Chen's servant put little porcelain bowls full with hot soup, scenting of ginger root, in front of everyone. There was also steamed rice and pork in a spicy sauce. Sarevok and Peri didn't fail to notice that it was a festive meal, which caused them to frown a bit. It was not any special occasion to their knowledge.
- "I went to the marshals, may rose petals cover their way..." Chen stopped abruptly.
- "Make it rose thorns instead and make them lose their shoes in the bargain!" she burst. "I find your company... refreshing. I feel I can speak the naked truths, instead of the ones properly clothed. But that is dangerous... still, I will enjoy it for now."
- "I have never had any great difficulty in saying exactly what I think, in no uncertain terms," Peri shrugged. "But then, no-one ever demanded me not to."
- "That is not the way of the Shou," Chen said. She didn't add that the Shou generally found such straigth-forwardness barbaric.
- "I must say that I have developed an odd fascination with your oblique way of communication," Sarevok said. "Not unlike games of strategy - only played with words and social conventions instead."
- "That," Shui said, "is the civilized way. The poetry of language, the subtle understanding of nature of society and its functions, makes much of what separates a man of a beast."
Peri smiled, reminded of Anomen.
- "Beasts can be refreshingly uncomplicated at times, though. As far as I am concerned, man is only half a man - the other half is nothing more than a beast," she said.
- "A... novel thought. Very interesting," Shui replied, not looking Peri in the eye.
He is irritatingly cute like Ano is, Peri thought. Full of himself on the surface, yet so insecure inside. Would be funny to rattle him a little, see what he is made of... but for Chen's sake, I'll leave him alone.
- "But we were about to discuss the marshals," Sarevok said, uneasy about the spark he had briefly perceived in Peri's eyes. "I take it you weren't please with the outcome of the meeting."
- "The marshals are not real chanshi - and it bears mentioning that I would lose my head for saying so," Chen said. "Perhaps they once were, perhaps they never served and protected but only pranced in beautiful uniforms, attending balls and holding administrative positions. At any rate, now they are content with their enjoyable lot in life, and they do not want to hear what would upset the things as they perceive them. They are fools, really - like a shipbuilder who thinks that his ship can not sink! No matter how wonderfully built the ship, if she is made of wood she can sink, and sometimes she will. Shou Lung is mighty, yes... but the mightiest of empires can fall if its guardians don't stay vigilant."
- "And you told them that you suspect that Yun-Men Khan might try to invade Shou Lung?" Peri said.
- "Yes, young yet immortal one," Chen smiled bitterly. "They ridiculed me, asked for proof..."
Peri snorted, interrupting the other woman.
- "Yeah, like the Khan will up and leave proof and clues lying around if she is any good - and I gather she must be if she has gone as far as making a real army of those nomads."
- "It is my fear, as a servant of Shou Lung, that the proof will be Yun-Men Khan's troops running all over our cities, burning everything in their way," Chen said.
- "She seems to be above mindless destruction, however," Sarevok remarked, "as she must supply her armies by the lands she has conquered. I would advocate intelligence efforts."
- "My marshals... promised to think carefully on my warnings. That means nothing will happen, in your way of talking," Chen said.
There was an awkward silence that even Umikaze seemed to sense somehow. Her round, blue eyes wondered about it, and Peri patted her head reassuringly.
- "So... there is no help available from your superiors, no reinforcements, no spies, mages, nada," Peri said. She sighed deeply, avoiding Chen's gaze. "And let me guess. You would like us to help you out."
- "I do realize Shou Lung is not your empire," Chen said stiffly. "Nor can I offer anything to you.you could not get yourselves."
- "Chen... I respect you. I do. And Ankiang is full of very decent people, I'm sure. We have been treated well. But... I have a small child here. I would not want her in the middle of the warzone, and I would kinda like to spend some quality time with her, raising her and so. Settling down for a while and getting to know Kozakura sort of thing," Peri explained. "And not only that, you are aware of Sarevok's mission. You should know how important it is to Tamoko's people to be buried properly in their own soil. Now and then I see Tamoko in my dreams, and she waits... her soul is restless and yearning. Sarevok suffers, too."
- "You are correct, immortal one," Chen said. "I am a mother myself."
She looked unhappy and anxious, Shui looking at her an alarmed expression on his face.
- "This tears my soul like claws of a demon!" Sarevok exclaimed. "Honor, so important to Tamoko... I would not sully her memory by dishonorably leaving the people who welcomed me to their death. However... each day she remains unburied is one more fiery claw shredding me in my torment, in my guilt which guides every waking moment of my step!"
- "Whose children are you, immortal ones? For it is not the wu jen Perorate who sired you,"Chen said quietly.
- "We," Sarevok said darkly, "are children of Bhaal. And we can not be stopped."
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Chen relates her troubles to Peri and Sarevok, who get angsty.
Road of redemption
