XAU

Once.

NYA

A cold answer.
Your father had more passion.
Your father looked like a king. You?
It’s hard to believe you won two wars.
Did your generals fight
your battles for you?

XAU

They fought beside us.

NYA

And did they fight the demon too?

XAU

The demon—
the demon we slew alone,
after a friend died to save us.

NYA

Tell me what happened.

XAU

No.

NYA

I am your father’s mother.
I am dying.
Yet you refuse me.

LEONG

He is the king.
He is injured and in pain.
Yet he has been patient.

NYA

Another of your men speaks out of turn.
Have they no shred of discipline?

XAU

That is the second time
you have insulted our guards.
Do not do so again.
They are each of them better men
than our father, your son, ever was.

NYA

Hah! At last some spirit.
And in your men’s defense.
That speaks well of you, Xau.

XAU

We care little what you think of us,
but our guards have suffered greatly.
Their captain died three days ago
in our defense.

NYA

I did not know. I am sorry.

XAU

He... showed us how to be a king.

NYA

You grieve for him. That is fitting.
Where is his body?

XAU

Outside your stables,
watched over by our guard Gan.

NYA

I note you didn’t ask permission.

XAU

His body stays where it is. Undisturbed.
Or we will leave and take it with us.

NYA

Oh, relax. I’m old. My sons are dead.
I’m entitled to be cantankerous.
Eat. Rest. We will talk tomorrow.

Xau stands up unsteadily. His guards assist him.

SICKBED

Scene: Nya’s bedroom.

Enter King Xau and his guards.

XAU

Good morning, Grandmother.

NYA

Only two guards today?
Am I less fearsome lying abed?

XAU

Gan and Shuen are sleeping.
They stood guard overnight.

NYA

Oh, go ahead. Sit.
Did your father ever talk of me?

XAU

No. Our mother said you—

NYA

Your mother! An upstart
from an uncivilized backwater.

XAU

Our mother spoke six languages,
kept every empty point of etiquette,
yet had the trick of making
those about her happy.

NYA

A veritable paragon!
No, keep your seat. I’ll curb my tongue.
Listen. I maintain a large correspondence,
and have learned, besides much else,
that Shazia’s father, King Vihaz,
is beset by envy of your fame.

XAU

No rumor of this has reached us.

NYA

Vihaz minds his words in public,
then airs his grievances
to his junior wives.
A moment. Hand me that bowl.

XAU

Let us wipe your face.
You are in pain. We can return later.

NYA

Stay. Listen.
For now, Vihaz’s envy is outweighed
by desire to see your son, his grandson,
sit the throne of Meqing.
If that changes, beware.

XAU

We will tell Artoch.

NYA

Good. Now tell me how you bend
the horses to your command.

XAU

I do not know.

NYA

Oh come, you can do better.
I am your grandmother,
and, moreover, I am dying.