The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea(47)

“Thieves broke into my house,” Shin says. “I was following their trail, but lost it in the mountains.”

“What did you discover?”

“A plot concocted by Crane and Tiger. To kill me and overthrow the Sea God.”

“Ah,” the death god remarks. “Lord Yu and Lord Bom are ambitious. The more spirits that arrive in this realm, the stronger their houses grow. But death should never be encouraged.”

I must make a sound at that, because the god’s gaze turns to me.

“But you are the God of Death,” I say. “Does your power not grow with each new death that enters this world?”

“I am a death god, but my purpose lies in the balance between death and life. When the scale is tipped too far in favor of one, the imbalance disrupts the unity of both worlds, the human realm and the realm of spirits.” He approaches the railing of the bridge, staring down at the rushing waters below. The death god’s face shows the first sign of emotion—apprehension. “The river is rising. Eventually, it’ll overflow onto the bank, bringing with it spirits who have no desire for this world. With so many lost spirits walking the Sea God’s city, the Spirit Realm will become a sorrowful place indeed.”

Shin frowns. “Is there no way to stop the river from rising?”

“The source of the river is in the human realm, where life ends and death begins. As we have no power over that which brings death—battles, starvation, and disease—there is little that can be done.”

“What about the Sea God?” I ask. “The storms have destroyed so much. The warlords battle over what little is left, sowing chaos and leaving behind devastation in their wake.” I step away from Shin to face both him and Shiki, the spray of the river on my neck. “The Sea God’s curse is no longer a problem for just the human world alone, but for the world of spirits and gods as well. We need to put things right before it’s too late. Before both of our realms are destroyed.”

“I’ve seen this look before,” Shiki says. “On the face of someone beloved. Is it an expression all the brides of the Sea God share? A potent mixture. Hope. Determination. Fury.”

Hyeri. He’s speaking of Hyeri.

He turns his gaze to Shin. So far, neither one of them has brought up the incident that separated them as allies and friends. Instinctively, I take a step toward Shin, as if I can block him from any harsh words.

“I’m afraid I’ve been unfair to you,” Shiki begins, to Shin’s surprise and mine. “You’ve protected this city when no one else would. While others would wish to abandon, overthrow, or even kill the Sea God, you’ve protected him and the brides, and in turn, kept peace and order in this realm. I apologize for many things, but mostly I apologize for making the weight you carry a little heavier.”

I stare at Shiki, stunned by this extraordinary apology.

“And I think,” Shiki says softly, “perhaps, now you understand me a little more.”

I glance between them, wondering what he means by these last words.

“I’ll take my leave,” Shiki says. As he turns, he addresses me. “You would be a welcome guest at my house…”

“Mina,” I say.

“Lady Mina. I know my Hyeri would be glad to see you.”

“And I her. It would be an honor.”

He bows, then slips into the mist.

Shin and I leave the bridge. Joining Kirin and Namgi, we head into the city.

It’s full dark now, the streets aglow with many lanterns, their candles dimmed by the wind. The farther we travel from the river, the warmer it gets, until I no longer have a need for Shin’s over-robe. I take it off, looking ahead to where he walks with Kirin. Shin appears to be doing all the talking, while Kirin walks with his head down. It’s clear Kirin is being reprimanded for what happened at Crane House.

“Don’t worry too much, Mina,” Namgi says, following the direction of my gaze and correctly guessing my thoughts. “Kirin would feel worse if Shin said nothing. This way, he knows exactly how he failed Shin, and will do better next time. If anything, Shin will trust Kirin even more now, since in order to prove himself, Kirin will be even more attentive and dependable. In other words,” Namgi drawls, “he’ll be unbearable.”

The streets are deserted, probably due to a sudden sweltering heat, despite that evenings here are usually cooler.

“Though I do feel for Kirin,” Namgi continues. “He never gets in trouble. Not like me.”

“You have a kind heart, Namgi.”

“Kirin does as well.” I must look doubtful, because he hurries to explain. “He forms attachments slowly, but when he does, he’s the most loyal friend, fiercely protective of those he cares about. He would do anything for Shin.”

“And you?” I ask softly.

Namgi says nothing, though a shadow falls across his face. “When I look at Kirin, I see only him, a bright light in the darkness. When he looks at me, he sees only the darkness.”

We reach the central marketplace of the city. At the far side is the Sea God’s palace, looming beneath a sea of stars. Hundreds of night stalls border the street, and yet they’re oddly quiet, without merchants to hawk their wares. There’s silence all around, a stillness like death.

“Namgi…,” I say. “Where are all the people?”