, given to
observing much and saying little. He had kept his eye on Goukou's development
through the years and now he said to him, "You are turned fifteen and
coming up on full manhood. The care of your brothers I leave entirely in your
hands as practice against the day when you will have sons of your own and a
family to govern. If you are in difficulties come speak to me, but otherwise I
will not interfere in your decisions and management."
"Thank
you, Uncle." Goukou bowed. "I hope to be equal to your confidence in
me."
"I
have no doubts on that score," Goushun answered with a smile.
The
new state of affairs was much to Goukou's liking and he entered on a period of
tranquility. Now that Goushou had bound his hair the servants and his younger
brothers treated him with more respect, so that many of the old sources of
conflict vanished. Little Gouen was too young to understand and still ran to
his 'tecond bruvver' as before, but the arguments between Goushou and Goujun
had become a thing of the past. Goukou's own training was now advancing in the
threesome forms with Hisui and he had begun to lie above, which made him feel
very mature and adult. He was able to contemplate with equanimity even the
prospect of Shantsu's absence for six months, which marked the halfway point in
his training and which otherwise would have left him desolate.
But
after Goushou's twelfth birthday his temper took a turn for the worse. He had
relapses into the old violent angers and behaviour. Goukou remonstrated with
him, but to no effect. In the end Goushou's fury drove him to knock one of his
servants unconscious. Goukou was outraged and gave him his first whipping.
Goushou then shut himself in his rooms and would not eat or speak, but lay
weeping on his bed night and day. Goukou finally rousted him out and tried to
reason with him.
"Why
do you act like this, Goushou? You hurt others and you hurt yourself. I cannot
think you enjoy it or derive any pleasure from it."
"Enjoy
it?" Goushou said amid furious tears. "How can you say that, ani-ue?
I have no wish to hurt anyone but everyone about me is trying to drive me mad.
If you all hate me so much why not kill me and be done with it? Or do you
prefer that I kill myself and save you the trouble? I'll do it if you say the
word. My life is so grievous to me that I have no wish to live."
Goukou
put his arms about Goushou. "Don't be stupid. No-one wants you to
die. You are my nearest brother and without you my life would be ashes. Stop
talking like this."
Goushou
clung to him and wept into his shoulder. "Everything hurts. Everything
hurts so much all the time. I don't want to go on living when even you, my
brother, can hurt me and say it is for my good. If I were dead perhaps things
would stop hurting so much."
Goukou
held him and consoled him until at last his brother became calmer, but his
words had started a fear in Goukou's heart. However it was not to his uncle
Goushun that he took his forebodings but to Shantsu. Shantsu sighed and said,
"There are some who find the passage to manhood extremely hard, and Lord
Goushou is one of those. I am sure that at times he truly believes it would be
easier to die than to live. Be patient with him and as mild as you can, Goukou.
Let him know always that he has your love. Even if his heart inclines towards
the Dark Lands at times, his love for you will keep him here until he has flown
through this stormy part of his life and come out to the sunshine on the other
side." Goukou took heart from these words.
So
in the course of time King Gouerh returned from the Eastern Lands. He was
alone, for the child had proved to be a female, as the ruler had hoped. From a
diplomatic standpoint this was doubtless all to the good, but Gouerh had
desired another son of the same bloodlines as Goukou and nursed a small
disappointment in his heart. Equally a month later Shantsu returned to the Western
River for half a year, to pay his necessary duties to his father the king,
renew his ties with his brothers, and have a rest after his three and a half
years companying of the Prince. Goukou missed him deeply. He continued
Goushou's training in company with Hisui, and when he was with them Goushou was
calm enough. Indeed Goukou suspected that Goushou had fallen in love with
golden Hisui and sought his caresses. Given that Hisui was now far more
occupied with training than formerly, Goukou relieved him of his chamber duties
and gave him the title of Prince's Companion, so that he might have some
leisure at least for himself.
'For,'
he considered, 'Hisui is a man grown but he is required to spend his afternoons
and many of his nights companying us, lying below myself and helping me train
Goushou in the early forms. And gold dragons prefer to lie above, so I should
at least give him some time to do it in.' But he missed Hisui from among his
daily attendants, finding the atmosphere in his chambers changed with the
absence of his beautiful form, and noting also that matters did not proceed as
smoothly now as formerly. Things were often misplaced or not ready when he
wanted them; it seemed it was Hisui who had kept an eye on the details of
Goukou's apartments, and without him a certain carelessness and disorder set
in.
Equally
matters within his family had begun to worsen, for Goushou could not control
his temper and his behaviour outraged his father. Goushou did not take well to
discipline. Whippings led only to furious rages or blackest depressions, to the
extent that his servants and tutors sometimes concealed his trespasses for fear
of the consequences to their lord's spirit. But when the King and his sons went
to pass the warm months in their summer palace and lessons were suspended,
there was no hiding his wildness from Gouerh. Gouerh punished him for his
willfulness and then scolded him for sullenness when he shut himself up in his
room. Goukou tried as best he might to calm his father's anger against his
brother, but he could hardly tell the King that his way of proceeding was
utterly the wrong one, the more so as he had no better course to offer.
He felt obscurely that Goushou
needed a gentle hand and mild treatment. Any hint of compulsion drove him to
fury, so that Goukou was sometimes almost afraid for his brother's sanity. But
Goushou was never angry with little Gouen, even when the boy was demanding in
his childish way, and he never balked at any of Hisui's orders or sulked when
Hisui corrected his technique. Yet Goukou knew it is not right for a father to
indulge his children, and so he was left in perplexity. He loved his father and
he loved his brother, and it was intensely painful to him that the two seemed at
times almost to hate each other.
Matters
came to a head suddenly and unexpectedly. He and Goushou had been attending on
their father one morning, and the King had quoted a line from the Three Books,
looking at Goushou for him to finish it. Goushou turned his head away and
Gouerh slammed his fist on the table.
"Have
I a son who does not even know the story of Jade Bee and Dragonfly? A child of
five can quote that line! What do you spend your time on, Goushou, and what
have I been rearing you for thirteen years for if you bear yourself like a
peasant boy and not a king's son?"
Goushou's
countenance darkened. "I knew that line, chichi-ue, but it was from my
mind for the moment."
"Do
not be sullen with *me.* Where did you learn these manners? Ask my pardon and
beg my correction now."
"I
have nothing to ask pardon for," Goushou said hotly. Goukou said,
"Goushou!" in horror and grabbed his arm, but Goushou thrust him away
and rose to his feet. "I have done nothing that deserves chastisement and
I will not ask it of you," he went on. "You do not love me,
chichi-ue, you do not desire my good, you want only to hurt me because it gives
you pleasure to see me in pain--"
"That
is enough!" Gouerh roared, but Goushou only screamed back at him.
"You hate me and have always hated me! I see your heart even though you
try to hide it. You wanted another son by the ruler of the Eastern Ocean that
you might disinherit me and give him my place! Is that not so? Can you deny
it?!"
Goukou
grabbed his brother by both shoulders and shook him. "Goushou! Stop
this! You have taken leave of your senses" even as Gouerh said, "Boy,
you are insane. Goukou, call the attendants and have him taken
away-"
Tears
were running down Goushou's face. "I speak the truth to you and you call
me mad. Oh, what a thing it is to be High King. So you will bind me and have me
imprisoned, yes? And when you have the son you want will you have me killed as
well, chichi-ue?"
"Goushou!!"
"And
do you think I will go meekly? I am not so dutiful as to die at my father's
pleasure." He jerked suddenly out of Goukou's arms, jinked and ran from
the room out to the balcony beyond, where he changed to dragon form and was
gone in an instant. Gouerh started after him in wrath, but almost at once cries
came from without. "Fire! Fire! The palace is ablaze!" They hastened
out to the ramparts and saw far above Goushou's red dragon shape swooping
through the skies trailing curtains of fire behind it. Already the top storeys
were wreathed in flame and servants were flying out the windows carrying what
they could.
"Spread
the alarm!" Gouerh called to his servants. "Tell all to flee for
their lives and spare no thought for possessions! Goukou, see to your younger
brothers and their gran'fers." He moved to change form and leap into the
skies but Goukou seized his arm and held him back. Gouerh turned on him with
fury in his eyes.
"I
beg you, leave this to me," Goukou said before his father could speak.
"Goushou is beyond reason and knows not what he does--"
"And
therefore I must make an end of him now, as is a father's right. Let go of
me." Goukou held on tighter. "Your king commands you, Goukou,"
Gouerh said, and his voice was iron.
Goukou
only said, "Chichi-ue, you have two other sons but we have no other
father. Let me be the one who risks body and life in this. If I die, Goujun
will be a worthy heir to you."
After
a moment Gouerh said, "Go then. But see you come back again."
Goukou
bowed and took to the air. The waves of flame from the palace created a huge
heat that made his skin crack. Goushou was still flying through the air above,
shrieking his fury, but he checked when he saw Goukou. "Go back!" he
cried. "Go back! I do not wish to hurt you but I will if I must. It is not you I am angry at."
Goukou
said nothing but flew at his brother. Goushou dodged out of the way, but Goukou
caught him a tremendous blow with his tail that made him stagger in his flight.
Goushou turned his head, mouth open in fury and pain.
"Ani-ue!!
You have turned against me too! Even you hate me now! Kill me then, but I will
take you with me!" He dove at Goukou, a great red comet streaking through
the sky. Goukou waited till the last moment before giving a strong thrust with
his wings that took him out of Goushou's path. He struck once more with his
tail, hard as he could across Goushou's face to stun him. Goushou wobbled for a
moment in the air and Goukou struck again at his wings. He felt the bone break and
saw Goushou start to fall. Swiftly he dove afterwards to catch him in his
claws, but just as he had him Goushou changed to manform. The tiny body slipped
free and plunged towards the earth. Goukou put on a desperate spurt and caught
it again. He'd thought Goushou unconscious, but now his brother struggled
feebly in his talons. Then he understood. Goushou had taken human form on
purpose, seeking to fall to his death.
They
were close above the earth. Goukou changed while he was still in the air so
that the two of them dropped the few feet to the ground, with himself
uppermost. He lay upon Goushou's stunned body and held him still when he began
to move. The air about them was hot and bright from the burning palace, and
Goukou put an arm over Goushou's head to protect him from falling sparks. He
heard his brother's weeping next to his ear, a terrible dry sound that stabbed
through his heart, and close by shouts and footsteps approaching. He had no
idea what he would do next, how he could protect Goushou from their father's
anger and persuade Gouerh to spare his life. He could only lie like a dead
weight as close to Goushou as possible, for as long as he might. The light had
become even brighter, as though a comet were passing nearby, and he squinted
his eyes half-shut against it.
"Goukou,"
Gouerh's voice said from close beside him. There was a strange note in it.
"Goukou, are you hurt?"
"No,
chichi-ue," he said, for he could not stay silent when his father spoke to
him.
"Then
come up to your knees and show proper respect to his Excellency."
Goukou
lifted his head in puzzlement, half-raising himself off Goushou. Before him was
the summer palace, burning-- yes, but burning with a golden glory, enwrapping
the figure of a gigantic bird that raised its wings and sported among the
flames. Awestruck, Goukou put his hands to the ground and knelt back on his
heels. Goushou turned his head to watch. He too pulled himself up into a
crouch, left arm dangling uselessly. The waves of heat had dried the tears on
his face. The anger and misery were gone from him; his eyes were huge with
wonder and a strange desire. He made as if to stand, and Goukou, seized by an
obscure fear, grabbed hold of his cote and held him down beside him. Even as
they watched the form of the red and golden bird rose up to the sky as the
central walls of the palace fell crashing in and ten thousand sparks flew in
the air.
The great bird glowed like gold in
the furnace. Goukou shielded his eyes with his hand as the molten brightness
come down the sky towards them, growing smaller as it did so. Then it was
standing ten paces away and walking in their direction. Its shape was that of a
youth of fourteen or so, with clear features and sunbright hair, but in the
glimpse Goukou caught before his eyes dazzled he saw something in the face that
spoke of eternities. Goushou yearned towards the bright form, and Goukou held
desperately to his sleeve while he bowed himself over in a strange combination
of veneration and fear. He saw the hem of the glowing robes and the booted feet
pause close by.
"King
Gouerh," a young voice said. "I am sorry for the destruction of your
palace, but I thank you for the refreshment this blaze has brought me."
Gouerh
bowed his head, one hand to the earth. "I and all my race are honoured by
your Excellency's presence. If my poor palace has afforded your Excellency
satisfaction, I cannot mourn its loss."
"The
Silver Dragon of the Oceans is famed for his generosity, and I see the
reputation is well deserved. Lift up your head, Dragon King, and tell me who is
this little one beside you. I think it was his form I saw blazing in the skies
a moment ago."
"I
make known to your Excellency my second son, Goushou."
Watching
desperately out the side of his eyes, Goukou saw Goushou lift an entranced face
towards the blinding light before them.
"Poor
child," that strangely young voice said. "He has more fire in him
than his spirit can bear, and it consumes his soul. Will you not give him to
me? I will take him to where he may dissolve finally in the glory of flame,
with no more sorrow or tears to shed."
"I
would not deny your Excellency anything he deigned to ask of me," Gouerh
said, and Goukou went cold. "If your Excellency wishes my son, he is
yours."
"Yes,"
Goushou breathed, and in the same moment Goukou said, "No." He dared
not look upwards at that splendour or sideways at his father, but he clung to
Goushou's sleeve and said desperately, "Goushou, brother, do not go from
me. How can I live without you?"
Goushou
turned a smiling face on him, and his eyes were not the eyes Goukou was used to
seeing. "Ani-ue, it is no matter. You have Goujun and Gouen, and they will
be better brothers to you than ever I was."
"They
are not you," Goukou said. Tears ran down his face as he looked at Goushou
in despair. There was nothing he could find to say to keep Goushou by him, and
already Gouerh was saying, "Excellency, forgive my foolish son his
discourtesy. He speaks from excess of affection only, though he speaks out of
turn."
"Yet
I would not take one unwilling. Child, will you come with me or will you stay
with your father and brother?"
Goukou
watched as Goushou turned to look at himself, then at their father, and then
back to the figure that Goukou himself could not bear to gaze at directly. He
put his face against Goushou's shoulder and put all his will into the thought
in his mind. Stay. I will not let you go.
"My
lord... my lord," Goushou faltered.
"Yes,"
the voice said. "My poor child. Let me at least take some of that fire
from you, that your life be easier hereafter." The brilliance leaned
towards them, and with it came a wave of heat that made Goukou giddy in the
head. It bent towards Goushou, and then Goushou's body crumpled in his arms.
Goukou held him fast and lowered him to the ground. Goushou's eyes were closed,
and on his forehead was a round mark, like a circle of golden flame, that faded
even as Goukou watched. He did not notice their guest departing. When he looked
up the air was cool again, and a breeze was blowing the smell of ashes and
cinders from the charred pile where the palace had stood; and his father was
staring up at the sky with a smile of radiant wonder on his face. After a
moment he took a deep breath and looked down.
"Come,
Goukou," he said. "Cut off a part of your brother's cote and bind his
arm tightly so it will mend straight. I go to see how the rest of our household
fares. I think all are safe, but we will have to forage for food and water this
night, and return to the winter palace tomorrow. Bring Goushou over to the camp
when you are done."
"Yes,
Father," Goukou said, and did not speak his thoughts.
"Our
house has been honoured by his Excellency's favour, and for that distinction we
have your brother to thank. If his Excellency spoke true, and I cannot see how
he should not, matters will go more smoothly after this. We are doubly blessed,
Goukou."
"Yes,
chichi-ue. But we have also lost the palace that was your favourite."
"Oh,
a palace," Gouerh shrugged, and smiled. "What is a palace
compared to that," and he looked up at the sky. Then he turned on
his heel and walked away towards the rest of his men.
MJJ
Sep-Nov 03