Lane leapt from the back of the aisailtarn and hit the ground running. His heart had been lodged firmly in his throat since he’d been told of the situation. He’d sat forward on the tarn the entire flight to Koorime, urging the riding bird faster than was probably healthy or safe.

Tanji and Kesu had fallen somewhere behind him, he’d been unable to contain his anxiety to wait for them. They’d catch up eventually, and hopefully not have any disputes with the city’s border guards.

Lane vaulted easily over the fence enclosing the tarn pen, bulleting down the city street, knowing the way instinctively as if he’d never left his homeland.

Normally quiet this time of evening, the city was in chaos. The sting of smoke was in his eyes and his lungs as he ran, the unmistakable scent of fires still burning out of control.

Lane crashed into the heavy front doors, more than likely bruising his shoulder, not caring as he staggered through, quickly recovering his speed to vault up the stairs. Shey and female servants moved out of his way quickly, even opening the door to his mother’s chamber for him.

He collapsed down to his knees beside her bed, panting and trying not to cry at the sight of her. AranlainShai was laying there rather formally, hands folded on her belly, otherwise covered by blankets. Her hair was singed and blackened where it should have contrasted stark white against the rich blue of the many pillows.

“Mother,” Lane gently took the top hand and folded it between his.

“How dare you bring that human tongue here,” a regal looking woman snapped in Koorime.

“Don’t you even start! I am her son and this is my House, I will speak how I wish!” Lane glared fiercely. He knew his mother, she had promoted the learning of human and other languages and accepted them freely in her house, and that she loved human culture in particular.

“It is because of sentiments like that that we are now being hunted like taja by our own slaves!”

Lane laid his mother’s hand down, standing fluidly. “I was once one of those slaves.”

“And that was a mistake, to let you and the other two go. It has destabilized our entire culture and led to this disaster.”

“Perhaps this is not a disaster, but something which has needed to happen.”

“How dare you speak such blasphemy!”

“I dare what I wish! And I’d like to remind you, High Lady Kulin, that this is the Jun House and you are a guest here.”

“It is not your place as a male to speak to me in that manner.”

“I am a free male, first and only heir to the House of Jun, and I speak how I wish,” Lane moved from Koorime back to ningen, just to add another insult to the words.

Lane turned and regarded everyone in the room and beyond it, eyes narrow and angry. He spoke in Koorime only because some of them might not understand ningen language, “I am the first child of this House, and as such I speak for this House during my mother’s indisposal.”

High Lady Kulin stepped forward, challenging him, still speaking Koorime herself. “Impossible, you are male.”

“I am free. Is there an obstruction in your ears that excuses you from hearing that?”

She drew back her hand as if to strike him, but Lane was quicker and caught her wrist. All that training with Tanji hadn’t been for nothing after all. They glared at one another, the other each refusing to move. Lane kept his grip on her wrist firm, but not exceptionally so, she was a frail woman beyond her years.

High Lady Kulin should have stepped down from her position long ago, but her only heir had died in the invasion of Koorime made by Shadow three years before – the daughter Lane had been betrothed to. The High House had also suffered so drastically that the Kulin House had moved to the first place on the council, and therefore the Jun House second. However, Lady Kulin had no heir, upon her death the Kulin House would have to step down from High, and quite likely with the Jun House taking its place.

Lane kept correspondence with his mother as frequently as possible, he knew the political situation. Lady Kulin was by far and away against any shey rights, and Lady Jun – obviously her quickly rising successor – had owned the three shey freed. Despite Lady Jun’s position on shey freedom, she had been proposing a slow change, giving shey more rights gradually.

Obviously someone had been less than pleased about that. The only question was, who had been behind the attempt on her life, the supposed “radical shey band” that was leading an uprising, or was it a secret plot by Lady Kulin and perhaps others on the Council?

This supposition wasn’t far from Lane’s mind as he glared into her eyes, trying to seek out anything, any clues. Lady Kulin looked insulted, as she would at a male looking her in the eye, tearing her wrist away from him.

“Impudent, spoiled child,” she spat at him.

“It’s beneath me to resort to name-calling,” Lane lifted his head.

Lady Kulin stiffened at the implication she were less than a shey, obviously resisting the urge to strike him again.

“If you’re seeking shelter in this House, you’d best remember your manners a little better than you are now,” Lane threatened, voice low and hissing. He turned on his heel and knelt again by his mother’s bedside.

“You and your freed “brothers” have been called to Council. Once Lady Jun recovers sufficiently, Council will meet on the matter.”

Lane didn’t even glance as Lady Kulin stormed out of the room, parting servants. He closed his eyes a moment to compose himself, slipping up onto the bedside and leaning to wring out a cloth from the nearby basin of water. He dabbed lovingly at his mother’s face, whispering soft words to her, hoping to bring her around.

~*~

“Kesu was refused.”

“Oh?” Lane turned elegantly, blinking at the small figure across the room.

“Yeah… they said it wasn’t none of his business.”

“But they allowed you through.”

“Yeah, guess they think I’m important or summat, I dunno.”

“Well, you are the Dragon Prince,” Lane smiled softly, shrugging into the overjacket of the formal outfit.

“Am not,” Tanji stepped through the curtain from the balcony.

Lane smiled a little more, “You are and you know it, even if you don’t want to be.”

“Hn,” Tanji crossed his arms over his chest, regarding Lane from beneath his bangs. “Your mom better then?”

The amusement fled from Lane’s features, replaced again by the worry that had so often been there this last week, “Yes, she’s recovered and we go before Council at midday.”

“They gonna try to execute you, aren’t they?” Tanji’s pissed off defenses slipped a little bit.

Lane smiled bravely, regarding the braid he was working on in the mirror over his shoulder, “They may try. My mother still has power and associates, she is not alone on the Council, and it takes a vote of four in congruence for a banishment or execution.”

“Can’t banish you, you already moved off the island… this is stupid, not even a citizen really, can’t punish you.”

“It is not really punishing me, it is punishing my mother, and using us as an example to the supposed rebel shey band.”

“Ah… without you, your mother doesn’t really…”

“Have anyone,” Lane nodded solemnly. “Not that it’s even possible for me to assume her duties if she were to die, it is not about having an heir.”

“Her love for you goes beyond that, she just wants ya happy and free.”

“Right, and to serve as an example not only for shey wishing freedom, but also for the Council to see that it doesn’t have to be a violent or horrible ordeal, that shey can be freed peacefully.”

Tanji blinked up at him as Lane stepped close, laying his hands on his shoulders.

“I have a request for you,” Lane’s voice was nearly a whisper.

Tanji nodded, “Anything.”

“My mother wants to try and resolve this issue in Council, peacefully. Please, go back home and help take care of our children… and keep Din from coming, possibly even knowing. He doesn’t need this, and it won’t do any good to have him here.”

“He’d start the damn civil war.”

Lane nodded, “Exactly, he’d be the first to pick up a weapon and go charging into Council declaring war on women.”

Tanji smirked, “Oh yeah, I can so see that happening. You sure you don’t need me here? Protect you and Kai should-“

“No,” Lane shook his head, “I am confident in my mother’s abilities in Council, nothing will come of the accusations against us. As well, Kai and myself are trained and we can protect her should this rebel shey band be real.”

“You still don’t believe it is?”

Lane looked at the floor, collecting his thoughts, “No, it’s far too convenient. As well, it’s rather foolish for a rebel band to attack my mother when she’s the one advocating shey freedoms.”

“Yeah, did seem kinda odd to me too. So what’s up?”

The Koorime sighed, fussing with how the coat laid over his chest even though it was perfect, “I believe it is High Lady Kulin.”

“… the one who’s daughter you were spose to marry?”

“The same.”

“Well I can see why you’re kinda shaky, don’t wanna confront her?”

“For that reason, and the Kulin House is First of Council.”

“Ahh, bitch in power, that makes it real complicated. Sure you don’t want me here?”

Lane turned and smiled at his friend, “No Tanji, I see little that you can do here, it’s best you return, keep Din from finding out what is happening and keep him there. Have him baby-sit Kai’s twins, he loves them dearly and that should distract him.”

“Any idea how long this’ll take?”

Lane put his head down and sighed, “I don’t know. It could be as short as discovering who is behind this in Council today, or as long as a civil war. However in that case we’ll probably move my Mother from here to Ningen anyway.”

Tanji nodded, “That’s a good idea. Well… guess I’ll get going, go home and just wait.”

“I’m sorry there’s not more you can do, I know you’d prefer to be proactive in this.”

Tanji wandered back out onto the balcony, “I’ll be proactive in controlling Din, no big deal. Besides, think it’s actually tougher controlling him than any rebel shey army,” the little fire demon winked and leapt off the balcony, out of sight before Lane could blink.

Lane smiled softly to himself, confident Tanji could control his “brother” even if Din found out what was going on. He turned to Kai and the two of them left his room together, striding down the hall of the Jun House.

Lane’s knuckles rapped lightly upon the door to his Mother’s chambers, a shey opening the door. AralainShai finished placing a jeweled headpiece upon her braided hair and held her head higher, regarding herself in the mirror with satisfaction. She wasn’t vain, she wore only enough to display her class standing, and had often confided in Lane she secretly hated all the socially required glitter.

She stepped elegantly into the hallway, rather more slowly because of the aches remaining in her body, but with no less confidence. Lane and Kai fell in behind her, Lane to her right, Kai to his right, as they had so often done for the majority of their lives.

The three of them walked without fear from the House and along the street. The fires were gone now, the “attacks” having died off rather quickly and suspiciously. Most of what had been burnt had been a few of the smaller shey breeding houses, but ironically most of those hurt had been shey, not trainers or breeders.

“You walk without fear to what might be your death?” AralainShai queried softly.

“We have faith in you,” Lane answered, going silent as they entered the Council Building.

AralainShai quickened her pace down the long corridor, her footsteps echoing between the massive pillars. Lane and Kai kept their silent pace, stopping before the massive doors of the main Council Chamber as Lady Jun vanished through a more discrete door on the right.

It was difficult to hear through the door, but both Lane and Kai made the effort, slowing their breathing to nearly nothing and holding perfectly still. It didn’t matter, the doors would be opened when the Council was ready to hear their case, and it was only the same formalities used in every Council meeting.

Lane lifted his head, “We walk as free persons, head high, proud. Look them in the eyes, speak with respect, but without restraining the message that needs to be spoken.”

Kai nodded, unsure if Lane was speaking to himself or to his companion, but taking the message as a command anyway.

“It would take a vote of four to execute us, Lady Kulin would need to have swayed three of the five other Council members.”

“Sounds unlikely.”

“Exactly, and they can’t banish us, we’ve already left the island.”

“Still, I let you talk the more.”

“Ahh Kai, always so shy. You have things to say and eloquence I don’t, we’re equals now, remember that, and we’re equal to them in flesh and blood, don’t let their power scare you.”

The massive doors were pushed open from the inside by shey, revealing the beautiful Council Chamber. The Seven sat in a semicircle at the far end of the room, the outermost seats a step up from the floor and each next seat another step up. High Lady Kulin sat at the center in the highest seat, representative of the High House. Lady Jun was just to her right.

The seven Ladies had fallen silent at opening of the doors, all of them seated elegantly, eyes watching as Lane and Kai approached. Lane walked with a confident stride, he always did, he’d been taught to and bred with that much self-assurance. He was the son of a respected Council House, and all of his movements displayed that.

Kai admired that strength, he himself falling back on all the old shey postures, submissive and respectful. He and Lane both held their heads high, but Kai’s eyes were fixed downward, Lane’s met each of the Ladies’ gazes in turn.

Lady Kulin stood fluidly, “You LanEise Jun and KaiAral Jun, former shey of the Jun House, have been brought before the Council today on charges of directly causing social unrest with malice and forethought, in direct opposition to this Council and our beloved teshnei. The third accused, DinTejin, is not present I note.”

“No honorable Lady, Din is undergoing an operation of a life matter and could not be here,” Lane answered, giving her only the information she needed to know.

Before Lady Kulin could object, which you could tell she was prepared to do, Lady Jun interrupted, “I believe a life matter is more than excuse enough for Din’s presence, does the Council concur?”

The other five of the Council nodded immediately. Lady Kulin was not best pleased.

“Well,” Lady Kulin managed to somehow hold her head even higher in indigence, “the evidence toward the accused is easily shown by the recent chaos and attacks by rebelling shey.”

Lane took a step forward, addressing and meeting the eyes of the entire Council, “Has it been proven that these shey are rebelling, or that they are even shey?”

There was a murmur through the Council. Lady Kulin glanced at the others, looking almost fearful for a split second, “What is it you are inferring?”

“I’m inferring that it could be an isolated incident, or even an accident. As far as I know, no shey have been caught in any rebellious acts, or am I mistaken?”

Another Council member stood, nodding, “What you say is true, I have not seen anyone caught, or any reports to indicate shey are even involved. Why is it we should assume they are?” she question Lady Kulin.

“It is obvious this is a shey rebellion!”

“There’s no need for hysterics. What makes it obvious? Why could this not be an accident.?”

“There hasn’t been any further incidents.”

Lane stepped back beside Kai and let the debate happen. He’d placed the notion, there was nothing more he really needed to do. He trusted his mother’s judgment in keeping the idea going. It was truthful, there had been no further incidents and no concrete evidence.

“It remains that these shey are traitors and must be dealt with.”

“They were rightly given freedom, that is the choice of their Teshin.”

“They’ve been happily residing in Ningenkai for years.”

“They still have set the example for other shey, fueled the passions of them into rebellion.”

“What evidence is there?”

“We cannot accuse innocents without proper evidence.”

The discussion continued in that manner until Lady Jun finally spoke, “May I remind the Council that these two former shey of mine were exemplary when they were in my service, the most humble and obedient. The Council gave them freedom because in Koorime’s time of crisis they were there to assist us, without hesitation, at the risk of their own lives. Now they have families, children, even more would be effected by this decision.”

The Council fell silent. Lady Kulin, still standing, slammed her fist onto the table before them. “They are rebellious traitors! No one is allowed to leave the island!”

“And who says this?” Lady Jun challenged.

“The teshnei-“

Lady Jun stood, holding up one of the sacred texts of the teshnei, “No where in here does it state that we cannot leave the island, it says we are better off to stay among our own kind because of the harshness of Makai. Yes, punishment is to be thrown from the island, but it does not say we cannot leave.”

The other Council members nodded, Lady Jun was the authority on the texts of the teshnei.

“Why is it, Lady Kulin, that you are pursuing this so desperately? Why would you have these two boys stripped away from their homes, their lovers, and their children and put to death? Why are you so eager for blood?”

“Shey should not be free!”

AralainShai tossed her head, “We free shey often, keep them on as servants, we have done so since the beginnings of Koorime.”

“It should not be allowed, no male should ever be free.”

“How many shey have we denied freedom?” Lady Jun turned to the Council. They looked among one another and she knew they wouldn’t be able to come up with a single case. They never had, the Council usually trusted the judgment of the shey’s Teshin.

“Lady Kulin you obviously have a very strong opinion on the matter, and I have been your opponent for all our years seated on this Council. Never has Koorime supported your ideals.”

“Never have the teshnei supported yours,” Lady Kulin hissed back at her. She pointed at Lane and Kai, “They must be put to death before other shey follow their example.”

“Those two did not become free on their own. It would make more sense to execute me so other Teshin would not follow in my example.”

“Then perhaps that should be done.”

There was a murmur among the Council, the suggested killing of another Lady, especially a Council member, it was shocking to say the least.

Lady Jun turned proudly to the others, “If that is the Council’s decision, I set my life at your feet instead of my former shey.”

“No Lady Jun.”

“No, we could never.”

“You’ve done nothing.”

“Lady Kulin you are out of line.”

“No, she must be put to death, she offered it, these rebellions must stop!”

“What rebellions? There has only been one incident and no evidence as to precisely what caused it.”

“There will be others!”

“The breeding house that was “attacked” was one you had recently dealt with, wasn’t it? Didn’t they wrong you, insult you by refusing to sell you a shey because of your attitudes on shey freedom?” Lady Jun questioned coolly.

“That is not part of the matter at hand!”

Another Council member stood, “Yes it is. Lady Kulin, did you arrange this?”

“No… I…” Lady Kulin stepped back from her chair. “I am the High Lady, First of Council! How dare you question me!”

“To further your own biases against the freedom of shey, you brought this before Council stating it was a rebellious shey act.”

“You withheld information of your dealings with the breeding house.”

“It is not pertinent information, my revenge is-“ she stopped dead, realizing she’d just incriminated herself, leaving no room for doubt.

There was a long, pregnant silence.

“Revenge is it? Revenge is a dirty, horrible thing,” Lady Jun said simply, seating in her usual manner at Council, eyes on Lane and Kai.

“The balance must be kept! Males must not be free!”

“Lady Kulin you are out of line.”

“You are not acting in the best interests of the Council nor Koorime, you are acting for yourself.”

There was a unified nod among the five, the Third Lady standing, “Lady Kulin, on charges of treason and falsifying information in Council, and for the attacks upon a respected breeding house, you are hereby stripped of your Council position and to be confined until such time the Council can hear this case,” she snapped her fingers to the warrior shey lining the shadows of the room.

“No! No you cannot! I am High Lady, First of Council,” Lady Kulin screamed, fighting as the shey took hold of her and had to drag her from the room.

The Third Lady remained standing, addressing the rest of the Council. “A cancerous sore has been removed from this Council this day, and now we stand without a leader. How does the Council vote on this matter?”

“The Second House should be exalted.”

Another nodded, “Lady Jun should ascend.”

“Agreed.”

“I also concur.”

The Third Lady bowed her head, “I concur as well. Lady Jun, this Council has voted and it’s word is law,” she sat.

“Well, if that is the vote of the Council, I humbly accept,” Lady Jun stood fluidly, bowing deeply to them.

She moved with natural grace and poise, stepping up from her place to the next raised seat, standing there elegantly. “As my first proposal as First of Council, I am announcing that my House will not move to the High House as is tradition.”

AralainShai gave a moment for the Council to take that in. Of course they should have expected her to be unconventional. Lane was particularly pleased to know his home wouldn’t be moved, even if he was proud of his House for receiving the honor of the highest position in Koorime.

“I propose that the High House be turned from it’s current state into a hospice and refuge for shey who believe they have been treated unfairly by their Teshin. Here they will be cared for, listened to, treated as living beings and not possessions to be owned, and hopefully counseled into either resolving the dispute or finding another suitable Teshin. I also propose a committee to listen to these shey complaints to be selected from the community and re-selected every year as voted on by Council. What is the Council’s view on this proposal?”

The other five Council members turned to one another and murmured, some nodding. One by one they all stood, bowing their heads to Lady Jun.

“The Council votes unanimously to accept this proposal.”

Lady Jun smiled and nodded, “Then it is agreed. The committee will be selected upon conferring the Seventh Seat to a new House so a fair vote may be reached. Now… I believe this issue should be the next to be addressed…”

Lane could barely keep himself from beaming, bowing his head to his mother from his place where he and Kai had retreated to the shadows respectfully. Kai beside him did the same and the two free Koorime left the Council chamber discretely.

~*~

“Lane!”

Lane turned, smiling at his mother as she swiftly came up to him, embracing him. He fell into her arms more than gratefully, feeling whatever worries and tensions he might have had instantly vanish. She could always do that to him.

AralainShai pressed her face into his hair, breathing deeply, “My son…”

“Mother,” Lane could barely force himself to whisper.

“I was so afraid they would vote for your execution, that Lady Kulin had corrupted too many of the others.”

“Oh Mother, you should have more confidence in your own abilities. You are a natural leader and were meant long ago to take First of Council,” Lane pulled back and caressed his mother’s face. “You will rule Koorime fairly and justly, as you had hoped.”

“Why did you come here? You could have not come, not put yourself in this danger of possible being killed.”

Lane kissed her softly, “I came because you are my Mother, my Teshin even yet as I am free, and I could not let you go through this alone.”

“Ahh my son, if only you could be my heir, you could rule Koorime as well as you say I can.”

Lane winked, “Perhaps, someday, you can make it so, change Koorime so that I could be your legal heir.”

AralainShai took a deep breath, “I don’t know, that’s a hefty challenge.”

“When has my mother ever backed down from a challenge?”

Lady Jun beamed, her eyes sparkling beautifully, “You know me too well, my son, far too well. I accept your challenge.”

He kissed her again, stepping back from her as he pulled back this time. “We should return home, I’m afraid to say, but no doubt Din and the children are wondering if we are all right.”

Lady Jun nodded, still smiling, “Well then, I am thankful you stayed until Council ended so I could say farewell.”

Kai stood then, coming up behind Lane, bowing his head to Lady Jun. “You are still our Teshin, even as we are free. This is the honor you have deserved being so kind to us.”

She pressed her lips into a firm line, elegant hand covering it demurely as she fought from crying, “Oh Kai, you are too sweet.”

“It’s true, Mother, we can only hope other shey find freedom from their Teshin in such a wonderful way. And we believe you can make that happen, we have faith in you. And you know how faithful Kai is.”

“Well then, I am exceptionally honored,” Lady Jun bowed her head to her former shey, her son, his adopted brother.

Lane and Kai bowed their heads in return, starting off.

“However…”

The two of them stopped, glancing back at their former Teshin.

“… I want you two to come back soon, to visit under happier terms, and bring your children. I want to see my grandchildren.”

Lane and Kai nodded, smiling, waving farewells, believing as they left to be leaving their former homeland in very capable hands. Koorime would change, slowly, peacefully, and that was for the better.