This one is for Gail

BETTER TO BE EMPRESS IN HELL . .&npsp;.

"The purpose of our mission was to secure Shanji for relocation of these people, and that has not been accomplished," growled Ghazan, the most senior on the council.

Yesugen willed her hands not to clench. They were all staring at her now. "That is true, Ghazan, and I take full responsibility for it. Our people fought bravely, and well. The error was mine in underestimating the force we faced."

"Sheep herders and fishermen, and a small, inexperienced army," said Ghazan disdainfully. "You could have destroyed them all from space."

"And risked total annihilation," said Yesugen, her voice rising. "The force has a name, Ghazan, and it is Kati. A young woman, yes, and seemingly gentle as a person, but when threatened, she has the power to destroy a world, or even a star! What she did to us is a tiny fraction of what she is capable. She have traveled through the gong-shi-jie in an instant and reduced our planet to a cinder!"

"It's a reality we must accept," said Kabul quickly. The conquest of Shanji is no longer a consideration. How, then, are the resources of that planet of use to us?"

"Kati believes my sincerity in making trade with her, and has agreed to a meeting with me to discuss details. I plan to do so in the near future."

"Accompanied by our Empress, I presume," said Ghazan. "Any plan that's approved will of course be hers."

Yesugen's fingernails dug into the palms of her hands. "We will meet alone, Ghazan, and my mother has agreed to it. What comes in future years will be decided by me, not my mother." She stiffened her back as she spoke, sitting a little taller on her chair.

"I will be Empress here, Ghazan. Remember that!"

acknowledgements

Special thanks go again to John Dalmas
and Mary Jane Engh for their useful
comments on the first drafts of this book. Thanks also to my Chinese friends for suggestions regarding Mandarin titles and familiars, and for their amusement at the liberties I've taken with the language.

Author's Note

This account of the Mei-lai-gong's early life is a sequel to Shanji, and contains references to that story. The two books are best read in sequence.

BAEN BOOKS in this series

Shanji
Empress of Light