Kael’s thoughts were a jumble of violent emotions and she struggled to get a fix on them as she paced.

Her body was on such a hair-trigger that she nearly sent Lao Ma through the wall when the later laid a gentle hand on Kael’s shoulder. “Kael,” Lao Ma said softly, “listen to me.”

Flinging the hand from her shoulder, the American spun quickly, pinning Lao Ma’s arms to her sides. “I’ve listened quite enough, thank you. In fact, that’s all I’ve been doing for the past twenty one days. Listening. Going soft while my enemies sat right under my nose. Laughing!” Releasing the smaller woman, she again spun away. “There’s gonna be laughter alright. But you won’t be the ones laughing when I get through with you.”

When the touch came again, it was anything but soft. Lao Ma used her implacable strength to grab Kael’s arm and hold on, not letting the struggling woman free. “If I wanted you dead,” she began, in that same calm voice, “I would have let Ming Dao and his dogs finish the job they’d started. I would have let you die on the street. I would never have brought you into my home, endangering the lives of the women who share it with me. If you believe nothing else, I ask that you believe this. I do not want you dead nor in the hands of Ming Dao and his thugs. Just because he owns my body does not mean he owns my spirit. Please allow me to explain this to you so that you may understand.”

Kael ceased her struggles, but her anger was still in high gear. “Start talkin’.”

“My father was addicted to heroin. Every bit of money he ever had went to Ming Dao’s brown powder. Soon, he had amassed quite a debt to the man. When I was thirteen, I was sold into indentured servitude for thirty years as partial payment for that debt. I had no choice in the matter. It was just the way of things.”

Kael said nothing, but Lao Ma could feel the American’s muscles begin to soften beneath her grip. She felt slightly encouraged, and so continued her tale, never loosening her grip.

“Six years ago, I became pregnant by Ming Dao. Nine months later, I gave birth to a son, who was named Ming Lao.”

The American stiffened again. “Ming Lao is your son? They said his mother was killed.”

“And, to all intents and purposes she was.”

“So, someone is lying. Cause you’re not dead.”

The other woman remained as imperturbable as ever.

Kael’s thoughts were a jumble of violent emotions and she struggled to get a fix on them as she paced.

Her body was on such a hair-trigger that she nearly sent Lao Ma through the wall when the later laid a gentle hand on Kael’s shoulder. “Kael,” Lao Ma said softly, “listen to me.”

Flinging the hand from her shoulder, the American spun quickly, pinning Lao Ma’s arms to her sides. “I’ve listened quite enough, thank you. In fact, that’s all I’ve been doing for the past twenty one days. Listening. Going soft while my enemies sat right under my nose. Laughing!” Releasing the smaller woman, she again spun away. “There’s gonna be laughter alright. But you won’t be the ones laughing when I get through with you.”

When the touch came again, it was anything but soft. Lao Ma used her implacable strength to grab Kael’s arm and hold on, not letting the struggling woman free. “If I wanted you dead,” she began, in that same calm voice, “I would have let Ming Dao and his dogs finish the job they’d started. I would have let you die on the street. I would never have brought you into my home, endangering the lives of the women who share it with me. If you believe nothing else, I ask that you believe this. I do not want you dead nor in the hands of Ming Dao and his thugs. Just because he owns my body does not mean he owns my spirit. Please allow me to explain this to you so that you may understand.”

Kael ceased her struggles, but her anger was still in high gear. “Start talkin’.”

“My father was addicted to heroin. Every bit of money he ever had went to Ming Dao’s brown powder. Soon, he had amassed quite a debt to the man. When I was thirteen, I was sold into indentured servitude for thirty years as partial payment for that debt. I had no choice in the matter. It was just the way of things.”

Kael said nothing, but Lao Ma could feel the American’s muscles begin to soften beneath her hand. She felt slightly encouraged, and so continued her tale, never loosening her grip.

“Six years ago, I became pregnant by Ming Dao. Nine months later, I gave birth to a son, who was named Ming Lao.”

The American stiffened again. “Ming Lao is your son? They said his mother was killed.”

“And, to all intents and purposes she was.”

“So, someone is lying. Cause you’re not dead.”

“Indeed I am not. Another young girl named Ling Li was sold into servitude at the same time as I. We became friends. We also became pregnant within a month of one another, and gave birth within hours. I, to Ming Lao, and Ling Li to a daughter she never got to name.”

“And why was that.” Kael’s voice was flat, without inflection, yet Lao Ma knew she was keenly listening.

“Girl children are not seen as gifts by Ming Dao. The infant was murdered within seconds of her birth. Ling Li lost her life shortly after that.”

“Why?”

“Female offspring hold no interest for Ming Dao. Every one of them has been killed after birth. I was the only one to produce a male heir. He dares not rid himself of me.”

“I’m afraid I still don’t understand. From what I can remember of biology, it’s the man, and not the woman, who produces the chromosomes that determine the sex of the child.”

“Ming Dao is a very superstitious man. He tried for many years to produce a son, but failed. Because of his success with me, he must keep me alive and healthy. If Ming Lao should die before he reaches maturity, Ming Dao will come back to me, demanding I produce another son for him.”

Kael snorted. “Just like that, huh.”

“Yes. Just like that.”

“And why did your friend have to die? Does Ming Dao murder all concubines who displease him by giving birth to daughters?”

Lao Ma laughed lightly. “I don’t think there would be two women left standing in all of China if that were so. No, Ming Dao employed a skill with which he is quite accomplished: deception. He killed Ling Li, telling everyone it was she who had given birth to his son and had died in childbirth. Myself, he kept alive and sent away so I would not be a ‘softening’ influence on his son.”

“’His son’?”

“Yes. I gave birth to the boy, and there will always be that bond, but he is being raised to be as monstrous as his father. Ming Lao is his father’s son.”

“And so he sent you here?”

“Yes. The Mistress of this house died suddenly and he sent me in to fill her place. It is his way of keeping me in his service while removing my influence over Ming Lao. And here I shall stay.”

“What happens if Ming Lao manages to live to take over his father’s position?”

“I will likely be executed.”

“You don’t sound as if that frightens you in the least, having a death sentence over your head.”

Lao Ma shrugged. “My life matters little in the Universe’s plan. After all, we all live beneath the sentence of death from the moment we draw our first breath.”

Kael relaxed. “Yeah, I suppose we do.”

The Asian woman released her grip on Kael’s arm. “So, as you can see, I have very little vested in the affairs of Ming Dao and his empire. I helped you escape from him and his men not to hand you back to him, but rather to free you from yourself. You are destined for greatness, Kael Androstos. You must simply find those seeds within yourself and allow them to blossom. I can only offer so much aid to you. It is something you must, ultimately, do for yourself.”

Kael turned slowly, looking deeply into the eyes of the woman before her. “How do I know I can trust you?”

“You don’t. Not with one hundred percent certainty. You must listen to what your heart says.”

The American laughed. “I don’t have a heart, Lao Ma.”

Reaching up, Lao Ma laid a tender hand on Kael’s cheek. “Yes you do. And it is bigger by far than you can imagine.”

Disbelieving, Kael shook her head.

“You have within you an immense capacity for hatred and anger. You are filled to the brim with it. Love and hate are two sides of the same coin. Where the capacity exists for one, the capacity exists for the other. Drain your hatred, subdue your will, and the understanding will come.”

“And you really believe this.”

“Yes.”

Kael dropped her eyes, looking down at the ground as she swallowed hard. “I only wish I could,” she said, a trace of hoarseness in her vibrant voice.

15 June 1991. Lao Ma’s Home. Chengdu, China

It was early morning when Lao Ma made her silent way to her sitting room to begin her daily meditations. She smiled as she crossed the threshold, seeing Kael sitting crosslegged on one of the mats, a copy of her ancestor’s Book of Wisdom laying open on her lap. Her mesmerizing blue eyes were closed and she appeared deep in meditation.

Those eyes opened as Lao Ma took a step back, intending to leave the other woman to her peace. Kael’s smile was open and beautiful, pulling Lao Ma back to the threshold. “Please,” she said softly, responding to the smile with one of her own, “continue with your reading. I did not mean to intrude.”

“You weren’t intruding at all. In fact, I’d welcome your presence. I have a few questions about what I’ve been reading.”

Gracefully accepting the invitation, Lao Ma let her feet carry her into the room, where she joined Kael on the mat, sitting and crossing her own legs beneath the silken fabric of her gown. “How might I be of assistance to you?”

Kael looked back down at the Book, pointing out a passage with one long, tapered finger. “Your ancestor was indeed a wise woman. I just wish she wrote in a way that could be easily understood by mere mortals like myself.” Her eyes twinkled.