The following night, Teal wandered out of the Purple Jade Palace. He was feeling agitated. He found Lana on a bench under a tree, a harp between her legs, back straight, her body focused and in tune, one with the music. He was drawn to the melody flowing out from under her fingertips. It was trance-like, capturing him within its spell and pulling him towards its maker.

Lana stopped playing when Teal approached.

"How are you this evening, Teal?" she asked.

"How did you know it was me?" he asked in amazement.

Lana smiled. "I just knew."

He sat down beside her. It was a lovely evening with many stars in the clear sky and a soft breeze that blew across their skin. Teal glanced down at her still hands. "I didn't mean to disturb you."

"It's fine," she said. "I have been playing for a while so I don't mind stopping." She was quiet for a moment. "I'm sensing that something is playing on your mind?"

Teal glanced around the walls of the Purple Jade Palace and decided to ask a question of his own instead.

"Who was the first consort after Jale and the Empress?" he asked.

"Ralen and then Delba," she answered simply.

Teal found that surprising since Ralen didn't seem to spend as much time with the Emperor as the others.

"So, you were the last one before me."

"Yes. The Emperor didn't take me as a consort at first though," she explained.

"How did you become his consort?" Teal asked.

"The Emperor's mother was pressuring him to take more girls, in case the Empress failed to birth a son. That was five years ago and from what I’ve heard, it appeared as if the Emperor was putting off fathering an heir. Some suspected he failed to look for more consorts because he was so in love with Jale and the Empress. And he always found it hard to spend enough time with Delba and Ralen as it was. But under continuous pressure, the palace sent out invites for girls to visit the Emperor to offer themselves. I was one of the girls."

Teal leaned forward. "Tell me more," he urged.

Lana set her harp to the side so she could turn to sit in Teal's direction. "I went in with all the other girls naively hoping that no one would care that I was without sight. On parchment, I met all the criteria. What I didn't know was that my father who works in one of Prince Vox's houses, came to the palace to say that I was determined to apply for the position.”

She clutched her hands together. “My father begged for the palace to amuse me, to not hurt me but to politely decline my application. Prince Vox spoke to the Emperor personally and told him that it had been my dream to be one of the Emperor's consorts, but because of my lack of sight, they knew it would not be possible. They wanted a consort that could satisfy their Emperor, not one that they believed would need to be looked after at every turn."

A gust of wind rustled through the trees above, but Teal barely noticed it.

"Once the Emperor heard of my dedication to serve him," Lana continued. "He agreed to go along with my application and to refuse me in accordance with my parents' wishes. On the day I was asked to present myself to the Emperor, there was upheaval and shock as to why I was there."

Lana shook her head. "I was so innocent. I thought I had fooled them. I was able to follow the other girls' footsteps. I kept my head down to hide my eyes, pretending to be demure. I was so enthralled when the Emperor asked me what I was good at and I informed him of how I could play five different musical instruments.”

Lana paused as if reliving the moment in her head. “I played for him knowing the room stopped around me as I did. I played believing that this would truly capture his interest. When I finished, the Emperor stepped down from his throne and walked towards me, so unprecedented for him to do so. He told me it was some of the most beautiful music he had ever heard and rested his hand gently on my shoulder. He told me that he would not take me as his consort, but if my parents allowed it so, he would invite me into the palace on special occasions so I could perform."

Teal didn't interrupt, so intrigued by her story.

"As soon as he mentioned my parents, I knew what they had done. I was so angry and believed I had nothing to lose. I told him that I would never take his pity. I told him that I had come to be chosen to be a consort. It was that or nothing. I stood up, turned and walked straight out of the room without kowtowing."

"You did that!" Teal asked in amazement.

"I did," Lana laughed. "The Emperor yelled at me to stop and stormed across the room and grabbed my arm. He asked me how I dared to speak to him in such a way.”

She shook her head again, but a smile played on her lips. “I was trembling with so much fear, I really thought I had gone too far but I was young and stubborn. I told him to sentence me to death then for speaking so harshly to him. That I was strong and I would hold my head up high until that blade came down the back of my neck.”

Lana leaned in close to Teal as she continued to speak to match her story. “The Emperor then stepped in close and he said, 'If it weren't for your father's polite dealings in this matter, I would!' He let me go then and ordered me back to my parents. I left, cowering amongst the disgusted murmurings of those present. What I didn't know was that the Emperor was secretly impressed by my strength and determination. The following year he sent an invitation to my house offering for me to apply again. I returned, kowtowed deeply and apologized for my behavior and continued with my application. He chose me out of all the other girls. In fact, he sent all the other girls home without seeing them."

They didn't speak for several minutes, lost in their own thoughts, Teal mesmerized at her bravery. How she had stood up for herself to the Emperor where he had only shied away and trembled in the presence of the most important person in the empire.

Teal sighed, long and loud forgetting that Lana was still beside him, confusion raging through his body. The desire to satisfy the Emperor, but the desire to be more than the walls of the palace, to be himself.

"That was a woeful sigh, Teal," Lana said gently.

Teal glanced at Lana. He was under the impression that she often saw more than all of them.

"I'm just feeling a bit restless," he confessed.

"Aaah," Lana laughed knowingly, "the Emperor's usual trick of torment so you will be forced to practically attack him with desire. It gives a whole other meaning to the word tortured, doesn't it?"

"You are very perceptive, Lana," he replied softly.

"It's working though, isn't it?"

Teal chuckled. "Yes, it is."

"There's more though, isn't there?" she prodded.

"Yes," he sighed, but he wasn't willing to elaborate. He knew how much the other consorts talked amongst themselves.

She reached out and patted his knee, so easily found, it shocked him.

"How do you do that?" he asked. "How do you get around the palace with such ease by yourself and then know exactly where my knee is?"

Lana laughed. "Your knee was easy. You kept hitting my thigh when I was telling you my story."

"Really?" Teal asked.

"Yes, really. And getting around the palace is easy," she said. "Next time you're walking around, close your eyes and see whether you can pick up on some of the tricks the Emperor has allowed me to use since moving in here."

Teal frowned not understanding what she meant, but she stood up then preventing him from asking her further.

"I need to sleep now, Teal, and don't worry, it won't always be like this. The Emperor is very keen to lay with you. I'm sure it will happen soon. You'll also learn that there is more to life here than just the Purple Jade Palace."

Teal's mouth fell open at her words, and he watched as she walked away. It was as if she could really read his mind, she was that insightful.

>>

Unfortunately, Teal believed that Lana's perception of soon was quite different to his. He continued to see the Emperor every day reading chapters from the Lost Seas Sagas. Holding his attention on what he was reading however, was proving difficult.

He found himself replaying the memory of that kiss and the way the Emperor's hands had wandered over his body always caressing him, but never imposing too far. And if he hadn't been mistaken, the way that the Emperor had moved his hips towards him even though they had been off to the side at the time. Or that might have been his imagination taking over now that he had been dwelling on it for so long.

He found himself releasing his frustrations on the training square with Satner so much so, he finally managed to push Satner back into a corner.

"Good Teal," he said. He blocked the next set of attacks easily which only made Teal even more annoyed. He lashed down hard with one blow, only to be blocked by Satner once again. Satner winced though as his arm took the full force of the hit.

"For someone whose profession lies in the bedroom, you are certainly quite wound up," Satner joked, easily dodging and swerving under Teal's arm to get out of where Teal had tried to trap him again.

Teal glared and took a step back. "If you must know, I am yet to lay with the Emperor."

Satner forgot all about their fighting, his sword still suspended in mid-air.

"What!? Really? But you've been here for nearly a month and you were also on the ship, and you still haven't lain with the Emperor?"

Teal looked around in embarrassment to ensure no one had heard. "Trust me," he hissed quietly. "I am well aware that it's been a long time, and I'm not allowed to even...," he gestured in between legs, "make the wait more bearable."

Teal turned away and walked to edge of the square where they kept their water. He reached for his cup and gulped down several mouthfuls before returning.

Satner looked like he didn't know what to say. "You don't need to answer if you don't want to, but is there a reason?"

Teal's shoulders slumped, and he sat on the ground. "Not really. The Emperor wanted to make sure that I was comfortable in his presence because when I first arrived, I was so nervous to be near him. He said he didn't want to be with me unless I really wanted to. He kissed me the other night and trust me, I know I really want to be with him now. I have to wait for him to ask for me to swear my loyalty where I'll then attend him in his private chambers."

Satner squatted down beside Teal. "Again, I don't want to pry, but you are touched, aren't you?"

"Yes, I had a lover back in Hulena," Teal confirmed. "I was just nervous because it was the Emperor, the leader of the whole empire," he waved his hands before him emphatically to help prove his point. "But it's not only that. The Emperor," Teal struggled to find the words that would express what he desired. "He's kind and patient, but there's like a wall in between him and everyone else so I feel I still don't truly know him. I'm only getting to see a small glimpse of who he truly is. I almost feel like I know you better than I know the Emperor."

Satner looked around uncomfortably ensuring no one had heard Teal's last comment. When he spoke, his voice was lowered. "I guess that's understandable," he agreed. "He is the leader of the empire. His imperial training and entire life are on display so there are probably very different sides to him.”

Satner was quiet for a moment before he continued. “I can imagine it would be harder to get to know him compared to other people. And I must admit, I think I would be quite overwhelmed too if I was asked to his bed chamber. Someone of such power would certainly be frightening especially to someone who comes from such a small town."

Satner narrowed his eyes. "But if you are certain that you are ready, maybe make it more obvious that you want him. Six weeks, Teal? You never chased after your old lover before you were together?"

"We were lifelong friends. It wasn't like that."

"I will try to refrain from saying how dull," Satner teased, earning another scowl from Teal. "But I guess such a situation can lack the art of real seduction."

Teal raised an eyebrow. "And you possess the art of seduction?"

Satner gave him a wink. "I'll have you know that there are many nights where my sleeping mat is shared with somebody else."

"I would never have known that you possessed such a skill."

"I don't know whether to be offended or amused," Satner returned, dryly.

"Sorry, I'm sure the supply of women never runs out for you," Teal quickly assured him.

"And the men," Satner added.

Teal's eyes raked over Satner. He had not known this about him. "Well, they are all lucky, but I must confess that I feel like I'm going to be the only consort in the empire who will never lay with the Emperor."

"You said the Emperor kissed you the other night. Why didn't things go further?"

"It was at the party with Prince Yernal, and there was a lot of wine."

"Ohhh," Satner nodded. "I heard about what happened. The visiting Prince who nearly lost his head by the Emperor's newly acquired Lombock concubine."

Teal's head shot up. "What?"

"I've told you before, news travels fast around the palace," Satner shrugged.

"It wasn't really like that," Teal grumbled.

"Hmm, okay, well whatever happened, the Emperor must trust you because if he didn't, you wouldn't be here."

Teals' thoughts went straight to the guards that had been at his back with their weapons drawn. He didn't want to tell Satner he didn't think the Emperor trusted him completely just yet.

He considered Satner's suggestion though. "Can I be so bold to throw myself at the Emperor?" he asked, more to himself than to his friend.

"Only the concubines and consorts can, I guess," Satner told him. "And what's the worst that could happen?"

Teal gave Satner a hard long stare, and Satner burst out laughing. "Okay, point proven."

Teal saw Satner hold his shoulder and roll it back. He winced again, and Teal remembered he had done so earlier when they had been fighting.

"What did you do?" he asked.

Satner laughed in his good-natured way. "I fell off a horse two days ago while doing some training. I was trying to impress one of the handsome soldiers who works with the horses. His name is Fraelic," Satner sighed. "He doesn't know that I much prefer to keep my feet on the ground."

"Well, he probably does now," Teal laughed.

Satner chuckled too. "Yeah, you're probably right."

"Have you been to Nala the health giver or at least one of her assistants?" Teal asked, his brow filling with concern.

"Nala only sees to the Emperor and his consorts and from all accounts, she is currently not here. She's on some secret mission for the Emperor." Teal couldn't help but smile. It seemed that Satner was quite fond of gossip. He was also probably really good at helping the news travel around the palace. "I have the other health givers who deal with the soldiers and guards," Satner continued. "I just haven't gotten around to it."

"Why not?" Teal asked.

"I didn't want Fraelic to know I was injured."

Teal shook his head in disbelief but rose to his feet so he could move around to stand at Satner's back. "I can't believe I was just taking advice from you. Let me have a look."