Where the Wind Blows

The New Recruits.

Bai Qian was sitting in the study going over the names of the young men who had approached her father for weapons training in the past, and with no army or even weapons, he had turned them down.  But as news began to filter through that the boys were looking outside of Qing Qiu in the desperate rush to join the hundreds who were still flocking to the Celestial Palace in hopes of being considered for the new recruitment, she had once again brought their names to her fathers attention.

He knew the boys well.  Good boys, strong and energetic, but bored.  And having fought in many wars himself in his younger days, he understood their hearts.  War was on everyone lips, so why would his youth be any different, he thought to himself. So suggesting she offer up their names for consideration, she had done just that.

Yet contrary to her request, there were only four boys she had in mind and as she unfolded the newly arrived missive from the Celestial Palace, she soon learned that 5 placements had been accepted and guaranteed, they would only have to register their names and provide proof they were of the Fox Clan and acceptance would be a given.

"Perfect!" she said softly to herself as she folded the scroll up and called her tree sprite Mi Gu to her side before handing him the list.

"Mi Gu, you know these boys, inform them to be on the new training ground which will be held in the east side flats tomorrow morning." She said softly before giving him four solid gold Fox Pins the boys were expected to wear. 

 "Also, I want this missive delivered immediately to the Celestial Palace." she said handing him an already sealed scroll, before waving him away and standing to move towards the open window.

Addressed to Ye Hua directly, the scroll not only covered the terms they had both agreed on, but also gave a full description of the gold pins her boys would be wearing to ensure their immediate acceptance.

Looking out at the Blue Mountain ranges in the distance, she could see the faint wafting of smoke coming from the camp ground that was already being set up in preparation for the arrival of hundreds to her lands.  Boys from other Realms , no doubt much like her own, with dreams of glory on their minds and no real idea of what they would have to do to achieve it.

And that had her wondering what kind of training her boys would be given.  She had heard many stories of what really went on in the training grounds, how the men were treated and sometimes abused in order to gain the best from them before they were literally thrown into the front lines as bait to haul out their enemies stronger warriors.

Sighing, she was not happy that her boys were choosing to go down this path, but she could not live their lives for them, they had to make their own decisions, make their own mistakes, and face the consequences, but as their Queen, she could at least protect them in some small way, while at the same ensuring that her lands were kept pristine and beautiful.

And that had her thinking of the fifth placement and the reason why she had asked for it.  No one outside of Qing Qiu knew her having rarely left, though there had been the odd one or two who may have seen her face at The Peach Tree Grove, however she had immediately left the moment she had noticed them.

And because she was unknown, so was her energy.  A High Goddess and the only one in their world, her energy was exceptionally powerful which meant it was easily seen and felt.  And though she could rein it in, she would not be able to maintain it for long periods of time, because it wasn't meant to be kept back, but it could be managed, she thought to herself.  

And then there was the idea of seeing first hand how her boys would be trained and by whom.  She was no rookie when it came to weapons training.  As Qing Qius Queen, her father had insisted that she not only be trained in all forms of weaponry, but also martial arts and Fox Clan Magic, so she was more than capable of handling any situation.