by Kylie Chan
I stopped at the entrance. ‘How many days have you been back?’
‘Five. No, six,’ he said, sitting behind his massive ebony desk and checking his email.
I waved one hand at the pile of papers in danger of spilling onto the floor. ‘I do not believe this.’
‘He won’t suffer a secretary either,’ Liu said, sitting at the small conference table. ‘Talk to him, please.’
John glared over the desk at Liu. ‘I’ve had secretaries in the past. I can never find anything. No more.’ He picked up his diary and pen — green and gold with the Xuan Wu animal on it: a special limited edition made by a Japanese pen company — and joined us at the table. ‘Is everything under control?’
‘We still have funerals to hold down on the Earthly,’ Liu said. ‘We need to restart classes to keep the students busy.’
‘Thanks for notifying the families while I was out of action,’ I said, feeling guilty.
‘We Immortals are better suited for such tasks anyway,’ Meredith said.
‘Don’t worry, Emma, we can handle things like this. Delegate. It’s fine,’ Liu said.
‘We need to find a new representative to recruit new students,’ Meredith said. ‘Gold won’t leave his children.’
‘Choose someone,’ John said.
‘Leo,’ Liu said.
John leaned back, opened his mouth and closed it again. ‘I see.’
‘That’s very transparent,’ I said.
Liu shrugged. ‘Immortals aren’t known for their duplicity. I’ll tell him straight up when I talk to him about the job that it’s to give him something to live for: the joy of bringing new students here.’
‘It will be interesting to see how he reacts. This could be a measure of how determined he is — whether or not he will take the time to enjoy this post for a while,’ John said.
‘That’s also very transparent,’ I said. ‘You still have to arrange a day.’
He flipped open his desk diary; he’d scribbled in it to such a degree that it was as chaotic as his desk. ‘I’ll have to move things around.’ He looked up at Liu. ‘Anything else?’
‘Gold urgently wants to speak to you. I’d be surprised if he isn’t outside waiting.’
‘Send him in,’ John said. He shared a look with me. ‘The other three Winds will be in touch soon, asking when I’ll be there.’
Liu and Meredith rose, saluted us and went out. As they exited, Gold and Zara — the diamond that had been with Clarissa — came in. Gold’s tan suit seemed to complement Zara’s completely white hair and golden skin.
Gold sat at the table and laced his fingers together, speaking urgently. ‘Zara’s been damaged. We looked her over, trying to find the exact time that Clarissa was replaced, and there’s a huge corrupt area in her lattice.’
‘Someone turned that part of me from diamond to graphite,’ she said. ‘I feel unclean.’
‘When did it happen?’
‘From working back through it, we figure it happened about eight weeks ago,’ Gold said. ‘But that’s not the disturbing thing. We found something else. Another part of her lattice was also transformed. Several hours of her trip to Hell in the possession of the Lady Rhonda are missing as well.’
‘Rhonda’s alive!’ I said.
‘No, ma’am, that was definitely Rhonda at the coronation,’ Gold said. ‘There can be no doubt.’
‘No, listen,’ I said. ‘If it was one of the copies that John’s only recently detected, then nobody would have been able to sense that it was a demon.’
Gold thought for a moment. ‘Didn’t the Lady herself say that it was Rhonda?’
I hesitated at that; he was right. ‘Is it possible that Kwan Yin was wrong?’
‘I know you want Rhonda to be alive,’ John said, ‘but Kwan Yin is greater than any of us. She is a holy Bodhisattva, and incapable of being incorrect. She may withhold information to balance the nature of the All, but she won’t lie to you.’
‘I see,’ I said.
John looked down at the table. ‘I can check the Records, Emma. I can confirm it for you. I have access to the Book.’
‘I’d appreciate it, John. I have a nagging doubt — I really want her to be alive.’
‘I understand.’
‘What is to become of me?’ Zara said. ‘Will you return me to the Tiger?’
‘What would you like to do?’ I said.
‘I would like to stay here on the Mountain and help you,’ Zara said. ‘I have grown very fond of Lord Michael and I loved Lady Clarissa very much. I understand that my presence distresses Lord Michael, so if you wish to send me away I will understand.’
‘She could temporarily replace the Jade Building Block,’ Gold said.
‘No, sir, please,’ Zara said, desperate. ‘I am bad luck when carried as jewellery. If that is the only post you have available for me, I will return to the West.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous, you’re not bad luck. It was just coincidence,’ I said.
‘I’m sorry, my Lady, but there’s no such thing as a coincidence,’ Zara said. ‘I am not meant to be worn as jewellery. Both times I have done it, my wearer has died. I do not wish to risk anyone else.’
‘How about being a personal assistant to the Dark Lord himself?’ I said.
‘No,’ John said.
Zara looked at each of us in turn, her expression bright with hope.
‘Before you even think about it, check out his desk,’ I said.
She peered around me to see and her expression changed to disbelief. She glanced from John to his desk and back again.
‘Would you be willing to deal with an impossible man who not only can generate a mess like that in a very short time, but also will complain bitterly after you’ve cleaned it up that he can’t find anything?’ I said.
‘But … he’s the Dark Lord. Heaven’s greatest Champion, Right Hand of the Jade Emperor … the Xuan Wu, the power of yin …’
‘The power of chaos,’ I said. ‘Believe me, this is tidy.’
‘I’m right here,’ John said.
‘Yeah, if you were behind your desk, it would be twice as bad already.’ I turned to Zara. ‘All you have to do is say you’ll think about it. I know it’s a huge step to take, and I can vouch for the fact that it’ll be a frustrating and thankless job.’
‘I’m still right here,’ John growled.
‘John, a stone would be perfect for this. A diamond’s lattice is the most efficient memory storage of all the stones; you’ll never lose anything as long as you have her.’
‘Oh, now you’re insulting me,’ Gold said.
I leaned back and kept my face straight. ‘You’re mostly quartz, Gold. You’re the best timekeeper on the Mountain.’
Zara put her hand over her mouth and collapsed over the table in silent laughter.
‘When can you start?’ John said.
Zara straightened and bobbed her head. ‘Immediately, my Lord.’
‘I’ll have a desk ornament made for you to sit in, if you like,’ I said.
She brightened again. ‘You are too kind, ma’am.’
‘Gold, arrange it,’ John said. ‘And now I really must make a move to the other three Bastions. The Winds have been doing the equivalent of swords on rocks in my head since we started talking.’
‘I want to see the recordings around Zara’s damage,’ I said. ‘Arrange it for when we return, Gold.’
‘Ma’am,’ Gold said. ‘Also, about me recruiting —’
‘Already fixed,’ I said. ‘We’re offering Leo the job.’
‘I hope he takes it,’ Gold said. He rose and saluted us. ‘My Lord. My Lady.’
‘May I come with you to the Bastions, my Lord?’ Zara said. ‘I would like to start assisting you now, if I may. I am eager.’
‘Very well,’ John said. ‘Go ahead of us to the Eastern Palace, warn the Dragon that we’re on our way. But before you go, advise the Golden Boy that if he enters our presence again without showing due respect, he wil
l be punished. Dismissed.’
Zara saluted John and disappeared.
Gold fell to one knee and saluted as well, head bowed. ‘This small and humble Shen begs his Lord’s forgiveness.’
‘Lady Emma has been far too lenient with you,’ John said. ‘Tighten up the protocol. Remember who you are, and where you are.’
‘I will never forget, my Lord, because in your service I have come very far.’
CHAPTER 25
We rode a cloud together to the Eastern Palace, which was so high that John had to provide me with air.
The Eastern Palace, home of Qing Long, the Spirit of Wood, was a mighty floating tree a kilometre tall with roots nearly as deep. Its roots held the soil together into a circle of ground two kilometres across, with water constantly streaming from underneath it. The buildings of the Palace stood around the Tree’s trunk: glittering pale blue and turquoise glass high-rises, up to thirty storeys high, nestling under its branches. The buildings grew smaller as they spread from the Tree, making it appear as if they were gathering around it. Smaller trees, flower-filled gardens and ponds adorned the ground around the tree, between shining white-tiled pathways edged in blue.
We landed at the end of a wide avenue leading up to the Dragon’s own dwelling. In contrast to the modern high rises, it was a traditional Japanese castle, with eight storeys of pitched roofs and upraised corners, white walls and blue tiles. It sat in the centre of a perfectly circular pond, surrounded by maple and mulberry trees. Their leaves were changing colour, providing a spectacular autumn display that was reflected in the water.
The Dragon was waiting for us in Celestial Form at the edge of the Tree’s grounds: three metres tall, slim and elegant, his long turquoise hair held in a topknot and floating down to his knees. He was dressed as a Japanese samurai in a wide-sleeved turquoise robe embossed with silver dragons over a pair of broad silver silk pants and soft leather black boots, with the dual swords in his belt. He was flanked by six warriors, similarly dressed, three on either side of him.
As John and I stepped off the cloud, the Dragon and all his retainers fell to one knee in perfect unison and saluted us. ‘Ten thousand years.’
‘Rise,’ John said.
The Dragon stood and bowed to John. ‘I thank you for your generosity in visiting my small abode. Please, take tea with me.’
John bowed back. ‘Thank you for your kind offer. I would first check your halls and plazas for the presence of demons that only I may detect.’
The Dragon turned side-on and gestured towards the castle. ‘Please, then, this way.’
His Retainers formed an honour guard around us as we walked side by side towards the castle.
A smaller version of the Great Tree, thirty metres tall, stood in the centre of the avenue up to the castle. Young dragons, in both human and True Form, lounged on the circular grass garden beneath it.
‘Get lost,’ the Dragon said loudly as we approached, and they all either flew away or disappeared. ‘How is the Princess? Is she well?’
‘She is well,’ John said. ‘The clan of the North fares well. How is your family?’
‘My family thrives and prospers; both here and at my undersea Palace.’
I began to wonder if coming along had been such a good idea. Normally when I came to the Eastern Palace it was to eat with Jade at one of the excellent food outlets — the cold buckwheat soba noodles they made by hand in the Palace were unmatched anywhere — and I didn’t have to deal with the tedious protocol.
We approached the Palace, walked across the surface of the pond, and the wooden doors swung open. The Retainers formed a guard outside the door, and we went through a lobby area, traditionally furnished, with a polished wood floor. Living branches of the Tree were embedded in the walls and ceiling, seeming to provide extra structural support. A modern elevator was directly ahead, the steel doors stunningly decorated with gold enamel chrysanthemum flowers each a metre across. The back of the lift was glass, and as we shot upwards we could see out onto a central open atrium the height of the building.
On the top floor, the doors opened and we went out. A kneeling female dragon opened the paper-screened shoji door for us, and we removed our shoes and went inside. The door closed again, and the Dragon waited without moving for her to leave.
I went to the window and looked out. The dragons around the small tree had returned, and the gleaming white avenue was now bustling with life: children running around, families walking together. The canopy of the Great Tree stretched overhead.
I turned back to the room. Large, brightly coloured silk cushions were scattered on the tatami mats around a central coffee table set with tea things. The dragon girl must have gone, because the Dragon strode to John and pulled him into a huge embrace, kissing him on both cheeks.
‘God, it is good to have you back, Ah Wu,’ he said, his voice thick with emotion. He pulled away, still holding one of John’s hands. ‘Come and talk with me for a while; then go check for the demons. I’m sure there’s none here but you never know.’
He led John to the table by the hand and we all sat around it. The Dragon poured green tea with toasted rice in it for each of us, and raised his cup. ‘To the return of the Dark Lord. And about damn time too.’
I raised my cup.
‘The Tiger and the Phoenix want me as well, Ah Qing, I can’t stay forever,’ John said.
‘I understand, Ah Wu. We’ll have plenty more time like this.’ He turned a shy smile to me. ‘You did a great job, Emma. Ignore the bullshit; you’ll do just fine.’
‘Thanks, Ah Qing,’ I said. ‘Is the Tree awake? I’d love to say hello.’
‘Oh yes, she’d like to look at your sword.’ The Dragon turned to John. ‘Hop out the window and do a quick once-over of the Palace while Emma and I show the Tree her blade. When you come back I’ll have some vegetarian sushi for you.’
There was a tap on the screen, and the same young female dragon opened it on her knees.
‘I said I was not to be disturbed!’ the Dragon yelled at her.
The Tree’s human form came in and the Dragon irritably waved for the young woman to close the door.
The Tree wore a Japanese kimono of autumnal colours, embroidered with the same leaves that were falling outside. Her red and gold hair was unbound and fell thick and straight to the floor around her. She bowed elegantly to me, and I stood and bowed in return. She gestured for me to sit again and I did.
‘Tree,’ John said.
‘Turtle,’ the Tree said, her voice full of the sound of whispering leaves. ‘If you find anything here I will be extremely surprised.’
‘I will too,’ John said.
The Dragon went to the window and slid it open wider. John took a running leap out of it and disappeared. The Dragon returned to the table and poured more tea.
‘I hear that my little son Justin has been going out with Simone,’ he said. ‘She’s chosen the smallest and weakest of all the dragons on the Tree, but he’s smart and determined and will go far.’
‘I’m very impressed with him,’ I said. ‘Do you know why no dragon traits have emerged in him?’
The Dragon shrugged. ‘With a population as large as this, there are bound to be one or two right on the edge of the curve. It happens. He’s using his intelligence and common sense to work around it, and making a fine job of it. I just wish the other dragons would cut him some slack.’
‘You could tell them to leave him alone,’ I said.
He smiled wryly. ‘What, and blow my cover? I’ve built this persona over centuries, Emma. I won’t throw it away for one emo kid.’
The Tree interrupted. ‘Sorry, but I’d like to see the sword, please.’
‘Oh yeah,’ the Dragon said. ‘Bring it out before the Tree bursts into flames with curiosity.’
I summoned the Murasame and felt the slight hesitation before it obeyed me. It appeared horizontally on my outstretched hands, and I ordered it not to hurt the Tree, then held it out for her.
<
br /> She raised one slender hand and the sword floated above the table, then the scabbard slid halfway off it.
‘Interesting; it is still painful even though there is no physical contact,’ she said.
‘I can feel it too,’ the Dragon said. ‘And that’s with you telling it to behave?’
‘Yes,’ I said. ‘It’s a hundred times worse if I don’t give you permission to touch it.’
‘Damn,’ the Dragon said.
The Tree waved her hands and the sword returned to the scabbard, then fell to rest on the table. ‘I have seen enough.’
I touched the sword’s handle, told it to go home, and it disappeared.
The Dragon and the Tree spoke in unison. ‘I was interested because there’s a sword in Osaka …’
The Dragon raised both hands. ‘Sorry, my mistake. I was still connected to the Tree.’ He poured more tea for me.
‘The sword in the museum in Osaka is supposedly the real Murasame,’ the Tree said. ‘I honestly thought that your blade was some demon-spawned bastard blade that was the source of much of your grief with your demon nature,’ the Tree said. ‘I did not want to tell you until I had seen the blade and was sure.’
‘And?’ I said.
‘And the blade you wield is definitely the Murasame itself. It is darker and more destructive than anything a demon could create.’
‘I don’t know whether I should be pleased or not,’ I said.
‘Be pleased. One day you may have the chance to use it on the Demon King himself,’ the Dragon said.
John flew in through the window, somersaulted and landed on his feet. ‘Nothing. Next stop, the West.’
‘It’s been great to be able to talk to the real you for a change, Ah Qing,’ I said. ‘Come to the Mountain more often and share tea with us.’
‘No, you come here,’ the Dragon said. ‘Simone and Leo don’t know, and I want as few to know as possible. I will not display weakness to anyone except my Lord.’