Kylie Chan - Red Phoenix

‘That’s right. Come with me.’

‘I don’t know of any famous practitioners named Chen. Chen or Chan?’

‘Definitely Chen,’ I said with amusement. ‘And you probably have heard of him. Come with me.’

I led him to the dining room and sat him at the table, then went into the study to find John. He sat in front of the budgeting spreadsheet, his noble face intent on the work. He looked up and smiled when he saw me.

I leaned on the back of his chair and checked the sheets over his shoulder. ‘You forgot something. Remind me to go through these with you later. You men have no idea how to budget for female needs.’

‘Too close, Emma.’

I moved slightly away.

He grinned over his shoulder. ‘And?’

‘Oh. Yeah. The kid’s in the dining room. He’s only first or second grade black belt in anything, but he has a lot of talent and Leo’s started him well on the right path.’ I heard myself. ‘I sound like an expert, and I’ve only been learning myself for about a year.’

‘A year with me is worth a lifetime with any other Master. You are an expert, Emma.’

I shook my head. ‘I’m just a beginner. Anyway. Michael. He has a lot of talent. He can’t best me at hand-to-hand—’

‘I doubt if anyone who has learned from any other Master could best you at hand-to-hand,’ John said.

‘—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?’