Two Sides of One Coin

The Western Azure

I attended more and more of these dinners to Ling and his mothers' delight. I soon made quite the reputation for myself. During the day, I still played with Ling and Eberetto, Lan Fan joining in more often as time went on (we had started to become very good friends and I found it wonderful to have another girl around,) but in the evenings I charmed governors and diplomats or made enemies with the ones I had bad feelings about, making sure I made it clear that I didn't want to see them at that table again. I influenced decisions that would be important to the welfare of the Yao Clan, which I felt an immense amount of loyalty to. I dealt with slick politicians, tiptoeing around their tricky questions and suspicious offers. Ling's mother would sigh with relief and give me a grateful smile when is steered her out of awkward conversations filled with questions meant to take advantage of her or Ling. I discovered that I had Papa's finesse, and I was proud of it.

Papa was proud of me, too. He was glad I was taking after him, and the more business I took care of in Xing, the less he had to. He could focus on his research without his loyalty to this country getting in his way.

Listening to the radio, I found that my advice and choices were affecting all of Xing, although no one ever admitted they'd based their choices off of the opinion of an eight year-old girl. Except for one kind, plump man by the name of Katisu who had a good deal of authority in one of the surrounding clans. He attended dinner at the Yao House about twice or thrice a month. He seemed to like me not because of my father or political antics but just because I was me. One night, I listened to him speaking in an interview over the radio, and he referred to me as, "...the bright young daughter of that genius man, Prell. She insists I call her Jamie."

The interviewer replied with, "And this young woman is the one who suggested the new building plan that could help the damage rate stay down if another earthquake occurs?"

Katisu laughed his deep, pleasant laugh. "Young woman indeed! But I don't think Jamie Prell is the same kind of 'young woman' you're thinking of."

I could just imagine the reporter raising his eyebrows questioningly. "What kind of young woman is she, then?"

"She can't be any older than eight or nine, but she had the intelligence, grace, and pride of a thirty year-old woman."

Despite myself, I smiled as I heard the reporter cough violently, probably choking on his coffee in disbelief.

"Eight or nine, you say!?"

"Oh, yes, Jamie is the most charming, clever young person I've ever met. As you know, her father was traveling the globe last year, leaving impressions wherever he went. Well, apparently she tagged along and learned a few things. Now, she's advising all the big-name Xingese politicians and boosting the Yao Clan's morale and favor with the emperor. Absolutely extraordinary!"

"I'd like to meet this girl," the interviewer mused.

"Anyone would. She's got a way of talking that could persuade a broken lightbulb to flicker back on. A nice soothing accent to match. It sounds Aerogoan, but her vowels are more Drachman. And her eyes- I've never seen such powerful eyes. I've witnessed her tell a very rude man to get out of the Yao Palace, and he only left after she gave him a stare-down. He walked out of there like a dog with a tail tucked between his legs."

The rest of the interview was lost on my ears. I smiled and wrapped myself in my blanket. I was famous.

After that, a good majority of Xing figured out that I was working behind the scene. I was invited along with Ling to dinner parties in other clans, and, eventually, Lan Fan became one of his main guards. It was great always having them with me. They were my best, and first, friends. I also made sure to visit Eberetto whenever I had free time, and I spent the nights talking with Papa.