Meng's Revenge: Vol.4 of Life Among Clouds WangXian Series

War Council: Part One

There was no call to order to begin the War Council. Everyone there knew why they were there and had entered with very grave and determined auras about them. They were seated with their host at the head of the table. To Lan XiChen's right sat Lan Zhan, flanked by Wei Ying, the Yiling Patriarch and Anshi, Lieutenant of the Guardians.

Opposite the Lans sat Jiang Sect Master Cheng, Qinghe Nie Sect Master Huisuang. Next to them were the generals heading up the defenses of Cloud Recesses, Gusu and Yunmeng. Generals Ming, Yenay, and Wen Ning were also being tasked with the invasion of Meng Shi's Keep and the destruction of her power base. This menace to their relatively recent period of peace must be completely destroyed, for the safety of all.

There was a new face among them, A spare and quiet man, enveloped in an aura of austere self-containment and rigid control. He was perfectly calm and totally unreadable. He had handsome features, but the restraint of years of secrecy made them secondary to the chill that forbade intimacy between him and all others. A scroll and a chest sat on the table in front of him and his eyes were focused inward as everyone took their seats. He had read them all at a glance as they entered the room and settled back to wait and see if his first impressions were correct. The stares of the others made no impression on him at all. But their status did.

GusuLan Sect Master XiChen ruled Cloud Recesses and pulled the most weight. On the surface, he was cool, like most people living behind these walls, yet he seemed approachable, fair, and courteous, Obviously, a skilled politician, he also carried himself as a dangerous, poised fighter. The Sect leader, Lan Wangji was a different matter altogether.

This man was as cold and efficient both as a power alongside his brother and as a warrior and a killing machine. Difficult for the equally cold guest to read. His only glaring break in the facade was the beautiful young man beside him, Wei Ying, the Yiling Patriarch, who was staring at the stranger with unabashed curiosity. The Patriarch shot a dazzling smile mixed with charm and innocence at him and got the same still, stony look that all the others received. Wei Ying leaned in towards his husband while hiding his own face by keeping Lan Zhan's profile between the column of doom at the end of the table and himself. He whispered.

"My best smile. And he never even turned a hair. This is not a very movable person. Wow, he's a tougher nut to crack then you were when we first met."

Lan Zhan turned to face his husband. "Then do not try. You are my nutcracker, not his."

The Jade turned implacably forward with a little quirk at his mouth that faded instantly. All anyone else saw was another stern, emotionless player on that side of the table. Wei, however, bit the inside of his mouth to keep from laughing out loud. He felt for his mate's hand and quickly spelled out, 'He's a Lipreader." then dropped the hand, reluctantly. There would be time for displays of affection later.

Lan Sect Master was speaking.

"Welcome everyone. I am sorry for the circumstances but they are what we have been dealt. We stood twice together to battle evil. First against the QuishenWen then against the usurper, Meng Yao, by far the most insidious and manipulative of the two enemies. His machinations, which included lies, insinuation, darkness portrayed as light and goodness, deceived us all, with the exception of Qinhe Nie Sect Master Huisiang.

Now the creature who spawned Meng Yao, Meng Shi, has risen. The monster is willing to commit any atrocity she can to destroy all who went against her son."

All eyes, even the rigid stranger's shifted briefly towards Lan Wangji, who stoically endured the attention. His face hid the discomfort he felt as those that had not spent over a year in Yunming, looked for any sign of the lesions being suppressed by medication and spells.

"My brother, Thank the Gods, has been able to suppress and control the injuries done to him with the aid of Dr. Yue Wen Qing , Chang Lan Qinyang, Wei Ying, and Wen Ning. It is a miracle that he sits with us today. He was hours from death when he was found."

There were murmurs of anger and Lan XiChen held up his hand.

"Lan Wangji is adamant about one thing. This confrontation is not to revenge him. It is to protect our Homelands and our people that depend upon us. In doing this, we have accepted an alliance with neighbors further towards our Western borders, the Kingdom of Qiao. Their High Minister and advisor to their Dowager Queen Mother sit among us today. The initial alliance was brokered by Lieutenant Anshi on a recent visit to the Kingdom of Qiao. The New King is not of age, his grandfather recently passed away and his Father abdicated from the throne because of illness. High Minister Han, will you please rise and be acknowledged?"

The cold man at the end of the table rose and bowed and all at the table stood and returned the bow. He remained standing and addressed the gathering, cold eyes glittering. He was in his political element now.

"I am here at the request of Our Beloved Dowager Mother, Regent to the throne until our Childe King comes of age.

Several months ago, Lieutenant Anshi visited our city and requested an audience with our Crown Prince and myself.

One of the matters that was approached was mutual concerns regarding Meng Shi. Recently her forces had raided our outlying territories and what was of the greatest concern to us was what they removed. All of our Shamans, doctors, and magical practitioners and their families were taken and we could find little information about the criminals who did this. Because I had met the Lieutenant in the past, he felt at ease speaking of these matters with me. I then sent him back with letters offering an introduction to GusuLan Sect Master. Tragedy struck and we lost our King. Our Crown Prince was not fit to rule so our Childe King ascended to the throne. Once we mourned our King and were forced to set aside our Crown Prince, Our Benevolent Mother asked me to find a way to retrieve our citizens. We want our people back and will contribute battalions, weapons, sums of money, anything that will make that possible. Thank you for having me here at Cloud Recesses and I hope we can be of help to you."

He turned to Anshi and bowed. He laid his hand on top of the chest in front of him.

"After I explained the circumstances of Lieutenant Anshi's removal from his homeland and the murders of his family, she broke down in tears. She was devastated. She has sent a message and this gift and begs that the Chieftan of the Great Steppe Eagle Tribe accept our apologies and our pleas of forgiveness. These gifts are sent by her hand and the hands of her Childe King. She requests that you visit soon and offer insight and wisdom to help guide and teach the young Monarch so that he can be the great ruler our country deserves and so he can grow and keep miscarriages of justice such as befell you, from happening again."

Anshi glanced at his eldest Brother and Lan XiChen bowed his assent to both. The chest, approximently 24" x 24" was opened and it was filled to the brim with golden taels.

"Our Gentle Mother knows that this cannot begin to make up for you loss and pain, but it is all she can offer at the moment. There are two other chests in the treasury here that are the same. These are for you in the hopes that one day you may regain some of what you lost. It is not a bribe, it is a pitiful attempt to make amends."

Anshi stood still for a moment the spoke.

"I no longer hold any ill-will toward the Kingdom of Qiao, its people, ministry, and Rulers. I will accept his gift and I hope this will lead to a great Alliance between your Childe King and our SectMasters. Thank you."

He took his seat after exchanging bows. The High Minister sat as well but both men took one long second as their eyes met, cautiously assessing one another. And to the High Minister's surprise, no trace of a terrified slave child remained. A warrior looked back at him, a mix of Great Steppes and Cloud Recesses and a man not to the overlooked or trampled upon, ever again.