The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea(29)

“Could you tell me what this pavilion is used for?” I look out the window to where the pond sits serene and tranquil, but for the splash of a duck. “What is it called?”

“You are in the Lotus Pavilion, my lady,” the first servant responds, a girl with rosy cheeks and a kind smile. “These are Lord Shin’s personal quarters.”

I blink several times. “His personal quarters? As in…”

“Where he sleeps, where he spends most of his time when he’s not out in the city.”

I look around, remembering my impression when I first entered the room last night. I thought it a storage room. It’s empty but for a worn cabinet, the low shelf by the window, and the paper screen.

The second maidservant finishes with my braid and rises to her feet. Together, the maidservants fold the pallet of blankets into a neat bundle and place it against the wall.

“Thank you,” I tell them.

The first maidservant lifts the tray of now empty dishes. “It’s an honor to serve you, my lady.” They bow and leave the room.

I wait a few minutes before moving to the cabinet and opening the doors. I know I’m prying, but Shin should have known when he put me in his room that I would look through his belongings. Inside are shelves stacked with robes of dark colors, as well as pants and belts. I rummage around but find nothing of interest. Closing the cabinet, I turn to survey the room. There’s nothing here to indicate regular use, no scrolls, paintings, or board games. I move to the low shelf and reach beneath to see if there’s anything hidden there.

“I can’t tell if your family would be proud or horrified.”

I twist around to find Nari leaning against the door.

“I’m sure they would be proud you’ve gotten your voice back,” she says, “but somehow I can’t imagine they’d be pleased about your engagement.”

Last Nari saw me, I was on my way to get back my soul from Shin. Now I’m to marry him. She must be wondering what happened during the time we were apart. I could tell her the truth, but I don’t want to endanger her. Even I can admit there are perilous politics astir among the gods and houses.

“Have you seen Shin? I need to speak with him. It’s urgent.”

Nari raises a brow but allows the change in subject. “He went with Lord Kirin to Tiger House.”

Shin must suspect Lord Tiger is behind the attempted theft of my soul. “When will he return?”

“Not until tonight.”

But that will be too late, a whole day wasted. Now that I have my soul back, I need to return to the Sea God. The dream reminded me—the answers I seek lie with him.

“Nari, I can’t explain it, but there’s somewhere I need to go. Will you help me?”

“I’m sorry, Mina,” she says, her expression apologetic, “but I have orders. You’re free to go anywhere you’d like, as long as it’s within the grounds of Lotus House.”

I stare at her in shock. Shin lied to me! He promised me that he wouldn’t keep me from my task.

“Mina—” she begins.

I sweep past her out the door.

She follows me down the stairs. “You don’t understand. It’s for your own safety. You’re human. Your body is weaker in this world.”

Turning, I grab her hands. “Nari, you have to help me get to the Sea God’s palace.”

“The Sea God—” Her eyes widen, but then she slowly shakes her head. “I can’t disobey a direct order from Lord Shin. He is the master of this house. I am sworn to him.”

“Say I escaped! You helped me last night.”

“Ah, Nari,” a low voice drawls from the shadows beneath the stairs. “Is that why you wanted to play cards with me?” Namgi steps away from the wall he was leaning against. “And here I thought we were finally getting along.”

I move in front of Nari, but though his words are for her, his eyes are on me.

“Breaking oaths, sneaking into places where you don’t belong,” he says. “You ask a lot of your friends.”

I hesitate, then say, “I’d ask the same of my foes.”

He raises a brow at the echo of yesterday’s words. Are you a friend or are you a foe?

“There will be no escaping,” Namgi says. “I’ll take you myself.”





13


Namgi and I leave on foot through the main gate, where the night before I’d seen party guests arriving. The guards on duty nod at him as we pass, only sparing me a cursory glance. I can tell Shin’s location by the Red String of Fate. Right now it stretches behind me, indicating Shin is somewhere to the south. If I can stay north of him, he won’t discover that I’ve left the grounds of Lotus House, at least for a little while.

Though it’s early in the morning, the city is already bustling with activity, spirits purchasing fresh produce and flowers from makeshift markets set up on either side of the street. Even the canal is crowded with vendors on boats, their cargo on display as they shout out to the people on the shore. I watch as a young woman throws a tin coin into the hull of a boat with one hand, only to catch a wrapped fish with the other, pitched to her by the vendor.

“What would you like to do first?” Namgi asks, walking with his hands on the back of his head. “Shopping? Sightseeing? There’s a wonderful teahouse in the market district that serves a variety of wine-spirits.”