Ti Song, Celestial Lady, First Daughter of the Emperor, stared out through the casement. The platoon commanders were down in the courtyard, teaching the soldiers how to fight. That looked like fun. Well, perhaps not fun. Getting hit with a bamboo staff wouldn't be the most pleasant experience. Still, fight training had to be better than playing dress-up with her embroidered gowns or letting her attendants style and ornament her ankle-length black hair.

 

"More tea, Celestial Lady?" Lady Moonflower asked.

 

"I have drunk enough tea to drown the Imperial Army." Ti Song stuffed her hands into the trailing sleeves of her blue silk gown. "Is there nothing in this wretched palace I can do that won't bore me senseless?"

 

"The servants could carry our tapestry looms down to the rose garden, Celestial Lady," Lady Sweetvine said.

 

"Tapestry." Ti Song dismissed that drudgery. 

 

Lady Moonflower brightened. "Cook has been baking pastries with Master Fai Lo's new berries. Shall I fetch some, Celestial Lady?"

 

"Celestial Lady," Lady Sweetvine said, "Master Fai Lo breeds strange plants and creatures in his private garden. I hear dark rumors."

 

"Good!" said Ti Song. "Surely sorcery can't be boring." She turned to Lady Moonflower. "Find out what new food or drink Fai Lo has been cooking up for my brother. Bring it here at once."

 

Lady Moonflower dropped a hasty curtsy and fled. 

 

Ti Song continued to pace. Out in the corridor male voices shouted above a woman's pleading. Through the doorway burst Lady Moonflower, Celestial Lord Ti Wen and two of his advisors.

 

"Brother!" The sight of her twin flooded Ti Song with unexpected joy. The same black hair cut short for a man's braid. The same green eyes. Beneath his black vest and silver sash, Ti Wen wore a robe of the same blue silk. 

 

"Sister," Ti Wen said, "I cannot permit you to sicken yourself with a drink meant to send men charging into battle."

 

"Have we not been taught to seek out new and educational experiences?"

 

Ti Wen scowled. "We have also been taught to protect ourselves from that which will do us harm."

 

"You've drunk this brew?"

 

"I have."

 

Ti Song looked him over. "I see no signs of harm." Ti Song turned to Moonflower. "Tell Master Fai Lo to brew me a cup."

 

Prince Ti Wen raised his hand. One of his advisors shut the door and stood with his back against it."Sister, hear me! This is not a drink for women!"

 

"Hear me, brother." Ti Song stepped close to Ti Wen and spoke in a whisper. "If I don't have a cup of this mysterious drink before I draw ten breaths, Father will find out why you keep asking for new horses."

 

"Don't threaten me, sister."

 

"Your passion for--" Ti Song glanced at the servants. "--gambling is no concern of mine," Ti Song said, "so long as you do not bet against me."

 

Ti Wen held her glare for several heartbeats. Ti Song had known from childhood that her brother was happiest in the company of other boys. Just as Ti Wen knew his sister was happiest training to ride, to fight, and to pillage enemy palaces. At last Ti Wen sighed and nodded. Moonflower soon returned bearing a deep mug of white ceramic. Ti Song studied the blackish brew.

 

"Sister, please," said Ti Wen. "At least sweeten it with milk and honey."

 

"Do you drink it that way?"

 

"It is the custom of warriors to 'take it black.'"

 

"Well then." Ti Song raised the mug and took a sip. Bitter, yes, but the strong flavor appealed to her. "How long has Fai Lo been brewing this?"

 

"Only a week. The sorcery was simple enough compared to the difficulty of finding the special bean."

 

"Indeed?" Ti Song drank again. A brew for warriors, filling her with its heat and strength, banishing her boredom and making her long for some challenge, some battle, some wild dash across dangerous ground. 

 

"Moonflower! Get that dirty water out of my chamber."

 

Moonflower summoned the maids to clear away the tea service. Ti Song stared up at the tapestries hanging on her walls.

 

"Look at these. Garden scenes. Tranquil rivers. Why doesn't Father have me weaving battles? Some horrendous slaughter of a despised enemy?"

 

"Ti Song!" Prince Ti Wen reached for the mug. "The brew is far too strong for you. It's giving you these mad ideas!"

 

"Madness?" Ti Song spun away, out of his reach. "Is it madness to loathe the boredom of tea with all its tedious protocol? Is it madness to hate these cumbersome fashions and ludicrous hairstyles?" Ti Song downed another gulp and stood toe to toe with Ti Wen, glaring up into his eyes. "Is it madness to crave the sight of a half-naked stable boy dumping a bucket of water over his bare body at the end of a summer's day?"

 

"Out!" Ti Wen bellowed. "Get out! Let no one enter!"

 

His advisors and Ti Song's ladies hurried to obey.

 

"Brother," Ti Song said. "Do you know what I crave most? To wear armor and ride out beside you. To protect our family's lands. To be my father's daughter!"

 

Now that they were alone together, Ti Wen's look of disapproval faded. He grinned down at Ti Song, the grin she remembered from their days as children plotting against their tutors.

 

"In three days I ride out to thrash the border lord bold enough to steal our vassal's horses." Ti Wen took Ti Song by the shoulders. "Let us make a treaty, you and I. Swear to me you'll say nothing to Father of my...gambling, and I will find you armor and a weapon you can wield."

 

Ti Song's heart thundered with joy." You'll take me with you?"

 

"Prove your worth as a warrior and I'll see to it you enjoy more than just this warrior's drink." He laid his hand against her cheek. "I've missed you, sister. I was sad to see you shut away."

 

Ti Song threw one arm around Ti Wen's waist and hugged him tight. "I've missed you, brother. And envied you!" She downed the last of the bitter black brew. "Now tell me more about this border lord."

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