Who: Lóng Liang and Una Nicnevin What: A visit to the Oracle Bone When: 13th March, 1889 Where: The Oracle Bone, London Warnings: Powerful women, avoid if you're averse
It had taken Una some time to trace the origin of the mirror that had been delivered to her, and more to circle round and decide her approach, with Cassius' input. Mirrors were a matter of concern to her, and for all that Una could not detect any enchantment on this one, there were forms of magic in other realms that touched this world that she did not claim to know.
In any case, she owed a response to the gift, and had arrived on one she thought appropriate. So it was time to visit the Oracle Bone and make the acquaintance of Liang Long.
The Oracle Bone proved to be a shop that sold books. There was some kind of magic or glamour on it that was not entirely familiar to Una. The veils were not thin here by any means but space and possibly time were bent in on themselves. It reminded Una of the feeling of home and yet was alien to her. She took her time examining the books and finding out what sort of stock the shop carried.
Liang emerged from one of the hidden rooms in her shop, sliding the panel back into place so it appeared smooth wood once more. She did not hide it especially from her customers--if any trespassed, she would be on them with gleaming teeth and flexed talons before they moved the panel more than an inch. It was very heavy, besides. Liang was far stronger than her diminutive frame suggested.
Behind the panel was nothing more than a parlor. It was the room after that, the one at the very center of the shop, that held secrets. Books on Faerie, books about Merfolk, books by dragons. It was a small collection, compared to the rest of Liang's shop, but one she added to painstakingly over time, sometimes only one book in a decade, sometimes a whole shelf found in some treasure trove.
When she emerged, she noticed a new customer, one whose beauty was cold and deadly and kind, like a killing frost bringing death through peaceful sleep. Not a queen, but a great lady nonetheless, and Liang offered her a respectful bow.
"Please be welcome," she told the sidhe. "I am honoured by your visit. May I offer to be your guide here, if there is anything you search for?"
"I am called Una Nicnevin," Una said, "And I seek one called Long Liang." Her tongue wrapped carefully around the vowels, which, while not alien, had been written and accented in a way that suggested foreign origin. She offered a neck-bow in return, realising that she was possibly underrating the lady in front of her, who was not glamoured per se but smelled of power to Una's inhuman senses.
"Ah," Liang replied, delighted, "you have found me! You did not need a guide at all. Welcome to the Oracle Bone. I am Lòng Liang, and this place is mine. The entire street," she clarified with no little pride, as she considered Cecil Court the best road in London, and Dex Kessinger had agreed that she could base her territory here.
"It is very nice to meet you this way. Would you like some tea? I have a parlor here, though if you do not wish to be parted from the books just yet, I understand. It is difficult for me to leave them, as well. They are all friends, some of them very old, some of them new acquaintances. As we are!" Liang chirped happily. "Come, come, it is warmer farther in, and it is very cold out. England is so cold. Unless you prefer the cold?"
Liang stopped quite short at the thought, remembering that Countess Ravensworth was of the Winter Court, and might not appreciate hot tea and a warm fire.
"I would very much enjoy tea. And while I am well accustomed to the cold, a warm fire would be much appreciated." Una smiled in what she meant as a pleasant manner but had a number and sharpness of teeth that were not likely to be offputting to a dragon but had frightened enough mortals that Una habitually hid them with glamour.
She offered Liang a package, well wrapped. "I bring a gift to welcome you to your new home."
Liang pounced upon the gift with delight, unperturbed by sharp teeth (her own were very large) and gleeful at the prospect of a present. "Come in, there is a fire, and hot tea, I keep it always. It is just in here." Liang opened the panel to her parlor again, ushering in the countess, who did look very fine there, in her terrible glory. "You are not of royal blood, are you? A princess, perhaps?"
Liang tried not to look too shifty as she said this--she could not keep a sidhe countess in her parlor as a guest infinitely, although it was of course very tempting. "You have very nice bones," she explained, fussing with the bone china tea service until all was perfectly in order. "Dragon pearl," she said of the tea as she set down the tray. "Do you like jasmine? I like all kinds, but I have been making this a great deal, of late. It is made in my home province, and I found it soothing in a new place. May I open the gift?"
Liang finished pouring the tea and offered a cup to the countess, reaching out to stroke one hand over the paper package. It was book-shaped, book-weighted, and Liang itched to know what was beneath the wrapping. "You received my own, I hope?" she asked, looking up suddenly, not wanting the countess to imagine the exchange unequal.
"Please, open it. We received the mirror; it is very lovely and much appreciated, and rests in a place of honour." Which was all true, even if Una suspected she liked it quite a bit more than Cassius did. Even if she had not liked the mirror, Una would have felt the need for a gift to the giver in return. "And the jasmine would be lovely. You are a gracious host."
Una took the cup, aware of the obligation she might be undertaking, as no statement of free gift had been made. Some creatures of power were like that.
Liang took the hint, which she had meant to do several times but kept forgetting in her enthusiasm. Bowing slightly, she promised, "Nothing you eat or drink under my roof shall bring any obligation to you. I am sorry," she confided promptly, "I have not had any sidhe guests for some time, and I think to say it when I offer the tea, but not when it is time to drink it. Would you like any little cakes? I should get some flowers, too, they are good for snacks. I prefer meat, but my tastes are not everyone's. Ah!"
This cry was uttered as the book was revealed, and Liang opened the cover with great care, beginning to turn a few of the pages. "It is beautiful, and in excellent condition. A very fine gift, thank you, I will add it to my personal collection." Liang could not help but notice that the countess had not denied the possibility that she might be a princess, and took a moment to admire her in the room again.
"The mirror was also from my collection, from France. I keep so many things, but you never know when something will be right for a gift, or a trade, or simply to admire after a long time away. I do not believe in buying new things for gifts, though I know it is the custom for men here, and for women to make their own. I think instead it is more significant to sacrifice something treasured, which has been valued. I did like those cherubs," Liang mused, a little wistful. "They look very tasty, do they not? Very fat. But I am glad you have it now, and I am glad for the book."
"I am sure you will be welcome at some time to view and enjoy it again," Una said graciously, because she could and in any case she had been freed of obligation regarding the tea. "The book is from my personal library; I acquired it when it was printed. I had my arguments with Mr Hume about some of his choices, but overall I think it is a good history and will acquaint you well with recent mortal events in Britain. Not the most recent, obviously, but recent enough that you will learn the rest as you speak with people. I assume you've already become acquainted with Mr Kessinger and discussed representation in the House of Shadows? Unfortunately for the history, there was much Mr Hume was not privy to because he was ... not." A sad sigh escaped Una. She hated it when intelligent and interesting mortals aged and died.
"I am a collector of supernatural histories," Liang volunteered, pouring her own cup of tea and settling in to drink it. "They are rare, but there are those who watch, and record. There have always been. The werewolves of the vikingr told theirs aloud in poetry hours long, committed to memory across generations. The merfolk of the Aegean sang songs of the sea that became epic tales. Most recently, there has been a book written about your war here, though it has not been printed."
Liang sipped her tea, her gaze a mild warning to the countess not to dismiss her easily. "I think you will find that in China, we are very well acquainted with recent mortal events in Britain."
It was only a moment, and then she was smiling again, patting the book. "I am still very glad to have it. And yes, I have met Dex Kessinger, we had lunch and have made a contract. I am pleased to have a representative here to speak for dragons. Very often we do not get along, so there is only one in any place, and then we just speak for ourselves."
"I must admit I am not familiar with how such matters are settled among the dragons, but I am glad it is all done and peaceable. Though if he were not here, I would be interested in seeing how the House of Shadows decided on dragon representation. As you will know, Britain is very set in its ways and not well prepared to accommodate the unexpected." Liang's words reminded Una that she was going to have to look up what terrible things the English had done to China in the last few decades. It was impossible to have good relations with people from abroad when mortals insisted on their ridiculous thievery of resources. Sometimes she thought she and Mac needed to rub their noses in their misbehaviour like the small children they were.
It occurred to Una that she ought to consider a merfolk poet, or perhaps am incubus. If one could be inspired that way, some beautiful songs might result, and the experiment might have new rewards for the other party. Perhaps in a century or three when that was an option again.
"The tea is lovely. Drinking tea is one of the more civilised customs the English have adopted."
Liang's smile brightened, though part of her mind was still on the set ways of Britain and current events, and dragons taking matters into their own hands. They were dragons: They would be accommodated, whether anyone else was prepared or not.
This was not the purpose of their meeting, however, so Liang returned to talking about tea. "You may take some of these leaves with you, if you would like. I bring more in often, along with the books. It is a fast way to learn a people, by trading with them, or importing and exporting, as they do now."
Liang considered the countess, who was formidable and ancient and sidhe, which while not a dragon was still very respectable. "I am not here by accident," she announced, her tone changed from idle chatter to graver focus, sharing this confidence almost as if the countess were a sister in another skin. "I do not yet know how long it will be, but for now I will stay here, and watch."
Una nodded gravely. "Barring that it crosses with my own oaths, I should be happy to be your friend. I am, in some sense, also a visitor from another kingdom, though my residence here has been long and I have no intention of returning home any time soon. And as you will find it, perhaps, difficult to deal with some who foolishly think that the frame of a woman, and one visibly not of British birth, cannot contain true power, I may be able to ease your way because of my own rank and longevity here."
Liang inclined her head in acknowledgement of the gesture. "I would not ask you to break your oaths, and hope not to come into conflict with any of those here. Nearly any," she corrected herself, going briefly distant, musing. "There is wrongness here. You have felt it? The deaths?"
Taking a sip of her tea, Liang remembered to add, "And I am glad to have such a friend. And if any mortal men are truly difficult," she continued cheerfully, "you and I may eat them, and they will not cause us trouble again."
"I generally only eat mortals in a metaphysical way, but I appreciate the sentiment." Una smiled. She had more and sharper teeth in her proper person than most mortals ever knew, but of course Liang could see them all.
"And yes, I am investigating the matter of the deaths. Ritual murders. There is a young woman, a mortal witch, who has joined me in my investigations. And the representative of the Courts here has also worked with me. We have found disturbing changes to the veils between worlds. It appears that someone is practising ritual murder to alter the veils."
"Ah!" Liang was immediately on high alert, vibrating in her excitement for new information, and a voluntary exchange of resources. "I did not know it had gone that far, but I feared. I am searching for written record of anything with this pattern, to better determine the intention of it. I have books on necromancy, but they hold nothing quite the same."
Liang paused, then said pensively, "I would show you what I have, but it would not lead to anything. It is better to wait, perhaps, until I find something better. I would share it with you, when I find it."
Una had already made her decision to trust the dragon on this matter, and so it was easy for her to give up the next piece. "Please feel free to call on me when you do. This matter touches us all, or will, and cannot be taken lightly. There are other troubles that are happening around us and I wonder sometimes whether they're a distraction from the matter of the veils. My own investigation is ongoing, but my other responsibilities tug at me as well. I can also provide introductions to many people, if there are any you wish to meet who might aid in your own investigations."
Liang nodded, thoughtful. "You may meet here with anyone, if it is of use. There are secret rooms, quiet places, and I will stand guard. Anyone may go into a bookshop. And there will be tea, and snacks," she said with new relish. Being a dragon and much larger than she might appear on the outside, Liang was nearly always interested in the prospect of snacks. "I have some crickets. They are seasoned and crispy. Or cakes," she offered generously, knowing (though not fully understanding) that not everyone was as fond of insects as Liang herself.
"There is also the private collection." Liang nodded toward an unremarkable door on one side of the room. "If references are needed, you may search the supernatural books I have. I will set aside any that might be of use."
"I should be pleased to review it, although I know of at least one person who might be relied on in this matter who is more qualified than I to plumb its depths, and would be at least as delighted." Liang would be in London for a long enough time to allow Adrien to investigate first, Una thought with a smile. It would please him. "I will provide him with a letter of introduction, assuming you do not already know him. Mr Green." Another thought occurred to Una. "Have you spoken to Mr Kessinger on this matter?"
"Oh, I know Adrien Green," Liang said happily. "I went to his library to look for books, in the Institute." Her expression turned to a pensive frown, distant for a moment before she said, "I do not like it there, in that place."
The Institute was not her first concern, however, and the countess had asked a question. "I have not spoken of this with Dex Kessinger yet. I will speak with him, but have very little to say. And we have had other matters to discuss." Territory and contracts and representation and his son, for the most part, but there were also volumes of introduction and polite conversation to have in order to deepen the acquaintance, even if they were rushing through them.
"I am certain he is aware. Have you spoken to him, about the veils?" It would be useful for Liang to know what Dex already knew, so that she did not need to waste any time in repeating it.
"Not specifically, but I can do so if it's needed. He knows why I returned to London after many years away, and I believe the deaths are tied into those concerns. And I am glad to hear you know Mr Green. He is a valuable friend, even if his employers are," and here Una's lips twisted a little in agreement with Liang's concerns, "questionable at best." She would not reveal Adrien's secrets but she could not help but agree with Liang's assessment. It was unfortunate that Adrien could not leave just yet.
Liang nodded, appreciating that the countess seemed aware of the danger Liang hadn't been able to pin down. "You are working on a way to protect the veils? To defend Faerie?"
That was a question that might not receive an answer from a new acquaintance, when Liang was not fae herself, so she went on by way of explanation, "If it is more urgent for me to find those books than the others, on the veils, I will change my search to provide whatever I can. There is not much written," she warned, "but I could write some letters."
"I appreciate your generous thought, but I believe I am in contact with those who can assist me best already. You are correct that the lore is not written, but oral, and few who know it still live on this side of the veil." The truth was that Una and Mac were the experts on the veils between here and the Courts, though they might need some assistance in dealing with the veils between the lands of the living and the lands of the dead. "Though under the circumstances if there are necromancers of good reputation in the Middle Kingdom, that might be helpful to the cause. Those veils are also damaged."
Liang considered this. "I will tell you," she promised, though with briefly-pursed lips, she warned, "I find that often with necromancers, their reach might exceed what others wish for them to grasp. I will take care in my selection before recommending any to you, though you may wish to do likewise."
Necromancers loose in Faerie was not a notion Liang took comfort in, although she was confident the fae could handle themselves and their realm. She would speak to Francis, and perhaps send him on an errand or two to investigate.
"I am certain you are very busy," Liang continued, with a nod of deference to the lady before her, "but should you wish to disappear for some time among my shelves, including the private collection, you are always welcome."
Una's eyebrows rose a little at the idea of actually letting a necromancer at the Veils. "I am interested in seeing the veils repaired, not opened further by a mortal with an excess of ambition and a lack of sense. Perhaps a book would be better for that sort of research." Setting her cup down, as she sensed the interview was at an end, she added, "You have been very gracious and kind, and I am pleased to make your acquaintance and welcome you to London. I look forward to visiting your lair again. And perhaps sometime you would enjoy tea with me, at my home, or among the women I know?"
Because yes, Liang would make a most interesting addition to the company at tea, yes she would.
Liang preened slightly at the mention of her lair, and her enthusiasm at the idea of future teas was in her voice when she answered. "I would enjoy that very much. I look forward to seeing you in London, Countess."