19 龍口奪糧
lóngkǒu duó liáng
Snatch food from the dragon's mouth.
Speed up the summer harvesting before the storm breaks.

*~*~*~*~*~*

I intended to seek out Kageyama and ask if my suspicions about Nakamura were correct, but when I returned, Guang Han's carriage was waiting in the courtyard for me again. All thoughts of kitsune and tanuki fled in the face of an angry dragon.

I had scarcely dismounted from Nakamura's carriage when Guang Han burst from his own.

Before I could think what to do he had grabbed my upper arm near the shoulder and started dragging me toward his carriage. I tried to dig in my heels, but my feet skidded uselessly on the straw covered cobblestones of the courtyard.

"I heard you paid the Second Prince a visit this morning, my dear, followed by the Ambassador..." Guang Han said, his words laced with steel.

He was having me watched! It seemed it wasn't only Zhen who had been following me this summer.

I knew if I entered the carriage with Guang Han, it was unlikely I would emerge whole, or even breathing. So I did what anyone else would do when being dragged by a dragon back to its lair. I started to struggle and cry out.

Around us servants and guards looked on. Many seemed torn, but none dared step in. Cowards. Fools. I twisted in Guang Han's iron like grasp, trying to free myself, so I could flee. If I could get inside Chuanfang, I could find Zakhar, or even Kageyama to help me—

"What are you doing?"

Guang Han and I both froze. Sanli stood there, dressed casually in linen pants and a shirt. Both hands were tucked in his pockets, and his hair was wet. I noticed the salt crusted about his forehead, and realized he had been swimming.

"My betrothed and I are going for a little ride, so we can have a little talk," said Guang Han. The emphasis on 'little' sounded sinister.

"You can talk to her just fine where you stand," Sanli said. The look on his face surprised me. He was not smiling, and his green eyes burned with something like anger.

It was not an expression I had seen on him before.

"You... you're the bastard prince," said Guang Han, mouth quirking in a sneer.

"A pleasure, Lord Guang," said Sanli, inclining his head in a mocking show of courtesy. He nodded toward where Guang Han's hand gripped me, so tight my arm tingled with numbness. "Let her go."

"Do not presume to tell me what to do with my betrothed."

"That may be... but she is still in my employ. And you are on my land," said Sanli, taking a step forward, his hands still in his pockets.

"Careful, little prince. It sounds like you want a fight."

"Careful, dragon. I may be a bastard, but I am still a prince."

Guang Han's smile widened, then he turned from Sanli and leaned forward to speak in my ear. "Play the game both ways, and you lose double."

I assumed his words meant that he knew I had crossed him.

With one final, painful squeeze on my arm, Guang let go, then strode to his carriage and entered without a backward glance. He rapped on the roof from the inside, and the carriage moved off, taking the dragon with it.

Sanli and I let out a sigh as one. Sanli's shoulders, that had been tight with tension, sagged. He took his hands from his pockets. In one he held a small piece of paper covered in black characters; a spell. In the other, he held his seal, already covered in blood from his pricked thumb.

I had thought Sanli had confronted the dragon unarmed, like a fool. Now I realized he had been prepared, and armed, the whole time.

"I didn't ask for your help," I said with nastiness. I knew I was being unreasonable. I had clearly been crying for help moments before.

"You're welcome," said Sanli, sticking his bleeding thumb in his mouth.

Fuming, I strode past him into Chuanfang.

*~*~*~*~*~*

I sent a servant to the palace to bring Zhangyu the name I had acquired from Nakamura.

I confess, I was afraid to go myself.

I lay in my room staring up at my silk draped ceiling, hating my feelings of helplessness. Hating that I was afraid what Guang Han might do to me.

I wondered how I was going to survive the summer, while still keeping Ermi out of his reach. My plan, so simple before, had become dangerous and difficult. I wished now I had not opened my mouth at the Midsummer Banquet, and spread those lies. Your impulsive nature has got you into trouble once more, Lu had often told me when I found myself in some new predicament. I could just imagine him saying the same now.

Finally, as the afternoon grew late, I tired of sitting and stewing in my room. It was boiling hot, and the temperature plus my thoughts combined threatened to suffocate me. Inspired by the sight of Sanli earlier, I changed into loose linen clothes, and resolved to go swimming.

Chuanfang had several stone piers, shielded from the ocean waves by two arms of rocks that created a natural harbor. The small bay was reached by a long flight of stairs wrapping around the cliff. The sun was sinking to the west by this time, and the piers were on the east and south side of Chuanfang, so the piers and the sea around it was in the shadow cast by Chuanfang.

Ermi's ship, The Serendipity, was moored there, among others with a variety of differently styled kirin, some fierce, some fair. Ships of the royal family. Chuanfang really did earn its name of the 'Boat House'.

All of the ships were in pristine condition. Infact, aside from The Serendipity, they appeared unused, perfect unworn white sails and unmarked decks.

Lu himself had hated the sea. I had asked him to voyage with me once, down the east coast to the rich tidal lands of the south, and he had accepted, but on the condition we go by land. He said he preferred the feel of earth beneath his feet. I wondered if, aside from the seafaring Ermi, his other descendents were the same.

I made my way to the end of a pier, passing ships on both sides. The sound of waves lapping against the pier and sides of ships filled my ears and my heart like a familiar song. At the end of the pier I stopped and kicked off my shoes, feeling the cool stones beneath my feet.

I stripped off the loose linen clothes I wore, and stood there in nothing but a short cotton shift. The garment was translucent now, and would be even more so once wet, but I didn't much care.

Without the long sleeves to cover them, the bruises left by Guang Han's grasp were painfully obvious on my pale skin. Black-brown bands wrapped around my left upper arm. They looked like one of Zakhar's tattoos, but with the color washed out.

I took two steps back, then ran and dove into the water.

Immediately the sound changed, the strange roaring silence that came with the ocean filling my ears. I kicked out, driving myself deep and deeper, feeling the press of the water against my skin. My eyes were closed, but still I sensed the light darkening as the amount of water between me and the surface increased.

Finally, realizing I could go no deeper, I turned and kicked for the surface, chest burning.

I emerged on the surface with a gasp, breathing deep, so the air I now needed to survive could fill my lungs.

"You know, they say dragons are born from the sea."

I opened my eyes, blinking against the sting of salt water. I had emerged not far from where I had dived. Sanli stood above me on the pier. His customary smile was back in place, and he grinned down at me. "Aren't you worried that the dragon will come and drag you down to drown?"

"He can't take his true form inside the Wall," I said dully, ignoring the prince's poor humor. I swam to the pier and folded my arms on it, leaning my chin on my folded arms, my face turned away from him.

I felt him glance down at me. His eyes lighted on the bruises.

"Let me treat your arm," Sanli said.

"No."

"Why do you so dislike having people help you?"

I said nothing.

"Is it because it makes you feel weak?"

Still I said nothing.

Sanli sighed and sat beside me, hanging his feet over the edge of the pier. "Why did you get engaged to Guang Han? Was it for Ermi? Because of our agreement?"

I had almost forgotten the agreement that I would help keep unworthy suitors away from his niece. I had simply wanted to cheat Guang Han. That was all.

I turned my head on my arms to look up at him. "Full of questions, aren't you my prince?"

"I'm just trying to understand your motives," said Sanli, resting his chin in his hand as he studied me. His hair was still stringy from the ocean, and fell in twisted strands across his forehead.

"Trying to figure me out? Good luck. I confuse myself sometimes," I looked away from him, toward the ships moored along the pier. They gently rose and fell with the swell of the sea, held in place by their moorings.

Sanli looked down, tracing a finger along the contours of the stone pier by his leg. "I've always found if you know a person's motives, a person's wants, you can very well predict what they are going to do. But I can't figure out what you want at all, Lady Four Strings." His finger stopped its idle tracing, and he looked at me. "Why did you come to Zhanghai?"

"I could say the same to you, little prince. Why are you searching for the Sixth God? Tell me your motives and I will tell you mine."

Our eyes met, and we sat in silence for a long time, each one of us unwilling to give up our secrets. To reveal your mind was to become weak, vulnerable.

Finally Sanli turned his eyes to the distant horizon.

"It looks like storms are coming," he said.

"It is late summer, there are bound to be storms." I kicked my legs out in the water behind me, liking the feel of the cool water against my skin as I moved my legs up and down in it. Beneath my wet shift, the curves of my form were very visible, and yet the prince had hardly glanced at them. I felt rather insulted.

I felt Sanli's eyes return to me, but not where I wanted them to be. "Show me your arm," he insisted again.

In response, I cupped a hand in the water and threw it at the prince, soaking his front and face.

Sanli froze in surprise, then wiped the water from his face with one hand, "I'm just trying to help you!"

"No, you are trying to manipulate my feelings in order to use me for your own ends. Do not pretend to care for me."

Sanli's mask slipped a fraction, and I saw bitterness. "I am not pretending. Is that how you see all kindness? As a tool for manipulation?" His smile was wry.

"Most."

"Is that what you thought earlier? When I stood between you and a dragon? That was all to achieve my own ends, was it?"

"Most likely. If not, then why?"

The bitterness on his face was plain now. "Why? I hate seeing the strong prey on the weak. But I don't suppose you believe me."

For a second, I foolishly thought he was accusing me of taking advantage of Guang Han. And then I realized where I figured in his phrase. I was the prey. The weak.

With a swing of my hand, I splashed more water at the prince before submerging once more. I felt angry, again for no reason. It was true, after all. I was weak now. I kicked hard, away from the pier, letting my anger propel me forward.

When I surfaced again, ahead of me was nothing but waves, growing larger. On the horizon dark clouds were gathering, just as Sanli had said.

I turned to look back at the pier, but Sanli was gone.

*~*~*~*~*~*

I swam a while longer, and then sat on the pier alone, until the ocean wind grew chill on my skin. Then I put on my linen clothes and went inside Chuanfang.

As I walked barefoot through the cool halls I felt guilt slink its way into my belly. The little prince had helped me earlier, when no one else would. And I had done nothing to thank him but question his motives.

I found a familiar figure waiting for me in the hall by my room. Dressed in a loose silk gown, complete with hair ornaments and a silk scarf of mismatching colors, Ermi stood hesitating outside my door.

"Are you looking for me?" I asked.

Ermi whirled. "Ao-jie!" she exclaimed. "I- I wasn't sure if you were sleeping off the heat, and didn't want to disturb you." I noticed Ermi had a paper wrapped package tied with twine clutched to her chest.

"I am not asleep, as you can see," I said, stating the obvious. "I went swimming." I nodded to the package in her arms. "What is that?"

"Oh, uh—" Ermi hurriedly passed me the package. It was light, despite it's bulk. "It's a dress. From Wa. A yukata, they're called. I, um... I thought... there's a festival, tomorrow night, down by the docks in the North District, celebrating Wa culture. We go every year, with Sho Sensei. He likes it, I think, because it reminds him of home." I held the package, patiently waiting for Ermi to get to the point. "It's always a lot of fun, they have games, and festival food. And you've seemed a little down lately..."

'Furious', 'indignant' and 'frustrated' would have been the words I would have used to describe my mood that month. Not 'down', as Ermi so quaintly put it. But I understood her meaning. "I just... I thought maybe it would lighten your spirits if you came with us?" Ermi said, finishing on a question.

My first instinct was to be insulted. How dare the girl come here, patronizing me with her request, as though I was a sulking child who could be coaxed back to good moods with the bright colors and sights of some frivolous event. How dare the little princess even pretend that she cared what my mood was? I thought to shove the package with it's dress back at her, and started to stretch out my arms to do so.

Then Sanli's words earlier ran through my head. "Is that how you see all kindness? A tool for manipulation?"

I sighed. Most. But not all.

I tucked the package under one arm and reached for the handle of my door.

"Will you come?" asked Ermi hopefully.

"I will think on it," I said over one shoulder as I entered my room. Then I shut the door behind me.

I waited till I heard Ermi's footsteps move off, and then sat on my bed to unwrap the package.

Before I tore into the paper, I took a small bit of parchment covered with messy letters that was tucked into the twine tied round the package.

Ao-jie,

I was hoping you would join us at a festival in the north city tomorrow. If so, you can wear this yukata! Sho Sensei gave it to me, but I have a few, so you can borrow this one.

I would love for you to come!

Your student,
Ermi

I smiled at Ermi's clumsy handwriting, almost as bad as my own, and set the note beside me on the bed.

The brown paper tore as I unwrapped it, and I threw it to the side. In my hands I held a stiff, cotton piece of clothing. As I unfolded it I could see it was shaped like the item I had seen Nakamura wearing today, and Kageyama wear around Chuanfang. Instead of the drab greys and blacks that the two men wore, the garment in my hand was alive with cool colors. Beautiful flowers bloomed across the material in graduations of blue, with green leaves veined with dark maroon. And as a background to it all, a pure white, that highlighted the blues of the flowers and the greens of the leaves.

I had told Sanli that night at the Midsummer Banquet that I didn't much care for flowers. That was not entirely true. I didn't care for most flowers, because most flowers were weak, brief, insubstantial. Their beauty, splendid as it was, only lasted so long, and a good storm in the rainy season was enough to knock most petals to the ground.

In contrast, the type of flower covering the yukata bloomed and flourished during the rainy season. Instead of crumpling like most blooms, rain collected and pooled on the petals, turning into thousands of small magnifying circles, that highlighted the shimmering cells of the petals. Because they were adapted to thrive in wet, rainy weather, the flowers were sometimes called 'rain flowers'.

Understandably, given who I was, I liked rain flowers. And I found I liked the yukata.

I turned the garment over in my hand, imaging wearing it at the festival tomorrow night. Perhaps if I put it on, and lost myself amid the press of the crowds, I could pretend I was as I once was, just a lonely god wandering amid humans, with all the possibilities my power afforded at my fingertips.

I thought of Ermi, and her motivations for asking me to come with them. I had been angry at first, but now, as I thought it over, I contemplated how, to Ermi, I appeared to be a girl not much older than herself. Perhaps she really had just wanted to cheer me up. Perhaps, given our apparent closeness in age, she perceived me as a friend.

I stood, placing the yukata carefully on the bed. As I did so, the note Ermi had written me fell to the ground.

I reached down and picked up the paper. I noticed that on the back was written:

P.S. Ao-jie, do you know how to do make-up in the Wa fashion? Even if you decide not to come, I'd be very grateful if you could show me.

I laughed and collapsed backward onto the bed, arms out. The little princess's motives were so plain now, I could not even be angry.

"Is that how you see all kindness? A tool for manipulation?"

Yes.

*~*~*~*~*~*