18

NEGOTIATION

REVIK APPROACHED TIAN’ANMEN Gate, the Gate of Heavenly Peace, walking slow.

Strolling casually across the street from the tree-studded stripe of land separating the gates from the rest of the city, he glanced up at the towers to either side of the main entrance without turning his head. The road made a slow curve in front of the main gate, where a large portrait of Mao hung from the highest part of the wall, a sort of proprietary statement about the contents of the City beyond. 

The road itself was gated, however, and the newer walls curved out in a protective crescent moon, flanked on either side by the older stone columns known as huablao. As if to emphasize the point, armored military vehicles flanked the wings of those walls and the metal gates closing off the surrounding roads on either side.

Revik glanced at the line of human soldiers in the same pass of his eyes, and then returned his focus to the gate itself. 

White metal fencing had been put up to block passage by the curious. The size and height of the walls themselves sent message enough, rising to almost absurd heights on either side of the much older gate hinging them in front. 

Revik could feel seers up there, as well as humans. 

He knew they had high-powered rifles, possibly a few modified Gat-guns along with organic explosives in the event of any threats to the outer gate itself. The real protection, however, remained the dense construct he already felt himself touching with exploring tendrils of his light. Within seconds, his light could be surrounded by a few dozen Lao Hu infiltrators, immobilized and drained to the point where he’d barely be conscious.

He didn’t know their reaction times exactly, of course...but he wouldn’t bet on it being very long. Maybe long enough for him to kill a handful of them, and possibly destroy the two armored vehicles guarding the gates.  

He felt ripples of attention on him from the seers above. 

They must have some kind of field in place, to pick up seers once they got within a certain proximity to the gate itself. He knew they’d already ID’d him as being not one of theirs. They must put some kind of key or structure in the aleimi of affiliated seers, too; not uncommon in any group of isolationists. 

Still, he couldn’t tell yet, if they knew who he was.

He kept his steps slow, almost casual, his hands free, and visible. 

He kept his light respectful, too...not testing the boundaries or even the security features of the construct itself. Or, more accurately, only doing it overtly, to avoid appearing like he was doing anything but assessing for his own safety.

According to seer etiquette, if it was overt...it was polite.

A few dozen human tourists stood around those same white-painted fences, pointing up at the high-walled gates, although none got too close to the guarded opening before the center bridge. Revik saw them being shepherded past by white-gloved, green-uniformed soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), who only allowed them to look for so long before pointing at the “No Loitering” and “No Pictures” signs in multiple languages on the shrub-dotted lawn.

Above, the portrait of Mao hung from the lowest, and therefore the oldest, of the gate’s high walls.

Since the soldiers concentrated their attention more on covering the areas to either side of the main walkway, Revik made his way right up through the center of the small crowd between the main road and the stone foot bridges. He walked casually through the thickest part of the crowd, handing a device to a human and pushing him gently to use it.

Eyes wide in surprise, the tourist smiled at him gratefully, then pointed the image capturing device up at the main gate. 

The sensors went off...then the alarm...causing a flurry of shouted Mandarin and waving white gloves as the soldiers descended on the hapless tourist. Two of them grabbed his arms, handcuffing him roughly as a third confiscated the device he likely hadn’t had time to do more than point at the high gates. One of the soldiers smashed it under a booted foot as the others led the human away towards the nearer of the two sets of armored vehicles standing on either side of the bridges.

The alarms cut off in mid-wail. The signal went through the human network that the threat had been neutralized. 

Revik continued walking, aiming his feet for the center foot bridge leading to the main gate. Surprisingly, no one noticed for a few seconds. 

Then he heard more shouts in Mandarin...calls to halt. 

He kept walking, his pace casual. 

A human guard ran around in front of him. He shoved the muzzle of his rifle into Revik’s chest.

“Stop!” the man broke out, in heavily accented English. “Stop now!”

Revik pushed the human easily with his mind, a blown kiss.

Confusion softened the man’s features. Revik extended the push to the soldiers on either side, as well as those holding rifles on him from the wall above, and those in the armored vehicle. Using the mobile construct he’d woven with his infiltrators prior to his arrival, he extended his influence over most of the small army guarding the fortress gates...his eyes still focused on the one in front of him.

Still, he did it overtly. Politely.

Symbols all over his mobile construct flashed at the construct walls of the Lao Hu in the same breath. They proclaimed him harmless. Peaceful.

He didn’t want to give the Lao Hu the wrong idea.

The human lowered his gun.

“Apologies, sir,” he said in Mandarin. 

The human saluted him then, clicking his heels. He rejoined the others guarding the entrance from tourists. Revik felt the seers up on the wall reacting to what he’d done.

They were calm though, unthreatened by him. They thought him an idiot, most likely, for exposing himself like he had. The thought didn’t bother him; on the contrary, he hoped he amused them. He intended his approach to come across as playful. He intended to charm his way in...not cause offense.

He felt them make a decision to leave the humans under his control, at least briefly, to see what he would do when he reached the main gate.

Revik scanned the human who stood there in ceremonial garb. 

He hadn’t bothered to push him; the man was unarmed, there more for show, a ritualistic tie between the old culture of the City and its newer trappings. Revik felt others behind this human though...more than the two who watched him from where they stood in similar clothes, guarding each of the round portals that led to the interior walls. 

He also felt the seer paired with the human guard begin to scan him in earnest, working from the other side of the stone wall that formed part of the doorway. 

“I’d like to request an audience,” Revik told the human in Mandarin.

The human looked up at him, his eyes showing confusion. 

Then he glanced back at the seer Revik still felt scanning him. Getting nothing from them, the human looked hopefully at the soldiers who had gone back to guarding the three stone bridges.

“Your partner will know who I am in a minute,” Revik added. “While she double checks that with her pals up on the wall...” Revik glanced up at the red-painted expanse of wall stretching over where he stood. “...I’d like to request an opportunity to negotiate with a representative of the Lao Hu.”

The guard’s mouth fell open, then snapped shut.

“You cannot come here!” he said, his voice nearly a stutter. Surprise colored his voice, covered over in brusque outrage. “There are no requests here...you must petition!” He pointed at the soldiers. “Go back! Go back now!”

He gestured for Revik to leave, using seer sign language. 

When it didn’t work the first time, he gestured more emphatically.

Revik just looked at him, waiting for the seer behind him to complete her scan. 

“I think your mistress will make an exception,” he said. 

Just then, the seer herself stepped out from around the stone wall. Dressed in a silk dress that fell to embroidered and beaded shoes that covered her feet, she bowed deeply to Revik, lowering her face so that her eyes were symbolically (and in actuality) below his. A black sash cinched her waist, with the gold mark of the Lao Hu on one draping end of dark cloth.

Revik nodded to her. “Hello, sister.”

“Please wait one moment, sir,” she said politely.

Revik returned the bow with the appropriate countersign. He watched as the seer gave the human blunt instructions in Mandarin.

“...be polite,” he heard her hiss. “It is the Sword...Syrimne d’Gaos...”

The human turned, staring up at Revik. The fear in his eyes grew swiftly palpable. Revik smiled at him faintly, then folded his arms, glancing down the length of the gate while he waited for the female seer to finish relaying his message.

It didn’t take long.

Within minutes, he heard someone running in shoes across the stone courtyard on the other side of the gate. 

Seconds later, two seers stood there, in addition to the female who first greeted him. One, a male wearing the same black sash, looked at him in some curiosity, his head lowered so that his eyes remained below Revik’s. 

The other wore ceremonial dress, sweating somewhat under the elaborate headgear, his face and eyes bright with exertion. Revik couldn’t help but find his speed impressive, considering that he’d clearly had to dress prior to running across some not-insignificant portion of the grounds to reach the front gate. The man in the ceremonial garb bowed so low that his fingers swept the ground.

“Illustrious Sword,” the Chinese seer said in accented Prexci. “We are very honored to welcome you here, to our humble home.”

“Thank you, brother.” Revik bowed in return. “The ceremony is appreciated, but entirely unnecessary. I come as a friend. I would like to speak to your mistress...”

“Of course, sir. She is quite pleased that you have honored us with a visit.”

Revik’s lips quirked a little at this. 

“Thank you,” was all he said. “I confess, I have always wished to visit your City...since I was a boy. This is a very great honor for me, so the hospitality is warmly received.”

“She wishes me to express some distress that she hasn’t time to prepare for your visit adequately...”

Revik waved this off also. “I would prefer an informal discussion, if that is pleasing to her.”

“Of course. She indicates that she would like you to accompany me inside...if you are agreeable to that, Illustrious Sword.”

Revik bowed again, gesturing his assent. 

“Most agreeable,” he said.

The seer slid to one side in painted leather shoes so that Revik could pass through the gate in front of him. His guide’s head remained low, his eyes looking up from only a few feet above the cobblestones as he walked rapidly just behind him.

Revik bowed again at the courtesy, but felt his patience ebbing somewhat, even as his eyes once more scanned the high wall above.

This was going to take a really long time, if they followed every one of the ceremonial forms outlined in the Myth’s commentaries.

He kept his thoughts to himself, however.

“Thank you, brother,” he murmured. 

Folding his arms in front of him, he walked through the gate and into the inner sanctum of the Forbidden City itself. 

His escort continued to walk swiftly behind him, head low, moving smoothly so that Revik wouldn’t have to adjust his pace.

“Brother,” Revik said finally, motioning with two fingers. “...This bowing, it’s not necessary.” When the man smiled at him, raising his head from its awkward angle, he added, “I would prefer it much more if you simply told me where we are going...”

“We will pass through the Meridian Gate,” the seer answered at once. “Where our leader, the graceful Voi Pai, has asked that you be escorted to her own place of greeting near the Hall of Literary Glory. She thought it a comfortable place for you to meet...informally...as you requested.”

Revik didn’t respond, but felt his jaw harden a little.

She didn’t want him anywhere near Allie, in other words.

Still, she’d let him walk through the gate. Was she trying to avoid war?

Or did she plan to sell his wife back to him?

His frown faded somewhat as he looked around. He couldn’t help but be captivated by the vision that unfolded as they left the front entrance behind. Within a few turns around a secondary structure, he found himself faced with lush gardens to either side of a wide, and nearly pearl-white, stone path. The path itself led to a large, u-shaped gate, barely discernible at the opposite end, but only due to the length of the road through the secondary corridor itself. He knew from Barrier imprints that the walls of the Meridian Gate would be considered quite impressively high if not for the outer walls rising to herculean heights to either side and around the entire enclosure. 

Revik scanned buildings lining the main road. Most were barely visible through the trees, set back from the road and even enclosed in stone walls. He felt livestock and exotic animals and birds, gardens of flowers and vegetables and herbs, glimpsed what looked to be a small lake where he felt an abundance of fish, turtles and water birds. He looked around at the carefully placed trees and lawns, noticing stone statues and benches, along with small pagodas where sat the occasional seer or human. He noticed what appeared to be servants as well, working and relaxing on the grounds, cutting flowers, hoeing plants and bulbs, bringing food out to livestock and coming back with milk from goats and cows, talking amongst themselves quietly. 

He even felt horses inside the gates, somewhere, although his eyes could not find them.

He’d heard from Wreg and others, while they briefed him on coming here, that the seers influenced this as well, increasing the amount of greenery inside the City’s walls, especially over the past fifty or so years. A park of some kind stood on this spot for thousands of years prior to that, of course, but it had been open to the public until the second wall around the City had been erected following World War II. In the intervening years, the seers expanded those gardens further. They’d added crops to buttress the self-sufficiency of the City, and livestock for the same purpose. They ripped up cement and stone...and planted trees.

They also expanded the size of the lake, and filled it with fish.

The “new wall,” as it was still called, despite the fact that it had now stood for more than a half-century, surrounded the moat around the palace wall itself, as well as the two parks lining the walkway to the Meridian Gate, all the way up to the Gate of Heavenly Peace. Revik glanced at the barrier erected by the new wall, and felt almost as if he’d entered an enormous amphitheater. The wall rose so high above the trees of the gardens that it darkened the space within; it also hushed sound, creating a kind of fishbowl effect. 

Thanks to Barrier tech, the fortress also held out foreign energies, as well as most sound from the city outside. The pollution still affected the air of course, but even that seemed muted once he’d passed through the main gate.

It truly existed as an oasis within the world, a place with little relation to the city of Beijing, or even the rest of humanity outside.

Ahead, the red gates of Meridian loomed high, with two watch towers on either end, and what looked like another structure in the center part of the u-bend of the gate itself. 

Already, the sense of space inside the construct surprised him. 

Revik had heard of course, of the size of the City. It was famous among seers, despite being nearly impossible to see from the Barrier due to the age and density of the constructs protecting it from prying eyes. Airspace over the City remained closely guarded, as well, so no unclassified images existed, even for someone like Revik whose people could hack most of the high tech security feeds coming from satellites. The human government of China guarded the space with the help of the Lao Hu; as a result, they knew how to keep other seers out far better than the vast majority of human governments could ever accomplish on their own. 

It wasn’t only the Rebels they managed to keep in the dark. Revik had never once happened upon any images while working for British Intelligence, either. It had been a priority for the West, to breach that wall...especially given the power of the Lao Hu.

So far, however, no one had accomplished it, at least not that Revik was aware.

Even now, he could feel the construct tampering with his light. He’d tried to take a number of snapshots with his aleimi, to remember the basic layout of the grounds...but the construct unraveled these images as soon as he stored them in his aleimi.

He’d leave here remembering a few things, of course...just from emotional impact, if nothing else. He would attach elements of the physical grounds to specific memories and interactions. But any detailed images of the layout, security, specific size of the grounds, aleimic structures, security features of the buildings...much less the precise location of various Barrier traps...would remain here, and not with him, after he left.

He and his escort reached the Meridian Gate some minutes later, after passing several more structures to the right and the left, along with accompanying garden sanctuaries. The walkway leading directly to the gate itself consisted of a tree-lined, white stone street that Revik found very pleasant...or would have, had he been there simply as a guest. 

He glanced again at the high walls as they passed, feeling his sense of perspective alter again. It was then that he noticed that they’d dismantled his mobile construct, too. It had been done so quietly and non-invasively that he didn’t notice until he’d attempted to ping Wreg to let him know where he was in relation to breaching the Old City.

He fought to shrug it off. But, not for the first time, wariness flooded his light.

He questioned if what he was doing was particularly smart. There was some chance the Lao Hu had allied with Balidor to take him prisoner. If the Adhipan already held Allie against her will...which he couldn’t be sure wasn’t the case, even now...they likely wouldn’t balk at doing the same to him. He had known, of course, that losing his connection to his people outside was a strong possibility, once inside the gates. Even so, he found himself adjusting to the change with an effort. The fact that he hadn’t noticed bothered him as much as anything.

He should have felt it, the instant he’d been cut off. 

The construct’s boundaries had felt almost physical as he passed that first doorway in the Gate of Heavenly Peace. He wondered now if they’d done it then, while he’d been adjusting to the change in his light...and distracted by the ceremony of his guides.

They walked past rows of willow trees, with taller, older-looking elms rising higher in the background, interspersed with cedars and pines. Revik saw birds in wooden cages hanging from a cherry tree by a pavilion, with a young female seer in a dark blue sash whistling to the creatures inside.

His throat moved a little as he glanced at his escort.

“Apprentice?”

The seer followed his gaze. “Yes. She is in training.”

Revik nodded, folding his arms. He continued to walk, watching the red walls of the Meridian Gate loom higher. 

It was so quiet here; it felt like the world held its breath.

Clearly, they weren’t afraid of him. Not if they had their young seers in training wandering around him in plain sight.

Birds winged by as he thought it, their cries and calls back and forth loud in the quiet of all else. A breeze waved the long willow fronds, sending him the smell of blossoms from some other part of the grounds.

He walked, trying not to think about Allie as he looked around. 

She would love this. She was enamored of graceful artificial environments, especially those that mimicked nature, or wove civilization inside it without disrupting either. 

As he thought it, it occurred to him that she’d never told him this. He’d picked it up from years of watching her, and from being in her thoughts.

He’d felt glimpses of that in her recently, too, he realized...while she’d been staying inside the City’s walls. She liked the beauty here. Perhaps it was the artist in her; even under less-than-ideal circumstances, she appreciated beauty for its own sake. He still turned this over in his mind as he and his escort reached the front entrance of the old palace grounds.

The seer led him through a series of arched openings in the red-painted walls. They passed several sentries, seer and human, who bowed deeply to Revik as he passed.

Seconds later, he found himself in a courtyard so vast he paused a little, reorienting his vantage point yet again...and in spite of himself. 

A river-like canal ran through the center of the first open space that met his eyes, spanned by five white stone bridges, like he’d crossed outside the main gate. These however, without the pollution and dirt outside the City’s walls, appeared newer, almost a pearl white from having been washed almost entirely of dirt and dust.

Revik glanced around, taking in red and orange-roofed buildings on all four sides. Elaborately painted tiles and carvings decorated their edges. Giant stone lions guarded several of the lesser gates, pulling his eyes long enough to pause his gaze. 

Yet, the canal and its five bridges, as well as the flat expanse of white stone itself, larger than any city square he’d ever seen, somehow held his interest the longest. He had heard rumors, of course, of the size of the great city of the Lao Hu. 

Even so, he found himself adjusting to the proportions anyway. 

Trees rimmed the canals in long, ornate planters embedded in the stone, creating what amounted to an artificial bosky alongside the steep banks. He saw cherry trees among the willows, but also maple and a few types he didn’t recognize. Cypress and twisted pines rimmed silent and ornate structures he could see to either side, along with high lampposts with tiered silk lanterns and banners hanging from bronze hooks with dragon’s bodies. It struck him that the lanterns likely served to illuminate the pathways at night, and for an instant he had a mental image of a kind of fairyland under the trees. 

Birds floated in the canals, swans and colorful Asian wood ducks, what might have been loons with their spotted black backs. He saw an orange flash of fish scales darting under the surface before his eyes drifted back up to the stone stairs leading to the building on the far side of the square. Scanning, he felt another large courtyard beyond that, then more structures...a gate...gardens...what felt like residencies...

All of it dissolved from his light as soon as he felt it.

“Sir?” His escort pulled his eyes back to him. “This way, sir.”

Revik turned, walking just ahead of the robed seer, following his light’s prompts. He saw more seers wandering the walkways under the trees, talking either to other seers or to humans. He couldn’t help but look for her, although he knew she wouldn’t be among them. Many of them wore the blue sash he’d seen on the young apprentice, but he saw sashes of other colors, as well...reds, purples, yellows...all with the symbol of the Lao Hu. 

He saw black sashes dotting the others as well. 

He grew suddenly aware of his own conspicuousness, even if Voi Pai had her people shielding his light from common view. Wearing western clothes, including dark pants, a thigh-length jacket and t-shirt, he stood out as an outsider well beyond his facial features, which were unusual enough among Asian seers to get him looks.

The feeling of hush remained, despite the wide-open space. 

Revik followed his escort down a side path winding around the right side of the enormous courtyard. They walked the canals for a ways without crossing, but the seer didn’t point out landmarks, or even comment on the scenery. 

Instead he led him straight through another gate, and towards a tiered building beyond, due east to the main square and around which the canals wound. Without pausing, Revik’s guide led him through the double red doors of an old-looking building.

Two of the black-sashed seers stood out front. Both bowed to him gracefully, their eyes carefully below his. 

Revik hesitated again, but only for a breath. 

His guide had told him where they intended to bring him. Yet, after seeing the vastness of the grounds, especially in the warm sun of springtime in the morning, Revik didn’t particularly want to be trapped indoors. In that breath of a pause, however, he found himself unwilling to wait while they established another place for conference that might feel less claustrophobic to him. He could feel the added security around this building already. 

Following his seer escort, he scanned his way forward as he entered the high doorway, facing a room that seemed to be entirely painted in gold, with black Chinese writing in banners over what looked like a highly-placed throne. Giant urns and delicate pottery stood to each side of the raised dais. Trees grew inside the urns, likely another token of the seers’ influence. What looked like scrolls filled high, square shelves alongside one wall.

Revik’s eyes slid further upwards to the ceiling, where elaborately painted beams formed a receding square, and more lamps and silk kites hung from the gilded fixtures, blowing lightly in the breeze. 

The seer led him past the gold throne to a side chamber with a red door. Inside, he saw silk pillows, a glass-less window to the trees that rimmed the building and the canals beyond. The window shed natural light on a long, elaborately carved wooden table. Book-ending the table, comfortable-looking chairs fitted with silk cushions were positioned to invite sitting. 

A tea set stood on the dark wood table in a lacquered tray, its pot steaming from the spout next to white and blue china cups. 

Revik entered cautiously, scanning his way through the construct while keeping his energetic footprint as low-key as possible. He could still feel someone, or several someones, trying to keep his presence in the construct isolated. Clearly, they didn’t want his arrival widely announced.

So this was still to be a private meeting, then. 

Revik glanced back as his escort receded, bowing his head low as he closed the double doors. He was about to speak, when another voice rose from his right.

“Illustrious Syrimne,” it said, in accented Prexci.

The female-sounding voice held a hint of a purr, and the faintest trace of humor as well.

“...I am honored,” it added softly. “Truly.”

Revik turned, and found himself facing a tall, slender seer with high cheekbones and cream-colored skin. Her yellow eyes struck him first among her physical traits, both for their color, and their vertical, black pupils, which immediately narrowed at him. 

They made her look predatory. The impression was heightened by her thin mouth and angular face, despite the careful make up and sculpted hair. She smiled, lowering her head so that she looked up at him from below. 

“I am Voi Pai,” she said. “Leader of the Lao Hu.”

Revik executed the counter to the bow, keeping his head above hers. 

As he did, he let his light whisper over hers, as well. 

The polite scan told him nothing. She had so many protections and shields over her aleimi, she appeared as featureless as a flat wall.

“I am Dehgoies Revik,” he said after a bare pause. “I thank you for agreeing to see me with no notice.”

“The Illustrious Syrimne is welcome in the City whenever he wishes,” the female purred, her head still lowered. “We only ask your pardon that we were not able to arrange a more appropriate welcome, for one of your stature...”

“I would have asked to be spared that formality, sister,” he replied. “...So kindly stop apologizing for providing me the welcome I would have wished.” 

Indicating towards her bowed head, he added,

“...Nor is that necessary, friend. Although I must repeat how deeply I appreciate my reception here.” He allowed himself what approached a genuine smile. “In any case...despite your very impressive stature, sister...I am still taller than you. Standing in a comfortable manner does not breach protocol for either of us.”

She smiled in return, straightening. “You honor me.”

“Not at all.”

“Will you join me, Illustrious One?” she said, indicating towards the chairs.

Gesturing the polite form of affirmation, he walked to the nearest and sat at once, knowing she would not until after he had. 

Still, he hid his impatience with an effort when she lowered her face once more to be below his before taking her own seat across from him.

“Tea?” she asked, indicating towards the pot.

He gestured yes, but frowned. 

“May we dispense with the formality?” he said yet again, letting the edge touch his voice this time. “Please...and with all respect, sister. I find I would rather preclude with the usual dance. You know why I am here.”

She straightened in her seat, leaning over the table to pick up the bamboo-handled pot. Carefully pouring him a cup of tea, she did a blessing over it with one hand before lowering the pot briefly, and then pouring one for herself. 

Only then did she meet his gaze, studying him thoughtfully.

“I do,” she said. “...Know why you are here, Illustrious Sword.”

“She is here, is she not?”

The seer hesitated, glancing at his hands on the table. He saw her eyes linger on the ring he wore on his left hand’s index finger. She met his gaze again, those odd pupils narrowing at him slightly.

“First, I must ask,” she said in formal Prexci. “...Does the Illustrious Syrimne blame me for any part of her unfortunate situation? Or for harboring our Esteemed Sister in its aftermath?”

“I do not.” He accepted the cup of tea from her. “Please don’t give me a reason to change that opinion. I would like to maintain friendly relations between us, Voi Pai.”

“I, as well,” she said, leaning back slightly. Her eyes continued to study his. “What do you want from the Lao Hu, Illustrious Syrimne?”

“Revik,” he said, dismissing the title with his fingers. “And what I want should be very clear. I want my wife returned to me, in pristine condition. Now.”

She continued to study his face, her own expressionless. He felt her skepticism however, the flavor of questioning around his light.

“Is that all you want, Illustrious Brother?” she said then. “For if it is, I am certain we can arrange for that to occur immediately, unless your wife has objection.” Pausing, she gave him a faint smile. “...Should I expect any objection from her? For she technically outranks you, Illustrious Brother. I would prefer not to be put in the awkward position of navigating a domestic conflict between two beings of such impressive stature...”

“Revik,” he repeated, his voice carrying a faint thread of his irritation. “And I have no reason to know of her objecting to this.”

“Really?” she said. “I had heard otherwise.”

Revik felt one of his hands clench into a fist on his thigh.

“If she objects,” he said softly, his eyes on the other seer’s. “...Then I am quite certain you will tell me...is that not true, honorable sister?”

The female seer exhaled in a sigh, clicking her tongue softly.

“I apologize, Illustrious Brother. I mean no offense...truly. It is difficult, you know, to be in the middle of such a thing. It is not a comfortable position for the Lao Hu, who prefer to maintain a friendly distance from factional disputes among our people. Particularly those involving intermediaries...”

Revik acknowledged this with a bow, his expression neutral.

“I understand,” he said. After a pause, he leaned back in his chair, trying a different tack. “Perhaps you know my wife was shot recently? Nearly killed?”

Again, Voi Pai clicked at him regretfully.

“Yes, I had heard of this thing,” she said.

“Then you must understand my concern?” Revik said. “For it is my belief that this occurred to prevent her from returning willingly to me, after I had approached her to reconcile our differences...”

The seer clasped her tea cup between her hands. “I understand.” 

Sighing, she looked out the window over her right shoulder.

The stately female continued to stare out the window behind the table as a bird with a crimson head alighted on a branch outside, and began to sing.

“Sister,” Revik said, pushing his own tea cup aside with his fingers. “Where is my wife? You must understand, given the circumstances I just shared, that I am anxious to confirm for myself that she is safe and well?”

“Of course, brother.”

She paused again, her eyes flickering to his.

He felt her scan and bit back his impatience. 

“Sister,” he said. “Will you accede to my request? Or not?”

She gestured easily with one hand. 

“Of course we will,” she said. “I have already sent ahead instructions that my people approach your wife with your request. If she is agreeable, then they will meet us in the courtyard within the hour...”

Revik felt his body react without his willing it.

Forcing it out of his light, he continued to stare at the yellow-eyed seer.

“And?” he prompted. “There is more. What is it?”

“Brother, I will be frank with you,” she said. Giving a regretful-seeming wave of her hand, she sighed in another low purr. “...I had heard that your wishes extended beyond this thing...this return of your wife.”

“And if they do?” he said, feeling his jaw harden again.

She bowed to him respectfully. “Then, Illustrious Brother, I cannot help but wonder why you hold off on asking me for everything you want from me.” 

She paused, those oval pupils narrowing again. 

“Is it because you fear I will not grant it?” she said. “...or are you simply securing the safety of your wife before making additional requests?”

Revik continued to fight to control his light, which wanted to look for Allie. Realizing his reaction likely showed on his face, at least in part, he averted his eyes, looking out the same window. Briefly, his gaze sought the gate that separated them from the courtyard.

“I suppose the latter is true,” he said finally. “I wish my priorities to be clear, and not muddied by lesser concerns...”

“Which are what?” she prompted again.

Revik turned, looking at her narrowly.

“What are your plans for the Adhipan leader, Balidor?” he said.

She tapped the edges of her cup with one red-lacquered fingernail.

“Ah,” she said.

“Have you any plans for him?” Revik pressed.

“Plans?” she said. “We have no plans, Illustrious Sword. Still...” She inclined her head with its high bun of shining, black hair. “...I find I am very reluctant to waste a resource of such value. Very reluctant.”

Revik felt his jaw harden to granite. 

So this was it. She wanted Balidor.

“Is his value so high?” he said dryly.

“It is,” she said, looking at him. “You cannot deny that, Illustrious Brother. Balidor’s skills as an infiltrator are renown. He is considered perhaps the most highly-skilled infiltrator alive...you must be aware of that. It would take many years to train another to his level...if it could be accomplished at all.”

“And we mustn’t waste that?” Revik said.

“I believe not,” she said thoughtfully, tapping her nail once again. “Particularly not in these troubling times...”

“So it is not her you would like me to buy,” he growled. “...it is him.”

“Not buy,” she said, holding up a hand in caution. “Sell, perhaps.”

A silence fell between them. In it, Revik fought to control his light’s reaction.

“You want to buy my rights of retribution against him?” Revik stared at her, giving a short laugh in spite of himself. “Surely you’re joking, sister.”

She made a line in the air with her fingers. 

“I am not,” she said seriously. “I confess, I would like to recruit him into the Lao Hu...if he is so willing.” 

She paused, waiting, her face still void of expression. 

When Revik only shook his head, averting his gaze, she added, 

“Perhaps, brother, in addition to whatever compensation you would like for handing his person over to my care...we can come to a deal around recompense between us. In regard to whatever...” She gestured delicately with one, pale finger. “...lessons he might be in need of. In terms of manners.”

“Manners?” Revik’s pretense at politeness dropped. “He shot my fucking wife.”

“I understand.”

“Do you?” he said. “Then explain to me what ‘recompense’ you would like your mate to accept for you, under such a circumstance...?”

She acknowledged this with a subtle gesture and a soft clicking sound.

“I have no mate,” she said, pausing on this for a beat. “...But your point is well taken, Illustrious Sword.”

She paused another beat. 

“...And yet,” she observed, shrugging with the same hand. “The two of them seem to harbor no ill feelings towards one another, Illustrious Syrimne. Quite the contrary, in fact. It makes me wonder if the offense was more against you than it was against her...”

She paused again, her yellow eyes darting back to his.

“...It also makes me wonder if it might benefit you, Illustrious Brother, if Adhipan leader Balidor were to find a mate of his own...”

Revik felt a sharp, almost debilitating pain, like a kick to the solar plexus. Fighting to keep it off his face, he didn’t lower his gaze.

Shrugging, she observed softly, “A martyr is a far more effective rival than one who is alive...especially if that one is attached to another.”

Revik couldn’t move. 

Blanking his mind, he forced his eyes away from that predatory stare.

He forced himself to speak a moment later, his chest still tight, as hard as stone.

“I think I understand his sudden value to you, sister,” he said after a silence. “You would like to recruit him to this role, too?”

“Is that objectionable to you?” Her eyebrow quirked. “Would that not solve both of our problems, Illustrious Syrimne?”

Revik fought to keep his reaction off his face.

He couldn’t be certain if he heard concrete knowledge in the female’s words or not, but even the implication brought a surge of pain so strong that he found his fingers gripping the edges of the table. He didn’t realize the extent of his reaction until he saw the female seer pale slightly under her already light complexion, her eyes riveted on his. 

In hers, he saw his own irises reflected as pale green rings.

“Illustrious brother,” she said softly. 

She laid a hand on his arm, her fingers exuding caution. 

“...Brother, I am deeply sorry. I meant you no disrespect. Quite the contrary...I have nothing but respect for you, and your reasons for being here.” Hesitating, she kept her eyes on his as she added, “I do not condone his actions towards your wife, Illustrious Syrimne. Not in the slightest. And I am not touting his virility as a male, either. My desire for alliance with him is strategic only. Surely you must see my benefit in that...?” 

She removed her hand when Revik’s eyes stared at it.

“You wish me to walk away from this?” he said, fighting his voice. “You insinuate I have yet more reason to feel wronged by him, and you wish me to simply walk away?”

“I insinuate no such thing, Illustrious Sword!”

Revik stared at her, fighting to control his light. 

“I apologize deeply, Sword Revik,” she repeated, touching his arm lightly with her hand. “If you misheard any of my words, especially in a matter of import with your wife...I cannot express the depth of my apologies...”

After another pause, he looked away. 

He couldn’t read her, not in here. That fact alone made him want to break her neck with his bare hands.

The seer touched his arm again, lingering that time.

“Your wife is quite happy that you are here, brother,” she said softly. “And I repeat, I have nothing but respect for your goals, Illustrious Syrimne...” 

He heard the smile touch her voice before he looked up.

“...Even the way you come here has class, Sword Revik.” Removing her hand from his arm, she lifted her tea cup from the wooden table. “You come here, alone...surrounded by potential enemies.” She waved a hand at the surroundings, smiling at him again. “...Asking to see your wife. The method befits your stature, Illustrious Brother. Further, it has swagger.”

Revik felt his jaw clench again.

“Sister,” he said. “...It is not swagger. I merely did not wish my intentions misread. As I have stated clearly, more than once, I wished my priorities to remain clear to all...”

She held up a hand. “I understand,” she said. “And they are clear, brother. Your wife is on her way here now...” 

Seeing Revik flinch at this, she added, softer,

“So we ourselves are clear, brother, I did not mean to insult you with my comment. Conversely, this was meant as a compliment, Revik...” 

Before he could determine which thing she referenced, her smile surprised him, for it looked like a genuine smile. 

“...I like a man with swagger,” she added. “Very much. If you permit me to say it, your wife is a lucky woman. Very lucky indeed.”

Revik didn’t answer, still fighting to control his emotions. He would be standing in front of Allie in moments. And he hadn’t misheard her...Voi Pai had just blatantly insinuated that Balidor was fucking his wife. 

He was still fighting to process this, his eyes focused blindly on the surface of the table, when the female seer leaned closer to him. Putting light into her fingers, she caressed his arm, stroking his skin deliberately, up to the elbow.

Without thought, Revik removed it from her reach. 

Placing his hand deliberately on his own thigh, he used his other to lift his cup as part of the same motion. Turning his gaze after he’d taken a sip of the strong, black tea, he gave her a hard stare. He made the meaning behind it unambiguous, letting her know that her flirting was unwelcome in the extreme. 

After a pause, she smiled at him faintly, still studying his eyes.

“Apologies again, brother,” she murmured softly. 

Before he could answer, she rose gracefully to her feet, again bowing so that her head brought her eyes lower than his. 

“Shall we proceed to providing your first wish then?” she said.

Averting his eyes, he nodded, almost without realizing it. 

She was pleased with herself, this Lao Hu cunt. She’d come here to put him in his place, he realized...Illustrious Syrimne or no. He supposed she wanted him to know exactly in whose house he was a guest.

She also just seemed to get off on hitting at his more obvious vulnerabilities.

But he hadn’t agreed to anything around Balidor. Not yet.

He put down his cup, regaining his feet. As he straightened to his full height, the Lao Hu leader did as well, still gauging his expression with caution. She indicated towards the door with one manicured hand, bowing slightly.

“After you, Illustrious Brother...”

Revik felt his jaw harden a little, but he followed her fingers towards the door, and then to the throne room beyond. 

Like his previous escort, she didn’t explain their surroundings to him. He had a feeling that, despite her irritatingly constant displays of respect, the illustrious Voi Pai, leader of the Lao Hu, wanted him out of her fair city as quickly as was reasonably...and politely...possible.

He gestured for her to lead the way once he hit the sunlight once more. 

As she did, he stood there, a beat longer than he should have, perhaps, aiming his face and chest towards the sun as she began to make her way down the steep stone staircase. His eyes found the trees once more.

Eventually, the pause ended. 

He followed her once it had, shoving his own emotions as far into the background as he could.