Jade Fire Gold(17)

I catch Li Guo’s eye as the priests drag me away across the town square. The shock on his face is plain. He starts to move, but I shake my head. Thank gods he stays in his spot.

A hood goes over my head and I smell incense and old blood.

I hope Li Guo understands what I’ve been hiding from him now.

I hope he remembers his promise to take care of my grandmother.





Palace of a Thousand Spies





6


Ahn


Somehow, I am still alive.

Though the reason eludes me. None of the priests have said much. They won’t tell me where they’re taking me or why they’re keeping me alive. If they are keeping me alive. The Diyeh priesthood exists to eradicate the Tiensai. I can’t rely on them to spare me. They lock me in the wagon and keep the hood over my head like I’m some kind of monster. Which to them, is exactly what I am.

And maybe they’re right. After all, I am a murderer.

We travel on the road for gods know how long. The wagon door opens and closes now and then, and some food is shoved into my mouth. Days and nights blend together, punctuated only by fitful sleep filled with dreams of corpses and demons.

And strangely, the one-eyed boy from the bazaar. He flits in and out, saying things that make no sense. Sometimes, he’s holding the ruby sword I stole, gesturing wildly at me. Sometimes, smoky-green light swirls around him and he fades like the dawn mist.

Ama appears, too. In those nightmares, she’s standing at the edge of a dark chasm, about to take a step. I’m always running, shouting at her to stop. But each time, I’m too slow. Each time, she takes that step and falls, and I wake up screaming.

The next time I open my eyes, I sense a change in the air. It’s cooler, wetter. We must be heading east toward the sea, away from the dry desert heat. The wagon comes to a halt and I hear the door opening. Someone climbs up next to me and removes the hood. Barely holding my head up, I squint at the figure hunched in front of me.

A priest. But one I’ve never seen before. Did he join us somewhere along the way? He’s surprisingly young, but there’s a white streak in his black hair. His slate-gray eyes widen with concern when he sees the state I’m in.

“What have they done to you?” he says softly. “Is this too tight?” He starts to loosen the ropes around my ankles.

My throat is so parched it feels like sandpaper, but I manage to rasp, “Too tight? Aren’t you afraid I’ll run when I get a chance?”

“If you run, I will have to stop you.”

It’s not a threat. He’s merely stating a fact. I stop struggling. He removes the ropes around my ankles completely, but keeps my hands securely fastened behind my back.

He holds a waterskin to my mouth. “Drink.”

I start to shake my head, the obstinate fool in me refusing to be pitied. But the desire to live overcomes pride. I drink my fill and let him feed me some mántou, ignoring the way he’s studying me.

He seems so gentle. So normal. It’s hard to believe he’s a priest. Hard to believe that someone like him would raid villages. Or cut off a person’s tongue.

It must be a ploy. He’s trying to lull me into trusting him.

“I didn’t think you priests felt sympathy for your enemies,” I say, tone biting.

His eyes are like storm clouds, gray and heavy. “You are not my enemy.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“I don’t need you to. I just need to do my job, and my job is to keep you alive.”

I sit a little straighter, a seed of hope forming. “Why? Who wants me alive?”

He stands, hood in hand.

“No, wait,” I say, shuddering at the thought of being in shadow again. Of that revolting stench of dried blood. Of the nightmares that will come. “Please don’t put that back on me.”

“I’m sorry, but I have to.” He looks genuinely apologetic as he draws near. Maybe he’s a good actor.

I try to wriggle out of his reach, failing miserably. As he raises the hood, I choke back a sob. “Tell me your name.”

His gaze softens. But I can’t tell if it’s a trick of the light.

“Leiye.”

And once again, I’m on my own in the dark.

I jolt awake. The horses are neighing loudly. Urgent voices trail into the wagon.

“She’s ours.” It’s the bearded priest.

A voice like jagged stone barks, “And I have orders from the premier himself. You know he speaks for the Dragon Throne. Do you dare to defy Imperial orders?” There’s a beat of silence. “Didn’t think so. We will escort the girl to the palace. Should you wish to tag along, you may.”

The priest says something, but I can’t make out his words. I hear the wagon door unlocking. The hood over my head comes off. Arms haul me up, but my legs can’t support my weight after so many days of disuse. I fall, knees smashing onto the wooden floor. I gasp in pain. My head pounds and nausea rises up my throat.

Breathe, dammit. I swallow a lungful of air. Slowly, my vision focuses. I see a man clad in shiny yellow-and-crimson armor. Shi colors. A soldier. Not just any soldier. Judging from the style of his uniform, a lieutenant at least.

He slashes at the ropes around my hands. I rub my sore wrists. Why would soldiers stop the priests’ wagon? What does the palace want with me? A Tiensai. A murderer. Maybe I am to stand trial in the capital. Or maybe my punishment is to rot in the palace dungeons.