Page 17 of The Cinders
‘No need for flattery, Captain Duan.So long as your master delivers on his promise to send his trade exclusively through Kunming, then this shall be a very fruitful union for us both.’
‘You shall enjoy the spoils of the West as much as Mandarin Feng does, your grace.As will those bordering nations your trade route shall satisfy.’
Xian sat still, absorbing the conversation that revolved around him, trying to capture the essence of what wasactuallybeing said.With the West, his mind went at once to opium.There had been one Opium War already with the Yingguó — or as their ambassadors preferred, the British Empire — who sought to import the illegal powder.The war’s end was eleven years past, but with the trade still illegal, and the English unhappy with the treaties made, the turmoil was far from over.
Xian could understand the Marchioness’s keenness to negotiate with a port town, if opium were involved.But it did not explain why he sat here on his knees, being spoken of as if he were a bull at market for slaughter.
He entwined his fingers, trying to stop their shaking.
‘Then you approve this last point in our negotiation?’said the marchioness.‘You will take the prince to you master?’
Xian could hold his silence no longer.‘Your Grace?’
‘You shall be a gift to Manhao, Xian, for the New Year celebrations.’She stared down her nose at him.‘Dance for the Mandarin, as you did here today, in honour of the agreement made between us.You will usher in a fortuitous year for his town.’She smirked.‘Use whatever enchantments you have at your behest.’
The pulse in his neck thumped so hard they’d likely be able to see it.‘But, your grace, I have already danced—’
‘It is done, Xian.Do not vex me.I should have thought you would be eager to escape your duties here.The Great Mother knows, you tend to laziness as it is.Your disappearance this day only convinced me I need you out of my sight for a time, before you drive me mad with your slippery ways.’
He’d never known how to counter her twisting of the truth.Now, hearing he was to be sent to a town almost seven days’ ride away, he was lost for words.
Xian clenched his fists, sick to his stomach.
‘Ensure you tell the mandarin that idleness does not favour this prince,’ the marchioness said.‘And that he should only dance occasionally.If he is constantly fettered over for his singular talent he will grow arrogant and lazy, and I’ll not have him returned to us that way.’
The lies were enormous, looming over Xian like boulders on a hillside, threatening to slide down and crush him.
‘I shall see that his highness is kept well occupied outside the dance-floor.’
Xian stared up at the woman who could not possibly be any more unlike his mother.‘When?’he whispered.
The marchioness was standing upon his gown, and was clearly aware of it, for she ground her heels as she turned away.‘You will return with Captain Duan the day after tomorrow.He is eager to return to Manhao and enjoy the New Year Celebrations over the coming weeks.’She looked over her shoulder, turning so that Xian could see the snarled smile lifting her lip.‘Do not shame me, boy.I’d be gravely disappointed to have to send word to my sister in the Imperial Court that you caused the emperor yet more trouble with a foulness of attitude.’She turned her head, setting all her hair jewels swinging and tinkling against one another.‘You may rise now, Xian.Go to Daoshi Wenming in the Western shrine.The old man does not tend his fires well, and you are decent at keeping the embers burning.Spend this night in prayer with him.Thank the gods for this honour they have brought you.Do not think to go off on another of your jaunts, either.If you are not in the shrine when I send a servant to check on you, I’ll have no choice but to punish you well.And I would not like to send you to Mandarin Feng with any unsightly marks.’
Rather than appear shocked by her blatant admission of Xian’s maltreatment, Captain Duan continued to leer at him.
‘A shame you cannot join us at the feast, your highness.’He leaned down, offering his hand to assist Xian in getting to his feet.‘Come now, do not look so wary.I merely seek to help you, you must be tired after such a display?’
Swallowing hard, Xian took his hand, praying the shaking in his own was not evident.The denigrating grin on the man’s face told him it was.
Xian’s legs ached, his toes numb from being pressed beneath him too long.He found himself unsteady as he stood and was loath to admit the captain’s help was useful.He sensed very little was actually offered freely from this man.
‘Hurry now, captain,’ the marchioness called.‘My husband will not wait for us, and likes to serve the best wine first.’
‘Just a word with His Highness, if you don’t mind.’Even as he spoke, the captain’s green eyes, almost as unusual a shade as Xian’s own violet, never left him, and his grip was hard.‘Some advice for the long journey ahead.I will be brief.’
The marchioness reached the end of the hall and took her fan from the attendant who waited for her.
‘Very well, Chuntao will wait for you and escort you when you are ready.’
The attendant dipped her head.‘Yes, your grace.’
Xian pulled free of the captain’s grip after a couple of insistent tugs of his hand.The marchioness walked down the corridor without a backward glance, and her attendant stepped from the doorway to move discreetly out of sight.Xian watched her disappear with dismay.He needed no instinct to tell him this man was not pleasant company.
Captain Duan leaned in close, his neck so thick and short it was as though it barely existed at all, giving him the unsettling appearance of a living stone wall.
‘Your highness.’He bowed his head, the gesture reeking of false propriety.‘How they shall clamour to see you.In all your glory.I shall have to keep close, for your own protection, for there are those in our court who have particular tastes for peculiar things.And how you shall excite them.’His snide chuckle sent bile scorching the back of Xian’s throat.He stayed still and silent, but his heart was ferocious beneath his ribs, as desperate to escape as Xian himself.
Captain Duan raised his hand and drifted his fingers towards Xian’s veil.Though Xian fought not to flinch, the encroaching fingers, coarse and dry-knuckled, made it impossible.