They departed on a clear day between two storms.

The Emperor had managed to find a less conspicuous outfit, though his over-tunic was still a deep, royal red.

"Your Majesty," Ching Dai said, "Even in casual clothes, your grace still shows through."

Hotohori laughed. "No matter how you say it, it’s still a compliment."

The other two Seishi and their Miko gazed heavenward.

Riaka insisted she could sit a horse solo, but by the end of the day she would be doubled with Nuriko, who was lightest.

Mt. Dai-Shan was somewhere around where the Four Lands met. As they went farther north they came into an area of what Riaka excitedly called karst topography. Smooth, rounded pinnacles of sandstone jutted out from the flat outwash plains with their patchwork of fields. Riaka had seen photos of these kinds of pillars before, labeled as being a kind of karst formation; though there are many different types, depending on the climate, kinds of rock layers and physical structures, all are based on a layer of soluble bedrock. Hotohori nodded when she mentioned this.

"I am told there are many caves in these hills, though I have never been in one. I am told they are very marvelous."

A part of Riaka wanted to stop and explore, but they didn’t have the time or the equipment, and Riaka herself was too tired to really want to go crawling around in muddy caves…

They stopped in a village for their midday meal. The people, as Ching Dai had said, recognized in Hotohori someone of power and nobility; the best dishes were brought out and an elaborate meal prepared. Riaka picked at the first couple of courses with feigned enthusiasm, then excused herself to go out and admire the scenery. To her surprise, Hotohori soon joined her. They sat on a grassy hill, talking about geography and geology for a while, then lapsing into a companionable silence.

Riaka had found she loved the silences of this world. No cars, no planes overhead, no rockets or big jets being tested at nearby air bases; when she heard thunder here it really was thunder. And while there were crowds in the city, out here population was truly sparse. How many humans are there on this planet at this time? A few hundred million? Several hundred million? But nowhere near six billion. So people huddle together in little settlements, and wolves at the door is a serious thing, not just a saying used casually. The elements and animals are pretty likely to kill you here, not like sheltered suburbia, where we just turn up the AC if it’s too hot, and wolves are an endangered species…

Hotohori spoke quietly, mild astonishment in his voice. "I am thinking of nothing, simply looking out at the mountains."

Riaka sat back and looked at him.

"Watching a view absent-mindedly isn’t something I normally get to do."

"I guess not."

"I was fourteen when I took my father’s place at the time of his death. It was my mother’s wish that I be Emperor; I was just a puppet. Her methods…no, I won’t say any more… But then my mother also died. Since then, life around me has become unearthly quiet. There were only royal vassals and servants and ministers and courtiers and other such people. Loyal to me, but I noticed in the midst of that quiet my loneliness. I’ve been like a bird in a cage."

A gilded cage…oh, now, be nice, he’s serious. And he says it so casually, but how much machination and bloodshed went into his accession? How many other sons were there with claim? It was his mother’s wish…so who did she kill or outmaneuver to get him named the royal heir? He’s lucky he made it past fourteen; and not too bitter about it all, either. I bet Ching Dai had a lot to do with that. "You’re free for a little while at least," Riaka said. She pulled up a blade of grass, and stretching it along her thumbs, blew across it to make a wretched squealing noise like the cry of a wounded rabbit. She grinned at Hotohori’s pained expression and let the blade fall. "You’re getting a vacation after all. Let this trip recharge your… no, that won’t work, uhh…rejuvenate you, yeah, that’s it. Give you enough strength to go back and approach your duties from a fresh perspective."

"You sound like Ching Dai."

"Oh dear."

Hotohori laughed. "Or, perhaps, an older sister."

"Yeah?"

"I have two younger sisters, but none older. But I think perhaps you are like what an older sister would be." He suddenly put a hand to his mouth. "I did not mean to imply that I think you’re so much older than I…I just…I only meant…!"

Riaka snorted. "How old are you?"

"Twenty-five."

"Ouch. Ah, Hotohori, I’m, um, over thirty."

"Thirty!"

"All right, don’t have a cow."

Hotohori laughed. "You act as if thirty was so very ancient! Riaka, you’re still only in the first quarter or so of your lifespan. Thirty isn’t very old." He paused, then looked at her more seriously. "Is it so, in your world?"

Riaka grinned at herself, and her assumptions. Only the first quarter, eh? So does that mean most people live to be over a hundred, here? "I guess not. Not really. At the time and place I’m from, being over thirty is a big deal; in America, youth is worshipped as the only ideal. On the other hand, that’s been changing recently. And I don’t feel that different than when I was in my teens or twenties."

"One is as old as one feels."

"That’s what they say." Riaka sighed. "So, you’ve got it right, then, Hotohori; I’ll be your older sister." She grinned. I bet some of the courtiers would bust a gasket if I called the Emperor ‘little brother’…

"Riaka." Hotohori looked at her.

She met his eyes forthrightly. Yes, it’s okay, I am serious. How many people must lie to you every day, just to curry favor?

The Emperor hugged her, for just a moment, then let her go. "Thank you," he murmured. For more than just your words. You have pledged yourself to a foreign land, and I think you know how much you risk to do so, Suzaku No Miko.

There was an outraged squawk behind them. They turned to find Tamahome holding Nuriko back. Nuriko was yelling and waving her arms agitatedly.

"Why are you angered, Nuriko?" Hotohori asked.

Ohhh my… thought Riaka. You’ve got to be kidding me. Nuriko and Hotohori…. But… Oy. Well, this’ll be interesting anyway. Then what was that expression on Tamahome’s face? Riaka shrugged mentally; it wasn’t like she could tell very well at this distance anyway. He was probably just straining to keep a grip on Nuriko. Heh…

a d c b

They traveled on; through mountains and forest – rainforest really, and the storms now came on them fast and hard. They sheltered in villages when they could, and made do with lean-tos when they couldn’t. Nuriko’s strength was a great asset here, she could just push a couple of trees over and maneuver them into position as the base for their shelters; there was no shortage of firewood that way as well. Hotohori revealed a talent for driving the water out of the wood to dry it; Nuriko wished he’d use it to keep them all dry.

"I can dry our clothes, but keeping the rain off as we travel would be too draining," Hotohori pointed out.

"Whassamatter, Nuriko, afraid you’ll melt?" Riaka thought the warm rain was wonderful; it reminded her of Hawaii.

Nuriko growled, but restrained her impulse to throw a log at the Miko.

a d c b

By the next morning, the heavy rains had passed, leaving the forest misty and bejeweled. But as afternoon approached, the mist got thicker rather than burning off with the rising sun.

The air was cooler, too, than it had been. Riaka’s joints, particularly her knees, which were bad from old injuries to begin with, weren’t losing their aches and stiffness as the day progressed. She was able to stay on her horse solo most of the day by now, but this afternoon, she got down and walked, saying she was tired of bouncing around like a sack of rice.

"Maybe it would help if you knew how to ride properly," Nuriko purred helpfully. Tamahome rolled his eyes and shot her a quelling glance.

Riaka chuckled. "Jeeze, Nuriko, is that the best you can do?"

"Well," Nuriko obliged, tapping her chin with an exquisite forefinger. "I could mention what a relief it must be for your horse that you got off…"

"Nah," said Riaka. "Too obvious."

"Knock it off, both of you," Tamahome rapped out.

"Gee, sorry. Dad." Riaka was irritated by his interruption. She and Nuriko were getting along in their own fashion; how was it his place to interfere?

Tamahome growled in disgust and spurred to catch up with Hotohori. "The girls are driving me crazy," he explained to the Emperor.

Hotohori nodded.

The mist grew thicker still.

"Perhaps we should stop," Hotohori suggested. Tamahome agreed and turned to shout back to the women. He couldn’t see them. He rode back a little ways, but couldn’t even hear their horses.

"Dammit," he said as he came back to the Emperor. "We should have strung a line…"

"Too late now. How long since we last heard them?"

Tamahome shook his head. It was hard to judge the time with the sun hidden. "Maybe an hour, maybe less." At least he knew they weren’t in any immediate danger; he’d have felt it.

"Perhaps we can find them through the link among us," Hotohori said.

"I was just thinking the same thing." Tamahome grinned, then closed his eyes, focusing his chi on the etheric thread of feeling between himself and the others, and particularly the Miko. She was their focus, after all.

But he thread was…not broken, exactly. Neither he nor Hotohori could find in it any direction. They knew Nuriko and Riaka were alive, but not much more than that.

"RIAKA!" Tamahome called. "NURIKO!" If all else failed, they could ride in ever-widening circles and simply shout their names.

Hotohori shook his head. "I don’t think…" Tamahome’s shouts had suddenly silenced. "Tamahome?" Hotohori rode toward where he’d heard the Seishi last. "Tamahome!"

Nuriko reined in irritatedly. Where had that annoying Miko gotten to? One minute they were merrily trading insults, the next, silence. Well, if Riaka wanted to play such a childish little game, Nuriko wasn’t about to stoop to respond. The towel incident notwithstanding. Nuriko rode ahead, deciding it was time to catch up with the men.

"Hotohori-sama? Tamahome?" Now the men were lost, too? What was going on…?

When she lost track of Nuriko, Riaka stopped in her tracks. The fog was so dense she could barely make out the surrounding trees. Riaka thought of the Barrow Downs and immediately scared herself silly.

Don’t run! she told herself desperately. Don’t run! It’s the worst thing you can do. Stay put, let the others find you. I wish I had a whistle! She thought she was still on the trail they’d been following, so she climbed back up onto her horse and waited. The mare, whose name was Bu Xing, ["No name" – as near as I can figure, anyway…J ] took a few steps over to crop the grass at the roadside.

After a while, she remembered she didn’t need a whistle; she had another kind of beacon the Seishi could home in on, if she could figure out how to broadcast on purpose. She had read so many books involving telepaths and the like, but how to actually go about such a thing? Where knowledge was lacking, imagination would have to serve.

Ground and center; well, there is something to that, at least. And here, chi is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Use the Force, Riaka! She considered whether she could ground properly while perched on horseback, or not; and decided that it didn’t matter. She could ground through the horse, if that’s how it worked here. So, in her mind, she envisioned the lines of power, like an electromagnetic field is how she always pictured it, rather than the tree image most pagans seemed to like, forming a conduit, coming up from the center of the earth, raying out from the top of her head and back down to ground. She imagined pulling up the energy like a six-gigawatt laser, a coruscating beacon, and sent it along the lines, or links, or bridges, to her Seishi: I’M HERE!!!

Nothing happened. Riaka dismantled her field carefully in her mind, just in case. She had the impression the energy had been dissipated somehow; the lines weren’t cut, just couldn’t transmit the information she wanted to send. She shook her head. She was probably just making that up, but it was definitely odd to have a feeling like that at all. Maybe she had done something, but had been…thwarted? Who would do that? Why? And if this hadn’t worked, what could she do, then?

The day wore on and it grew darker, Riaka got more nervous. Once the idea of barrow-wights had entered her mind, she had to work hard to set it aside.

Nuriko heard a shout off to one side.

"Hotohori-sama!" she cried, and rode toward the sound.

In a clearing – oddly free of mist as well as underbrush – she found the Emperor fighting…something…his sword bright against the woody hide of whatever-it-was. It was huge, easily twice his height, many-limbed and legged; Nuriko for a moment thought indeed it was some kind of animate tree. But there were no leaves and the legs split off higher up, not as roots would, near the ground.

Nuriko leapt from her horse and grabbed a nearby tree of moderate size and pulled it out of the ground, wielding it like a club. But the thing was too swift. It evaded her powerful swings easily, unnaturally fast. It had been fending off Hotohori’s considerable sword-skill, and now struck back at her with blade-sharp limbs. Nuriko blocked with her tree, hoping that Hotohori could get a good strike in while the thing was occupied with her.

Hotohori tried. But whatever it was had no ‘face’, and fought on two sides as easily as it had on one. The Emperor managed to hew off a limb, but three more grew from the stump; hacking at it indiscriminately obviously would do them no good. But how could they probe for a weak spot? It was all they could do just to defend themselves.

The mist was clearing, and Tamahome heard the sound of fighting. He nudged his horse into a gallop, expecting to find Riaka in trouble again. But it was Hotohori and Nuriko he found, stalemated against something not even legend could put a name to. He slid from his mount, and would have leapt into the fray, but Hotohori shouted at him, "Fire! Try fire!"

Tamahome rushed to obey, gathering a hasty pile of tinder and twigs. He prayed the Emperor and the Princess could hang on until he got a blaze going – then he remembered the ‘matches’. One night, when it had been Tamahome’s turn to cook, Riaka had given him the tiny wooden sticks and shown him how to use them.

Praise Suzaku, this was faster than flint and steel! But the fire he began had other consequences. A wall of flame shot up from his tiny fire, ringing them round in an instant. Tamahome stared. What…?

"I said ‘fire’, Tamahome," shouted Hotohori. "Not a conflagration!"

"I didn’t do it!" At least, I think I didn’t…

Nevertheless, now they were all trapped; and the thing they fought was going berserk.

Riaka had just about decided to find make-shift shelter for the evening when she heard cries, and then a roaring. She felt a jarring in her mind; the links to her Seishi thrummed full force again, with distress and anger, and fear. The mist was gone, but now she could smell smoke.

Swearing madly, Riaka turned her horse around and made for the sound.

Tamahome dodged a sweeping limb and grabbed another, finally getting in past the thing’s reach for a good shot at the body. His kicks sounded hollowly against its sides. Where was the head? Hotohori was doing better at batting the slashing limbs aside rather than trying to cut them, and Nuriko had actually connected with her tree a couple of times; but the thing barely slowed at all. With fire around them, they had limited maneuvering room, though they were trying to drive it against the flames. But the thing didn’t have an undefended flank; ‘arms’ and ‘legs’ sprang out all up and down its length; sometimes interchangeably. And now it had sprouted thorns.

Tamahome jumped clear just as Nuriko swung her tree at an angle, knocking the thing off most of its legs with one sweep. Before it could right itself properly, Hotohori leaped at it, plunging his sword into the spot he had estimated was its center of gravity. The thing made no sound, but shuddered, its limbs flailing, uncoordinated. One struck Hotohori in the chest, sending him flying, landing hard on his back, though still within the circle of fire.

Nuriko and Tamahome interposed themselves between their fallen Emperor and the dying creature, blocking its last attempts to savage them. In a burst of rage, Nuriko dealt it a last strike, knocking it into the flames, where it writhed horribly as it was consumed.

Riaka found them then. Tamahome and Nuriko kneeling by Hotohori’s still form, shouting his name, searching for a pulse. Not finding one.

Riaka cringed away from the heat of the firewall. But one of her Seishi lines was dimming, and they were all on the other side. She bellowed their names over the roar of the fire. She thought she heard Tamahome yelling to her to stay back; but Nuriko’s desperate cry was louder.

"Suzaku No Miko! Save the Emperor!"

What? Riaka dismounted, raced around to where she could see them a little better through the flames. Hotohori didn’t seem to be moving, and the line from Nuriko was frantic.

"What happened?" Riaka shouted across. Their replies were hard to decipher, drowned by the noise, but Riaka got the gist that Hotohori had been struck somehow in the chest, and he wasn’t breathing.

"Then start mouth-to…oh…shit…" Riaka’s knees wobbled, but she hardly noticed. They don’t know CPR, idiot! Riaka did, although she had only done it on puppies, not a human. And the puppies hadn’t lived.

Hotohori didn’t have the time for her to waffle. Riaka took off her over-tunic and wrapped it around her head and shoulders, tucking her braid into the front of her shirt. She couldn’t tell how wide the firewall was, but she guessed she could get across in three or four running strides. Five at the most. Then dive and roll. Don’t think, don’t panic, just do this simple thing; five strides then roll, five strides then roll. Just that, don’t think about anything else. Five strides and roll…

She backed up to get a running start. Tamahome was yelling again. She took several deep breaths, then hid her face as best she could in her arms. She took a step. Then, for a moment, her legs wouldn’t move. Don’t think, just five strides and roll… She ran.

A yard from the flames she veered, gasping for breath, tears burned her eyes. Don’t think! Five strides and roll! Five strides and roll…

Three yards. She stretched out to full stride. Two yards. She filled her lungs to greatest capacity…One yard…and began to scream…

a d c b

Luri yelped and ran for the shower to douse herself with cold water. This is going to be bad! She read on at top speed, wanting this over with…

a d c b

Tamahome stood. She’s not going to…

Nuriko rubbed Hotohori’s pale hands. His face was turning a ghastly bluish grey.

One…Roaring, searing, no time, just run, don’t think, just run…just run…

She IS! Baka…! He watched helplessly as she ran towards them again. This time, she didn’t turn.

Two…The flames were insubstantial as air and liquid as water. Her feet pounded crackling earth. This time she wasn’t drugged half-senseless. This time she was burned.

Three…She held the scream, her mind riding it, the only way to stay afloat. Blind, she ran.

Nuriko shook Hotohori, careful even then with her strength. "Hotohori-sama! Wake up!" She pulled at his fleeing spirit with all her chi. She laid her head against his chest. "Don’t leave me…"

Four…and she was through, her clothing streaming with fire…

Five…she dove and curled into the roll. Tamahome tackled her and helped smother the flames. Riaka tore away the charred remains of her over-tunic and pushed to her feet with a cry. "Hotohori!"

She ran to the fallen Emperor. Nuriko looked up.

"Move," Riaka said shortly. She could feel the link fraying, almost broken. She was too scared to be polite. She pressed her ear against Hotohori’s chest. My kingdom for a stethoscope…damn… It was hard to tell, but she thought she felt, more than heard, a slow, weak beat. Ah! He just wasn’t breathing, that was easier, unless something else was wrong.

She tipped his head back slightly, pinched his nose shut and opened his mouth. Sealing his mouth with her own, she puffed three quick breaths into his lungs. Shit, is it three puffs? Or one long one? Am I thinking of with children, or dogs? This is what I get for not reviewing the human stuff! But his chest had risen, and now slowly fell; she could feel the air against her cheek. She checked him over, using his knife to slit his clothing to bare his chest. No whistling, no major holes, nothing punctured, thank the gods. Still, Riaka hissed between clenched teeth. Bruises were already spreading, his flesh was mottled, his color wasn’t good. She felt for broken ribs, found several, then gave him more breaths.

"What are you doing?" Nuriko muttered. Tamahome put a hand on the Princess’ shoulder.

"She knows," he said. "Let her be."

"Nuriko, Tamahome," Riaka said, between bouts of breathing into the Emperor, "watch what I do…if he doesn’t respond…soon, you’ll have to…take over so I don’t…pass out…" But after several minutes, Hotohori’s color improved somewhat; he gave a great, shuddering, gasping cough and began breathing on his own again. His eyes opened, and he tried to sit up, collapsing in pain even before the others could prevent him from rising.

"Your ribs are broken, Hotohori," Riaka gasped out. Her relief at his recovery had opened the floodgates of her own pain. Her legs, across her back and shoulders, forearms and the backs of her hands were burned to varying degrees. Her hair was singed and blackened; her long braid fell off in Tamahome’s hand as he reached to steady her, not knowing where to hold her that wouldn’t hurt her. He stared at the russet length of it as the fires around them suddenly died.

The forest night around them had disappeared. Now they found themselves perched on a high platform of golden stone, amid golden peaks and shimmering waterfalls. The preternaturally clear sunlight refracted through the water to cast strange mirages in midair; shifting hues in fractured rainbows, iridescent orbs that seemed to drift in the breeze. Ahead lay a wide, curving stairway, carved into the side of the mountain, leading up and up toward the misty outlines of upswept roofs and towers.

Hotohori started to sit up again, then thought better of it.

"What the…?" Nuriko said, never letting go of Hotohori’s hand.

"I have been watching you," said a voice.

Tamahome and Nuriko looked wildly around, but at first couldn’t find the source.

"Who are you?" Tamahome called out.

"The one whom you seek."

Hotohori drew a painful breath. "Then… this is Mount Dai-Shan?"

"Welcome, Riaka," said the voice. "I mean, Suzaku No Miko."

A small figure became visible, clothed in bright colors; scarlet for joy, green for harmony, gold for heavenly glory; and framed in swirling ribbons and lengths of white silk. The face in all the finery was that of a shrunken old woman.

Riaka was half-sprawled, half-leaning against Tamahome, moaning, and shivering with reaction. The burns were still consuming her. Tamahome’s hand closed into a fist around her severed braid. He tucked it into his sash, and gathered his courage to address the Controller of the World directly.

"Tai Yi-Jun," Tamahome said. "Please, Riaka and Hotohori are badly hurt—"

"Yes. I tested you to see how devoted you are to each other." Tai Yi-Jun glared at them all impartially. Then she gestured, and a plush carpet shimmered into being beneath the three Seishi and their Miko. "Come to my court. We’ll talk there… And I’ll show the Miko how to return to her own world."

The carpet rose, carrying them high enough to clear the peaks around them, up toward the tiled roofs of Tai Yi-Jun’s Court.

"The thought of falling off doesn’t thrill me!" Nuriko muttered, holding tight to Hotohori’s hand, yet careful not to crush it. Tamahome however gazed out with wonder. As they approached the Court, trees appeared among the steep mountaintops; twisted by the wind, but beautiful nonetheless. Other plants clung to the slopes now as well, and it was hard to tell if these were natural or some part of Tai Yi-Jun’s gardens…

Tai Yi-Jun, floating under her own power, preceded them, chuckling. "Only a select few can experience this mountain. If the wicked-hearted come upon it, it would become a mere mountain, covered with rocks."

"Hang on, Riaka," Tamahome murmured, smoothing what was left of her hair. "All will be well soon." I hope…

Soaring in easily over a green and gold arch, the carpet glided through a grand, open doorway into the Court itself. The carpet set them down so gently, even Hotohori’s broken ribs were not jarred. Its function completed, the carpet vanished.

The chamber they found themselves in was large, but the true scale was hard to judge, for it was draped at odd angles with vast hangings of white, the color of both purity and death, tangled in golden cords, and not all of its dimensions seemed to be geometric. The floor was white marble, but Tamahome thought he saw a shifting to its pattern like slow waves of some pearlescent fluid just under the surface. There was a vagueness to the place, as if the physical form were just a convention erected for their benefit.

Tai Yi-Jun wafted to a raised couch at what could be supposed was the far end of the chamber. "First, you need your injuries tended to," she said. "Nyn Nyn!"

From between the draperies floated six spheres like huge pink pearls. One by one they popped to release a series of identical, cherubic little girls with green hair bound into twin buns high up on either side of their heads. Their costumes were simpler versions of Tai Yi-Jun’s. "Cure them," directed Tai Yi-Jun.

"Haaaaaai!!" the Nyn Nyn cheered in unison. They briskly split into two teams and surrounded Riaka and Hotohori, wafting them away to separate alcoves, moving Tamahome and Nuriko aside firmly but with such bubbly enthusiasm for their task no offense could be taken. Their chubby fingers plucked away the injured ones’ clothing with astonishing gentleness and dexterity.

"Cure, cure…Fix, fix!" they cried happily. With each tiny touch, the pain ebbed, until Riaka and Hotohori were left clean and warm and blessedly unconscious.

a d c b

Luri sighed gustily. Thank you! She stifled an urge to strangle Riaka next time they were together again.

Luri set the Book down, now slightly damp in places, and stepped out of the tub. She shivered and dried herself vigorously, then put comfortable nightclothes on and settled herself in bed with the Book. Lem-chan and Yoshi padded in on soft cat feet and took their accustomed places; giving her looks as if to say, "Have you settled down, now?"

"I haven’t the foggiest, kittens," Luri said with a shrug, and went back to reading.

a d c b

Tai Yi-Jun dispersed the Nyn Nyn with a gesture, the last of them bouncing away with a giggle. "Now. I can heal them, but where shall I get the energy, hm?" She looked heavenward and tapped her wrinkled upper lip with a bony finger.

Tamahome and Nuriko were galvanized by the same impulse.

"From us!" they cried.

"It will drain your powers by half," Tai Yi-Jun warned.

"I don’t care," replied Nuriko. I would spare Hotohori-sama any pain if I can!

Tamahome simply nodded in agreement.

"So be it." Tai Yi-Jun concentrated, closing her eyes. The prone bodies of Riaka and Hotohori rose from the floor as egg-shaped auras of green radiance coalesced around them. Nuriko and Tamahome got their first clear view of their injuries and flinched. Hotohori’s chest was violently bruised, and seemed slightly concave. The broken ribs did not pierce the skin, but were nevertheless visible despite the swelling.

Riaka’s flesh was blistered and peeling over much of her body, and charred outright in a few places. Fluids were seeping through in the most damaged areas. But her face was strangely untouched; pale and drawn beneath a short halo of blackened hair. Nuriko tore her gaze away from Hotohori for a quick glance at how Riaka was faring. She noticed the frazzled wreck of the Miko’s hair and gasped. "Oh, no," the Princess said, with genuine sympathy and sadness. "Her one beauty…"

"That’s not--!" Tamahome began hotly, but checked himself. What had he been about to say? He touched the place in his sash where the severed braid was hidden, and shelved the matter. He could delve into whatever it meant later. No doubt his instinct was simply to protect the Miko… from any quarter.

"This will be hard on you two," Tai Yi-Jun said. "Take it." She spoke a single word and surrounded Tamahome and Nuriko with spheres of light akin to those around Riaka and Hotohori. A low hum suffused the chamber, it took a few moments before they realized it came from Tai Yi-Jun. Nuriko and Tamahome drew up their chi, focusing it, opening up to whatever Tai Yi-Jun was going to do.

When she did it, they fought not to scream. Take it, she who governs this world had said, and so they must. A giant fist of power clenched around their centers, grasping and coiling their chi, wrenching it out from them, but not separating, like the tethers of a great seagoing ship at dock, strung taut against the surge of a storm.

Nuriko arched backwards as she felt her chest expanding, drawing breath in and in, wider and wider, until Hotohori’s bones creaked and snapped back into their proper places, knitting with threads of the Phoenix’s fire. The bruises on his torso were reabsorbed, fading more and more with each heartbeat.

Tamahome hunched over, cradling his forearms against his chest. Heat from within surged outward, sloughing away damaged tissues until the pearly gleam of bone showed at the points of Riaka’s shoulders and knees, and Tamahome felt he was being flayed alive. A tide of new pink skin flowed out and over. With a final flourish of Tai Yi-Jun’s smallest finger, Riaka’s hair writhed suddenly to its original length, though now it was streaked throughout with silver, and the reddish hue was gone.

The healing green auras faded, gently lowering them to the floor. A pair of Nyn Nyn reappeared with Hotohori’s clothing, clean and repaired, which they reassembled on his body with uncanny speed. Nuriko put an arm around his shoulders to help him sit. He smiled at her in thanks, then took a wonderfully deep breath and let her assist him to his feet. He rubbed his chest, reveling in the feeling of being whole again after such pain. Never before had his royal person been permitted to be so damaged. He also noted the odd sensation of Nuriko’s chi swirling and meshing with his own inside him. A look of profound surprise spread across his flawless features…

Riaka’s clothes were beyond salvaging, even for the Nyn Nyn, though her hair was long enough to cover the important bits. Tamahome shrugged out of his tunic and wrapped her in that, holding her close as she awakened. "You scared us half to death," he said, shaking her a little as she looked up at him.

"Sorry ‘bout that," she said absently. Something was going on within her, something strange she couldn’t put names to, or even grasp completely. So she began with the lines to her Seishi, that at least had become familiar. All three were strong now, bridges connecting disparate islands, founded in deep stone. And along the bridge to Tamahome she recognized a bit of the flavor of this new strangeness. "Tamahome," she murmured, more to herself than to him. "I can feel…you…inside me…"

Tamahome blinked. The way she had said that made his face feel hot, for reasons he didn’t want to explore at the moment. Riaka was oblivious.

"Nuriko," said Hotohori, backing a step and staring at the Princess. Prince!?! "You…you’re a…man!"

Tamahome’s head whipped around. "A man!" He raised a hand to his mouth, remembering the kiss after she – he! – had saved them from the collapsed pavilion. And they way Nuriko had acted toward him that evening before he’d escaped…

Riaka clamped her hands over her mouth, her shoulders shaking with laughter. The look on Tamahome’s face…!!

Nuriko assumed a coy pose. "Well, I guess the truth had to come out sometime!"

Riaka fell over, whooping. "You ‘came out’ all right!"

"You knew…" Tamahome accused.

"Yeah," Riaka replied, wiping her eyes and getting herself under control. She grinned smugly, though. "I’m from California, I’ve seen his kinda deal before." She waved a hand at Nuriko, who despite her/his nonchalance, was watching her/his companions quite closely. "Don’t feel bad, she’s a very good transsexual. I mean, she’s got the thing down…she’s…he’s…oh, nevermind." Tamahome and Hotohori were looking at her as if she’d sprouted a third head. Riaka gave it up as a bad job and shrugged. "Ball’s in your court, kids." Oh lord, I can’t believe I said ‘ball’…

"This is amusing," said Tai Yi-Jun. "But are you finished?"

Everyone hauled their attention back around to the task at hand – with some difficulty.

"A return could be deadly in the condition you were in," Tai Yi-Jun explained, once she had everyone’s focus. "Since Suzaku No Miko has recovered, I’ll begin directions for your return."

Riaka sat up straighter and put her arms through the armholes of Tamahome’s tunic, wrapping it more firmly around herself.

"You’ve been in this world quite a while, so opening the way won’t be as easy as when you came." Tai Yi-Jun shifted grumpily on her couch. She wished these mortals could make up their minds about what they wanted… "In the beginning, you could’ve returned by the strength of your will."

Click my heels together three times and say there’s no place like home, Riaka thought. Sure. Great. "And now?"

"Simply put, sending Suzaku No Miko back would be easy if all seven Seishi were assembled. Hotohori, Tamahome, Nuriko are only three, and they are weakened."

The Seishi all made to protest, but Tai Yi-Jun held up a hand to forestall them. "And you, Riaka, do not truly wish to leave."

Riaka looked down at her hands. They had come all this way, suffered…and for what? Did she want to leave? She found herself looking at Tamahome and deliberately forced her gaze away. No, it’s been decided. Besides, this adventure stuff sucks! Attacked by slavers and gangs, getting smushed by falling masonry while the boys play wargames, running around on fire!! Hotohori almost dying… Now, now, there have been some fun things too. What about the Imperial Gardens? Oh yeah? What about the food!? Er, well… What about Ta-- Oh, shut up! Forget it. Just go home and get this damned contact lens outta my eye!! "I’m going," Riaka said firmly, meeting Tai Yi-Jun’s stare. Riaka grinned at a sudden thought. Old Erishkegal, Grandmother Goddess on Tai Shan…Huh. Tai Shan, Dai-Shan… Those Four Gods think they have the whole thing under their claws, but here you are at the center of it all. What a kick!

One corner of Tai Yi-Jun’s mouth might have twitched, but that was all the indication she gave of perhaps having heard Riaka’s thought. "So be it."

"Riaka," Tamahome said earnestly, before Tai Yi-Jun could continue, before something that might be irrevocable could be set into motion. "When you can…come back to us. We’ll be waiting…"

Riaka gave him a thumbs-up. "Aye-firmative." Tamahome…

"First things first," directed Tai Yi-Jun. "Seishi, surround Suzaku No Miko. Concentrate on sending your chi energy to her. Riaka, visualize your world from deep within your spirit. Feel their chi and accept it."

They did as she bid them, but Riaka as usual for her in such rituals, couldn’t get her mind to shut up and be still. The harder she tried, the more she mentally dithered.

"FOOL!" Tai Yi-Jun smacked Riaka with a crackle of static electricity, or at least that’s what Riaka thought it was. "Don’t get distracted! Carelessness could blow you into the void between dimensions! Concentrate."

Luri sat bolt upright. "Riaka?" The cats protested. "Riaka!"

Riaka homed in on Luri’s bedroom, trying to build up as clear a picture in her mind as she could from memory. The pictures and posters on the walls, the cat loft, the books and computer, the dressers and shelves and cupboards and tchatchkis, the CD rack and boom box, the purple carpet, the makeshift curtains on the high, rectangular windows, the riot of blankets on the frameless bed, the lapidary equipment, with a stuffed toy Ryo-Ohki… Not so clear a picture as would be her own room, but Riaka held to the images she had, zeroing in on the Book, and Luri herself.

Luri leaned forward, as if that would help somehow. Come on, Riaka…if you’re going to do it, DO it!

Now she could feel the power feeding into her along the bridges from her Seishi; flowing in and awakening her own subtle tie to the God of the South…opening the pathway between the worlds…a road she had already traveled once…

Scarlet light billowed out around her, enveloping her in its heat, sending her on wings back through the starry way, propelled by the cry of the Phoenix.

a d c b

Riaka lay on her side, stunned, static discharging around her. The cats had fled for good this time.

She rolled over and stared at the ceiling. Ceiling?

"Ack!!" Riaka sat up, flailing her arms and legs. "Waiow, whoa, we did it! I’m back! Luri, I’m… Luri?" What the smeg? The book was left open on Luri’s bed. Riaka waffled for a moment. Her impulse was to read where Luri had left off, but what if that just threw her back into the Universe of the Four Gods? She wasn’t ready to go back yet; since she was here, she had things to do and get before going back. She stuck a handy slip of paper in the place and closed the Book, slinging it under one arm as she got up to search for Luri. Maybe she just had to pee…

No Luri. But her older brother, Bryn, was visiting, rustling around in what had been his room before he’d moved out, next to Luri’s old room downstairs. Riaka, realizing her outfit was a little skimpy – due mostly to the lack of underwear – ducked back into Luri’s room to rummage for a pair of sweat pants. Even better, she found her own duffel, still packed for the vacation that had been so thoroughly preempted. She changed quickly, but found everything just a little too big. She stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror.

Good gods, how long was I over there?! I have my old jawline back…and are those cheekbones? Well, sorta; as much as I ever had cheekbones… Huh. She looked at her arms and noticed the handful of freckles on her forearms were gone, and a few scars, as was her warm-weather tan; lost where the new skin had grown over… She shuddered and forced her mind off that track. She’d lost her bangs, too; all her hair had been grown out to the same length. Weird. Must’ve been part of the healing.

"Greetings?" Bryn’s voice from the doorway startled her. "What are you doing back? Did you two forget something?"

Ohh dear… "Ummmm. Yeah. ‘Scuse me a sec." Where did Luri get to!?! Riaka ducked around Bryn and ran downstairs.

Luri wasn’t anywhere in the house or yard, though the car was in the driveway. Bryn caught up with Riaka in the kitchen.

"Where’s Luri?" he asked.

"I dunno," Riaka temporized, raiding the fridge for milk.

"What’s going on?"

Riaka stared at her enormous glass of milk fixedly. "You’d never believe me," she muttered.

Bryn reached out and carefully encircled one of her wrists with his thumb and forefinger. "No? Then explain to me how you could become twenty pounds thinner in less than a day – and I’m not buying liposuction."

Riaka got Bryn to drive her to Sacramento by promising to explain everything to him on the way. Riaka managed to squeeze it all into the two-and-a-half hour drive, though she wasn’t sure how coherent it was at that point. At least it kept her from thinking too much about Tamahome…when she was still, she could feel his chi inside her somehow.

Once at her house, Riaka tried to sneak in quietly so as not to wake her parents – an idea complicated by the fact that she’d left her keys back in the other world! At least I can get in through the garage… But her Dad was still up – ensconced at his computer, conquering the world – and surprised to see her. Bryn wandered in after her and waved at Mr. S. "Hello, I’m just the chauffeur."

"Forgot some things," Riaka explained hastily. "I’ll just be a few minutes!"

It took longer than that to gather and repack all the things she wanted. She debated on a shower, but tossed that idea. She got her contact lens out with some difficulty and put it in its container to soak. But she took it and its solutions with her. Glasses would do for now, until the lens was fit to wear again, but she wanted the option, especially if her second visit was going to get as strenuous as the first. It occurred to her that some supplies from work might come in handy, but that would take too long. She was pressed by a sense of urgency that had her tanked up on adrenaline. And she didn’t like having lost the lines to her Seishi.

Bryn watched interestedly as she stuffed everything into her giant, green duffel from college, and a handful of other backpacks and totes.

"What are you going to do?" he asked her as she zipped the duffel closed.

"I’m going back, of course."

"Of…course… What about Luri?"

"That’s just it. I had a hard time by myself; I want to help her if I can. I’m almost positive she’s in there." Riaka picked up the Book from where she’d left it on her bed. "If they ask, just tell all the parental units we’re okay; we are supposed to be on a road trip, after all." She opened the Book and took out the paper mark.

"Wait…" Bryn had more questions. But Riaka’s eyes were already on the pages.

"What…?" said Mr. S faintly from behind him. Mrs. S emerged, blinking, from the master bedroom in a robe and pajamas, wanting to know what was going on as well.

Riaka looked up for a moment at her parents. "Everything’s all right," she told them, an almost beatific smile on her face. "I’m just going farther on vacation than we planned!" She looked back down to the pages, picking up the narrative where Luri had left off. "Ja ne," Riaka said, and vanished in a flare of crimson light.

The Book dropped to the floor.

The three left behind stared at it wide-eyed.

a d c b

Luri found herself on a high hill overlooking a wide city with blue-tiled roofs.

Ack! Here we go again…my turn now! She took a step, then looked down at herself. "RIAKA!!" Bad timing! Bad, bad timing! She wore sweatpants, an oversize T-shirt, socks, and one of her myriad of small blankets draped over her shoulders. No bra, but that wasn’t a problem. No shoes was, though. I’m glad I got my eyes fixed. I’m VERY glad I got my eyes fixed! Still, she grumbled as she took off her socks and tucked them into her waistband; no sense ruining them and she was used to bare feet anyway.

Luri headed for the city. Unlike Riaka, she had a pretty good idea what was going on. She suspected the city below wasn’t the capitol of Hongnan; for one thing the roofs of Hongnan were described as having gold tiles, not blue. This was confirmed when she reached the main southern gate, with its ornamental sign proclaiming it as Qu-Dong Capitol’s Southern Gate of Prosperity or something to that effect. Luri kept to busy streets and aimed as directly for the center of the city as she could. She had no intention of falling prey to the dangers Riaka had encountered. She needed to find her Tamahome-equivalent as soon as possible. A guide and protector until she knew her way around.

By mid-afternoon, she was hot, dusty, tired and footsore. But she had found what looked like the Palace grounds.

Now. How can I get in there without getting arrested to do it? She was garnering enough stares to guarantee it was known she was a foreigner. That was a start, but she needed more.

From around the corner of the high wall surrounding the Palatial complex, came a company of foot soldiers, led by a man on horseback. Their armor was lacquered a shimmering blue, gleaming in the sunlight, composed of overlapping scales; it reminded her of a dragon’s hide.

Luri steeled herself. She had to do this; it was better – and safer – to get herself set up as a Miko as soon as possible. She stepped forward, trying to catch the horseman’s eye – difficult since he wore a full helmet. "Excuse me…" Her call came out much softer than she’d intended. She cleared her throat to try again, but the horseman had stopped, and was looking at her.

"Excuse me," she said again, struck by his vivid blue eyes, in a city of dark-haired, dark-eyed people. "Do you know where I can find seven Seishi?"

The horseman blinked at her and pulled down the cloth masking his lower face. He leaned toward her, the expression on his strikingly handsome face intense. "What did you say?"

Good grief! Luri winced slightly. All that charisma or whatever it was, directed at her so keenly! She almost felt it was something tangible she could push away or deflect. "Stop that," she said.

The pressure of his gaze suddenly withdrew. "My apologies," he said. Something glowed blue on his forehead for just a moment, then faded. "Perhaps you are the one…" he murmured.

Now we’re getting somewhere, Luri thought. Hopefully.

"I have been looking for you," he continued. "I am Jiangjun Nakago. Please come with me; the Emperor will be anxious to meet you." He extended a hand, apparently to help her mount. Luri moved around to the proper side of the horse and, taking his other hand as he understood her intent and held it out instead, swung herself up behind him.

The soldiers saluted as they passed through the gate, and all along their path, folk made way and bowed, or saluted, according to their station. I seem to have picked the right guy, Luri thought. They crossed a sea of flagstones. Luri thought of the Forbidden City in the China of her world. Or Versailles. Nakago halted and dismounted in front of one of the largest of the buildings in the complex, turning immediately to hand Luri down, but she had already slid off on her own. She grinned at him apologetically and shrugged. She followed him up the great, intricately carved marble stairway, and into the Palace of Qu-Dong.

Nakago led her to the Women’s Country, allowing her to bathe, eat, and be provided with appropriate clothing before being presented to the Emperor. The gauzy under-robe and more chaste, blue outer robe were impractical but pretty, and the way the maidservants had done up her honey-gold hair was rather nice, though Luri was sure she couldn’t duplicate it without growing at least one more set of arms.

Nakago met her at the Door to Women’s Country and bowed, pleased by her transformation. Followed by a double column of elite guards, they made their way to the Taihedian, the Hall of Supreme Harmony, or the Dragon Throne Hall. Two incense burners stood before the entrance; one in the shape of a stork, the other a dragon. The floor was tiled in elaborate mosaic, and black columns entwined with carved dragons were surmounted by a green and blue-painted ceiling, littered with dragon motifs, from which hung a spherical mirror. Luri sneezed at the thick smoke of incense obscuring the covered dais at the far end of the vast hall.

On the dais, on the Blue Dragon Throne, carved, it was said from a single piece of lapis, sat the Emperor of Qu-Dong, Sun Zhou, surrounded by concubines and eunuchs, and his ever-present, ever-silent bodyguards.

Hotohori, he’s not, Luri thought as she knelt with Nakago on the wide carpet before the throne. This man was much older, bearded, with a lascivious twist to his features that spoke of no pleasures left unsatisfied, no matter how extreme.

The Emperor looked up from the scroll he’d been reading; Seiryuu’s Four Gods’ Sky and Earth, Luri realized it was.

"Ah, Nakago," said the Emperor. "This is our Seiryuu No Miko, then?"

"I believe so, your Imperial Majesty." In the presence of the Emperor, Nakago’s voice and manner were calm, controlled and utterly neutral. Luri would have been forgiven if she had mistaken him for an android, except this was fantasy, not science fiction.

"Where are you from, girl?" the Emperor asked, addressing Luri directly.

Luri took her cues from the Jiangjun at her side and answered as clearly and simply as she could. "Silicon Valley, California; west coast of the United States, Western Hemisphere."

"Barbarous names, eh, Nakago?" The Emperor chuckled. "If you believe she’s truly the Girl of the Legend, have her initiated. Then we’ll see. We’ll teach that whelp Saishitei in Hongnan a lesson." He waved a hand in dismissal.

Luri was relieved. She already didn’t like the undercurrents, and she’d only been here an hour or two.

"Nakago," she said as they strode through the halls toward the Temple of Seiryuu. "You’re a Seishi, aren’t you."

Nakago nodded, and smiled at her briefly. "I and one other are already here in the Palace. You will meet her soon."

Her? Luri thought. Ha, Riaka was right, even if her own Nuriko did turn out to be a guy…! Whoa, word – or orders – spreads fast in this place. A bevy of blue-robed priestesses awaited them already. And no-one has even asked me yet if I want to be their Miko. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. No, she had to go through with it to get home, and in the meantime, she wasn’t about to miss out on her share of the adventure.

Nakago turned to her before he left to make his own preparations. He touched her shoulder briefly, and held a finger under her chin when she looked at him. "You are the one," he said, softly so only she could hear. "I can tell you’re very strong. I will be with you. Do not fear."

Oh, good, Nakago. Terrific. That’s supposed to make me feel better? What is this initiation like, then?! Luri grumbled to herself and let the priestesses lead her into a small side chamber to prepare her for the ritual.

The huge, looping coils of the Dragon god, Seiryuu, dominated the shrine. No incense clouded the moist air here, for which Luri was sincerely grateful. Water was everywhere, rising in fountains, falling in many-tiered veils, filling the cavernous chamber with its music. Luri thought she could just pick out a kind of melody in it. To either side of the statue of the Deity stood Nakago, in azure robes that brought out the color of his eyes, even in the dimness; and a woman of about Luri’s height, with burgundy highlights in her long, black hair. She wore darker robes that set off the unusual paleness of her skin.

Luri was given a candle, and directed to light it from the small brazier at the foot of the statue, then set it in a holder that mimicked the larger form of the Dragon above it. The priestesses took her hands and drew her onto a raised, circular grille of silver, where they left her.

And so she did. For water rose up through the grille beneath her feet, not spilling out over the floor as one would expect, but forming a column with the same diameter as the silver grating. Higher it came, cold, but not as cold as some of the oceans Luri had swum in. When it reached her neck she began to tread water, intrigued by the way her clothes billowed and flowed. A symbol began to glow like the summer sky on Nakago’s forehead: a character meaning heart or mind. A slit in her robe revealed another character on the woman’s upper left thigh: house or room.

Luri was lifted several meters from the floor, then her relative position became stationary, while the water column continued to rise to the darkness of the ceiling. Luri held her breath, determined not to panic. She would hold for as long as she had to.

She clenched her jaw and writhed, trying to swim free, but something sounded through the liquid, like an underwater drum, or whalesong, and with a muffled cry Luri lost the last of her air. Heavy cold rushed into her lungs – after a moment of pain and silent screaming, she stilled. And took a breath.

She opened her eyes. She was breathing quite comfortably now, not cold at all, and very, very calm. Slowly she sank, until her toes just touched the silver grille. Her blue-green eyes had become very wide and dark; she stared at Nakago with head cocked, an alien expression on her face. Through the distortion of the column, she could see the Jiangjun’s face; his own eyes wide, lips parted in startlement or wonder.

Luri turned to the woman. Soi came the name across the link that now flowed between them. Luri could feel Nakago as well; they were hers, and she was theirs. No matter what reservations they may suffer from later, at this moment they were indivisible.

A deep bell rang. The column of water shattered into an explosion of mist, falling back into the deep pools from which it had come.

Luri sank to her knees, herself again, and strangely dry. Soi and Nakago came and helped her to her feet, the priestesses escorted her back to her rooms to rest.

The eyes of the dragon statue glowed blue.

a d c b

While warm, humid storms pounded the south, the proximity to the east coast kept Qu-Dong’s capitol somewhat cooler and pleasantly breezy. Luri woke to open windows and silvery, cloud-filtered light. By the time she had finished her breakfast it had begun to rain. Maids came to remove the remains of the meal, and to bring Luri new clothes.

Luri declined help in dressing; as the maids withdrew, she turned to the stack of garments on the bed to see what she could make of them. In the end she had to do without trousers, since there weren’t any, but she rolled up the trailing sleeves of the simplest, least colorful robe and bound it firmly with a dark sash. She used an ornamental cord of some kind from another outfit to tie up her hair. The house slippers provided were satisfactory. She decided she could deal with the underwear issue later. Now that she was up and more or less awake, she wanted to explore.

She opened the door leading into the Palace – like Riaka, she had an outside-facing suite of rooms with access to gardens. She assured herself she would explore the gardens thoroughly later, for now she decided she’d best become familiar at least with the nearest parts of the Palace . Outside her door she found no guards; an unexpectedly good sign, perhaps. Though for now she had so little power in the scheme of life here they didn’t consider her a threat. She might, as Seiryuu No Miko, be important enough no one would dare to harm her, either. Double edge.

She kept careful track of her turnings as she went; like most very old buildings, the Qu-Dong Palace had been extensively remodeled over the years, making of its passageways and courtyards a maze. Servants bustled about, and she could hear conversations in many of the rooms she passed, but nothing moved her to initiate contact. No doubt the servants had already given word to whomever cared that she was up and about, and if they didn’t want her wandering unattended someone would come collect her. Nakago might be the one, although if he was of as high a rank as she thought, he was probably too busy. Soi maybe; Luri wasn’t sure what Soi’s status was exactly, besides Seishi.

Luri obeyed her natural inclination to climb and soon found herself out on a covered balcony that ran the length of the building on the side opposite the front of the Palace. Here she had a panoramic view of most of the Palace grounds, and, in the distance, the northern quarter of the city. Nearly all buildings, she realized, had their main entrances facing south. She liked all the blue-tiled roofs with their dragons on the ridgepoles and corners; and the intricacies of the layout – such fun to explore! – no doubt with astrological or philosophical significances layered over the ages. The garden or park areas looked almost entirely natural from her vantage, aside from occasional pagodas and pavilions. There were tiny boats out on a far lake with sails and canopies of many bright colors. There were many smaller pools closer to, some of which she thought were steaming slightly in the cool air; a good soak in a hot spring would be wonderful later in the evening. She might miss her whirlpool tub at home, but this wasn’t a bad substitute!

After a few minutes more, Luri turned to go back inside, and blinked to find someone there in the doorway, watching her.

"Good morning, Soi," Luri said cheerfully. "How are you?"

The Seishi blinked, as if not expecting such a greeting. "I am well," she said with a slight inclination of her head. "I have come to see if I may be of any help to you." Soi was now dressed in a buff-colored underdress that came to her knees, slit up the sides, over which was a kind of plate armor lacquered in burgundy and umber; decoratively designed to enhance her female figure, but likely not entirely useless as armor.

"Oh. Yes," said Luri. She already had something in mind. "I want to study The Four Gods’ Sky and Earth of Seiryuu, if I may." No doubt this version would be at least somewhat different from Suzaku’s and those differences were likely to be very interesting.

Soi nodded. "Nakago-sama said you would request this. The Book has been brought to a convenient reading place. If you will allow me to show you the way…?"

"Thank you." Luri wanted to ask her questions as they went, but she could tell Soi didn’t want to talk. There would be plenty of opportunities later, so Luri let it slide.

The "convenient reading place" was in fact one of Luri’s own suite of rooms; a sort of study, with a desk or writing table, many lanterns, a good south-facing window, and several chairs, including a long lounging bench richly appointed with many tasseled and brocade pillows. The Four Gods’ Sky and Earth lay neatly tied on the desk. Luri picked it up, appreciating its heft and the texture of the blue rag paper backing. She untied the black silk cord and unrolled the scroll to the first section. As Riaka had, Luri found she could read the characters as easily as she could English print back home. She looked up after a moment to find Soi watching her.

"Have you read this?" Luri asked her.

"Yes, Miko."

"Then if I…have any questions about it you can help me?"

"Yes, Miko."

"My name’s Luri, you can call me that."

"As you wish. Luri."

Princess Bride quotes floated through Luri’s head but she ignored them. No one here would get them anyway. When it became clear that Soi considered herself at her post, so to speak, and therefore wasn’t going away, Luri sighed. "You don’t have to stay here," she said. "If you have other duties…"

"As you wish." Soi bowed and exited.

Luri grumbled to herself. One more thing she’d have to work on…

It was as Luri had thought; by and large, the text of the scroll was almost the same as the one Riaka had read. The clues given about the Seishi were obviously different. Jiangjun/Mind is Nakago; Lightning/Geisha must be Soi… Along with Soi’s name during the initiation ceremony, Luri had gotten some inkling of Soi’s talent as well: something to do with lightning. Interesting… So, the others; Wolf/Snow, Flute/Heart, Dragon/Heart, Priest/Sleep and Illusion/Fan. Luri leaned back on the chaise and gazed out the window. The best thing to do was to go ahead and get out there and see what was what.

a d c b

Luri led Nakago and Soi out the South Gate at a gallop; delighted to be free of the confines of the Palace. Various odd little bureaucratic details had delayed their departure a week or so, but when Luri had told Nakago she was halfway tempted to pack up and set out on her own, these details had quickly cleared themselves up. Luri filed this interesting happenstance away for future reference. They would – unless future information led them elsewhere – ride in a rough circuit around the body of Qu-Dong Country; keeping watch for signs of the Seishi.

"The Seishi will be drawn to you," Nakago had said. "As you will be drawn to them."

"Convenient," Luri had replied. And how do you know that, hm?

The wind was blowing a storm in from the southeast, but Luri let her hair loose and her cloak free to billow; the slightly cooler air felt good, and Fengmi, Luri’s horse, though spirited and a lover of running, was otherwise unspookable. Fengmi’s coat and mane matched Luri’s hair color to a remarkable degree, and in her dun and earth-tone travel gear, Luri felt like a Centaur.

They traveled roughly south through deciduous forest, crossing many streams and brooks. The shore was too far to hear or smell, but the cry of gulls cheered Luri still; she considered them cousins.

a d c b

They had been travelling for several days. Nakago and Soi still wore their armor, though Luri had seen no need for it so far; not even bandits had approached them. Soi was still deferential but coolly distant; Luri glimpsed warmth from her only when the Seishi was looking at Nakago and didn’t think she was being observed. Easy enough to see what was going on there, but Nakago was so completely controlled and impassive he was harder to read. He answered Luri’s questions readily enough, though, with just enough thoroughness that she couldn’t accuse him of holding anything back.

"Sun Zhou is Qu-Dong’s seventh emperor," the Jiangjun explained. "Qu-Dong has always had civil wars. The country is made up of so many different tribes and factions, it is inevitable."

"Only the seventh?" Luri raised her eyebrows. "I got the impression the Empire was older than that."

"Four hundred years ago, Tai Yi-Jun gave The Four Gods’ Sky and Earth of Seiryuu to Tong Do, the first emperor, who established Qu-Dong."

Four hundred. Well, the US is only a little over two hundred and we already have traditions and myths… "How old was Sun Zhou when he ascended the throne?"

"When the sixth emperor died, Sun Zhou was eighteen."

Interesting way to put it. Luri shook her head. Establishing the level of plots and politics in Qu-Dong was a background issue; helpful in placing Qu-Dong into the context of the Four Lands, and its internal texture. But the problem or problems she as Miko was to solve most likely involved larger issues. And she still had no better idea what those were than Riaka had. There were two Miko so far; were they going to be dealing with all four, or not? Were they to fight a war or prevent one? What exactly was supposed to happen when the animal god or gods were summoned? Nakago was probably a good source for some of this information, or at least he could hazard informed guesses. But Luri wanted to be a little more sure of him before she started asking potentially sensitive questions.

a d c b

One day they were stopped at a peaceful meadow for lunch, eating out of their saddlebags, for they didn’t intend to stay long, despite the lovely woods and wildflowers. Luri, as was her wont, ate sparingly then wandered off to explore.

She found a shady path, maybe no more than a game trail, meandering off into the trees and down into a glen. She could hear water splashing and babbling down below, mingling with the wind in the treetops. Birds sang all around her, and other voices sounded as well, calls of creatures she couldn’t identify sight unseen. The light was green and dappled, just misty enough with midday heat to turn the few sunbeams that penetrated to the forest floor into transparent columns of bright gold.

Luri followed the path, hopping lightly down the stone steps to a wooden bridge across the creek at the valley floor. She stopped. Hm! So much for the game trail idea. The path continued on for a while past the bridge, curling around upstream along the water, bounded by irises and sedges. No longer dirt, it was now paved with slate flags, with moss creeping between the stones.

As she came around a shoulder of hill, she spotted the line of an upswept roof in the sun-freckled dimness. The path widened out into a small patio-sized area. To one side was the creek and a covered well complete with bucket and pulley to raise and lower it. On the right was another structure she couldn’t make out clearly. Ahead was the roofed entrance to…something. Whatever it was went straight into the steep wall of the glen. The source of the creek spilled noisily out of a crack in the stone near the base of the ancient-looking wood and metal door. There was no knob; Luri couldn’t even find hinges, and there was no other indication of which way the door opened.

Something sealed inside? Ahh, better leave it, then! But she got no intimation of evil or danger. Just a puzzle. Why is there a well, with the creek right here? She went over and peeked into the well. Instead of a bucket, the rope from the pulley was tied to a basket. And the water level in the well was far below the level of the creek right beside it. What? She tried the handle on the pulley and found it jammed tight. Rusted solid, it seemed. Luri gave a mental shrug and stepped across to the thing on the right.

This was a huge chest of drawers; an apothecary’s chest. But none of the drawers were labeled. She ran her hands idly over the wood, amazingly smooth for being out in the elements like this. But there was something… She took a step back and looked again. Yes. In better light it would be obvious, but here she had to narrow her eyes a little. There was some sort of bas relief carved into the drawers. But it was an abstract design…or… no, it was just all jumbled. Oh! It’s a sliding tile puzzle! Luri grinned. She often did this sort of puzzle online at work to pass an idle moment or three between other tasks. She was very quick at them. There was no framing design to help her begin, but once she found an eye things were easier. Most of the drawers were empty, she found, as she pulled them out and rearranged them. But some were not. She didn’t stop to examine the contents, however; she was absorbed in her task.

When the last drawer was in place, she heard a soft click like the release of a metal catch behind her. She looked at the design on the chest. A leopard. Are there leopards in China? In this China anyway… The carving was magnificently lifelike, now that all the pieces were in place. Some dim part of her mind thought the relief hadn’t been so deep before, but she dismissed it. What’s that humming?

The door was still closed, so she turned back to the well. She leaned over the mouth again, putting her hand on the handle of the pulley as she did so; suddenly finding she could move it after all. The humming grew louder. Seven times she turned the wheel, and there was a rushing of water as the well filled to the height of the creek. The humming was louder still, became a basso profundo purr, and a resonant popping rumble announced the door’s opening. Luri turned. The leopard on the chest stepped down and rubbed against her, purring, as it went by, disappearing down the path she’d come by. A dream within a dream? Luri shook her head, shook herself, stared at the door.

No growling, no noxious fumes, no maniacal laughter…shall I go in? She peered around the massive door. There was a green glow shimmering on the rock formations inside. Stalactites, stalagmites, fluted and folded flowstone, all rippled with the emerald light reflecting from the pools to either side of the narrow stone walkway. This wasn’t an eerie green, or a cheap, tourist-cave colored light. It was sunlight through precious beryl, pale mint of fluorite to deep emerald, with flashes of cheery peridot here and there. She felt it truly was sunlight, warm and comforting; it almost didn’t feel like a cave at all.

She followed the only path, sometimes stepping stones across a pond, sometimes a solid way between close walls, but always winding on without a branching. Deeper and deeper into the bright heart of the hills.

Nakago stood, glancing around. "We should be moving on. Where is the Miko?"

Soi started in alarm, as if it were her fault. "She went off that way, you know how she likes to explore. She always comes back…"

Nakago closed his eyes for a moment. No, no danger sang along the cord that bound them. But there was something strange.

"Stay with the horses," he said curtly and started after the Miko.

At last the passage opened up into a chamber, as light-filled as the rest. In the center was a simple round platform upon which sat a still figure, seemingly carved of fine jade. Luri approached curiously. It was a child, eyes closed in sleep, head shaved, in the robes of a Buddhist monk, or something like, with a peculiar crease running up and down the center of the forehead. A prayer wheel rested in one crystalline green hand. Luri bent closer. Not carved in jade, so much as encased in translucent jade! She thought she could see the texture of skin beneath the thin shell of stone.

Hel-lo… Waitaminit! Priest/Sleep. Miboshi. Here’s my third; so how do I get him out of this? She had already freed the leopard, opened the door; there had to be a way. She began a systematic search of the chamber.

On the opposite side from the entrance was a small, low table of black lacquered wood. On it was a wide, flat basket containing some kind of grain; mixed still with the chaff. Next to the basket was a bowl of water, and seven small leopard figurines in various colors of glass. There was nothing else in the chamber.

Luri hefted one of the leopards. It was swirled with many colors of deep green, blending with the darker parts of the chamber walls. She looked at the others. Green, blue, purple, red, orange, yellow and black.

Well, let’s try the obvious thing first. One by one she set the leopards in rainbow order around the sleeping Seishi, with the black between red and purple. There were no marks on the floor, nothing to align to, so she just spaced them out evenly. When that by itself did nothing as far as she could see, she went back to the other items on the table.

Put the grain in the water or the water on the grain? She picked up the basket. The grain needed separating out, first; and this was the kind of basket used for such things. I need a breeze, though, to blow the lighter chaff away. She gave the basket a couple of experimental slow bounces. Maybe I can blow it… She bounced the basket again, this time blowing at the cloud of dry hulls.

The cloud lifted, expanded, spiraled out, shimmering over the jade-covered figure, settling gently over both it and the arranged leopards. Cool, Luri thought. Mojo effects!

Still the Seishi did not wake.

The water, then. She picked up the bowl. Pour it over the statue’s head? Sprinkle it? Drink it? Offer it to the statue? She tried sprinkling first. On the statue and on the leopards didn’t seem to do anything. All right, watering the grain at least makes something like sense.. She shook a few drops from her fingertips onto the grain in the basket.

Nothing happened, except the grain and basket got wet. She sprinkled, then poured a small amount on the statue, on the leopards, in a circle around the ensemble, and then she ran out of water.

Luri tapped the bowl against her hand for a moment, frowning. She searched the chamber again, thinking she must have missed something. She started to go back up the passageway to investigate the entrance more, but leaving the chamber felt wrong, somehow. There was a way to free her Seishi from this spell, and it would be done in here, not out where she had already been. She stalked around the perimeter of the chamber for a while; looking up at the ceiling, down at the floor, in every crevice and cranny of the crystalline interior. Finding nothing. She tapped the rim of the bowl – which she still held – against her forehead, growling in frustration.

Then she threw it at the statue.

It hit in the middle of the jade-covered figure’s head and bounced off, not even breaking as it rolled across the floor in a wide arc. Luri pounced on it, intending to throw it again, until it shattered in a satisfying manner.

There was a sharp, high-pitched CRICK.

Luri turned. A crack was spiderwebbing across the jade, starting over the strange fold in the middle of the child’s forehead. The stone fell away in shards and slabs as the cracks spread, slowly revealing the child, freeing him.

The child’s eyes opened. All three of them.

Luri felt her breath escape in a rush. Okay, that’s what that odd crease was… Seeing such things in a movie was one thing; flesh and blood was different.

"At last," said the child, smiling at her.

Luri frowned. "All I had to do was bounce that bowl off of your head." She reached down half-absently and scooped up a couple of jade shards; one part of her mind intrigued by the notion of making the stone into cabochons later.

The child laughed, somehow a strange sound; the body was that of a child, but the eyes and tone of voice belonged to a being much older. Well, age doesn’t matter, Luri reminded herself.

"The other things were necessary as well," he said. "You have an admirable mixture of mental and physical abilities. Both will be needed."

"How long… Er, excuse me. My name is Luri. Pleased to meet you."

"I am called Miboshi, as you have already guessed," the child said, turning and displaying the Seishi symbol on his lower back, faintly glowing blue. "The honor is mine, Seiryuu No Miko."

He and Luri exchanged bows, then Luri sat down on her heels to make conversation a little more friendly. "If you don’t mind my asking, how long have you been…bespelled like that?"

"Unless my master’s calculations were badly off, about sixty years. I was born a Seishi too soon, you see."

"You knew, then."

"Yes. I was born Feng Shu, in the Shangxi Province of Qu-Dong. My family was merchant-class, but I showed early…aptitude… for temple service. At age six I entered the Kunlun Temple. One of the masters, Ehr Fu, has…had the gift of foresight and realized what I truly am. It was he who, after much study and help from other masters, put me in this protected place, safe even from time, to await the arrival of the Miko." Miboshi bowed again, smiling. Luri however, did not miss the stumble over tenses regarding Ehr Fu.

You’ve left behind everything you knew, too, haven’t you…And someone you love is probably dead now… That thought hit Luri a little too close to home, and she brushed it away impatiently. "Do you need anything? We should get back to the others. We have Nakago and Soi already; now we just need four more."

"As you say." Miboshi nodded. He closed his third eye in concentration and rose slowly from his cushion, keeping his anza position as if still seated on something solid. Luri wondered if he was unable to walk or simply chose to travel that way for some arcane reason.

She led him down the emerald passage. Already, when she stilled her mind enough, she could feel the subtle tether to this new Seishi; he had pledged himself to this cause – whatever the crisis turned out to be – decades ago. "Did your master have any idea what the threat was, that…well, triggered the need for a Seiryuu No Miko?"

Miboshi shook his head. "No, he did not. He thought the danger must be great indeed if we were given warning – via my birth – so far in advance. Perhaps once we join with the other Seishi there will be a way to gain more insight into the matter."

"The sooner we figure it out, the better," Luri said.

As they reached the entrance, Luri noted the door had closed behind her. Oops… But Miboshi lifted a hand, and the heavy portal swung gently open, beyond was the relative dimness of the flagstone entrance area, and the sound of the merry creek. And someone was waiting for them.

"Miko," Nakago said calmly enough. But Luri could see a fine sweat sheening his face. She tapped his link carefully; yes, he’d been doing something strenuous. As she and Miboshi came further out she looked back at the hillside. Rather large divots and craters of uprooted stones and plants surrounded the slowly closing door. Oh my…

"Um. Miboshi, this is Nakago. Nakago, this is Miboshi."

Miboshi floated up to be eye-level with the tall Jiangjun. The two regarded each other curiously. Before this could get out of hand, Luri cleared her throat. "Come on, you two, let’s go. Soi’s with the horses, still?"

Nakago looked at her. "Yes. Please do not wander off, Miko. I cannot protect you if I do not know where you are."

That was feeble. "Nakago, you always know where I am, the same way I always know where you are." She led them back along the path. "Besides, I obviously had to wander off this time."

"We were fortunate it was not a trap."

"Ah, so you expect traps?" For me? Set by whom? And why? There were obvious general reasons, but she wanted specifics.

"I always suspect everything is a trap."

Yeah, yeah, that’s why you’re still alive.

a d c b

They journeyed on through the forest, to the town of Yantong Xilu; a respectably-sized, fortified town set on a hill near the shore of a lake. Nakago led them to the Lord’s mansion; apparently he knew the man personally.

"Lord Shidu assures me we are to have an unusual entertainment tonight," the Jiangjun told Luri. "The Boukentekina No Hamaguri [Hazardous Clam ;-)] [I’ve been trying to find out what this is in Chinese, but my little quickie dictionary is inadequate! Argh.] Players are said to have a remarkable way with scenery and costumes."

There’s more to that than what he said, Luri thought. She was starting to lose patience with this sort of thing. Through the link, she could usually tell now when Nakago was holding back or outright lying. She didn’t have time for these games of his. "That sounds interesting," she replied coolly, though she guessed he could read her irritation through the link as well.

They were given the best rooms and bathing accommodations, and treated to a sumptuous dinner. They began with cold appetizers and continued through fifteen courses – Luri counted. Odd colored eggs, stir fry with lots of chilies, artfully arranged seafood, including dried squid, chicken with peanuts and chilies, steamed breads, and the famous Wuxi spare ribs. Spare ribs of what, Luri didn’t want to know. A clear soup followed the main course of whole pangolin. Fruits were what served as dessert. Luri had had plenty of experience with dim sum before, but this was an order of magnitude different! Luri kept to just the tea, and Miboshi did the same, but Soi and Nakago drank the rice wine with the rest of Lord Shidu’s company. Nakago was apparently unaffected, though Luri noticed he kept up with all the toasts. Soi started to get a little muzzy after a few rounds, then prudently switched to tea. Luri sensed the Lightning Seishi didn’t like getting drunk.

When the eating and toasting were done, everyone still conscious retired to a grand, pillared hall with a plain, raised stage set up at one end. Luri and her Seishi, as guests of honor, were installed on soft pillows up front to one side along with Lord Shidu and his immediate family.

When the audience had settled, a small, stocky character dressed in a simple blue robe, with what Luri thought looked like a Scaramouche mask hiding his features, came onto the unadorned stage and bowed. "Honored company," the fellow said, in a surprisingly deep voice that carried easily to the back of the great hall. "Tonight we, the Boukentekina No Hamaguri Players will present ‘The Love of Fuhao and Wuding’." Bowing again, he exited, stage left.

The music began.

"1500 years ago," boomed a voice from offstage. "The fabulous Queen Fuhao leads an army of 13,ooo warriors against the state of Qiang to the north-west, at the behest of her beloved husband and King, Wuding. As she prepares for battle in her tent, a vital message has gone terribly astray…"

As the opening scene progressed, Miboshi’s eyes opened wider and wider, and then his third eye opened. Nakago stiffened and sat up, scanning the hall tensely.

Knock it off, Nakago, Luri thought. Why can’t you just sit back and enjoy this for once. Not all magic is an attack, despite what you think. At least Miboshi was more intrigued than alarmed. Soi didn’t seem to have noticed yet. She was too absorbed in the action of the play itself.

Slowly the light changed, deepening around the lanterns, leaving their warm amber glow unaltered, but suffusing the air outside their globes with a cool blueness that rippled and wavered if one watched carefully enough. Luri thought it looked like they were underwater. Then the walls began to fade. Kelp forests swayed in the distance. The stage altered while one was looking elsewhere, gradually metamorphosing into a reef cove with a sandy, pearl-strewn bottom. At the same time, the costumes subtly shifted, becoming more and more elaborate and fantastical. Merfolk and other underwater denizens acted out the ancient saga. Luri loved it, enjoyed and absorbed it all, never forgetting, however, that there was someone nearby using a great deal of some kind of power to do this.

When the play was done – it had included music, dance and acrobatics in addition to the drama; Luri was reminded of Cirque du Soleil – Luri grabbed Nakago’s arm firmly.

"Please don’t pounce on anyone," she whispered in his ear. "Let me handle this."

Nakago looked at her with an expression she couldn’t decipher – and the line from him was as usual a blank hum; power and location but emotion subdued completely. She stifled a flash of her own irritation and joined the rest of the crowd in applauding the players.

As she had suspected, the actors and musicians, fools and acrobats mingled with what was essentially a court during the party after the play. Nobility was nobility, even if the trappings changed. Luri made her way over to the troupe master and Lord Shidu, Seishi in her wake.

"Ah, Seiryuu No Miko," said Lord Shidu, bowing to her. "May I have the honor of presenting to you the renowned Ruo Chuin, master of the Boukentekina No Hamaguri Players?"

"Pleased to meet you," Luri said, smiling at the unusually handsome Troupe leader and inclining her head to the angle Soi had instructed her was proper for her station. Not much of an angle, Luri had noticed…. The Seiryuu No Miko also noticed the appreciative look Ruo gave Nakago, and only barely managed to stifle a grin.

"The honor is mine, Seiryuu No Miko," Ruo said, executing an unusual bow. A very faint hue of cynicism tinged the edge of his voice. "How exciting. Think of it, my Lord Shidu, a girl from a completely different world."

"The Emperor himself has confirmed it," Lord Shidu replied. "And you as well, Jiangjun."

Nakago nodded. "Meaning the danger to Qu-Dong is imminent."

"Ah, Nakago, my blue-eyed friend, ever the optimist," Lord Shidu laughed, clapping the Jiangjun heartily on the back.

Lord Shidu, Luri suspected, had had a little too much wine already. There were also a number of interesting tension lines between the three men. That’s nice, but I don’t have time for this. She wanted to talk to Master Ruo, alone if possible.

She grabbed her chance when Nakago finally managed to steer Lord Shidu onto a serious subject – the rice wine market. Master Ruo’s eyes almost literally glazed over. Luri grinned. Soi and Miboshi had wandered off, Miboshi to meditate no doubt, before retiring for the night.

Luri caught Master Ruo’s eye and gestured with her head toward a balcony open to the cooling night air. Ruo smiled at her and extricated himself politely from Nakago and Lord Shidu’s conversation. Something flickered across the line from Nakago, suppressed too quickly to be identified. Luri clenched her hands briefly. Dangerous or not, she’d have to talk to the Jiangjun about that later.

"I enjoyed your production very much," Luri said as she and Master Ruo strolled toward the balcony. "Particularly the special effects."

Master Ruo laughed. "What a novel way of putting it! Perhaps you truly are from Elsewhere."

"No, I’m from Silicon Valley." All right, that joke was old last century, but he smiled at least. Just keep him in a good mood. She looked out at the moon and stars as they reached the balcony, drinking in the beauty of the night. Although, if I had wanted to take advantage of this setting, I should have sent Nakago instead, I think! Luri wondered what the somber Jiangjun would have thought of that. He’d do anything if it suited his purpose. That’s what made him scary.

For some time they talked of the theater; or rather, Luri asked leading questions, with her native curiosity about many subjects drawing out more enthusiastic and detailed answers from Ruo than was his wont.

"Tell me of this ‘Silicon Valley’," Master Ruo said finally, as the hour grew later, stumbling only a little over the unfamiliar words. As an actor, he was very good at picking up foreign speech patterns. "I am very curious."

"That would take too long," Luri said, waving the idea aside. "Besides, you would think anything I said was made up anyway, right?"

Ruo’s practiced smile wavered a fraction. "Perhaps."

"Who does your wonderful special effects? Not even in my world can we do anything quite like it." She thought of IMAX, and Star Tours, and VR. "Not through lack of trying, but…"

Ruo considered for a moment. "Very well, since your Jiangjun undoubtedly has more unpleasant means of finding out, I will tell you."

Luri held up a hand, frowning. "Excuse me. Where did you get the idea that I’d sic Nakago on you? I was just asking a simple question; you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to."

Ruo took a mental step back. She was honestly irritated, but about what, exactly? He looked into her blue-green eyes. Golden, curling hair, fair skin, full lips, strong jaw. She was attractive enough to play certain kinds of female leads. More athletic than willowy, though. She’d let Nakago do most of the talking during dinner, but wasn’t afraid to start her own conversations. She actually seemed friendliest with the child-Seishi, Miboshi. She seemed to accept the three-eyed priest without a second thought, even when he was hovering in midair so as to be at her eye-level. If she accepted one kind of freak, might she another…? No, her manner toward Miboshi could have any number of origins. This in itself did not convince him. "Then I will certainly answer. If you can answer a question of mine."

Answering questions was one of Luri’s favorite things, even more than asking them. She grinned, as much at herself as his challenging expression. "Go right ahead."

"How can you prove that you are the Seiryuu No Miko?"

Luri nodded. "Good question." This problem had occurred to her fairly early on. Nakago had seemed to recognize her on sight, and Soi had taken his word for it, and both had been a part of her initiation. Miboshi had also known her as Miko from the start; it was a part of the wards around his sleeping place. But others – even other Seishi – might not be so perceptive or easy to convince. Almost certainly not, in fact. Anything she might try to demonstrate with the links to her established Seishi could be counterfeited easily enough with magician’s tricks. And she only had links to pledged Seishi; she couldn’t force the bond. Down another line of thought; after her initiation, she had no special powers over water; as Riaka had had no power over the fire… If Luri walked into the nearby lake and tried to inhale underwater, she would drown just like anyone else. Until she actually called the god, she had nothing but potential.

Luri sighed. "I can’t prove it. I know it’s true, I can feel it. Nakago, Soi and Miboshi accept me, so did the statue of Seiryuu back in the shrine, or I would have drowned, I think. But there’s no proof a real skeptic would accept. You either believe me or you don’t; there’s nothing I can do about it."

Master Ruo looked out at the starlit garden below. That wasn’t the answer he’d expected from a poseur. But a clever con artist might have given such an answer. Why would the Jiangjun go along with such a scam, though? That bothered him more than the girl did. Nakago was known throughout the Land; commander of two-thirds of Qu-Dong’s armies, trusted pet of the Emperor, a swift dealer with of spies and other enemies. What did the blond giant have to gain from supporting a false Miko? Was it safer to go along with the scheme even if she was fake? Or was the risk greater if she were true? If she gathered the rest of the Seishi, would that convince him?

Perhaps, but he was comfortable with his life as it was. He still had a schedule to keep, people –important people, some of them – to entertain, bills and actors to pay. "Very well," he said finally. "Our ‘special effects’, as you charmingly put it, are done by a member of our company who has the power to cast very convincing illusions, as you experienced yourself. His name is Tomo."

Thought so! Luri crowed to herself. "And may I meet him?" And are you him?

"I think not," Ruo replied, not impolitely. Was that the barest touch of regret? "He’s quite shy around strangers. He keeps to backstage. His power does not function well if he is upset."

"I see." Right, uh huh, I believe you. Sure… "If your Tomo is one of Seiryuu’s Seishi, he’ll be able to tell the tale first hand of how we all saved Qu-Dong. Wouldn’t that make a popular play?"

Ruo laughed. "Well said, Miko-sama! But we need him too much ourselves. How can you be certain he’s the one you seek?"

"Nakago said the Miko and the Seishi are drawn to each other. So far that seems to be true. But I don’t have the bond until the Seishi has pledged him or herself to become one of us."

Ruo digested this. The perfect test, if she was the real Miko… He shook his head slightly. No, he didn’t want to take that step. It didn’t matter enough to him yet. Let her look elsewhere. He would wait; he had other things to do. "Forgive me, Miko, but we have an early start on the morrow, I must retire."

"Do you have a regular tour? In case we want to see your troupe perform again…?"

Ruo thought for a moment, then nodded. "Barring noble command or misfortune on the road, we will be in these cities on the dates listed." From out of his vest he brought a folded parchment, presenting it to her with a flourish. "I have other copies, you may have this one, Seiryuu No Miko." He bowed again in that odd, elaborate way and left.

Luri watched him for a moment, then turned back to the view. I should have sent Nakago…

"What troubles you, Luri-sama?" Nakago asked her the next morning as they set out to continue their circuit. The Boukentekina No Hamaguri Players had apparently departed even earlier, for no trace was left of them by the time the Miko and her group had risen. Luri thought it was just a little too convenient.

"I think one of our Seishi just got away," Luri replied, figuring it couldn’t hurt anything at this point. And she had their itinerary. She wanted to get this gathering done and go home; if Nakago had any ideas she’d at least listen to them.

Nakago smiled. "Do not concern yourself, Luri-sama. I believe we will be able to find the troupe again when we need to."

"Ahm. What did you do?"

"It is nothing of-"

Luri made a chopping motion with one hand. "Nakago, I am tired of always having to try to pull what you really mean out of the link, I really am. I do not have the time to keep playing these games of yours, so stop it. I have to gather the Seishi and get home ASAP, understand?" She debated whether to tell him why or not, then went ahead. It might make enough of an impression on the Jiangjun to make a difference. "My mother’s condition is stable at the moment, but ultimately uncertain. She has cancer. Currently medications and her own immune system are more or less holding it to a slow growth; stress will kill her faster. If I’m gone too long she’ll worry. I’m not staying here any longer than I have to." She’d thought of petitioning Tai Yi-Jun’s help the way Riaka had, but Luri felt the same dissatisfaction with leaving the story unfinished. No, she had a responsibility here, too, and she was determined to fulfill it. If there was indeed a time difference, as she thought, then she actually had more leeway, but Nakago didn’t need to know that right now.

Her words had a greater effect on the Jiangjun than she could have anticipated.

"Your…mother," Nakago said quietly, staring straight ahead at nothing. Luri reeled at the wash of pain, guilt, anger, sadness, longing, fear, determination that surged over the link. Nakago controlled himself swiftly, but it was too late. Soi and Miboshi were conspicuously silent.

Something bad happened to his mother, and he thinks it’s his fault, Luri thought; the flow had been so keen it had almost been telepathy. She didn’t have any details. Do I want any details? It was something very bad…

Nakago’s eyes had been tightly shut. He opened them slowly. "Luri-sama." His voice was only slightly uneven. "I swear to you, I will do everything in my power to see that you gain all seven Seishi, complete your task here and return home safely as soon as may be."

"Everything in your power is quite a lot, isn’t it." It wasn’t a question.

Nakago looked at her. "Yes. I persuaded one of the yanyuan [actor/actress] to wear an earring that I can communicate with her through."

Her? Does Soi know about this? Well, that was none of Luri’s business, more or less. "All right, we’ll get back to them. Where are we heading for now?" She took out her map.

"Farther south, toward the Hongnan border, Suzaku’s Country." Nakago kneed his horse in close to Fengmi and indicated their position for her. I wonder if Riaka’s back, Luri thought.

"I don’t suppose you’d let me go down there and say hi to their Miko…." Luri said, deciding to throw the Jiangjun a curve. Soi and Miboshi, overhearing, exchanged surprised looks.

Nakago’s brows rose, but he otherwise had his expression under control. "Very risky, Miko-sama. Why would you want to do that?"

"Because Riaka and I originally came to this world together, and the last I read of her adventures she had just been healed of some pretty nasty burns."

Nakago apparently digested this. "Very well," he said after a few minutes. "They don’t even have a barrier around their Palace – fools – I can transport us directly inside the complex walls once we’re in the city."

"Uhm, transport how?"

Nakago smiled. "I have certain powers," he said.

"Uh huh," Luri said. "Would you mind giving me a little more detail about that, please?"

"You will be perfectly safe as long as you are with me."

"That wasn’t what I asked."

"A line-of-sight teleportation spell," Miboshi broke in. "It requires a lot of power."

"So it does,’ Nakago confirmed. Rather smugly, Luri thought.

They passed the border uneventfully, by dint of going overland and avoiding the roads until they were well inside Hongnan. Luri chafed at the delay, but this had been her idea, and she hadn’t seen anything in Seiryuu’s Four Gods’ Sky and Earth that indicated she couldn’t find more Seishi in another country. It just wasn’t likely…

Once they got back to inhabited lands, she made Soi and Nakago remove and pack their armor; and Nakago wear a deep hood.

"You’re not exactly inconspicuous, you know," she said.

"Your hair is golden, too," Soi pointed out, smiling.

"Oh. Right." Luri rigged herself a turban of sorts with a scarf Soi handed her. Just call me Luri of Arabia…

Hongnan’s people were more homogeneous than Qu-Dong’s; dark-haired and –eyed for the most part, though she occasionally saw lighter eyes; fine-featured and slim. Tamahome, she now recognized, was not too far out of the norm for these folk. She was doubly curious to meet Hotohori and Nuriko, now.

Reaching the city of Eiyo, they rode unchallenged through the gates. Luri could feel Soi’s surprise at this, and shook her head at what this indicated about the level of paranoia in Qu-Dong. Hongnan was semi-tropical to tropical, very green and wet, very beautiful, like its people. Mostly traders and artisans, along with the ubiquitous farmers. Luri saw very little in the way of an armed presence of any kind, let alone standing militia. They rode through the bustling streets, down the broad main avenue that led directly to the main gate of the Palace complex, which, like in Qu-Dong, was almost a city unto itself. Soi and Miboshi went down a side way as they got near, going to find lodgings for the night if necessary, and a fast escape route if that came to be needed as well.

Nakago and Luri gave them their horses, and went on on foot. They found a park adjacent to the wall and retired to a copse of trees to make their disappearance.

Nakago put his arms around Luri. "Hold on tightly," he said, seriously.

"And don’t let go until you say so," Luri confirmed. She had no intention of getting lost in mid-teleport! Nakago studied the top of the wall for a moment, then Luri felt a strange blurring through her entire body. She blinked and they were atop the wall for a split second, then another blur and they were down inside, hidden in a garden by a lake. This was just a small corner of the grounds, she knew, but already she liked these gardens better than those at Qu-Dong. It was obvious the Qu-Dong gardens had been set up to impress visitors with their splendor. Here in Hongnan, they were for relaxing and playing in; designed for beauty. The Palace itself – smaller than the one in Qu-Dong – was just ahead.

Luri was torn between sneaking around until she found Riaka or Tamahome, and striding in boldly and declaring herself honestly. She wasn’t entirely sure which way was less likely to get them in trouble. She was, however, in luck.

Tamahome sat on the railing outside his room and leafed through Riaka’s sketchbook. In the turbulence of her hasty departure from this world, the Suzaku No Miko had left all her belongings behind. The Oni Seishi felt a slight twinge of conscience about going though her stuff, but he told himself he was only arranging things for her return. She hadn’t left much; she hadn’t come with much, and all her original clothes except the flowered shirt had been burned. But she had collected a handful of stones from the garden, white and water-rounded; and she’d hung a bouquet of flowers up to dry in a corner. Her black belt pouch was ensconced on a burlwood chest. The days and weeks kept passing with no sign of her coming back, and so Tamahome found himself coming back again and again to this small sheaf of paper in the drawer of her writing desk; her "sketchbook".

There were portraits of Hotohori, Nuriko, Bu Xing and Mei-Yin, including a rather embarrassing one of Nuriko drawn with a woman’s body. Several hasty landscapes of views in the gardens she had particularly liked for one reason or another; he guessed she had a fondness for peculiarly-shaped trees and intricate fountains. He’d shown these to Hotohori and Nuriko, both of whom had already seen them. Nuriko even had a slightly different version of the one of himself as a woman. "She did little sketches like this all the time, Tama-chan," Nuriko had said. "How come you didn’t notice?" The Oni Seishi had only growled and walked off. He had noticed, but… I didn’t think about what she was drawing, or I assumed she was copying maps; she did that too… At first Tamahome had only found one rough little sketch of himself, smiling, with his hair blown by quite a breeze, considering the wildness of it. There wasn’t as much detail as in the others, though why he was vaguely disappointed in this he didn’t know.

Then, a few days ago, he’d found, folded up and shoved to the back of the drawer , another handful of sheets.

He tilted his head back against the supporting column and shut his eyes. She didn’t draw anything… too… explicit. Some of these are just plain weird. So why do they make me blush? Why do I feel like her hands are on me when I look at them? Maybe he should leave them in their drawer and not think about them; but he’d never seen himself depicted like this, never even thought of such a thing, there was something compelling about it. He knew he was good-looking, of course, even the old women told him he was handsome, while they held their granddaughters protectively away from him. To Riaka, the Oni character isn’t a symbol of fear, he thought. To her it means protection, and the Seishi she’s bound to as Suzaku No Miko. I’m one of the Seven; the first one she found. Huh; I found her…

And Riaka drew him with wings.

Wings, and too-bright eyes, and unbound hair. She’d drawn him sleeping, and in a midair kick, and wrapped up and furious in Nuriko’s ribbon. Here he was as a sphinx, as some kind of merman, as a half-cat. His name was written a dozen different ways, some of which were bizarre. In one corner, fairly small, though every line was meticulously done, he was shirtless, with his head fallen back and a bit to one side, eyes closed, lips slightly parted, and a pair of long-fingered, white hands, with the arms coming from behind, caressed his chest. That one made him shudder. That one he wasn’t sure he liked.

Luri and Nakago approached stealthily through the abundant cover of the shrubbery in the garden. Luri looked up from disentangling her shirt from a rose cane with stubborn thorns to see someone sitting on the railing of the walkway that surrounded the building. She stood up, and before Nakago could stop her, shouted and ran toward him. "Tamahome!"

Tamahome jumped down in astonishment, stuffing the papers he’d been looking at into his tunic and staring at her. Luri could almost see the wheels in his head grinding ponderously into motion. She pulled her turban off and shook her hair out; as she approached, grinning, she could see recognition dawn in his eyes. "You’re…Luri! Riaka’s friend…"

"Good memory!" Luri said, pleased. He’s definitely cute; no wonder Riaka’s in such a hormonal dither over him…I told her it was her turn to fall! "Where’s Riaka?"

But the Suzaku Seishi looked past her, staring at Nakago with an odd expression on his face.

"Ah, Tamahome, this is Nakago; he’s…um…"

Nakago chuckled. "If this is the best Suzaku can muster…a peasant…we should be able to deal with them easily."

Whoops. Luri checked Tamahome’s forehead – nothing glowing yet at least. "Hold it, you two; let me explain!" She put herself deliberately between them and waved her arms to get their attention. "Nakago, get rid of the attitude, already," she subvocalized to her Seishi, turning so only Nakago could hear her or read her lips. "I told you to be nice before we got here." She spun back to face the Suzaku Seishi. "Tamahome, I ended up being the Seiryuu No Miko, just like Riaka did for Suzaku. When she went back to our world, I got thrown here instead, only in Qu-Dong. Got it?"

Tamahome blinked at her. "But…aren’t you friends?"

"Yes. What has that got to do with it?"

"If Hongnan and Qu-Dong both have Miko, it means you’ll be on opposite sides of the war."

"Not necessarily," Luri said flatly, putting her fists on her hips in irritation. "There might be something else happening here. And we wouldn’t put ourselves on opposite sides of a war." Nakago, are you paying attention? "Where is she?" she asked again. If Riaka could keep her Seishi calm, Luri thought she could manage Nakago and the others, and they could all sit down like civilized humans and put their heads together about the situation and maybe find out what was really going on…

Tamahome looked down, his hand unconsciously clasping something hidden in his belt. "Riaka hasn’t returned yet," he said softly.

"She… But it’s been a month! She was going to come right back."

"I know," Tamahome muttered to himself.

Luri closed her eyes and tapped her upper lip with a forefinger. That’s typical; trust her not to keep to a schedule… Or, it’s the time difference. "I betcha anything there’s a time difference."

"What?" Tamahome said. He stopped scowling at Nakago and looked at her.

"A time difference," Luri repeated, just a touch impatiently. "She could be back home, reading all this in the Book; but she’ll be reading it faster than we’re living it. That’s how it seemed when I was reading about her."

Tamahome’s eyes widened. "You read…everything that happened to her?"

Luri tried very hard not to burst out laughing, and actually managed quite well. "Not…everything, Tamahome. Don’t worry; the Book doesn’t give all the details." Let him wonder which ones, though! "But I know how you two got to the city, and arrested, and met Hotohori, and Nuriko, and Riaka’s fever and Tai Yi-Jun. I suffered a lot of that with her, actually. The wound on her leg from the collapsing pavilion, and the fever, and the burning…THAT wasn’t fun, by the way!"

Nakago’s sneer at Tamahome melted into surprise. "What is the connection, I wonder?"

Luri had been rolling that one around in her mind for some time. "Maybe just that I was supposed to be a Miko, too. Hm. Once she comes back, who’ll be reading the Book?" That could get interesting… And if she, Luri, had been sent back from Hongnan, but came to Qu-Dong, did that mean the gods were choosing their Miko more specifically than just whatever virgin girl picked up and read the Book? What if the virgin wasn’t a girl, or the girl not a virgin? How much did either of those things matter?

"If she comes back," said Nakago, watching Tamahome for a reaction. The Jiangjun was considerably taller than the Suzaku Seishi, and was deliberately looming over him. Tamahome crossed his arms and gave him a cocky grin. Luri got between them again.

"She’ll be back as soon as she can," she said firmly. These two were as bad as the male anoles, sticking out their throat pouches and bobbing their heads to prove who’s more powerful…

"Tama-chan?"

Three heads swiveled in unison.

Oh my. That’s gotta be— Luri thought.

"Nuriko!" Tamahome said. "Ah, this is Riaka’s friend, Luri, from her world. Luri, this is Nuriko…" He wasn’t sure how much of an introduction Luri needed, if she’d been reading of their adventures, she knew about Nuriko already. All about Nuriko…

Luri read Tamahome’s expression fairly readily, and grinned. "Pleased to meet you finally…uh face to face, I mean," she said.

Nuriko nodded but was otherwise nonplussed.

Nakago pushed his hood back onto his shoulders. Luri glanced at him, then looked back in time to catch Nuriko’s surprised appraisal. Good thing Soi isn’t here . "Nuriko," Luri said, carefully neutral. "This is the Seiryuu Seishi Nakago."

"Seiryuu!" said Nuriko.

"Seishi," Tamahome said with some disgust. "That’s how you got in here, then?"

"We could have walked in the front gate," said Nakago, not bothering to hide his contempt.

"Not everyone is as paranoid as those from Qu-Dong," Tamahome replied.

"Maybe you should be," Nakago threatened.

"Oh for… Knock it off, both of you!" Luri interrupted. She turned to Nuriko. "All men are idiots. Though some more so than others, right, Nuriko…?"

Nuriko looked at the two who were still glaring at each other. "You’re not kidding," she agreed with Luri, with a wink.

Tamahome made a strangled noise.

"All right, Nakago," Luri said with a chuckle. "Let’s get out of here before we…ruffle any more feathers. Tamahome, Nuriko, I’m glad I got to see you, at least; tell Riaka, when she gets back, that I was here looking for her, and want to talk to her."

Tamahome held up a hand to forestall her as she and Nakago turned to go. "When…I mean, how long do you think it will be? Before she can get back?"

Luri shook her head, smiling at him, and held out her hands, palms up. "I don’t know what the conversion is. It could depend on how fast she’s reading, or it could be something else. She could be back any time, or it might be another month; I have no idea." But I have no doubts; she will be back! Silver eyes…nice… Luri backed into Nakago’s arms and cloak. He resettled his hood and blurred them to the wall and out.

Nuriko watched them disappear, then looked at Tamahome. She frowned. "Tama-chan, you rustle." He’s been looking at those pictures again… Tamahome wasn’t paying attention. He leaned heavily on a column, his eyes lowered, his expression distant.

"You’re no help," Nuriko muttered. She turned on her heel and ran off to find Hotohori. The Emperor needed to know about this visit from Riaka’s friend; the Seiryuu No Miko!

Luri pored over her map for the umpteenth time, sipping green tea with her feet propped up on a neighboring chair. They were at an inn for the night; Soi and Luri had their own room, Nakago and Miboshi sharing another.

"We’re getting close to Dai-Shan," Luri said.

Soi looked up from tending her leather armor. "That’s an unlucky place, I’ve heard. The World Controller lives there."

"Tai Yi-Jun," Luri said. I don’t have any reason to go there, she thought with some regret. The description in the Book from Riaka’s visit there intrigued her, but she was none too keen to find out what Tai Yi-Jun would put her through to see it for herself.

In the next few days they turned their course gradually northward, giving the Dai-Shan area a wide berth.

"You don’t suppose Tai Yi-Jun makes Nakago nervous, do you?" Luri asked Soi one morning during their warm up. Luri was taking advantage of the situation to acquire more martial arts training. She’d had a number of self-defense classes, and training in several different kinds of martial arts, though she hadn’t concentrated on one school as Riaka had. Now she wanted to augment what she already knew, get more real experience – and get in better shape, period. Tamahome would have been her first choice, but he was unavailable, so she had asked Nakago, looking for a way to understand him better. But the Jiangjun said he didn’t like to practice; with just enough emphasis on the last word she understood that when he fought he didn’t fool around.

Meanwhile, she sparred basic self-defense – and some sneakier things – with Soi; another one she wanted to know better anyway. What Soi chose – and chose not -- to teach her would tell Luri a lot about Soi herself.

Miboshi tutored her as well, though on a different subject. The way she understood it; and the child-priest confirmed it, her job as Miko was essentially to channel and direct power. So Miboshi taught her meditative techniques that enhanced her consciousness both of her own internal energy structures – which the god would use to manifest through – and the links with her Seishi.

Soi bristled at Luri’s comment about Nakago and Tai Yi-Jun. "It is only prudent to avoid Dai-Shan," she said coolly.

"Because the wicked-hearted see only barren rocks?"

"He is not wicked-hearted."

"Oh?"

"Just because you do not understand him does not mean he is wicked."

Luri got a whiff of cat-in-cream smugness over the link. She grinned. "Just because I’m not sleeping with him doesn’t mean I don’t understand him," she shot back.

Electricity crackled through Soi’s burgundy hair.

Luri laughed, not unkindly. "Soi, I didn’t mean anything insulting. He’s definitely yummy, I can see why you’re in love with him. But he also definitely has a hidden agenda, and I get tired of trying to cope with that in addition to everything else." Nakago could still fend off any intrusion of hers through the link, but thanks to Miboshi’s help, she was getting better at picking up on the tiniest subtlety. She sensed a vast, underground ocean of something in Nakago; she just wasn’t sure what it was.

Soi calmed her aura, but still frowned. "You’re the Miko, you shouldn’t be concerned with anything but that."

Luri was amused to note that day’s sparring was rougher than usual; she’d have a few bruises in the morning. I should rile her up more often – I’ll learn even more from her that way! Soi usually seemed to be under orders to go easy on the Miko, which infuriated Luri, who hated to be condescended to in any way, or even cut slack for, unless she asked for a break herself.

Another week went by. So far inland, the summer heat was oppressive, especially to one used to California’s Bay Area weather. Luri adopted desert-style layers of light robes; though they weren’t into true desert yet, still the land was more sparsely wooded, parched-looking, with the only areas of deeper green around the less-frequent rivers and irrigated fields.

Qu-Dong so far had again impressed Luri as being fairly densely populated by a remarkably diverse conglomeration of people. Nakago’s blonde hair and blue eyes were still unmatched, but a lot of these people didn’t even look Asian. Brunettes and redheads abounded, some with Caucasian eyes and noses, some not.

When Luri commented to Nakago on his uniqueness amidst so much diversity, the Jiangjun went very still for a second, then answered rather casually. "My tribe, the Hin, were wiped out when I was a boy." The flash of rage and cold hatred through the link was quickly squelched.

Luri pounced on this tidbit, but kept her reaction to herself. Survivor syndrome? Driven by revenge? And who were the Hin, and why were they wiped out, and by whom? Is that why he’s so utterly cold around the Emperor? If the Emperor is in some way responsible, why is Nakago in such an exalted position; he’s a Seishi, sure, but that doesn’t automatically put him at the head of most of the army, does it? And why would Nakago tolerate working for the Emperor? This could explain a lot of things, but without knowing the details, she wasn’t willing to assume too much yet.

"We’re approaching the Hokkan border," said Nakago. "Hokkan is Genbu’s Country, recently we have had reports of unrest there, the reasons for which are still unclear."

"Trouble from inside or out?" Luri asked.

"That is our precise question, Luri-sama. If I can do so without delaying our quest, I will try to find out."

"Your spy network hasn’t found out everything yet?" Luri grinned at him.

Nakago crooked up one corner of his mouth. "Even the Four Lands’ greatest spy network sometimes is flawed. Hokkan is difficult to penetrate. There are few cities as such, most of the population is nomadic and fiercely tribal."

"Small groups where everyone knows everyone else," Luri said. "Is there an Emperor at all then?"

"Neither Hokkan nor Sailo Countries have Emperors exactly. Sailo’s leader calls himself a king, rather than Emperor. The people in Sailo are more settled and urban than in Hokkan; Sailo has several cities built up around oases, and along the trade roads to the west. But their climate is almost as harsh as Hokkan’s. It makes them very independent."

"I smell smoke," Miboshi said suddenly from behind them. The others didn’t detect the odor until some distance further.

"Forest?" Luri wondered.

"Village," said Miboshi. ‘Unless I am mistaken, Guizhou village lies ahead. I traveled here once, with my master." He closed his paired eyes, opened the third. The group halted while he concentrated. "I…I don’t feel anyone," he said, his young face distressed. "No life…"

"An attack, then," Nakago said grimly. "By the size of the smoke plume, I think the whole of Guizhou town was put to the torch." Miboshi bit his lips at the reminder of his displacement in time. Nakago gave him an oddly sympathetic glance. "Do you think the attackers are still nearby?"

Miboshi shook his head. "No. Whatever happened here, we missed it…"

"Our road lies through the town," Nakago said thoughtfully. "But perhaps it would be better to go around."

"Are you sure there aren’t any survivors?" Luri asked. The whole town, wiped out? Jeeze! "Do any of you have any medical training?"

"Soi’s…restorative magics are of a different sort," Nakago said. "I know as much as any leader of men must of how to keep a man alive long enough for the physicians to get to him."

Miboshi considered. "I know little of such – and I truly sense no survivors, not even animals. The touch of a ki-rin’s horn is powerfully healing, and I might, if given enough time, be able to summon one. But…"

"A ki-rin! Really?" Luri was intrigued despite herself. The Chinese version of the unicorn! "You could summon one?"

Miboshi smiled at her. "I could ask one to come, but that’s all."

"Ah." She turned back to the Jiangjun. "Nakago, why don’t we go ahead and see what’s going on – information gathering – and we can still go around when we get there if we have to." After the cross-country trip they’d taken to get into Hongnan, she wasn’t eager to repeat the experience. Roads were nice… Although the road through a burned town may not be so nice! Well, we’ll see…

"Very well, Miko-sama," Nakago said after a moment. "But please stay near me."

"Not a problem," Luri replied.

By the time they reached what was left of the town, it was clear the fire had almost burned itself out. And if there had been any survivors, they had already fled. Luri and her party scouted the ruins anyway, just in case.

Luri’s initial flush of adrenaline faded to a sick desolation. The smells made her stomach heave and roil, until, with a resigned sigh, she went behind a blackened chimney and threw up. This helped a little, but she wanted out of there as soon as possible. Miboshi had been right. There was nothing left to do here but bury the dead. Corpses were either charred and reeking, oozing fluids that resembled barbecue sauce, or messily slashed; women, men, children, animals. Nothing was left alive; not even a single chicken. She wondered dully if the fields had been salted as well. What’s that tactic called? Scorched earth…

Soi handed her a moistened handkerchief, Luri accepted it gratefully. Nakago had his own scarf pulled up over his mouth and nose; Luri mopped her pale, sweating face and did the same. The main road through the town was more or less clear; they hurried onward.

As they passed the last smoking heaps that had once been outlying houses, Nakago and Miboshi suddenly gasped and threw up warding spells to surround them all. Their spells spat and sparked for a moment, competing incompatibly until Miboshi groaned and altered his spell to fit into Nakago’s. From out of the sky creatures came seething; long, segmented, limbless, with fanged heads and screaming mouths agape.

Luri covered her ears at their piercing cries as they hurled themselves against the barrier, writhing and emitting sticky globs of fire that burned uselessly, unable to reach their targets. Nakago drew his sword, but could not pass through the wards any more than the things could get in.

"Stalemate!" he snarled. He’d never encountered anything like these before, but he could feel the power radiating from them – power beyond his own perhaps; only the combined wards would hold them at bay.

"Perhaps not," said Soi, an odd, quirking smile on her face. It wasn’t like Nakago to forget an avenue of power he could use, but then it was her Xing [sex] magic he made the most use of… She dismounted, then closed her eyes and raised her hands. Yes, my power will work through the shields…but I must be careful…

Soi leapt as high in the air as she could, crying out, "DAO-DENG!!" [Knife-light] Before her feet touched the ground again, lightning slashed across overhead, vaporizing two of the fire-worms. Soi leapt and called again and again, whittling down the swarm bit by bit. Luri cringed at the terrible noise, but was grinning fiercely; Get ‘em, Soi!!

"DAO-DENG!" The last fire-worm screeched and sizzled and died.

Nakago and Miboshi held the shield, sweating and trembling, for another ten heartbeats.

When nothing more attacked them, they gasped and released it, Nakago closing his now-faded blue eyes, Miboshi nearly swaying from the saddle. Luri leaned over and steadied the boy concernedly.

"Miboshi, are you all right?"

"I will be, with a little rest, thank you."

"You’re sure?" His line had wavered for a moment, but was firming up again.

Luri glanced at Nakago again, he seemed to be all right. The Miko got down and knelt by Soi, who had fallen to her knees, slumped with exhaustion. "Soi? Soi, can you hear me?" It’ll be a wonder if she isn’t deaf… The Lightning Seishi stirred and moaned softly, then looked up at her Miko with bright, dazzled, saffron-colored eyes. "That was spectacular!" Luri told her proudly, now understanding why she hadn’t seen much demonstration of Soi’s power before. "Are you okay, though?"

Nakago had dismounted and now he stooped and picked Soi up gently in his arms, cradling her like a child. Luri watched, pleased, as he remounted without much difficulty, with Soi arranged as comfortably as he could in front of him, her head resting against his shoulder. "Do not worry. She will recover soon, Luri-sama," he said confidently.

Luri nodded – Soi’s line was in no danger of fading, like Miboshi, all she needed was rest -- and remounted Fengmi. "What the hell were those things?" The group moved on at a slower pace, the horses nervous but slowly calming as nothing further untoward happened.

Nakago frowned. Luri could tell he didn’t like not having a ready answer. "I am not certain. They were creatures of fire, not properly alive…elementals, so to speak Fire is the attribute of the South…"

"Now, hold it right there! Riaka wouldn’t have anything to do with…things…like that!"

"Perhaps not. But what of Hongnan’s Emperor? Or one of the Seishi?"

"Hotohori wouldn’t deal with something that ugly, and Tamahome and Nuriko don’t have powers like that. So forget it." Hongnan isn’t your enemy, no matter how much you want to think so.

"There are seven Seishi, even if she had only found three," Nakago said.

"Point," Luri admitted. But that question they couldn’t answer right now anyway. "Do you think those things could have been what destroyed that town?"

"They were part of it," Miboshi said. "I am almost certain. But many of those folk were killed in ways other than by burning. There was more at work than just the fire-worms."

"There were human tracks and horses’, leading away from the town; made after it started burning," Nakago said. "Perhaps survivors, but the human tracks were by heavily booted feet; men wearing armor. And the horses were shod in a manner unfamiliar to me." More pressing to his mind, though, was what human sorcerer had the power and skill to control those things? The Jiangjun couldn’t think of any immediately, but that didn’t mean there weren’t any.

They rode on until late afternoon, but there were no more villages or towns nearby, so they had to make an uneasy camp. Miboshi set wards to warn them, at least, though he didn’t have the strength to shield them all night, and neither did Nakago.

Luri woke herself time after time all through the night, as her dreams kept turning to nightmares. She had always had an unusual degree of control over her dreams, and Miboshi’s tutoring had improved it, but these nightmares kept wearing at her…

Then, near dawn, when the clear sky was turning a shadowy blue and the stars had faded, her nightmare was turned and changed by a whisper of music. Blowing softly, like lace at a window, the notes came, soothing and reassuring her tired mind. Luri turned over and slept soundly until full morning.

When she woke, she remembered the music perfectly; every note and resonance engraved in her mind. Where did this come from? Miboshi? No, I don’t think so; I didn’t feel anything over his line…Neither of the others for the same reason… Not from an established link…Tomo? She rummaged in her saddlebags until she found the Players’ itinerary. No, they aren’t anywhere near, supposedly, and even if distance wasn’t a factor, why would he play a flute in my head to ease my dreams? Doesn’t make sense. Unless it’s a new Seishi… So near…but she couldn’t home in yet with no link! But Luri let her frustration subside while she ate breakfast with the others; the music had been so beautiful… She did debate with herself whether to tell the others about it or not. Nakago would get all protective and paranoid, and then maybe block the sending if it came again; and she couldn’t stand the thought of that. But, for the sake of argument, what if it is some kind of sneaky spell? They should know what’s going on.

"Did any of you hear a flute last night?" she asked them as they readied to continue their journey. As she had expected, Nakago’s head came up like a scenting hound. Soi and Miboshi exchanged questioning looks, then shook their heads.

"What kind of flute?" Nakago asked.

Luri gestured vaguely. "A single flute…wooden or bamboo, I guess." She explained about the nightmares and the music’s soothing effect.

"I heard nothing, and I stood watch much of the night," the Jiangjun said. "If you hear it again, please alert me immediately."

"I figured as much," Luri sighed ruefully. She held up a hand and nodded as he frowned. "I know, I know. I’ll let you know." It’s just that is was so beautiful…

They rode on.

Each night, if the dreams came, so did the flute, chasing the horror away. Luri dutifully reported this to Nakago, but couldn’t help but be amused when the Jiangjun heard nothing and couldn’t even trace whatever magic was at work. Neither could Miboshi. When the child-priest examined her energy patterns during their training and meditation sessions, he could find no inimical signs.

"I am inclined to agree with you," he said. "I don’t think there is any harm, even though none of the rest of us can hear this music. My feeling is that this is some kind of Seishi magic, discernable only to you as our Miko, and that may be why Nakago and I cannot trace it. When we find your musician, if he is a Seishi, then perhaps we’ll all hear the flute."

"I hope so," Luri said, a little distractedly. "It’s so lovely…"

Miboshi looked at her – her eyes glowing, bluer now; the green was fading – and smiled.

Luri watched the sunset from the window of her room at the hilltop inn. The sky was just beginning its change to abalone colors, and the breeze coming from the southeast wrapped around the building to play with her hair, when she heard the music again. "Soi," she whispered, almost singing with it. "There it is, do you hear it?"

Soi, her own hair unbound and trailing almost to the floor, joined her at the window. The Lightning Seishi listened intently. Wind, voices from the town around them, cows lowing, birds, the clip-clop of horseshoes on bricked streets, bells ringing as the sun went down, somewhere a fountain… "No," she said finally, regretfully, for the look on the Miko’s face was just short of ecstatic. "I don’t hear it." Whoever he is, he’s making love to her on the wind…