A Palace Near the Wind by Ai Jiang

Author:Ai Jiang
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Titan

My fingers dug into my palm, and I bit back the pain caused by the taste of the meat. It was strange and foreign—yet enticing. Though it was sickness that lingered in my mind and stomach upon the first tasting—the way it both churned, sloshing like swamp water, yet warmed like gentle noon sun—the tip of my tongue abandoned my initial hatred: a feared craving and betrayed will. I thought of Grandmother, and I thought of Feng, and I swallowed the saliva pooling under and over my tongue from the thought of the meat—smoked fineness more delicious than sunlight, and sweet aged liquid of grapes more decadent than fresh river water. My stomach’s original protestation allowed for what remained of the meat and its juices to settle, marinate within.

I wanted to fall to my knees and cry. The attachment to my people, our connection, felt weakened by the ceremony. The independence I’d claimed in the moons prior to now felt like walls that were strong on the surface yet had rot and decay resting beneath. I held my ground, not wanting to give the King the satisfaction of knowing he’d cracked my resolve. I didn’t want to think I’d failed to protect Chuiliu, but deep down, I knew I had.

“I hope the feast and ceremony was to your liking.”

I wanted to scoff.

I wasted no time on undesirable small talk. “What was written in the agreement?”

He looked as though he expected the question and offered a somber nod. “Follow me.”

Behind us, the two Taskers trailed. My Tasker now shadowed the King, and his own Tasker was at my heel.

“From now on, my Tasker, Geyser, will be at your aid. Tin here will still serve you when Geyser isn’t present.”

My Tasker. Tin. I tried her name in my mind, whispered it aloud; it felt strange on my tongue, though welcome, as it somehow made me feel closer to her. Tin didn’t look too delighted by the arrangement, though she tried her best to mask it. Geyser seemed older than I was, but not by much. If he felt my gaze, he didn’t offer a reaction.

“Where are we going?” I asked when we rounded a corner.

“My chamber,” he said.

I hated that I continued to be led, to be brought from place to place, living moon by moon according to the agendas of others. Just like Sangshu said. Just like Yunshu and Heshi had always known—what I always denied.

The thought of soon being left alone with King caused my limbs to stiffen. Each step forward pained me. I drew my new cloak closer around me.

Up ahead was the hallway where the King’s room awaited. My throat dried. I would rather flee through the window. When we entered the hall, I felt the urge to knock on every single one once more, particularly the door without a portrait, one I suspect now more than ever sat here waiting for Chuiliu’s arrival, especially now that I was unsure of her whereabouts.

The King’s door was without a

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