Chapter Three
We Regret Prince Charlie

"I've noticed that you're not native to this area."

Menary tore her amused regard away from Gojyo's irate profile and turned her attention to Hakkai politely as he spoke. He pale eyes gleamed with expectant humor.

"Is there a question attached to that?"

"He wants to know how it is you speak our language so fluently." Sanzo spoke with more patience then he'd shown since waking up that morning. "And what you're doing all the way out here."

"I see. Well the answer to that is simple in essence. Bonnie Prince Charlie." She enjoyed the long moment of baffled silence that followed then confided. "Once upon a time, we English mustered the common sense to resist putting Bonnie Prince Charlie on the throne. A triumph of logic, but at what cost? We have been sensible ever since." Gojyo attempted to speak but Menary beamed and fluttered her hand to silence him. "I will be honest. We regret Bonnie Prince Charlie. We regret him immensely. And we wish to expiate our common sense. So we look for problems and way to solve them. Putting our hand into issues in obscure corners of the world has become a sort of English sport. So when the problems with the demons arose the lords templar positively jumped at the opportunity to see who could rush to bandage that particular wound first."

"What the hell does that have to do with you?" Gojyo risked the implication of her quieting gesture to ask.

"My father is Lord Brailford, a minor earl. Once he realized the game was on he sent a letter to me. I was enrolled in Glasscastle Academy in India at the time and he had me removed from the institution in order to be his piece for this particular adventure. It was extremely off-putting but at the time I was quite willing to sacrifice my studies for an expense paid trip about the countryside."

"Why you?" This time it was Hakkai who interjected.

"One reason is because I was the nearest to the area. Another, the deciding reason in fact, was Glasscastle's curriculum."

"It's curriculum?"

"Yes."

Gojyo made a sound of disgust, simultaneously sending a cloud of silvered smoke up into the air. "What do the teachings of some expensive school have to do with your father sending you to solve the problems of foreign demons? Talk about bad parenting."

"Granted, Glasscastle does follow the mandatory classes of traditional finishing schools, however they course load also includes…more unorthodox teachings. Ones that deal less with academic or social progression and more with…ethereal qualities."

Hakkai was the first to catch on, dark eyes illuminating with understanding. "You mean magic?"

Menary winced, the slightest lowering of pale lashes into a briefly pained expression. "Yes, I suppose. It really is not the sort of thing that one uses in polite conversation where I am from. It is down there with the topics of affairs or murder. You know it goes on or even that those you know might engage in it but you do not really speak about it unless the other person dabbles as well, and even then it is limited. I am sure it may be different here but one finds it hard to release old habits."

"I've heard about western magic but I've never seen anyone use it. According to what I've read it sounds a lot different from ki-spells."

"Ki-spells?" A fine gold eyebrow rose in curiosity.

"Ki is a sort of spiritual energy. Ki spells focus that energy into different mediums and purposes."

"Ah!" Menary's lips broke into a smile of captivated interest. "Like Madame Avarill's aura projection."

"There's a possibility that they're closely linked."

"How spectacular. I certainly do wish we had the chance to compare."

"Well then, it looks like today's your lucky day." Sanzo spoke.

Menary turned her head back towards the monk sitting across the table from her, snapped from her recollection of school days.

"I am not sure I caught your meaning, Master Sanzo."

"You know more about this Mah Laou demon clan then we do. And I'm also going to assume you're familiar with this Summer Palace were Miyohiko lives, am I right?"

Pewter eyes had turned wary. "You are."

"Then it seems we'll be taking you with us into Mah Laou."

"What?" "Sanzo!" "I bed your pardon?" This chorusing trio all striking similar looks of appalled shock.

"Sanzo, are you sure that's a good idea?" Hakkai's voice seeped in concern. "From what we've learned the Mah Laou demons become very hostile towards outsiders, particularly humans. We're taking a big risk bringing her into such a dangerous environment."

"We don't have a choice. I don't know about you but taking on an entire demon clan is a bit much. If she can help us get in and out with minimal confrontation then we've got no choice but to bring her along."

"This is a crappy ambassador job we're giving her." Gojyo commented distastefully.

"Sanzo's right, I suppose. But I don't like it." Hakkai was regarding Menary with undisguised sympathy.

The blonde woman's eyes had turned to ice. "Let me ease your conscience. I have no intention of going into Mah Laou, entreat me as you may."

"You've obviously misunderstood." The similarly sunburst colored monk retorted with some measure of humor. "We're not asking you. We're telling you. Since you had a hand in creating this problem in the first place I can't really muster any sympathy for your position. You're going."

"How do you intend to ensure that? You would not dare lay hands on my person."

Gojyo eyed her then chuckled. "Don't bet on it."

"You'll come." Sanzo went on, ignoring Gojyo. "Or we're evacuating this inn and then burn it to the ground."

Menary's eyes widened in disbelief. "You wouldn't!" A brief survey of their sober expressions proved her words false. "Why, I have never-"

"Spare me the outrage."

"We're really very sorry about this." Hakkai soothed.

"Oh, my". She frowned at them grimly. "I do believe I'm being kidnapped."