“Breathing Life into a World, Stealing Away with its Stars”

“Breathing Life into a World, Stealing Away with its Stars”

Being Appendices Concerning the Two Tales Entitled “At the Peony Teahouse” and “The Theft of Heaven” with Notes, Thoughts, Inspirations and Origins.

© 2008 by Charles Shaver. All rights reserved.

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PROLOGUE

I finished posting the last act of the three-act story “The Theft of Heaven” last Friday, May 9th on my blog. In January of this year I posted the two-act tale “At the Peony Teahouse”. Both stories are spawned, continuations from the original story that I wrote and posted May through July of 2007 on the same blog. That story’s title was “The Children of Gods” and featured the heroic efforts of Xiao-tep the Ankh-fish of 100,000 Sorrows and Beauty, his half-sister and demi-goddess frog Wu Chan Chu, and the trickster god Comet Fox as they took on evil forces seeking to gain control over hell.

I finished “The Children of Gods” with an appendix/afterword entitled “Drawing Down the Sun, Uplifting the Stars” detailing inspirations for the story and origins of ideas.

“Giving Birth to a World, Stealing Away with its Stars” is a similar appendix concerned with the inspirations of the two stories “At the Peony Teahouse” and “The Theft of Heaven”.

I actually wrote “At the Peony Teahouse” Act I last year, about a week after the final posting of “The Children of Gods”. That would place its initial writing sometime in July of 2007. I didn’t post the story in 2007 because “The Children of Gods” was such an intensive writing experience within a short five week period that by the time I was beginning “At the Peony Teahouse” I was simply burnt out on the characters and their stories. Act I remained as a saved draft in my blog until I published it in January of 2008.

I published Act I (on the post it was called Part 1, but I have since restructured it and called it Act I) in January because, having looked over the previous year’s blog entries filled with lots of science fiction, horror and nerdy goodness about up-coming movies or new technology or random news articles concerning robots, there was relatively little original material on my blog. I wanted to start the new year with new stories to draw in more readers and promote my own work.

Truth be told, I was yet feeling in the mood to post “At the Peony Teahouse”. But I posted Act I on January 4th nonetheless, making it the very first post of the new year. In the following week I wrote and posted Act II (posted as Part 2). I was yet feeling in the mood to write these tales, so I quit. Hence the rather abrupt ending of “At the Peony Teahouse”.

But the stories remained with me, stewing in my head for a good few months until, at last, I decided this fantasy world needed to be fleshed out with more original characters on more adventures. I felt the need for detailing the world, how it came to be, and then some. At last I was in the mood to write in this world once more and on April 25th I posted Act I of “The Theft of Heaven”.

In that time between “At the Peony Teahouse” and “The Theft of Heaven” I kept returning to a story I had conceived at the same time that I initially started writing “At the Peony Teahouse” last year. The story, entitled “Warriors of the Midnight Sun”, was initially designed to bring more of a mortal touch to the otherwise deity-dominant “The Children of Gods”. I wanted to bring the stories down to ground level, so to speak. As such, I was highly concerned with the world itself and its people. I think this served as further inspiration for “The Theft of Heaven” which, in many degrees, is the Creation Epic of the world.

I also want to inform everyone that “At the Peony Teahouse”, “The Theft of Heaven”, the forthcoming story “The Ruby Bug” and a few others will all play a part in setting up the story that is sure to be an epic in itself: “Warriors of the Midnight Sun”. So, although “At the Peony Teahouse” and “The Theft of Heaven” both may seem to have finished abruptly or with a few loose ends, fear not. These stories are in actuality one part of a much larger story!

The Children of Gods Act I
The Children of Gods Act II
The Children of Gods Act III
The Children of Gods Act IV
The Children of Gods Act V

At the peony Teahouse Act I
At the Peony Teahouse Act II

The Theft of Heaven Act I
The Theft of Heaven Act II
The Theft of Heaven Act III

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“At the Peony Teahouse”

Still impressed with Tony Jaa’s movie Ong-Bak and having always been a fan of fighting bloodsports, I wanted to incorporate the element of a kumite-style fighting culture into the universe. I was also, for reasons I cannot remember, taken with the peony flower. Together the two formed the teahouse arena of the Peony Teahouse. As we pick up with the story, Xiao-tep’s half-sister Wu Chan Chu, the frog demi-goddess, is the current champion at the Peony.

In the last part of “The Children of Gods” Comet Fox had mentioned he wanted to learn a new fighting form, one that allowed sobriety unlike his previous drunken style which literally required him to be drunk in order to fight better.

As Comet Fox and Wu Chan Chu square off inside the Peony, Comet Fox takes on a new fighting stance, one that makes him look as though he’s dancing. This is capoeira (see a capoeira demonstration here), a combat style originating from Brazil that incorporates dancing and play and lots of aerial leg techniques. I felt capoeira was only appropriate for the flying trickery of Comet Fox.

I created the fictitious Island of Black Soil and Oranges, where Comet Fox was trained, as a symbol for tropical climes, hinting at Rio de Janeiro and other areas in South America where capoeira enjoys popularity.

While on The Island of Black Soil and Oranges, Comet Fox is made to work against his desires. This was my attempt to bring a certain amount of humility to Comet Fox. Fear not, however: he will always remain a trickster god!

Comet Fox makes friends with Risueña Cara. Her name translates from Spanish as “Smiling Face”.

Comet Fox’s new master is called Akan Bakongo, a hint at capoeira’s origins with both South American Indian slaves as well as African slaves. Akan are a people from West Africa who revere Anansi, a trickster god. Bakongo is another name for the Kongo people. Kongo means “hunter”.

The ball game Comet Fox is taught by Akan Bakongo is similar to football (soccer).

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“The Theft of Heaven” – Act I

I had wanted to make a creator for the world that was largely unemotional, unattached and not quite a god with human personality, but rather something abstract. I had made mention of The Cosmos previously, but here I outline The Cosmos as the creator of essentially all things. In this way I felt The Cosmos were more like a mysterious element rather than an identifiable entity that could be addressed or reasoned with. In a way, The Cosmos are like the essence of nature and not a god.

The Mountain That Lived in the Sky, Taliesin, is named for the Welsh poet most famous for his Book of Taliesin, the earliest poetic work known that was written entirely in the Welsh language.

Momoki’s name has no origin other than being alliterative with the word ‘marmoset’. In part this is due to the fact I was thinking out his character, including name, away from a computer or books or other reference materials. It is simply a made-up name.

I wanted to give Momoki some sense of archaic tastes, grace and old charm. As a result, I made him a lover of the smoking pipe, which also often denotes wisdom and contemplation. I imagined the pipe similar to the kiseru.

Gogi the Grasshopper’s name also has no real origin. It is entirely original and was chosen for its ‘cute’ sound and alliteration with the word ‘grasshopper’. He was somewhat modeled after Piglet of Winnie the Pooh fame in his outward timidity yet with a certain amount of daring within and in being cognizant of his small size. I also connect grasshoppers with Tom Sawyer and summer adventures, so you may find hints of such thing in him as well. His story about the goose is somewhat inspired by the fascinating migratory geese that fly over my house every fall and spring here in Michigan.

Gogi is one of the first major characters introduced in this world that is mortal.

The headdress given to Momoki by Gogi is modeled after Hindi headdress I recently saw on a wrestling program on television. I wish I had more descriptions or references, but I caught a mere glimpse of the headdress.

The story of how Szu Ri and Gogi meet was inspired by the story of how Leizu, a Chinese empress, discovered silk from silkworms. One story goes that a silkworm fell on her hand and wrapped her finger in silk. Hence we have Szu Ri falling on Gogi and leaving small bits of silk on his hands.

Szu Ri roughly translates from Chinese as “Sun Silk”.

The story of Motharus has several origins. One is that of Stilzel, a boy who was found in a stork’s nest in the Sumava/Böhmerwald forest between Bohemia and Bavaria. Motharus, being an anthropomorphic demi-god, also finds roots in the Egyptian god Horus who had a the body of a man and a falcon’s head. His name started as a contraction of the names Hathor, the Celestial Cow goddess, and Horus. It was then changed to make it sound a tad better.

Motharus is described as having a kestrel head. Kestrels are of the falcon genus.

Drae’s name is completely original.

Motharus’ desire to fly to the sun is inspired by the Greek tale of Icarus.

Srang Bo’s name is original, though I may have been subconsciously drawn to the word ‘srang’ as I’ve always liked its sound.

I introduced Srang Bo as Motharus’ first teacher because I wanted his martial education to be a bit different from the other characters in this world who were so far strictly skilled fighters. I wanted Motharus to have an element of supernatural control to his character, the ability to wield magic. I also knew that Momoki would have to defeat him in combat in the near future and an untrained fighter (in this case Momoki) rarely stands a chance against a trained fighter. Srang Bo became Motharus’ master in mystic arts. This idea was somewhat inspired by Marvel Comics’ Dr. Strange who has modicum martial training, the majority of his skills being his mystic abilities. I wanted more wizards and mystics in this world, so I made Motharus one.

At one point, Motharus stands in a cylindrical cavern with flaming light and odd shadows dancing on the wall. This cylinder is called the Black Chamber. I’ve had such a dream, but it was more a classic cave than a cylinder. The voice that came to Motharus was not in my dream.

I wanted magic within this world to be dark and threatening like that of typical sword and sorcery tales. That is not to say all sorcery within this world will be evil, nor the sorcerers all evil, but the mystic arts here will come with certain heaviness and consequences.

Adonai Ku-jal’s name comes from two sources. First, ‘adonai’ in Hebrew means “My Lord”. I wanted to use this addressing word as part of the name to hint at the subservience Motharus must make to the demon. Ku-jal is a contraction of a few different things as well as largely being original. It was inspired by the word ‘djinn’, also written as ‘jinn’ and has since been translated and extrapolated to ‘jinni’ or ‘genie’ within common modern English language (though it is a French spelling). A genie, of course, is the legendary supernatural being trapped in an oil lamp until Aladdin freed it. The genie is not, however, a single character but a type of being. Many genies make their appearances throughout The Thousand and One Arabian Nights.

Tanas was named for the Tana River in Norway. He teaches Motharus a breaking-style martial art similar to the Muay Thai (see Tony Jaa demonstrate Muay Thai here) of Wu Chan Chu. Could a face-off be in their future? Hmmm… I wonder.

Twila’s name has no distinct origin other than alliteration with ‘turtle’.

Momoki and Twila’s love as well as Gogi and Szu Ri’s love are the first love stories found within this world.

I had The Cosmos, an element that normally does not react or interact with the world directly, respond to the deaths of Momoki and Twila to portray the severity of the loss.

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“The Theft of Heaven” – Act II

Weeping cherry trees are new to me. I found one recently at a nearby store and fell in love with it. I wish I had the money and space for one on my property. They’re beautiful.

Etain is named for Étaín, an Irish goddess of the sun.

Kalavata’s name is derived from Kalevala, the national epic poem of Finland. The poem details a swan that lives along a river in the underworld.

The mourning dove is Michigan’s state bird of peace. Since a child, I’ve always loved yet been saddened by the low “whoo, whoo whoo” cry of the mourning dove. The mourning dove in this story was inspired by a mourning dove that live in my neighbor's tree. I have seen or heard it almost every day since winter. Aglina’s name is a contraction of Virginia and Carolina as the birds are cherished and abundant in these states. Mourning doves, in fact, are also known as Carolina Pigeons or Carolina Turtledoves.

The traditional way didgeridoos are made is with the use of termites that hollow out the wood.

I made Zingtai a birdwing as they are traditionally incredibly large butterflies. Though the males are the brightly colored birdwings, I made Zingtai colorful so she could become the stars. Zingtai is an original name.

The growth of the two swans and Zingtai the butterfly was inspired by Chaung Tzu’s Book of Chuang Tzu. He was an influential Chinese philosopher that lived circa 4th century BCE. He is widely considered one of the founders, besides Lao Tzu, of Taoism. In the first tales within Book of Chuang Tzu he details a flitting butterfly and a giant bird whose wings stretch from horizon to horizon.

Zom Loa’s name is taken from two sources within the Vodou (often pronounced and written ‘voodoo’) religion. Zom comes from the ‘zombi’ or, as is the modern way of writing it, ‘zombie’ which is, of course, an animated corpse made so popular in our culture by filmmaker George A. Romero and his film Night of the Living Dead. Loa is the name of divine entities within Vodou that concern themselves with humanity and often personify elements within nature. Zom Loa would become, ultimately, the second sorcerer chronicled within these stories (Motharus being the first). And why is it every time I write about Zom Loa the song “Duel of Fates” by John Williams (of Star Wars Episode 1 fame) plays on my computer? Perhaps it has something to do with Zom Loa trying to defy The Cosmos? Haha.

Little Epito’s name is original.

The shifting colors in the sky are, of course, the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights. Latvian folklore holds that the aurora borealis are the spirits of dead warriors fighting in the sky and are an ill omen of dangerous times to come, usually bringing war or famine. Many northern people also believe that the souls of people that died violently cause the lights as they play with a walrus head.

Tarn’s name is original. I chose to use the walrus because of the above mentioned tale of the dead playing with a walrus head. It also inspired Zom Loa’s taking Tarn’s skull and placing it on his head as a helmet.

The Devourer’s Flower was inspired by the flowers from the Baten Kaitos series of video games. When one nears the man-sized flowers in the game, the flowers open up as if blossoming. When a character stands inside the flower the player is prompted to either save their game or, should it be a blue flower, to “accept the flower’s embrace” which transports them to the inside of a massive cathedral where they can level up their characters.

The Devourer was inspired by the Cthulhi, a small race of horrible creatures associated with H. P. Lovecraft’s Cthulu. They are also called the ‘star-spawned’, thus furthering the symbolism within “The Theft of Heaven”. If I may point out, The Devourer even states when asked by Zom Loa if he is a demon: “Not a demon,” said the Devourer in a deep gurgling voice, its mouth tentacles moving as it spoke, “but something different entirely. My history extends farther than that of demons, my family older perhaps than the world itself. I am The Devourer of Souls. This is my realm.” I wrote this to indicate the Devourer’s connection with the Great Old Ones, the evil gods that Lovecraft is so famous for and that include Cthulu.

Latvica, The Devourer’s realm, is a clue to the Latvian influence of the aurora borealis in this story.

I made both Adonai Ku-jal (the demon that dealt with Motharus) and the Devourer make a pointed effort to ask Motharus and Zom Loa if they truly desired their help. This was to make clear that both Motharus and Zom Loa knew well they were consorting with demonic or evil beings and were not mere victims being tricked. I did not want villainy within these stories to have a victim status. Motharus and Zom Loa had choices and they both chose their paths willingly. In my eyes that makes them more villainous and potentially more dangerous. I wanted no victims here, just out-right villains.

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“The Theft of Heaven” – Act III

I made Zingtai incapable of flight without her one jewel so that the world would lose its nighttime stars, showing that the actions of an individual (in this case Zom Loa aka Black Tentacle) can affect the whole world.

The reasons I brought Xiao-tep to Taliesin are threefold: one being that I wanted a character otherwise with a bit of haunting sadness to him to finally experience some beauty in his life; Taliesin needed a new caretaker; and at last the cast of the original story “The Children of Gods” needed to be introduced into this current story so as to build upon the eventual climax within the future story “Warriors of the Midnight Sun”.

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I hope you enjoy this weeks notes on "The Theft of Heaven"!

Two quick reminders:

I will be publishing Issue 11 of my free ezine If - E - Zine(tm) on my website next Wednesday, May 21st. It will contain four free short stories within it ranging from military science fiction to tokusatsu fiction. Be sure to check it out and read it!

Also, next Friday, May 23rd these fantasy tales will continue on this blog with "The Ruby Bug". Be sure to check back and read the exciting adventures!

Thanks,

~ Charles

"The Theft of Heaven" -- Act 3

Here is the third and final act of my original story "The Theft of Heaven". Act I is posted here and Act II is posted here.

As I post this I think I will be taking a brief respite from posting these tales next Friday, May 16th and may instead post some other thing. Perhaps I will post a sort of appendix, a collection of notes, about “The Theft of Heaven”.

But, fear not dear readers! On Friday May 23rd the tales will continue with the first posting of “The Ruby Bug”! That story will pick up where “The Theft of Heaven” leaves off, so remember to keep checking back to read these thrilling new adventures!

And now I present to you the conclusion of "The Theft of Heaven".

Enjoy,

~ Charles

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"The Theft of Heaven"

(C) 2008 by Charles Shaver. All rights reserved. No part of this story may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author(s) and/or artist(s).

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ACT III: BLACK TENTACLE STEALS THE STARS

THE THOUSAND FALLING STARS: BLACK TENTACLE STEALS A JEWEL FROM ZINGTAI; THE HEAVENS COLLAPSE; GOGI LEAVES TALIESIN

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CHAPTER 1

Zom Loa, now also known as Black Tentacle by The Devourer who had made him into an oddity with long, black tentacles where once his legs and feet had been, stood at the peak of Taliesin for three passes of Kalavata and Etain. With each pass, Zom Loa watched Zingtai, judging her speed and height from him. Though he stood at the highest possible point, the butterfly seemed to him awfully out of reach overhead.

Aglina nested near by, watching the stranger cautiously, silently. She ruffled her feathers.

Zom Loa looked to her. "I am not here to harm you," he assured her. "Once I have what I've come for, I shall leave and you may never see or hear from me again."

Aglina shifted in her nest, afraid. She let out a long, slow, mournful call of dissatisfaction.

Zom Loa smiled and looked up once more. Etain's tail came into view and, right behind it, was the forever chasing Kalavata. Zom Loa rocked a bit in apprehension. Day turned to night. Zingtain appeared, happily chatting away at Kalavata, her wings spread across the world in wondrous, twinkling beauty.

A ball of nerves and uncertainty, Zom Loa tested his timing in his mind. His body contracted, his mass of tentacles first pulled in, then stretched out in a grand push against the rocky peak of Taliesin. Zom Loa leapt, his eyes a constant stare upon the one jewel he had chosen. It was an emerald as big as his own chest yet the smallest one he had hope was within his reach. Eight tentacles lashed out. Six caught hold, one slipping away. The mass and speed of Zingtai started to pull him away from the mountain's side, a matter Zom Loa had not considered. Quickly, fiercely, his free tentacles lashed backwards to grab hold of a boulder embedded in the side of Taliesin. Aglina flew away to a safe distance down the mountain and helplessly watched.

Zingtai's wing jerked, Zom Loa's body stretched, the night sky over the world shifted.

Zom Loa cried out, pulling with all his might towards the mountain.

Zingtai cried out, pain burning her wing and agony setting fire to her heart as she watched Kalavata slowly slip away. She wondered at what could keep her from her flight. Looking back, she saw Zom Loa attached to the mountain and to one of her jewels. She cried out with anger, "Let go of me!"

For a brief moment, Zom Loa considered letting go, but memory of death in his family and fear of his own mortality spurred a certain determination within him that likened unto rage. He screamed out nonsensically in simple fury.

Zingtai pulled her wing, afraid.

Zom Loa pulled at her wing, afraid.

The jewel came free, tearing a bot of Zingtai's wing.

"No!" Zingtai cried out. Aglina cried out with her.

Zom Loa fell to the side of the mountain, pulling the enormous emerald close to him. He crashed to the rocky surface as thunder. His tentacles released their hold from both jewel and boulder, the emerald now in Zom Loa's arms. He rolled down the hill before slamming into a rock, ceasing his descent. For a while he lay there crying, happy to finally have the one thing that could end his suffering and bring to him immortality.

Zingtai's flight became erratic, the hole in her wing where the missing emerald had been causing her instability in her flight. She fell from the sky.

The people in the world below watched, wondering as a thousand times a thousand stars fell from the heavens, disappearing from the night sky.

"It is an omen!" many cried.

"Zingtai is dead!" cried others.

Most watched, mouths agape, silently stunned and unsure. One such creature was the mystic fish Xiao-tep the Ankh-fish of 100,000 Sorrows and Beauty. He was a butterfly koi born of Hapi the god of the Nile River and of Lei-zi the goddess of thunder. He stood watching the stars falling overhead, his long fins flowing in a gentle summer night breeze. The ankh he had been born with upon his forehead shimmered with the passing of the stars. In one fin he carried an elaborate, four-bladed spear. About his waist was tied a willow branch.

"Not one or a few stars fall," Xiao-tep said to man nearby, "but all of them."

The man nodded. "Something foul is at hand, but who would steal the heavens? And to what end?"

"I cannot say," answered Xiao-tep. "But this does not bode well."

Zingtai grew smaller, as small as she had been when first she was born from Kalavata's didgeridoo. The stars disappeared with her. She fluttered, floating, struggling to land on Taliesin. She at last came to rest near Aglina. The mourning dove stepped forward, calling to her saddened coos.

Zingtai gasped, afraid. She looked up to see Kalavata flying away without notice to her absence. She cried. Aglina joined in her weeping.

Zom Loa stood, aching. The jewel remained in his arms. He held it there, staring at it.

With the jewel in his arms he stole down Taliesin towards The Devourer's flower. He stepped inside, excepting its embrace. Once more Zom Loa slipped through the flower's bottom and confronted The Devourer face to face.

The Devourer gurgled with laughter. "You have it! You stole a Jewel of Zingtai."

"So I have," smiled Zom Loa.

"Now you must ingest it to be granted immortality."

Zom Loa looked at him curiously, "How do I ingest something half the size of my body?"

"Perhaps a small bit, a chunk would do," said The Devourer. He thought a moment before continuing. "Were I smarter, I would devour you now," confessed the cephalopodic creature, "and keep the jewel for myself."

Zom Loa reeled in horror.

"I won't. As I've said, you're destiny is before you. You will have the chance to summon forth a demon unlike any other and it will cause great catastrophe for The Cosmos and all things. I would gladly give away the chance to own a Jewel of Zingtai to aid such a future."

Zom Loa found little comfort in this.

"Swallow the thing," instructed The Devourer.

Zom Loa was suddenly inside the flower once more as it opened up onto the frozen tundra of the northern lands. As he stepped from the flower, the jewel still in his arms, a small shape in the ice caught his attention. He knelt near it, dug some of it out and found it to be the skull of a walrus. "My dear friend, Tarn," Zom Loa spoke softly. "How long have you waited for me? How long was I gone?"

The winds blew strong and it was then Zom Loa noticed that, while he felt the bitter chill of the land, he was not affected by it as he had once before. He knew then the Devourer had granted him more than a new form.

He remained kneeling and examining the skull a long time, feeling the loss of a friend, wanting to have him back once more. "This is why I did it," said Zom Loa. "To end the suffering of death. Unfair are The Cosmos. Justice does not exist as long as death reigns. Wish that I could have stolen a jewel for you, old friend."

Wanting to remain close to his friend Tarn, wanting to signify his defiance of death and The Cosmos, Zom Loa donned the walrus skull like a hat. The long tusks hung down past his chin. He breathed deep.

He dug through the ice some more and found another bone. With it he hammered upon the Jewel of Zingtai. He hammered again and again with little effect. The bone merely slid off the jewel hit after hit.

Angry and frustrated, Zom Loa slammed the bone into the jewel on last time. The bone broke, splintering into a sharp point. Looking, contemplating, he decided to use the bone one last time. He thrust it downward towards the jewel as a spear. At last a tiny fleck of the jewel broke loose and landed atop the snow and ice. Zom Loa dropped the broken bone and reached for the shard, examining it. He ingested it, swallowing it dry.

He felt a small tingle and nothing more. He wondered if the small bit was enough. Out of options, Zom Loa picked the jewel up in his arms. One by one his black tentacles whipped out, pulling him south.

Zom Loa came to northern people he had stayed with before seeking out The Devourer's flower. They were aghast at the sight of him, horrified by his tentacles and hollow-looking body. Worst of all was the skull of a walrus. There was no sign of the escorts he had come with.

The people screamed, chasing him, shouting hatred and fear. One threw a long fishing spear, launching it into Zom Loa's back. It pierced all the way through and out his chest. Blood trickled from him. He felt the intruder in his chest, but very little pain associated with it. He did not falter nor did he fall. Zom Loa turned back to the people he had been running from, smiled, let the jewel fall to the ground and with great effort removed the spear from his chest. The wound healed over.

He dropped the spear, picked up the jewel and left the northern country without further incident.

Before returning to the kingdom he had started from, Zom Loa buried the jewel, wanting not to share his secrets and treasure with others, even his king. He entered his old kingdom to find his liege dead of a cough. His son Aniabas, one of the children Zom Loa had once told tales to before tucking them away for a night's rest, had taken his father's place as king and was now military trained. Though the people there were as shocked and terrified by Zom Loa's new appearance as the northerns had been, they were not as outwardly repulsed. They recognized him and from that recognition spawned curiosity.

"You have been gone a long time," said the new, young king. "We expected you gone only two years. It has been nearly eight. Why is that?"

Zom Loa told his tale of adventure, but left out the telling of the jewel.

"And how did you come to this new... visage?" asked the king.

Zom Loa explained the tale of The Devourer, but told he had tricked the demon into freeing him instead of eating him. "To do so, I had to convince him I would be his servant, which I never intended. As such," Zom Loa lied, "he granted me new powers and with it this new visage."

The king considered this. "My father did not send you with our kingdom's riches to consort with devilry!" he lashed.

Zom Loa was taken aback.

"The way I see matters, you owe this kingdom a great apology and reperations for falsely representing us by dealing with a demon!"

"But, but... My intentions were always in the interests of your father and his kingdom," Zom Loa lied again.

"It is my kingdom now and I do not appreciate your ilk. You must repay the kingdom the wealth you stole or be sentenced to death!" Armored guards stepped forward at this.

"But I haven't the money!"

"Then you will burn as a witch!" cried the king. He commended his men to capture Zom Loa.

But Zom Loa was quick to react. He ran, slithering swiftly out of the castle. Guards could not catch him and arrows, though they pierced his body, could not slow him. Zom Loa ran to the stables and mounted, side-saddle and bareback, a warhorse there and charged upon it out of the kingdom.

The king gave orders, sending half his armed men after Zom Loa. "Bring him back. Whether he breathes, I care not, but this creature... this Black Tentacle must not be allowed escape from making restitution! His devilry cannot be tolerated!"

Zom Loa rode the horse day and night until it tired and died under him. He left the horse to rot in the sun, wondering how he could return to regain his Jewel of Zingtai.

"I need a warrior of my own," he said to himself as his tentacles kept pulling him further and further from King Aniabas and his pursuing army. "I need a bodyguard. A good one, at that." He wracked his brain for tales of soldiers and warriors. One place came to his mind time and again, a place where the greatest fighters from all over would go to test and challenge their skills. Zom Loa fled for his life, determined to hire a bodyguard for himself at the Peony Teahouse.

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CHAPTER 2

It was a long time before little Gogi the Grasshopper pulled himself from his hiding spot beneath a rock. He wandered the mountain Taliesin for a long while, alone and thinking. Fear filled him. He did not like seeing The Mountain That Lived in the Sky in such tatters, unattended and uncared for, overgrown.

He traveled to its highest peak, to where the tobacco grew wildly, and sat reminiscing about his lost friend Momoki and the talks they had shared on the side of the mountain. He watched the bright sun dip and disappear, night chasing day. It was all new and wild and at last lonely. He missed Momoki so that he cried while surrounded by the tobacco.

He spoke with a few of his other friends on Taliesin. A sense of the forlorn seemed to rule the once happy, glowing mountain.

Curiosity ruled the world below. Xiao-tep the Ankh-fish was awash with questions as he flew through the sky looking for signs and reasons why the stars had fallen. He flew all through the heavens, meeting people from every part of the world, discussing the matter with everyone he met. No one could give him reason beyond speculation.

"Something must be wrong with Zingtai," said an elder at last. "If she is ill or wounded or troubled, she may fall herself and with her would follow the stars."

"Thank you for your wisdom," he had told the old man. "But where might she have gone?"

The elder considered this. "Perhaps, the closest place to heaven: Taliesin."

Xiao-tep thanked him again and flew off towards The Mountain That Lived in the Sky. He found it horribly overgrown and ugly. He flew beneath the mountain and asked the ants there, "Do you know of Zingtai?"

"Oh, yes!" said one as it scurried off to work. Another took his place, "She is the butterfly with the beautiful wings!" It too disappeared into a small hole as yet another replaced it, "She lives topside now, near Aglina the Mourning Dove."

"Where topside?" he asked.

Another ant answered. "Topside! Topside! Somewhere topside!"

"Thank you," said Xiao-tep and he flew to survey the mountain from above. He dove down when he saw a weeping cherry filled with silkworms and silkmoths. "Have you any knowledge of the whereabouts of Aglina the Mourning Dove?"

The silkworms and silkmoths each shook their heads. One spoke, her voice chiming, "We know of her, of course, but rarely do we go visiting. We stay here and spin our silk unless some great event directly affects us."

Xiao-tep thanked them. He flew high and surveyed the mountain once more. He spied a lone grasshopper journeying an open field alone. He flew down, frightening the little creature with his approach.

Gogi the Grasshopper scurried away from the flying mystic fish with the long and rather dangerous-looking spear.

“I apologize,” called Xiao-tep. “I seek the butterfly Zingtai. Do you know of her?”

Gogi peered at the stranger from behind a single blade of tall grass. He nodded nervously, “She is the b-butterfly that once was the stars.”

Xiao-tep lowered himself closer to Gogi, “I am Xiao-tep the Ankh-fish. I mean you no harm, little one. I have come to understand why the stars have fallen from the sky.”

Gogi, fearing he was being rude by hiding, came around the grass and presented himself before the strange fish. “I-I am Gogi the Grasshopper. I could not tell you the reasons for I do not know myself. The whole world has changed it would seem.”

“So it would seem,” he confirmed. “I was told she was with one named Aglina. How may I find them?”

“O-oh, Aglina! She is the mourning dove that came to perch atop the mountain after…” his small voice trailed off as tears pooled below his eyes. He fought back the sadness and said, “You may find Aglina nesting at the highest peak.”

“Thank you, Gogi,” Xiao-tep said and his voice was so filled with gratitude Gogi almost felt him as a friend. The mystic fish flew high into the air and Gogi watched in awe and wonder.

Xiao-tep flew around the highest peak of Taliesin and finally saw the mourning dove Aglina resting comfortably there. He flew down to her side. "Are you Aglina the Mourning Dove?"

Aglina nodded.

"I am told the butterfly Zingtai may be here with you. Is that true?"

Again Aglina nodded. She lifted her wing to show Xiao-tep a wounded birdsong butterfly sleeping there.

Xiao-tep drew nearer. "Is she well?"

Aglina shook her head.

He decided to allow Zingtai her rest. "Would you mind if I stayed until she awoke?"

Aglina cooed softly, welcoming him, though still suspicious of him and his spear and protective of her friend Zingtai.

He floated nearby, looking down onto the world far below Taliesin. He then had his first good look at Taliesin itself. Though the mountain appeared grotesque at the moment, Xiao-tep could see the beauty hidden under its shaggy surface. He wondered why the mountain was not better cared for. It seemed peaceful here, simply unkempt. "Something great and terrible happened here," he realized.

Aglina cooed sadly, nodding.

Etain's tail feathers ruffled by overhead. Xiao-tep looked up in time to witness Kalavata's head chase by and night wash over them. The swans seemed so close to where Xiao-tep now sat.

Gogi, so filled with curiosity, as was his nature, climbed the side of the mountain while Xiao-tep waited and met him there. Aglina and Xiao-tep both welcomed him. They chatted idly. At last Xiao-tep asked, “What happened here, Gogi?”

Gogi, fighting tears, told Xiao-tep of Momoki’s fall. “he was my greatest friend,” he said as the rush of tears finally broke free.

“I am sorry for your loss,” Xiao-tep consoled.

When Zingtai awoke, she told Xiao-tep of the theft of one of her jewels.

"W-what has brought you here, Xiao-tep?" Gogi blurted with the question, a question he feared asking.

"It would seem I am drawn to sorrow," answered Xiao-tep.

"It would seem, at times, we all are," replied Zingtai.

Xiao-tep told his tale of how he was born, of his fight with his father and of his friendship with Wu Chan Chu and Comet Fox. The three listened in awe.

“How adventurous your life must have been thus far,” Gogi said in awe.

Xiao-tep chuckled. “I suppose so, but in many ways each life is adventurous.”

“No, no!” cried Gogi. “P-please do not curse me with such a statement. I've had all the adventure I can handle in my lifetime.”

Satisfied with knowing who this mystic fish was, Gogi at last parted their company. He wandered Taliesin again until he found himself at the base of the cherry blossom, now a weeping cherry, where the silkworm Szu Ri lived. He slowly climbed the tree. He did not find her there. Instead he found a small white braided cocoon. Not knowing what else to do, he hesitantly knocked at its side. "H-hello? Szu Ri?"

No answer came to him. He sat, watching the sunset and remembering a time when he was not so alone, when the sun never set, when the sky glowed golden at all hours.

Three cycles of Etain and Kalavata's chase passed when the cocoon finally moved not from breeze or Gogi's own frittering. The movement instead came from within.

Slowly, slowly a beautiful white silkmoth crawled out of the cocoon, twinkling as though constantly dusted with a thin layer of glitter.

Gogi backed away. "Szu Ri?" he asked. "I-is that you?"

A voice came from the moth as chimes tinkling on the wind. "It is me, Gogi."

Though he marveled at her beauty, he could not help but say, "Even you have changed."

Szu Ri frowned and drew near him. They stared at one another for a long while. "I-I'm sorry," he said, ashamed of his comment. “You are more beautiful than before.”

Szu Ri blushed. She grabbed his tiny hands. "I'm sorry for your loss," she chimed.

They hugged, the smallest creatures in all creation for a brief moment as one, held together by loss and love.

Gogi stammered, his feet kicking at loose bark on the branch. "Szu Ri, I want to leave Taliesin. It's different now. It's all too different."

She nodded in understanding.

"I do not know how to get back to the world below, though. I nearly killed myself getting here. I fear I may succeed in killing myself trying to get back."

Szu Ri said, "I cold take you."

He looked at her, at her new wings shimmering with their own light. "Would you?"

She nodded.

Szu Ri held little Gogi close as she flew, flitting and fluttering across Taliesin. At first Gogi was filled with fright, as it was his nature to be afraid, but soon his curiosity forced his eyes open to watch the wild grass whipping by in excited rushing motions. He found joy in it and laughed. Szu Ri looked down at him and was pleased, laughing with him.

They neared the edge of Taliesin. Szu Ri breathed deep. Gogi did not look back but quietly called, "Goodbye, Taliesin."

The Mountain That Lived in the Sky fell away from beneath them. It took all of Szu Ri's strength to maintain a steady flight. The ground of the world far below approached quickly. Once more Gogi was afraid and covered his eyes. He felt the moist air of clouds rush by him, bedewing his body. Without looking he cried out, "Szu Ri! Are you well?"

"I'm fine!" she called back, lying, for she was growing tired. But her love for little Gogi gave her strength to carry on.

They came, at last, to a fluttering halt and landed safely, softly in a patch of grass on the world far below Taliesin.

"You can open your eyes now, Gogi," said Szu Ri as she let go of him and landed nearby.

Gogi looked. He was in the world he had been born to and he was safe thanks to Szu Ri. He looked at her. "Thank you."

They spent time together, resting and talking, looking at the world. Gogi wanted to look up, but he knew he would not be able to see Taliesin from here. He looked to Szu Ri instead and found her staring at him. "I-I guess we should say our goodbyes," he told her.

She shook her head. "Oh, little Gogi. I'm not leaving you. I said my goodbyes to Taliesin with you."

"B-but, Szu Ri!"

"Shhh," she hushed him. "Where do we head from here?"

Gogi was nervously wringing his hands together. "It's been a long time, but I think we could make our way in this world." He stared at her. "Are you certain?"

She nodded. "Gogi, I love you."

Gogi blushed.

They stepped away from the patch of grass, hand in hand.

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CHAPTER 3

Xiao-tep decided to remain on Taleisin. He tended to the wild grass and took care of the mountain's gardens. In time Taleisin grew to its former beauty, though the plants and trees remained barren at certain times throughout the year. Xiao-tep made friends with Aglina and Zingtai. They would smile and laugh together, lounging atop the mountain after Xiao-tep's work had been done. Sometimes they would picnic together there. When Etain would fly overhead they would wave. Xiao-tep and Aglina would also wave as Kalavata flew by. Zingtai, however, did not.

"Does it bother you we wave to him?" Xiao-tep took care in asking. "I have heard from the insects of your love for him."

"No," answered Zingtai. "It does not offend me. I do not wave not because I am hurt by unrequited love. I love him and he does not love me, that is all and I hold no sorrows over that. Nor do I refuse to wave to be rude."

"If I may ask, what reason then have you not to wave?"

Zingtai burst into tears.

"Zingtai, I apologize for asking!" Xiao-tep tried to console her as Aglina glared at him.

"No, it is not you or the question or Kalavata that pains me, Xiao-tep," Zingtai told him. "It is the coming of night that pains me, for with it once came my purpose, my station in the universe. I was the stars for the world below. Now I can no longer be.

"The greatest pain of all," she explained, "is not the loss of a loved one or the mortality of some, though those may be incredible pains. The greatest pain of all is to know your place in the world, to feel its comfort, then to be unable to fulfill it."

Zingtai wept.

Xiao-tep considered this and consoled her. Aglina rested her wing over the wounded butterfly.

Time passed and Xiao-tep became content with his new life as caretaker of Taliesin. He thought back on the time Zingtai spoke of her place in the world. Looking out over the trimmed, cared-for exquisite beauty of Taleisin he thought perhaps he finally knew what she meant.

Within the angled fields, atop the craggy stones and through the apple orchards did Xiao-tep play. He ate the delicious golden and green apples as he would bask in the sun’s warm rays. He slept in the wide, open fields and tended to the gardens. Each day for Xiao-tep was filled with work, play and contentment.

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EPILOGUE

The Cottonwood Chamber sat empty. Thieves had long ago looted its treasures, leaving it barren of all things but the cottonwood puff spriggans and their trees. The palace was in ruins. The dust of battle had long since settled.

In a far corner sat a pool of blood, a remnant of a demon’s demise. So small was the pool that it could barely be called a pool, not even a puddle. Over time it congealed, concentrated and formed into a tiny, living ruby bug.

A small red and purple imp stole into the chamber. He was Demetrios the Younger, illegitimate son of Demetrios the Quiet, and he came into the chamber by order of Senator Ipiretis. He searched high and low for any form of treasure to be had, especially one of an unnatural state. He found no such trinket.

After a grand and incredibly thorough search, Demetrios at last spotted the ruby bug crawling between the roots of a cottonwood tree. He spied it for a moment, making sure his eyes were not faltering. “It is truly a living ruby!” he proclaimed to himself.

Demetrios the Younger snatched up the small bug, dropped it into a leather pouch and sealed it. He ran from the chamber, delighted at his find and pleased to fulfill the desires of the senator.

****************************************************************************

I hope you all enjoyed "The Theft of Heaven". Remember to look for the continuation of the story in two weeks in the story "The Ruby Bug".

Until then,

~ Charles

Xiao-tep and his wuxia world return this Friday!

The universe of Xiao-tep returns this Friday!

Last June and July I posted a 5-part epic wuxia tale about Xiao-tep, The Ankh-Fish of 100,000 Sorrows and Beauty in the blogged novella "The Children of Gods". January of this year I then posted "At The Peony Teahouse", a continuation of tales from the same universe starring some of the same characters.

Now, this Friday, I begin posting "The Theft of Heaven", the next story within the series. In this new story, we will be introduced to Momoki the Marmoset and his friends. This story will lead into another and all of it will lead up to the proposed summer blog-buster tale "Warriors of the Midnight Sun"! I expect to do a lot of blogging this summer as I write these stories. I'm certain it will take my time ALL SUMMER LONG. Be sure to watch for it all here at http://lordshen.blogspot.com/.

If you like wuxia, martial arts, mythology and high fantasy adventure tales, you're sure to love "THE THEFT OF HEAVEN"!

"At the Peony Tea House" - Part 2

Here is Part 2 of my original short story "At the Peony Tea House". Enjoy.


"At the Peony Tea House" - Part 2
by Charles Shaver. Copyright 2008 by Charles Shaver. All rights reserved.

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PART II

THE FOX AND THE FROG: Wherein Wu Chan Chu and Comet Fox Fight; Old Friends Reminisce; A Small Fortune Goes Missing

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Comet Fox danced back and forth. His arms swayed from side to side while his feet took turns supporting him atop the polished wood floor of the Peony. His red fur waved as an ocean at sunset.

Wu Chan Chu was confused by this new dance. Never had she seen her old friend move so. "What new trickery have you learned in our time apart?" she asked.

"Come," Comet Fox challenged, sneering, "Find out what new tricks this old dog has learned."

Wu Chan Chu charged Comet Fox, but Comet Fox cartwheeled sideways and was suddenly at his opponent's side with a fist in her gut.

Wu Chan Chu gave a small croak.

The crowd roared with laughter and cheers.

Wu Chan Chu stepped away, coughed, and said, "Beautifully executed, but tricks will not win a war."

Comet Fox answered by jumping, flying, darting towards Wu Chan Chu with great speed.

Wu Chan Chu took a defensive stance, her eyes upon the swiftly approaching fists. She brought up her arms in a block.

Comet Fox, just before hitting Wu Chan Chu, pulled up quickly, flipping mid-air over Wu Chan Chu. His fists, instead of landing upon Wu Chan Chu's raised arms, floated instead to his sides while his head slammed into the top of Wu Chan Chu's skull in a fierce headbutt. She groaned, coughing, gurgling. Blood sprayed from her left nostril.

Comet Fox landed softly upon the wood floor behind her.

Wu Chan Chu wiped the blood from her nose and turned to face Comet Fox. She wanted to scream her dissatisfaction at him, but chose to take a defensive stance once more instead.

Comet Fox flew at her once more. This time Wu Chan Chu was ready. She jumped, meeting him mid-air with a knee to his chest. Both fell to the ground, Wu Chan Chu upon her feet and Comet Fox Rolling on his side.

Comet Fox rolled up to his feet, sneering, laughing quietly.

The two warriors fought for hours, testing each other, feeling each other out. For a long time Comet Fox showed he had the edge, throwing more punches, landing more blows. In the end, both were bloody and bruised and the crowd was captivated.

"We have fought long enough," Comet Fox whispered to his opponent. "Let us end this."

"Indeed," Wu Chan Chu agreed. "Let's end this."

They circled, increasing distance from one another. When at lasdt they were at the farthest edges of the wooden floor from one another, they charged. Comet Fox flew. Wu Chan Chu jumped. Both struck and both blows were hard. Comet Fox's fist found Wu Chan Chu's neck. It sank into deep folds, finding esophagus and pinching it. Wu Chan Chu's eyes grew wide as she gasped for air.

As Comet Fox's blow landed, so too did Wu Chan Chu's. She brought both her knees up, one slightly above the other. One struck Comet Fox in the chest, expelling all the air from his body. The other struck his gut, sending bile into his throat.

Comet Fox and Wu Chan Chu both fell to the floor, coughing, choking, rolling in pain.

The people screamed, they cheered. They cried out for more. Men grabbed men and shook each other in excitement. Women grabbed women and screeched with joy. But soon, as the two fighters rolled across the wooden floor in agony, they all turned to wonder at who should be declared the winner. A clear winner was needed to settle all the bets.

The owner of the Peony stepped forward. "Let us agree," he cried out, "that whosoever should stand first shall be declared the winner!"

The people cheered, then grew silent. Then chants began, some for the champion Wu Chan Chu, some for the challenger Comet Fox.

Both struggled to stand. Both fell in doing so. But it was at last Wu Chan Chu who first got to her feet and was declared winner.

The crowd screamed with delight. A few booed. All applauded as the two fighters walked off the floor together.

************************************

The room was small and smelled of stank tobacco and sweat. Comet Fox couldn't quite get used to it. There was a small bed and a blue glass hookah in the center of the room. Flies and cockroaches skittered and flew everywhere.

Wu Chan Chu fell atop the bed. Comet fox used an overturned wood crate as a seat. He dabbed at blood trickling from his mouth with his pawed hand.

Wu Chan Chu busily, meticulously prepared some herbal leaves in the hookah. She carefully lit the flavored leaves and offered Comet Fox a hose. He took it and drew on the sweet smoke. It tasted of peaches. His mind went wild and he puffed out two more clouds of smoke. Wu Chan Chu did the same with another hose.

"You learned a new style," Wu Chan Chu said.

"And you're as strong as ever," Comet Fox replied.

"Tell me, where did you learn this new way of fighting?"

"After we parted," Comet Fox said, "I traveled the mortal realm for quite a time. I sowed a few seeds, drank a lot, and woke up one day with an island sun blinding me. On that island is where I learned my new fighting style. There I met Master Bakongo. There I learned from him Capoeira."

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The Island of Black Soil and Oranges was small, sunny, bright and off the coast of a southern continent. It was populated by a mere few hundred and was occasionally adorned with hardened lava floes from a long-dead volcano. The people were happy, their lives hard but good. Fish and oranges were staples in their diet. It was here that Comet Fox awoke from a drunken haze.

He wandered the island until he found several people, both men and women, working on nets and lines and preparing foods before the day's fishing. Comet Fox asked, "I beg for your kindness... have you something for me to eat?"

The people laughed and scoffed at him. A woman named Risueña Cara grabbed his pawed hand and placed some netting in it that needed to be repaired, stating, "Work first, then we eat."

"But I'm hungry and I do not live here," Comet Fox explained.

"Then you do not eat here, either," said the Risueña Cara.

Comet Fox, with great reluctance, learned how to tie and repair nets for fishing that morning. As soon as the work was through, the whole community came out to eat. He was accepted into their midst, many gawking at him and asking questions, but none were mean, foul or inconsiderate. They allowed him to eat all he wanted and he ate his fill.

"Come," said Risueña Cara once more, "we must go to work."

"But, but..." Comet Fox stammered. "I do not live here."

"But if you would like to, you must work."

Fearing offending his hosts, Comet Fox boarded a boat and helped paddle out and helped with the day's fishing.

Later that night the groups of boats return with fish and food for the night's meal.

And so went Comet Fox's life for many days. He would awake, repair tools, eat, fish all day, return to the island and eat and sleep. He lost weight, grew muscles, gained clarity of mind.

After many weeks on the Island of Black Soil and Oranges, the people had a Moon Festival. Comet Fox did his part in the festival's preparation. He fished, decorated, chopped wood for big bonfires.

On the night of the Moon Festival the people danced, ate and ate and sang. At one point someone produced a ball and a type of singing, dancing game was started. Comet Fox found himself thrown into the mix. He laughed and hooted and cheered as he kicked the ball and danced and celebrated with the people. The people cheered his deft athleticism at the game. He flew above their heads with torches in each hand to light the night sky already bright with a full moon.

The following morning when he awoke for the day's work, he was told not do so.

"But why?" he asked.

"Someone wishes to speak with you today," Risueña Cara told him.

"Who?"

"Just stay while we go out fishing today," said Risueña Cara.

Comet Fox did as he was told, though he wondered if he had offended the good people of the island in some way the night before.

He sat along the shore a long time after the people had paddled out to sea before someone approached him. He was an elderly man, wrinkled with time and skin dark with the sun. "I am Akan Bakongo," the old man introduced himself.

"I am Comet Fox."

"I saw you playing our game last night."

"The one with the ball?"

"Yes."

Comet Fox smiled, "Yes, I liked it."

"You are quite good at it, quite natural to physical movement."

"Comet Fox shrugged, "I guess so."

"Come," Akan Bakongo said. He lead Comet Fox into a stand of palms Comet Fox had seen but never thought to venture into. Deep within was a small hut with a single room within. They entered. The hut smelled moist and alive. In the center of its lone room was a ball much like Comet Fox had played with the night before at the Moon Festival. Akan Bakongo tapped it with his foot. The ball slowly rolled to Comet Fox's feet.

"Kick it back," Akan Bakongo said.

Comet Fox did so and did so slowly, just as it had been kicked to him.

Akan Bakongo, with a quick twist of his ankle, kicked the ball again, this time sailing at a high speed toward Comet Fox's head.

Comet Fox deflected the ball with his head. The ball fell back to the floor and rolled towards Akan Bakongo who kicked it once more, this time even harder and with greater speed.

Comet Fox swung his arms, twisting his body as he had dancing the night before, and leaned way back to avoid the ball aimed for his chest. "What are you trying to do?" Comet Fox demanded as he straightened.

"Teach you."

"Teach me what? How to avoid being hit by a ball?"

"Exactly. Now return the ball to me. And keep those legs moving as if dancing, just like in the game last night."

************************************

"And so began my training in Capoeira," Comet Fox explained. "What of you? How is it you've come to be the champion here?"

Wu Chan Chu sighed. "XXiao-tep and I traveled together a long time after we left the Cottonwood Chamber, but eventually the time came for us to part. He needed to go his way and I mine. I supported myself by fighting here and there for money. Finally, a traveling immortal told me of this place and said there's money to be made here for a good fighter. As champion, I get ten percent of the house's take on the gambling plus this room to stay in and all the tea and food I want. It's been a pretty good life for me. A hard one, but a good one."

Comet Fox nodded.

A great commotion erupted in the hall outside the door. Wu Chan Chu flicked her tongue out and used it to slide the door open. People we rerunnign after the owner of the tea house.

Wu Chan Chu stood up and left, Comet Fox following closely behind.

When they reached the owner's side, Wu Chan Chu asked, "What is it? What's the problem?"

"Oh, my champion!" cried the owner. "The coffers! The Peony's coffers have gone missing! We are broke! Someone has stolen all our money!"

Wu Chan Chu grunted, sighed, then looked at Comet Fox.

"What? Why are you looking at me?" Comet Fox asked.

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Look for Part 3 next Friday!!!

"At the Peony Tea House" - Part 1

After a two week hiatus, I'm back to make the first post of the new year. I hope everyone's holiday season went well. Mine was good, if not rushed.

Today I present to you Part 1 of "At the Peony Tea House", a story expanding upon the characters and continuing the story lines from the five-act story "The Children of Gods" which I wrote and posted last year. These are fantasy Wuxia stories with anthropomorphic characters. I hope you enjoy.

Here are links to the original "The Children of Gods" story:

"The Children of Gods" Act I
"The Children of Gods" Act II
"The Children of Gods" Act III
"The Children of Gods" Act IV
"The Children of Gods" Act V
Afterword


Let's get started.


"At the Peony Tea House"
by Charles Shaver. Copyright 2008 by Charles Shaver. All rights reserved.

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PART I

THE RESIDENT OF THE PEONY: Wherein Wu Chan Chu is Challenged by Comet Fox

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Popular with those that walk with divinity is the Peony Tea House, though it is not so innocent and charming as its name would suggest. It is true that many an undertaking generally considered immoral or otherwise in poor taste finds a home within the tea house, yet gods and immortals of variety frequent the establishment. All affectionately called the tea house simply "The Peony".

The house is painted with the greens of spring and a pink so light one might consider it white if not glared upon with some small intensity. Tea is their specialty, and few dislike it, but wine is most common.

The house never closes. In that there were many that could in some small way consider this unimposing structure their home. Few, however, could make that claim with any truth. Only the owners and select few of the staff could truly call the tea house home. Among those was Wu Chan Chu, as she was the tea house's resident champion and as champion was granted a room, free of charge, for her lodging.

Sweat and the haze from every imaginable smoking herb hung in the air of the main room of the tea house. Tables line the walls as do booths and three bars. The center of the room is clear of all obstruction and has a floor of fine woods, polished though scarred. If one did not know its true purpose, one might consider it a proper dance floor.

A dance of sorts does occur on the floor, but not that which is generally considered fine and civilized. For the Peony Tea House, above all else - before its duties as a tea house, before its use as a brothel, before its importance as a gathering place, before its liquors and multiple indulgences - is first and foremost home to games of physical skill, of combat.

Wu Chan Chu stood at the center of the polished floor. Beside her was a small man, one of the owners, calling for a challenger. She had lost some weight since she had fought side-by-side with her brother, Xiao-tep, long ago in the Cottonwood Chamber. She still bore the mark he had given her in the belly.

Her eyes drifted up, up to a small loft with a veranda overlooking the floor. There, in a plush chair and accompanied by various peoples and creatures sat the god Hanuman, seeking the joys of night.

Wu Chan Chu's fists opened and closed in anticipation.

"Come! Challengers! We need challengers! We will give good odds to anyone with fighting skills!" called out the owner through a leather funnel that caused his voice to boom, echoing off the walls of the tea house.

His beckoning was answered by a man claiming to be immortal. Though small, he was muscular and looked quite athletic. He stepped forward to the center of the polished floor.

Bets were placed, cheers thrown out, excitement grew. Everyone had come to witness the grand and fine champion of the Peony Tea House.

The owner removed himself from the floor and the fight began.

The stranger approached with an aggressive stance, throwing a quick and short punch to test his range against Wu Chan Chu's. The frog demi-goddess had to do nothing to avoid the punch. The stranger followed with a quick and low kick to her legs. She blocked it and he shifted with blinding speed to deliver a similar kick with his other foot. This one hit her calf and sent a bit of pain into her body. She blinked but did nothing more.

The stranger bolted in with a kick aimed high at her chest. Wu Chan Chu blocked the kick with a folded arm and countered with a kick to his inner thigh.

The stranger worked in closer, trying to get within her comfortable range, and was finally left standing near her chest. Wu Chan Chu threw punch after punch, haymaker after haymaker at the stranger but his arms were folded at his sides and took the brunt of the damage. She swung wider and wider, opening her chest more and more to attack. At last, the stranger attacked.

He delivered three punches, two to her chest and one to the healed cut on her belly.

Wu Chan Chu lifted her knee into the face of the stranger and he was sent reeling from the blow. She pressed the attack ad the crowd cheered her on. She threw first one knee then the other into his chest as he tried to escape backwards. She let him go, let him catch his breath. The people screamed for blood and booed their champion for allowing the man time to recuperate.

The stranger gathered himself and slowly started in towards the center of the floor once more.

Wu Chan Chu ran, jumped in a small way for her, twisting the weight of her body and bringing her knee up and out like a spearhead. She flew higher than most men are tall and her knee came crashing down on his skull. Blood sprayed from his nose, coughing from between his teeth and the stranger fell to the floor.

Wu Chan Chu collected her prize money for the win as the stranger was helped up and out of the tea house.

The owner appeared once more.

He beckoned again through the leather funnel for challengers. He called out, threatened and finally begged for someone to step forward, but no one would. He did not want to call an end to the evening's festivities. An early end meant less wine and tea sold, less bets placed, less money made.

"Surely," said he, "someone finds our champion full of nothing but luck. Please! I beg you! Rid me of her!"

Wu Chan Chu had heard this all before and was not offended. The owner was simply doing his job, making the sale, tempting the would-be challengers in the crowd too full of self-doubt or not yet full enough of liquor to step forward.

"Come! All challengers! Anyone? What a sad night this would be with such a pathetic ending! We need a new challenger! Can we allow our honored guest," at this the owner waved a hand towards Hanuman seated high above, "go home tonight without proper entertainment?"

At last the crowd parted. At last someone stepped forward.

Through the crowd came an old familiar face. Through the crowd came Comet Fox.

"I will challenge your champion!" he proclaimed and smiled at Wu Chan Chu.

Comet Fox now donned a sash about his chest, yellow like wheat in the fall, and holding to his form his ulus, his weapons of choice.

As the fox-god and frog demi-goddess drew together at the center of the floor, Wu Chan Chu spoke. "We entertain a god tonight."

"What's a god to a god?" Comet Fox asked.

"Let's tear this place apart."

"I won't hold back," Comet Fox sneered. They backed away from one another and the owner announced the fight before disappearing into the crowd to collect bets.

The gathered crowd chanted, "KU-MI-TE! KU-MI-TE! KU-MI-TE!"

Wu Chan Chu squared herself.

Comet Fox backed away, turning to the crowd and clapping his pawed hands together in time with their chanting. The crowd began clapping along, creating a riotous beat echoing throughout the tea house.

He then turned back towards Wu Chan Chu and bent forward, his legs kicking up and back like a rooster scratching at the ground.

As he cartwheeled, Wu Chan Chu thought her old friend wanted to tumble rather than fight. Confused, she knew then Comet Fox had not lost his roots as the son of a trickster god.


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Check back next week for Part 2 of "At the Peony Tea House"! Thanks for reading! Let's have a good new year!