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‘— and he turned down weapons when he saw how sharp the blades are. Very sensible, lot of discipline, and smart. I like him, he’s a good kid.’
‘That’s enough for me.’ John pulled himself to his feet and pushed his big executive chair away from the desk. ‘Let me see him.’
We went into the dining room together. Michael rose and shook John’s hand, obviously intimidated, but still trying to work out who John was.
When he took Michael’s hand, John stopped and concentrated, having a quick look inside. Then he dropped Michael’s hand and roared with laughter.
I watched him with bewilderment; I’d never seen him react like that before. Michael shot a querying look at me and I shrugged.
John gestured for us to sit and flopped into a chair, still chuckling. He leaned his elbow on the dining table and rubbed his chin. ‘I know your father. He’s one of my best friends.’
Dear God, that explained the hair. And it made the kid an even better choice for the job; well done, Leo. But also a riskier choice, if Michael followed his father in other directions as well.
Michael stiffened. ‘How do you know my father, sir? My mother won’t tell me who he is.’
John stopped laughing and studied Michael intently. ‘You don’t know who your father is?’
‘No, sir.’
‘Do you know where you were born?’
‘Somewhere in China, sir. My mother left when I was two. She didn’t go back to the States, she stayed here. She won’t say why. I’ve been to school here, but I want more.’ He hesitated, then grimaced. ‘Sometimes I think there has to be more than just this. This life in Hong Kong.’ He glanced up at John. ‘Something more, you know? I think my dad may be someone important, and I want to know who he is. He provides well for us, we have plenty of money. I’ve asked Mom about it, but she won’t tell me. I looked for him for a while, tried to trace the finances back, but I hit a dead end and gave up. Then Leo said you wanted someone to work for you and learn martial arts, so here I am.’
‘You have no idea who your father is?’ John said.
‘No. But you do?’ Michael said, his intelligent face full of hope.
‘If his mother doesn’t want him to know then I think we should respect her wishes,’ I said.
‘I want to know!’ Michael looked from me to John. ‘I’m old enough to decide for myself, and I want to know!’
‘I think he should know,’ John said. ‘He may have abilities beyond the norm that we could bring on before I go. It will make it easier for him to fit in, being the same as Simone, half Shen. Besides, the Tiger said that none of his women ever wants to leave, and I would love to rub his wet pink nose in this one.’
Both of us laughed quietly at that. Michael looked from one of us to the other, bewildered.
‘How could she have left?’ I said. ‘You said they’re content to serve him forever.’
‘This one must be exceptional. It would take a tremendous act of will. Both of Michael’s parents are exceptional, Emma. Leo really has chosen very well.’
‘Do you think the Tiger would like to come down and meet him?’ I said. ‘He may be interested in seeing his son after so many years.’
‘Is the Tiger you’re talking about my father?’ Michael said.
Both of us nodded.
‘He wouldn’t come anyway,’ John said. ‘The Tiger doesn’t care one way or the other about his offspring, past ensuring they’re fed and housed. If they stay in the West they may learn the Arts and join the Horsemen. Or they may come down to the Earthly and have a normal human career. The ones at the Guangdong house were probably all his sons. He calls them by number.’
I remembered how Bai Hu had called one of the grooms by number when asking how many horses he had. That was son number two hundred and something. I inhaled sharply. ‘All of them died in that attack and he didn’t even bat an eyelid.’
‘If you mean he didn’t care, that’s correct,’ John said. ‘He has hundreds of children; they mature, grow old, die. He’s used to it. He’s really past caring.’
Michael was obviously confused by the whole exchange.
‘Some of his children have special abilities,’ John said. ‘Others are ordinary humans. This one is interesting: he has a great deal of chi and . . .’ He eyed me meaningfully. ‘A huge reserve of ching.’
‘Normal for his age, though,’ I said.
‘Could be, could be.’ John nodded. ‘You are showing remarkable restraint, Michael, and I am impressed. We are discussing your father, who you have waited so long to find, and you remain silent. We are discussing you, and you also remain silent. We have said things that you obviously don’t understand, but you have the discipline not to ask. This sort of discipline will suit you well in the training, you should go far.’ He rose. ‘I’ll take him, Emma, he is eminently suitable. Swear him to silence first, then tell him all: about me, about his father, everything. After that we’ll see if he’s willing to serve as Retainer. I want him to swear allegiance before I begin training him. I leave this in your capable hands.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Emma.’ John sighed with exasperation. ‘When will you stop calling me “sir” outside the training room? It is entirely not fitting.’
‘Sorry, John,’ I said. ‘Force of habit when you boss me around like that.’
He bowed slightly. ‘If it pleases you, my Lady Emma.’
I rose and bowed slightly back. ‘With a great deal of pleasure, Lord Xuan.’ I grinned. ‘And speak English.’
‘I was.’
Michael looked at us, from one to the other, with complete bewilderment. Time to put the poor kid out of his misery.
John went out, and I sat again. ‘Now, Michael, where to begin?’ I suddenly remembered a conversation I’d had with Leo and Ms Kwan what seemed like centuries ago. ‘First,’ I said, ‘I need you to swear on your honour that you won’t tell anybody what I’m about to tell you. Nothing is to travel beyond the walls of this room; you are not to share it with anybody unless they know already.’
He looked me right in the eye and I could see that he meant it. ‘I swear.’
‘Good. Now, how much do you know about Chinese culture in general?’
He was carefully obedient and answered my weird question. ‘Enough.’
‘Do you know the names of any of the Chinese deities?’
‘A few.’
‘Have you heard of Pak Tai?’
‘God of Martial Arts? Sure. We have an altar for him at the studio.’ He opened his mouth and then closed it again.
‘Did Leo put that altar there?’
‘How did you know that? He won’t talk about it. He even puts incense on it. It’s really weird.’
‘How much do you know about Pak Tai?’
The kid was good. He patiently let me lead him through my pointless series of questions. He really wanted the job. ‘God of Martial Arts, always in black. Controls water. Destroys demons. They hold the Cheung Chau festival for him.’
‘Do you know his name in Putonghua?’
He grimaced. ‘My Putonghua is terrible. My Cantonese is passable, but not great. It’s all English at home, my mom doesn’t speak much Chinese.’ He seemed about to say something then changed his mind.
‘Pak Tai in Putonghua is Xuan Wu, Xuan Tian Shang Di, Dark Lord of the North.’
His face began to betray him. He waited for me.
‘Have you ever heard of Kwan Yin? Gwan Yum?’
‘Of course. Goddess of Mercy.’
‘White Tiger God of the West?’
He nodded, then scowled, beginning to lose patience. He’d done well to let me take him this far without becoming irritated at the seemingly pointless nature of the questions.
‘Okay.’ I leaned back. ‘They’re real. They’re all real.’
‘Of course they’re real,’ he said. ‘People put altars up for them all over the place.’
‘No, Michael. They’re extremely real. In fact, you just met one of them.’
He went completely still.
‘Mr Chen, the gentleman you just met? Your prospective employer? He’s Pak Tai. He’s Xuan Wu.’ I smiled. ‘That was the God of Martial Arts.’
His expression didn’t shift. The kid was good.
‘Lord Xuan Wu married a human woman, and had a child with her. That child is the little girl you saw. Her name’s Simone. Her mother was killed by demons, and they’re after her as well. We will teach you the skills you will need to protect her against demons. You should be very good at it with some training, considering who you are.’
‘I don’t think . . .’ His voice trailed off. ‘What’s who I am got to do with it?’
‘You are the son of the White Tiger of the West, Michael. You are half god yourself. You are also half tiger. Let me tell you about your father.’
He stared at me. He gave me rope and I took it.
‘Your father has a palace in the Western Desert, in Heaven. He has a great many women there. Your mother fell for him and he carried her away to join his harem. She obviously grew sick of sharing him and left. She’s highly unusual in this regard, because he’s claimed, in my presence, that none of his women ever leave. Your mother must have a very strong will.’
‘She does. But —’
I cut him off. ‘There’s more to it than that, Michael, but I think that’s enough for now. Let me summarise. Your employer will be Lord Xuan Wu, God of Martial Arts, Dark Lord of the Northern Heavens, the North Wind. He will teach you to use your skills to defend his daughter, Simone, against demons. Your father is Lord Bai Hu, the White Tiger God of the West, the West Wind.’ I wondered how much had gone in. ‘Any questions?’
Michael rose. ‘I’m sorry, Miss Donahoe. I appreciate the attention, but I don’t understand why you’re doing this. It’s obvious you’re good, but there’s really no reason for you to spin this story. And I can assure you,’ he said sharply but politely, ‘that I am not half tiger. That’s a slur on my mother, you know, but you’re obviously crazy, so I’ll let it pass.’
I clapped my hands with delight. The kid was perfect. He hadn’t believed a word I’d said. ‘You are truly very impressive. Come with me, I’d like to show you something.’
He eyed me suspiciously.
‘Would you trust me if I brought Leo along?’
He nodded. He trusted Leo. Good.
I took him to the training room. Leo was there already, working with Dark Heavens, the sword that resided in clips next to the front door. As soon as we entered Leo fell to one knee and saluted me.
I sighed with exasperation and Leo grinned as he pulled himself back to his feet.
Michael glanced sharply at me.
‘Leo, do you know who Michael’s father is?’
‘No, my Lady,’ Leo said. ‘No idea.’
Michael didn’t miss the honorific and glanced at me again.
‘Lord Xuan says that he is the son of Bai Hu.’
Leo reeled back. ‘Whoa. What a good choice. Half Shen. Half tiger. Son of the West Wind. I couldn’t have chosen better.’ He glared at Michael. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ He raised his hand and grinned. ‘No, don’t worry, of course you didn’t know that I’m familiar with Shen.’
Michael looked as if he was about to fall over. His face was ashen.
‘He didn’t know who his father was until about five minutes ago,’ I said. ‘His mother never told him. He has no idea about anything, and didn’t believe me when I just told him.’
‘Even better.’ Leo studied Michael appraisingly. ‘I can’t believe what a good choice I made here.’
‘How about we pull out the demon jar? Could you get it for me, please?’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ Leo grinned at Michael and put Dark Heavens back on the rack. ‘Don’t worry, you’ll believe the Lady Emma soon enough.’
Poor Michael just stood there, stunned, and watched Leo go out.
‘Remember, Michael, you are sworn to secrecy on this,’ I said. ‘Don’t bother trying to tell anybody, anyway. Nobody would believe you.’
‘I stand by my word,’ Michael said absently.
Leo came back with the jar. I took it from him and put it in the corner of the room. ‘You guide him, I’ll get the demons out.’
‘Demons?’ Michael said.
‘Lady Emma told you everything, didn’t she?’ Leo said.
Michael nodded.
‘Well then, select a weapon.’ Leo picked Dark Heavens from the rack.
Michael’s face was full of scepticism, but he took the white katana from the rack anyway.
Leo snorted. ‘Did Lady Emma tell you to take that one?’
‘No,’ Michael said, ‘I chose it myself. Is it the wrong one?’
Leo glanced at me. ‘You know that sword’s name?’
