her mind replayed the day in the quiet of the room. She was sad again, but there were no tears this time.

Mengmoshu! Are you there? He was the only person important in her life who hadn't arrived to comfort her, and she wondered why. No answer. She fell on the bed, exhausted, and closed her eyes. The purple cloud rushed towards her with no conscious effort on her part, and she was in the gong-shi-jie. Mandughai was not there.

Mandughai, I cannot do anything tonight. This has been the most horrible day of my life.

Silence. She was alone in the purple light, the auras of planets and stars scattered before her.

Mandughai?

The auras and shimmering purple were somehow comforting. She felt at home in this place of creation beyond real s.p.a.ce. It was her place, too, and the purple light was at her command when she wanted it. She felt no fear, and moved through it to a green vortex, letting herself drop into it near its center- And coming out into real s.p.a.ce well above the boiling surface of Tengri-Nayon. Mandughai? Can you hear me? This is the first time I've come and you haven't been waiting. Are you here?

The star spewed flame and dust at her. She extended her aura out several kilometers, watched hot gas flow around it, cupped a piece of it tightly for a moment and watched it swirl in her grasp before releasing it like a child playing with a toy. And then she found the green tip of the vortex, the flash, and she was surrounded by swirls of purple light.

Mandughai was waiting for her.

That was good. You only needed to see you can do it by yourself, even in your sorrow.

Kati was thrilled to see Her, and the image she saw was now quite familiar. Mandughai smiled.

You recognize me?

Yes. I'm looking at myself as a woman.

A beautiful woman, Kati. Your transition is complete, and the lessons are over.

Today was terrible, and you didn't come to me!

There was no need, Kati. You were surrounded by people who love you, who accept you as you are. Today was difficult, but the days ahead will be even more so. These people will help you find your way. It's time for you to take your place on Shanji, and the day is coming when you'll see me as an adversary, even an enemy. When that day comes, I ask you to remember that I love you, and that everything I do has a purpose.

They drifted together towards the purple vortex that was Kati. Mandughai was so beautiful, yet serious-looking now. How could Kati think of her as an enemy?

Am I doing what you want, Mandughai? Have I served you?In every way, child. And you will do much more. Look at me again, and tell me what you see.I see myself. The vortex was tugging, pulling her back to herself.No, Kati. You see an Empress-And she was back on her bed, eyes closed.An Empress?Sleep overtook her before she could pursue the thought further.But she remembered it in the morning.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

EMPRESS.

Mengmoshu and Mengyao arrived at the throne room near midnight, both wondering why they'd been called at such a late hour. The Son of Heaven sat alone, slouching on the throne, and his face was jaundiced by the progression of his disease. He beckoned them to come forward, and cleared his throat with a deep, rattling sound before he spoke.

"I know the hour is late, so I won't keep you long. I have some concerns to share with you."

"What is it, Son of Heaven?" asked Mengmoshu. He probed the Emperor's mind, but saw nothing.

"I will tell you in words, if you don't mind. My many hours with Juimoshu have taught me how to conceal what I think around her."

The tone of voice was angry, and hostile.

"Some find it easier to communicate without words, and it's late. I was only trying to help you, My Emperor."

w.a.n.g-shan-shi-jie chuckled. "Indeed. I have some concerns, Chancellor. Perhaps you can ease my mind."

"I'm here, Son of Heaven, at your service."

"Good. I will begin with rumors I hear about a resurgence of religion in Wanchou. The people say there has been a visitation by First Mother, and have built a shrine to Her. Everyone is talking about Her return, saying She will heal the sick, and prevent death. What do you know about this?"

"I've heard nothing. First Mother would tell me if She did such a thing, and She hasn't-"

"Please do not preach mythology to me, Chancellor. I'm not a believer, nor is any sane, educated person outside of the Moshuguang. I allow you your beliefs as long as they don't interfere with what you do for me, and so far I've been satisfied with that decision. In some way, your beliefs have now spread to the people. They shirk their work to build a shrine to a mythical G.o.ddess, and I will not have it!"

"The people have always believed, from the beginning of time. I've heard many reports of shrines in the countryside, even when I was an apprentice."

"But not in Wanchou! Someone claiming to be First Mother has visited them, and caused this turmoil. Who is it?"

He's furious, and very frightened, Mengmoshu. This is dangerous.

"How can I know? The Moshuguang has no business in Wanchou. Perhaps it's a charlatan within the city. Where have you heard such rumors?"The Emperor leaned forward, and glared at them. "My sources are reliable. I've sent troopers to Wanchou! They have found, and destroyed, a shrine placed along the road leading east from the city! A flyer had to be brought in when a mob threw stones at them! People have been killed!"

"I would not have advised such harsh action, Son of Heaven. You must be seen as protector of the people, not their enemy. They devote their lives to your service."

"They will know who rules their lives, and that is enough!""But your anger should be directed against the woman who pretends to be First Mother! She has committed blasphemy!" shouted Mengmoshu.

The outburst startled the Emperor, and seemed to soften him.

"We will find her. A search is underway, and the people are being questioned."

They say nothing, or haven't been questioned. He couldn't hide that, Mengmoshu, but he knows a trooper was with her. Nothing about Jin-yao. A spy in the factory zone?

I think so. They had never seen a trooper or Moshuguang there before. It has to be a plant manager, who later went into Wanchou and saw the shrine.

"You will require our service in the questioning, Son of Heaven. My people are at your disposal right away, and Mengyao here is my best."

"I would be most honored to aid in capturing a person who blasphemes our First Mother, Son of Heaven," said Mengyao, bowing.

The Emperor leaned back, tapping his fingers thoughtfully on the arm-rests of the throne. "Yes, that could be useful. The people do not know the Moshuguang, and should be transparent to you. Very well, I will honor your request. I'll make arrangements for you to join the interrogation team by tomorrow morning. Please be ready by then."

It'll be the first interrogation team going out! What luck!

He's heard the news from one of the n.o.bles. They will go first to the source of the report.

He won't know his own name when I'm finished with him!

"You said there were other concerns, My Emperor?" asked Mengmoshu.

"A secondary thing, but a concern. It's about the training of Mengnu. Isn't it complete yet? Juimoshu seems to be failing with age; I've recently noticed her dozing during important discussions in court. When will Mengnu be ready to take her place?"

"Two years, or less. Her abilities continue to grow. I remind you that Juimoshu didn't do her best work until she was well into her twenties. It will be sooner with Mengnu. She's an outstanding talent."

The Emperor nodded sagely. "So I was correct in sparing her life. She's certainly a lovely girl, and I'm gratified by the happiness she's brought to Weimeng. My son talks often about her as a friend. Her encouragement has changed his whole att.i.tude about the duties he must a.s.sume when I'm gone."

"You will live many years, Son of Heaven."

The Emperor chuckled, leaned back tiredly on the throne. "I think not, Mengmoshu. I'm much older than you. Tell me, why all the military training for Mengnu, when you wish to train her mind?"

"She is Tumatsin, and a Changeling, and the mental training drains her young body. She needs much physical exercise, My Emperor. It keeps her healthy, and focused."

"That's all? She fights as well, and as fiercely as the best in her cla.s.s. She is a warrior in the old tradition, Mengmoshu."

"Mengnu excels in all that she does, Son of Heaven. She is exceptional."

The Emperor looked exhausted, and his eyelids were heavy. "Did you know that Shan-lan has won two prizes from Master Yung?"

"Yes. Mengnu has told me he has the respect of all the students in his cla.s.s. You must be proud of him," said Mengmoshu.

"I am," said the Emperor. "Shan-lan is the future of Shanji, and I am the past. I'll rest easily, knowing that he's here." Eyes closed, he patted the arm rests of the throne with his hands, and sighed. "If only he could have come from Weimeng. . . . Well, that is past."

His eyes opened, and he waved a hand in dismissal. "You may go now, I have nothing more."

Mengmoshu and Mengyao bowed and backed out of the room. As the door closed, the Son of Heaven remained slouched on the throne, staring at something far away.

"How long can he last?" asked Mengyao.

"Long enough to see the armies of First Mother," said Mengmoshu.

They discussed Mengyao's new a.s.signment, and it was early morning before they finally slept.

Mengmoshu was apprehensive about the meeting, and resentful about discussing things First Mother could have dealt with during her time with Kati. The Emerald Empress's logic was simple. Kati revered Her as she would a G.o.ddess, a super-being. He was a man, and Kati would not fear arguing with him. But would she believe what he said?

He intended to begin the conversation lightly, but even that got a bit out of hand.

Kati arrived on-time, dressed in white uniform. She was no longer a child, but a woman. She'd grown into her face: oval, with prominent cheekbones, and the highly arched nose, the first, faint network of veins on her forehead feeding the neural network making her Moshuguang and much more. Her eyes were green when she saw him and smiled. She sat down in a chair, and crossed her legs.

"How are you?" he asked.

"I'm fine," she said. "Lui-Pang finally had the nerve to look at me in cla.s.s yesterday, and I smiled back. I think we can at least be friends."

"He's lucky to be in the cla.s.s," said Mengmoshu.

Kati laughed. "You were so angry, like a father whose little girl has been violated. I'm not a little girl anymore, Mengmoshu. I knew what I was doing, and I learned from it."

She said it with a smile, but there was a hardness around her eyes that hadn't been there two months before.

"And what did you learn?"

"I learned never to allow someone to make me feel bad about myself, or to think I'm something other than I am.""I hear Huomeng talking," said Mengmoshu."We've discussed it quite a bit. He is a friend, you know."Mengmoshu leaned back in his chair. "I only wish I could have been there when you were so distraught.""You can't always be there for me, but it's nice that you want to."Always the probing, but his mask was firm. It was a game between them, and her eyes were twinkling with amus.e.m.e.nt while they played it.

"Mengmoshu, you didn't call me here to talk about my s.e.xual discoveries. What is it?"

Mengmoshu steepled his hands before his face.

"Oh, this looks serious," Kati said.

"First Mother has asked me to tell you some things before we visit your people. There's some history

you need to know, so you can understand why First Mother brings an invading force against Tumatsin as well as the Emperor."

Mengmoshu held his breath, amazed at his own directness.

"What?" said Kati, and her eyes went from green to red in an instant. She uncrossed her legs, and leaned forward in her chair.

"Tengri-Nayon is nearing closest approach. First Mother will soon return to Shanji, and She brings a fighting force with Her. She comes as an invader, Kati, a foreign threat to Shanji."

"Against the Emperor, as in ancient times," said Kati, her stare intense.

"No. She also moves against the Tumatsin, and you need to understand why."Kati sat back, and steepled her own hands, imitating him. "She did say I might see Her as an enemy, and that Her return would not be a joyous thing for the people. I remember that. She talks around things like you do, Mengmoshu. Why is She doing this? What you say makes no sense to me."

"She also told you the people must be united, and they are not. First Mother feels they can be brought together to meet a foreign attack."

"Foreign? My people have been waiting two thousand years for Mandughai to return and destroy the Emperor! They don't see Her as a foreigner! She is Mandughai, the mother of us all! How can she bring herself to move against people who've prayed for Her return for two thousand years!"

Thank you, First Mother, for this cheerful task."I heard that!""Good! Now hear this! The divisions between our people are extreme. The Emperors, through the years, have seen to that. Your knowledge now, Kati, includes every relevant factor; ask yourself if you, or anyone else, could unite the people through negotiation with the present ruling system.""Of course not. The Emperor wouldn't allow it.""Then replace him. Would the Tumatsin follow a more benevolent Emperor?""No. They want the Emperor destroyed.""And the n.o.bles with him?""I suppose. What are you getting at, Mengmoshu? You're talking around things again."

"Will you agree that the people who actually decide things on Shanji are the n.o.bles?" "And the Moshuguang, yes. The Emperor barely knows what goes on around him. A good Emperor would interact with the people, and correct the problems he sees."