It was a bright sun-shining morning, with the cloudless azure sky above
over the towers of the City. Rays of the sun were shining through the windows
of Mirage Hall, throwing up sparks on the crystal rolls, that Liu Shu was
tossing around on the table. After the third glass the prince stated, that the
Counsellor has improved his profession into perfection. He was proud,
understandably, of himself keeping the order in the Palace, even in the absence
of the monarch. Notwithstanding, he has listed only facts to confirm this, without
emphasizing his own merits. Upon the request from Shi he started with explaining
the events of the the first years
without Ka Suo.
- The King’s leaving caught the Ice Clan by surprise. However, the current
general of the Guard grabbed the leadership into his hands in a very short
time. He enrolled the guards of the Palace and the Kingdom Guard also, and he
insisted on everybody’s admitting the fact, that the Clan has received the
order to follow.
- What was that? – the price leaned forward excitedly.
- The clans of the realms should live in peace. Nobody should bother the
others. If this happens, the King will return with the Spirit Devouring Sword to
bring justice to all.
The prince stood up silently from the table, and walked to the window. He
wasn’t interested in the view though. He simply didn’t want to give away the
fact, that he was moved by this remark. That order wasn’t given by Ka Suo. It
was he, Ying Kong Shi, once the youngest of all prices. Who turned out not to
be the son of the Ice King, and not a member of the Ice Clan either. But
against all this the clan remained faithful.
He sighed deeply. He said once to his brother, that a king shouldn’t be
soft-hearted. Now here’s the occasion for him to practice. A prince cannot
allow himself to be touched by some thousand year-old memories either.
Just when he turned back, someone knocked. The Counsellor went to the door
and opened it.
- Lunch, Your Highness. Would you please allow the servants to enter?
Shi just waved, and turned back to the window. Some bustle of a few minutes
started behind his back, then silence returned. The closing door wings numbed
the last words of the servants’ High Maid:
- You stay here, by the door. In case His Highness had some demands. You
can leave only if he releases you. Understood?
The servants moved away the reports of the Counsellor to place new flowers,
ice fruits and drinks. Shi wasn’t too hungry, he picked some crumbles though.
And as for Liu Shu, he seemed to follow some secret rules of the court
etiquette, touching food so carefully. He tasted everything, but he consumed
with a very strict measurement.
The pince kept asking questions. After the war between the Ice Clan and the
Fire clan all members were practically considered as dead, apart from the long
gone King and Queen of course. No wonder Shi was interested, what happened to
the Clan when being left alone.
The Counsellor reported him each and every tiny detail without hesitating,
and above all, without thinking. Considering even the fact, that these were not
his own memories. He managed to summarize all the joy and suffering of many
thousands of years within a few hours. He must have taken this as the main task
of his life, to repeat this lesson of history again and again.
Shi asked about the details of these past events here and there. The
Counsellor seemed very grateful seeing his never-ending interest. He even
brought maps with him. But there was no place left on the table. Having no
better idea he set the maps on the floor, and they both sat by them, taking
place on their comfortable cushions. Then Liu Shu explained, what happened on
the borders. After all this time nothing seemed truly serious, but the
Counsellor didn’t intend to underestimate the importance of any conflicts. The
prince spelled tiny ice figurines onto the clan territories. Everything was
getting to turn into a war council. But he continued his asking in vein. The
Counsellor rejected to tell any more words about the clans.
- We are holding a feast in the honour of Your Highness in two days.
Everybody is to be there, whom Your Highness can trust within and outside of
the Palace. Including of course The Kingdom Guard. I would never wish to take
this honour from General Liang Dao, who will happily report you on the current
being of the clans in the Realms.
- I do not insist on old habits, considering celebrations. It’s not the
King who returned. I am merely a prince.
- It is the truth, Your Highness. You are the Prince. And the King has not
returned yet. However, the leader of the Ice Clan has responsibilities for the
members of the clan. Including celebrations. But I promise to Your Highness,
that we will not take advantage of your patience.
This person is a genius, Shi reminded himself. Just past a thread not to
cross the limits of being inrespectful. He just stopped at the borderline,
balancing on tiptoes and even smiling.
- All right. – he nodded finally. - Let there be a feast. But I insist on
talking to the General alone. And we still have to discuss how to get in
contact with the other clan chiefs.
Liu Shu nodded in return.
- If you would trust me, Your Highness, I will arrange everything upon your
approval. I will also visit you tomorrow, to share some of my suggestions with
you, if I may.
- All right. However… there’s something more. You haven’t spoken about
yourself. Since when are you the Counsellor of the clan?
- The seat of the Counsellor have been passed from father to son. – he
marked finally. – Ma father made his decision 75 years ago to retire, and
handed me the Blue Crystal Dagger over as the insignia of our profession. I
serve the Ice Clan since then.
- We are grateful. And so shall you be rewarded.
The Counsellor tried to hide it with great effort, but he was offended to
the bones, just as much his position and manners allowed. He stood up from the
floor and took a bow ceremoniously.
- No need for that, Your Highness. – he noted coldly.
The price knew everything by now.
Liu Shu is loyal, thorough, dedicated, honest and self-respecting. Just
the very type of person he needed. Shi didn’t delude himself with false dreams.
There must be dark secrets behind the serenity of apparent order. It won’t be
simple to explore or eliminate all this. But much easier, if you know there’s
someone trustful behind your back.
He glanced toward the windows, where pink shadows started to reach inside
through the ledge. The setting sun played with the lights scattered in the
realm of snow and ice.
- Thank you for your efforts, Counsellor. You may leave now. But you will
be here tomorrow in time.
- Yes, Your Highness. – Liu Shu bowed again, then collected the crystal
rolls and left.
The Prince rubbed his tired neck. Then he looked at the door, and there he
was in an instant. The wings of the doors decorated with snow crystals opened
up with a loud thud, and Shi saw, that two palace guards rushed there from the
distant corridor, hearing the noise. Out there a servant was huddling up next
to the wall. When the prince stepped out to her, she jumped up from the floor
and bowed. She saw her turning pale and shaking, hardly recognisably, which was
obviously the result of the long hours spent in a uncomfortable position. She
was just standing before him, collecting all her strength, as honour requested,
and she didn’t move.
- How long have you been here? – he asked the girl.
- Since the serving of the lunch, Your Highness.
- And you haven’t left? Not even moved from my door?
- No, Your Highness. The High Maid commanded so.
Shi reminded himself to order this High Maid to him and have a chat with
her about mortal servants.
- Go now. And no-one will disturb me tonight.
- Yes, Your Highness. – the girl nodded, took a bow and walked away slowly
to the other wing of the Palace. Shi saw her stopping for a moment, as she lent
to the wall with one hand. But then she drew herself up and walked on. The
guards drew closer to the prince’ door, he went inside and pushed back the
door wings behind him.
He didn’t bother with the huge white bearskin on his bed. He simply
stretched over and closed his eyes. He hoped not to dream anything.
He didn’t want to think about anything and anybody tonight.
The morning brought snowfall. Shi dedicated a few thoughts to the remarks
of Snow Bird about the upcoming mornings, though he wasn’t surprised too much
to see the new day. He blessed his for-thoughts to spread a few protection
spells around the walls of Mirage Hall last night. He only had a few moments to
stretch his arms and legs and the doors already opened up. The guards stood
aside and let the High Maid and three servants in.
_ Good Morning, Your Highness – the High Maid bowed, then straightened up
immediately, her eyes wide open with surprise. – Where is the prince? – she
turned to the guards in fury.
They only shrugged.
- How typical. – the woman grumbled. Shi was sitting on his bed, swaying
his legs and just smiled.
The High Maid waved the servants, then examined the table. She swallowed a
piece of fruit, smelled the flowers, then stood in the middle of the room with
folded arms.
- Chop chop. Hurry up. We don’t know when he prince returns. Everything
should be all shiny by then. Change the flowers, bring fresh fruits. Get
everything in place.
Shi stood up lazily to avoid one of the servants, who came to make up his
bed. The girl didn’t recognize anything. She was a member of the clan,
immortal, wearing her white hair in well-organised braids, with as much jewellery
as propriety allowed. Her light blue dress was decorated with turquoise
overlays and small crystals. Just like her companion, who was arranging
flowers. They both dresses to the High Maid, even if in a bit more simple way.
Unlike the third girl. The prince allowed himself some interest, and he
looked at the dark haired mortal thoroughly. He has experienced too much
already to know, it is not a coincidence that he bumps into her three times
within just one day. The girl had much more modest clothing compared to the
immortals, and the way the other or the guards looked at her told everything
about her lower status. The High Maid watched her even with disgust, as she
collected the cushions from the floor, cleared out the remains of the dinner
and the withered flowers. When she finished, she stood in front of the High
Maid.
- I am finished, Madame.
- Indeed? – the High maid laughed annoyingly. Shi stepped closer to them. –
I see that you are finished. Do you think everything is all right?
The two other servants stopped working, and looked their way. There was
some concern in their eyes, but they did not talk and did not move.
The mortal girl stood there, showing the sign of respect with her hands,
and didn’t respond.
- Look at yourself. What are these rugs on you? And what about your hair?
Don’t you know, how you are to enter into this part of the Palace? Don’t you
know, what respect is? We are lucky the prince is not here. He cannot see you
like this, this is absolutely an insult! – the High Maid shouted louder and
louder, and finally hit the girl with a wide move. She dropped to the floor
with a silent moaning.
Air froze in the room. Shi clenched his fist, but the reminded himself that
this is not a good time. He watched the girl standing up, as if nothing had
happened, straightening up and taking a bow again.
- Yes, Madame. – it was all she said, as her face became red as flame where
she was hit. She didn’t look either the High Maid, or anybody else.
- Bai He, you miserable thing. This was the last time. Next time you will
be punished seriously, then you are fired. Understood?
- Yes, Madame. – she bowed even lower, the walked to the door her eyes
stuck to the floor, and she stood by the guards.
The prince couldn’t read any emotions on her face, and he didn’t see any
tears in spite of the likely pain. He decided this all was far enough on an
empty stomach, and he left the Hall still invisible.
The guards were talking silently, while the servants finished their tasks,
but only one of them glanced secretly at the girl standing beside him.
Bai He was staring at the floor and she wasn’t crying. When the High Maid
had enough of having fun in the rooms of the prince, she stood up and walked
out the door with an officious look on her face. The servants followed her, the
door wings shut close behind them with a loud thud. One of the guards shouted
after them:
- Xi Huan, the Counsellor asked for you. Liu Shu awaits in the Throne Room.
- Really? – she grinned without even turning back. – Get lost. Do something
useful. – she snapped on the servants, and quickly walked towards the Throne
Room.
The girls were relieved, and they stopped by one of the resting places in
the corridor, then they sat next to each other on the bench, that was placed by
the wall.
- Little sister, little sister… Not again… - one of them shook her head.
- Does it hurt? – asked the other.
- I have already told you many times, do not call me little sister. – Bai
He grumbled, but then sighed gratefully, when one of the servants lay her palm
on her aching face.
- Is it better, right? – the girl smiled.
- Thank you. Now you can release me. Otherwise I would freeze. That
wouldn’t be good either.
- You should take care of yourself, little sister. Don’t play with the High
Maid, or it will end bad. You know she can’t stand you.
- Yue Liang, I’ve already told you… - the mortal girl started again, but
the two servants cut her words with laughter.
- She feels better, quarrel already, you hear?
- We know, Bai He, we know. But you cannot change the situation. We are 120
years old. And you are only 20. So that makes you our little sister.
- Li Mind, if I were ten years older, you could be my daughter. – Bai He
noted, then just waved, stroke her aching face, then shook her head. – I cannot
help it. Whatever I do, it’s not good enough for her. If only she just hated
me, she would upbraid me. But She hates me, so she hits me. And I start having
enough of that.
- You don’t have to fear any more. – Yue Liang poked her. – The prince is
here. He will surely not allow to treat anybody in the Palace like this.
Bai He looked at her with wide eyes open, but didn’t reply.
The other girl continued cheerfully.
- Have you seen him yesterday, Li Ming? He was so handsome, sitting on the
floor next to the Counsellor. Lucky me they didn’t see me, otherwise I would
have dropped the fruit bowl, if he looked at me.
- You just wait and see. He will never look at you, no matter how strong
you dream about it.
Yue Liang lent over the skirt of Bai He, and began to shout.
- Don’t you dare silence me. Don’t you dare ruin my good mood. Anyways, he
wouldn’t be the first to lay his eyes on a lower class girl. What’s more I am
immortal. Member of the Ice Clan. Not like…
Bai He straightened up carefully in the middle of the war of sparkles, then
rushed away towards her room. She still heard the servant shouting after her.
- Hey, Bai He, were are you running? What happened?
- Did we say something wrong?
She had no intention to stop or turn back. She heard nothing else in the
last two day, but the prince this and the prince that… She would’ve never told
them that she already met him, what’s more alone. She couldn’t shake them off
so easily. They would have made her repeat each and every word of the prince,
made her tell everything about his cloths and the jewellery in his hair.
As if she could have remembered. She didn’t even look at him. As she
walked by Mirage Hall, she suddenly heard steps in the corridor. She was so
surprised that she took a bow immediately, even before the other reached her.
In fact she didn’t see anything else, but the snow-silver boots.
However, she would have recognised his voice among millions. But it was for
nobody to know.
Snow Blade City was a neverending labyrinth. It was easy for the immortals
of the Ice Clan, they had enough time of an eternity to become familiar with
the corridors, halls, terasses and towers, but it was a nightmare for a
mortal, who lived here only for a few hundreds of days. Bai He spent a whole
month to go over the Main Gate every day, she sat by the feet of the ancients’
statues, and freezing she just watched the City. She counted and measured the towers, so that
she could have a try finding them from inside as well. Eventually it was more
useful at the end to rely on the decoration of the walls in the City and the
Palace. She reached her destination quicker, if she knew in advance, that she
is up to the right direction. In all this chaos built without any general plans
it was the ornaments of the corridors, which reflected the style of the hall or
room hiding over the next corner, or what’s more, the personality of their
owner.
Well, there were not many ornaments in the wing chosen for the servants, though
you could find a few Six Leaf Ice Crystals here and there, but mainly only
there, where the members of the Ice Clan lived. The mortals, who lived in the
City because of necessity or of their own will, received only bare ice walls.
Bai He fought a lot to have her room on the southern side, if possible in a
wing, where even the ice walls were thinner. This happened to be near to the
Royal Stables. The members of the Ice Clan were rarely forced in saddles, while
there were a few, who choose this kind of entertainment. The Stables were
actually kept for the sake of those from the Kingdom Guard, who stayed in the
City. She didn’t mind. When she had the time, she came down to the horses to
get warmed up.
As she reached her room, she sat by the tiny mirror placed on a tablet near
to her bed. She bent closer and checked her face. Thanks to those two chatty
girls it became normally coloured. She didn’t really mind. The physical pain
always disappeared. She wasn’t scared, as no-one really dared truly hurt her. The
members of the Ice Clan were especially careful about not to spill any mortal
blood. Because the power of spell, which they were so proud of, would have been
gone. However, in spite of all this they could hurt her, and all injustice
remained in her soul without any chance to be wiped out. It took her always
great efforts to shake off this burden. She had only her dreams to flee, and
her hope, that one day she might return to where she belonged.
She sighed deeply, and took the simple leather stripe out of her hair. She
picked up her comb, and combed her hair again. The second time today. Then she
changed into a randomly chosen dress, it didn’t matter anyway. She tried to old
her hair together, but had to stop for a second, when her hand started to
shake. Another sigh, and she managed to make a braid. There was no time to
rest. She had to go back to the others, to be ready, when the High Maid needs
them. Latest in lunchtime. And she didn’t want to run again. It would have
spoiled her hair.
The Throne Room was never empty. Even in those thousands of years, when
nobody sat on the throne, this was still a gathering place for everybody, who
was respected for his rank or actions. If we don’t count in the palace guards,
the members of the Guard or the servants, there remained a few dozens of clan
members still, who spent their time here sharing rumours and secrets. The
Counsellor held hearings from time to time to listen to those searching the
truth, or he invited the leaders of the other clans to a birthday ball for a
noble heir or young lady becoming of age.
The enormous door wings more meters high were usually kept open. Many
palace guards stood in the corridors outside, and at the entrance as well. The
Host, a young man holding a short wand decorated with a moonstone in his hand
announced the guests. He took a good look of the recent arrivals, then shouted
his heart out:
- Honour the General of the Kingdom Guard!
A dark haired, grey eyed man appeared next to him on strong, but
surprisingly soft steps, bearing two long blades strapped on his back. He
walked through the hall without any glance aside, but he didn’t need to bypass
anyone. The immortals of the Ice Clan avoided him, and though he didn’t look at
them, many of them raised their hands to greet him. He nodded to the commander of the
palace guards though. He didn’t stop until he reached the chair placed by the
bottom of the stairs leading up to the throne, where the Counsellor sat. He
bended his knees before him, then raised up without waiting for a word.
- Liang Dao! – the Counsellor smiled at him. – Just in time you came. – he
waved to the man standing beside him, ho bowed and disappeared with the crystal
rolls he was given. – We hold the celebration tomorrow, to the honour of the
prince. I’d like you to bring your best men to introduce them.
The General nodded. Being a good soldier he demanded no further
explanation.
- And now let me hear your report.
- According to your message I sent an escort to the Endless Sea. The wait
there until the arrival of the Praedor, and secure her way up to the City.
Furthermore we have strengthened the patrols by the entrance of Sno Fog Forest,
and of course by the end of the east, as you requested. But don’t you think…
- No. – Liu Shu cut him off. – Out of the question. We have discussed this
before.
The General tilted his head only a long moment later.
- As you wish, Counsellor.
Cheerful laughter demanded their attention. At the side of the hall, by the
tables set beside the blue shining ice walls the High Maid appeared, and the
palace ladies surrounded her at once. Not a second passed, and the prince’s
name flew up high, as the ladies tried to interrogate her cutting each other
off.
- Patience, my ladies, patience. – Xi Huan turned them aside with a fake
politeness. – Everything in its own time.
She walked to the Counsellor, enjoying her special position, having a
haughty look in her eyes, to greet him with a bow. When she straightened up,
she didn’t say a word. She watched the General in silence, until he had enough
and left them with a final greeting.
- Counsellor… - Xi Huan bowed again.
- Welcome, High Maid. You are surely aware of the important matter I asked
you here for. I am to discuss the details of the upcoming ceremony with His Highness
this afternoon. You will be reported about everything. But until then I want
you to take care of an appropriate dinner. The invitations have been sent, and
we await many guests. The Ice Clan cannot allow itself to fail as a host.
- Everything will be as you wish. I will arrange everything myself.
- I do hope so. And don’t forget, every servant is needed. Nobody is
allowed to rest.
- Yes, Counsellor.
Xi Huan bowed showing the sign of respect, and returned to the palace
ladies. Some pale disgust ran through the face of the Counsellor, but so
quickly that nobody recognised. He waved his assistant closer, and they
returned to discussing further tasks. Not much later, when laughters rising
from the ring of the palace ladies already went on their minds, they stood up
and left towards a smaller room used frequently by the Counsellor, which opened
in a smaller corridor right from the entrance of the Throne Room.
Ying Kong Shi stood by the first pillar of the Endless Bridge, and looked
back at the Gate of the City. He was still invisible, as everything seemed so
much easier this way. Easier than confessing to himself, that he has issues
with meeting the Ice Clan. He had to walk a long way to be accepted, to gain
respect. What remained of all this after all those thousands of years? The Gate
was open, and through that came in and out continuously the guards and mortal
servants, clan members, visitors wearing strange cloths, and the members of the
Kingdom Guard. Countless carriages arrived, loads of flowers, everything to eat
and drink, and the onlookers upon them.
He pushed himself away from the foot of the statue, and followed one of
the carriages back to the City. Now he was already surrounded by the crowd from
right and left, he could make out clearly, what the bypassers talked about.
Almost everybody was looking forward to the official appearance of the prince.
They knew when he arrived, but had no idea about what happened to the royal
family, so the speculations and the best rumours already flew high. Shi almost
gave himself away, when he laughed out loud: someone happened to say, that
Prince Shi must be searching for a wife, and it took him exactly that much time
to visit all the clans, the Mortal Realm and the Northern Ends. However being a
prince he won’t take anyone, so he returned to Snow Blade City, back to the Ice
Clan to see, who made the finest flower in the last one thousand year. Luckily
a huge lurry started, so nobody heard the unbodied laughter. The ladies within
an earshot spread away, just like the spirits of the Snow Fog Forest, when the
Fire Falcons strike among them. They already started plans cheerfully for the
meeting with the mysterious prince, while all they knew about him was that he
is young, and once he was the most powerful immortal in the realms.
Shi took his head. He shouldn’t have heard all this. But it was all over,
so he just shrugged and walked up the stairs, that lead to the inner halls of
the Palace. He saw with relief, that there are quite many guards and members of
the Kingdom Guard around the City and even more within the Palace. Maybe a bit
too many? He couldn’t decide this yet. He took his course to the Throne Room,
then changed his mind, and returned to his room instead. In one of the nearer
corridors, that was abandoned, he shook off the spell of undetection and became
visible. The guards greeted him loudly, as he arrived, and opened up the doors
in front of him. Shi sat by the heavily loaded table with a deep sigh, and
picked some of the fruits. Then he leaned back, closed his eyes and waited
patiently for the arrival of the Counsellor.
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