Gatehouse of the Five Winds
“Where are the others? Weren’t there five in your set too?”
Ruki Nü looked up with surprise at his guest. “Ah? Oh, sorry. I thought you were still in asleep, Bi Xi.”
She smiled and said, “I admit to being surprised by your own restlessness. I’d almost take it as an insult.”
Nü rubbed the back of his neck and grinned nervously. “Well, I always have trouble staying in bed these days. I guess doing this... soothes me somehow.”
“Mmm...” She approached the airship and ran her hand lightly over the gleaming steel. A hundred feet long and thirty feet wide, the fast courier excellent air boat was dwarfed by the immensity of the hangar, but it was still a immense wonder. “Really, you made this all by yourself, Nü? You’re more amazing than I had thought.”
“Yeah, I can’t argue with that.” The sorcerer architect smiled to himself. Hanging from one of the struts by a crude leather harness, he continued polishing while he spoke. “I’m the only one stuck out here, though Nama Bi probably has it worse. She’s down in the City nine days out of ten. Hatsu Shi is on roads, Inam Niu has manses (lucky devil), and Mite Xu is making huts for peasants in God Crossing. Me, all I have to do is sit here and wait for any passing warbirds that need maintenance.”
“And this is what you do with your time?”
“Well, it’s not all I do.” He winked at her and began rappelling down the side of the ship. “Hey, the bag is full... want to go for ride?”
In the cool air, as the sun began to rise over the vast plains, the vessel floated gracefully, suspended like a low cloud over the solitary mountain. Bi Xi leaned against the railing, doing her best to stay out of the way of the crew. Ruki Nü strode down form the aft-castle. “Are you cold?” he asked.
“No... just jealous.” She looked down at the Gatehouse of the Five Winds below.
Carved from the peak of the mountain, which had been hollowed to nearly half its height into a warren of hangars, warehouses, and residencies, the manse almost shimmered as the sunlight began to both reflect from it and flow through it. Midway up the side of the mountain the walls began to become faintly translucent, gently glowing with all the colors of the rising sun. The bridge was up today (as it had remained since the two assassination attempts), but it was still faintly visibly, like a mist or a memory.
“Do you know that there are Taizeis that would literally lick Cathak’s boots like puppies to get a leave pass for the Gatehouse? And not just because it’s the safest place in the Marukan these days.” Bi Xi leaned into him and watched as the grey stone was set aflame by the sunlight. “Real down beds, baths that rival the Retreat, and nothing to do but relax all day long.”
“Well, it does help to know someone on the inside.” He quickly untied and retied one of the rigging’s lashes. “But it does get just a little dull here. Thank goodness they don’t read the supplies requisitions too closely, or I wouldn’t have this toy to play with.”
Bi Xi bit her upper lip. “Actually, that’s part of why I’m here.”
“Not just to visit me? And here I thought I was doing you a favor!” He laughed and sauntered across the deck, eyeing the shape of the rasp-spider silk gas bag with a critical eye.
“Well, word has gotten out about your little project...”
“Oh.” His head sank to his chest. “Damn. I thought they’d forgotten about this place once they took the hearthstones. I guess this will be my last ride on her.” He looked wistfully at the essence engine and said, “I suspected they’d notice all that rasp-spider silk... it must have cost a fortune.”
“I think you misunderstand.” She followed him with her hands behind her back, chuckling. “They’ve requested eleven more.”
