Jade Fire Gold(36)

“I have lost everything.” My head hangs as the truth hits me. “I have nothing more to lose.”

A gust of wind pushes me back as the Phoenix flaps its wings. My hands go up, ready to block the sand, but none of it rises from the ground.

You wish to be emperor. But being emperor is like hearing a crash of thunder from a clear sky. Unexpected things will happen, and their explanations will not always be as they seem. Your crown will become a burden. You must make tough decisions when you hold millions of lives in the palm of your hand.

The Phoenix blinks slowly, and I see a world burning in flames in its eyes.

Lives are fragile; your palm can be a refuge or a cage. Are you certain you are ready for this?

I meet its fiery gaze. “Yes.”

Very well. But everything comes with a price and your choice will be paid in blood. You will find it difficult to treasure that which is most precious to you.

The Soul Beast blinks again. A single teardrop flows from its eye and bursts, sprinkling dew on my face, the scent of fresh grass and honey in my nostrils. I start to feel faint. My legs go weak, my vision fades. . . .

Altan!

I’m underwater. This time, I am truly awake. My lungs seize. Can’t breathe. I thrash my way up to the surface, chest expanding with relief when my head bursts out of the water. I’m not far from the edge of the pool, so I swim over and hoist myself onto dry ground.

What happened? I don’t remember going into the spring. I thought I’d fallen asleep and dreamt of the Soul Beast. But it seems I did encounter it. And that voice that pulled me out to consciousness . . . I’d thought it was Mother or my sister. But it sounded like someone else. Someone less familiar. The face of the girl from the desert town flits through my head but that image disappears quickly, and all I am left with is that scent of green and honey in the air, the voice of the Soul Beast in my head.

Everything comes with a price and your choice will be paid in blood.

Tang Wei looks up from her dinner and gapes at me like she doesn’t believe who she is seeing. “You’re alive.”

I put my weapons down wearily. “I thought you’d be happy.”

“I am happy. You were gone for so long. I’m just . . .”

“Disappointed you didn’t get to say I told you so?”

“Shut up, shut up. I was so worried. I shouldn’t have left you there alone.” She stands and throws her arms around me.

I hug her back. I didn’t think I’d be so glad to see her, but I am. Eventually, she lets go and sits back down, wiping the back of her hand over her eyes.

“Are you crying?” I tease.

Tang Wei turns her face from me, sniffing loudly. “No.”

I can’t help but laugh at her obvious lie. “Look at me. I’m fine.”

My stomach rumbles with hunger and that draws a smile from her.

“Shut up and eat. You must be starving,” she nags good-naturedly.

I slide onto the wooden bench across from her, pull the dishes on the table toward me, and start stuffing my face with rice and braised pork.

Tang Wei leans close, voice lowered. “Did you find the Phoenix?”

“Mmm,” I say, shoving more rice into my mouth.

“Did you get your wish?”

“I think so. I won’t know until I meet the Life Stealer and he uses his magic on me, of course. If he uses his magic on me.”

Her face pales.

“It’ll be fine.” I check the dining room of this shabby inn. The waiter has retreated into the kitchen and the innkeeper is dozing off at the register up front. The two other patrons—locals, I assume—are red-faced with alcohol and likely to pass out before they can eavesdrop on us. Seems safe enough to talk. I swallow my food, gulp down some hot tea, and fill Tang Wei in on what happened with the Phoenix.

She doesn’t say a word. Doesn’t even play with her daggers. I nudge her after a few minutes of silence.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m thinking.”

“About what?”

“About our next steps,” she replies. “Master Sun has arranged a meeting with our southern contact. They’re interested in your proposed alliance. We’ll meet under the cover of Gao Long’s funeral in twelve days. If we leave tomorrow, we should get to Beishou in time.”

I nearly drop my chopsticks. The mourning period will be over in twelve days? Have I been up on that mountain for so long? Time must pass differently in Jiyu Spring. I must have been stuck in the cavern longer than I thought.

I feel her eyes lingering on me. “What’s wrong? Is there something else?”

“You seem different, that’s all.” Tang Wei continues cautiously, “What do you think the sacrifice will be?”

I twirl my chopsticks. That same question has been puzzling me since my encounter with the Phoenix.

Your choice will be paid in blood. You will find it difficult to treasure that which is most precious to you.

“I don’t know. At first, I thought it might have been my magic, but I tested it, and I still have it.”

“Is your magic the most precious thing to you?”

“Obviously.”

Tang Wei doesn’t question me further. I sense that she doesn’t agree with me, but what else could it be? Without magic, I can’t avenge my family.