QinYang and Yenay received an invitation to a luncheon with the Queen.

Lady Shen delivered it herself.

"My Queen requests that you have a mid-day meal with her. She wishes to know the mothers of Envoy Anshi better. Are you able to attend?

Qinyang answered for both. "We would be delighted." She smiled charmingly at the old nurse who looked her up and down and after seeming to find her acceptable, nodded to her. However, when she turned to Yenay her interest became sharp and she bowed deeply.

"Lady Yenay. I have heard of all you did to try and save Envoy Anshi from his kidnappers. I wish to thank you and for delivering him from slavery and bringing him back to the land of the living in Yunmeng. I have had a deep fondness for High Minister Han and watched him grow up alongside Envoy Anshi. Anshi was known as Jalgiz then. I think he is the man he has become because of you."

"I appreciate your kind words. However, my failure in that battle took twenty years away from him."

The old woman looked at her shrewdly. "Your efforts gave him a chance, all else was out of your hands. Don't speak nonsense. He has returned and he has found a...sense of contentment I believe."

"It has been noticed. Whatever happiness my son finds, it is all I can ask for."

He has. It has also been good for High Minister as well, to settle old grievances so satisfactorily. I believe they understand one another better. "

She moved toward the door and paused. "11:00. Sharp. Dress appropriately." And she left.

Qinyang giggled her amber eyes alight with amusement. "Well, at least you passed muster with the old terror."

Yenay gave her wife a quick hug and a sweet, possessive kiss. "She was barely civil toward you! I will speak to her."

"No, you will not. Obviously, she runs this White Lilac Palace. I am determined to win her over. And you know when I am determined..."

"Gods help her!"

Qinyang reached up and traced a high, sharp cheekbone with her fingertip. "I love when the Guardian surfaces. It stirs me. I also love it when Beauty softens the Guardian. Perhaps both can emerge tonight." Her voice became husky as her mind slipped back to The Library floor in Cloud Recesses over twenty years ago.

"Today, you do it all. Dress, makeup, hair...Your new Uncle and spymaster will have a maid to assist you in Yunmeng when you move there, but today you must prove to me that you can do it all properly yourself."

"But it is tedious. I don't know how you put up with all those layers."

"Think of it like armor, Yenay. It is your main protection for the next twelve months."

"I wish you wouldn't remind me. And why do you sound so business-like?"

Qinyang shrugged. "I learned last week that slipping into panic at the thought of you leaving could be disastrous. This way of thinking is the only way to get through this. I cannot be of any use to you if I fall apart at the thought of separation. A soldier's woman needs to be made from sterner stuff."

Yenay leaned over the table and looked into the amber eyes opposite her.

"And what if the soldier starts to fall apart?"

"Then the soldier's woman must be the strong one. Hoist her love on her back and carry her until she can do it on her own again. So. if you don't want to see me bent from the waist for the rest of my life, you must stay as strong as an ox!"

They looked at one another and began to laugh at the thought of tiny Qinyang trying to haul Yenay to a place of safety.

"Now hurry up and get ready. We will be staying at the Inn of Good Fortune and me, as your maid will be in a room adjoining you. You as mistress will set the pace for this trip. Then you can follow your own instincts on how to spend the day. My advice is to practice your shopping and add to your wardrobe. No boy stuff."

Qinyang dressed in the war room, chuckling each time she heard Yenay mutter an oath to herself. She finished first and sat in the Library to wait. It took a while but eventually, she heard the door to the sleeping room open cautiously.

"Turn around before I come out. And be easy on me!"

"Oh for goodness' sake. Alright, but quit being silly."

"Alright."

She waited a moment and turned around. Yenay was perfect. She had chosen an outfit in creams and forest green that accented the amazing copper eyes and chestnut brown hair. Every fold was exact, and her green shoes peeked from the bottom hem, exactly right. The choice to make her quit training in the sun a month ago had been correct. Between that and a regularly applied bleaching cream, the tan was disappearing rapidly. and her skin was the shade you would expect for a young woman who has been traveling extensively. Her hair was flawless, every strand securely pinned, and the makeup made her glow. She held a wide-brimmed hat with a weighted veil, waist length, and sure not to budge in the summer breeze. She was glorious.

"Well?" Yenay asked in a small voice.

Qinyang walked around her once. Twice. Then came around to face her.

"Lovely. very nice. Now, let me see some basic deportment. Please show me a bow. Nice, but keep that circle with the arms a little more rounded. Good."

Qinyang knelt and continued. "Now, walk to the door then turn and walk back to me and kneel. I want to see how graceful that looks. You must be natural from head to toe." She watched intensely as Yenay followed her instructions, taking small and lady-like steps that were placed perfectly to allow for a gentle sway of the garments, then ending by kneeling right in front of her.

"You pass. Flawless."

"Thank you," glowed Yenay.

" I fell in love with an unadorned soldier. I am about to kiss an exquisite woman."

Yenay drew back.

"NO! You will ruin my lip balm."

"Perfect! Excellent response but not the one I wanted."

"I really mean it, Qinyang. "

"Lesson number one. Lip balm can be fixed. But I am going to kiss you, my Beauty." She was gratified to see Yenay looking a little apprehensive. She leaned in and wrapped her arms around her and bent her backward.

"Relax," she whispered thickly. and she held her in a surprisingly strong grip as she took full procession of those generous lips. She saw Yenay's eyes widen and glaze over and Qinyang kept her amber ones in an unblinking stare as she overpowered her soldier for the first time. She wanted, no, needed, to see just how much she could take control. She did not ease up until she felt Yenay's hands sliding up her back in surrender. Then she broke away, still commanding those eyes until Yenay blinked and started to come out of her daze. Then she allowed her to lean up from her clasp. She rose to her feet first.

"Now, you can fix your lip balm." And she walked firmly into the war room and closed the door.

She leaned up against it, her hands covering her mouth. She stood, amazed at her complete audacity. She could hear Yenay rise up, and her steps sounded a bit unsteady as made her way into the sleeping room. What just happened? Where did that idea come from? She moved to the table and reapplied her own lip balm, her finger sure and firm.

Yenay gasped when Qinyang stood up and then left her frozen on the floor.

How on earth? She had to collect herself for a moment because, quite frankly, her head was spinning. She suddenly realized that this must be how a woman, one who surrenders for the first time, must feel. It was unnerving. Yet thrilling. But a bit frightening. Still, there seemed to be a different kind of power in doing so. She staggered to her feet and walked into the sleeping room and sat in front of the mirror. Stared at herself, long and hard. Her lips looked a bit swollen as she reapplied the lip balm. She let her index finger rest gently on them for a minute and she closed her eyes as she relived the kiss on the floor. She shivered in delight and enjoyed the softness of the feeling. How, in the name of all the Gods in Heaven, did she deserve this woman? Qinyang was so mercurial, so quick to change. So perfect in every way. This life, which started with such uncertainty and sadness, was opening up in a way that she had never dreamed would be hers. She bowed her head in thanks for a moment.

Qinyang stood in the center of the floor, exactly where she had kissed Yenay. Yenay walked over to her. As Qinyang reached out to touch her hand, Yenay stepped back at a pace.

"Just a moment. Please. Listen to every word I say.

Do not start back up again because I swear, I will not be able to stop next time. You have moved the line; Qinyang and I will not hold back. And it will alter everything between us. It will be an irrevocable commitment and the pledge of a lifetime."

"I know. It wasn't planned but I could not stop myself! I wanted to cross that line. I wanted there to be no doubt whatsoever about myself this morning. I want the next time and I want it all. I want to possess you fully and want you to do the same. I want us."

"As you wish."

Yenay whispered. "What are you thinking of?

"That moment you entered the room dressed as Lady Dai. The moment we sealed our commitment."

"Ah. Yes. I was vision that day, was I not?"

Qinyang punched the firm bicep lightly as she laughed." Yes. Yes, you were. I brought that green outfit. You should wear it for lunch."

"Really, I doubt it would fit any more."

You are a trim as you ever were. Try it on and if it doesn't fit, you'll wear something else as pretty. But somehow, I want my Beauty standing beside me there."

" And where will you want her tonight?"

"In my arms where I can listen to that big heart of hers and it say "I am yours, again."

"As you wish, my Sun."

A/N: Included is an excerpt from Unconventional Cultivation which is the first book in the Life Among the Clouds trilogy. Excerpts will appear occasionally to familiarize readers who are reading Anshi: The Lost Eagle of the Steppes first and who may want to know more about the characters introduced in the first trilogy.