Jin made a weak noise and Francesca could feel the blood draining from her face.

  "Hmm, I see,” the emperor said.

  Francesca busied herself eating the silky flower petals as the next course was served. Thankfully, she wasn't considered the guest of honor and was saved from having to eat something with eyeballs still intact.

  After dinner, Lian suggested the family retire to the Imperial Gardens for afternoon games. The emperor stood, reaching for his wife to help her up, prompting the others to follow behind them. Jarek's crew was invited to play and they eagerly accepted, but insisted that they first must leave an offering of liquor for Zhang An's spirit. From what Francesca could gather the woman had made a prediction for them about their lives being affected by the five Líntianese elements and it was driving them crazy because they couldn't figure it out.

  "Come with me,” Jin said softly as they left the dining hall, grabbing Francesca by the hand. He pulled her behind him, as he walked away from the others toward the front of Honorable City.

  "What? Why?"

  He stopped. “Do you really wish to stay here playing games and answering uncomfortable questions about babies, which by the way is all my mother's doing. Or would you rather get out of here?"

  Francesca glanced behind them at the others before turning back to him. “What did you have in mind?"

  "Come on. Follow me.” Stopping at the front gate, Jin pushed at a stone. It slid to the side and he spoke, “Transportation for two."

  Francesca stared at the stone in awe. “You do have the palace on computer, don't you?"

  Is that how they caught her the first two times? Had she set off some kind of special alarm? And why didn't it go off the third time?

  "Some of it,” he answered. “I would've shown you if you'd have stuck around long enough to learn anything about my home."

  "Oh, trust me. I learned plenty about your home when I was here last time. It's all any of you could talk about. I felt as if every conversation was a lesson in Líntianese culture.” Francesca cleared her throat and affected a Líntianese accent. “You see, Francesca, the silk worm came from Earth and eats mulberries. That is how we get clothing. And this button is called a frog. See that carving on the door? Those are gods, made to protect those who enter into the Exalted Hall. And jade, oh, jade is so precious to us. Jade is like our virtues. It represents wholesomeness, intellect, righteousness, music, art, sculpture, honesty, earth and the heavens, truth, justice. All the things you are not."

  "I never said that,” Jin denied, appearing appalled. “Not once did I mention silk worms."

  "Ah!” she hit him in the arm.

  He laughed, before catching himself. Clearing his throat, he affected a serious air. “I never said you weren't virtuous."

  "You never said I was."

  "You.... “he hesitated. “What do you want me to say, Francesca? You are a thief. You stole from my family. I gave you trust and you stole from me."

  How could she deny it? Francesca knew better than to even try. Luckily, she was saved from answering as a large craft pulled up in front of them. From what she could see, no one drove the vehicle. The dark brown wood was accented with gold and red. An eye was painted on one side next to the Líntianese character for the Zhang family name and a large metal hook hung from the front.

  "Is that a.... “Francesca frowned, looking up at the giant sails. “A boat? Who is driving it?"

  "It is called a tu di hang. It means land boat or land craft and it is programmed to pull up to the front of the palace. It has self-navigation, but the outer core is designed after,” Jin paused. “Never mind. Duìbùqî. I know you do not wish to hear about our culture."

  Francesca looked at the land craft and decided that maybe her first step would be to learn all she could about her new homeland. Jin was proud of what he was and she needed to respect that. If she showed an interest, maybe she could prove that she was willing to try.

  Small steps, Francesca. Do not rush anything. You want this friendship to work.

  "Actually, go ahead and tell me,” she said.

  Jin looked at her surprised. She made a face at him and he cleared his throat.

  "All right,” Jin said, looking back at the vehicle. “The design is based off of the ancient Junk ships from Earth, before they knew of space and other planets."

  Francesca laughed. “Can you imagine? Thinking that you're the only beings of people out there? How archaic. Humans actually thought they were the only species in all these star systems."

  Jin chuckled. “I've heard that long before that they believed their Earth was flat and if they got into their boats, they could sail right off the side of the planet."

  Francesca couldn't contain herself. “Okay, now you are making that up! No one would believe that, not even a primitive culture."

  "Possibly. An ancestor told me the story when I was a child."

  "Ancestor? Do you mean like your grandparents? Are they still alive? Have I seen them at the palace and just didn't realize it?"

  Jin looked down at his hands and made a weak sound. “Ah, no, not alive, but you did meet my grandfather, Manchu, in a way."

  Francesca's brow rose. “You're going to have to explain that one as well."

  "The day we met at the Qi-zi ceremony,” Jin began.

  "Qi-zi? As in wife?” she asked, arching a brow as she looked at him in disbelief. “That was a wife ceremony?"

  "Yes. Women come in hopes that a match will be made with a prince.” Jin grinned. It was the charmingly arrogant smile of a man who knew his marital worth.

  "Is that why you asked for me? You had to pick someone and I was better than anything else you'd seen?"

  "No, that wasn't it."

  "Okay. So you hoped that your family would forbid the marriage and you wouldn't have to marry anyone at all? You picked me to make them mad."

  "No.” Jin moved toward the land craft and ran his hand over the protruding, decorative eye. It lit up and scanned his palm. The red light blinked twice before the side opened and a wooden stairway came out from the side. It lowered to the ground for them to walk on.

  Jin held his hand out hovering along her lower back and guided Francesca to the stairs, without touching her. She grabbed the rail, holding her silk gown to the side as she stepped up the steep incline to the oval deck. Wooden walls wrapped all the way around the sides. Three stiff canvas sails were unfurled overhead. Their large span cast shadows over the deck. Toward the back a small row of steps led up to a small platform that overlooked the distance.

  "The sails can capture the wind, but they are not necessary to make the land craft move. We've combined the ancient designs and modern technology. The ship hovers over the land and.... Do you see that?” He pointed at the hook. “It is an anchor for weighing down the ship as it stops and there,” he pointed toward the back, leaning over the side, “is the back rudder for controlling the movements so that we may drive manually if we have to. However, the virtual controls make for a much smoother ride."

  Francesca stood beside him, leaning over the rail. Their arms brushed and she turned to look up at him, not seeing the rudder. Jin stepped back, coughing as he moved away.

  "Were you rebelling against tradition?” she asked, not letting him off the hook too easily.

  "Ah, no."

  "Fine, don't tell me why.” She openly frowned at him. “I believe you were saying something about the Qi-zi ceremony?"

  "You want to know why I picked you.” Jin refused to meet her gaze.

  "Isn't that what I've been trying to get out of you since you did it?"

  Jin glanced up, looking apologetic. “The truth is I didn't pick you."

  Francesca froze. “What? No. I heard you. I was there. You pointed at me and said that you chose me to be your bride. The whole hall heard you. You did pick me, Jin."

  "I didn't pick you, bâobèi. I never would have picked you.” Jin gave her an almost repentant smile as he looked at her.

  "Don't call me bâobèi. You can't say something like that and then call me bâobèi." Francesca scowled at him. The breeze stirred around her, flapping the sails. “You said you were compelled."

  "Yes, compelled by my ancestors. One ancestor in particular.” Jin glanced around, looking up at the sails. “My grandfather."

  "He convinced you,” she asked, confused.

  "He possessed me. I had no choice.” Jin took a deep breath. “His spirit entered me and made me act."

  "Your dead ancestor possessed you,” she repeated in disbelief. Well, that was a new form of rejection if she'd ever heard one. He didn't want to pick her, he was forced by dead people to do so. Throwing her hands to the side, she mumbled, “Wonderful."

  "Does this really bother you?"

  "No,” Francesca lied. He searched her face for a moment and then, as if he believed her, nodded. Looking around, she said, “So, you going to teach me to drive this thing or what?"

  Chapter Fourteen

  Jin pressed the accelerator on the computer console, making the tu di hang go faster. The lush Líntianese countryside flew by in a blur. The red of the giant hong jio ju flowers blended against the blades of the yellow-blue grasses. In the background, a forest blocked out the horizon. They were far from the palace, having driven over the land at high speeds.

  Every once in a while they'd see a few farmhouses that were clustered close together to form a village, standing out against the pale blue of the cloudless sky. Líntian truly was as close to paradise as any planet in the known galaxies. Jin was happy to be home. Space was not for him. This was where he belonged—on Líntian.

  He wondered if Francesca could ever feel the same. She didn't smile as she looked over the land. The wind whipped her hair, trailing it behind her head in long, dark trails. In the blue silk gown, she looked like she belonged. That was until he saw her face. Her features weren't those of a Líntianese woman. Jin didn't care, and barely noticed the fact anymore. She was beautiful, more beautiful than any other woman he'd ever laid eyes on. He wanted to tell her, but couldn't make the words come out. There was an uneasy truce between them and he didn't wish to break it.

  "There!” Francesca yelled, pointing in the distance to a hill that overlooked the valley they traveled in. Near it was the forest. As he turned the craft, the trees slowly came more into view, their spiny leaves pointing upward toward the sun. The leaves traveled with the sun, pointing always in its direction. At night, they would fall down, only to rise again on the other side as the sun came with the dawn.

  "That is the Hsi Yang Forest,” Jin said. “It is short for Guoh Yuan Hsi Yang, which means ‘orchard of the setting sun'."

  "That is where I want my house,” Francesca said. Jin didn't meet her eyes, but could feel them on him. “You said I could live outside the palace in the countryside. I want a house right there. A small one—"

  "You are a princess,” Jin interrupted. “Nothing is small. There are guards and security. A wall will have to be built around the—"

  "No, no walls,” she said. “I want to see the landscape."

  "But—"

  "I can take care of myself, Jin. I'll bend on a few guards, but I don't want big walls blocking everything out. I want to see the countryside. If you put walls around me, I'll feel caged. I'll go mad like that."

  "I will speak to my father on it,” he conceded.

  "Talk all you want. You build them, I'll have them torn down.” Francesca smiled. “Yes, this is the place. No one owns the land do they? They won't be upset with me for living there?"

  "It will be an honor for them.” Jin slowed the land craft and the wind died suddenly as they drifted at an easier pace.

  "Who owns it? Let's go make sure. I won't be a bother to anyone and I won't take anyone's land from them. I'd have the people's permission first.” She gave him a stern look.

  "Now? You wish to inquire about it now?

  "Why not? We're already out here."

  "But, there are no.... “Jin looked behind them. They were all alone.

  "What? You need a procession and horns announcing your presence to go anywhere? Come on. They are people. We are people. We'll sit down and ask, like people.” Francesca elbowed him to the side to take the electronic helm. “So, which way?"

  Jin pointed toward the hill. “Just a ways past the other side."

  "At least you know who owns it,” she said. “That's a start, Jin."

  "What do you mean to imply?” He wasn't sure if he should be insulted by her words or not.

  "I mean that these are your people and you and your family shut yourselves off from them like they carry the blue plague. Aren't you even curious what goes on outside the palace walls?"

  "We are told what happens beyond the palace walls."

  "I'm not talking about some general's report. I'm talking about seeing for yourself. Do they have festivals? How do they celebrate? Who makes the best food in the land?"

  "The palace chefs,” Jin said with certainty.

  "How do you know? Have you tasted everyone's cooking?"

  "Why would I want to impose upon them?"

  "You could look at it that way, or you could think of returning the favor and inviting your host to the palace. And I mean invite, not decree."

  "You suddenly have very definite ideas of how things are done here,” he said.

  Francesca bit her lip and reached into her gown. Pulling out a folded scroll, she handed it to him. “I was going to give it back. Last night, after you fell asleep, I snuck into the library and did some reading up on what it is I've agreed to be. I wanted to know what I'd gotten myself into."

  Jin looked at the scroll. The once rolled parchment was folded from where she'd carried it. The keeper of the library would be annoyed by that fact as it was an old document. The writings were about decorum and what was expected of the royal children. It was meant to be a learning tool for the very young, but since Francesca was new to her title, he supposed it was a good place for her to start. He just wished he knew she was reading it beforehand. It would have been nice to have been prepared for her sudden attacks on the way they did things.

  "This is just a guideline,” he said. “We use it to train royal children in the very basic ways. Not everything is set in stone."

  "Oh, so you do leave the palace?” Her wide eyes stared at him, prying away at pieces of his soul.

  "No. Not really."

  "Then, you invite peasants to the palace to dine?” she asked.

  "Um, no. We don't really do that either. Nobles come."

  "Ah, so what part of this scroll is just a guideline?” Her smile was mischievous, daring him to argue with her.

  "The home you are looking for is over there.” He ignored her baiting and pointed to a small cluster of farms. He steered the land craft in the direction of the village. A wooden sign with three Líntianese characters flapped in the wind before the main road leading in front of the first houses.

  "What does that say?” Francesca asked, pointing at it.

  "Tan jau dern. Searchlight. This village is the first called when someone or something is lost in the Hsi Yang Forest. It was established as an outpost to the palace and eventually turned into a farmstead as men brought their families to live with them here."

  "I'll give you points for knowing that much,” she said, winking.

  "Thank you,” he answered wryly.

  Villagers came out to greet them, surprised looks on their faces, as the tu di hang came to a stop. Francesca smiled at them, but they weren't comforted by the look. They whispered to themselves, gesturing frantically at the royal land craft.

  "By the way,” Francesca said as Jin lowered the stairs to the ground. “Any chance you have some uploads at the palace?"

  "What kind?"

  "Your language files for one. The one I used was incomplete."

  "I think you're doing all right,” he offered.

  "Thanks, but I'd like one anyway. And also reading and writing."

  "You know, it was said that the Wushu learned calligraphy the old way, through years of daily practice."

  "Well, being as I am technically the only Wushu master left, there really isn't anyone around to teach it to me, is there?"

  "I'll see what I can find."

  "Thank you.” Francesca's smile grew as she stepped down the stairs. Jin knew it was possible the villagers didn't recognize her as they had yet to lead the procession through the villages to introduce the newest princess. Actually, it was possible some of them didn't recognize him, but for the royal dragon print on his long tunic.

  "Ni hao,” Francesca said to everyone. “Hello."

  "Ni hao,” the villagers answered timidly, one right after another. They looked more at Jin than at her. As Jin stepped down, they bowed low to the ground. Francesca arched a brow.

  "You are not going to change millenniums of tradition in one day,” he whispered to her in the star language she was comfortable in, so the people couldn't understand if they heard him. “Get used to the bowing."

  "Oh, the bowing I don't mind,” she said, grinning. “Who doesn't like to have people worshiping at their feet?"

  Was she teasing him?

  "Stand, please,” Jin said in their native tongue so they could understand him.

  "Prince Jin, you honor us.” One of the older men stepped forward. Jin could tell by his clothing that he was a man of power within the village. Like the other farmers, his clothes were earth-toned in color and simple in design. The browns and dark reds matched the colors of the planet because they were crafted from natural fibers. On their heads, they wore saucer-shaped hats woven from the bark of the spiny trees found in the Hsi Yang Forest. They offered protection from the sun when out in the fields all day tending the hong jio ju crop.

  "I have come to present my wife, Princess Zhang Francesca, to the village,” Jin announced. The people instantly turned to her bowing low as they'd done to him.

  "Please, stand,” Francesca said, stepping forward. Jin made a move to stop her, but he was too late. She'd already reached one of the women and was holding out her hand. The woman looked at it and stepped back. The woman's wrinkled hands were soiled from the fields and she wouldn't dare touch the princess. “It's all right."

 

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