Jade Fire Gold(15)

Tang Wei trembles ever so slightly, but I know it isn’t from fear. Her little sister burned at the stake and she was forced to watch. Her fingers grip the edge of the table, her knuckles turning white. Her other hand reaches for the iron chains around her waist. But I know she won’t do anything rash. She and I might stand a chance with the priests, but there are too many people in here. The potential for collateral damage is high. And while killing the priests might bring me momentary pleasure, I need to play the long game.

We wait until they leave with the scared man in tow. I can’t tell whether it is to investigate the source of his distress or to imprison him. Whatever the case, I feel sorry for the poor soul.

Tang Wei and I exchange a weighted look.

“Time to get out of here,” she mutters.

We abandon the sorry excuse for tea and head to our room to pack our bags. Soon, we’re on the road, heading north to the Wudin Mountains, knowing that it’s best to keep a distance from a town infested with priests.





5


Ahn


Somehow, my feet find their way forward one foot after the other. I stick to the narrow side streets, but the bazaar crowd spills over. I don’t remember the last time Shahmo was this crowded. Squeezing through throngs of people, I keep my eyes down. My face is a mask of calm, even as a maelstrom whips in my head.

I need to get back to my village. I need to get back to Ama.

But what if they come for you?

I choke back a sob. I can’t go home. The constables of Shahmo might come looking for me, and Ama might get dragged into this mess. Worse, the priests might come.

I have to leave this place.

Forever?

If that’s what it takes to keep Ama safe. I still have my jade ring; I can find passage out of these desert towns once I sell it. Maybe head north or east across the Emerald Sea to the nation of Xinzhu as far away from here as possible. Find a job, move around from town to town, change my name, tell a new tale about where I’m from. You can do this, I tell myself. You must do this to keep Ama safe.

A horrible thought dawns on me. What if the priests find out that she harbored me? That she brought me up as her own grandchild? I must do more. I need to leave a trail that will lead them away from her. There must be nothing that connects us. A hazy plan starts to emerge in my mind.

First, I need to get word to someone I can trust.

The back area between the inn’s kitchen and storeroom is empty when I arrive. I jump when I hear footsteps. To my relief, it’s Mali. She’s a few years older than me, and though we’re not close, we are friendly enough.

“Could you get Li Guo, please?” I say, struggling to smile. My palms are sweaty, and I’m shaking. But she doesn’t seem to notice.

She shrugs and disappears into the kitchen.

Li Guo appears a minute later. He knows something’s wrong right away. I beckon, and he follows me out to the alley.

“I’m fine,” I say before he can ask. It’s the biggest lie I’ve ever told in my life. “I need a favor from you, please.”

“How can I help?” he says without a second thought. “Is it Grandma Jia? I get paid today, and my father’s gotten some new customers recently. I can—”

“Just take care of her,” I say hastily, glancing around us. There’s no one else around and I think we’re far enough from the kitchen to be out of anyone’s earshot. I move closer and lower my voice. “I’ve got to go away for a while. I don’t know when I’ll be back, and I need someone to watch over her. Can you do that?”

Li Guo starts peppering me with questions, but I hold up a hand to hush him. “I can’t explain, I’m sorry. I have to leave. Now. Please, just do it—for me.”

At last, he nods. “I’ll take care of Grandma Jia, don’t worry. Do you have enough money?”

I show him my ring and his eyes widen. “I need to sell this, but something happened at the bazaar today and I can’t go back. I . . .” My voice falters. “I’ll get to the next town and sell it there.”

“Do you have an hour to spare?”

“Maybe—”

He squeezes my hand. “I know someone who might be able to fence your ring for good money quickly. Let me go talk to him.”

“But—”

“Keep your ring, keep it safe. Go wait for me at the temple. If I’m not there in an hour, leave.”

One hour. It could mean having enough money to get me far away, and one less thing to worry about. I could even give half of it to Li Guo for Ama. I don’t know how long I can keep up this veneer of calm, but Li Guo is determined to help me, and I know I can trust him.

Finally, I agree, and we part ways.

The constant drone of hopes and dreams swirls around the large prayer hall. Worshippers take turns kneeling in front of the altar, pleading eyes fixed on the statue above it.

I beg you, O Goddess, my son has not returned from the war front, please protect him and bring him home safe . . .

Please Goddess, let the rains return . . .

Watch over my wife, I pray for her health and that of our unborn child . . .

I keep my head lowered and find a secluded corner to sit in, as if I’m only here to mourn or to pray for my fortune. Dense and cloying, the scent of sandalwood clings to the air. White-robed and seated in the lotus position with a jar of water in one hand and a willow leaf in another, the larger-than-life sculpture of the Goddess Guanyin casts her benign gaze on me.