Cracking my eyelids apart, I squinted at the brightness. Sunlight streamed through the windows, mingled with a salt-laced breeze. My body was heavy with that limpness which comes after a long slumber, each movement a struggle. I shivered, cold, except for the warmth over my hand. A strong grip, but whose? Someone sat beside me, the face a blur as I blinked to clear my vision. I did not mind the touch. It was a comfort through the memories
which curled at the edge of my consciousnessโof blood, of pain and terror.
I jerked upright. My eyes locked onto Wenzhiโs, softer than I had ever seen them before. My skin heated as I
tugged my hand away. How long had he been here? How
long had I slept? I swung my legs over the side of the bed, trying not to wince from the ache.
He frowned. โYouโve been asleep for days. Take it slow.โ โI feel fine.โ Despite my bravado as I lurched to my feet, I
was light-headed, swaying where I stood. Pride alone kept me from sinking back down on the bed as I gripped the
wooden frame to steady myself.
He slipped an arm around me, his hold light yet firm as he helped me to the nearest chair.
โPrince Yanming. Is he safe? What happened?โ My questions fell out in a rush.
โYouโd do better to worry about yourself next time.โ
He lifted the teapot and poured out a stream of reddish- brown tea into a porcelain cup, pushing it toward me.
Puโer. I inhaled its rich and earthy fragrance before taking a long sip, the liquid sliding down my throat with a reviving warmth.
โPrince Yanming is well and has been demanding to see you.โ He paused to refill my cup. โAfter Governor Renyuโs death, the merfolk surrendered. Their punishment is yet to be determined.โ
Memories flashed through my mindโof the sick pleasure the governor had taken in tormenting me, his haunted
expression as Wenzhiโs sword plunged through his chest. The crimson blood which had pooled around his body,
sunken in the terrible stillness of death. I was glad for it, I told myself, even as my stomach churned. The governor
would have killed me, as viciously as he could. But I still found little triumph in this moment. And though he had gone, the scars of his deceit remained; the lives he had stolen, those irrevocably destroyed.
โThe merfolk may not be to blame. The governor had a strange power that helped him gain their trust. His voice, his pendant . . .โ I frowned, trying to make sense of my
fragmented memories. โHe used it on me, too.โ His face darkened. โHow did you resist?โ
โI sealed off my hearing.โ I grimaced. โStupid, perhaps. It made fighting him much harder, but I couldnโt think of
anything else.โ
His hand clenched on the table, until his knuckles were white around the joints. โFortunately, the governorโs powers were weak, coming from the pendant, as you guessed. A true Mind Talent could have bent even your will in seconds. Once in thrall, he would have held you till your end or his.โ
An echo of the governorโs boast, rousing anew my fears from before. As though sensing my distress, he reached across the table and touched my arm. โI should not have left you. You wouldnโt have been so hurt if I had stayed.โ
โIf you had stayed, maybe weโd all be bowing to Governor Renyu now.โ I added gravely, โThis is not your fault. My
safety is in my own care. And I certainly had no intention of letting him kill me. I would have made him regret his attempts. Eventually.โ
โI have no doubt that you would have.โ He leaned forward, inspecting my face. โIf youโre well enough, we should leave soon. Iโve already sent the others back,
however Prince Yanxi wants to see you before we go. Heโs in the audience chamber this morning.โ
I rose, feeling a little steadier as I smoothed down my
pale green robe, only now having the presence of mind to check if I was appropriately dressed. Such plain garments might raise brows from the impeccably attired Eastern Sea Court, but after having almost died, I had greater concerns on my mind.
The moment we entered the hall, Wenzhi was called aside by an Eastern Sea general. I kept to the outskirts of the room, searching for Prince Yanxiโfinally finding him deep
in conversation with another immortal. The stranger was turned away from me, yet the way he stood and how his dark blue brocade robe sat across his shoulders, were
oddly familiar.
When Prince Yanxi noticed me, he inclined his head. As his companion swung around, his dark eyes pierced mine.
It was Liwei, the last person I expected to see here. A quiver rippled through my heartโdread or joy, I could no longer tell apart the emotions he evoked in me. But he was dear to me still, no matter how I wished he were not.
Liwei spoke briefly to Prince Yanxi, before coming toward me. Conscious of those watching us, I bowed to him with all due ceremony.
โRise,โ he said in a strained voice.
I met his gaze without a flicker of emotion, grateful for Teacher Daomingโs trainingโthat I could now slip on this mask despite the turmoil which raged within. โWhy are you here? When did you arrive?โ
โThree days ago.โ He lifted the Sky Drop Tassel by his waist. The gem was clear, the silver flecks swirling in its depths. โWhen it turned red, I rushed here as quickly as I could.โ
I clutched the stone by my waist, the twin to his. A wild urge gripped me, to toss it away, to bury it with our pastโ like the temptation to rip out a scab before the wound had healed. Why did I wear it? Why cling to this remembrance?ย Sentimental fool,ย I scolded myself, forcing my grip to loosen.
โWhen I got here, the battle was already over. You were unconscious, blood streaming from your wounds as Captain Wenzhi carried you from the tent. I . . . I feared the worst.โ
He stilled, as though struggling with himself. โYou were
gravely injured. Prince Yanxi had you brought to the palace so the royal healers could extract the venom from your
body. Any more would have killed you.โ
He leaned toward me now, taking my hand in hisโour palms brushing, the tips of his fingers pressing against mine. Taken aback, I stilled. Heat sparked against my skin as his power coursed through my body. My mind cleared, a reviving strength spreading through me, but I pulled away. While he was a healer, skilled in Life magic, the thought of his energy mingling with mine aroused too many unsettling emotions.
โThank you. You donโt need to do that.โ I groped for
something else to say. Anything, in the awkward silence
which descended upon us. โWhat were you discussing with Prince Yanxi?โ
His expression turned somber, his eyelids lowering. โA grave matter. Archer Feimao, whom you know, recently
reported a strange a๏ฌiction. Since the battle with Xiangliu, he found difficulties wielding his magic. We believe a piece of dark ore wedged in his armor suppressed his powers.โ
โHow is he now?โ I asked, concerned. โOnce it was removed, he recovered.โ
โWhat metal is this? How did it get there?โ
โNo one has come across anything like it before. Archer Feimao suspects it came from Shadow Peak, a crevice
which he fell into. Our scouts found traces of the ore there, but nothing beyond remnants.โ
โDid someone take it?โ A chilling thought.
He nodded tersely. โIt appears to have been mined. Such a thing could be catastrophic in the wrong hands. Iโve
warned Prince Yanxi to be vigilant and to alert us should he discover anything.โ
He fell silent. In the sudden quiet, my senses sharpened.
How close we stood, speaking with the same ease we always had before. There it was still, that unseen cord wound around our heartsโfrayed, yet intact, despite my attempts to snap it. Perhaps it was a bond which could never be severed, rooted in our friendship before our ill- fated love. I did not want thisโfor my spirits to leap and plummet in the same instant, that gaping hollow in my
chest to reopen. But my near death was a blunt reminder that life was precious. Precarious, even for an immortal. And right now, I felt more alive than I had in months. His scent flooded me with memories from our time in the
Courtyard of Eternal Tranquility . . . I could almost hear the rumbling from the waterfall.
My fingers curled as I stepped back from Liwei,
retreating a safe distance as cool air rushed between us.
His mouth opened to speak, but then he glanced up as someone approached.
โFirst Archer.โ
It was Prince Yanxi, along with Wenzhiโwhose face seemed hewn from stone as he bowed to Liwei.
I would have bowed, too, except Prince Yanxi raised his hand to dismiss the formalities. โIโm glad you have recovered. My family owes you a debt of gratitude for
risking yourself to protect my brother. Should you ever need our aid, it would be our honor to assist you.โ
His gracious words touched me. โThere is no debt, Your Highness. Governor Renyuโs ambitions stretched beyond here to the Four Seas. If left unchecked, he would have
brought great suffering to all.โ
Prince Yanxi shook his head in disbelief. โItโs fortunate Captain Wenzhi and you put an end to this.โ
โWhat of the governorโs pendant?โ Liwei asked.
โDestroyed.โ I recalled the arrow I had ripped from my hand, used to shatter the stone.
Liwei sighed. โItโs a relief that such a dangerous artifact is gone, that it can never be used again. But I canโt help
wishing we had the chance to study it. We know so little of this magic, I fear itโs to our disadvantage. We must know what we contend against.โ
I understood his meaning and yet, I was glad to never see that accursed pendant again.
โWhat of those who served Governor Renyu? Those who attacked us? Will they be brought to justice?โ Wenzhi asked, with an edge to his tone. Did he recall the Celestials who were slain in the battle? I could not forget his anguish as he saw them fall.
โJustice will be served as the Eastern Sea decides,โ Liwei said grimly. โThough it would appear both sides were
deceived by the governor.โ
โYour Highness, regardless of their excuses, the merfolk rebelled against their sovereign. Your own father believes such matters should be dealt with harshly, so none will
attempt it again.โ Wenzhiโs lips curved into a mocking smile. Did he enjoy baiting Liwei? He certainly seemed to care little for the princeโs favor.
I said to Wenzhi, โI felt the power of the enchantment, I almost fell under its sway. It might just as easily have been me under its spell.โ
He did not reply, yet his jaw clenched as though he was stricken by my words.
โMany of the merfolk appeared dazed, unsure why they had revolted,โ Prince Yanxi told us. โWe will investigate further to determine their innocence. Those found blameless will be released, under watch at first. Some will be invited to remain at our court as the intermediaries
between us and the merfolk. Closer ties will prevent this from happening again.โ
The merfolk would not have fared so well under the Celestial Emperorโs justice. โYour father and you are
indeed wise and merciful,โ I said, without intent to flatter.
Before he could reply, footsteps pattered across the floor as a pair of small arms was flung round my waist. Swinging around, I lifted Prince Yanming into the air, ignoring the
ache in my body as he whooped in delight. When I set him down again, his expression grew solemn, the corners of his mouth turned down.
โYou did not follow us. You lied.โ His tone was accusing. Guilt pricked me. I crouched down, staring into his face.
โIโm sorry. I couldnโt go with you then, but I should not have said I would.โ
โI am glad you didnโt die. And . . . thank you.โ He held
out his hand to me. Nestled in his palm was a small dragon, exquisitely crafted from red paper.
I picked it up, holding it between my thumb and finger, afraid to crush the delicate paper. โThank you. Iโll cherish this always.โ
His lower lip wobbled. โMay the dragons protect you on your journey.โ He dashed the back of his hand over his eyes, as he turned and ran away.
I watched until his little figure disappeared, a thickness forming in my throat.
โWherever you go, youโll always have a place hereโ whether in our court or as our friend.โ Prince Yanxi spoke in earnest and something eased deep inside me, at the
thought of having another home in this world.
โPrince Yanxi, itโs time we left,โ Liwei said in glacial tones.
โThank you for your hospitality, Your Highness.โ Wenzhi spoke with equally cold formality.
The palpable shift in their attitude was both puzzling and unprovoked. And the way they were looking at Prince Yanxi was decidedly unfriendly. I shook my head to banish these thoughts, wondering if I had imagined it.
Fortunately, Prince Yanxi seemed oblivious to the sudden chill, a smile playing on his lips as he said, โWe thank the Celestial Kingdom for coming to our aid.โ
