Chapter 16: Maroon is the Hottest Color

The trip back to the Summer did not take nearly as long. The primary reason was because Arya summoned Snowflake to join them. The streets became remarkably empty after that. Even their escort of guards chose to find other things to do.

This demonstration of power did not make them popular

Aside from some short moments of rest, Arya chose not to stop along the way. None of them had any of the local currency and it was probable that the resident rulers were no longer interested in subsidizing their visit.

On reaching the ship they were assaulted by Marwyn and Jack. "Did you meet the emperor? What's he like? Is he strong? What about his harem?"

Arya figured he would ask about that. "No he is not strong. And he is not going to invite you to sample his harem. Dirty old man."

He protested as she walked away from him. "I'm only trying to find information."

Brienne, who waited until the others had gone past, snorted. "You think you're going to talk your way into his graces?"

"Why not? Not everyone turns up their noses at scholars."

"You're no scholar. Nobody would want you around. Besides, he isn't worth it. The boy is beyond pathetic."

"He's a boy?"

Arya sat herself down at the head of the table, placing her helmet to one side. Sandor filled her cup before filling one of his own. Asha, Crackjaw, and the maesters all sat down at the far end of the table with the Queensguards between them.

Brienne decided that she would be the one to break the silence. "What was that screaming match about?"

Marwyn was shocked. "You screamed at the emperor of Yi Ti?"

Asha shot back, "Since when do you care about monarchs?"

Crackjaw sneered. "He dreams of tussling with all the virgins."

They all laughed. Except Marwyn. Jack struggled to hide his giggles behind his sleeve.

Arya said, "Marwyn, give it up. He's not going to ask you over for tea and talk. He isn't a scholar king who hungers for bracing conversation. And he's not going to invite you to sample his paramours."

"How do you know?" They only laughed.

Sandor asked, "Are you going to tell us what you were yelling about?"

"You'd have been yelling to if that old hag had wanted you to become her son's junior most wife."

There was stunned silence. Brienne spit out her wine. Then all the women burst out laughing. Sandor buried his face in his hand. Crackjaw didn't know if he was supposed to join them or not. Marwyn and Jake just looked at each other.

Crackjaw finally managed to ask once the laughter had died down. "He asked you to marry him?"

"Not him. His mother. The old hag."

Jake, who clearly did not agree with her reasoning, said, "You found the prospect of marrying the emperor of Yi Ti to be an insult?"

Yimi put him right. "How could the emperor of Yi Ti compare to King Jaehaerys?" He had to admit that she had a point.

"Even so," said Marwyn. "You aren't flattered that they would ask an outsider to join their royal family? That hasn't happened in centuries."

The women all stared at him in disbelief. Maud said, "Aside from the boy being utterly pathetic. No woman in her right mind would want to marry him. There is also the fact that Arya is Queen of Westeros."

Lyanna now added, "Why would the Queen want to become one more of a neglected brood when she has the best man in the world all to herself."

"Almost to herself," Alys shot back. Everybody but Lyanna ignored her.

Marwyn addressed Maud. "A boy? The Lady Brienne said the same thing. Surely he must be near his twentieth nameday by now."

"He may be, but he sure doesn't look it. I doubt he could give any woman satisfaction."

Marwyn was actually shocked. "Are you serious? I've heard of ailments that prevent a man from maturing, but I've never seen one. Is that what you find funny?"

The remonstrance in his voice brought them all up short. It was a possibility none of them had considered.

Arya thought about it. "I don't think that is his problem. I confess it hadn't occurred to me. But I think his mother is probably more responsible."

"Why? You think she is stunting him for her own power?"

"Most likely. It's the impression I got from his other women."

Marwyn took this very seriously. "The family politics of Yi Ti can be very cutthroat."

"Like the Ironborn," Asha muttered, but no one except Crackjaw noticed.

"This is dangerous. If she is sabotaging her own son to keep power she could have been responsible for the death of the last emperor. We might be drawn into their conflict."

"I already know that. The old woman wanted me to marry her son because she knows about the dragons."

None of them were laughing now. "How? Is she a witch?"

"She might be. The Empress of Leng was. She implied that there was a… I guess you would call it a 'sisterhood'. A cabal of women, many of them from Asshai. I don't know what they are after, but they have dogged our footsteps since we arrived in Essos."

"You think that woman we encountered in the bandit camp was one of them?"

"Possible. I cannot figure out their intentions. Some seem to oppose us, while others help us."

"You are assuming they are a unified group. They could be like the maesters, a group that accumulates knowledge. Maesters are not of one mind and we have no reason to assume this sisterhood is either."

"True enough. But I think you give the maesters too much credit."

He was put aback. "I am the last person to sing the praises of the maesters. You know that. I make no claim of the benevolence of maesters. But we must give credit where it is due."

"As you say."

Asha suddenly stood up. "I wish to speak with the Queen alone. Leave us."

The Queensguards weren't used to taking orders from the Ironborn princess, but Arya nodded to them. As they were leaving Arya grabbed Brienne's arm. "Have the cook prepare dinner. I'm starved."

"You're not the only one," Sandor muttered.

Asha moved up to the chair next to Arya. "How long you planning to stay here?"

"You think I want to get involved?"

"You might. You say not to get embroiled, but then you get into a fight."

"Not deliberately. This country is bad news no matter how you cut it." She gave Asha an intense look. "What do you think of salt wives?"

Asha looked bemused. "You planning on getting one?"

"No. I wanted your opinion of them."

"I think you can already guess. Ironborn women think of their men having salt wives the same way as Greenlander women think of their men having mistresses."

"So why do you put up with it?"

"I personally will not put up with it. As for Ironborn women in general, they aren't given the choice. Any more than Greenlander women are. I'm sure you remember what your mother thought before your man's true father was known."

"I think my mother would have hated him worse is she had known. Probably the smartest thing my father ever did."

Asha rolled that around in her mind before changing the subject. "You really think this old woman is going to try to take the dragons?"

"She holds herself well, but I know her kind. She can never have enough power. She's like Cersei. She'll try. She's arrogant enough to believe she will succeed. Keep all ships alert. We must be ready to leave at a moment's notice."

"We'll be ready to sail by tomorrow's tide."

Yūko watched the foreign ship for hours. She had slipped past the foreigners as they trudged back to their ships. She observed their arrival and their precautions. The guards were numerous and alert. But she was not impressed. She could get past them easily.

The armored women had trooped back onto the deck, but Yūko failed to see the one she was after. After the man with the braided beard and strange haircut came out on deck the women went back into the ship. Yūko could tell that the women were of a different kind from the sailors. Why she could not guess.

Yūko kept herself hidden until night fell. The docks were quiet. People had kept their distance from the foreigners upon their arrival. Yūko had no difficulty in remaining unseen as she made her way from her hiding place to the ship.

The ropes tying off the ships were too exposed, so she pulled out her shuko. The tines bit into the wood with difficulty. The ship had not been built of materials she was familiar with. Nevertheless, she obtained enough purchase to pull herself upward. The deck stood lower than was typical for most junks in Yi Ti, so had little trouble reaching it.

She waited until the guard had moved to the other end of the ship before pulling herself aboard. There proved to be plenty of hiding places on deck. Which was fortunate because there were far too many sentinels for a ship at dock to have in the middle of the night. Almost as if the foreigners expected visitors.

Yūko studied the deck carefully. She hadn't been able to get a good look before. The ship had three tall masts, plus a sprint extending from its bow. Ropes appeared to be everywhere. More rope than she had ever seen. This was not a place one would want to leave quickly.

Aside from hatches in the deck she saw a door leading into the forecastle. Another led into the rearcastle. Guards stood on both. A weapon like a giant crossbow was bolted onto to the deck atop the forecastle. Similar ones, albeit smaller, were on either side of the rearcastle. This was a formidable vessel.

Yūko noticed one of the armored women come out of the rear door. The woman emptied a bucket out into the harbor. Yūko moved fast to get through the open door before the woman could close it, but she wasn't fast enough. The need to keep out of sight hindered her ability to move quickly.

She hissed in annoyance as a guard moved right past her.

She took another look around. The guards were focused entirely away from the ship. The noise from their conversations drifted over to her. Since they weren't saying anything of relevance she ignored them.

Taking her chance, Yūko rushed to the door. She waited breathlessly for any sign she had been detected. None was forthcoming. Trying the door, she found it unlocked. She opened it slowly, fearing the tiniest squeak. Fortunately, the foreign sailors took good care of their ship. The hinges were well-oiled. Reassured, Yūko slipped through the gap into the interior.

This led straight into a cross-corridor. Looking to either side she saw that both led to stairs leading down. Directly in front of her was a door leading into a cabin. Listening, she heard low voices coming from inside. One was a woman, the other a man. From what she could understand of their talk it sounded like they were discussing the ship's departure.

Yūko knew she had to quicken her pace now. The foreigners were planning on leaving the next day. Not sure if the woman was the one she was after she decided to keep searching.

Descending one of the staircases, she found herself in a long hall that ended in a bulkhead and a corner leading left. The other direction, leading past the stairs, ended in another door. The door had a large wolf's head painted in gray on it. Recognizing this as important, she made her way to the door.

Listening, she heard the unmistakable sound of a woman in the throes of passion. The sound stopped suddenly. Guessing her target was basking in a post coital haze, Yūko decided now was the moment. Touching the handle, she found that this door too was well oiled. She edged the door open slightly. It opened into the room.

Glancing past it she saw a naked woman lying on the bed. The woman was tall, taller than any woman Yūko had ever seen, with hair the color of straw. The bed itself was huge, with a cushion that could comfortably hold four side-by-side. These strange foreigners did not lay on mats on the floor like normal people.

The woman wasn't the one she was after, but she might know where to find her. Keeping control of her excitement, Yūko passed into the room.

As soon as she entered a figure moved from behind the door and slammed it shut. Yūko found a knife at her throat. A very sharp knife.

The woman on the bed hopped off, not the least surprised to see the visitor. She pulled on some clothes as the woman behind Yūko began groping her.

Much to Yūko's embarrassment, the woman with the knife at her throat started yanking her clothes off. Yūko became seriously worried about her virtue, not at all sure what the woman was doing. It quickly became apparent however. The woman cut the straps of the kunai Yūko had secured to her arms. Not remotely finished, she forced Yūko to remove her monpe and undergarments. She even ran her fingers through Yūko's hair, pulling out the sharpened kanzashi.

Having totally disarmed her, and stripped her naked, the woman pushed Yūko to the bed. With not entirely feigned chagrin, she made her way over and sat down. This was not the first time Yūko had been exposed to the gaze of others, but strangely enough she felt more humiliated.

The pale haired woman looked at her with undisguised lust. The other one though looked more amused than anything. This other one was Yūko's target. She was only slightly taller than Yūko herself. She was beautiful, if not as ample as 1st Wife So La. Her beauty was very much like Yūko's own.

Yūko assumed the sha'i form, hands modestly covering her privates, emphasizing youth and innocence.

"What's your name?" the barbarian queen demanded. She spoke flawless Yitish.

"This one's unworthy name is Yūko, magnificent one." She used the kodomopi tone, a much higher octave than usual. She made certain to hang her head so as to make herself appear as childish as possible.

"Yūko? That is not a Yitish name."

Slowly, with exaggerated innocence, Yūko pulled her legs onto the bed, taking the tek'i form. She kept her arm at her chest, but allowed them to see her pubis.

"This unworthy one was given birth by parents from Yama, magnificent one."

"How did you end up in Yin?"

She dropped her arm. She assumed the ke'no, squeezing her breasts between her arms, making them look bigger.

"This one's unworthy parents sold her as a slave." She moved oh so innocently to expose her vulva, taking the tai'na.

Arya burst out laughing. Maud, who was totally engrossed in the performance, was as shocked as Yūko.

"You are good. I'll give you that. The whores of Westeros could take lessons from you." Yūko was so surprised she didn't know how to react. She also failed to notice that Arya was speaking Westerosi. "Why don't you tell me who you really are?"

"My lady, I have said-"

This time her mortification was real. Eyes wide, she slapped her hand over her mouth. It was already too late. Arya, a slight smile on her face, just stared. Yūko could feel herself turning red all over.

After some prompting from Arya Yūko continued. She spoke in her normal voice. "My name really is Yūko. My parents came to Yin before I was born. They sold me to the Genjin when I was a child."

"Genjin?"

Hoping the barbarian was distracted from having tricked her, Yūko went all out, assuming the sei'kō. She lay herself down, leaving herself totally exposed.

"Assassins you would call them. They prefer children whom they can train to become heartless killers."

"And are they the ones who taught you to put on this presentation?"

Yūko felt helpless against this foreigner. She sat up and stopped trying to perform the ku'so. She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.

"I am not a typical Genjin."

"I already knew that."

"I am a Gaeshi. One trained in sex-craft."

"What is that?" Maud had been thoroughly engrossed in the theatrics.

Yūko took several deep breaths before continuing. "Killing an enemy is not always the best way to deal with them. Sometimes converting them to your side works better."

"You mean you bribe them with sex?" Maud was outraged.

"Win them over," Yūko corrected. "Is it not true that the people of your kingdom use their daughters to make alliances?"

"Yes, through marriage. Just like in Yi Ti," Arya answered. "Tell me more."

"The Gaeshi are trained to provide maximum pleasure to their target. The idea is that once the subject experiences the true depth of what they could have they will be willing to do anything to keep getting it."

Maud was still irate at the idea, not thinking about the hypocrisies of her own people. "Are all women in Yi Ti trained this way?"

Yūko was openly scornful. "Of course not. Though I have heard that the Emperor's concubines are supposed to be trained in a similar way. Not sure I believe it."

"I don't," Arya said. "You can't have your emperor be enthralled to a bunch of concubines."

"No."

"This brings me to another question. Why did your Empress Mother think that I could be influenced in this way? Do you normally try this with women?"

Yūko blushed once again. "No. Few women have the power to make it worthwhile. But the august ones know that a man can be influenced by his wife more effectively than by another man."

"There are Gaeshi that are men?"

Yūko turned even redder. "No. All Gaeshi are women."

The two Westerosi had to contemplate that for a bit. "Am I the first woman you have ever been sent to… 'convert'?"

Yūko ducked her head until her hair covered her face. The two thought she might be crying. "You are the only one I've ever been sent to convert."

"I don't understand."

Yūko pushed her hair away and they could see that she really was crying. "When I was sold to the Genjin, when I was still a child, it was decided that I would be… reserved for… special targets. When I was being trained in sex-craft only the female masters were permitted to touch me. Other Gaeshi are taught by male masters even before they become maidens. I was only allowed to touch the female masters. It was decided that my maidenhood must remain intact, so as to ensure the greatest chance that I would be accepted."

"Monstrous!" hissed Maud.

Arya was more ambivalent. "I suspect there are more than a few High Born in Westeros who would have loved to know the secret of that."

Maud was outraged. "You can't honestly…"

"Maud." Arya was in no mood for arguments. "I have heard of far worse. You were not so sheltered as to not understand."

Maud felt appropriately chastened. "You are right, your grace. Our people cannot claim innocence in such matters."

"I still haven't heard the reason for why your masters chose you."

Yūko felt distinctly uncomfortable. "~Im-hmmm~ Ah… the Empress Mother asked for me specifically."

On Arya's face was a look of disbelief. "Why do people get this idea that I am interested in women?" she asked no one in particular. Her question certainly surprised Maud.

Arya's suddenly lit up and she snapped her fingers. "Of course!"

"What?" Maud was just as disturbed by her behavior as Yūko.

"I could never figure it out."

"What out?"

"The Yellow Emperor. When I was in Carcosa, he and his twisted daughter kept trying to get me to bed their slaves. I couldn't understand why."

"You mean he was trying to create his own… what was it?"

"Gaeshi."

Yūko was genuinely horrified. "The Yellow Emperor was trying to make his own Gaeshi?"

"Relax. He's dead. I have to say, he wasn't doing it very well." She tapped Visenya's Dagger repeatedly against her palm. Yūko once again became seriously afraid of Arya's intentions.

"What are you thinking?" Maud asked, perhaps also uncertain of what Arya had in mind.

Half-jokingly, Arya asked, "You want to rape her?" Maud was horrified. "Relax. It was a joke." Her disclaimer was more than a little bitter as she well remembered waking up next to a naked Maud the first time.

She studied Yūko for a time, who wasn't the least reassured by her denial. "What should I do with you?" she finally asked.

It did occur to Yūko to beg for her freedom despite knowing Arya wouldn't give it. Yūko was not such a fool as to believe she could trick Arya with false promises. But the question brought another thought into her mind. One she had never considered before in her life.

Her answer when it came was a shock to both Westerosi. "Take me with you!"

Ready for anything Arya might be, but this definitely wasn't one of them. Maud couldn't resist a "What?"

"I have nothing here. They say there are no slaves where you are from. Please! Take me with you!"

"Do you think her grace is mad? To trust you?"

"Why not? I have been totally honest with you. Do you think I want to be whore? I did not choose this life. I want to be free!"

Maud was understandably skeptical, but Arya was an expert at detecting lies. Even so, she wasn't sure she could trust this girl just yet. "You have no loyalty to your masters at all?"

Yūko's tone was scornful. "Why should I? What have they ever done for me besides turn me into a plaything for wrinkled old women? If I must live by my body I would much rather it be with you."

She suddenly threw herself to her knees at Arya's feet. "Please, great one! I will be your plaything. I will be your slave." She kowtowed, her posture one of the penitent to the powerful.

Arya was insulted and angry. "Get up!" She kicked at Yūko, who retreated weeping back to the bed. "I will have no slave, nor suffer any in my presence!" She took a deep breath to regain her composure. "You are correct. We allow no slaves in Westeros. All who come there are free from the moment they arrive." Yūko looked hopeful for a moment, but her hopes were dashed with Arya's next words. "What makes you think your masters will allow you to leave?"

It was a thought that hadn't occurred to Yūko. It was true, the masters had expended great effort in her training. They were very unlikely to let her go. She grabbed at whatever straw she could. "You have dragons! They would not dare to stop you."

They looked at her in disbelief. "Do you know what you're asking?"

"You are the Dragon Queen. You can do anything."

"My sister is the Mother of Dragons and I only wish I could do anything. I will not fight a war over you."

"You won't have to. They would not chase me to the other side of the world."

"What makes you so sure? Wouldn't they want to keep their secrets hidden?"

Yūko had no answer to that. "If you will not take me with you then kill me. Better to die than live as a toy."

Arya was silent for a long time. Maud thought she was seriously considering it. "Very well. We'll take you to Westeros. But we do not give charity. You must pay for your travel."

"How mistress? I have no money to give you."

"I wasn't thinking of money."

The Westerosi conception of morality was different than in Yi Ti, but in some respects they were very much alike. What was demanded of women was one of them. In another world and another age demanding sex as payment would be considered immoral. But not in Westeros. Or Yi Ti. The demands Arya would make upon her new companion would go far beyond that, but that is for later tales. Suffice it to say, Arya was quite pleased with her end of the bargain.

Maud was rather pleased too. Arya might have accused her sister-wife of being insatiable, but Arya herself had quite a healthy appetite. Her spouses had discovered, on their wedding night that her predilection was to enjoy both of them at the same time. This was it seems how she wanted it all time, or at least whenever possible.

The rest of her companions were rather surprised to see Yūko the next morning. Arya's announcement that she was joining them was not met with universal approval. Yūko found herself seated next to Marwyn with Jake having to move to the opposite side of the table. Marwyn was certainly not the dinner companion she would have preferred.

"Níõa," he said, knowing the proper Yitish. Arya had explained the circumstances, up to a point, as to why she was there. But most of them had a hard time believing it. "I find it extraordinary that you should join us wōdi."

"Why?" She could sense their suspicion. "It is as her majesty said. I am a slave. I wish my freedom."

"Did not your old masters suspect you would run away? Surely they would not have entrusted you with such an important task if they did not have faith in you."

Arya had kept silent over what Yūko had really been sent to do. Something Yūko very much agreed with. "It is not as if I have run away before. I have never shown anything but obedience to my masters. Had I not I would have been killed."

Suspicious as she was, Brienne was nonetheless sympathetic. "Understandable. You might find Westeros different than you are used to."

"I know this. I am not unfamiliar with your land."

"That reminds me," Maud cut in. "How do you know our language? I hadn't found the opportunity last night."

Obella, who had a vivid imagination, guessed why. "Why not?" Everyone else ignored her.

"Languages are important for the Genjin. All are required to learn as many foreign tongues as they can."

"The Faceless Men are the same way," Arya said.

"Your people may not be common, but enough of them come to Yi Ti to make knowing your tongue of value."

Yūko was surprised at just how uncomfortable she felt. Not only was she the center of attention in a way she had never contemplated. But she was also shocked to discover that she was the smallest woman there. She felt like she was in a room filled with men. Brienne absolutely terrified her.

She spoke to Arya. "Your grace, can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"How did you know I was on board?"

For some reason, the others found this funny. "I'll let you in on a secret. Dragons see in the dark."

Yūko couldn't understand why that was significant. She had seen no sign of any dragons last night. But then she didn't really know anything about dragons.

Asha asked Arya, "Do you still want us to set sail? The tide will be turning soon."

"Not yet. There is something I have to do first."

Mi Pha finally managed to trap Bu Ray in her rooms. The Empress Mother, likely knowing what Mi Pha was going to say, had studiously avoided her since the barbarian queen left.

Mi Pha did not bother with preliminaries. "What are we going to do?"

Bu Ray was her usual intolerably impassive self. "Whatever do you mean?"

"You are not going to leave matters like this? Or are you just waiting for your pet Genjin to deal with it?"

"If by that you mean how I will dispose of the barbarian the answer is I'm not."

"What?!"

"Her cooperation is much more desirable. She controls the dragons and with the dragons we will be invincible."

"Why should she? She saw what Bu Do was. Even she can see he is no man. Not after what you have done to him! What can you possibly offer that she doesn't already have?"

Du Ray gave a dramatic sigh. "Oh Mi Pha, you do disappoint me. If you knew what I sent to the barbarian you would understand."

To the surprise of both a servant girl, covered head to toe in a heavy cloak with its hood up, entered.

"Why did you enter?" Bu Ray allowed irritation into her voice. "I gave orders not to be disturbed."

Arya flung off the cloak. "Sorry, but your guards aren't in any condition to prevent it."

Bu Ray was actually distressed. "Wha- how did you get in here?"

Arya laughed. "You know so much, yet so little. Your little puppet was good. I'll give her that. But I was trained by the best killers on Earth. You magic didn't show you that, did it."

Bu Ray was silent. She was barely restrained, her emotions at last getting the best of her.

Mi Pha was trembling. "What do you intend to do?"

"Leave. My fleet and I are continuing on our journey with the next tide. We don't intend to ever return here."

Bu Ray spat out, "You cannot leave fast enough."

Arya turned to leave, but then turned back. She spoke to Mi Pha. "I know you probably don't want advice from a barbarian. But my suggestion to you is to get out of this place as fast as you can."

"Why?"

"It's not going to be very comfortable for you soon."

Arya left the cloak on the floor and departed.

"What did she mean?"

Bu Ray was dismissive. "She knows nothing of our people."

Arya made quite an exit. The guards tried to stop her. More than a few struggled to keep their blood from draining away. As she stepped out of the palace an army of guards gathered to meet her. They didn't stay long. Snowflake made her own grand entrance and they scattered like geese. She flew away leaving chaos in her wake.

Just as she'd promised, the barbarian fleet sailed that very afternoon. No one cried to see them go.

Bu Ray was raging, though she didn't look it. All her carefully laid out plans had been shot to hell. She looked at her son, playing with his dolls, and asked herself what curse would have given her such a son. Naturally she placed no blame upon herself. Clearly, this was the gods' doing, wanting to humble her.

She looked upon the flighty bimbos busy entertaining themselves at the far side of the room. They did what they usually did when ignoring their Emperor, which was always. Some played xianki. Others the kongou. Still others wrote poetry or practiced their calligraphy. Or gossiped like hens. She hated them. Every single one.

So La entered with Pantú, one of Ti Do's lieutenants. Bu Ray didn't like him. He was far too loyal to his general. She also did not like his relationship with So La. It was well known that the two were in each other's company more than was proper.

Mi Pha came in just as Bu Ray was demanding, "Where have you been?"

So La had an insufferable smile on her face. Mi Pha was instantly suspicious. "I was having a conversation with Pantú, mother."

"I told you not to call me that." It was a sign of just how put out Bu Ray was that her anger was showing.

"We were thinking about how horribly your attempts have been… mother."

So La was obviously provoking Bu Ray, but for what reason? She would not have dared before. Looking around Mi Pha noticed that the guards were not the ones she remembered.

Bu Ray's voice had taken a menacing tone. "Meaning what?"

If So La was intimidated she didn't show it. "The barbarian woman humiliated our Emperor. She humiliated our kingdom. You would not allow us to give her the punishment she deserved."

"Are you mad?" Bu Ray really was losing it. "Did you not see the dragon that came at her call? Do you not know what such a beast can do? You have lost your mind."

"That is why I was talking to Pantú. We agree there was more that could be done."

"Such as?"

In answer to her words Ti Do entered with his dog Shang-nu. Mi Pha noticed that Pantú had shifted to behind the throne. She knew what was coming but found she couldn't speak or cry out.

"What do you want?" the Empress Mother demanded of Ti Do. "You have not been summoned."

"I obey no summons. I do the summoning now."

"Do you?" Her voice dripped venom.

"Your powers don't frighten me, old witch. You have perverted this kingdom long enough. It is time a real man ruled here."

"And you believe you are that man. You are a fool Ti Do. You always were."

"Not as big a fool as you."

Bu Ray and Mi Pha had been distracted by Ti Do and hadn't noticed that So La had moved behind the Empress Mother. With a cry, So La pulled a dagger from her bodice and plunged it into Bu Ray's back. She stabbed her again and again, her hate and fury adding strength to her arm.

Mi Pha screamed in horror.

The Boy Emperor almost climbed out of his chair. "Mother!" Quick as lightening, Pantú was beside him and plunged his sword into the Boy's belly. He fell to the floor, his guts spilling out. And yet his last thoughts were of his mother. Pulling himself painfully to her, he grasped her dead hand. "Mother!"

Only now did Mi Pha's paralysis leave her. She fled, Shang-nu racing after.

The Emperor's other pigeons were all frozen in place, too horrified to act. "What shall be done with them?" Pantú asked.

"Give them to the men," Ti Do answered.

With vicious laughs, the guards ran to grab the screaming hussies. Some carried them off to be ravaged in private. Others didn't bother and had their way with them right there.

Only when Pantú ripped the dagger out of her hand did So La grasp that the situation wasn't what she had expected. Pantú hoisted her up onto his shoulders and carried her out, her hands feebly beating on his back.

Ti Do kicked aside the Boy's foot and sat himself onto the throne. The fat eunuch, whose name was Tu Di, stepped fearfully to his side. The others were too terrified to move. "What shall we tell the people, your majesty?" he asked.

"Tell them Ti Do, the 1st Maroon Emperor, now rules Yi Ti."

Ti Do would discover that proclaiming oneself emperor was far easier than making yourself one.

END CHAPTER 16