Interlude: Invocation

She was Cai Renxiang, heiress of the Emerald Seas, and it took everything in her power to not put her face into her hands and scream. This undignified urge had been coming to her with greater regularity over the last year, but rarely had it risen to the intensity that it had now.

“I apologize, Sir Jia. The Cai are resolving this matter with the aid of the Ministry of Integrity. I cannot share any further information at this time for security reasons,” Cai Renxiang repeated. Again.

The man who had bustled into her office was Jia Shu. He was a minor member of that clan who had not been involved in a large part of the talks. There was sweat on his brow as he looked at her with ill-concealed frustration.

“Lady Cai, I have been most patient with both your retainer and yourself. The Jia family feels that our interests are well enough represented, but if there is a military matter afoot, then I must demand that we be informed. It is the very bedrock of the new order that the comital clans are able to coordinate and respond to threats!”

She pursed her lips. It was a frustrating argument because it was true. The Cai clan, via its head, the Duchess Cai, had risen to its ducal status in part due to the Hui’s failure to coordinate the comital clans against the cloud tribes’ incursion.

Gan Guangli shot her a concerned look. He had been handling his assigned duties well, but at this point, disputes were rising above what he could soothe.

Cai Renxiang made her decision. At this late hour, there needed to be some communication. The pieces were already moving.

“Sir Jia, I assure you that there is no external threat.”

Jia Shu’s thin eyebrows drew together. “No external threat? Lady Cai, the White Plumes are moving!”

“No external threat, my friend,” Gan Guangli said heavily.

The man standing in front of her desk stopped, his eyebrows climbing. “Who would dare?”

He sounded genuinely aghast, as if the notion had truly, sincerely never entered his mind. The ones most loyal to her Mother were a difficult bunch, but not in this way.

“The Cai clan and the Ministry of Integrity will be certain to find every name connected with the current business. It is for that reason that I must order you to not raise any further noise on the matter, Sir Jia,” Cai Renxiang said gravely. “In this, I do invoke my honored mother’s name.”

“Of course, Lady Cai! This humble servant of the Cai would not seek to disrupt such an investigation.” The man swept an elaborate bow. “While my Jia clan might quibble in the details, this matter was sanctioned by Her Grace, and to act in defiance of it is unconscionable for any patriot of the Emerald Seas.”

“I have never doubted that you are such, Sir Jia,” Gan Guangli said. “You understand why I could not give a clearer answer when we spoke outside.”

“Indeed I do. My apologies for my earlier words, Baron Gan. Know that they came from a place of concern for our great Emerald Seas.”

“I do not doubt it,” Gan Guangli replied diplomatically.

Cai Renxiang believed that pride was at least an equivalent factor. The Jia were ever on edge about opportunities for contributions since their patriarch had gone into seclusion. However, it would be impolitic to say so.

“Nor do I, Sir Jia. Thank you for your understanding. Given what you now know, I would ask that you remain in the embassy until this matter is resolved.”

She glanced to the side as the security formations on the room twinged in her thoughts. A paper messenger bird fluttered at the window. It resonated with the White Plumes’ official qi signature. She gestured, and the wards and window alike opened to allow it through.

Jia Shu glanced at it as well and bowed low again as he caught sight of the mark on the messenger. “Of course! Lady Cai, this Jia Shu will be at the ready should the heiress require any further security.”

“My thanks.”

She let the messenger land in her hand. As their guest left and the security shut behind him, it unfolded. Her eyes scanned Ling Qi’s somewhat scrawling handwriting, and she felt as if the world had gone still.

Her retainer was a madwoman.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

“Lady Cai?” Gan Guangli questioned, not quite leaning over her in concern.

“Gan Guangli, go retrieve Sir Jia. I have messages to send to the other comital clans.”

“What has distressed you so?”

“That girl is trying to die again,” Cai Renxiang replied gruffly.

Let this not be the time that she succeeded.

***​

It began in earnest when the sky turned the color of bruised flesh and when the cold, dry mountain air filled with a humid, choking wet.