A month before, as our ship sailed from the Eastern Kingdom palace, Princess Xiangfeng emerged from the depths of the fog like a ghost, gliding across the mist-strewn deck towards the boy she‘d been arranged to marry. Though I’d been tasked with keeping the ship hidden, my curiosity diverted my attention as I watched the both of them from my place at the bow.
She’d been among the Eastern Kingdom officials that had been recently brought aboard, saved from Rui Nan's sudden and unmerciful invasion. However, she did not come to the child emperor to express her gratitude, but rather to present her demands.
"Turn this ship around," she commanded. "We must go back for the rest of my family."
An Wei, Xiangfeng's mother appeared beside her daughter and said politely, "we are most grateful for what you have done for us, but please, we cannot leave just yet."
Before the child emperor could respond, a stout reply sounded from the mist. "I am sorry, but we must continue on. Returning now would most assuredly doom us all."
It was Dae Jung, whose shadowy figure materialized next to Xiangfeng‘s mother.
Immediately, she fell into his shoulders, sobbing as she begged for his mercy.
"My husband, my other daughter," she said. "They’re still waiting just outside the palace. I can show you where they are. It wouldn’t take long. Please."
He held her for a brief moment. Then, as if discarding his empathy, pushed her away before turning to one of the deck hands.
"Inform the captain." He said. "We must sail as fast as the engines will allow. We can’t afford to slow down for the sake of caution. If we must, we will plow through any of General Fung's air ships we encounter."
The deck hand nodded and proceeded to the bridge. An Wei looked on, shocked, as if she had just been sentenced to death.
"Traitor!" Xiangfeng cried out.
She was just a young girl, but little did we know, she had been raised like that of a son to her father, a respected general in the Eastern Kingdom's Royal Army. As such, she had been groomed to someday become a leader of warriors, a fighter and a soldier. And with great surprise, I was witness to the incredible spirit of her actions that day.
She pulled a sword from the sheath of one of the nearby guards and, like an arrow released from its bow, leapt for Dae Jung. The guard captain reacted, bounding quickly into her path and deflecting her blade with his own. She lunged forward again, challenging the guard captain's swordsmanship in a wild and terrible duel. Though her emotions enflamed her every move, each swing, each stab and swipe was practiced and well-disciplined. The captain seemed confused as he tried to come to grips with the uncanny age and gender of his opponent. He was hesitant, unwilling to believe his eyes as he restrained himself from striking back at her. The fight continued. Sword struck against sword, metal against metal, until finally, the divine son of the Imperial Family gave pause to the both of them.
"Stop it! Both of you cease immediately."
Xiangfeng was out of breath, but the fiery look on her face threatened her willingness to continue at any moment.
The Young Emperor motioned to the guard captain for his weapon. He hesitated, boldly displaying a brief, but fleeting doubt in Young Emperor‘s judgment. He motioned again, this time giving the captain an unwavering look. The loyal soldier bowed submissively, giving up his sword.
"Are you willing to fight me instead?" he said. "After all, this is my ship, and if you are so determined to press a weapon upon the one here most guilty, you minus will face me instead."
"Young Emperor, it is not your place to endanger yourself," Dae Jung pleaded. "Please step down. Let the guards take care of her."
"Am I not to marry her? She and I will settle our own disputes."
"I do not marry traitors," she said.
"Traitor or not, you and I have a shared destiny that we must face together. My family is lost to me, just as yours are. I cannot go back to my family anymore than you can. But if you feel it important to be angry with someone, let it be me."
He slowly lowered his sword and opened his arms in surrender. However, this only served to enrage her, as she began screaming and swiping away at the air in front of him. Her strikes came closer and closer until the sleeve of the boy’s robe was cut and ripped away. Afterwards, her sword clattered onto the deck. Tears streamed from her eyes, but she refused to allow anymore of her feelings to show. Her mother came behind her and held her in her arms. To Dae Jung's relief, there was no blood to be found amongst the tears in the child emperor‘s clothing.
Far beneath the fog, upon the Earth below, the deep thunder of bombs and clattering rifle fire could be heard. To all of us that stood on the deck that day, those were the sounds that heralded the end of our short time in the Eastern Kingdom.
As I later wandered the halls of the Young Emperor's ship I found myself reminded of the acts of desperate people such as that of Xianfeng who found herself in the very depths of hoplessness. Ai had told me that my faith in everyone would be tested. I wondered if I would be prepared for when that moment came, if I would ever find the strength to carry on, even amidst my fading trust in those around me.
****
The Republic of Brien was a country settled amongst the vast, flat grassy plains that lay just to the west of the Central Mountain Range, which sat at the very center of the continent. Foreigners like myself, especially those from the east had a nickname for the country: the Serpent's Breath. It was so named because of all the winds of the world that converged there. Like a boiling cauldron, gales, windstorms and breezes of all manner and intensities came to mix and mingle. It was a country where the ether stirred just a violently as the air currents, and so any chienkuu ko who thought themselves skilled enough, often flew ships here to test their worth.
As I laid my eyes upon the land below from the deck railing, I caught the familiar scent everbloom trees lingering in the air.
"You smell it too, don't you?" Etsu said as she strolled across the deck. "You know the tree only grows in Rui Nan. It's the winds you see. They carried the scent here. From this single bit of land, you can experience the entire world just by what you find on the wind. I hear that even leaves and bits of plant of every species eventually finds its way here. The birds too. All sorts of birds migrate to this place."
"How is it you know so much?" I asked.
"How is it you don't?" She smiled, leaning over the rail as she took in the scenery. "What's the matter? Don't you read?"
"No. I don't like reading."
"Well I do. I want to know about everything, and sometimes reading is the only way. But being here, seeing things that were once just words on a page, is more than I could ever hope for. Look. Over there."
She pointed excitedly towards the low-sloping grass hills in the distance. There were windmills, dozens and dozens of them, perhaps even hundreds all scattered majestically like towering stone giants across the plains. Their large, wooden wheels spun ceaselessly against the wind‘s constant howl.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out something bound in paper. She opened the wrapping, revealing a small bundle of hair.
"It's mine," she said, then cast it into the air. The hair scattered, then quickly disappeared from view. "The wind spirits should be carrying it back to Rui Nan."
She must have found my bewilderment amusing, because she started laughing like a child on the playground.
"I think I know who put you up to this," I said.
"Who else? Kassashimei said that I should appease the wind spirits today by giving them a part of myself. She said that doing so would allow them to grant me whatever wish I desire. I think the fact that she told me to wait until today, meant that she must have known we’d be coming to the windiest place in the world."
I could not help but laugh with her. "You know she's telling you nonsense."
"Of course I do, but I always thought how fun it would be to follow along with her funny little games. Who knows, there might even be some truth to her beliefs. You know,
even though she’s a little strange, and can be quite rude sometimes, she has a lot of respect for you. You might even say she admires you."
"I don't doubt that. I don't doubt that at all. Actually, I think I feel safer when she's around."
"Really? After all the trouble she's put you though?"
I laughed again. "I know it might seem odd, but I'm glad she's by my side. I can't imagine being with any other shyo mah."
"I hardly think that’s odd. As a matter of fact, I doubt you could ever be as odd as her. Even the day I first met her didn’t seem normal. She suddenly appeared at the temple one day, claiming to have arrived on one of the airships. I was a little confused then, because not a single airship had visited the temple that day. She also said she was waiting for someone."
"Who?"
"I don't know. Who knows, maybe she was waiting for you. Anyway, while we trained, she always sat in the back, doing nothing. The teachers scolded her, but she mostly ignored them. Then one day, Master Ichiro secretly asked that I look for a shyo mah for you. I think she must have been hiding somewhere, eaves dropping, because it was at that moment she appeared suddenly and asked that we choose her." She looked down at the railing, idly rubbing her fingers against the wood. "You're very lucky Terr. I never imagined her to be such a talented person."
We took in the moment, watching as the windmills went slowly by. After a time, I said, "you mentioned you desired something. What was it?"
I felt her hand grasp mine for the briefest of moments before she pulled away from the railing. There was a feeling of humility in the way she looked at me.
"Nothing really," she said timidly. "I just thought it would be fun to try one of her little rituals."
Chapter 20
Castleberg was the Republic of Brien's third largest city, and one of the most peculiar things noticeable by visitors such as myself, was that every building was made of red brick. The entire city looked like one big blotch of red splattered against a canvas of flat, green fields and blue sky. Even with the unnaturally bright crimson colors, what stood out even more, were the windmills. Almost every building that stood two stories or more had a great big wind-catching wheel attached to the roof, or the very face of the building itself. It was this unique detail that made the city seem alive, like an enormous animal stirring at the slightest gale. Wind chimes sang from window sills and in some places there were large, intricate flutes hanging from ledges and balconies that played stirring melodies whenever a gentle breeze floated by.
Every person we saw on the streets wore western-looking suits and delicately frilled dresses. Dressed in our own formal robes it was evident that we stood out as foreigners as Dae Jung lead us to the international consulate to secure a place for us to stay.
At great expense, we were granted a small, mansion-like resident in the very center of the city. Though we had guards of our own, the consulate thought it prudent that they provide us domestic body guards for an additional fee.
It was the first time I had ever been in a western style house. Everything; the walls, the stairs, even the marble pillars shined in decadent pearl-white. Carpets of intricate floral patterns covered the floors of every hallway, and hanging from the ceiling of each room were crystal chandeliers, which gave a rich alluring sparkle when it caught the rays of the afternoon sun through the large windows in the foyer.
I‘d never seen the interior of a home so boldly illuminated. All manner of subtlety was all, but gone; and in its place, was a vivid, unbridled display of what must have been the lifestyle of that far-off land.
Everyday we trained on the roof. Amidst the curious eyes of domestic officials who came to visit, we practiced our kaikua under the careful tutelage of the Boar while Ai lead us though our sky watching meditations, honing our abilities to pick out details with our unique sight. The ether was unlike anything I had ever seen. Restless and untamed, it shaped the winds and skies under its own will, as if the land itself harbored the ether‘s very origin.
Still, we embraced its currents, respecting its every motion. And when the provincial governor came to visit us, I was all-too happy to take him into the air in one of our sky boats.
"Well, this really is something else," the tall, broad-shouldered governor said to Dae Jung, petting the length of his thick, red mustache with his finger. "How is it that your country has such gifted children, and yet in no other place in world do such people with this sort of talent exist?"
The two sat at the back of the boat where a thick, cotton canopy had been erected to shade them from the sun. They sat on either side of a small table, upon which a servant had been serving them tea and small, fruit flavored cakes.
"Every culture respects the nature of flight in their own way," Dae Jung replied. "Your country's airships uses the mechanics of heated air while ours is more of a spiritual discipline. There is an invisible ocean of ki, or energy around us you see, a kind of flow that moves without end. It has taken hundreds of years for my people to learn its properties and to use the gifts of certain people to bend it to our will."
"That's all quite perfectly mystical and all sir, but you still have, as of yet, to answer my question."
Though I’d been flying the boat at the bow with Kassashimei, and my back had been turned to the governor, I knew his eyes were squarely fixed upon me. From the moment he arrived, he had been looking at nothing else, but me and the rest of the children. He seemed not only curious, but intensely infatuated with our ways.
Dae Jung hummed thoughtfully before he replied. "Actually, I suppose every country has people with such talents. Ours, however, is the only nation that truly believes in its potential."
The governor chuckled. "Such a fascinating notion to think that there are people in my country that could shape the very rules of nature in the same fashion as this boy here. Although I do not think it wise to trust the commonwealth of our air shipping lanes to mere children. The reliability of air transportation is absolute when placed in the hands of science and steam mechanics. However, I cannot deny that there is something alluring about these. . . what do you call them?"
"Chienkuu ko."
"Oh yes. Chienkuu ko. Such a terribly lengthy and difficult word to pronounce."
"Governor, if you would forgive me, but I must get to the point of our meeting. Terr, take us higher."
Signaling Kassashimei with great, sweeping arm motions, the sky boat gently settled onto another current, which carried us further above the mansion and away from curious ears.
"About the Young Emperor's asylum," Dae Jung said.
"Oh yes. Again, my condolences for the loss of your young master's family; and losing an entire country; there are no manner of words capable of describing the misfortune your people have suffered through." The governor's voice sounded formal, but it lacked emotion. "I received your letter about seeking political asylum within our country. Unfortunately, it is not my place to grant it. I'm afraid these matters are handled by the prime minister."
"Then may we see him? I cannot express how important it is that we gain the protection and safety of your sovereign nation. We carry with us both the imperial and royal families. Surely, your prime minister would have much to gain by currying the favor of the future leaders of two powerful eastern countries."
"I have already sent your letter to the prime minister, but I'm afraid things are bit more complicated than you assume. You see, you and your people are in exile. You claim to represent the interests of your country when in fact, the true representatives of your country have already approached us. Emperor Fung and his foreign minister, Head Minister Lu have already begun negotiations with us. He assures that he will put an end to the civil war among the eastern countries. And after he has unified them all, the Republic of Brien shall become a diplomatic partner with them and share exclusive rights to trade. The prime minister feels that we would have much to gain by sharing in their prosperity."
An awkward silence lingered.
Looking over my shoulder,
I found Dae Jung deep in thought. He looked away as he sipped his tea, careful to hide any expression that might offend his guest.
Finally, he said, "do not trust in that man. Fung is a traitor, serving his own interests.” His face hardened. “I know all too well that your people regard our country as weak, maybe even gullible, but it’s pompous thoughts such as that, that Fung will seek to take advantage of."
The governor seemed to reel from Dae Jung's tone. "Since you have dispensed with your advise, allow me to present some of mine. It might be in your best interest that you leave soon. Since the prime minister knows that you are here, your so-called traitor may soon know as well; at which point we would no longer be able to guarantee the safety of your young master and the royal family."
Dae Jung must have thought it useless for us to remain in Castleburg any longer, but curiously, he insisted that we remain a few more days.
It was during this time the country celebrated what they called, the Gala of Kites. In honor of the Republic's birth, flying devices and machines of all shapes and sizes embraced the fervent winds and littered the sky like leaves. Gliders and airships hovered about while kites, some as small as the palm of my hand and others as large as the tallest tree, fluttered from every building and from every child dancing in the streets. Strange, vibrant music blared from horns of brass while parades flowed like streams down every avenue and road.
Our airship hung idly over a large park in the middle of the city. Dae Jung had insisted that we be a part of the celebration, and so, with all our fanfare and flourishes we let loose our wings and tails of fire. Just as it had been when we first came to the Eastern Kingdom, the ship was once again like a phoenix, flapping its wings and lashing about its mighty tail, all finely orchestrated by the skills of every shyo mu and shyo mah aboard.
Sky of Paper: An Asian Steam-Driven Fantasy Tale Page 42
