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The next day, Piatrus spent most of his day with Ferrell and with Captain Quinton giving instructions and working on business plans to be implemented while Piatrus and Eoin were gone. Piatrus did give Suthi and me instructions about household and family matters. On the surface, Piatrus appeared to be his usual, controlled self. From some of his reactions to questions from Suthi and me, I could tell that his control was just a veneer. But I didn’t think he was on the edge of a breakdown either.

The planned remodelling of the north wing was to be postponed until next spring, when he could be on hand to supervise and when the weather would be more reliable. The most distressing part of our last meeting was when Piatrus had Su Wei brought in. His face was impassive when she arrived. Suthi’s face, on the other hand, was full of contempt. From working closely with Suthi as I had, I found this very unusual as I had found her to be very egalitarian. She certainly didn’t like Su Wei.

I tried very hard to like her. I felt for her and her circumstances. But I certainly didn’t know the culture that she was from. I was certain that that might have been the cause of a lot of the problems that she had with the family. I had hoped for Su Wei’s sake that both she and the family would get to know and understand each other better over time. But Su Wei had remained standoffish and the family, other than myself and Piatrus, made no effort to make her part of the group.

It wasn’t as if the family disliked people with different moral standards than what the family publically espoused. They certainly made Uncle Eoin’s male lovers welcome and included them in the family celebrations. They certainly didn’t look askance when several of the grandsons lived with their paramours, outside the bonds of marriage. I had heard that, years ago, Piatrus had lived with a courtesan for a while and, from the stories that I was told, this woman had not been looked down upon. So it seemed very remarkable that the family didn’t take to Su Wei at all.

When Su Wei arrived, Piatrus seemed closed up tight. I could see from Su Wei’s expression that she was unsure of what going to happen and certainly didn’t want Suthi and me to be witnesses to it. I was sure that that was Piatrus’ plan all along.

Piastrus spoke first. “Su Wei, I have to apologize to you. I made a mistake bringing you here. I was thinking too much of my needs and did not consider yours at all. That is my fault. Before I go, I have to fix this problem once and for all.”

Su Wei’s face looked stricken. She immediately went to the floor and bowed before him and said something in Shiangkauese. She sounded very apologetic and passionate.

Anger flickered across Piatrus’ face. “You will speak Common Tongue or you will not speak at all!”

Su Wei bowed once more and said, “If I offended you last night, I give you my sincerest apology. I let my great love for you overwhelm me and I did not think.”

Piatrus sighed. “If that were only just the first offense, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. I am very tired of you and the games you are constantly playing. I realize that this is part of your culture and your nature. But I don’t want to put up with it any more. I am going to be as fair to you as I can be. I will not just kick you out into the street as your countrymen would have done to you. I am going to allow you to choose your future. However, I have to stress to you that our relationship is over.

“These are your options:

“1. You may go back to Shiangkau. I will send you back there at my expense. I will have a house bought for you so that you will have a place to live. You will be given a monthly allowance for your expenses. And you will be free to live your life as you please.

“2. If you do not wish to return to Shiangkau, then tell me where you wish to live and a house will be purchased, a monthly allowance arranged and you will be free to live as you please.”

“Only two options?”

“Yes.”

“But what if I promise to change? I can be whatever you wish me to be. I can be the docile obedient slave to you. I can be your whore whom you give to others to use, while you take politcal advantage of them. I can be your captive whom you tie up and abuse for your pleasure. I can be anything you want! Or all of these things! Please do not send me away! I love you, Master conDylar!”

“Do you, Su Wei? Do you really? I haven’t gotten that impression at all. You love my position, you love my money, you love the power that you think you would have, if only I gave in to you. If the Emperor hadn’t given you to me, I doubt that you would have given me a second glance. “

“Oh no, Master conDylar1 I do love you! I love you with all my heart and my body! Can you not tell it when we make love? You are a wonderful lover! I do not want any other man. I only want you.” Su Wei began to cry.

Piatrus looked exasperated. “I need your answer now.”

Su Wei looked frightened, as her tears continued to fall. “How can I possibly give you an answer now? You have given me no time to weigh the benefits and disadvantages of each option. I could not possibly give you an answer today or even tomorrow. Please, if I must go, please at least give me some time to make my decision? Please give me that little?”

I could see Piatrus’ resolve waver a bit. “All right. You may have some time to consider. But when I return, I will need your answer immediately. In the meantime, you are not to stay in the main house any further.” He turned to Suthi and asked, “Is there any cottage on the grounds that is not in use at the moment?”

Suthi thought for a couple of minutes and then replied, “Yes, there is Old Berta’s cottage off near the woods. It hasn’t been in use for years, since she and her daughter passed away. It is very isolated from the rest of the compound.”

Piatrus then turned to me, “Please send a maintenance man there to assess the fitness of the cottage for living. If it still is sound, then send servants there to clean it and prepare it for use. If not, have the men make any repairs necessary. If possible, I want Su Wei and her maids in there by tonight.” Piatrus then got up from his chair and walked out of the room, giving no further glances to Su Wei. Aunt Suthi left immediately afterwards.

Su Wei got up and, with a look of pure hatred and venom, she shouted at me, “You! You may have won this round, but I am not done yet! Not by any means! I will do everything in my power to win him back! I will lie, cheat and kill to do so! You wait and see! He is MINE! I will never let you have him!” She then ran out of the room before I could react to her. It took me quite a few minutes for my heart to stop pounding. I could not imagine why she hated me so and why she felt I was her rival for Piatrus’ love.

Once I felt calm enough, I sent the maintenance man to the cottage as Piatrus requested. He returned a couple of hours later stating that the structure was sound; all it needed, other that a fresh coat of paint, was a thorough cleaning and a couple of windows replaced. Since it was to be only used temporarily, I thought that painting would not be needed, but that the other repairs should be done immediately. I then sent the head housekeeper, Cora and half-a-dozen maids to clean and prepare the cottage to be lived in, including fresh linens and food for the larder. Everyone worked very hard and very fast. They finished before the sun started to set. I inspected the cottage and found it acceptable. I then informed Piatrus and told him that I couldn’t deal with Su Wei any further. After telling him about her behavior after he had left, he looked unhappy. “I am sorry, my dear, to expose you to such stress. I knew she was jealous, but I didn’t think that she was going to be that unreasonable. Promise me that you never go anywhere near her? Or, if you have to, make sure that you have Izshaq or Captain Quinton with you? Promise me?”

“I promise.”

“Good girl. I will supervise her move personally.” By the time the sun had set, Su Wei and her maids were ensconsed in the cottage.

The next morning, before high tide, the family escorted Piatrus and Eoin to Garmay and the docks, to give them a proper farewell. The Merry Nell was the only ship docked. The other two ships were anchored in the bay, until the Merry Nell was ready to leave. It had been decided that the two ships would hold cargo only, while the Merry Nell would take passengers only. It was decided that she was better suited for passengers. Consequently, when the family arrived at the dock, there were a lot of people milling about. Most of them were Uncle Haral’s people, as they said farewell to their friends and relatives. We waited until they had gotten settled in for Piatrus and Eoin to board. There was a lot of advice given and many tears. The family watched as the Merry Nell was towed out to the bay and joined the rest of the ships. They then sailed off to the south, going first to Valdžia to be joined by the other two ships and then, as a fleet, they would cross the ocean to the Archipelagos.

Unbeknownst to them and the family, Orlando and I contacted several sea dragons and several storm dragons, to watch and protect them, going and coming, so that they would have safe sailing and clear weather.

As we were getting back into the carriages, I felt a prickly sensation on the back of my neck, like as if someone was watching me. Before I got in, I turned and saw a man lounging against the wall of the harbor master’s office. He was staring at me intensely. He appeared to be tall and slender, with a saturnine aspect and a jaded mien that reminded me too much of Jaizel. He was very richly dressed, looking like a courtier. What he was doing at the docks was beyond knowing. When he saw me looking at him, he smiled and blew me a kiss. I glared at him and his audacity.

Donal noticed my expression. “What is the matter, love?”

“That man over there has been staring at me.” I replied, but when Donal turned to look, the man had vanished.