‘Frankly,’ I said, leaning back, ‘I’d like to send you all to the Western Desert until this blows over. You guys, Jen and her family, Amanda and her family, everybody. Think of it as a family vacation. The palace is really nice, you’ll like it. And Jade or Gold can take me there, so I can visit you. Or you can come down here with guards, you’ll be fine. John?’
‘If that is your wish, and their wish, I have no objection,’ John said. ‘I will not let this situation continue for much longer.’
‘We have to get Simone up to speed.’ ‘Yes we do. Brendan, Barbara,’ John said. ‘Would you call Amanda for us and explain? Then we can begin the arrangements. I will call Leonard and see what he wants to do.’
‘I just want to get out of here,’ my mother whispered.
The next afternoon we all waited in the living room: me, John and my parents.
The other three Winds materialised with Amanda’s family. They were all unconscious. John and I rushed to help with Amanda and Alan. Zhu Que gently lowered the boys onto the couch, one on each arm.
‘Are they okay?’ my father said urgently. ‘It is only temporary?’
‘They’re fine,’ the Tiger said as he placed Amanda onto the couch next to the boys. ‘It was quite a long way and it is a very stressful experience for humans to travel like this.’
‘It’ll be similar for you when you’re taken to the palace,’ I said to my mother. ‘But don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt.’
My parents hovered, concerned.
‘They will be fine,’ the Dragon said. ‘Phoenix, let’s go and get the others.’ He disappeared.
‘My Lord, my Lady,’ Zhu Que said, bowing slightly and saluting. ‘By your leave.’
‘Go,’ I said, nodding to her. She disappeared as well.
Alan came around first. He sat up and rubbed his hands over his face. Then he saw Amanda and the boys, still unconscious, and staggered to them.
‘Don’t worry, they’re okay,’ I said, putting my hand on his shoulder to reassure him. ‘They’ll wake up soon.’
Alan glanced up at me. Then he saw John and the Tiger. He looked around carefully. ‘We’re really in Hong Kong?’
‘Really,’ I said. ‘It’s all true.’
Amanda stirred and moaned. Alan, my parents and myself all crouched around her. John and the Tiger stood behind us.
Amanda opened her eyes and saw us. She cast around, confused, then saw the boys and with a small cry of pain struggled to sit up to check on them.
‘They’re fine, Amanda,’ I said softly. ‘They’re really okay. You’re all okay.’
‘Something was chasing us,’ Alan said. ‘The young man defended us, and then the people carrying us brought us here.’
Gold appeared in True Form at the other side of the room with the bags. He didn’t take human form; his stone fell out of the air and landed on the carpet.
‘He’s injured,’ the stone in my ring said. ‘Quickly.’
I raced to Gold. ‘Can I pick him up?’
‘Yes,’ the stone said. ‘Pick him up with both hands. Let’s see.’
I gently lifted Gold and examined him, but couldn’t see anything inside him. I didn’t risk turning my Internal Eye on him, but his energy level felt like that of an ordinary stone. He didn’t feel special at all.
‘He’s okay,’ the stone said. ‘Just exhausted. Put him on one of the beds. He’ll take human form when he’s strong enough, and he can rest.’
‘Stay here, everybody,’ I said. ‘I’ll pop him on my bed, he’ll be fine.’
‘Is that Gold?’ my mother said. ‘You said he was a stone.’
‘Yes, it’s Gold,’ I said.
‘Wait.’ John came to put his hand on Gold.
‘Is he okay?’ my mother said.
‘Emma’s correct,’ John said. ‘Drained. He’ll be okay. He must have used energy to defend himself. Lay him down, he’ll be fine in about four hours.’
‘Can you feed him energy?’ I asked the Tiger.
‘Nope,’ the Tiger said. ‘He’s a stone. Completely different type of Shen. The chi is the same, but our natures are incompatible.’
‘Can I feed him?’ I said.
Both John and the Tiger snorted with amusement.
‘Not a good idea, I think,’ John said. ‘He’d find that more embarrassing than coming around in your bed.’
‘Hop in with him,’ the Tiger suggested. ‘Freak him out when he wakes up.’
‘You’re worse than Leo,’ I said, and turned away to take Gold to my room.
‘Emma,’ John said, and I turned back. ‘Gold will be very weak when he comes around and probably won’t be able to conjure the clothes. Cover the stone.’
I shrugged. ‘Okay.’
When I was in the spare room where I was staying I laid Gold gently on the bed, roughly where his chest would be, and pulled a light sheet over him.
‘Is he all right like that?’ I said.
‘Yes,’ the stone in my ring said.
I hesitated, watching him. He had nearly given his life for my family.
‘I’ll really miss him when he’s freed,’ I said.
Gold transformed into his human form, lying on his side under the sheet. He turned onto his back and looked at the ceiling, puzzled.
‘Why?’ the stone said.
I knelt next to Gold and took his hand. He smiled at me, heaved a huge sigh, turned his head away and closed his eyes.
‘Because I really like having him around,’ I said.
Gold shot upright to sit and cast around the room.
‘Rest,’ the stone said. ‘I’ll handle it.’
‘What?’ I said.
‘I am in big trouble,’ Gold said softly, and fell back onto the pillow.
‘You’ll be fine,’ the stone said.
‘Rest.’ ‘Am I in Lady Emma’s bed?’ Gold said.
‘Yep, quite a coup,’ I said. ‘Something to tell your friends. Rest now. Whatever the problem is, we can handle it.’
‘Go quietly into the living room, Emma,’ the stone said, very softly. ‘Let’s not wake it up just yet.’
As I entered the living room, John was kneeling in front of Amanda and smiling kindly at her.
‘Hello, Amanda,’ he said, very gently. ‘My name is John Chen and I’m the one that’s promised to marry Emma. I’m a Shen, a spirit. The closest word you have in English is “god”. Please stay very still. It is vitally important that you don’t move or speak.’
Amanda’s eyes went wide, but she didn’t move. Little David sat quietly on her lap.
‘Is Amanda a Shen? Or something like me?’ I whispered as I approached them.
‘No,’ John said, without turning away from Amanda. ‘Where did she get her pendant, Alan?’
‘I gave it to her,’ Alan said. ‘I