Blue Dragon

sat in the stands and waved cheerfully to the Tiger. He waved back.
    ‘Three One Five on White Flame,’ the announcer said. Michael rode out on a small grey horse, only about fifteen and a half hands. He stopped and saluted us in front of the podium. As we nodded back he went rigid, then relaxed.
    ‘Michael MacLaren on White Flame,’ the announcer said, sounding unhappy.
    The Tiger made a soft sound of amusement as Michael turned away to salute the judges.
    ‘What do you do if one of the sons has a fling with one of the wives?’ I said.
    ‘Doesn’t happen,’ he said firmly.
    ‘Oh, come on,’ I said. ‘There are supermodels, actresses, the whole works in there. A smorgasbord for any red-blooded guy. You can’t tell me it doesn’t happen.’
    ‘Doesn’t happen,’ he repeated. ‘Not red-blooded guys.’
    I inhaled sharply with horror. ‘Oh my God, you don’t . Not any more. Tell me it doesn’t happen any more.’
    ‘Yeah,’ he said with a grin. ‘Used to happen. I never did it to them, they’d do it to themselves. Stupidbastards. I kept telling them it’s a waste of time, you can’t kill all the hormones, all you can do is make yourself useless, but they wouldn’t listen. Being a member of the Seraglio Elite Guard is one of the greatest honours in the West. So they did it. Cut everything off. And so, as much as I hated it, I had to give them a job. It was a vicious cycle. Same as in Beijing.’
    ‘But you have stopped it now?’
    ‘Of course.’ He shrugged. ‘Found a clever way around it. One of the wives thought of it. When they turn twenty, they can apply. A Shen inspects them. If they show no interest at all in chicks, and they have the talent, they’re promoted. The numbers are just right: about one in ten. The situation works well.’
    I was speechless, a huge grin on my face.
    He continued with a perfectly straight face. ‘They all go out clubbing together. I think they have more fun in Gay Paree than the wives do.’
    I collapsed over the railing laughing. When I’d regained control I wiped my eyes. ‘If Leo knew about it he’d be here with Michael every Sunday. Some of those Elite Guards are incredibly cute.’
    ‘Oh, Leo knows,’ the Tiger said. ‘But he is completely devoted to his Lord, his Lady and their child. He never wants to be too far from you. He told me that himself.’
    ‘She’s not our child,’ I said softly. ‘She’s his child.’
    ‘Yes, she is, Emma,’ the Tiger said. ‘She’s yours just as much as she’s his. One day you guys must make it formal. You could make a declaration at Court after you’re married. Permit me to arrange it for you when the time comes. I’d love to see it.’
    I hesitated. It was disrespectful to Michelle’s memory for me even to consider this.
    ‘Michelle would have wanted it, Emma,’ the Tiger said.
    ‘You knew her?’
    ‘Clear round for Three…’ the announcer said, his voice trailing off as Michael glared at him. ‘For Michael MacLaren.’
    ‘That’s an exceptionally talented little horse he has there,’ the Tiger said. ‘Yes, of course I knew her. I was best man at the wedding.’
    Everybody applauded and Michael gave me a cheery wave. I waved back.
    ‘If you guys have a Western wedding, though, I’m not coming,’ the Tiger said. ‘Western weddings are as boring as hell. Those things take forever, altogether too much ceremonial garbage. The Chinese way’s much better. Serve tea to the elders, have a big dinner, lock the bride and groom away to do their thing, and then play mah jong for the rest of the night. And a few days later have a declaration in Court, making Simone your own.’
    It made my heart ache to think of it. We’d be a family. John would be my husband. Simone would be my daughter. A family. And then a chill went through me.
    ‘What if I’m the White Snake?’ I said.
    ‘You can’t be,’ he said. ‘Ah Wu and I discussed it. The Pagoda has not fallen. The Red Snake has not appeared. You are not the White Snake.’
    ‘What would happen to his vow to marry me if I was the White Snake? If I was his daughter?’
    ‘How do you know she was his daughter?’
    I smiled grimly. ‘I saw the look on his face.’
    ‘He vowed to marry you. It would happen. If you are the White Snake, you would not discover it until after you are wed. That is the nature of a vow such as this. I felt it when he made his oath to you, all the way from here. Such a vow from one such as he is a thing of