“I would like to hear from you all your opinion on the woman’s story,” His Majesty spoke up after the doors had been shut.
A few of the attendees in the council room stared at one another before one of the men stood. “The woman tells a most extraordinary tale, Your Majesty, but I do not think she can be trusted. Her description of the fruit of immortality is too perfect.”
“But would it not be if she set her own eyes upon it?” the prince countered.
The man smiled and bowed his head to the other. “That is true, My Prince, but I am merely suggesting that she had read a scroll and learned of its description.”
“A pity there is none left of the first generation to confirm her report of the tree,” another chimed in as he folded his arms over his chest. “There are so few descriptions of the Diyedi Tree fruit that we cannot even confirm if hers is true without some doubt.”
“If we cannot confirm the tale then what about the woman?” His Majesty persisted. “Is she at all familiar to any among us?”
Many in the company shook their heads. One of the men slyly smiled at his neighbor. “She was hardly dressed as a goddess.” A tittering of laughter erupted from the others.
A woman of about sixty with a severe face stood and lifted her chin. “Whatever her attire, she is a stranger and an intruder. How did she come to pass through all our guards and our magic without anyone noticing save for Lord Eastwei?”
“How did you come to notice her, My Lord?” a gentleman inquired of the lord. “I believe His Highness mentioned only that you sensed her presence. You noticed nothing else amiss within your gardens?”
“Nothing,” came the reply.
A low, dark murmur rippled through the hall. The prince paced the floor and toyed with the ring on his finger. A smile lay on his face as he looked at each of the members. “I believe we are taking this matter too seriously.”
His Majesty leaned forward and frowned. “What do you mean?”
The prince spun on his heels to face the royal and shook his head. “I mean no disrespect, Your Majesty, but perhaps we should take this young woman at her word. After all, she is merely a goddess and a young one at that.”
“A stranger might cause a lot of trouble if the stories from the land realm are to be believed,” one of the members argued.
Another bobbed her head. “Yes! Their lands are being attacked one after the other and no one has found the culprit! What if this woman is that fiend?”
“Do you believe our defenses so poor that such a creature could worm their way into our midst?” he challenged her.
She frowned. “I believe the matter is still open and all possibilities must be considered.”
“This bickering is getting us nowhere,” the king spoke up as he stood. The others quickly rose and faced him as he caught the eye of the prince. “Since you have such an interest in her, I entrust her care to you. Ingratiate yourself with her and see what you can learn.”
The prince bowed his head. “It would be my pleasure, Your Majesty.”
The king frowned but turned and strode from the room. The buzz of gossip started the moment he disappeared. Many scurried down from their seats to speak with the prince.
“Are you sure this is such a good idea, My Prince?” one of them asked him.
He chuckled. “Should I not be pleased to have such a beautiful charge?”
“But we know nothing about her,” another countered.
He pointed in the direction of the earth beneath their feet. “Many of us know very little of what is below us and yet we still dare to walk among the mortals and land immortals. Should I now be afraid of a single woman who is so defenseless she has not even clothes to protect her?”
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“One without clothes is the most dangerous type of woman!” one of the men spoke up. The other male members burst out laughing but the women were less amused.
The woman crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the men. “You may jest about this matter but I see nothing humorous in our magic being breached by a single goddess.”
The prince gave her an appreciative smile and bowed his head. “That is why I swear to you all that I will discover the truth about our new acquaintance.”
The group fell silent and parted as Lord Eastwei made his way through them. The prince inclined his head to the others and hurried after the other god. He joined him halfway down the steps. “I would greatly like to hear what you think of this strange woman’s story, Dadan.”
The god continued his onward journey without missing a stride. “I can make nothing of it.”
A coy smile slipped onto the prince’s lips. “Surely you have some idea as to the authenticity of her account.”
“I do not.”
“Then would you not like to come with me to retrieve your robe?”
Eastwei stared ahead. “I believe you would make more progress without my being there.”
The prince laughed. “Perhaps I will! Wish me luck!” He slipped away and hurried in the direction of Fanshe Hall.
Eastwei hadn’t traveled more than half the distance down the main thoroughfare before a voice called to him. “Dadan!”
He stopped and half-turned in the direction of the feminine shout. An elegant woman of twenty hurried up to him. She wore shimmering robes of soft pink with a white underlayer. Her brown hair shimmered in the sun and a smile lit up her perfectly almond-shaped face.
She grasped his hand in both of his and her brilliant brown eyes searched his face. “There you are, Dadan! Wherever have you been hiding?”
“Did you need something, Lady Shian?” Dadan replied.
She laughed and tugged on his hand. “You are always so formal with me, Dadan! You know you can call me Shian! And must I always need something to wish to see you? Can I not merely enjoy your company?”
“You may.”
She puckered her lips in a pout. “Don’t be that way, Dadan, but if you must ask, I did come to you for a reason.” He stared at her with an unblinking gaze as he inclined his head for her to continue. “Well, I wanted to invite you to a dinner I am putting on for Lady Bidao. She has recently returned from her sojourn into the mortal realm and has some wonderfully amusing stories about them that would be very amusing to hear.”
“I must decline.”
Shian’s face fell. “But it won’t be quite as fun without you there, and I already have Prince Yushir’s promise to come. You would keep him company.”
“He is perfectly fine in his own company,” Dadan countered as he made to move away.
Shian tightened her grip on his hands. “Please, Dadan. Please do this favor for me.” She leaned in and sweetened her smile. “I promise there will be a good surprise for you.”
He stared at her a moment before he sighed. “Very well.”
Shian could barely contain her joy but she settled for stepping back and bowing low to him. “Thank you, Dadan. You do me a great honor.” He slightly inclined his head and moved past her. Shian waited for him to walk out of earshot before she clapped her hands. “He will certainly be pleased by the food I’ll cook for him.” She paused and furrowed her brow as she tapped her lip with one finger. “But I don’t have a surprise for him. What should I do about that?” Her eyes lit up. “I will make him a new dessert! That will certainly will his stomach and then his heart!”
She applauded herself again before she set off to prepare for the feast.