From Ulaanqb to Badaling Zhenjin and TaraBai and the 9 Eizard ride hard for Badaling in a V-formation, with Zhenjin at the tip and the Devi Tara Bai directly behind him, flanked on both sides by the rider-wizards.

  As they exited Ulaanqab, they encountered the extensive wheat fields of the Xinese. The Emperor also grew barley, rye, sorghum, and millet; the harvests had already begun. From a distance, the royals and the nine wizards zipped across the plains, silent as the wind. Perhaps a farmer working the soil caught a glimpse of them, but the fields of the Emperor were sacred. One does not disturb the harvest; the Emperor must feed his people.

  At the drawbridge, Zhenjin signaled and flashed his ring. The bridge was lowered and the gates opened. They rode toward Weilan, where the vassal heirs were housed and Zhenjin's private quarters were located. They arrived late in the afternoon, met by Zhenjin’s stable hands and Kheshge Bao, the estate manager. With courtly grace, Zhenjin escorted Tara Bai to a guest pavilion.

  Suddenly, Zhenjin realized that although the wizards had come through the Badaling gate, they had now vanished without a trace.

  "Where are the wizards, Tara Bai?"

  "Somewhere nearby. Don't worry," she replied. "Your city is safe—perhaps even safer."

  "My concern is more nutritional," Zhenjin remarked. "I imagine a wizard would like dinner. I have shown horses better hospitality."

  "Do not worry about wizards, Khazan."

  "As you say, Devi. Kheshge Bao, bring us dinner. Please place a sentry at the Devi's door, and an odalisque to wait on her."

  After dining with his guest, Zhenjin retired to his own quarters. At Weilan, the pavilions were usually full: Huaizong, Mahintha, Tan Po, and Cheongsun shared one; Rajiv and his uncles another; the Tawalesi ladies had their own, as did Thermat and Dorje. But tonight, Zhenjin had his pavilion to himself. Weilan felt empty without the other vassals. Tomorrow he would have to face his father, and he knew it would not be easy.

  Early the next morning, the remaining vassals arrived at XanaDu. The mounted Palace Guards along with Soma and Bhayu were dispatched to their barracks, eager to tell their comrades of the wonders they had seen in the south. They didn't seem like royal escorts; they seemed like school children home from the theater, amazed by the world.

  The vassals and their guests proceeded to Weilan. Kheshge Bao was up early to meet them. "Welcome masters! Welcome back! Khazan Zhenjin has breakfast ready at his pavilion."

  "Zhenjin!" cheered the younger vassals. "Breakfast would be great!"

  "Welcome to Weilan, Queen Gitarji. I hope you had a good trip. Welcome home, Queen Dusshela; your handmaidens are here to wait on you. Welcome, Lady Sumita," Kheshge Bao continued profusely.

  The two Queens, their companions, and the heirs—Zalir, Mahintha, Cheongsun, RajiDewi, Urduja, Tala, Liwanag, Uddiawan, Sumita, and Rajiv with his uncles—headed for the pavilion.

  It was a noisy, joyful reunion. The younger vassals were eager to tell Zhenjin of their adventures until they realized that seated at the table with him was the Devi Tara Bai. They bowed politely as they entered. Zhenjin and Tara Bai rose to bow to Queen Dusshela and Queen Gitarji before settling back into a casual but respectful demeanor.

  "Where are Huaizong and Tan Po?" Urduja asked.

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  "They will be arriving soon," Zhenjin assured her.

  The table was spread with mutton, beef, pork, chicken, duck, fish, fruits, nuts, honey, and bread—everything a Khan could desire. They spoke of Chengdu and the shortcut through the Cuiyin Corridor—the three days of darkness where only the instincts of their horses guided them.

  Halfway through, Huaizong arrived to loud cheers. "Huaizong! We missed you! We wanted to hear you sing in the darkness of the corridor!"

  "Where is Tan Po?" Zhenjin asked.

  "He had to accompany Master Tenger to the Temple for duties."

  "Is it serious?" Zhenjin asked, concerned.

  "It could be worse," Huaizong said, slurping porridge and chomping on mutton.

  At the Forbidden City, within the Temple of the Five Masters, Tenger and the other masters were in heated discussion.

  "He ruined my Opera House in Ulaanqab!" Tengur cried. "It was those Nine Wizards! And now we have a harem of widows and no bride in sight for our Prince. When is he going to grow up?"

  "Is he in love with the Devi Tara Bai?" Deng asked.

  "He presented her as his intended, didn't he?" Ty added.

  "You mean 'Queen Sobeknefaru'?" Tenger said sarcastically.

  "What about Queen Gitarji. She is Queen and unmarried," Mod reported. "I rode in with the Madjapahit; she is so beautiful."

  "Another Queen?" Deng lifted an eyebrow.

  "Yes, Gitarji is a Queen," Mod affirmed.

  "That’s three Queens in the harem!" Tengur exclaimed. "Tan Po, put on the kettle. Serve us tea and tell the kitchen we want our mid-morning meal. Then scrub the temple steps; they are slippery."

  "Yes, Master," Tan Po said meekly, exiting to make tea.

  "That is Tan Po, Zhenjin's Kheshig," Ty said warily. "He is a spy."

  "Pay him no mind," Tengur whined. "Zhenjin in love with Gitarji, too? It fits a pattern—she is a damsel in distress."

  "She isn't that much older," Mod noted, thinking of logistics. "She still has child-bearing years, unlike the Lady Trans."

  "Gitarji is obviously in love with her Prime Minister, Zalir," Salkhi observed. "Tara Bai is a widow. Dusshela is beyond her child-bearing years. Who will marry our Prince? RajiDewi is unmarried."

  "She is betrothed to Durjana," Salkhi countered, "and there is gossip she could be pregnant as well."

  "A complicated problem," Tenger sighed. "And this Zalir is a dangerous man. He wants to reunify the Austronesian Empire. Khublai won't like that. What is he offering us for this sanctuary?"

  "All three Queens are valuable allies," Deng observed. "They are wealthy. Tara Bai has nine wizards, and Dusshela has an armada and stables of elephants. Let's not forget her gold."

  "Women are never good allies," Tenger asserted. "At best, they are good wives. Dusshela is the wealthiest, but does our Khan want to be her sixth husband?"

  "She has already constructed her own quarters by the harem," Salkhi reported. "It's almost as big as the entire harem itself. She isn't looking for temporary sanctuary; she’s looking for a change of address. Dwarka is no more."

  "What do they see in him?" Tenger asked.

  "He saved them from burning! ," the four other masters replied in unison.

  "He is being irresponsible," Tenger snapped. "I will talk to Khublai. Khazan wrecked my Opera House!"

  At the Pavilion of the Sun, where Khublai held court, Zhenjin tried to reason with his father. Empress Chabi sat by her husband while Huaizong and Mahintha stood by.

  "Father, do not allow Durjana to burn the Madjapahits. Having allies is better than having enemies."

  "So what? Durjana promised us aid to attack Annam!" Khublai argued.

  "Durjana has what he wants now," Zhenjin reasoned. "He occupies the Malaygascar throne. He will not help you; he is a traitor and a poor ally."

  "He is my vassal!" Khublai erupted. "The Annam insulted me! And Tara Bai has no claim; she is a pauper, Akbar's third wife."

  "Father, both Lahore and Agra have declared for her. Sambodji is outnumbered. That is the reality. Durjana is a usurper, not a King. He is a mercenary."

  "SHUT UP!" Khublai shouted.

  "If you burn the Gascari royals, the smaller kingdoms will turn against you," Zhenjin pleaded.

  "I will not burn her! That is Durjana's work."

  "If you deny them sanctuary, it is the same as submitting them to the suttee."

  "SHUT UP! I do not need those little kingdoms!" The Khan stormed out of the hall. Zhenjin tried to follow, but Empress Chabi held him back.

  "Let him go," she said softly.

  "I will inherit a kingdom that he has reduced to tatters by his ceaseless wars," Zhenjin said, looking at his mother.

  "Conquests, not wars," she corrected him.

  Zhenjin and Huaizong exchanged a dispirited glance. "Conquests," they said in unison.

  "My son," Chabi said, "I suggest you face Master Tenger and the Temple Masters. Your father's conquests can wait, but we cannot default on the grain. Go to the temple. Be gentle with them—your Queens will roast them over an open fire soon enough."