Chapter 6

 “When Great-Grandfather was dying,” Wen-Ling murmured, tracing her fingers over the shelves, “He told a messenger to relay his message, that the greatest treasure, the most important, is between scrolls of gold. One of my favorites.”

She turned to face us. “What would that mean?”

“Scrolls of gold...hmmm...” Chrysanthemum thought aloud, “Maybe we should look for scrolls with golden ribbons around them?” With that, all of us scrambled toward the bookshelves, not wanting to lose even one minute.

What could possibly be “between scrolls of gold”? One of the four pearls themselves? Directions to find the Guardians? Well, whatever it was, we've got to find out. Fast. At least before my father does something terrible. I shivered. What if he knew I was here? Well, I told myself, swallowing, It doesn't matter now. Not when the kingdom's at stake. Look for those books!

The scrolls lined up neatly in stacks on the shelves looked very old, the paper cracked and dusty, the ribbon faded and worn. Running my fingers lightly across each and every ribbon, I searched for a golden, at least, what could've been golden, ribbon. My frowned. There wasn't a single scroll of paper with a golden ribbon. Bending, I checked the other two shelves. None. My heart sank. One whole shelf and not one golden ribbon to be seen? Patience, I chided myself in my head, Patience. Remember that there are other shelves. Mama always said to not rush into conclusions. Mama. Oh, Mama. Had she known about Papa...what Papa did? No, I decided firmly as I stomped to the next bookshelf, irritated at myself for doubting Mama, she would never. At least she would've told me... Would she? Stop it. I mentally slapped myself. I need to stop thinking about this stuff. It'll make me sick. I rapidly checked the next three shelves for signs of golden ribbons.

“Not a single golden ribbon,” I heard Chrysanthemum somewhere in the far back.

“None near here,” Auntie-Lee muttered.

“I can't seem to find any either,” Wen-Ling's voice, exasperated, came from somewhere in the corners.

“Why is it,” I said as I walked about to meet my friends, “That none of us can find yellow ribbons?”

Chrysanthemum made a sour face. “We covered the whole area. I don't understand. Maybe scrolls of gold has a different--”

Suddenly Wen-Ling's eyes lit up with excitement.

“Oh my god!' she gasped, “I think I know where whatever it is Great-Grandfather hid is!”

She beckoned to us with great motion and we followed. I arched an eyebrow at Chrysanthemum. She shrugged, smiling.

“I can't believe I didn't see this before!” Wen-Ling stopped in front of a dusty bookshelf in the corner, “We completely ignored the second part: “one of my favorites”! Before Great-Grandfather became a monk, his favorite poet was a man with the last name Chin. And that surname means 'gold'.”

My jaw dropped as realization struck.

“And there were only two scrolls of his in the house, since Great-Grandfather left a long time ago.” Wen-Ling told us as she pushed several scrolls aside to reveal to reveal to scrolls sandwiching a box.

“That's it?” Chrysanthemum muttered, “Nothing else? As simple as that?” she moved forward and carefully removed the lid from the box.

The ground shook and I fell. Chrysanthemum gasped as several scrolls fell off the shelves. “Look!” Wen-Ling shrieked above the rumbling and I saw a small hole at the bottom of the shelf. I scrambled forward and grabbed the shelf. The shaking stopped. I reached inside the hole, hesitating. Auntie Lee nodded encouragingly. Taking a deep breath, I patted the ground in the hole. Nothing, nothing...wait...a scroll?

I drew the piece of paper from the hole. Upon the piece of paper was a message, written in a messy, scrawled hand. I read aloud:

“The first of the four,

Of gray mist and wind,

Is easy to ignore.

Within a hollow in the land,

Hidden yet not,

By the lady in gray.

What is hidden hides from the light of day.

In the land of crystal stars,

The land of the phoenix,

The purest of air need no guards.

Though 'tis true tales are yet untold,

Mark these words: All that glitters is not gold.

Your next key is at your destination.”

With a start I realized this was a riddle. “This is a riddle...” Chrysanthemum murmured, “In the land of crystal stars....the land of the phoenix...There's only one place left with phoenix roaming about. Ka Dun, the city of mines.”

 

Wen-Ling looked thoughtful. “Alright. You best get yourselves into hiding. I'm leaving as soon as I finish packing.”

“Wait, what?” Chrysanthemum's brows furrowed together, “Are you crazy? I'm coming with you! You didn't give me all that katana and sword training for nothing!”

Wen-Ling looked doubtful. “Look, you're in enough trouble as it already is. I taught you how to use the sword and katana because I think there's one day you might need it. And you need it now, to protect yourself. Remember those soldiers that day at the teashop? Well, they weren't fighting to kill, Chrysanthemum. They were trying to capture you. If they wanted to kill you, they could've done so in the first few minutes. Those are trained warriors out there, and they have direct orders to kill any one of us except Mayflower in this room.”

Chrysanthemum gulped, but kept her ground. “I'm coming with you,” she repeated firmly.

“Maybe I should come along as well,” I volunteered, “After all, it's sort of my fault that Chrysanthemum's in danger. I think I could tag along to watch over her, although,” I added, “I don't think she needs any protection from me.”

Wen-Ling sighed and stared at us. Chrysanthemum glared. I stood beside her.

“Alright, you can come along,” she sighed, turning, “But you better hurry along and pack your bags. Chrysanthemum can lend you some of her clothes. You're about her size. And,” she added with a side-long glance at Chrysanthemum, “Do bring the bokkens. I have a feeling we'll need to teach Mayflower how to defend herself. We can't rescue her all the time.” With a cry of triumph Chrysanthemum leaped to hug me.

“Come on!” she could hardly contain the excitement in her voice, “Let's go!”

“And,” Wen-Ling said, “You'd better pack only the kimono jackets and trousers and Kung Fu suits if necessary. But only clothing that you can disguise yourself with and move. There are soldiers out there, and they would be looking four two women and one girl,” she cast a meaningful glance at Chrysanthemum, “But they're not expecting Mayflower. Still, it would be better if you disguised yourselves as boys. We'll act as a mother and her two sons going to see the glorious diamonds of the mining city.” I looked doubtfully at her. Anyone who has eyes can see she's much too young to be our mother. “Go on,” she waved us, “Go get packed. We're leaving soon.”

Chrysanthemum tugged at my hand, and we went away.

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I stared the girl in the mirror. I was wearing one of Chrysanthemum's kimono jackets, a white one with black-cuffed sleeves and one of the black trousers she grew out of. My hair was still down. I had taken both Mama's jade hairpins that secured my hairstyle out and was now trying desperately to fashion a topknot. Which was kind of hard, since I've never done my hair that way before...

Finally, with a final thrust of the metal hairpin, I pinned my hair up. The girl in the mirror was completely transformed. I didn't look like the girl named Mayflower anymore. I looked more like a boy with no name.

“Whoa...” Chrysanthemum walked in, “You...don't look like you anymore...”

“I know,” I whirled around desperately, “It feels so....strange...”

“I know,” Chrysanthemum muttered, “I mean, I've dressed like this before, but I've never put my hair in a topknot...”

“Well,” I decided, picking up my bundle, “If we are going to be boys, we better think up names for ourselves.”

“Hmm...I've always wanted to think up a name for myself...just not...well...a boy name.”

“How about this,” I told her, “Since it'll be too weird for either of us to think up our own boy names, you can think of mine and I'll think of yours.”

“You first,” she whispered.

“Hmmm.” What did I think Chrysanthemum would like for a name... “Haruki.”

“Spring wood,” she murmured the meaning softly, “I think that suits me very well. And I have one for you that I think you'd like. Tatsu.”

“Hmmm, sign of the dragon,” I smiled. “So, greetings, Haruki.”

She grinned. “Greetings, Tatsu.”

We grinned at each other like idiots. But then, it's a good thing we found humor in both of us looking like boys with boy names...

“Are you guys done packing?” Wen-Ling shouted.

“All right!” We shouted in unison. Chrysanthemum, shouldering her bundle, opened the door for me and we raced outside.

“You girls are--” Wen-Ling cut herself off abruptly, “No. You boys. What are your names?”

“Haruki,” Chrysanthemum offered.

“Tatsu,” I grinned.

“Very good,” she smiled, “Now come on. We want to go before it lights. Haruki, Tatsu, you can ride Tatsu's horse. I'm riding my own. Now hurry.”

We left in a hurry, and only until we were at least a mile away from Auntie Lee's teashop did I realize that I had left both of Mama's jade hairpins upstairs. My blood ran cold and I gasped.

“What is it?” Chrysanthemum asked.

“Nothing,” I lied. Auntie Lee had already dismissed the servants and went to her safe house. So when Papa goes to storm the shop, he'll find nothing except two jade hairpins on a vanity table. But what would that mean?

It would mean that he knows. He knows I'm with them.

Author's Note

Whaddaya think of my riddle? took me whole hour of pacing to come up with it... I just hope it's ok......

Note two: a katana is a sort of Japanese blade weapon. If you want to read about it, here's the link to the wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katana

And a bokken is a wooden training sword.


Enjoy reading! I threw some Japanese names in there, since this story is supposed to be a mixed Asian culture story. :)

Reviews

[rae52]

it definately has potential

[Crystal Marie Rome]

Awesomeness! Loved this chapter and I really love the riddle!
Do you think it's sad that I know that Tatsu is definitely a Japanese name? ...I have to stop watching so much anime...
Anyways awesome chapter, loved it so much and do your best! =)