Jade Fire Gold(34)

I meet his gaze, understanding the question it holds. He wants to know if I will help him. If I will find the sword of light.

Why would the desert still spread if those false priests keep killing the ones they call the Tiensai?

Maybe Ama has a point, though not the one she intended. The capture and punishment of Tiensai haven’t stopped the desert from growing, which means it isn’t the solution. Something else must be done. I don’t know if the White Jade Sword exists. Maybe it will all be a futile search and nothing can stop the desertification. But shouldn’t I at least try?

I think of home, about how the desert invaded my village and destroyed our crops, and how the children there will know nothing but a bleak future. I think of Li Guo, of how his parents grieved when his brothers died in the wars, how I spent days and nights worrying that he might be shipped out to the front and meet the same fate.

A grim determination settles in my bones.

“What do you need me to do?”

“It is said that the sword of light seeks its master. You must learn to control your magic, learn to use it. The sword will call out to you when you are ready.”

I lower my head, a promise knotting itself into my chest. “I will try my best.”

“Good. Leiye will train you.”

“Wouldn’t it be better if my teacher were someone more experienced?” I say in as diplomatic a tone as I possibly can.

“This young man’s talent surpasses many masters of magic.” The fondness in my father’s voice riles me. Leiye’s expression is unreadable as he listens to my father’s praise. “I have watched him grow up before my very eyes. I trust him to take care of my only daughter.”

“But—”

“No harm will come to you, Ahn. Do not worry,” assures my father. He has made up his mind and there is no changing it.

“Yes, Father,” I concede.

“Thank you for believing in me, Your Excellency.” Leiye bows low and I catch a small, enigmatic smile just before he straightens again.

I don’t trust this priest. My father may sing his praises, but my gut tells me to watch out.

Night falls sooner than expected. There’s a soft knock on my door after dinner. Now that my father isn’t around, Leiye drops all formalities with me, and we fall back into the testy understanding we had after escaping from the Tiensai ambush.

“Where are we going?” I say.

“Western wing.”

“To revel with the concubines?”

He doesn’t look amused. “They’ve been sent to live in the city.” He doesn’t elaborate and I don’t care enough to ask.

Shortly, we arrive and for once, I don’t spot any attendants or guards lurking in the shadows. I wonder if Leiye ordered them to leave. We walk to a garden, and I can vaguely make out a small pond in the middle.

“This will do,” says Leiye.

“It’s too dark. I can’t see anything.”

He flicks his wrist and I almost jump out of my skin as flames shoot out of his hand. With a few quick movements, he lights the torches strung up around the perimeter. I didn’t notice they were there before. The place is lit well enough now, and I can see everything clearly. I was right about the pond. There’s a table near it and, curiously, an empty bronze bowl and a bucket of what looks like soil.

“You’ve made preparations,” I remark, eyeing the setup. “Are you sure we should be using magic out in the open like this? Isn’t it banned?”

“Not all magic.”

“Then why are we doing this in the middle of the night in some secluded place like a couple of criminals?”

“I wanted to impress you with my fire.” He tilts his head and smiles charmingly, as if we are on a romantic date. I give him a withering look and he drops his act, his cool and unflappable manner returning. “Only Tiensai magic is disallowed. You knew that, Ahn. What are you trying to get at?”

“I want to know how the priesthood recruits,” I say, stalling for time. “Do you need to have fire magic to become one of them?”

“Fire is preferred because it is one of the rarer affinities and difficult to master because it requires you to be in total control of yourself. Having total mastery over your affinity is also rare and hence, a huge advantage.” Leiye flutters his fingers and pretty orange flames, like those from candles, dance across his hand. “And there is a test one must pass in order to be accepted into the priesthood.”

“What test?”

“I am not allowed to divulge the secrets of the Diyeh.”

“What if I wanted to be a priest?” I say, more out of morbid curiosity than anything else.

Leiye narrows his eyes. “I don’t think your father would like that.” I don’t refute him.

He circles me, sizing me up as he goes. “Ideally, you should’ve started training when you were a child when your magic first manifested—”

“I was too busy trying to stay alive and hiding from you priests.”

His lips curl. “Why are you being so defensive, Ahn?”

“I’m not!”

He circles me again, and I try to stay composed. He stops, gaze piercing into me.

“You’re scared, aren’t you? You are frightened of your own magic. You fear . . . yourself.”