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Jin thanks the attendant, handing him the payment before he leaves. “You must show me your rivers of endless gold and silver in Thorn Valley. You spend it so freely,” I tell him.
“Should you wish, all that is mine is yours.” He speaks lightly, yet his gaze holds mine.
“What would this cost me?”
“Nothing,” Jin replies with an enigmatic smile. “Everything.”
My heart quickens. Looking down, I take a bite of the pork, the rich flavors infused with herbs. He eats too, with more appetite than I’ve seen before.
“If only we’d met earlier in the Iron Mountains when I most needed money. I would have cooked you three meals for that silver,” I say with a sigh.
“We did meet back then,” Jin corrects me with a grin. “I paid for the privilege too.”
“Three pieces of silver?” I scoff.
“Six,” he reminds me. “Twice the amount you tried to trick from me. And I wasn’t even interested in what you were selling then.”
“Then why stop by my stall? Why speak to me?” I’ve always wanted to know and never had a chance to ask.
“Something drew me to you, I can’t explain what. The most profound things in life often have no reason, guided by wisdom the mind can’t fathom.” He tilts his head, the light from the window reflected in his eyes. “Whatever it was, I’m glad I stopped.”
“As am I.” How effortless being with him feels, this closeness knitted between us since my confession.
Shenming enters, having returned from harvesting the Ice Pearl. “General Suilan has sent another message. Lady Shufang commands our presence at court this evening.”
I shake my head impatiently. “We need to find the waterfall. There isn’t much time left.”
“We can’t refuse this order,” Shenming warns. “Did you learn where the waterfall will be?”
As I describe the island, Jin adds the details he marked. “It won’t be easy getting there. With so many patrolling the bridges, we should disguise ourselves as soldiers—except we can’t draw suspicion by getting lost.”
“If only we had Lady Shufang’s maps, they would help us chart a path,” I say.
Shenming nods. “General Suilan mentioned they are in Her Ladyship’s private quarters, the most closely guarded part of the palace.”
Where the Prince of the Iron Mountains is. I gnaw my lip, recalling the deal we’d struck, Jin’s face darkening as though he’s realized the same.
“I’ll try to persuade the general to bring me there tonight, but it won’t be easy,” Shenming says. “The waterfall is expected to appear tomorrow, after dark. We must be there. I’ve secured permission from General Suilan to visit our troops on the shore tomorrow, and will bring Dian and the dragon back then.”
“Take a guard with you as an escort,” Jin suggests. “One you can replace with Dian when you return.”
“I won’t kill their soldiers without cause,” Shenming replies tersely.
“You won’t have to,” I assure him. “Dian will have her own way to silence the soldier.”
“When they join us tomorrow, we must leave at once to seek the waterfall,” Jin says.
Shenming’s eyes drift to the window. “After the dragon is healed, we can finally return home.”
Close, yet so far. And though my heart lifts at the thought of seeing my sister again, fear digs its talons deeper into my chest.
In the evening, the watery light filters through the translucent ceiling of the throne room. Shuttered windows leave the hall feeling more confined, the fragrance of flowers almost cloying when trapped within. The crystal lamps are lit, hanging from the ceiling, yet their glow seems almost harsh when compared to the radiance of the Ice Pearls.
The courtiers are dressed in green robes, fastened with silver links, pearls braided in their hair. Lady Shufang sits on her throne, flanked by guards—while this time Prince Zixin stands behind, an imposing presence. Their white garments match: hers embroidered with phoenixes, his with dragons. A gold-and-sapphire headdress rests on her hair, a smaller ornament holding up the prince’s topknot. Together, they form an image of power and unity.
A knot tightens in my gut, impatience that I try to conceal. I do not want to be here, smiling and nodding at these strangers—when time is running out, when we’re unsure of our path to the waterfall. But I remind myself, our answer could be here.
General Suilan leads us to the side, behind the courtiers and attendants, still close to the dais. “Why were we summoned?” Shenming asks her.
