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

Ling Qi accepted the small teakwood box that appeared shimmering in Bai Meizhen's extended hand. It was a simple, utilitarian case, by her friends standards, which meant it was only chased in silver, rather than carved from pure jade or something. It clicked open with a brush of her finger, and inside there was a midnight blue band of silk set on the padded lining. It was a choker, with a clear, many faceted gem set in a silver bracing, connected to the silk by a delicate hook. Lifting it from the box, light redacted through the transparent gem, shining little patches of color across her face.

"Oh, how pretty. The formations set in this…"

"Purification of the best quality," Bai Meizhen said. "The array drains the potency from venoms and absorbs impurity. I understand that you have certain bad habits around being poisoned."

"That was once!" Ling Qi complained. "Well twice. Or… well I'm not sure that counts…"

Her friends both gave her dull, unimpressed looks.

"...The gem will darken as it absorbs damaging energies. It is high capacity, and will self purify over time, but please keep in mind the limits," Bai Meizhen said. The teasing lilt faded from her voice by the end of the sentence.

Ling Qi's own smile faded a little as she lowered the choker from the light of the lantern overhead and carefully put it on. The purifying gem was a point of sharp cold against her skin, rather like Bai meizhen's fondly irritated gaze. "I promise. I have said it before, but I do try to stay within my limits. The world just keeps conspiring to push them."

She was going to war, in only a few short months. There could be no real safety there, only caution."

"I understand," Bai Meizhen sighed. "Crush your enemies beneath your heel, and return home to all of us, yes? That goes for the both of you."

"Oh, does Lady Cai not get a gift, how scandalous," Ling Qi chuckled.

"Hers was presented at the proper ceremonies," Bai Meizhen replied.

Her liege turned her head. The threading holding her hair up was subtly different, white steel wire. It was very understated, but Ling Qi could also feel the faintest sizzle of a toxic, spiteful qi that brought to mind a serpent prepared to strike. "Which I am pleased with. I am glad you recalled that I do not care for ostentatious things."

"I do think you should consider wearing your hair down on occasion." Meizhen sniffed.

Renxiang looked mildly amused. "Are you the one to give advice on having multiple 'looks, Bai Meizhen?"

"That is different," Bai Meizhen replied frostily, turning up her nose.

"Have you ever managed to get Bao Qingling to let her hair down?" Ling Qi wondered.

Her friends pale face went bright pink.

"...Taking that as a yes."

"I have been informed that sh was seen attending a gathering by Ambasador Xilai in one of Mother's more… scandalous designs," Cai Renxiang said.

"Now how did I miss a rumor like that?" Ling Qi asked, crestfallen.

"In fairness, this was in the lead up to the summit. It only reached me via chatter at the Sect," Cai Renxiang said.

"You are all far too familiar," Xiao Fen grumped quietly into her cup.

"It is fine Xiao Fen. Enjoy your wine and 'be more familiar' yourself," Bai Meizhen replied dryly.

Xiao Fen looked as if she had just been ordered to shave her own head, or perhaps dance and sing a silly song. Ling Qi chuckled, and the younger girl twitched.

"I do not know if the spymaster who overlooked such a common rumor deserves to be laughing," Xiao Fen said venomously.

"I was very busy! There were things with serious connotations to pay attention to."

"The rumors swirling around your primary contact with your provinces best ally are not important? I see."

Ling Qi narrowed her eyes. She was definitely going to have to bully this junior some more. She was pleased to see Xiao Fen begin to flinch before she caught herself. That was better.

"Hmph, be kind to my viper. Or perhaps we ought to spar together, like old times, Qi," meizhen said, tilting her chin back. Betrayal!

But Xiao Fen's little smirk was cute, so it was fine perhaps.

"Would it not be more proper for it to be my Lady versus you and your viper at this point?" Ling Qi asked cheerfully.
"I would not oppose this, if a sparring circle in the palace could be secured. Though I doubt full contact will be approved at this late date."

"It would be awkward to show up at the wedding scuffed," Ling Qi allowed. "Especially for our honored guests. It might be expected of me after all."

Bai Meizhen snorted inelegantly into her cup, glaring over the rim at Ling Qi.

"Perhaps something for the day after then. We will be lingering at least that long…"

"I can probably fit that in," Ling Qi mused. "Will you be staying in the Emerald Seas again, Meizhen?"

"I will, though more in Xiangmen than not," her friend answered, looking a bit disgruntled. "...Mother would not countenance a return to the south until your offensive against the ith is complete."

She gave the girl a sympathetic look. Family did come with its restrictions too. She had been a bit more free before, but as Bai Suzhen's daughter her security was now a more serious affair.

Bai Meizhen waved her hand dismissively. "Enough of that though. What is this that I have heard of multiple suitors for your hand Ling Qi?"

She leaned back, the intensity of Meizhen's gaze was almost physical. "And how did you manage to hear about that?"

Cai Renxiang took a long, satisfied sip from her cup, and said not a word.

Betrayal. She was sunk in a morass of betrayal.

Ling Qi leaned back against the rail linging the branch way, unmindful of the vast fall into the clouds below that lay behind her, a small smile on her lips as she replayed the night before in her mind. It wasn;t often that she was allowed to have a night of pure informality with her best friend and Cai Renxiang, and it always left her buoyed, energetic for the next day and the challenges ahead. Though she didn;t necessarily know that she would call anything on her agenda today challenging. She had many meetings coming up soon, from the Ministry of Law to the Gold Autumn school to various contacts whom it would be rude not to have a face to face meeting with now that it was possible.

Today though, she was merely playing guide, a courtesy to Meizhen.

"Baroness."

"Sir Xia," Ling Qi replied, sliding down from the rail silently. "I hope you rested well from your journey."

"The amenities of Xiangmen are… more than acceptable," he said, making it sound like he was giving her a concession to say that.

She stifled her amused smile at the artificiality of it. He was well and skilled and monitoring and controlling his expression. It wasn't his fault her eyes were like this. Still she was glad that he seemed to have put some of his nerves away. Whatever had happened up in the thousand lakes-and Meizhen was still holding out on some details-it seemed to have been good for him.

"I'm pleased to here that. The comfort of our honored guests is our utmost priority. I hope you're acclimating well to the heights?"

He glanced behind her, to the yawning void of clouds and glimpses of green many kilometers below, and very quickly tore is eyes away. "It is a unique and bracing experience. Though I might prefer the shores of the north or the waterfront of Lake Hei, Xiangmen's air is bracing despite the altitude."

The great pillar's vital qi was rich in the air in a way few places outside dedicated cultivation sites were.

"I'm glad its agreeing with you. Now. I believe Lady Bai wished me to show you around, though she wasn;t specific about the goals, beyond 'reviewing potential investments…?"

"Naturally, the details of such arrangements are beneath a great white serpent's notice," Xia Anxi said, pushing a hand up through his long hair to brush it behind his shoulder. He was dressed more warmly this time, she noted, a heavier set of indigo robes, lined with white fur at the neck and sleeves. Points for preparation she supposed.

"But well within yours, I suppose," Ling Qi said dryly. "Still my congratulations on receiving such trust."

He narrowed his eyes at her. She kept her expression earnest and open. He grunted and looked away.

"I accept your compliment for what it is Baroness, but think you are, as you southerners might say, 'laying it on too thick."

"Am I?" Ling Qi wondered aloud. "Oh well. Do YOU have any preferences for what opportunities you would like to explore?"

"I am of the opinion that if our provinces are too remain close, some propaganda may be useful. The Bai are not… friendly, and never will be, but we can be made more familiar."
Ling Qi couldn;t help the chuckle that slipped out, earning her another narrow eyed glare, searching for affront. "I would not think YOU one to doubt the effectiveness of theater."

"No, no," Ling Qi said, shaking her head. "Its just that I have only just finished going about with Meng Dan, my fellow retainer, acquiring some similar services for ourselves. An accomplishment does no good if people are allowed to forget about it, no?"

He relaxed a hair. For all that he was a bit less twitchy now, that hair triigger watchfulness for being made fun of or insulted remained strong. "I see. Yes, I suppose that does make some sense. Your Lady must have similar demands. It seems me might be at cross purposes then, though I am sure there are enough groups in Xiangmen for the both of us."

She considered Xia Anxi, she glanced up to the vast canopy of Xiangmen and all of its branches. That… wasn't a joke.

Just how sparse was the Thousand Lakes theater scene? "Yes, I think so," she agreed cheerfully. "Why its not as if some of the larger troupes could not take commissions from both us."

"Possible, I suppose doubling on our patronage would also be a show of connection," Xia Anxi agreed, beckoning her away from the edge of the branch. He wished to walk and talk, and also get out of eyeshot of the drop. She humored him, falling in at a polite distance beside him.

"What other interests do you believe the Lady Bai might invest in?" Ling Qi asked curiously.

"She has expressed an interest in improving on the Thousand Lakes… lacking fine glassware. While we have countless skilled glasscutters, but their access to the proper reagents is limited," Xia Anxi said.

"I see. I am no expert, but I do have some contacts within Xiangmen's workshops and tradesman," Ling Qi said.

"I suppose…"

[ ] we should go to the foundries and industrial workshops." She was curious about the more physical side of Xiangmen's art herself, and it would make good conversation.

[ ] we should tour a few shows, see what is suitable to you." They had argued over the details of art before. She was curious what a true outsider would think of Xiangmen's scene.