Jade Fire Gold(102)

“It’s true—you, you’re alive.” Tai Shun looks on the verge of tears. He shakes his head in disbelief, the shadow of guilt and pain in his eyes. “All this time, you were alive.”

Instinct and habit urge me to comfort him, but I don’t move. “Does your mother know you’re here?” I rasp.

“No, she doesn’t. And I wouldn’t have let her do this to you if I’d known.”

“Then I should thank you both for your generosity.”

He hangs his head. “I don’t understand why she did this. Why the sand?”

I wheeze an insincere laugh as I scan the stone passageway. We are not at the pagoda, but some area of the palace dungeons. Guards are passed out on the ground. Or dead. Is this Tai Shun’s doing? Is this a rescue?

“Why did you let me out?” I take a step back, unsure if I can trust him or if I should just hit him and get out of this place.

“Remember that hidden passage in the rafters we stumbled upon as kids?”

“How is this the right time to reminisce about our childhood?’

“I couldn’t sleep tonight. I was headed toward the lake with my flute when I saw Mother going into Ahn’s room, so I went up to the rafters. I didn’t know you and Ahn were,” he pauses briefly, “acquainted.”

“We are more than acquainted.”

He swallows. “Many years ago, I heard a conversation and I did nothing until it was too late. I have had to live with that mistake every day. You have to live with my mistake. . . . I never had a chance to apologize—”

“It’s too late,” I cut in, tearing off a chunk of sleeve to wrap my bleeding hands.

“Your hands—let me help.”

I shove him away, staining his robes with my blood.

“Get away from me,” I seethe. “What else did you hear? What else do you know?”

“An army of the undead. It doesn’t make any sense—”

“We’re dealing with ancient magic, something beyond this world.”

“I know the priests take things too far sometimes, but I thought with new leadership things would change. I didn’t think Zhao Yang would be worse. He always seemed so well-tempered, his advice so sound. I am a fool to—”

“What did you say?” I interrupt. “What does Zhao Yang have to do with the priests?”

“He is their leader.”

“His face,” I hiss, grabbing Tai Shun by the collar. “Tell me about his face.”

Tai Shun gulps, bewildered by my reaction, but he answers me. “Half his face is scarred, like he was burned. He wears a silver mask most of the time.”

My heart dives. Feels like I’m back in the cell of sand again.

I release Tai Shun. She knew. That night at the soldier’s camp, Ahn knew that it was her father I wanted to kill. That he had killed my mother.

And she stopped me.

“Jin, I don’t see how this is relevant.”

“Quiet. I need to think.”

Seconds later, my mind remains hollow and cold. If Ahn chose to save her father then, will Ahn choose her father over the fate of our people?

“Jin,” Tai Shun urges. “I don’t know what’s happening, but we should get out of here.”

“Do you know where they are keeping Ahn’s grandmother?” I say finally.

“She isn’t here in the dungeons—I checked.”

“Where is Ahn?”

“She was in her room in the eastern wing. She’s been poisoned.”

I slam the wall next to him. “Why didn’t you tell me that from the start?”

“She’ll be fine. I promise, I can fix it. I’ve some knowledge of herblore.”

“I’m going to get her.” It sounds like a question. I’m asking if he will stop me.

As an answer, Tai Shun pulls a small vial out of his sleeve. “Take this. Mother might have poisoned you like she did to Ahn. I extracted this myself from língc?o. In its purest form, it should counteract most of the effects of whatever Mother may have done. We’ll get another for Ahn.”

Do I trust him? He didn’t have to save me, but he did. And he isn’t stopping me now. I down the whole vial without a second thought.

“Thank you,” I say stiffly.

Tai Shun’s face is grim, his eyes hard. “And don’t worry, I’ll handle my mother.”

“You don’t have to do anything.”

“I want to. For once, let me have some control over my life,” he almost shouts. “I never coveted the throne, Jin. I never wanted any of this. Whatever happens, do what you will with me, but promise me this: my mother lives. I know she has done terrible things, but she is still my mother.”

That woman helped to kill my father. She gave me the scars on my back. She locked me up in my own hell. But what would her death achieve? More hatred? Another lifelong feud between cousins?

Forgiveness is not weakness.

I look at the boy I once loved like a brother. His gaze is uncertain. Hopeful.

I nod. “You have my word.”

Tai Shun grips my arm. At first, I think it is out of gratitude, but then he speaks with a tremor in his voice. “There is one more thing you should know.”

“Quickly.”