“I'm Master Bao,” said the Grandmaster. “Master Yuen has told me much of your adventures together. He says that you are reliable.”

“Our intent is to return to our homes when this is done and settled,” said Wyndham. “We've made enemies of the Shapers, and see no more use for staying here after our duty is done.”

“Master Yuen says that you have killed two,” said Master Bao. He sipped at his tea, but didn't offer any from the pot on his desk.

“They were justified,” said Wyndham. “If Mister Shanahan hadn't killed the Master Carver, Emil would have done it in retaliation for the lightning strike thrown at him.”

“What do you think will happen now between their factions,” said Bao. He leaned forward to put his elbows on the desk, and his face on the hands.

“I think a small peace will ensue for the moment,” said Wyndham. “There may be some small bargaining about what was acceptable. Emil might be able to win concessions on the fact that he was attacked first.”

“They will want something from the two of you as payment,” said Master Bao. “That is the basis of their complaint against you. Master Grandview claims that nothing should be given since both times you were acting in defense of your life. I feel that he is being less than truthful about the earlier case, hoping to avoid any complication to the negotiations.”

“The Master Carver was angered that we killed Vassily, his space master,” said Wyndham. “Our original intention was to get one of his space doors so we could return home without any problems. He owed me and refused to pay his debt. Then he was killed while we were looking for the stone he used to open the way to Mister Shanahan's island.”

“How did that happen?,” asked Master Bao.

“I broke his neck, said Shanahan. “He was trying to stop us from leaving because of the deal he had with Grandview. And he wanted to be with Wyndham again. It was expedient to remove him before he caused too many bad things to happen with his presence.”

“You don't seem concerned by what you did,” said Master Bao.

Shanahan shrugged.

“What do you two think will happen if Master Grandview decides to hand you over?,” asked Master Bao.

“We will fight our way clear if we have to,” said Wyndham. “Mister Shanahan is resourceful enough to get us clear of their territory long enough for us to do something about the faction.”

“Hopefully it won't come to that,” said the Grandmaster. “Be prepared to pay something for what you have done. I doubt a judgement will call for death as a punishment, but the Shapers want something for their losses.”

“All I have is lead,” said Shanahan.

“Hopefully it won't come to that,” said Bao with a smile. “I have to get ready. The Shapers are going to have some tough questions for you. Answer with the truth. The rest will take care of itself.”

Wyndham stood. She glanced at her partner. His stoic face barely grimaced.

“So we have to settle with the Shapers before we can go home,” said Wyndham. She didn't like the thought of that.

“Don't worry,” said Bao. “Master Grandview will defend you to the best of his ability. Things should work out fine.”

“Thank you for your time,” said Wyndham.

“Thank you,” said the Grandmaster. “You are both more direct than I had thought. It makes for a refreshing change from my homeland.”

Wyndham bowed before she turned to leave. Shanahan nodded his head. They stepped outside the office and stood in the hall.

“I don't like that we have to stand trial,” said Wyndham. “I think we should get our equipment and go back to New York.”

Shanahan said nothing. He preferred to fight his enemies as soon as he could see them. Running away with no place to counterattack didn't appeal to him.

“Let's get our equipment,” said Wyndham. “I'll feel better armed and ready to fight instead of depending on you to do something. Some of the powers can stop a punch a lot faster than it takes to throw one.”

Shanahan followed as she approached the guards that had taken their rifles, pistols, and the bag of Shaper stones she had looted. That bag was probably going to be a big issue with the Shapers.

“I'm sorry, Miss,” said the guard. “The Grandmaster said to give your things back when everything was done. You are to go to the central meeting hall and wait.”

“What if we don't want to do that?,” asked Wyndham.

“It's your choice,” said the guard. “I doubt things will look good for you if you decide to run.”

“I knew we should have turned Emil down,” Wyndham said.

She headed for the central hall and stepped inside. The large room had a setup similar to the Grandmaster's office, but there were twice as many seats around the table. Shanahan settled in a chair against the back wall. She sat down beside him.

Shanahan looked the room over. He knew Wyndham's talent would point out obvious weak points to her. The Fist would allow him to ignore that unless they toughened the building to stop him from punching through any time he wanted to leave.

The assembled powers would hunt them down in seconds if they tried to get out of there without answering the Shapers. He was confident he could take some of the forces arrayed against them, but he had almost no chance against Grandview unless he was able to kill some of the lesser weapons and add their powers to his.

The Grandmaster arrived in the middle of a small entourage. He took a seat at the large meeting table. He adjusted his white robes carefully.

The Shapers came in next. They took up spots to the Grandmaster's right. Some of them glared at Shanahan.

He glared at them back in his naturally hostile way.

Emil Grandview walked into the room, dressed in a suit he reserved for negotiations. If things went bad, he wouldn't mind wrecking it while defending himself. He gestured for Wyndham and Shanahan to follow him to the table. He put them in seats next to the Wu Chi while he took a seat next to the Shapers.

He smiled at his opposite number while stroking his mustache.

“I think we are ready,” said Grandmaster Bao. “Master Carver, how do you want to start?”

“These two owe us resources which they stole and for the murders of two of our ruling party.”

“Master Weapon?,” said Bao.

“Piotor Klaschikov was trying to kill me when Mister Shanahan killed him,” said Grandview. “If anything, the Shapers owe me for not letting Mister Shanahan kill all of their number when they tried to abduct the defendants instead of waiting on due course.”

“That's not true,” said the Master Carver. “You didn't stop him from attacking the other members of my predecessor's arresting guard.”

“They're right beside you, and they aren't dead when they could be,” said Grandview. “I don't think any other proof is needed that I stopped Shanahan from killing them.”

“Mister Shanahan,” said Bao. “Why did you not kill the other two Shapers when you did kill Master Klaschikov?”

“Klaschikov had pointed his weapon at Wyndham and me, then turned and used it on Grandview,” said Shanahan. “It was at that point he had to be removed for the safety of my partner, and the clients that were behind Grandview when he was attacked. The other two didn't look like they would attack so I wounded them in case I was wrong and needed to do something to protect my clients. Fortunately they asked for Grandview to let them take their leader and leave the field.”

“So Master Grandview couldn't have stopped you from killing the lesser masters?,” said Bao.

“I don't know,” said Shanahan. “He was standing behind a shield that had just blocked a lightning bolt. It's possible he could have reacted faster than any normal man and thrown himself in front of the other two and caught their bullets with his shield after I shot Klaschikov. I know for a fact he couldn't have stopped that bullet.”

“What about Vassily?,” said the Shaper. “You killed him for no reason.”

“He violated my trust,” said Wyndham. “Then he sent Grandview's men to where I had built my new life. And he was going to keep doing that. He owed me for breaking our contract and for being despicable in every way.”

“And he got what he deserved,” said Shanahan. “I'd kill him again even if I didn't have a reason.”