Consultant: Kynkari
Bai He was already in the
servants' room once, only a very long time ago, when she arrived at the was so
sheepish that she didn't even look around thoroughly. She was just standing
there among the sparkling ice columns scared, trying to believe that those two
tweeting, giggling, white haired immortals were really happy for her being
there. Now, when those two ran along the corridor with her, rushing into their
room like a whirlwind, she tried to be sane. She admired the graceful furniture
and the glittering decoration, which the two girls collected during decades,
the piles of things serving their comfort, and the ostentatious view to the
other sites of the City. She felt all this much more strange now, than back
then, on the day of her arrival. She already didn't mind making the final
decision at all.
- Come, quickly. – Li Ming took
her hand, and pulled her into the room. – You heard the order of the High Maid.
We must get prepared for the celebration. And you know what I made up? You will
be the most beautiful girl among us all.
Bai He tried to protest, but when
she saw the dress Yue Liang pulled out of her cupboard, she ran out of words.
It doesn't matter any more, she thought. Why couldn't she dress up so that
every maiden of the Ice Clan would turn green with envy?
She nodded with a smile, which
made the two girls jump and clap.
Ying Kong Shi and the Counsellor
walked slowly along the corridors leading to the Throne Room. None of them was
in a hurry. Shi had loads of ideas swirling in his head, but in fact he only
wanted to get rid of his nerve. This was rather the point, why he pulled out an
older topic, knowing they wouldn't be able to close it up here and now.
- You say all the clan chiefs
will be here. Do you know them?
- Yes, Your Highness. The leaders
of the most important clans will be here, and I have met them before. – Liu Shu
answered. – But the smaller clans will not be represented. We didn't invite
them either.
Shi stopped.
- Why not?
- Your Highness, the small and
weak clans didn't receive an invitation. But if Your Highness wishes…
- Leave it, never mind. We shall
deal with this later.
They continued in silence. Shi
was lost in his thoughts. The strong clans pledged loyalty to the Ice Clan back
then. Their loyalty was even more strengthened by the gift of the Ice King, an
ice flower steeped in the King's blood. But has their loyalty remained
unchanged after thousands of years? Are they still the most powerful? Do they
still have that flower? The Healer Clan, The Dreamer Clan, The Bear Clan, The
Spirit Clan and the Mermaid Clan all have fought alongside the Ice Clan through
the last war against the Fire Clan. However, their previous leaders have
already passed, fallen or lost in the maze of time and space.
He cannot rely on them any more.
He will have to make new alliances.
What am I doing? Shi thought,
being surprised at himself. I'm searching for alliances, yet I have no idea
against what. The Counsellor didn't mention any danger. Yet he obviously avoids
my questions regarding the other clans. What is behind all of this?
He shook his head. He'd better
get through the obligatory ceremony, the he'll be able to do as he pleases.
They got near the Throne Room The
Counsellor asked him politely to stop. He rushed forward and returned with four
palace guards, followed by servants. Lue Yiang and Li Ming could hardly hide
how excited and happy they were, whispering to each other again and again,
constantly staring at the Prince. Behind them a figure approached, wearing a
simple light-gold dress, holding a bowl full of flower petals in her hand, her
lowered head covered by a veil. Trumpets were blown in the Throne Room. The
doors opened up, and the guards entered the Room following the voice of the
Host. Yue Liang and Li Ming picked up the edge of the Prince's robe. It was too
late for the Counsellor to do anything, when the girl stood before them, and he
realised that her hair under the veil was dark. Liu Shu blinked at the Prince,
but he just looked straight forward.
Bai He paced down the stairs of
the room with such elegance, as if she glided over the floor. Seeing her dress,
the palace maidens started to whisper, and they stretched their necks in
curiosity. Everybody wanted to know who was under that veil. Yue Liang was a
bit more nervous than usual. As she walked with Li Ming behind the Prince,
carrying his long ceremonial robe, they kept watching the High Maid from behind
their lowered eyelashes. They didn't disobey, as she had told them herself to
be prepared thoroughly for the celebration. However Yue Liang was uncertain and
worried whether it was wise to create a Goddess from the mortal girl.
On the light, translucent dress
of Bai He layers of veils rested on each other like flower petals, but as she
moved, they followed the outlines of her body flying around blithely. The ends
of the dress' arms were left longer, though this didn't bother her, as the
material slid back obediently from her wrist when she raised her arms. Reaching
the bottom of the stairs she started to throw pale pink cherry flowers to the
floor from the bowl she held in her hand. The light petals began to swirl in
the air, rounding as well the figure of the Prince walking behind her. As the
girl entered the Throne Room, everybody could see who she was, no matter her
face and hair being veiled. She was the only one to have such dark hair in the
whole Palace. When she was recognised, a whispering moaning started behind her
back. The Counsellor had soon enough of that, and he shouted instead:
- Honour to Prince Ying Kong Shi!
May the Ice Clan eternally glow, Let there be forever ice and snow!
Silence hit the Throne Room. The
servants drew up by the bottom of the stairs leading to the throne and pulled
back behind the guests. Bai He smiled, and Yue Liang squeezed her hand in
support. The Prince turned to those present, as the members of the Kingdom
Guard lined up instantly before him, showing their loyalty without order. Shi
thanked with a nod, making a satisfied inner note that the Captain has two
swords with him. Following that every clan member and guest bowed their head in
the room. Then all the important participants showed up in front of the Prince
by the call of the Host. Shi just stood at the top of the stairs, unmoving and
silent, and he welcomed every polite bow and greeting with a small nod and with
a serious face. He didn't look in the eyes, but he saw curiosity or hope on
many faces. They all wanted something from him. The members of the Ice Clan,
his own subjects, the other clans and the emissaries of the Mortal Kingdom have
waited for something. He almost felt the frozen mass of the throne behind his
back, but he was unable to make the last step and take a seat. He felt he
would've betrayed his brother's memory.
He took a deep breath. He was
thinking a lot about what to say, and he was worried a bit. This Ice Clan
didn't know him at all. They never saw him or heard him before, and although he
was greeted as the leader of the clan with the highest rank, many things
depended on what he was prepared to say now.
- Let us welcome every member of
the Ice Clan. Let us welcome all the guests, who paid a visit today, and let
them receive our honest and best wishes.
He held back his breath and
waited for the reaction. But he only received a polite applause. The trumpets
resounded again by the sign of the Counsellor, and the feast began.. The High
Maid really made the most of it. On both sides of the corridor in the middle of
the Throne Room, and even at the back behind the monumental ice columns tables
were set everywhere. Less of flowers, but more of fruit were served, and
various dishes following the ways of the far-off lands, welcomed by the guests.
Nobody needed the urging. The strict order dissolved soon, and the guests
started to chat.
Bai He didn't want to push her
luck, so she hid behind the columns, and only pretended to mind the food or
fill bottles of wine here and there. However, there was someone to know exactly
where she was. Xi Wang stayed with the General only as long as propriety
requested, then he walked around in the hall. Liang Dao taught him well, what
he can and cannot do while being in the Palace. He was polite and distant,
being careful even with his looks. He didn't look at any immortal longer than
necessary, he bowed his head with respect in front of everybody, wearing skirt
or not. His instincts didn't fail him, by the time he made a round in the room
he found what he was looking for. The girl was piling roasted meat and fruits
on a plate. She pinned back the veil in her hair not to bother her in work. She
was humming low and obviously ignored everybody.
Xi Wang stood right before her on
the other side of the table. Bai He raised her head a bit, but didn't look at
him.
- Do you wish for something?
- Yes, I think so. – Xi Wang
replied and grinned.
She sighed, yet kept her opinion
to herself, not changing her facial expression either. She reached for the
bottle, and poured out some wine into a crystal cup. As she stretched it
forward, the Captain took the cup from her in silence, while touching her hand
on purpose with his fingers. Bai He felt encouraged and she couldn't hold it
back. With her head down, smiling she said:
- Is there any problem in the
Kingdom, that a Captain of the Guard is visiting a celebration with two swords?
Xi Wang watched her with wide
eyes open, then laughed. Then he walked along the table to get closer to her.
He was already by the other side of the table when he replied:
- Is there any problem that even
the palace servants are interested in weapons?
The air froze into ice around
them, as she raised her head slowly. Xi Wang knew immediately, that something
was wrong. This beautiful girl was here standing in front of him, and her
disappointment was even worse than the blinking sadness in her eyes. But Xi
Wang only realised he made a huge mistake, when he saw emotions disappear
quickly from her look.
This wasn't the first offence she
had to endure.
- No… Wait… Please, forgive me...
– he tried to stop her, when she aimed the other table nearest to them. But she
only stopped when he called her name.
Xi Wang stepped to her, but Bai
He didn't look at him with rejection, and didn't move. The Captain was standing
beside her abashed, thinking about what to say now. He looked around secretly,
but luckily nobody watched them. The columns hid them from the most of the
others staying in the room. He looked at the girl, who was only a head shorter
than him, yet she seemed so small and vulnerable, as she was standing in front
of him obediently, her hands hidden behind her back, staring on the floor.
He took a deep breath. If he is a
soldier, and if his life is his honour…
Bai He snapped her head, when the
sword hissed. She took deep breaths, but she didn't move at all. Her dark eyes
were however wide open, and her muscles tensed. Of course she had no reason to
worry. Xi Wang lay the blade on his arm, and bowed his head in front of her.
- Please, accept my apologies. If
there's anything I can do for you, just say it and I'll do it.
Bai He looked around shocked. She
didn't plan to get anybody else in trouble beside herself, but this hot headed
Captain did all his best to make a travesty.
- I forgive. – she whispered and
rushed away at the feet of the columns after avoiding the Captain with a
graceful move.
Xi Wang slipped his sword back
into the scabbard. He shook his head, that glanced at the table, where the
filled cup was still standing. He drank it all with one shot.
- Where have you been? I was
freaking out. – Yue Liang whispered to the mortal girl when she stepped to
them. – That old witch is searching all over the crowd. I'm sure she's looking
for you.
- All is well. – Bai He murmured,
not too convincingly.
In the next moment the crowd of
guests opened up magically, and Xi Huan could lay her eyes on the mortal. She
didn't seem angry at all, instead she grinned malevolently. She started towards
us, that made Yue Liang whine. But the voice of the Counsellor resounded along
the Throne Room, and the groups of the guests all turned to him. Suddenly the girls
were separated from the High Maid by dozens of people. Yue Liang exhaled
loudly.
- Upon the wish His Highness
Prince Ying Kong Shi the Captain of the Kingdom Guard will be honoured for a
duel with the Prince. Xi Wang, step forward.
The guests whispered and murmured
before they all started to applause. The General looked around, then relaxed
when he saw the boy walking to the throne with stiff steps. However he seemed
paler than usual. Good luck, he thought.
Shi got rid of his robe. He
waited with a wide smile at the bottom of the steps, while the guards politely
cleared away the guests from a wide place on the order of the Counsellor. Xi
Wang kneeled in front of the Prince.
- Your Highness. I wait for your
order.
- There will be no magic,
Captain. I suppose we will both have more fun this way. – Shi replied silently,
and he was relaxed deep within to see that the other didn't mind it either.
The Captain stood up, and handed
over one of his swords. Shi wielded the weapon in his hands, then nodded contentedly.
- My work. – Xi Wang grinned and
pulled out the brother of the sword.
The guests started to applause
again, as they began to circle around each other. Shi suppressed the urge for
magic within, and gave in to the pleasant sensation of feeling a sword's grip
in his hand. The Captain paced lazily round and round, always looking straight
in the eyes of the Prince, then he stepped back instead of forward and stroke
towards Shi from aside. It was a shabby trick, and Shi already raised his sword
to defend when Xi Wang stopped. The blades rang against each other, and some
clapped their hands. They of course didn't mind at all. Shi wanted to have fun,
and the Captain thought he had nothing to lose.
Now the Prince attacked. He
entered one strike after another, that forced Xi Wang to a continuous defence,
waiting for the other to break the rhythm. Shi however fought like dancing. He
promised not to use any magic, yet the Captain already considered it a bad idea
to challenge an immortal for a duel. The Prince didn't even have to look, he
impulsively moved, turned and bowed from the even more rare strikes of the
other, while Xi Wang was only able to counter. The guests gave up applauding.
They all stood there holding back their breath to see the outcome of the fight.
Bai He was standing not too far
from them. All she wanted was to avoid the High Maid. She inched closer and
closer, followed by Yue Liang getting more and more nervous, until they reached
the edge of the onlookers' group. That was actually nearest to the fighters. As
soon as she saw them, she couldn't look away any more. She was bewitched by the
dance of swords and the perfect moves of Ying Kong Shi. She had to admit, that
the Captain wasn't bad either, he even has to be especially good to oppose the
Prince for such a long time. But she was staring at the Prince as if her life
would depend on it. Yue Liang pulled the arm of her dress in vain, Bai He
didn't react.
Shi was used to the massive blade
of the Spirit Devouring Sword. The Captain's weapon was however smaller in
weight and easier to wield. He felt to have an edge, but the game wasn't that
interesting any more when he saw Xi Wang getting tired. He still defended the
Prince's strikes with the same efficiency than half an hour ago, but he already
had that strange light in his eyes, that meant the mobilisation of provisions
reserved for the case of ills. Shi did his best to watch out carefully. He
knew, if the Captain failed , he would have to hold back his sword not to hurt
him. The last thing he wanted was lose his powers in front of all these
witnesses, even if for only a short time.
The silence was dead in the room.
When Shi realized that the Captain pulled his sword in the wrong way, he had to
change steps and turn into the opposite direction to keep his own swords from
cutting into the other one's shoulder. Xi Wang however could not change at all.
The grip of his sword headed directly towards Shi's face. Shi was relieved that
the Captain was in not danger, and he didn't worry about some bruises. When the
sword hit him, he shifted back, his head hit the floor hard, his sword fell out
of his hand, and small drops of blood appeared in the corner of his mouth.
- Ying Kong Shi!
The girl's scream was heard
crystal clear in every corner of the Throne Room. Shi's head had not even hit
the floor, but she was already fighting through the crowd. Her dress and veil
were not even lay back on her figure, she was already kneeling beside the
Prince, holding his face in her trembling hands to wipe off the blood. And Xi
Wang was only reaching out his left hand to help the Prince up, when the
toneless voice of the High Maid was heard:
- Get her.
The guards closest grabbed the
arms of Bai He from both sides, and set her on feet. She stared at
the Prince frightened, but she wasn't worried about herself. Shi jumped up. The guests
pulled away with haste from them, giving space for the figure of Xi Huan
dresses in snow-white. The Counsellor stood by the Prince, and the General laid
his hand on the arm of Xi Wang. Among them all Bai He stood with her head
lowered, who had just played out her last card.
- You have broken all rules
existing. – the High Maid stated the fact, that nobody could deny. Not even
Ying Kong Shi, who looked on Liu Shu's expressionless face in vain, as he only
nodded. – After all your flaws and mistakes this one will be the last to pardon
you. From this day on you don't belong here. And don't think you can get away
without penalty.
The Captain grumbled and stepped
closer menacingly, but the General held him back.
- You know she speaks the truth.
– he whispered. – The girl committed a deathly crime.
- I will not let them hurt her.
- They won't kill her, son. Stay
calm.
Shi was looking at the girl, who
didn't move, though her arms were twisted by the guards brutally. Her hair,
being without a single braid or jewellery, hang freely in front of her face.
The Prince couldn't do anything, as the law was clear. But when the High Maid
picked up the Captain's sword from the floor, something moved inside him. He
was the one to order, that the mortals should be treated with respect. However,
he couldn't go against the law, not even him. And he cannot make any exceptions
either, as he is no king.
Xi Huan waved the guards, who
forced the girl down to the floor. As Bai He kneeled down, the High Maid took
the dark flow of hair and pulled back the girl's head. So she was forced to
look up, right into the eyes of the Prince. Shi felt like he couldn't breathe,
he was completely powerless, and he hated this feeling above all. But the
Captain protested loudly, so Liang Dao thought it would be better to drag him
away. Xi Wang obeyed only with much ado. Bai He closed her eyes, when the High
Maid raised the sword, and cut off her hair with one swish. The girl trembled,
but without a sound, and she didn't cry yet either. The Prince took this for
the most frightening. Now the High Maid beckoned the guards.
- Throw her out.
The guests were confused as they
whispered, and when guards disappeared with the mortal girl outside, they all
pretended as nothing had happened before. Shi turned his back to them with
disgust, only to find himself in front of the throne. Xi Huan returned the
Captain' sword to the Counsellor with satisfaction, ho tried to show himself
neutral. He signalled the Host, who announced the musicians and the dancers
louder than necessary. Shi was still staring at the throne without a move,
while the feast kept on behind him. Liu Shu offered him a glass of wine, that
he took, only to note after, that he retires, and waits for the clan chiefs
after sunset in Mirage Hall. The Counsellor bowed silently.
Xi Wang was shouting loud in the
Stables. The horses edgily pulled the reins, but the General haven't started to
calm the boy down yet. He let him rage on. The Captain was swearing and
cursing. It's a wonder he didn't say a wrong word about the Ice Clan or the
Prince. He couldn't have run away with that either. But he didn't have to go
next door to wish every ice flower, snowflake and snow bird, that gets in front
of his eyes in the future right into the deepest bottom of the Endless Sea. He
finally kicked all the food buckets along the stable, the dropped himself by the
wall, and lay his forehead on his knees.
- Are you finished, my son? – the
General asked leaning to a nearby column.
The reply was a moaning.
- You nearly missed, that the
guards took you away as well, you know that?
Xi Wang raised his head, but his shining
eyes didn't look at the other.
- How could they do that? – he
asked after a few moments in a husky voice. – Bai He did nothing…
- Enough, fool! – Liang Dao cut
off his words. – Haven't you learned enough about the laws of the Ice Clan?
Haven't you sworn by your sword, that you serve the king until your death?
- I swore to the Ice King. Not to
follow a foolish witch and her damn rules!
- Silence. You will get mute at
the end. Well, who knows, it would do good to you.
Xi Wang wiped his face. The resisted
the temptation to think it over, which hurt more: to see what happened to her,
or to see her kneeling beside the Prince… He jumped up but the General stopped
him:
- You return to the camp
immediately. I hope by the time you get there your head will be cleared. You
get some time until morning to get yourself together. And if you still play the
offended bride, don't be surprised to find yourself in guard somewhere in the
Eastern Hills in a minute.
Xi Wang took deep breaths, but he
steadied himself, and didn't talk back. He nodded and began to get his stuff
together. The General looked after him worried, when the boy led his horse out
of the stables and rode towards the Endless Bridge. He finally shook his head
and smiled faintly. However he put on a deadly serious face by the time he
returned to explain the boy's behavior for the Counsellor.
Xi Huan bowed politely, watching
the wish of the guests. She would've danced on the table top with joy instead.
She had to order that miserable Yue Liang into her room, as she couldn't stop
crying. Li Ming at least was usable for something, to clean away the remains of
the shameful event from the floor. Luckily the Prince made no remarks on the
incident, and retired with the Counsellor and the clan chiefs for a special
negotiation. The guards might be already at the Gate… She thanked the
complimentary words of a guest about the dinner, and forgot about the mortal
girl forever.
The guards led the poor girl
along the Palace and the City. They didn't mind her being silent, as it didn't
bother them that she still wore the thin dress in which she arrived at the
ceremony. They followed the orders of the High Maid, and didn't stop until the
pillar of the Endless Bridge. Then they released her arms, turned away and never
looked back. Bai He huddled herself up in the snow. The grey pillars standing
over her seemed strange, and she had the feeling that she left her home only
hours ago. But she might have left something there… And now it's high time she
went back… She might get back home by dinner… She got up and walked away. But
not towards the City, but the Endless Bridge and the Snowfog Forest.
Somebody was humming in the
house. Bubbling of water was heard, then the clatter of dishes, finally
silence. The night neared quickly, the light of the sun setting behind the
hills was forgotten soon by the sky, and it let the stars awaken. Flowers grew by
the narrow path leading to the entrance, and their petals closing up sleepily
were preparing for the night. All being trampled down by the horse that just
arrived with a neigh.
- Sister! Sister. Come, quickly…
A young woman ran out of the
house with a rag in her hands, that she dropped immediately, as she saw the one
who came.
- Into the kitchen. Put her on
the table. And bring hot water and palinka.
The horse began to chew the
remains of the flowers in silence in front of the house.
- She got frozen through, where
did you find her? There are ice flowers in her hair.
- In the Snowfog Forest.
- What did she do there? Night is
almost upon us.
Silence became even more awkward.
- Xi Wang? Answer me… What did
she do there?... All right. Put on the fire, help me bring her into your old
room, and get lost. I'll take care of her.
