Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny)

AN: One special rush commission bought to you by a particular fan. Also vote will be closing in two hours.

The rain had not stopped for a week now.

The garden had been churned to muck by the pounding rain and the unpaved paths and roads in the town had become impassable. All industry had shut down as people huddled inside. The immortals were going to war against the barbarians, it was said. The storm was the wrath of the Sect's lord as he marched against their foes. Fields would be ruined, streets and homes damaged, but that was better than suffering under the hands of the Cloud.

The Sects protection had given them many prosperous years, they could suffer one poor one. Besides, folk of the Sect had ensured the harvest was in before they began their march. What was a little winter flooding? Especially when the worst of the water flowed unnaturally out of the town, filling the deep reservoirs that the townsfolk had been frantically digging in place of other labors.

Ling Qingge had to admit, she still did not understand the minds of her neighbors. She almost spilled the tea in her hands as a tremendous boom of thunder shook the window panes, a blinding flash lightning the far silhouettes of the mountains.

"Hoh, that was a big one. I hope Lord Yuan is giving the scum a good drubbing," the elderly woman across from her said. She smiled a toothless smile, peering out the window at the driving rain.

"I pray it is so," Ling Qingge said, holding her cup all the tighter. Even in the warmth of their dining room, the moist chill of the air seemed to penetrate. "Please excuse my nerves, Madam Fong."

The older woman chuckled. "You're excused, Madam Ling. First time experiencing the Lords at work?"

Ling Qingge nodded shallowly. Since her daughter had given her reign over the household, she had begun tentatively reaching out to other households. A lowly woman such as herself could not show her face to true nobles, but here in White Cloud Town, there were many households like her own. The families of disciples who had reached the third realm, as well as the families of soldiers.

Madam Fong was one of these, the Grandmother of an officer in the Sect army, her son had brought her here, and now his son had taken his father's place. Unlike Qingge, the old woman had fully achieved her awakening and others in the district said that she was nearly a hundred years old.

"I've experienced some measure of what my daughter is capable of, but it is not the same," Ling Qingge admitted. It was simply accepted that this terrible storm, spanning the whole region was the work of one man.

"They feel so far above us, but they're just striplings themselves," Madam Fong agreed absently, still watching the rain. "It'll drive you to distraction if you think too hard about it."

"I am not certain how one can avoid doing so," Ling Qingge replied, the wind gusted and the rafters above their heads shook, creaking ominously. If she did not know that Biyu was napping in the 'panic' room her daughter had commissioned, she was sure that she would not be able to sit still at all. Somehow, the expense did not seem so absurd any more.

"It takes practice," Madam Fong said. Light flashed in the sky outside again and the old woman didn't so much as flinch as the house rattled. "Let me thank you again for letting me in. I told that woman last year that she shouldn't have put off reinforcing the roof."

"You're speaking of your late son's wife?" Ling Qingge asked cautiously, happy enough to have a distraction. "Will she be fine in these conditions?"

"She's a realm higher than me, so I'd hope so. That boy didn't choose so badly, but now and then her frugality gets us in trouble. I hear your house has a bit of a problem in the other way though," Madam Fong said thoughtfully, taking up her cup in a trembling hand.

"My daughter is very generous," Ling Qingge allowed. When a member of a ducal clan was coming to their home so regularly, rumors were bound to fly. In this case, the truth had been the best remedy.

"I don't envy you, Madam Ling," the old woman said. "I have enough trouble with my grandson, and the Immortal guests he brings about. Your girl, is it true that she's got the Duchess' ear?"

"She is sworn to her grace's daughter, no more," Ling Qingge replied quickly.

"I see why you worry after your nerves then, Madam Ling," she chuckled.

Ling Qingge sighed, restraining the flinch that tried to come as outside the thunder roared again. "Do you have any wisdom on the matter, Madam Fong."

"Don't think about it," the old woman said pleasantly, savoring her tea. She raised her cup as if to toast as the wind gusted again. She seemed to ignore Ling Qingge's flat look. "If I'm being less pithy Madam, do you go about your day worrying about whether you've offended the spirits?"

"I suppose not, I know the proper rituals well enough and the temple is kind enough to instruct new residents on the local ones," Ling Qingge replied. "I'm not sure your insinuation is correct."

"Isn't it though?" Madam Fong huffed. "We make offerings and obesience, and in return, we get protection, prosperity, and but sometimes…"

She trailed off, gesturing to the storm.
Ling Qingge was silent as well, listening to the wail of the wind and the pounding of the rain. Once, when she had first arrived here, she had christened her daughter a 'little god' in her thoughts. It was a whimsical thing, but sometimes it seemed she was not wrong. In the tales Ling Qi told her and in the things she left out, Ling Qingge had begun to have an idea of just how high the heavens were.

The Sect's mobilization had simply made it obvious.

She hoped that Ling Qi was safe. Her daughter had told her that she was not going to fight, but to meet with some strange foreigners. Was that better, or worse, she wondered. At least if she was fighting, she would be under the protection of her Sect's elders.

"All we can do is pray, for safety, triumph, and homecomings," her guest murmured. "Because even gods can die."

Ling Qingge silently observed the unrelenting storm as thunder boomed again and lightning tore the sky. In her heart she prayed, that her daughter would find her way home again.