^^ Gem Coins ^^

--- Tama Arashi-Kumo ---

I sat with Lee-Ting across from me, a Shogi board between us, and we were currently engaged in a day-long match, which Lee-Kahn and Ten-Moro seemed shocked by.

She was wonderfully intelligent, and learned quickly, even training her magic at the same time, but using lightning to move the metal pieces.

That test of skill alone required a surgically exact control over the amount, direction, and intensity of the sparks, (something that had taken me around five months to learn acutely, and something Ran still struggled with,) and she was doing rather well.

After almost twelve minutes of deliberating, she moved a single, seemingly inconsequential piece, near the back of her formation, and I paused, staring at it, then looking a few moves ahead, which was especially difficult with her, because of how totally unpredictable she was.

I realized that piece would stop me from claiming her Emperor's Chariot, a rather thick eight-sided-coin impressed with the character for 'King', shaped from piece of Imperial-Green Jade, (I used two of every different type of Gemstone, which she viewed as a collection,) which she got to keep, if she beat me, and vise versa, which I'd used as incentive. She had a small fortune (well, for her,) in different Opals, Jade varieties, and other Normal Gemstones, which she liked to gamble on our games, every once in a while.

I sighed and made my own move, recognizing my defeat, even halfway into the game. She'd scored an incredibly defensible position, and was ready to make a move on my Emperor.

She finally bested me, after four more hours of painful playing, and I sighed. "Damn... well played, little one." I patted her hair, and then handed her the Opal Coin. "And for you, my young General, a prize."

She smiled and carefully placed it and her own piece back in her case of gemstone coins. "Why thank you, my good man!" She said haughtily, standing a little straighter sarcastically.

"She is skilled." An elderly man's voice surprised me, and she squeaked, clutching her box of stones, then kowtowing immediately.

I knelt. "Opal Emperor. I and my Apprentice are extremely honored by your gracing us with your presence on this fine day-"

"Yes yes... enough of that, please, you're my son-in-law, now, or you will be in three weeks... I came to speak to you..." He sat down slowly in my chair, and began setting the pieces. "... About your dragons. They were supposed to hatch eight weeks ago, yes? Are they Ill? Do they require companionship before they hatch, like some of our breeds?" He asked, lacing his knobby fingers together.

I bowed and sat opposite him at his urging. "It is completely possible that the Latter is true... the Physicians all agree,-a rare occurrence, as you well know,- that they are healthy, but as Qiáng-Lòng said, they are Dragons. They will hatch when they decide to do so."

He smiled fondly. "Yes... my Shen-Lòng was this way as well. Not even I, the Opal Emperor, could make him move, if he was comfortable, or eat, if he decided he wasn't hungry."

I blinked. "You had a Dragon?"

"The last of the Breeding Dragons... yes. He was Mountain-Opal, like Qiáng-Lòng, and even possibly her father, if you'd believe it, and he lived almost 80 years, until an assassin killed him with a lamb, filled with poison enough to kill a hundred dragons his size." He frowned.

"Wait, he ate a sheep? Your dragons need food? And Air?" I blinked, thinking swiftly.

He raised an eyebrow. "I wondered why Lord Sora only seemed vaguely interested in the sheep that have been sent to his clearing. I'll have them removed... or perhaps not. He likely thinks them his belongings. I shall cover up my mistake with a few different breeds of mountain goats and rams, then horses and such... he does seem to like examining them."

"Yes, he's very much the Scholar. He likes examining and hoarding living creatures, instead of gold and jewels. Be careful you do not put any interesting people near him. He's already irrevocably claimed one of your sons." I smiled.

"Hmm? Which one?" He asked easily.

"I can't quite remember his name... his mother was added to your harem after his birth." I waved a hand vaguely at the harem.

"Ah. Well, if the Dragon wishes him, he may take him 'under his wing', so to speak..." he nodded. "Now where are the Emperor Carriages?" He looked at the empty spots in the board.

"Ah, yes. When I play with Lee-Ting, I reward her winning with gemstone pieces, as an incentive. She also gambles her own." I explained, and set an Opal and a Jade on the empty places.

"Oh?" He asked curiously.

She slowly placed her box next to him, open, and stepped away.

"Ooh, very nice collection, child." He nodded.

"T-thank you, Emperor." She bowed, slowly taking it back, and hugging the closed and locked chest protectively.

"Oh don't worry, I'm not covetous... do you find Prince Kumo a Challenging opponent?" He asked.

She blinked, then nodded. "He's the best, that I've ever played, at least. Lee-Kahn is almost as good, but Ten-Moro doesn't understand the rules, and prefers a game called 'Mancala', which is much easier."

He smiled. "And do you think I will beat him?"

"Only if he lets you." She said honestly.

He blinked. "Oh! Still some to learn... but I respect your direct honesty, child. I also respect your ability to be wrong! I'm quite good, you know." He winked, playing off his initial shock and reflexive noble anger.

She smiled, showing her missing left canine, (lost in a Spar with Ten-Moro. She'd head-butted him so hard she lost a tooth, cracking his skull,). "I usually answer with more political correctness, but it would wound my pride if he lost, because he beats me twice as much as I him."

He chuckled. "I see. Yes, pride and honesty. I like the combination. Your parents must be very proud, child."

She blinked. "My parents sold me to a slaver when they realized I was a Mage, and they could make a lot of money off my sale, so... I don't think they'd really care." She walked away from his shocked face, and he slowly turned to me.

"Your Apprentice is a Slave?" He asked quietly.

"She was, yes. A resident weather-Mage on-board the Strider, where she was treated well, thankfully. The captain only bought her as a formality. She's basically his and his wife's adoptive daughter." I explained simply.

He was quiet for a moment. "... I see... I will make reparations to her, then. I did not mean to offend a young maiden's emotions."

I bowed. "It is much appreciated... she likes fish, and her ship, the Strider." I added as an afterthought, and then gestured at the board. "Would you like the first move?"

He nodded slowly. "I would, indeed... and I shall bet my own treasure." He set a small platinum brooch in the shape of his dragon's wing on the side-table.

I paled slightly, at the thought of taking something from him.

He laughed. "Don't worry, I'm not very possessive of objects, and for the first time in almost a month, I have a full day to myself, and I will spend it getting to know my newest family member, and he me. Acceptable?"

I relaxed slowly, and nodded. "Yes, Emperor. Very agreeable."

"Good, then... Let us... 'play the odds', yes?" He grinned happily.

I nodded, and then looked at Ten-Moro. "Please bring me the golden Molina."

He flinched. "The... diamond encrusted one?"

"That is a Platinum brooch. Yes, the Diamond-Encrusted, Golden Molina." I nodded.

He bowed and sprinted off into my quarters, which were a large tent-pavilion, as close to the Dragon-Plateau as they'd let me place it.

"You live not in the Palace?" The Emperor asked.

"I live where my dragon does. He likes it up there, and there's nowhere in the palace he could live comfortably, so this is where I live. Though, I confess I do enjoy the sunrises. Those colors... art." I said sincerely.

He smiled. "I watch them from my quarters, every morning. And I respect living where your dragon does. You're comfortable, though?"

"Absolutely. I have everything, here, that I would at home. Though, I do live rather militaristically, compared to my servants, which is an odd thing to say." I chuckled.

He blinked again. "How so?"

"The royal physicians... it's a place of great respect and honor, and they are treated like the highest of Lords. My preferred lifestyle is more... General, or Admiral. I have nice things, but I am not captivated by them. Not tied to them. So I keep my art near me, and a sturdy cot, and I'm happy." I explained.

Ten-Moro returned, gingerly holding the Golden Molina, a small star-gazing instrument, held in both hands, and gazed through like a telescope, for the same effect. Diamonds encrusted the sides, and the insanely strong zooming reach was because of the Diamond plates to magnify the image, even more effective than a crystal.

The Emperor blinked. "That... I am quite impressed. It is not often that I am outdone in terms of beauty and wealth..." he added the second half of the brooch, also made of pure platinum, and waved off my protests. "Platinum is a little easier to get here, if not much. I view them as equal."

"Very well, Emperor... then you have the honors." I tapped the lucky red-oak board for good fortune.

He smiled, and moved the first piece. "And may I ask who built this magnificent Piece?"

"My-... My Lady Tanjo, the Royal Blacksmith's Daughter. She usually builds talismans, but she made this for me upon a dare, two years ago." I smiled at the memory.

He hummed. "And your reply?"

"I gave her a Diamond Dagger, enchanted to make its Wearer soundless. It was an old joke between us, because she would always sneak up on me, without meaning to." I nodded, and made my retort.

"A dagger? Made all of diamond?"

"Indeed."

"Hmm... and she was your lover, this woman?" He asked casually.

"She... not in those ways. She was my Best Friend, my Confidant, my... companion, just as Sora is. There were... intentions, on my part, but I would never have defiled her honor." I shook my head.

"Ahh... and, of course, those Intentions are gone, now." He nodded.

"They are not. She will be my second wife, and that suits her just fine. She wouldn't be a good Empress, she's simply unqualified, and she's alright with that. I was only a Branch-Son, a year ago, and so I was free to make promises to her, as an Elite Lady of a very honorable Clan, almost equal to my own in wealth and standing." I hummed.

He blinked. "And have you spoken to Tiān-Kōng about this?"

"Yes, indeed. She agreed." I answered, and moved another piece, consolidating my Front Lines.

He tsk'ed, recognizing my newfound Position. "I see... as long as she does not feel insulted."

"I would never... I'm fairly certain she would neuter me in my sleep if I offended her overly much!" I laughed softly.

He smirked. "I think you're right... ah well. So long as you give her children, I think she'll be happy. Despite that odd nonsense when she was younger, deciding to serve as the Commander of the Guard, she really does have a Maternal side to her. It's quite touching, seeing her with children."

I smiled. "She is very good with Ting, when they play together."

He smiled genuinely. "Indeed... and I do think this is check!" He triumphantly placed a piece down.

I raised an eyebrow and consolidated my Knights, blocking him completely.

---

"Emperor! Emperor, I-"

The emperor held up one finger imperiously, (ha) and then returned to gazing at the board. He slowly made his own move, cautiously and jealously protecting his Emperor's Chariot, which I was close to taking out.

"Yes?" He asked, looking up.

"There's been another attack... in the Market. Sixty dead. The Wolf is still there, hemmed in by-"

A dragon's enraged roar shook the entire city, knocking the board off the table, and I darted to my feet.

"SORA!!!" I sprinted towards the sound, stealing a guard's spear as I passed him, and used it to pole-vault the low wall of the plateau, then used a bit of wind to glide down to the ground, and start sprinting again.

I reached the square in under a minute, and burst through the ring of guards.

The wolf was holding two of the baby dragon's by their throats, and Sora was bleeding from his snout, glaring at the wolf with a level of pure hatred I'd never wished to see in him.

I snarled softly. "You harm those dragons, and I shall personally escort you to Hell's Gates."

He flinched at the sight of my eyes, and I gazed at him impassively, the molten metallic-white of my cursed eyes boring into his green pupils.

I started to see his soul, and I couldn't look away to stop it, so I let his memories wash over me, fueling my hatred with his memories of slaughtering children and farmers, hiding amongst the humans of this market, before shifting in the center, and destroying them in seconds.

The blood and cracked bones everywhere, but no whole bodies, told me all I needed to know about the rest, as his memories were cut off when he blinked, and shook his head.

Immediately, when his eyes closed, my purloined spear, glowing a deadly purple, embedded itself in his lower stomach, right above his pelvis. Then, I lifted, and he screamed in pain as he started sliding down the spear, settling it further into him until it stabbed his heart, and fried it into charcoal.

I slammed the spear into the stones, and then gently guided the baby dragons, who were stretching their bruised hides, to Sora.

He snarled at the guards who were suddenly too close for his liking, despite not moving, and disappeared off like a wisp of smoke, flying away as fast as he could towards the Plateau.

"Identify the bones as best you can, and notify the families... then start cleaning this up." I waved to the guards, sighing heavily.

They bowed, and started getting to work as I walked back to the palace.