"I will go," Ai said without hesitation.

She stepped across the deck of the Young Emperor's ship and looked out from the railing at the two airships hovering in the distance, their gun ports braced wide open with cannons at the ready. "So he wishes to have me as well as four of our children? I will take care of them, so you need not worry about their well-being." 

"Are you sure about this?" Dae Jung came up beside her, a rare expression of concern looming over his wrinkled, old face.

Lai, Etsu, Kassashimei and I as well as the Young Emperor watched the two from the center deck where the Premier's gyro copter had landed and stood waiting. A few moments earlier, after the copter's boarding ramp came down, Princess Xiangfeng had rushed out and hurried into the ship. Ren Tzu followed, escorting the other children below decks. Chovis remained at the ramp, anticipating Dae Jungs final confirmation of the deal. 

"Each one of my ancestors has served the Imperial Family in one way or another. The father of my great-great-grandfather had given a pledge that we would protect the family for a hundred generations." Though Ai was without emotion as she spoke, the sincerity in her voice betrayed a hint of her solemn resolve. "My father, Master Lu, with his deceit and lies abandoned our pledge when he and General Fung overthrew the government. Though I cannot hope to regain my family's honor, I must do what little I can to preserve the Young Emperor's faith in us." 

"No, there’s no reason for you to leave," the Young Emperor said boldly, approaching Ai and stepping in front of his old advisor. "What possible use could the Premier have for you and the children? After all, this city sails their air ships using steam and western machines."

Dae Jung placed a stilling hand upon the Young Emperor's shoulder. The boy glanced up at him with an impatient frown, forcing the older man to hesitantly pull his hand away.

"Though archaic and to some extent, outdated," Dae Jung said, "our nation chooses to fly using the mystic arts, as it is the way of our culture. But the Premier does not see the gifts of our children in the manner we do. Because of the rarity of the gifts each chienkuu ko possesses, each and every one of them is worth a small fortune. The Premier knows this. And I am certain he’s well aware of how profound your gifts are Ai." 

"I see. So that’s what happened,“ Kassashimei interjected with a voice that sounded as accusing as it was disrespectful.  “That’s what happened to Ami and Sa Shi. You sold them didn’t you?” 

Dae Jung didn’t reply. So the Young Emperor pressed on with Kassashimei‘s claim. "That's it isn't it? And what of the other members of the court you left at Castleburg? Did you sell them too?"

"Those traitors brought it upon themselves.” Dae Jung's voice grew heated. "Their loyalty to you, to your family, was starting to wane. Banishing them was the proper thing to do."

"So you sold children for money and abandoned our own people?"

"Nothing is more sacred than preserving the well-being of the Imperial Family." Ai's stern voice cut through the tension in the air, silencing everyone. "Young Emperor, you are our reason for the sacrifices we make, and we do so willingly and proudly. If you must blame Dae Jung for the things that have happened, then you must blame me as well, because I knew and agreed to all that he committed. It may not be clear to you now, but once you comprehend your importance to us as well as your country, you will know the true reason why we took you aboard this ship and willingly endured every hardship in your family's name." 

Several soldiers took their positions beside us and stood attentively, heralding Chovis's presence. 

"I trust everything is in order?" he said. "Please excuse me if I am imposing, but the Premier is an impatient man. Let us move along with the trade. Trust me, you will have all the supplies you could ever need and all the repair facilities at our docks will be at your disposal. I will promptly see to that once our transaction is done." 

Ai laid her eyes upon all of us, a somber, yet determined smile upon her lips. She then boldly reached out and cupped her palm against the Young Emperor's cheek. 

Chovis bowed curtly to her as a group of soldiers escorted her to the awaiting gyro copter. 

"And who else?" Chovis looked expectantly at Dae Jung. "Don't forget, the deal was for four of your gifted children." 

"We will fetch you the other four," Dae Jung said.

"But there are children here already. I rather like those two." Chovis pointed to Etsu and Lai. "Their performance at the party was quite enchanting." 

Etsu gasped, clinging to Lai's arm. 

"There are better choices available. If you would allow me to present them to you." Dae Jung's eyes narrowed with grim discourse as he spoke.  

"Yes, bring them," Chovis said. "But I know quality when I see it and those two would make excellent commodities. I will take them and the other two you present me."

"Then Kassashimei and I will go as well," I said suddenly. "Trade us. Let us go with the others."

"No, I won't have it." The Young Emperor blurted. He came to my side and whispered harshly, "you will stay. Please stay."

I wanted to say something to him directly; to tell him that I wanted to be with Ai, to watch over her as well as Etsu and Lai. But how could I tell him? No matter what I said, it would be useless to reason with him. In the end, he would demand to have his way and force me to stay. So instead, I bowed and said I was sorry, then took Kassashimei by the hand and we proceeded to follow Etsu and Lai to the gyro copter. 

"Both of you, stop there," Chovis barked. "I won’t have either of you. I know the look in that girl's eyes, and I can tell that she will be just as disobedient and as much of a pain as that mouthy princess of yours. You two, get back." 

My heart sank. Kassashimei must have seen the dejected look on my face, because at that moment she took her hand away from mine, then strode up to the thin, lanky man. 

"If we somehow displease you," she said, "if you don't see us as worthy, then that's only because you’re too weak and simple-minded to see our true potential. We’re the best you will ever find on this ship, or all of Rui Nan for that matter."

"Step away girl," Chovis said with a low growl.

But she stood her ground. A soldier lightly prodded the butt of his rifle against her shoulder and repeated the man's order. Dae Jung, hoping not to test Chovis‘s tolerance, also demanded that she step away. Knowing she wouldn‘t listen, and with my concern growing, I stepped towards her and took her by the arm. Stubbornly, she shook my hand away and continued to glare unapologetically at him.

"Dae Jung." For the moment, he kept his anger at bay and maintained a strong, professional composure. "Take this girl away immediately or I will have her punished."

Dae Jung gave a stern glance in my direction. I nodded and once again tried to pull her away. Again, she refused to budge and slapped away my hands, her eyes unwaveringly focused on the individual whom she took great offense. 

"If you do not take us," she said. "Then I will ask the spirits to bring a curse upon you."

Chovis gave a small chuckle, amused by her seemingly vain threat. He then took a step towards her and rose the back of his fist to strike her. 

"Keep your hands off of her." Acting on instinct, I threw the full weight of my body against him. His tall, thin frame reeled backwards against one of his soldiers who caught him by the shoulders. 

A rifle butt struck the side of my head. My vision blurred and I stumbled to the side. Kassashimei gasped, grabbing my arm and catching me before tumbling to the ground.

"Stop it." The Young Emperor came between me and my assailant. He glared at the soldier who had struck me, then darted his eyes to Chovis. "He is an honored servant of the Empire. You do not have the right to touch him, let alone harm him."

Chovis growled under his breath, then regained his composure, brushing the dust from his suit. 

"Commodities, all of them," he said. "We call them slaves, you call them servants. Whatever their names they are worth a good amount of money. If you wish to profit from this deal boy, then you will step back and watch as the adults barter for the money and supplies that will guarantee your well-being." 

How strange it is, that like a river upon the mountain, the path of fate remains so unpredictable. Though a deal had been made between Dae Jung and the Premier, it would never come to pass. With hardly any warning, our frail negotiations would all-too quickly come to an abrupt end.

A shot, the thundering sound of a rifle pierced through the air, and everyone grew dreadfully still. 

Princess Xiangfeng emerged from far across the deck with the men of her personal guard. Most certainly without permission they had taken rifles from the ship's armory. One of them had their rifle barrel pointed in the air, smoking in the shot's aftermath. The princess's slender sword was drawn and she pointed its tip towards Chovis and his men as if threatening to give the order to charge.  

The soldiers responded and quickly pointed their weapons at the fierce-looking girl and her men. Dae Jung's eyes grew wide, as did mine. 

"Your business is done here," she said. "You and your soldiers will leave this ship."

Chovis seemed unconvinced, his fierce composure unwavering.

"Or if you so choose," she continued. "We can fire upon each other now and see which one of us lives."

"Stop this immediately." Dae Jung approached the defiant young girl, his disbelief turned to rage. "You have no right-"

His words were interrupted by the pale snap of the girl's sword as its point swung towards Dae Jung's chest. He stopped several paces from her, his eyes narrowing in disgust. 

"I have every right in the world," she said. "I am to be the empress. It is you who has no right to challenge me."

The audacity of her words left Dae Jung simmering. With a calm, determined raise of his hand he summoned every available guard on deck to draw their swords and ready their spears. The tension in the air stiffened. 

Three nations now faced each other; eyes glaring, weapons bared, and like a leaf caught in the crosswinds of fall, I stood trapped and fearful for my life, unable to run, unable to hide. 

As if sensing my distress, Ren Tzu appeared from amongst the masses of armed men and took his place at my side with his sword drawn.

“It may not be wise to stay here,” he said. “It’s not safe.”

I looked down at the beads on my wrist then lifted my eyes to Kassashimei who seemed strangely sure of herself, as if she knew my thoughts and understood what I was about to do. 

"No place is safe," I uttered. “Not anymore."