Jade Fire Gold(94)

Tang Wei lets out a low whistle. “I didn’t think you were capable of such scheming. I guess you are your father’s daughter.” Ahn winces and Tang Wei says quickly, “I’m sorry, that came out wrong.”

“It’s fine. Hopefully, Leiye will help. I have another friend in the palace. I hate to drag her into this, but I’m out of options.”

Tang Wei and I exchange a look. The time for withholding secrets has passed.

“Her name wouldn’t be Linxi, would it?” says Tang Wei, sheepishly.

It takes Ahn a second to figure out the connection. “Are you her girlfriend?”

Tang Wei nods.

“She told me she’s a farmer’s daughter and she grew up in the southeastern plains.” Ahn frowns. “That’s not true, is it?”

Tang Wei shakes her head. “She grew up in the colonies. Her mother was a Tiensai and her father’s a minor official who was loyal to his father.” She tilts her head in my direction.

“Did you plant her in the palace?” Ahn asks me.

I try my best to look contrite, deciding that my best course of action is to keep quiet.

“Were you spying on me right from the start?”

Tang Wei raises both hands in protest. “It sounds awful when you put it that way. We were watching out for you, how’s that?”

Ahn slumps in her chair, head lolling back. “I’m surrounded by thieves and liars.”

“It’s good company, seeing that you’re one, too.” Tang Wei smirks. “Besides, I don’t see why I can’t need you for your magic and still be your friend.”

Ahn groans. “Forget about all of that. Let’s focus on the important things.”

She picks up the dark sword and runs a finger along its slim double-edged blade. There is no design, no carving, nothing unusual on the dull black hilt and metal. It doesn’t even look sharp enough to pierce through skin. Hard to believe something so unremarkable is anything special. But I have seen what it can do in the right hands.

I want to destroy it. I want to throw it back into the sea. To break it, to pulverize it, to burn it. But what would its destruction mean for Ahn? What would it mean for me? It isn’t the White Jade Sword. But Ahn could use it to achieve the same thing. How far are you willing to let her go? I swallow hard. It’s her choice. She wants to do this.

“I don’t like your plan but—”

Ahn cuts me off. “Neither do I, but I’m going to do it anyway. The question is, are you with me?”





The Army of the Undead





44


Ahn


With the help of Linxi and the Lotus Sect, we manage to contact Leiye once we come ashore. Two weeks later, I show up with him at the palace gates, Obsidian Sword in hand. Altan had suggested we make a replica, but I feel more assured if the real one is by my side. There’s also a chance my father might be able to tell the difference.

He stands in front of me now in one of the grand halls of the palace, silver mask hiding the scars my mother gave him. I can see the cogs in his mind working as Leiye sells our story: he’d been tracking my movements, cornering me when I got back on land. As agreed, Leiye makes no mention of Altan. He’d already covered up my jailbreak with a story about a Tiensai who tried to assassinate me, and whom I killed in self-defense before I ran off. Leiye had apparently provided a body. I don’t want to know how or who.

His story is believable. It also helps that by now reports of the sunk Nandah warships are widespread. The south knows I exist and what my powers can do, which makes me vital to the Empire and my father’s plans.

I can’t help but admire the way Leiye speaks, his tone the perfect balance of respect and confidence, with enough self-deprecation that my father would never think that his prodigy was deceiving him.

My father approaches me cautiously. His eyes flit to the dark sword in my hand and back to me. “You sold your mother’s ring for passage on that ship?”

“Yes,” I lie.

“Why did you run? Why did you go after the sword yourself?” he says, his tone precisely neutral.

He hasn’t decided what to make of me yet.

“I killed a man—I thought you’d be upset. I was scared. I thought I could find the sword of light myself.” I pause for effect before sagging to the ground on my knees, trembling. “I failed, Father. This isn’t the White Jade Sword. I . . .” I reach out and clasp his hands in mine, forcing myself to cry, to look right into his dark, dark eyes. “I know I’ve said horrible things to you. But I didn’t mean them. I was confused. I only wanted to make you proud.”

His raven eyes soften. He wants to believe me. I know he wants to. Maybe somewhere inside that cold heart, there is a place for his own flesh and blood.

“I don’t know what to do, Father,” I say, carrying on the charade. “The sword calls out to me. . . . It tells me . . . things.”

“What does it say?”

“It—” I gulp and suck in a sharp breath before letting my words tumble out. “It speaks of an army—an army of the undead. When I retrieved it, I saw things, people, souls at the bottom of the sea. Spirits, I think.” I hesitate, risking another glance at my father. He’s riveted, keen to know more, so I tell him exactly what he wants to hear. “I think this sword can create a spirit army.”