The Forbidden City by Deborah A. Wolf

Author:Deborah A. Wolf
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Titan

THIRTY

They were waiting for him when he walked from the sea and into the world of men. Bright in lacquered armor from the four corners of Sindan—yellow and black, red and white, the colors of the four roads to enlightenment, the four blooms of everthorn. They were armed and dangerous, but Jian felt more dangerous still.

Xienpei stood at the head of a hunting party. The soldiers behind her stood with their feet shoulder-width apart, hands to the hilts of their swords, to their bows, clenched at their sides. These last, Jian thought, were men he might wish to speak with later, in private. He noted those soldiers who had drawn their weapons and those who had not, for the road to Khanbul was a deadly game. He needed to know which pieces on the board belonged to his allies, which belonged to his enemies—and which of those he might steal.

Xienpei strode toward Jian and met him upon the beach. She eyed the clothing he wore—a tunic and leggings of sea-blue and sea-gray, woven of thistledown so light and fine it shed water even as he stood with the sea kissing his ankles. She stared at his sword, the blue steel seeming to ripple like storm-tossed waves in the high sunlight. Last she looked at his eyes. Long and hard she looked, and her mouth pursed in a hard little pucker.

Jian looked past his yendaeshi, through her. He had eyes only for Tsali’gei. She stood some distance up the beach, clad in bright robes of yellow and white and peacock-teal, with pearls in her hair.

“You were gone so long, Daechen Jian,” Xienpei said, “that some believed you had been lost to us.”

“I have returned.” Jian looked into her eyes. I am taller than her by a head and a half, he thought. Why have I never noticed this?

“You have returned,” Xienpei agreed, and her smile was wide and wicked as a blood-sky dawn. “Fortunately so. Your Tsali’gei was so worried, I feared she might die of it, and your mother…” She shook her head, mouth downturned in a mockery of sorrow, her eyes never leaving Jian’s face. “I am afraid this was all a bit much for her poor old heart. She is quite ill, and has taken to bed.”

Jian felt his chest tighten, his mouth harden, and knew—too late—that he had let it show. Xienpei nodded, victorious.

“Word of your disappearance has reached the emperor’s own court,” she continued. “He was so concerned for your wellbeing that he sent me to ensure your safety. Now that the wicked Karkash Dhwani no longer has his ear, his Brilliance has shown a great deal of interest in the sea-born.” She took a step closer and reached out, as if to help Jian onto land.

He reached for her without hesitation. They clasped arms, and she pulled him close into an embrace.

“Your fortunes have risen with mine, Daechen Jian,” she whispered into his ear. Her breath was warm and wet, and smelled of dragonmint tea.

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