Three Visits For the Brass Lady
Thunder hit like a hammer striking down a blasphemous idol. Golden clouds rolled across a sky that had been clear a moment before. The far side of the hills glowed as bright as the noonday sun.
Then all was still and clear again.
Six relays and five heralds of The Qinglong Alliance waited in a small shrine that blocked the valley path and looked at each other nervously. Not one of them said a word. They watched as the Sweet Voice of Brass and Glory stepped out of the valley and they did not breathe until they saw that her smile was genuine.
"How is he?" said Su Jiao, the first of their number, as Sweet Brass came up the steps.
"He's ready," the goddess said. She glanced briefly back towards the valley. "Or, he will be, when he returns to the world."
Of all the Alliance, only Chi Wen could bring herself to follow their patron's gaze. She said, "What do we do until then?"
The goddess stepped under the gate that marked the shrine's entrance. She lifted a banner she had left there earlier. "You all go back to the Eye of Hiparkes and wait for your orders. Four of the circle are away, and Cathak Nekuto besides. Serrakeen may keep things running on his own, but he would do better with the help of good heralds. And Choshu Ishi is not one we'll speak of just yet; my relays, listen to Leopard Chao's advice more than you do his."
"Rivers Between Us will be there, too," Mi Ji said brightly.
Sweet Brass nodded. "He will at that, and listen well to what your maker says, but don't expect him to have many words for you. He has no taste for leadership."
All we silent for a while, considering. At last Soi Fang spoke. "You give us instructions, lady, as if you yourself will not ride home with us. What will you be doing while we keep our nation together?"
The Sweet Voice of Brass and Glory as she glanced once more to the valley below. "My place is here. Guarding him."
