Bella kissed me lingeringly and stepped back, watching as I vanished. She would be out the door, I was sure, as soon as she had seen me gone. My woman was made of stern stuff.
I had sent a message ahead, but I never knew with Jao how the reception would be. In the past, we’d met in peculiar places. Only on the ceremonial mission with Bella had I met him at the palace in luxury.
The bubble popped and I realized that I was back in the Kyuden, the palace where we had initially encountered, and fought, Beaker. I was standing alone in a room with a low table. Jao knew I was comfortable with the lounging on mats style they kept here, and I shrugged and sprawled. Magically, food and drink appeared, and I didn’t turn my nose up at it. He would come when he could. Yiu Jao was not the Emperor of the Eastern Court, but he held the strings figuratively. When we had been here before, we had foiled an attempt to wrest that power from him, and I was about to call in that favor.
Chong came into the room, with a low bow, and I stood to offer him a western-style handshake. Chong was educated in human ways, his uncle’s way of making the boy a more rounded warrior. When we had met before, the teen had been kidnapped along with Dorothy, and had been ready for another round of excitement the last I had seen him.
“How goes the training?” I asked him now.
“Pretty good. Dean was here, showing me how to shoot a rifle, until last month. Hope he comes back to finish teaching me soon.”
“He’s busy right now, but I’ll let him know you want more.”
The kid had bulked up some, but he was always going to be a head shorter than I and whipcord slender. His uncle, on the other hand…
I bowed slightly, pressing my hands together, as Yiu Jao appeared in the doorway.
“Honorable Friend.” I greeted him. He responded with a belly laugh.
“I know you want something when you lead off with the right foot.” He teased me. “So how about we cut to the chase?”
I smiled at him. “But what about the saké? And the endless pots of tea, so you can consult with your advisors while I go to take a piss?”
He laughed harder, and sat down. With a wave of his hand, the table was replenished. “Am I so transparent, my friend?”
I sat across from him, and Chong sat at the foot of the table. The head was left empty, and I wondered who would be joining us. “No, but these walls are paper thin.”
They were made of rice paper and bamboo, so he could hardly dispute that. “True, true. Not that I have ever worried about your honesty and forthrightness. How is your lovely wife?”
I took the seeming change of subject in stride. “She is Queen now.”
“Ah, yes.” He smiled so broadly that his eyes disappeared. I was forcibly reminded of a painting I had once seen of the Khan, and the blood connections between Genghis and this court. “The warrior Queen. Do give her my deepest affection, and a wish to see her in action some day.”
“I should hope not. We have children, you know.”
“So soon?” He bellowed with laughter. “You work fast!”
“There was a temporal shift.” I was beginning to wonder why he was killing time, when he had said he wouldn’t.
The jolly laugh died, and his face was sober as he straightened up. “No doubt you are wondering why I delay.”
I knew he couldn’t read minds. He just knew me well. “Yeah.”
“I was awaiting the arrival of the one whom you really desire speech with.”
When old Jao went all formal, it was time to check your wallet and keys. “And who might…” My words died in my throat as she walked through the door.
I found myself on my feet without knowing quite how I had gotten there. With hands pressed together, I bowed to her, and was astonished when she sank into a low bow, revealing the many tails that swept behind her like the train of a gown. I thought I counted nine, and from the silver hair to the regal face, she carried herself like a queen. I knew she was a kitsune, and I knew what the tails meant, but I had no idea why she was here, or why she was the person I was to speak to.
I shot a look at Jao, who was rising from his own low bow – the bow to a superior – and he gave me a faint smirk. He was enjoying himself. She went to the head of the table and knelt, then clapped twice. Two little girls, each with a single tail, ran into the room. One wore a pink kimono, the other yellow. They bobbed bows, adorably, and I felt my lips quirk. They were perhaps six or seven years old, and tiny.
“I wanted you to meet the children of Matsuo.” She had a soft voice, and wide dark eyes. The little girls swayed in unison.
“Hello and thank you.” They chanted together. Someone had obviously been drilling them in the phrase.
“You are welcome.” I answered them gravely.
They dissolved into giggles, and the nine-tail smiled a little. She spoke gently to them in a language I didn’t recognize, and the girls dipped another little bow to me before running out of the room.
I looked at her. “That was very cute, but…”
“You returned Matsuo’s soul to his family. They bear you a debt of gratitude.” She sipped her tea, delicately, and I took a sip of mine. It was part of the ceremony.
I understood, now. Prior to our mission here, I had encountered a dying kitsune, and had taken his soul-pearl for safe keeping. I had delivered it to Jao, as proof of the suffering the kitsune had endured at the hands of Daniken. I’d never known the boy’s name, much less that he’d had children.
“I am sorry for your loss,” I told her now, convinced that she was connected in some way to Matsuo.
“I am grateful for the return of his essence.” She placed her cup on the table, precisely aligning it with the pot before looking up at me again. “We kitsune made a grievous error in allying with Daniken, and I had turned a blind eye to certain of her activities. Without you, this could have led to disaster. We owe you a great debt.”
So, this was why Jao had arranged the meeting. Not for the cute little girls. The nine-tail was being recklessly blunt. We hadn’t even been introduced.
“Lady…” I started slowly, feeling for the right words. I had to handle this properly.
She flashed me a small smile. “I am Sakamoto Asuka. You may call me Asuka.”
Jao’s face was a study. He hadn’t expected her to give me a name, much less a familiar name, I guessed.
“Lady Asuka. I came to beg a favor of my friend Yiu Jao. I had not known of the kitsune, aside from my short encounter with Matsuo. I am honored by your feelings, but I cannot ask of you what you know not.”
She inclined her head a little. “Perhaps you should speak to your friend, and I shall listen. Then, we may speak again.”
She picked up her cup and I imitated her action. She held her cup, pensively looking at the leaves in the bottom of it, and I looked at Jao. He made a subtle gesture with his chin that might have been a nod, so I started on my pitch.
“The Queen of Low Court has allied with a Wendigo, a spirit from the upper plane which cannot be killed, and which brings famine and death wherever it goes. The Low Queen has vowed to use this power to conquer all of Underhill, and then the human realms.”
“You go to war against her.” Jao nodded. “We have heard… rumors.”
“I have seen it with my own eyes.” I remembered the death and immediate aftermath of the wolf, and felt my skin crawl. “I came to you because this is a threat, even if it may seem distant as of yet, to your people.”
He nodded. “It seems unwise of us to sit back and allow our friends and allies to soak up the punishment when we know it is our defense they are providing.”
“We are setting the stage for a battle, of our own choosing.” I put my teacup on the table, gently enough it made no sound. This motion was a signal that I had made my pitch. I awaited his next words.
“Ground on which we can only be saved from destruction by fighting without delay, is desperate ground.” Lady Asuka murmured, quoting Sun Tzu.
I nodded. “Desperate gro
und, indeed, Lady. I would not have come to you for any less.”
She nodded. “We will be at your side on the day.”
Asuka picked up the teapot and poured a little into each of the three cups. We all picked ours up and drank together, and then she stood gracefully. Her evident age did not show in her motions.
“I have much to prepare. We will be ready in a day.” Without waiting, she walked out of the room, her silver tails floating and flowing in her wake.
Jao slumped back to a sitting position, as we had both stood and bowed as she left.
“Whoo…” He blew out his breath in a great sigh. “I don’t know about you, but I need saké after that.”
I sat back down. “What the hells just happened?”
Play the Fife Lowly
Jao threw back his drink. “You just met a goddess.”
“I had a god as my wingman earlier today. What does this bring to the table?” I threw back mine. Then I refilled his cup. I hadn’t a chance of getting him drunk, but it was the polite way to drink the lukewarm liquor.
Jao boggled at me a little, then grinned. “You tell the best jokes, Unpyou.”
He’d nicknamed me ‘cloud leopard’ on my first mission here. I’d always been afraid to ask why. I decided I wouldn’t try to explain Raven, who would be really offended to find out I’d called him a god. I waited for him to answer my question.
“She will bring the kitsune to the field. And we will bring warriors, as well. You are right, this is a matter that touches on us all.”
I took a sip of the saké. I was beginning to feel it, with the fatigue building up. “This is bigger than I thought at the beginning. Then, it was one death. That was all that mattered."
I threw back the saké. Jao looked at me for a long moment, his face losing the humor slowly. “One death is all that matters to each of us, in the end. Better to have those who will care, after.”
I shrugged. “I wish I had known her better.”
“Who of us truly knows another?” He stood up. “The guesthouse has been rebuilt since your last stay, and I would be honored.”
I stood up slowly, feeling the heat of the alcohol. “Thank you, Jao.”
I clasped forearms with him, and left for the peaceful sanctuary of the guesthouse.
I slept like a dead man. In the morning while the dew still lay heavy on the perfect gardens, and the sun only lent a lessening of the night, I went home. I’d slept enough to replenish me, and I needed more than that to make me ready for what I must do. Bella was asleep, still, even Underhill there is a difference in where the sun is to where you stand on the earth. I slid into bed, and she rolled over and casually draped and arm and a leg over me, murmuring in her sleep.
I chuckled and pulled her close, then fell back asleep myself. I hadn’t meant to, but she was warm, and the essence of safety and comfort, even after our short time together. I was awakened by the sleepy cries of a baby. Bella rolled away from me, and I sat up to see her scoop an infant from the bassinet and crawl back into bed awkwardly. I pushed my pillow behind her to help her sit up for nursing, and then watched, fascinated, as she did so.
“Too dark to tell them apart…” I whispered, not wanting to waken the other one.
“Your son is always hungry.” She smiled. I could see that, only inches away from her face, and with the dawn light seeping in the windows.
“He has a lot of growing to do. She will be petite like her mother.” I cupped his warm little head. It was covered with a fine, silky fuzz that might become hair later.
“We need to name them.” She sighed. “I had thought Lavendar, but…”
I shook my head. “If you must, but the tradition is to continue the mother’s line by relation of names, not repetition.”
“And him?” She looked down at the greedy little man who was making smacking noises.
“Up to you, dearheart.” I kissed her.
“Not Lom.” She stuck her tongue out at me, and I suppressed a laugh.
“Nor Learoyd. Please.”
“David means beloved.” Bella looked at me, smiling.
“You know he will think we named the baby for him.” I pointed out.
“Maybe we are. I liked him, and he is… very fond of you.”
My perceptive wife. I let out a deep breath. “David.”
The newly named infant sighed, but that was because he’d fallen asleep, a drop of milk at the corner of his mouth. I got out of bed and came around to return him to his sleep spot.
“Linnea.” Bella was sitting, her arms wrapped around her knees, and in the early morning light I could see her clearly now. “Will that work as a progression of flower names?”
“Linnea? What’s a common name?”
“Twinflower, so it is doubly appropriate. They are these tiny little pink bells, just a few inches tall, and they carpet the northern forest floor in summer time. They have this pretty, sweet scent…”
I put a finger to her lips. “You’ve sold me. You’ll have to show them to me sometime, and Linnea when she is old enough, since I doubt they will grow in our garden.”
Bella bit my finger, gently, her eyes twinkling. I responded to that in the fashion it deserved, and as a result we were very late coming down to breakfast.
I was surprised to discover Alger and Mark in the kitchen. Ellie had left plates on the counter for Bella and I, but by the looks of their plates, they had been there a while.
“Have we kept you waiting?” I asked, pouring a cup of coffee.
Bella, walking in behind me and picking up her plate, laughed. “You are not going to apologize for that.”
Mark clapped his hands over his ears. “Not listening! My baby cousin…la la la.”
We all laughed, then. I put Bella’s cup in front of her and got my own plate. “More seriously, what are you two up to?”
“Heading back to low places to make friends. Or at least try to talk to old ones.” Mark looked into his cup, then got up to get more.
“Hang on a sec,” I had just remembered something, and I looked at Bella, “Where is Raven?”
“He said he was going to do some scouting, and to tell you not to worry. He won’t miss the fighting.”
Alger spoke up. “Was the trip back East fruitful?”
I nodded, my mouth full. This might be the last hot meal I had in a while, and I was going to enjoy it. After swallowing, I assured him, “More than I had dreamed of. Evidently the kitsune think they owe us, so the fox people will be here tomorrow, along with Jao’s warriors.”
Bella frowned. “I have gathered from reading history that pitched battles were common at one time, but Lom, why?”
I shook my head. “This is as much a stylized dance move as anything else. We show up, present a united front, and they will know we are serious. That we won’t lie down and let them waltz through the front gate.”
“That seems rough on the guys dying on the field.” She put her fork down.
“War always is. Underhill isn’t the same as Above, though. There’s a lot less messiness on the field.”
Alger raised an eyebrow. “Which is not to say there won’t be deaths. But the disease you associate with the wars of say, your Medieval Europe, is missing. On those fronts, far more men were lost to disease before any set foot on the field of battle than were to die in battle.”
Bella nodded. “I still don’t like it.”
“It’s good you don’t, my Queen.” Alger told her, his face stern. “If you did like it, then Underhill would be justified in joining against High Court, as we do against Dionaea. She must be stopped, as she had begun to revel in her power, and the lives of her people mean less than nothing to her. You…”
He pointed at Bella, who was listening with a strange look on her face. I recognized that it was a little amazement at being called Alger’s Queen. I figured she hadn’t thought that through before.
“You rally people to you. The wood elves, the Eastern Court, even the Council here, they recognize th
at you care for the individual. You are not playing a game, with pawns that breathe until you are finished with them and crush them idly.”
Bella leaned back. “I worry about that, you know.”
He smiled, cracking the mood with a pointing finger and a cackle. “That’s why you have him, m’dear.”
I put a hand on my chest. “Me? I’m lazy, I’m just going to sit back and let her reform this whole damn place.”
Bella snorted, a very unladylike sound from the Queen of Underhill. “Yeah, okay, I’ll do it. But I’m not going to like it.”
“Precisely the point.” Alger looked upward. “I believe I hear the piping cries of one of your children, to prove my other point that you are not alone in this.”
Bella got up hastily. As she walked out, I told them, “We named the babies, so you know. Linnea and David.”
“Good names.” Mark commented. “I can guess why David, but why Linnea?”
“Her favorite flower. Underhill, girls carry on the family lines, and Belladonna is a flower, so is her daughter. When this is all over, do you think you can get me some starts? I’ll see if I can get them started in the garden here.”
He nodded. “Sure, I can have Min pull some things together for her. She’s not going to be able to visit much, is she?”
I understood him to mean Bella, not Min. But then again, it applied to both of them. I shook my head. “I’m afraid not. She’ll be busy, and…”
He nodded. “I understand. I wouldn’t have, not too long ago, but that was before I started studying magic and what it can do. I’d rather keep it here, and not up there.”
“Pretty much.” I got up. “Keep me up to date with what you find out there?”
Alger stood, leaning on his staff. “I’m hoping we can hear something. All the quiet has concerned me.”
I left them to head out on their mission, and I went back upstairs to say goodbye to my family. Bella was nursing Linnea. I kissed them both, and then went to David, who was sucking his fist and staring into midair with a quizzical expression. I picked him up carefully.
Dragon Noir (Pixie for Hire Book 3) Page 23
