The Vampire With the Dragon Tattoo(38)

"What is the big building?" Dougal asked as they walked toward him.

"Their palace," J.L. said. "Rajiv's grandfather is their leader, the top cat. They call him the Grand Tiger."

Dougal's mouth twitched. "He gets the biggest bowl of cream?"

J.L. chuckled. "They're very proud of their race. You will be expected to bow." He lowered his voice. "They're our best allies in the region. Whenever you need a safe place, you can teleport here. It'll be our home away from home."

Dougal nodded. That would explain why J.L. had insisted they bring two ice chests full of bottled blood and two backpacks filled with extra knives and ammo. Not knowing the way to Tiger Town, Dougal had grabbed onto J.L. for the journey, but now that the location was embedded in his psychic memory, he could come whenever he wished.

Rajiv reached them and bowed. Instead of his usual T-shirt and jeans, he was wearing an embroidered silk robe and cap. Around his waist, he wore an ornate belt of gold and jade with a golden sheath containing a small dagger.

"Welcome." He grinned at Dougal. "I told Grandfather about you. That you're a Scotsman who knows Chinese. He wants to meet you."

Dougal nodded. "It would be an honor."

"Let me take you to your rooms." Rajiv led them up the stairs. As they crossed the courtyard, he motioned with his hand. "We have our ceremonies here."

They followed him down a narrow alleyway of stone between two buildings.

"This is our guesthouse." Rajiv stopped in front of a building with steps leading up to a wooden porch. On each side of the porch was a small room. Paper-covered lanterns hung beside each room's entrance and cast a golden glow.

Rajiv pointed to the room on the left. "That is where Jin Long always stays," he said, referring to J.L., then motioned to the one on the right. "And that one is for you, Dougal. The windows are boarded shut, so it is safe for your death-sleep."

"Thanks, Rajiv." J.L. climbed the steps.

"You are welcome. I will return for you in a few minutes so you can see my grandfather."

Dougal smiled as he watched Rajiv scamper off. He hadn't realized the young man was the were-tiger equivalent of a prince.

He entered his room, leaving the door open to let in some light from the lantern. A small dresser was pushed up against one wall, and on top, a silk coverlet and thick mattress were folded. In the middle of the far wall, there was a square cushion on the floor next to a small table with short legs. Next to the table, a tall candlestick sat. He glanced around. No electricity. He'd be drinking his bottles cold.

He set the ice chest and his backpack against the wall, then swung the claymore off his back. It would be disrespectful to meet the mayor of Tiger Town fully armed. Before leaving the school, he'd changed into black cargo pants, black T-shirt, and black jacket. In addition to the sword on his back, he'd strapped a knife to each calf and holstered an automatic around his hips. The pockets of his cargo pants held extra ammunition and the tranquilizer darts Leah had given him.

It had been hard to say good-bye to her, even though he would be returning in a few hours if everything went according to plan. He'd left his sgian dubh on her worktable after she'd promised to use the dagger if she needed to defend herself.

She would be safe, he assured himself. Angus knew how dangerous this mission was. That was why he had insisted on coming himself, along with Howard, Phil, and Gregori. Kyo had his best security guys there, too-Yoshi, Yuki, and the fox shifter.

"Ready?" J.L. asked at the door.

"Aye." Dougal set his automatic and knives on the table.

J.L. nodded approvingly. "Let's go. Rajiv's outside."

They followed Rajiv to the palace, passing by the tiger statues to ascend the stairs.

Rajiv paused by the double doors. "My grandfather likes to be called Your Eminence," he said in Chinese. "And you must let him talk first."

"I understand," Dougal responded.

Rajiv grinned. "You really do speak Chinese."

"His Eminence is actually a fun guy once you get to know him," J.L. said, also switching to Chinese.

Rajiv laughed. "I have the Blissky ready. Come on." He led them inside past two guards holding long curved swords. The room was deep with columns set in two rows leading toward a dais. On the dais, a gray-haired man sat on a throne made of carved wood, inlaid with golden tigers.

Rajiv and J.L. both bowed from the waist, so Dougal copied them. He followed them to where three cushions rested on the floor. When Rajiv and J.L. dropped to their knees on the cushions, he did the same. Then they all bowed forward, their elbows and noses on the floor.

"Welcome, esteemed guests," the Grand Tiger said. "You may be at ease."

"You are most gracious, Your Eminence." J.L. sat cross-legged on the pillow.

Dougal crossed his legs, too, venturing a quick glance at the throne, where the Grand Tiger was glaring down at them imperiously. This was the guy J.L. said was fun?

His Eminence was dressed in red silk robes embroidered with golden tigers. His long gray hair was pulled tightly into a knot on top of his head, where it was held in place by a ring of gold and a long golden pin with a jeweled tiger on one end. He sported a long gray beard that was gathered together into a small ring of gold.

He scowled at J.L. "It is a pleasure to see you again, Jin Long."

"The pleasure is mine, Your Eminence." J.L. inclined his head.

The Grand Tiger narrowed his eyes. "You are Dou Gal, the Scotsman who speaks Chinese?"

"Yes, Your Eminence."

A disappointed look crossed the Grand Tiger's face. "I thought you would be wearing a skirt. I wanted to see your skirt."

Dougal bowed his head. "My apologies, Your Eminence. I will wear it the next time I come, if you will allow my intrusion."

The Grand Tiger grunted. "You are well spoken. How do you know Chinese?"

Dougal hesitated. He'd never intended to tell his story to anyone other than Leah, but it would be rude to ignore the Grand Tiger's request. He glanced over at Rajiv and J.L., who were watching him curiously. No doubt they would repeat his story, and then everyone would know his shameful secret.

The Grand Tiger cleared his throat, indicating that he was growing impatient.

"I lived in Shanghai for a few years," Dougal finally answered.

"When?" His Eminence demanded. "How did you come to be there?"

"It is a long story."

The Grand Tiger snorted. "Do you have somewhere else to go?"

Dougal took a deep breath. "It began in 1735, when I was fourteen years old. I was kidnapped from the town of Glasgow in Scotland and taken aboard a British merchant ship."

"Kidnapped?" The Grand Tiger's eyes lit up. "Tell me more."

"I tried to escape. Twice." He didn't want to mention the lashings he'd received. Or the hopeless humiliation that he'd felt when he'd finally accepted his new life.

"Good!" The Grand Tiger sat on the edge of his throne. "But you were recaptured? Did they punish you? Is that when you lost your hand?" He motioned toward Dougal's prosthesis.

"No. I lost my hand four years ago in battle."

"But you still fight?"

"Yes, Your Eminence."

"Excellent. Now tell me more of your story. Were you abused on the ship?"

"At first, but then I learned how to play the pipes, and that kept the crew happy with me."

"Very good." The Grand Tiger nodded. "I want to hear you play."

Dougal bowed his head. "I will bring them with me next time."

"Excellent! Now tell me what happened next."

"Our ship was departing from India when we were attacked by pirates."

"Pirates?" The Grand Tiger jumped to his feet, grabbing a cushion off his throne. He stepped off the dais, tossed the cushion on the floor, then sat across from Dougal. "What happened then?"

Dougal winced inwardly. His shameful secret would become public knowledge. Everyone would know he'd been whipped into submission, his spirit crushed with despair. "I was sold into slavery."

J.L. flinched. Rajiv hissed.

The Grand Tiger looked appalled. "Rajiv! Bring drinks for us."

"Yes, Your Eminence." Rajiv jumped up and helped a servant carry in a round table with short legs. They set it on the floor between Dougal and the Grand Tiger.

Another servant rushed forward with a tray. She set two bottles and four small cups on the table, then bowed and retreated from the room.

"Come." The Grand Tiger motioned for the four of them to gather around the table. "We must console Dou Gal for his sufferings."

"Yes, Your Eminence." Rajiv poured a clear liquid with a strong alcoholic smell into a cup for his grandfather and then for himself. "This is Blissky for our guests." He poured some into J.L.'s and Dougal's cups.

"To Dou Gal." The Grand Tiger lifted his cup, and the others followed suit. "Gun bei!" He tapped his cup on theirs and knocked back his drink.

"Gun bei," Rajiv and J.L. responded, then tossed back their drinks.

Dougal took a sip, reluctant to drink too much before a mission. To his surprise, the Blissky had been watered down. He gave Rajiv a grateful look, then finished his cup.

Rajiv grinned, then refilled all the cups.

"I regret that I didn't know of your plight," the Grand Tiger said. "I would have come to Shanghai to rescue you."