White Tiger

hand.
    ‘She also greatly honours you,’ John said. ‘A gift of one of her feathers is a rare thing indeed. It has miraculous powers. Look after it carefully, it is very precious.’
    ‘They’re showing the Tiger up,’ I whispered. ‘They’re doing their best to put his nose out of joint by outdoing him.’
    ‘You are very perceptive sometimes.’
    Most of the remaining dignitaries that saluted me and swore allegiance were people I hardly knew. All of the Generals were there; others were staff from the Mountain. A couple were Westerners and were particularly sympathetic when they swore allegiance.
    They all bowed to me in human form and in True Form, if their True Form was different.
    It was appalling.
    What would I tell my father and mother if they came to visit? The ring John had given me was obviously an engagement ring, even though it wasn’t a diamond. And they’d hear everybody call me Lady Emma. I was in so much trouble.
    About two hours later, when everybody had sworn allegiance, John led me down off the throne and we sat at the table with the other three Winds. Everybody rose and congratulated us. Bai Hu embraced me, kissed me on the cheek, and shook John’s hand before sitting next to me.
    ‘Thanks for the ballroom,’ I said.
    ‘My pleasure. Most of the staff are tame demons. Running costs are really low.’
    ‘I thought that must be the case,’ I said. ‘They don’t seem at all bothered by anything.’
    Bau Hu grinned. ‘I’ll trade you fifty of mine for this one,’ he said to John.
    ‘No deal,’ John responded, lightning-fast.
    ‘You don’t give up, do you?’ I said.
    ‘It’s not fair. I have hundreds of women, and not a single one could possibly hold a candle to you.’
    ‘She can do level five energy work. She can destroy level fifteen demons with her bare hands. She has nearly completed a part-time MBA, with a High Distinction in Accounting,’ John said.
    ‘It’s not fair,’ Bai Hu said. ‘None of my women has anything beyond a diploma.’
    ‘Women like me just have too much sense to be carried away by something as despicable as you,’ I said.
    ‘She has a point, Ah Bai.’
    ‘A hundred. A hundred of mine. And ten fine Arab stallions.’
    ‘Still no deal,’ John said. ‘She’s mine .’
    ‘The hell I am,’ I said. ‘I don’t belong to you.’
    John’s smile widened.
    ‘Twenty Arab stallions and fifteen war-trained Arab mares, some with foal at foot.’ ‘You have Arab horses?’ I said.
    ‘Don’t tell me she rides as well,’ Bai Hu said. ‘It’s really not fair.’
    ‘Lady Emma is quite a passable equestrian,’ John said.
    Bai Hu looked at me with admiration. ‘I would be honoured if you would permit me to give you an outstanding war-trained Arab mare, my Lady.’
    I glanced at John, thrilled. He smiled indulgently at me. ‘If it pleases you, my Lady, I could think of no better gift.’
    ‘I will bring a selection with me,’ Bai Hu said. ‘I will bring some to your house on the hill, and you can choose one, then we’ll arrange for it to be stabled with Dark Star.’
    ‘Will the Jockey Club let me do that?’ I said. ‘Those stables are only for ex-racehorses.’
    ‘They’ll do what I tell them,’ John said evenly.
    I had a sudden wonderful idea. ‘Could you bring a pony for Simone? I know she’d love a well-trained pony of her own. In fact, you don’t need to worry about a horse for me, just bring a sweet pony for Simone.’
    ‘Two hundred women, twenty-five fine war-trained Arab mares, twenty warm-blood warhorses, and my best thoroughbred racing stallion.’
    ‘That’s a good deal, John, you should think about it.’
    ‘It’ll be an anticlimax returning to training after that,’ I said as John drove us back up the hill.
    ‘Things have changed now, Emma,’ he said.
    I sighed and sagged into my seat. ‘I just want to sleep.’ I checked my watch: 3 a.m.
    ‘Me too.’
    We drove in companionable silence for a while. It felt good.
    ‘Bai Hu will bring the horses in three days.’ He winced. ‘No, that’s the day after tomorrow now. In the afternoon.’
    ‘That was all for real?’
    ‘Of course it was. I think it’s a terrific idea.’
    ‘I don’t really have time to go out riding, John. I’m flat out caring for Simone.’
    ‘If you can’t ride the horse then Bai Hu can provide someone to ride it for you. And we can hire someone to care for Simone if you like. You are no longer the nanny; you are Lady of the House of