"This is unfortunate," Cai Renxiang sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
They stood in the central room of the small guest suite Jaromila's servants had guided them too. It was somewhat cramped, but warmed by a roaring fire in the gated hearth on the north wall. A low table carved from darkly painted bone sat in the middle, surrounded by sturdy chairs upholstered in thick hide and fur. Four doors arrayed around the room led to small bedrooms.
Most of them however, still stood, with only hanyi flopping back in one the chairs, the beginnings of a pout on her face. Zhengui, shrunk to his most minimal size had scuttled beneath her chair.
"I wanted to avoid misunderstandings over Hanyi's and my own status," Ling Qi said, looking down. She knew that she had not handled it as best she could however.
"I am aware of the quirks of your own cultivation, Ling Qi, that does not mean I do not expect you to control them," Cai Renxiang said. "I know that you could have handled the matter more delicately."
"It does seem like something of a setback, but it is not so bad I think," Meng Dan said carefully, resting his hands on the back of a chair. "Are we not still guests? Miss Ling will need to clear up this theological quandary, but in this too, I believe we may find opportunity yet."
"I apologize if it is rude, but I would very much like an explanation of this matter," Xia Lin said. She stood ramrod stiff, with her arms crossed over her breastplate, casting occasional glances at Hanyi.
Ling Qi grimaced, understanding her distress at least a little. Cai Renxiang was aware of Hanyi's unique circumstances, but she did not mention it to others, precisely because of the potential misunderstandings. "Hanyi is not human, despite her father. She is wholly a spirit, due to the circumstances of her conception."
"I do not think we need to know the precise details," Gan Guangli rumbled, leaning against the wall beside the hearth. Despite his words, he looked a little uncomfortable. "I trust that lady Cai would not let anything untoward pass by."
"As your own senses may tell you, she is no spirit blooded, and the Baroness' binding is wholly normal," Cai Renxiang said shortly.
Ling Qi understood their discomfort, it was not often a thing talked about, but sometimes the lines between spirit blooded and spirit could be a little blurry, and sometimes that led to… problems. Attempting to perform some form of the beast binding ritual on another cultivator was naturally a crime, successfully doing so required rituals that were
also crimes.
"Please do not take my words as distrust, Lady Cai," Xia Lin said, stiffly bowing her head. "The context of this was alarming, you must admit."
"It is not normally something worth bringing up, for that exact reason," Ling Qi said. "I admit, it is a little hurtful that you would think such of me though."
Xia Lin pursed her lips, glancing once more at the now openly pouting Hanyi. "I will apologize, this matter is close to my heart, and my reaction was poor."
Ling Qi wondered at that, but dipped her head accepting the apology. "Given the circumstances, I cannot blame you for a mild overreaction."
Gan Guangli shook his head slowly, still seeming a little bewildered. "It is good that we do not fight between ourselves, but what are we to do now that we have been left to wait?"
"We must wait, but we should not be idle," Cai Renxiang said. The faint tap of the toe of her boot on the floor was strange still, Cai Renxiang was not given to nervous ticks. "We have been instructed to remain on this floor and not to attempt the stair, nor leave the redoubt without informing them first."
"Which does not mean we must remain in these rooms," Meng Dan agreed.
"Yes, I believe it would be well for us to learn more of our hosts in the time we have been given, to avoid any further misunderstandings," Cai Renxiang said.
"Lady Cai is wise," Gan Guangli said, stroking his chin. "Hm, I admit, I am interested in the fellows at the sun shrine we passed on the way here."
Ling Qi recalled the brightly lit room she had glimpsed, with its central pillar carved with many faces and scenes, and gilt in gold, and the serene men in white robes within.
"I think I would like more time to focus on examining the mural in the garrison hall," Meng Dan mused. I am sure I can manage to draw some of our fine hosts into discussion on their tales."
"If I am to split from Lady Cai," Xia Lin began slowly. The heiress nodded once, and Xia Lin held in a sigh. "...Then perhaps the training hall. If I am to be of use, let me test the ways of their warriors."
"I will seek out this Ilsur," Cai Renxiang said. "Interrogating his position within this 'confederation' and his influence upon these negotiations is important, I think."
"I will have to consider my best path, but I believe I need to take a moment to myself first," Ling Qi said quietly, looking toward Hanyi.
***
"I messed things up again. I'm sorry Big Sis," Hanyi muttered.
She sat on the bed in the little room they'd been provided, kicking her feet.
"You didn't," Ling Qi said crouching in front of her. "You did nothing wrong, I'm the one who made mistakes."
"But I'm the one who's messed up," Hanyi said glumly. "That mean auntie said I'm broken, and these people think there's something wrong with me too."
Ling Qi scowled, and she felt a faint pressure on her shoulder, and glanced up to see Sixiang's face. "Hey, don't go getting yourself down in the dumps squirt. That other ice spirit was a nasty thing, and these folks just don't know you yet."
"Sixiang isn't wrong," Ling Qi said gently. "We don't know what they think of you yet. I'm sure we can clear things up."
"I, Zhen, think that Hanyi worries too much as well," the serpent hissed from the bedside, still shrunken, he barely rose above the bed spread.
"I think I was just hoping that Momma's relatives would like me," Hanyi muttered.
"Hanyi has all the relatives she needs right here," Gui scoffed.
Ling Qi shot her little brother a quelling look. "I won't say your wrong to feel the way you do Hanyi," Ling Qi said gently. "But we did just get here. People are still unsure, so let's try and make a good impression okay?"
Hanyi let out a little huff as Ling Qi wrapped her in a hug. "I'm not a baby, Big Sis doesn't have to coddle me."
She didn't push Ling Qi away though.
After a moment, Ling Qi straightened up and offering her hand, helped Hanyi off the bed. With Zhengui following along at her heel, Ling Qi made her way out of the suite of guest rooms and into the hall outside. A single guard from their hosts stood outside, a courtesy more than anything else.
"Have my companions all gone out?" Ling Qi asked briskly.
The woman, a full head shorter than her, if twice as broad gave a short nod, her dark braids bouncing with the motion. "They have Emissary. Do you require guidance?"
Ling Qi hummed to herself, feeling the energies emanating through the cavernous halls. No she could sense them well enough to navigate on her own. Harder to miss than those energies was the unnerved looks theguard was shooting to Hanyi.
"Hey Miss, I'm not gonna eat you or anything you know," Hanyi said, putting her hand on her hip."My Big Sis has taught me better than that you know."
The guard coughed into her hand, looking uncomfortable. "I am sorry. No offense was meant Emissary."
"I am not the one to apologize too," Ling Qi said quietly. "May I ask what exactly it is that has made your folk so uncomfortable around my sister? It predates my hasty words."
The woman looked like she wanted to squirm under their gazes, but her discipline prevented it. After a long moment, she replied. "Ice children need to feed as the gods do, not as humans. Most do not act so civilly as your sister Emissary."
"Ice children are those who are born wrong?" Ling Qi said, remembering Jaromila's words. "Who don't take the blessings of winter well?"
The woman nodded, looking deeply uncomfortable. "My aunt, she has a child like such. They are older than I, yet have the mind of a child and the hunger of a great wolf… it is not shameful, but sad, yes. Most are worse and must be given to the care of the maiden and the voices. I truly mean no offense."
"It is fine," Ling Qi sighed, squeezing Hanyi's hand for comfort. Maybe it was a good thing she had spoken. Perhaps if Hanyi's difference was acknowledged by their leaders, those looks would fade.
Ling Qi led her spirits down the hall, under the false sky. It would be best, she thought to check in with some of her companions, before deciding what to do herself, but where to go?
[] To the Sun Shrine, to see how Gan Guangli is getting along with the… priests.
[] To the entrance hall, to see what stories Meng Dan is managing to extract.
[] To the training hall, where you can even now hear the sounds of blunted weapons and the thump of fists on flesh.
[] To seek out Cai Renxiang and Ilsur, and learn more what binds Cloud to Ice.
