Teal awoke with a start. In a state of confusion and bleary eyed, he looked around the room and tried to determine where he was and how he had ended up there.

It was opulent.

The wooden walls were decorated with wall hangings and pictures, while the front of the room beside the door was covered in intricate wood carvings. A thick, plush rug also covered the floor. He was in one of two beds, and above him in the ceiling, were hooks for a hammock if he wished to use one. Two windows opposite the door to the room were covered with blinds where thin streams of light were spilling onto the wooden floor giving the impression of a perfect sun long past dawn on the other side.

He closed his eyes and smelt the wood of the ship. For a brief moment, it was as if he was on one of his father's small boats out near the islands and they were pulling their nets with their day's load. Except, beyond the immediate scent of the ship, Teal didn't smell the ocean. Instead, the soft smell of trees and fresh river water carried in the air.

In disbelief, he recalled the night before. He was on the Emperor's ship. The thrill of excitement mixed with a stir of fear and hesitancy at that thought, made him dizzy. Or it might have been the fact that he had not eaten properly for a long time. The food that had been delivered to his room had mostly gone untouched, his nerves preventing him from enjoying the generous spread.

A round of knocks in quick succession sounded on the door, and it occurred to Teal that this sound was what had woken him initially. Not waiting for a reply any longer, the door was opened.

"Good morning," Jale said simply, his hands folded comfortably in front of his strong body.

Teal watched warily as Jale entered and sat on the end of his bed.

"Did you sleep well?" Jale asked.

Teal nodded. "Fair enough, I guess."

Jale ran his hands over the thin blanket that was still covering Teal's legs. "We will reach Bolan Port in an hour," he paused. "Have you given much thought to the Emperor's offer?"

It had weighed heavily on Teal's mind all night. He had tossed and turned weighing up his options. Going to the capital and the prospect of working for the Emperor was exciting, but he hoped that he wasn't just caught up in the romanticism of the invitation.

"I was hoping," Teal swallowed, his voice shaky, "You - you could tell me more about the Purple Jade Palace."

A pleased expression filled Jale's face. "Of course! Let's break your fast, and we can discuss it further. I will take you to the ship's formal dining room."

There was a formal dining room? On a ship? Teal ran a hand through his hair and spied his clothes at the end of the bed. He dressed quickly while Jale waited just outside his door.

Daylight and color allowed Teal to pick up some differences he hadn’t noticed the night before with the two guards at his door. They were different from the guards he had seen who had been dressed in the Emperor's colors of brown. Under their complicated interlocking pieces of armor, the guards' coloring differed with purple.

"They are the Purple Jade Palace guards?" he asked.

"Good deduction," Jale answered, impressed. He continued moving down the hallway. "Whenever we leave the Purple Jade Palace, it is their duty to protect us. These two have the additional task of accompanying you until Galton, the Emperor's chief of security, is satisfied that you are not a threat to the Emperor." He said all of this without any preamble or worry of causing Teal offence. “Except inside the Purple Jade Palace, of course. No one is allowed in there except the consorts."

"Wouldn't Galton be worried that I might attack the other consorts?" Teal asked, risking a hint of sarcasm.

Jale's top lip twitched. "Since the Emperor never steps foot inside the Purple Jade Palace either, he deems it safe enough. And I am hoping that if you decide to reside in the Purple Jade Palace, you would find the other consorts more than agreeable. They are lovely people."

Jale stopped in front of a door and ushered Teal inside. The ship's official dining room was more extravagant than the room he had slept in. One long table filled the length of the space. The wood was carved with decorations of a bird, a hummingbird. Teal frowned at that connection, confused by the sight of that bird, the same bird on the scroll's seal and the same name used in his message to the Emperor.

A servant approached as soon as they sat, interrupting Teal's thoughts. She bowed and presented Teal with a tray of hearty food.

"She has to bow to you?" Teal asked.

"Yes. She will also have to bow to you if you officially become the Emperor's concubine," Jale explained.

Teal thought about that as he scarfed down the bread that was still warm and dripping with the butter he had lathered on. People would have to bow to him and serve him? It was an odd notion, and one that didn't sit comfortably.

"You would move up quite a few significant ranks of the social scale, Teal," Jale explained. "It would take time, but you'd get used to it. I like that you are not rushing into this. It shows that you have a quizzical and intelligent mind. I will discuss the harem first, shall I?”

Teal met Jale's gaze and gave him a quick nod.

"There are certainly some benefits of becoming a member of the harem. You will never have to worry about food, clothing or a place to sleep for the rest of your life, and you will undoubtedly lead a life of luxury far grander than what you've ever experienced. But it does come with a price. If you fail to abide by the rules of the palace or engage in acts of treason, your life will be forfeit."

Teal swallowed apprehensively.

"While you are in the Purple Jade Palace," Jale continued, "you are not allowed to take another life partner, female or male, for you are entering an official relationship with the Emperor and in extension, with the other consorts."

Teal eyes met with Jale's only to quickly flicker them away.

"The Emperor may give you permission to be intimate with the other consorts, but it is only at the Emperor's discretion. Those servants who work within the Purple Jade Palace are eunuchs who have taken an oath of loyalty to the Emperor. If you became his concubine, you would be the Emperor's and no one else's. Do you understand?"

Teal sat back, his stomach suddenly resisting the urge to eat, nerves compounding his stomach.

"The life of a concubine is not suited for everybody," Jale carried on, "and while in the past, concubines often didn't get the option to choose, our Emperor is a man who enjoys mutual pleasure. He only takes people who wish to be a concubine."

"I can understand why it has to be so strict," Teal said. "My only fear is of doing something wrong by accident."

"There’s no need to be afraid," Jale said reassuringly. "We know where you have come from, and we know what your past has held. I myself had no experience in court life when I was a soldier. It will be my job to train and educate you so you can adjust to living in the palace. We would start with basic palace procedures, practices, and what is expected of you. If you decide, Nala, the Emperor's health giver will also give you a health check this morning which will be followed by regular health checks for a month before the Emperor will bed you."

Teal rose his eyebrows in surprise, and Jale waved him off.

"Several years ago, a pesky rash raged through one of the Princes' palaces and beyond. We do not want a repeat of that debacle. Unless you are from an official family and have documented proof that you are a virgin...?"

Teal laughed. "No, I'm not a virgin."

"Ah yes, your friend, Cokrin?"

The sudden mention of his best friend stirred old worry in Teal's stomach. "Can I send a message to him?" he blurted. "I want to ensure he is safe and well. And my parents?"

"Of course," Jale confirmed kindly. "I'm sure Cokrin will be on the road for the next month or so while he returns to Hulena. But if you stay on board, you can send a message to him and your parents to let them know how you fare. We can see to it that they are delivered to Hulena when we arrive in Dalenia."

Jale shifted his gaze to the window behind Teal. "We are virtually out of time," he told Teal. "All of this has happened rather swiftly so I'm sure I will think of other terms as we travel. Usually when an official concubine is chosen, they go through a lengthy selection process, attend standard interviews and sign an agreement. Our situation is much different so I'm sure the Emperor will allow you to back out at any time until you have sworn your loyalty.

Teal didn’t respond, thinking. He glanced around the extravagant dining room again.

"I do not wish to pressure, but time is of the essence," Jale stated firmly. "Do I tell the captain to stop or can I tell him to continue onto the capital?"

Teal analyzed Jale, really analyzed him, and for the first time, he wasn't worried that Jale knew it. Jale would know he was assessing, judging, and weighing his options. He liked Jale, despite his behavior at Cleaven Estate when they had first met. Teal believed that he was a kind man. And what did Teal have waiting for him at home? Loneliness without a lover after Cokrin was promised. If he was a concubine, he could send gold to his parents as well. It was the least he could do after they had taken him in.

"You can tell the captain to keep sailing," Teal said softly.

A warm pleased smile broke out onto Jale's face. He nodded to a servant standing in the corner and instructed them to inform the captain after which, Jale turned his attention back to Teal. "And should I inform the Emperor that you will be living inside the Purple Jade Palace or elsewhere?"

Teal swallowed down a big gulp of water trying to give himself some time to contain his nerves. This was a moment he was going to remember for the rest of his life.

"I think I would like to live inside the Purple Jade Palace," Teal finally managed.

Jale's smile widened ever further, a smile that Teal was beginning to really like.

"Good, Teal. You won't regret your decision," Jale told him.