Giselle - Sat Beneath A Wisteria Arbor

Giselle sat beneath a wisteria arbor and across from Mr. Woe. The old man had a jolly shape and wore colorful clothes. He looked neither woeful nor like the leader of a murderous society. It was what Giselle expected from the leader of a murderous society. A servant stood several paces behind and to the right of Mr. Woe. The servant was younger than Giselle, but looked so ordinary, no ordinary person could have provided a description if he was spotted running away from the scene of a killing.

The wisteria arbor sat on the side of a hill south of Tianming Town. Geomancers insisted the Feng River Valley was older than Time Itself. Everything else had been worn down by wind, rain, and ice – or buried in the debris of that erosion. Grapes grew on terraces around the hill. A ceramic jug filled with dessert wine sat on the table between Giselle and Mr. Woe.

The wine was delicious.

"If you had come to work for me," said Mr. Woe, "you'd be receiving gold instead of being asked to carry it for other people."

Giselle patted a black-lacquered box.

"Killing is a messy business," she said. "So I don't like to be too neat about it. The government kills more people than assassins – with fewer hoops to jump through."

"In times of peace," said Mr. Woe, "barge accidents kill more people than the government and assassins combined. Nobody lifts a finger to do anything about it. You should have gone into shipping. But regarding the killings contemplated now, I wonder if you are setting us up for retaliation. That would be unkind."

Giselle smiled.

"The killing business," she said, "is rarely kind."

"Nonsense," said Mr. Woe. "Life torments us all. The killing business provides a glamorous escape."

"Glamor might be a stretch."

"Nonsense," said Mr. Woe. "Being killed by assassins is the ultimate status symbol."

Giselle opened her black-lacquered box. The contents gleamed.

"You win," she said. "Speaking of glamor, I'm paying in advance because I want you to succeed. If you do, any retaliation would be disorganized. So I'm only setting you up if you fail."

Mr. Woe laughed again.

"We're on the same page," he said. "Do you have hoops for us to jump through?"

"I'm sure you're considering how to redirect responsibility," said Giselle. "Wherever you can cast suspicion on the societies not yet being targeted, that will be helpful for the next round."

Mr. Woe poured another glass of wine and enjoyed the view.

"I understand there is a bonus objective?" he said.

"Dragon Turtle Society," said Giselle. "Can you do it?"

"These contracts are challenging," said Mr. Woe. "But I am confident that despite that, they will be fully executed. As for the Turtle, I cannot express similar confidence. Furthermore, I would be required to insist we keep the full payment regardless."

"Is there anything I could do to improve the odds?" asked Giselle.

"Not enough to make the effort worthwhile," said Mr. Woe. "What's your objective?"

"The Turtle is expanding in Tianming Town. I want to distract it."

"It's true that only blunt trauma has any chance of distracting the Turtle," said Mr. Woe. "But I have no reason to believe it's expanding in Tianming Town. Are you sure of your information?"

"The information is ambiguous," conceded Giselle.

"Ordinarily," said Mr. Woe, "I would suggest creating an impression that Dragon Turtle Society is behind the planned attacks."

"However?"

"However, that won't work. Their style is too distinctive. Whisps? What do you think?"

Mr. Woe turned to his servant. The young man stepped forward.

"Master," he said, "this servant knows of no evidence implying the Turtle is expanding in Tianming Town. It would be a logical move, though. The contracted attacks will only make that logic more compelling once they have been carried out."

"There will be a vacuum," agreed Mr. Woe. "But what would the Turtle gain?"

"Relics," said Whisps. "Our present dynasty was founded by a general, not a nobleman. The purges initiated by First Yao Emperor – and the Strife of Ten Brothers and One Tyrant – cost Great Yao a lot of relevant expertise."

"The Ministry of Antiquities is understaffed," said Giselle. "You're saying the imperial tombs are neglected and vulnerable."

Whisps bowed.

"More than imperial tombs lie under Jade Palace Mound," he said.

"The ancient giants?" asked Giselle.

"Gargogryeons like to remind everyone how much they suffered ten thousand years ago," said Mr. Woe. "In fact, they never shut up about it. Simultaneously, they claim to be the true heirs of the giants who allegedly oppressed them. Gargogryeo is a closed, bitter place. I can guess where you're heading, Whisps. I'll let you say it."

"Lure the Great Turtle to Tianming Town," said Whisps, "and kill him here."

"The Minister of Antiquities is an odd nut," said Giselle. "He and Sand get along. The Emperor believes wealth should be put to use. He has a low opinion of families who hoard – and contempt for burying wealth in tombs. That gives us room to maneuver. If I acquired fragments from a relic linked to the ancient giants, where would we go from there?"

"Gargogryeo," said Whisps. "As an export import enterprise."

"The fragments will have to be extremely compelling," said Giselle. "Can you help with that?"

"Whisps has expertise in talismans which aid us in our sacred work," said Mr. Woe.

Giselle chuckled.

"The person most qualified to explore Jade Palace Mound is the Fourth Prince," she said. "But Moonlight Chamber has alienated him. The quarrel is based on misunderstandings, but there are several such misunderstandings now – making resolution difficult."

"All opportunities come with problems," said Mr. Woe.

"And all problems come with opportunities," said Giselle. "The Minister of Antiquities is a traditional scholar…."

"He enjoys the company of inquisitive young men," said Mr. Woe, "who are also pretty."

"Renjie enjoys antiquities," said Giselle, "and being appreciated for his prettiness. Alone, that relationship wouldn't bridge the gap. But it's possible the Princess would find this project interesting. Her assistance would guarantee success; her opposition, failure."

"I am not acquainted with the Princess," said Mr. Woe.

"It's for the best," said Giselle. "Her abilities are unprecedented. Because our plan to explore the Mound would give Renjie an opportunity to shine, the Iba Algi may embrace it. In fact, this may finally be a case where everyone wins."