Blue Dragon

though, and he had been trusted with many of John’s older and more valuable scrolls on the Arts. A signed poster of an American college football team was the only decoration on the wall.
    Leo saluted me without rising, but the kid just sat and scowled. I didn’t recognise him; he must have been very new.
    ‘This is Scott,’ Leo said. ‘He’s just been recruited from Gold’s latest run through the US and Canada. Canadian. Arrived last week.’
    ‘Hi, Scott,’ I said, and took the chair next to him. ‘What seems to be the problem?’
    The kid was silent, still scowling, and it dawned on me: he didn’t know who I was.
    ‘He’s been told everything, Leo?’ I said without looking away from Scott.
    ‘I don’t think he completely believes it yet, my Lady,’ Leo said.
    Scott’s face went slack as he realised and he quickly rose and saluted me, falling to one knee. ‘Apologies, my Lady.’
    ‘Maybe I won’t throw you out, after all,’ I said, amused. ‘If I did, I think you would be the quickest ejection in the history of the Hong Kong-based Mountain. Do you believe it yet? Tell me the truth.’
    Scott glanced down and didn’t say anything.
    ‘Sit,’ I said, and he sat in the other chair. ‘Are you willing to go along with us crazy people to learn the Arts?’
    Scott nodded, his face serious. ‘Anything. I want…’ He paused. ‘I want it to be true, you know? I’ve seen chi. I’ve seen some of the stuff you guys can do. But it’s hard.’
    ‘Have you met the Dark Lord?’ I said.
    Scott nodded. ‘But,’ he said with a small smile, ‘he’s not really that impressive. He just looks like an ordinary guy.’
    ‘You’ll get there,’ I said, rising. ‘Can’t see a problem here, Leo. He’ll get there.’
    ‘Sit, Emma, that’s not the problem,’ Leo said. His expression became wry. ‘He has a major problem with his roommate at the New Folly.’
    ‘The guy’s a freaking faggot ,’ Scott said viciously. ‘You put me in with one of them . I want out right now.’
    I fell back into my chair, speechless. Leo’s face remained wry.
    ‘I don’t know what he’ll do to me in the middle of the night. You know they’re all…’ He paused, and pulled himself together. ‘You can’t trust them. And he could be diseased, or anything. We’ll be sharing the same goddamn bathroom . You’ve gotta move me out now .’
    I struggled to find words. Leo began to look amused at my reaction.
    ‘I cannot believe you let one of them learn here,’ Scott said fiercely. ‘Don’t you know about him? He told me like it was the most natural thing in the world, you know: “I’m from Holland, here’s a photo of my family, by the way I’m gay.” I could not believe it.’ He dropped his head. ‘I’ve heard they’re more relaxed about that stuff in Europe, but geez, he just came out with it like itwas completely normal. And he didn’t even look like one of them. Usually you can spot them a mile off—they’re totally gross.’
    Leo leaned back and waited.
    ‘Hold out your hand,’ I said.
    Scott seemed surprised at the strange request, then shrugged and held his hand out. I took it and examined him.
    ‘Definite energy potential, Mr Alexander,’ I said, releasing his hand. ‘But I think we should throw him out anyway. How good is he in hand-to-hand?’
    ‘Brilliant,’ Leo said. ‘Feel free to have some fun with him if you like, my Lady, this is the first one I’ve had in a while.’
    ‘You’re going to throw me out? Don’t throw me out!’ Scott looked from me to Leo. ‘I didn’t do anything! What—you think this is okay ?’
    ‘How many staff of the Mountain have you encountered so far, Scott?’ I said kindly.
    ‘Of course, Gold,’ Scott said. ‘He recruited me, showed me the quarters in Happy Valley, set me up, that sort of thing.’
    ‘Do you like Gold?’ I said. ‘You know he’s really a stone, not a human being at all.’
    ‘Yeah, somebody said that, but I can’t really see how the guy can be a rock,’ Scott said. ‘But he looked after me, he’s an okay guy.’
    ‘After Gold had you settled in, what happened next?’
    ‘I had the orientation with Master Leo. I’ve spent the last week being issued gear, being shown around, things like that. Everything was explained. I was presented to the Dark Lord and had to swear allegiance.’
    ‘It’s been a busy week,’ Leo said.
    ‘They haven’t sworn allegiance to me yet,’ I said.
    ‘We’ll get there,’ Leo