Olibanum Story Circle

It was a dark and stormy night…

Rainstorms are an uncommon sight on the Steppes during the winter, and not many would view one as a good omen, though few will complain against the arrival of fresh water.  Least amongst them the scarce trees that somehow manage to take root here, only to be chopped down at the first opportunity by the wandering tribes who still thrived in this area.

But not all trees met this doom, for in this wide featureless land, some of them can be more useful as markers upon which to arrange meetings.  And on this particular night one such tree lashed out against the oppressing rain and darkness as a shimmering beacon, its branches heavy with the blazing fruit of a hundred lanterns placed there by the members of a tiny caravan, their campsite sheltered under the boughs of the ancient giant.  

‘Sheltered’ would probably be stretching the truth too much, though.  The wandering folk had been caught unawares by the storm, and had found themselves unable to lift a single tent in time.  Most of the crew had to make due with simply wrapping their woolen blankets tighter around themselves and waiting for the weather to improve.  A dreadful test to anyone’s mettle, and it was plain to see that among the faces of the caravan there were many who were not used to these sort of conditions.  Still, no one dared stake claim to the princess’s beautiful covered rickshaw, even though it was the one bit of true shelter available.  And even though she wasn’t really a princess, properly speaking.

“Olibanum, I demand that you cheer up this instant!” the woman in the tall headdress growled, slapping her beautiful red fan against her knee for emphasis.  “You’re out of your lighter.  You’re out of the house.  And with Heaven’s favor, you’ll be out of China within five days!  You cannot tell me this is not what you wanted!  So why do you mope like that?  Speak!”

Olibanum reared up and assumed a proper sitting stance with the amused stoicism of one who is used to humoring sensibilities not shared by themselves.  “Lady Chabi, I will gladly cheer up if that is your wish, of course!” she offered, closing her eyes and bowing her head to the older woman before her.

“But it’s not yours, I take it?” Princess Chabi replied with a tiny, cynical grin.  Shaking her head, she lifted up her hands in exasperation.  “What is it?  Are you bored?”

The genie winced softly, raised her shoulders, and let out uncommitted “Ehhh…”

“Impatient, then?”

“Oh no.  Nononono!  Is a horse impatient for grass in summer? No.  But it may still wish someone had remembered to open the stable doors.”

The princess let out an irritated sigh, though her pose did not move an inch.  “I will not have this discussion with you again.  I am sorry to impose limits upon you like this, but we are not at home anymore, and the less people who are aware of your true nature, the better!” The princess let her voice drop to a low (if irritated) whisper, and Olibanum could not hide her amusement at that.  “You will accept the role of being my lady in waiting with grace and cheer!  And will you stop smirking!”

Olibanum let out a soft chuckle, though at least it was a sheepish one.  “Heh heh!  My apologies, your Highness!  It’s just… you would not believe how much you remind me of your great-great-grandmother.  It’s uncanny!  I feel obliged to thank you for this moment, really.” the genie explained with a look of impish endearment that only made the princess pout with indignation.

“Yes, yes.  Thank you for charitably reminding me… yet again!  …that I shall forever be but a child to you…”

“Oh, your Majesty.  I would never…”

The princess held up her red fan to halt the genie’s protest.  “… but I am still in charge of this caravan, and the well-being of all its members, yourself included!  And for all that responsibility, have I ever played the despot?  Now you look at me and tell me I’m not taking a huge risk just letting you keep that ludicrous favorite shape of yours?”

“In my defense, good lady, I have not encountered many complaints about it.  In fact, if I should honor the memory of your ancestors, I would soon recall your granddaddy being particularly kind in his evaluation of… what did he call it?  Ah… the exhilarating impression of perfect Taoist harmony that my corporeal delights alone had on him.” the genie quipped, smiling sweetly, and looking quite the brat.

The princess shot Olibanum a dirty look, but had to make a visible effort to keep herself from smiling.  That ridiculous genie was so infuriating!    “I doubt he ever stayed sober enough to utter anything so eloquent.  Also, I wonder how he would have liked the unnamable cosmic joke I will have you turn into the next time you offer a quip like that.”

“You ordered me to be cheerful, Milady.”

“You may do that without being a pest!”

That ended the discussion.  For her part, Olibanum seemed quite pleased with the effect she had on her favorite victim, but such good feelings soon gave way to ennui once more, as there was nothing left to do but to wait out the storm again.

Finally, and just as Princess Chabi had managed to fall into as close a state as she could approach to sleep in the cramped rickshaw, the far off sound of a drum announced the arrival of the awaited party.  In minutes the entire camp, princess and genie included, were up and waiting for the approaching horses.  In addition to her cape, the princess enjoyed the protection of a huge umbrella which one of the servants deftly managed to keep above her through the gale.

There could not have been more than a dozen riders, all clad in robes of wool and fur.  Only three of them carried a musket, the rest equipped with horn bows and arrows.  Very threatening they looked in the dark and the rain, and no member of the tiny caravan dared take their eyes off of them.  Finally, two of the riders dismounted, and approached the princess.

The taller and older of the two offered the genie a look of wonder, which she returned with a pleased smirk, despite the man’s palpable mistrust towards a figure so out of his experience.  As if displeased with his own hesitance, the leader of the band (for there was no question that he was) looked directly into Princess Chabi’s eyes.  “We were told we’d be taking two people.  What is all this?”  he said, eyeing the caravan’s gear and menservants with disdain.

“We are not wandering minstrels, to be traveling without luggage or escort.”  The princess replied with little patience.  “We were told we’d have a team of horsemen at our disposal.  What would possess you to bring only two extra horses with you, when you knew our needs?  And where is our coach?”

Some forty minutes later, the storm finally stopped, at least in the meteorological sense.

“We find your terms unacceptable, Mr. Subetai!”  Princess Chabi insisted, her voice full of energy despite the prolonged discussion, her clenched fist wagging the beautiful fan in defiance to the man before her.  “We may be able to do without most of our luggage, and against all that is indebted to decency, we may do without a coach.  But we will not go through sea and continent without a personal guard!”

Subetai was clearly even more impatient by now than the princess, and a few of the horses could not help but stomp and shake their heads nervously before his wrath.  “Personal guard?  Personal guard!!  The best cavalry in the Steppes…!   In all of Asia! …stands before you, and you think…”

“We are still court women!” Princess Chabi interrupted.  “Last of the Yuan Dynasty!  And we will not go anywhere without at least one female bodyguard to see to the security of our honor!”

Olibanum had so far managed to show admirable restraint, but at this last remark, she had to close her eyes and lower her gaze to hide the huge grin that all but threatened to split her head in two.  There was no hiding the telltale snort of laughter, however, and both Subetai and his companion smiled in triumph at the genie’s derision.

“Your majesty.”  the younger Mongol teased.  “You’ll be relieved to know you’re a bit past the point where your honor is a matter of concern.”  He smiled cruelly at the princess, and both she and Olibanum looked at him in disbelief, tainted with worry in the case of Olibanum, and with anger in the case of Princess Chabi.  It was true that the princess was not young anymore, but she was hardly old!

Luckily, Subetai interfered, even if it was with a smirk of his own.  “What Megujin here meant to say is that we would never dream of letting you be without… adequate companionship.”  He threw a knowing glance at Megujin, who seemed just as baffled by Subetai’s words as Olibanum and the princess, until the glow of realization filled his eyes, and with a wicked grin, he called out to the riders behind him.

“Kokachin, step down and forward!  We have a job here for you!”

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So here you go.  Write the next paragraph and send it over!  We’ll continue the story from there.  Have fun!