Threads 328-Dukes 2

A cresting gust of wind yanked at her hair and the hems of her dress. Light flashed, and the scream of something viciously sharp being dragged along the stone followed. Ling Qi parted the wave of dust and dirt that followed around herself and the Bai.

Xuan Shi stood a little ways off the platform, a hovering swarm of his hexagonal talisman shields forming half of a sphere in front of him, rippling and sparking with blue-gray qi. He was unruffled, and he stood with his feet and the butt of his staff planted in the earth. The only unsteadiness of his posture was the way his eyes flicked toward her.

Zheng Fu stood about two meters distant, bouncing on the balls of his feet in a loose fighting stance as his right arm snapped back in a blur, rippling back into human shape from the mantis-like blade that had drug sparks along the surface of Xuan Shi’s defense. His other arm was drawn back, chambered for a punch, muscles writhing and swelling under the thick wraps he wore on his arms. Then, he spied them.

“Oh, looks like we’ll have to box a little later, turtle-man. The ladies are here!”

“I’m quite sure you could have felt us coming some time ago, had you expended the effort,” Bai Meizhen criticized.

“Eh, maybe. I really wanted a crack at this guy though. He’s tough!” Zheng Fu shrugged. “Later?”

“Later,” Xuan Shi agreed, reaching out for one of the panels as the others flitted away, disappearing into his gauntlets in a dozen little flashes. He rubbed his thumb along the scratch in the remaining panel. “Apologies, Lady Ling, Lady Bai. To test mine artifice against such strength is not a common chance.”

“There is a time and a place for such spars, but I suppose I will not blame you for showing martial spirit,” Bai Meizhen said haughtily. “I hope you may restrain yourselves going forward.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Zhen Fu said dismissively. “If you’re standing around waiting, you might as well cultivate a little. I know you gotta stop once business starts though.”

Well, that was an admirable work ethic at least. She was sure Sixiang would have needled her about her own habits if they had been here.

“This one apologizes,” Xuan Shi said evenly. “Three arrive. The sand dwellers demur. Whence is the bloodied flower?”

“The Western Territories have indicated that Sun Liling may be somewhat late, as their delegation is only just arriving,” Ling Qi said apologetically. “We may have to wait for a short time.”

“Hah, is that so?” Zheng Fu scratched the back of his head. “You all want in on this then? We could do teams. You and the snake-y lot, me and turtle man?”

“I would prefer if we did not melt, freeze, or otherwise explode the meeting site, honored guests,” Ling Qi said calmly.

“That doesn’t sound like a ‘no.’ That sounds like a ‘maybe later.’”

“I will have to decline for the foreseeable future,” Bai Meizhen said.

Xia Anxi was disapproving. “Honestly, we are a diplomatic mission.”

Xiao Fen looked like she was dissecting Zheng Fu with her eyes and did not speak.

“Bah, alright. Means we have to fill the time, and you didn’t bring snacks. Unless…?” Zheng Nan waggled his eyebrows behind his headwrap.

Ling Qi sighed. She gestured, and atop the stone table, a spread of drinks and carefully arranged platters of light snacks appeared on the table. It was a little rude to serve before the Western Territories arrived, but declaring they would be late was also rude.

“Hah, there we go!” Zheng Fu laughed, practically leaping onto a bench, reaching for a bottle of one of the harder ciders.

“Your hospitality is appreciated,” Bai Meizhen said quietly, stepping past her. “Sir Xuan, I have heard you were more involved in matters than the rest of us. May I ask after your reasons?”

“Our ports are open and accept many ships,” Xuan Shi said simply, taking a seat. “Advice was asked, and though the clan and seas are far, some use might be found. This is curious, no?”

“You got that right. Honestly, you hermit folk have been holding out on us, and now, the south is getting exciting too! We gotta get ourselves out here more,” Zheng Fu enthused.

“It is intriguing,” Bai Meizhen said, taking her own seat, Xia Anxi and Xiao Fen followed, but Ling Qi remained standing. Late or not, she didn’t intend to seat herself before all of her guests were here. “I trust in Lady Cai’s judgment, so I am not as skeptical as some. Still, this is certainly a bold endeavor.”

“No disagreement there,” Zheng Fu said, the cloth of his facemask stretching over what was surely a wide grin. “I…”

Ling Qi abruptly straightened up. The scent of copper invaded her nostrils, and the feeling of leaves and new shoots and crumbling black earth brushed her senses.

Bai Meizhen sniffed. “Not that late, it seems.”

It wasn’t long before Sun Liling made her presence known on the hilltop, walking with an unshakeable predatory confidence. The Princess of the West was not too much different from how she was at the tournament.Her sun-darkened skin had shed the handful of scars she had before, and her hair was a little longer, bound up in a thick braid that swayed behind her back. She wore a shimmering vest of black scales over a pale green shirt with silver vambraces that pinned the sleeves in place. The high riding boots her silken pants were tucked into were made of white snakeskin.

She was glad that Bai Meizhen had such a good hold on her temper because that clothing choice was obviously provocative. Xiao Fen looked about ready to spit blood and leap over the table. Meizhen merely narrowed her eyes.

Trailing behind Liling was another familiar figure. Ji Rong, unlike his liege, had picked up new scars, quite a few of them, climbing like lines of lightning up around his bare arms from beneath the bandage wraps around his hands and wrists. He was wearing an open chested, sleeveless tunic in similar colors to Sun Liling. His hair had been shorn short, rather than remaining a shaggy mop.

“Yo,” Sun Liling greeted. “Looks like you started without us.” The princess tilted her head as she looked at Ling Qi.

Ling Qi smelled blood as the princess stared at her. Sun Liling was almost as tall as her now, and she was firmly in the sixth stage of the green realm, though there was a potency in her aura beyond that.

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Ling Qi smiled blandly. “Only in making ready the refreshments. It would be terribly rude to make the other guests wait for hospitality when there was no specific time of arrival provided.”

Sun Liling cracked a grin. “That’s fair. I guess I won’t sweat it. It’s fine that I brought a plus one, right?”

“Of course. I would never refuse our esteemed guests their retinues,” Ling Qi returned. “Please find a seat, princess. Since you are here, we can get to business, if no one has any objections.”

Zheng Fu gave her a thumbs up with his mouth full of cider. Xuan Shi inclined his head.

“Everyone present has many duties to see to. I am ready to proceed at any time, baroness,” Bai Meizhen said.

“Yeah, sure. I’d like to hear what exactly ’s been going on down here. Rumors have been wild,” Sun Liling said casually. She advanced toward the table.