Thar Shaddin

Cai flowed from one movement to another on the soft grass, following the sinuous motions of the Longjiang style which served to evade and counter strikes that could only be seen in her mind's eye. "It is unusual for someone to enter a house without first alerting those within to their presence, yes. But as to the other matter we shall likely not leave today. If all goes with minimal fuss, however, then tomorrow we can commence our journey. When I have finished my morning devotions, I shall break my fast, then deal with the plight of the villagers. The less they waste my time, the sooner we can leave."

A couple of moments later, as Cai finished the present routine with the flourish of a leaping double snap kick, she asked "Why the flute? And the coins?" A hint of Cai's perplexity might make itself through the link which connected them. Cai had, for now, hypothesised that the blue changshan belonged to a villager who'd left it there for some reason. Perhaps as a more colourful blanket? It would be a frivolous gesture, in Cai's opinion, but people did sometimes get strange notions.

Piao Bai nodded to himself. "Ah, I had let them know that knocking might disturb you." As they spoke, Mei Li had taken her leave. Cai's confusion felt... wavery, neither warm nor cold but a mix of both.

"The villagers had a great celebration while you slept. They were happy to be freed from ... that wizard-man, and saddened at the loss of the headman. There were songs, dancing, games, and even a ceremony for the headman." A hint of Piao Bai's enjoyment might also make itself known at the memories. The tone of the sensation changed though, as if he were more thoughtful.

I was ... moved by their joy and grief. They are kind people." Piao Bai had not been exposed to "commoners" often, only during festivals and certainly not at the intimate level he had experienced over the last two days. Add to that, these were humans, not creatures of the Astral Planes. Piao Bai was starting to think the differences between the people of the Astral and Physical worlds were not really that different when it came to things, but this was just his first exposure.

Piao Bai took another sip of tea. "Do not be surprised if they choose to give you a small token of their appreciation. I told them I thought you were probably not the type to accept such things. They are proud, though, and I think they've made up their minds."

"These people need to have a strong community spirit, like that of a family, to live fruitful lives. They have lost much under the sorcerer's malignant presence." Cai sighed. "Well, let us hope it is not a heavy token of appreciation. We have quite a hike ahead of us starting tomorrow."

Cai began her warm-down stretches. A slight hint of irritation filtered through "Besides, there is no good reason to reward me for simply discharging my duty. Such frivolous gestures lead to a corruption of ethics should one start to desire such rewards. One should find satisfaction simply by serving Tian Xia and one's fellow citizens."

Finally finished with her exercise, Cai approached the house, noticing Mei Li strolling away. Or was she skipping?! Frivolous. "Did the girl bring food? Either way, I will be there in a moment."

Piao Bai snorted. A sense of amusement passed through the connection, easily discernible. The sensation was stronger than his prior emotion. "And that is why I said you most likely would not accept such a thing." Another emotion filtered through, perhaps a slight bit of censure tinged with amusement?

"The girl's name is Mei Li. Yes, she brought food and tea." If a shared thought could purr, the feeling associated with having tea certainly did. "I will see you shortly, then."

Cai was relieved. Though she had steeled herself for the prospect of no breakfast, it would be good to be able to complete the paperwork and negotiations with a full stomach.

Cai entered the small residence and took in a breath, appreciative of the smell of tea. Before anything else, though, Cai pulled a small towel from her bag and wiped the sheen of sweat from her face and falcon-covered scalp. "Have you already eaten?" Cai could not remember the last time she had required a healing sleep of more than a day. It had been at least a year or two.

She was normally a lot more careful to avoid such damage, because there were few things worse than the combined hunger and thirst she woke up to. Her stomach was far less reticent in declaring its complaints to the world than Cai was, and let forth a betraying rumble. The Jinyiwei added apologetically "I am famished, it would seem, after my recovery."

Swiftly changing the subject, Cai asked "How were your two days in the village, Piao Bai? Did the villagers treat you well?"

Piao Bai did Cai the courtesy of pouring Cai a cup of tea. He had seen his father do as much for his mother.

"Very much so. They allowed me to participate in their celebration. I have missed playing my flute and when they heard me play, they insisted I take the headman's flute with me. I thought that very kind. They had games of Pai Gow and dancing, too. I felt as if I was attending a festival."

Piao Bai seemed quite content and sipped from his tea. He held the tea cup in both paws due to its size. His expression turned thoughtful.

"Two things struck me these last two days. First that the people of this world are not much different from those in mine, and second, that the number of creatures from my realm that are in this one surprises me."

Cai accepted the tea with a nod of thanks and settled into a crosslegged position. There was something about what Piao Bai had said which seemed a bit awry, but Cai decided to mull over it while she sipped her tea and the little dragon spoke.

When Piao Bai had finished, there were two things bothering Cai. Still, to discuss such concerns could wait. Sipping her tea, she mused "That is reassuring. If there is some commonality of culture, you will find it less difficult to acclimatise to the ways of Tian Xia. And certainly, the villagers seem to have responded well to you, which also bodes well." The tea was pleasant, and Cai felt more inclined to casual conversation. She could afford a little time this morning. "The Spring Festival in Yulongjing is a remarkable spectacle. If all goes well, you may even be able to attend the next one. It is my personal tradition to spend the new year in the capital, though that has a lot to do with my duties. Nonetheless, the fireworks displays are never short of breathtaking."

Actually, on the topic of festivals, the earlier comment was still niggling at her mind "You play the flute? How ...does that work? I would have thought your lip structure would prevent properly closing off the mouthpiece." It had at no point occurred to Cai that the little dragon might, like her Emperor, be able to assume human form. Which could probably be considered a little insulting, if one thought about it deeply, and constituted a definite failure of Cai's normal deductive abilities.

"Fireworks? I love fireworks. I look forward to seeing them." A smile curled Piao Bai's mouth and the sense of pleasure accompanied the unspoken words. "I am looking forward to seeing more of your homeland."

When Cai asked about the flute, Piao Bai tilted his head and blinked at her. "Perhaps you are thinking of a whistle, and not a flute? For a flute, you blow with your mouth like so..." Piao Bai looked like he'd sucked his bottom lip in and adjusted his bottom jaw somewhat. A hint of air whispered from his mouth.

"I have played the flute for more than fifteen years. Shall I play for you?"

Cai looked dubiously at Piao Bai over her tea. How in the Emperor's name could a creature with jaws like that properly position its lips to fit a flute designed for a human's mouth? Still, she had seen stranger things in her time. Certainly, few things had been stranger than the possessed pipa which had played itself and driven its owner mad.

"Why yes, Piao Bai, that does sound like a pleasant way to prepare for the workload ahead. I would enjoy that." Hopefully. Alternatively, it could all go terribly awry. But then again, played it for fifteen years? Cai's curiosity demanded she ask "If this is not an appropriate question, please tell me, but may I ask how old you are?"

Piao Bai regarded Cai thoughtfully. The look on her face and the tone of the thought-speak she shared seemed as if she doubted his ability to play. Piao Bai sat the cup down and moved to the packs. He pulled the flute from the pack, reassembled it, and wiped it down gently with a soft cloth. Even hobbled by holding the flute in one paw, he moved gracefully back to the pillow upon which he had been seated. Rising upon his haunches and carefully supported by his tail, Piao Bai lifted the flute and rested it upon his chin.

Was it some trick of the eye? Or, were dragon mouths actually more flexible than one might think? Whatever the cause, when Piao Bai inhaled, then exhaled, a beautiful song emerged as his fingers moved upon the carved holes within the flute. Piao Bai had five fingers on each hand, just as a human did. The songs he'd played during the celebration had been happy songs, but for Cai to whom he was pair-bonded, he played differently. Partly because he wanted to show her that he could play and play like someone whose music could move others, but also as an expression of his experiences since the day he'd arrived: his loss, his sadness, and even his gratefulness, joy, hope and longing. After all, if he could not share such things with her, then with whom? So the songs he chose to play were intended to lead his listeners along this path.

PIao Bai began with the song Deep Blue, then moved into Silent Moon and Homeward. From there, he played the Song of the Four Seasons. He played The Flower of Hsin-Jang and he played Mei Hua San Nong. At first, Piao Bai kept his eyes turned to Cai, not focused on her. But as he played, his eyes slowly closed until he was lost in the music. His body moved and swayed as his fingers moved over the body of the flute.

Outside, the music was muted, by walls and door but it filtered through all the same. People paused to listen. Piao Bai was an excellent musician. For those who knew, memories of the beautiful, white haired man in the vivid blue changsan playing his flute came to mind - a vision the mountain folk would share as part of their memories of the time Jinyiwei Wenshen Cai and her partner, Long Piao Bai saved them.

As the last notes lingered in the air, Piao Bai lowered the flute and opened his eyes. Was there a sense of maturity that had been lacking, if only for a moment? Did the bond they shared emphasize and transmit the emotions he felt as he played to her? Certainly, over three days, the connection had changed.

As for his age, Piao Bai only had the humans of the village and Cai against which he could judge the human aspect he had taken on. For all the tattoos, Cai looked youngish, but looks were deceiving. She acted like an old woman. His parents were hundreds of years old and looked younger than many of the villagers. Perhaps that was due to the environment in which they lived and worked. Constant exposure to hard work, heavy loads, wind, sun, and rain was not kind and could make someone look older than their time.

"I think, in human terms, I am 22."

A knocked sounded on the door. The time for work had begun.

As Piao Bai prepared his instrument, Cai helped herself to breakfast. It was simple fare, a tray steamed buns filled with a mixture of pork mince and finely chopped vegetables. However, anything would do at present time, just so long as it ceased the complaints raised by her stomach. As she ate, in slow and measured bites, Cai watched the little dragon with curiosity. She was mentally prepared to endure what she suspected would be a display of comedic ineptness by the time Piao Bai had his flute ready.

As the first notes played through the air, Cai realised that Piao Bai had not been setting her up for some strange dragonish joke or prank. As surprising as it seemed, the little dragon could play the instrument, and with undeniable ability. With a sense of relief, mainly that she was not to be subjected to amateurish playing, Cai settled in to listen and appreciate.

Listening to music was something which Cai enjoyed, but rarely got to appreciate. The flute and erhu in particular had always impressed her with their capability for depth of expression. As the wistful and melancholic threads of the first two songs washed over her, the Jinyiwei felt an echo of the music's sentiment resonate slightly through the qi which linked them. There was a surprising maturity in the dragon's playing.

As the music changed tempo and mood to something more resembling a pleasant dawn, Cai allowed herself to appreciate that she had once more survived an unusually dangerous situation. Cai had always felt it was an important thing to acknowledge, and she found it had always helped her to do so, otherwise she started to dwell on the risks and injuries rather than the outcomes and benefits her actions brought. Wenli had been cunning and powerful and his passing, like the change in the music, should have lightened the burdens on Yunshan.

The rapid trills interspersed throughout Piao Bai's final song brought Cai back to the present. The little dragon had proven his claim admirably. When he finished and responded to her earlier question regarding his age, Cai almost smiled. 'In human terms', indeed. A polite non-answer in some ways, but at least it was a benchmark to work with. "In human terms, I am sixty-eight. You play well, Piao Bai. I was surprised in a most pleasant fashion. Thank you."

The knock, so soon after breakfast had been brought to them, was enough to return Cai to a more business-like state. "Identify yourself, please." A male voice responded "It is Shun, the carpenter, esteemed Cai." The Jinyiwei sighed to herself "Would I be correct in assuming, Shun, that a time has been set for the villagers to discuss the aftermath of Wenli's execution?" Cai deliberately did not invite the man in. She'd barely had much breakfast, and Piao Bai hadn't had a chance to have a bite. They could, and would, wait on her convenience. Shun responded "Yes, esteemed Cai. The overall sentiments are that such a matter is best settled swiftly so as not to impose upon your time too much." Cai sensed other subtexts there and got a sense the village, or some part of it, would be happy for Yunshan to be cleared of all outsiders.

Cai responded "I shall be available in an hour's time, Shun. Ensure a writing table is prepared for me, as well as a cushion for my familiar. Both of us will require light refreshments at that time as well, to assist in recovering from my vigil. That will be all, thank you Shun." Cai had a knack for giving such statements a certain sense of immutable finality. There was an awkward pause before Shun's hesitant "Thank you, esteemed Cai" capped off the conversation.

Inside the house, Cai pursed her lips. The utter cheek of them. She would be willing to wager that the moment she'd stepped out of the door that morning, someone had the steaming-hot baozi buns on a tray and in Mei Li's hands within a minute. Well, Cai was not going to be hurried. She would enjoy breakfast in a leisurely way and ensure that the pace of the day's proceedings was within her control. When Shun's footsteps could be heard moving away from the house, Cai shook her head "Honestly, they could have waited longer to bother us. I know I set a poor precedent when I rang the gong two days ago by bypassing the usual formalities, but I was wounded and in a justifiable hurry. Yet, even with that precedent, good manners dictate we should be allowed to break our fast without interruptions. Their lives aren't on the line this morning. May the Emperor grant me the patience to deal with such impertinence gracefully for the rest of the day."

Piao Bai bowed slightly. "My pleasure. " Despite the backhandedness of the compliment (she was surprised, was she? how like her to doubt his capabilities...), the response was a pat one drilled into him since he was little by his tutors: Be gracious when receiving praise for your talents, Piao Bai.

"I can also play the erhu." Cai's age revelation, however, made him give her a second look. "Is that old for a human?" He was curious and wanted context.

Piao Bai's ears flicked between Cai's and Shun's voices. Her rant made Piao Bai laugh.

"May the Emperor, indeed."

Piao Bai wiped down the flute again, dismantled it, and packed it carefully away. When he finished, he took up a steamed bun and began to eat. Having to wait another day made him impatient, too. He wanted to see the world outside the mountains, to see the fireworks, and maybe even see the Emperor. He was at the mercy of Cai's schedule, though, because he was uncertain he would survive long without her.

Once Shun's interruption had been dealt with, and she had a chance to pick up another steamed bun, Cai answered Piao Bai's earlier question. It would be considered old. Those whose blood is purely human tend to live between forty and seventy years of life at most. Some few may survive as many as eighty or ninety years. It would be deemed young for an elf, however, whose people can live past two centuries. I, having the blood of both races within me, can not be certain as to how long my life span might be. That is, of course, assuming that my service to the Emperor does not bring an untimely end to it."

Cai smiled dryly as she added "I certainly came close when facing Wenli. But ultimately such things are of little importance. It does not matter how long your life is, so long as you live your allotment of years with virtue and honour." And virtue was fulfilling one's duties which, today, would mean paperwork and no doubt listening to villagers being petty and quarrelsome. Cai took a bite out of the bun, and wondered how best to use the hour's grace she'd given herself before having to deal with the villagers. And then there was the question of Piao Bai, which Cai hadn't really had much of a chance to consider.

"We have an hour to enjoy breakfast, Piao Bai. It is apparent that I know as little of you as you do I. Are you a musician by profession?" In all honesty, Cai couldn't think of anything else to ask, and even that had been something more akin to the opening question of an interrogation. Casual conversation was not Cai's forte, and she had never been particularly outgoing or sociable. Outside of those who she worked alongside on certain investigations, Cai didn't normally seek much in the way of company, as nobody had ever been able to come close to the Emperor in quality of mind or spirit. Cai took another bite of baozi, wondering what she'd done to earn this strange change of circumstances.

Piao Bai nodded as she explained her mixed heritage. Moving from the pillow he reached for a steamed bun and began taking healthy bites from the bun. He made short work of it and reached for another. As she spoke, Piao Bai thought Cai's description of living one's life sounded sad and extremely boring.

By profession?

"I am the second son of the Lord and Lady of the Silvery River, twin to the heir. My occupation is to be heir should my brother..." A tinge of something colored the word "brother" as he thought-spoke it, "... be unable to take his rightful place as heir. I am also expected to marry the daughter of a noble house to further alliances.' A guilt or chagrin might have been felt along their connection. Piao Bai was wondering how to explain his pair bond to a half-human. Was she of noble birth? That might alleviate things some...

The tone changed as he began to speak. A fondness filled the connection.

"My mother insisted I learn to play a musical instrument, to write Caligraphy, and to learn traditional dances as are performed at festivals. I suppose, though, if I had a choice I might have been a musician. I do enjoy playing." When all was said and done, really, Piao Bai did not have an occupation of which to speak. Unless, of course, being a second son counted as an occupation.

Cai was not surprised that she hadn't heard of either Silvery River or its lords and ladies. Matters of the astral realm were opaque at the best of times, mostly incomprehensible at all other times. However, Piao Bai's assertion of being noble-born certainly explained those occasional suggestions of spoiled behaviour.

Still, the Jinyiwei felt some sympathy for the small dragon as he spoke warmly of his mother's influence. Cai knew it was unlikely that Piao Bai would be able to return home. It would not hurt, she supposed, to extend the little dragon more compassion than she normally would. At the very least, she could ensure he made it as far as Yulongjing. If time permitted, perhaps she could tutor him on the basic knowledge required to begin studying for the Imperial examinations.

Cai stopped eating after her third baozi, and poured some more tea for herself and Piao Bai. "Once we reach Yulongjing, you could find yourself faced with such choices. It would not be unwise to consider the course your new future in Tian Xia might take." Cai hoped that the Emperor might find some niche for Piao Bai in the capital once he was able to obtain audience.