Threadmark: 1.01
14th, January 1905
"Have you made your choice?"
She felt the ends of her lips twitch in the beginnings of a smile, though that was quickly squashed in its infancy when a familiar pair of wizened hands grasped her shoulders from behind, her expression betraying nothing to their owner, knowing full well that her father was no stranger to paternal affection when it suited him.
Only when it suited him. She reminded herself, humming noncommittally as if ruminating on her response, though her mind was made up long ago.
Can't appear too eager.Amber orbs swept through cities, mountains, and oceans as she stared up at an imposing map of the world, which hung from the far wall of the War Room situated near the base of the palace. Unlike a traditional map, this one was notable for presenting the political reality, the
truth of the world, rather than mere geographical fact. While her focus was kept mostly on the section of map concerning the Far East and Orient, she was hard-pressed to ignore how the Tienkuo was naturally depicted as the largest country on the globe, no doubt by design, though the Japanese and Koreans were also of a respectable size proportional to their respective power. In contrast, the Manchu dynasty had shrunk to half its size, while the frozen wastelands of Siberia under its control and beyond were minimized to the point of blending into the border decorations. An unfortunate amount of China was still in demonic hands at the end of the day, but that would be resolved in due time, hopefully by her own hand.
"I am taking the cross, naturally." Her response was slow, deliberate. "The only question left is whether my sword is better used on land or at sea."
"Both would suit your talents well enough." Came the gravely voice of her father. "The better question is which option best serves our Heavenly Kingdom."
And me. The thought was left unsaid, but the implication hung in the air.
"The better answer is obvious then." She inclined her head in a light nod, fully aware that her father was trying to nudge her in a certain direction. Fortunately, it just so happened that her designs aligned with his goals in this instance. "While the churning tides might promise a great future for our nation given time, my mind has long been occupied with matters closer to home, concerning the
here and
now that I feel we have let slip from our attention for far too long."
She spared a brief glance to the side, catching him in her peripheral vision. "I speak of our troublesome neighbors to the north of course. Though they have turned aside our excursions and raids time and again, the demons have yet to face the full might of the Tienkuo since the revolution." A gloved hand gestured at the map. "Let me try my hand against our great foe. Once the Devil's Den is laid low, then perhaps I can turn my focus towards aiding my dear sister in her endeavors at sea."
"You choose the army over the navy." Her father remained stoic, though she heard the approval in his tone. "Very well. Let it be so."
Though she knew better, the affirmation lifted her heart nonetheless, a smile parting her lips. "I will not fail you, father."
"Of course not." His reply was terse, but not without warmth. "Indeed, it is long overdue for us to realize a dream of reunification long deferred, but it will be some time yet before the chance to have Beiping restored to its true name falls in your lap."
Hopefully sooner rather than later. She thought, but replied with something more deferential. "I will endeavor to close the gap with my siblings."
"If only your brother shared the same drive."
"Well..." Her father was not above pitting his children against each other, and she was not above indulging him when it suited her, but there was a time and place for everything. "Brother is too busy with other things."
Like burying his nose in books, while his sisters do the fighting. She didn't realize she vocalized her last thought aloud.
Her father was quick to make her realize her mistake however. "There is no shame in choosing the cloth over the sword."
The admonition made her jump, though she was more upset at herself for letting idle thoughts run away from her. Heedless of her distress, her father pressed on. "To join the clergy is a noble calling. The great failing of your brother is not his chosen profession, but his lack of motivation."
If only that was his only issue. She was careful not to let her thoughts betray her this time.
"If you recall from your lessons, my father was a scholar, while my sister was the muscle." Though she could not see his face, she could
feel the smirk. "The Hakka have never been bound by convention, and the Tienkuo made in our image is no different."
I know this already. She resisted the urge to frown. No doubt he was already aware that she agreed with the sentiments expressed for the most part, so she could only guess that he saw this as an opportunity to chastise, if not dissuade her of the notion that her annoying brother was no longer in the running, possibly to keep her on her toes. In any case, she bore with it for the sake of her maintaining her own standing with her father.
"Apologies. I misspoke."
"I know." His hands retreated, literally lifting a weight from her shoulders. "Come, let us retire for supper while the night is still young."
She did not move from her position. "You mean breakfast?"
No response came, though she waited several seconds expecting one. Only after the silence grew uncomfortably long did she turn halfway, watching as her father made his way towards the exit with a sidelong glance.
Something isn't right."Wait."
She grabbed an arm covered in embroidered sleeves with her dextral hand, stopping the old monarch right in his tracks.
"What is the meaning of this?"
She ignored the frown she received. "How can we have supper when we have yet to break our fast?"
Dark eyes narrowed back at her. "Unhand me."
"This isn't how I remember it." She mumbled, heedless of her father's growing ire. "No, we had this conversation before. Early in the
morning. I'm sure of it."
A glint of light drew her attention away from his face. There was nothing unusual to be found at first, merely a ring on the hand connected to the arm in her grip, but as she scrutinized the offending item more closely, she noticed abnormalities on the exposed skin
around it. While easy to miss at a glance, the fingers in particular were not quite the right shape and expected color upon closer inspection, resulting in something close to the real ting, but not quite. At once, her mind whirled with doubts and suspicions.
"Enough of this."
Her head snapped back up at the sound of her father's voice, and found something amiss almost right away. There was a bead of sweat that ran down her fath—this person's face, as if an elaborate ruse was on the brink of falling apart. She did not believe it was possible to witness someone visibly gulp if she had not seen it for herself just now. Most disconcerting however was the nervous expression that stared back at her, completely
alien to anything she knew about the Heavenly King.
Father does not fear his children. It was the other way around.
Always."You are mistaken." He spoke more forcefully, but his denial rang hollow rang hollow in her ears.
She hardly registered the words as her free hand gripped the pommel of her sword, a move that immediately earned an alarmed look.
"No." Amber eyes narrowed, her tone measured and even. "I don't think I am."
Time stood still, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife as the truth stared the lie in the eye and the lie stared back.
"You're right." The lie blinked first. "I am not your father. In fact—"
She didn't let him finish.
Her scabbard struck his temple, sending him sprawling back with an audible crack. The imposter had yet to impact the floor before she lunged forward with with her sheathed blade bearing down from an overhead swing, tracing a clean arc from its lofty position right towards the base of her foe's skull. Before the blow could connect however, she felt something cut her feet out from under her, sending her tumbling forward as the impetus of her charge turned against her.
Shit.She broke her fall with a roll as she hit the ground, her boots skidding off the floor to bleed off some momentum. Not a second was spared before she pivoted on her heel and came to a stand, weapon at the ready. Though she expected the worst, the honed reflexes drilled into her from months of military training and a lifetime of courtly intrigue ultimately proved unnecessary when she saw her opponent crouched to floor, clutching his head with a groan and obviously struggling to stand. Despite the risk, she took the opportunity to take in her surroundings with greater scrutiny during the slight reprieve. Other discrepancies soon became apparent such as the lack of leftovers Christmas ornaments around the pillars and furnishings, as well as the dead quiet that settled in the hall.
What is going on? A groan interrupted her thoughts.
"Christ. You pack quite the punch."
A wary look was directed at the imposter as he rose to a stand on shaky legs, pitiful enough at a glance.
Yet he managed to send me tumbling. She wasn't sure if it was a matter of luck or if he purposely managed to sweep her legs out mid—swing after his head was bashed to the side, but she would find out soon enough. A healthy dose of caution prevented her from moving in right away, though she felt enough of an urge to toss that aside and take her chances, driven in part by the adrenaline that coursed through her veins, matched only by the hammering of her heart in intensity.
"Who the hell are you?"
When no response was forthcoming, her patience ran dry, spurring her to draw her sword free from its confines, or at least, she tried to. Instead of the familiar rasp of a blade sliding from its scabbard, she was only met with a slight nudging sound as her sword refused to budge. When subsequent attempts proved equally fruitless, she let out a frustrated growl as her hand went for the holster at her side. She expected familiar embrace of cold steel against her fingertips, but ended up grasping air, much to her confusion.
"Looking for this?"
The sight of the imposter mockingly waving her pistol in air greeted her when she looked up.
Did he grab it when he tripped me? Biting back a curse, she prepared for the worst, which he answered by doing something unexpected.
"There."
The word had scarcely left his mouth before the sidearm was tossed aside, its black profile clattering uselessly across the floor.
"Your sword is stuck and you are bereft of a firearm. Now, let us talk like civilized human beings."
Stupid move. She bit her lip, glancing at her scabbard, then back, while contemplating her options. "I can still beat you to death."
The silence stretched uncomfortably as the implications of her words sank in. Just when the seconds stretched a bit
too long and she considered following up on her threat was the quiet broken by a pained chuckle.
"As lively as ever I see." Despite the threat, his looked at her fondly with a wistful smile, as reuniting with an old friend. "Time has been kind to you, Reiné."
"Reiné?"
Her confusion must have been evident as the imposter merely chuckled mirthlessly. "Forgive me. I know that name was not meant to last, but I have always been fond of Reiné. I believe Xuanjiao is more appropriate in this case?"
"No." Her voice was hoarse, something she was unused to. "You are thinking of my grandaunt. Tianjiao is my name."
"How time flies. Jiao it is then."
Well, Jiao
was her nickname at least.
Tianjiao furrowed her brow, finding herself at a loss for words. She should not even indulge this false creature, but he seemed to know so many things about her, while she knew so little of him. Despite that, he felt familiar enough for her to indulge in conversation when she should have went for the kill right away. Before she conjure a proper response, much less ask the right question that didn't involve swinging her sword, a sudden dizziness overcame her.
"Our time runs short it seems." He no longer looked like her father, though it was hard to tell. His eyes faded and his smile blurred, though it was just as likely that her own vision was failing her at this point.
He turned. "We shall meet again."
"Wait."
"I have waited long enough. I can wait a little bit longer."
She grit her teeth through the haze. "Damn you! Wait—"
"Your Highness!"
Tianjiao awoke with a start, eyes blinking rapidly to adjust to the light. A wave of relief washed over as she took in her familiar surroundings, which she immediately recognized as the interior compartment of a train, spacious enough to fit four, perhaps even six people on the cushioned seats facing parallel to each other right beside the window, yet entirely reserved for her alone for the duration of the trip.
A soft knocking drew her attention to the door, which slid open with a slight squeal.
"Your Highness."
A young woman stood at the entrance, dressed in a similar fashion to the princess she was addressing. She had long, ebon hair tied in a braid, draping over her neck and back. Shadows played upon her narrow eyes in the dim light, shrouding an olive canvas from which thin red lips pressed into a slight frown. Her uniform consisted of a blood—red blouse that reached slightly above the knees with an ornamental black belt tied at the waist, overlapping with blue trousers that bridged the gap to her boots.
The model Taiping soldier in other words.
"Lieutenant Chiang." Tianjiao acknowledged her subordinate, idly reaching up with her dextral hand to brush a stray, raven lock behind her ear. Anything to put her mind off that strange dream. "Have you come bearing news?"
"Indeed." The other woman bowed in the revolutionary style with both hands joined together, the right clenched into a fist, covered by the left palm. "Our destination draws near."
"Good." Tianjiao's gaze wandered to the rifled barrel of the Hanyang 88, which protruded from behind the lieutenant's shoulder, where the the firearm slung around the back, ready to be drawn at a moment's notice.
Perhaps I should start carrying one regularly."Your Highness?" Chiang interrupted her ponderings, her brows furrowed with a look of concern. "Pardon my boldness, but you seem out of sorts. Is something the matter?"
The princess schooled her expression. Despite her best efforts, her thoughts had wandered back to her dream, which must have shown on her face. "Nothing. Just a dream."
If she hoped to dissuade her subordinate, it ended up having the opposite effect. "Divine Revelation then?" Chiang shot her a knowing look, eyes shimmering with fanatical zeal. "You might take after your grandfather. There is great power in dreams and prophesy."
Tianjiao suppressed the urge to frown as she contemplated dismissing the woman, but her own anxiety and strangely enough, curiosity won out. "My father—"
The real one. "—once said the same thing."
"The Heavenly King is wise."
"It was a dream that begat the revolution. Only look outside to witness the power of visions." Tianjiao recalled his words from a past conversation, the implications of which unsettled her.
It was not a dream in the metaphorical sense. She reminded herself. Neither was it a "dream" that referred to an aspiration or ambition, but a
literal dream that visited Hong Xiuquan during his sleep and changed the world when morning came.
That conversation was a long time ago, a different place, a different time. Yet seemingly all the more relevant now.
Heedless of her ponderings, the lieutenant was quick to add. "Likely, it is a vision sent to you directly by the Shangdi."
Is that truly the case? The princess kept her response vague, mind reeling. "Perhaps."
Before Chiang could respond, no doubt to wax poetic about the subject even further, she dismissed the woman.
"Apologies. My mouth ran away with me." Her subordinate's expression reverted to its natural frown as she reached the door, though a conspiratorial glimmer remained in her eyes. "I will be standing guard outside in the hall if you have need of me."
Tianjiao slumped in her seat after the audible click of the sliding door closing reached her ears, soon replaced by the sound of the wheels chugging along the tracks that filled the void. A yawn escaped her lips, eyelids drooping.
Reiné...As the night filled her vision, she thought heard someone call out to her.
Reiné...But it was only the sound of her own voice.
She slept soundly.