Every day was a lovely day for tea. The world outside Old Keep was getting hurley with its burley, but that only made it more important to enjoy the sunshine. Wearing one of her best dresses, Iba Algi sat on her patio and nibbled an almond flake cookie. Harlecuin Sols and Nin nibbled ghost almond cookies. How awesome was that?
Pretty gosh darn awesome.
"The air smells so good," said Nin. "And it's so quiet. You know, Iba Algi, it's challenging to live in a boy's dormitory. I wonder how boys do it. Do you know how they do it, Harlecuin Sols?"
"I don't know!" said Harlecuin Sols. "I've always lived in Old Keep Ward."
"Is the vampire alright?" asked Nin.
Mr. Featherpuff turned lazy circles in the air and chirped.
"Isfet-Iah has already reduced the city's parasite population," said Iba Algi.
"That's good!" said Nin. "I think."
Mr. Featherpuff nodded enthusiastically.
"Isfet-Iah is considering making a new vampire," said Iba Algi. "That will help reduce the parasite problem even more!"
"Oh my gosh!" said Nin. "Do vampires make baby vampires?"
"They bite people in a special way."
"Oh my gosh!" said Nin. "Do you know who he is going to bite in a special way?"
"Cute Boy," said Iba Algi. "But not right now."
Mr. Featherpuff shook his head.
"Why not?" asked Nin.
"Cute Boy is taking Isfet-Iah's big sword to Jian Peak to give to his dirty old abbot," said Iba Algi. "Isfet-Iah is not familiar with any of the abbeys. By following Cute Boy he can learn more. Perhaps he is planning to take over Jian Peak Abbey in order to prepare for the God of War's release."
"Oh my gosh!" said Nin. "That's so exciting!"
"I think so too!" said Harlecuin Sols. "Will it work, Iba Algi?"
Mr. Featherpuff emitted a series of chirps and whistles.
"Jian Peak Abbey's Abbot is already dead," said Iba Algi. "So Isfet-Iah's plan might work."
"Iba Algi!" called her mother. "There's a g-i-r-l here to see you!"
"A g-i-r-l?" asked Iba Algi. "Who do you think it is, Harlecuin Sols?"
"I don't know!"
"Oh my gosh!" said Iba Algi. "It's Crown Princess Esmaralde!"
The tall, muscular woman took one step. Then, from all the way over there, she was standing right in front of Iba Algi. Esmaralde reached out, pinched both of Iba Algi's chubby cheeks at the same time, and twisted them around.
"Hello, Iba Algi," she said.
Iba Algi tried her best to respond.
"Do you know what I was doing yesterday and last night?" asked Esmaralde.
Iba Algi nodded. Esmaralde let go of her cheeks.
"What was I doing?" she asked.
"You were talking to naughty boys," said Iba Algi.
"Is it fair for you of all people to call them naughty?" asked Esmaralde.
"I think so," said Iba Algi. "I'm the one who cast the hot bath spell."
"According to those naughty boys," said Esmaralde, "you released the God of War. Doesn't that make you a naughty girl?"
"Boys are easily excited," said Iba Algi.
"Yes they are," agreed Esmaralde.
"After getting easily excited," said Iba Algi, "those naughty boys misinterpreted my clear and concise explanation. I did not release the God of War. I released a poor vampire who had been imprisoned for four thousand years."
"By doing that," said Esmaralde, "isn't it true that you also released the God of War?"
"No," said Iba Algi. "There are four other whole vampires, you big silly."
"But it is true that if there were five vampires, and a naughty little girl released one, then there wouldn't be enough vampires to keep the God of War imprisoned?"
"There were five vampires," agreed Iba Algi, "and a charming little girl and her charming friends released one. But The God of War was going to be released anyway. That charming little girl and her charming friends just…."
"Hurried things along?" asked Esmaralde. "Dramatically?"
"Well," said Iba Algi. "Yes. But now the problem is more obvious!"
"I see," said Esmaralde. "Instead of being naughty, that charming little girl and her charming friends did us a favor!"
"That's exactly right!" said Iba Algi.
"Hooray!" said Harlecuin Sols.
"Because now we have a chance to prepare," said Esmaralde.
"That's exactly right!" said Iba Algi.
"Hooray!" said Nin.
"Iba Algi is so considerate!" said Harlecuin Sols.
"Thank you, Harlecuin Sols," said Iba Algi.
"Without that favor," said Esmaralde, "the problem of an ancient giant appearing in the world would have crept up and caught us by surprise!"
"That's almost exactly right!" said Iba Algi.
"What am I missing?" asked Esmaralde.
Iba Algi took out a big antique coin and rolled it across the table toward Harlecuin Sols. When it reached the giggling imp, he stopped it and rolled it toward Nin. Nin stopped the coin and rolled it toward Iba Algi.
"So there really are three of you now," said Esmaralde. "Which is which?"
Iba Algi identified her companions and where they were sitting. Esmaralde greeted both.
"The point you are making," said Esmaralde, "is that a rolling coin keeps rolling."
"That's exactly right!"
"Meaning that without your favor," said Esmaralde, "the effort to release the God of War would have gained too much momentum for us to stop. But Iba Algi?"
"Iba Algi answers Crown Princess!"
"We have giant cults in Gargogryeo," said Esmaralde. "There's more in the Northwest Territory. They're all hopeless. Could they really have released the God of War if a charming little girl hadn't done us a favor?"
"No," said Iba Algi.
"So when you say he was going to be released anyway…."
"No one who would actually try to release the God of War could do it," said Iba Algi.
"Hidden allies?" asked Esmaralde.
"Unintended consequences," said Iba Algi. "Or maybe 'not fully intended' consequences."
"And if you tell us too much," said Esmaralde, "then we will make mistakes and our own not fully intended consequences will make things worse."
"That's exactly right!"
"However… it's true you released an ancient vampire into Tianming Town."
"It was the only way for Nin to leave Marquis Yue's haunted mansion," said Iba Algi.
"Thank you, Iba Algi!" said Nin.
"You're welcome, Nin!"
"Well," said Esmaralde, "four thousand years is long enough to be locked in a box. Iba Algi?"
"Iba Algi answers Crown Princess!"
Esmaralde pinched both of Iba Algi's cheeks.
"Can you tell me where the other four vampires are?"
"No," said Iba Algi.
"Because you're worried I will release them myself?"
"I don't know where they are."
Esmaralde let go of Iba Algi's cheeks.
"Really?"
Iba Algi nodded.
"Then how do you know there are four?" asked Esmaralde.
"I… um… well," said Iba Algi.
"It's a mystery!" said Nin.
"That's exactly right, Nin. It's a mystery!"
"It's also an enigmattacism," said Harlecuin Sols.
"That's exactly right, Harlecuin Sols! It's also an enigma."
"You're not just teasing?" asked Esmaralde.
"I would never do that!" said Iba Algi. "I'm not a cute boy."
"How did you know about this vampire, then?"
"I didn't," said Iba Algi. "But then the naughtiest cute boy…."
"Renjie?"
"Him," nodded Iba Algi, "met his bubble-bottomed Bon Bau. And that bubble-bottomed Bon Bau was roomies with the greatest painter of our age. And then the Cute Boy that got away from you told Bubble Bottom how much the paintings were worth. Except finding anyone to pay would be difficult. Then Bubble Bottom suggested asking me to buy them."
"Why you?" asked Esmaralde.
"Because I am a descendant of Last Lechun Emperor," said Iba Algi, "and the greatest painter of our age paints in the Lechun Style. Only he is probably a reincarnation of a Qianqiu forerunner. The Cute Boy Who Got Away tried to stop Bubble Bottom from saying my name because he knew it would get my attention."
"And Cute Boy was right?" asked Esmaralde.
"He was," said Iba Algi. "Cute Boys can be very clever when they want to be. So I looked into things and I realized that the boy's dormitory was what remained of Marquis Yue's mansion. Then I realized there was even older magic at work. So Harlecuin Sols and I visited."
"You used astral projection?" asked Esmaralde.
"I did!" said Iba Algi.
"How many people can do that?"
"Well, there's the Empress," said Iba Algi. "And Snowblind Tigress. And the Grand Preceptor. And… that might be it, actually."
"And you," said Esmaralde.
"Iba Algi is amazing!" said Harlecuin Sols.
"Well, of course," giggled Iba Algi. "Then Harlecuin Sols and I met Nin!"
"I'm so happy that I met you, Iba Algi!" said Nin.
"Once I met Nin," said Iba Algi, "I knew what was going on."
"Why is that?" asked Esmaralde.
"Because Nin had found the vampire despite the First Emperor's concealment spells."
"Really?" asked Nin. "Me? But I didn't know he was a vampire!"
"Even if you didn't know he was a vampire," said Iba Algi, "you were the one who found the deep basement!"
"Wow, Nin!" said Harlecuin Sols. "You're amazing!"
"How did Nin get through the First Emperor's concealment spells?" asked Esmaralde.
"Nin is amazing," said Iba Algi.
"You guys are embarrassing me," said Nin.
"Marquis Yue's family was granted its title early in the Lechun Dynasty," said Iba Algi. "Over the following centuries, family members became adept in occult matters. Then Great Yao's founder murdered everyone and stole their treasures. But he missed Countess Niwa and the vampire."
"Is this beautiful woman Countess Niwa?" asked Esmaralde.
She nodded toward Nin's doll.
"That is Countess Niwa!" agreed Iba Algi.
"Did you hear that, Countess Niwa?" asked Nin. "The Crown Princess called you beautiful!"
"I'm developing an understanding of what happened," said Esmaralde. "Nin is gifted, and some of that gift is a consequence of being born to a family that had been influenced by the First Emperor's magic for centuries."
"That's exactly right!" said Iba Algi. "But Nin was only able to find the vampire's crypt after she became a ghost. And she only became a ghost because her soul was strong enough to get caught in the First Emperor's binding spell. In fact… now that I think about it further… catching strong spirits may have been an intentional feature of the binding spell."
"It's true the First Emperor was an asshole," said Esmaralde.
"It's kind of a thing with anyone who wants to be Emperor," said Iba Algi.
"So the other vampires could be anywhere in Tianming Town?" asked Esmaralde.
"They could be anywhere," said Iba Algi.
"In all Great Yao?"
"Anywhere First Qianqiu Emperor considered safe," said Iba Algi. "But probably close to Tianming Town."
"Where do you think the God of War is imprisoned?" asked Esmaralde.
"Under this rock," said Iba Algi. "Or actually the bigger one across the Cut."