“Time paradox,” he reasoned, eyes sparkling with laughter.
“Those two words will not save you. I maneuvered around that quite well and still gave you good information. You could have done the same. You didn’t tell me because you enjoyed the idea of surprising me. Just when are you going to outgrow that streak of mischief, hmmm?”
“Maybe another five thousand years?” he offered innocently.
“Ha! Chance would be a fine thing.”
Prince Pari followed this closely, his eyes bouncing between the two of them, mouth steadily dropping. “Five thousand years you say…did you meet the first Tomes?”
“Meet him? I recruited him. I actually arrived two years before he joined the group and stayed with them for ten years.”
“Ten years—?!” Rone bit off, jaw dropping hard enough to dent the table.
She wasn’t the only one. Everyone at the table looked at Mei Li as if they couldn’t believe their own ears.
Prince Pari blurted, “But you were only gone three days!”
“Yes, well, time-travel spells don’t know how to count. Apparently. It really doesn’t make any sense to me, either, so I can’t explain it to you. But I stayed in the past for ten years and a few months.” Mei Li shook her head, remembering a time that, to her, felt like five minutes ago. “I really should sit down after this and write my memories of it all. We’ve lost quite a bit of information over the years.”
“Do so.” Prince Pari looked delighted at the idea. “And then let me read it first. I’m sure it will be a fascinating read.”
“Oh, it’ll be that.” In more ways than one.
Rone spluttered, “You don’t look a day older to me.”
“No, I won’t. The time-traveling spell arrests my age until I’m returned to the present once more.” Mei Li stole another gulp from her tea. “But the upside to all of this is, I was there with the original group when we reasoned out how to seal everything away. I now have firsthand knowledge of how to defeat Zaffi, Odom, and Ghost General’s Sword. Anything later than that time, of course, I don’t have information on. So, we’re only in a slightly better situation than when I left. Unless they actually heeded my warnings and made multiple copies of the records?”
Shunlei gave her a sympathetic smile. “The habit only lasted a hundred years, I’m afraid. We’re more or less in the same boat we were in when you left.”
Mei Li let out an aggravated growl. “I suppose it makes sense. Time travel would demand that the reason I had to travel in the past to begin with would stay intact. Still, I had so many hopes…”
“Apologies,” he murmured. “We did try. But you know how hectic our travels were.”
Yes, she did. Mei Li could hardly complain about that. Some days, they had to rewrite records that had been lost before they could be safely stored. It had been an absolute pain. She let it go with a sigh, as there was nothing more she could do about it.
“The main troublemakers are from that era,” Huan pointed out. “I know we were missing eighty records, but many of those were minor in comparison, stuff we can figure out and tackle on our own. It was Odom and Zaffi who worried us the most, and you now know the solution for those.”
Mei Li tilted a hand back and forth. “You’re correct, but you’re wrong at the same time. There is one more troublemaker we don’t have an answer to, and it’s worse than either Odom or Zaffi, in my opinion.”
Rone groaned in realization. “Kovel Below.”
“Kovel Below,” Mei Li agreed grimly. “I don’t know about all of you, but tackling a whole city sounds like the worst problem to deal with. At least Odom and Zaffi are a singular target. But a city? Two cities, really, as one is bleeding up into the other. It’s so widespread, it’ll take more people than we have to properly deal with it all.”
Prince Pari pursed his lips together. “When did Kovel Below first appear?”
“Roughly one thousand years ago,” Mei Li answered promptly. “5,246, to be precise.”
“And there are truly no other records to be had?”
“I truly wish there were, trust me.” Mei Li glumly gulped more tea. At least tea wasn’t demanding complicated answers out of her. Tea could be trusted. “Abe did speak of it to me, so I know in general how the sealing works, but I have no particulars. And the devil will be in the details.”
A warm hand soothed along her back. Shunlei gave her a warm smile. “You just spent ten years solving problems you had no directions for, my love. I have faith that while Kovel Below might present a challenge, you’ll solve it, as usual.”
She arched an eyebrow at him. “You do remember that I wasn’t always the one with the answer? That Kiyo and Nord generally were the ones who came up with something?”
“And you’ve learned from them, have you not?” he countered neatly.
“I really can’t tell if you’re trying to be supportive or snarky right now.”
There was that silent laughter in his eyes again. “I’m ever supportive.”
“Uh-huh.”
Rone interrupted with an upflung hand, her expression slowly transforming from startled into incredulous. “Mei Li? I never thought I’d ask this question, but why are you wearing a wedding ring? And why is he…?”
“Acting like we’re married?” Mei Li finished when Rone’s mouth gave out on her. With a slight smirk, she shrugged. Oh, this was going to be a priceless moment. “Because we’re married.”
Rone squawked, the words too strangled to make it cleanly out of her mouth. The sound was reminiscent of a duck choking on a cracker, in fact.
Huan and Prince Pari had better control over their mouths. Huan let out a low whistle, sitting back and staring at them in an appraising way. Rone was the one to actually say what they were all thinking.
“So, you’re the human bride.” It was said in a deadpan way, making it clear Rone wasn’t really that happy about it.
Mei Li eyed her sideways. That was an argument they’d need to have. But for now, she answered simply, “That I am.”
Without any sympathy whatsoever, Shunlei informed his best friend, “I’ve been telling you for years that my wife just couldn’t be with me in this moment.”
“I took that to mean she was very dead and you never got over her!” Rone protested, voice going up three octaves.
“I know. But there was little I could say without creating a time paradox. And I feared what might happen when Mei finally did reconnect with me. I wasn’t sure how that would come about, only that she’d promised it would. I had to leave open every possibility to allow for it.”
There was a memory of pain in his face. Of loneliness that he’d born stoically, clinging to a hope that had no shape. So many years, he’d been forced to repeat that single line. Without knowing precisely what to plan for, he could give no other explanation. And there was no way for him to explain, not without possibly damaging the very thing he hung everything on.
Mei Li had known precisely what it would do to him. It was why she’d hesitated so strongly in accepting his proposal ten years ago. Knowing full well the time that would stretch out ahead of him, she viewed it as the height of cruelty to make him endure it alone. Even with her now restored to his side, Mei Li had to wonder. Was there ever a time when he wished he had heeded her warning?
Shunlei lifted a hand and gently stroked it over her cheek, cradling her face as he smiled at her. “Don’t look like that, my love. It was hard, I won’t pretend otherwise. But you’re well worth the wait.”
She had no words. Her emotions were too strong to be caged in syllables. Instead, she turned her head and pressed a kiss into his palm, holding his hand to her for another moment. Mei Li had no idea what she’d be able to do to make up for five thousand years, but she’d try.
Rone sighed, dropping her head into one hand. “At least now I finally understand why you reacted the way you did when she first arrived. And why you kept buying your wife clothes every other decade. You didn’t know when she was com
ing back.”
“No. Only that she would, after both Tomes disappeared. It’s why I was incredibly excited and alarmed when that happened. It was the sign I’d been looking for this entire time—but it also meant my wife was once again lost.” Shunlei snorted, shifting his hand so that he now held Mei Li’s in her lap. “I trust I no longer have to go looking for her.”
Mei Li’s ears interpreted that as a threat. Her husband was tired of her going off on her own. She couldn’t say that she blamed him.
“I promise you, I’m very done with going off without you. You have nothing to worry about there.” Turning to the table at large, she asked, “I know that to you I was only gone three days, but how is everyone now?”
“Still on the mend, but much better,” Huan assured her. “Leah is probably the worst of them all, and I don’t know if she’ll be able to come back with us for another month at least. We might need to expand our party members.”
“I think we’ll need to do that anyway.” Mei Li’s lips pursed. “Kovel Below alone will demand that. Prince Pari, we’d like to impose on you a little longer. I wish to send out many messages, requesting help.”
“You of all people should know that the Princes of Horvath are your staunch supporters,” he chided her. “Of course you’re welcome here.”
He did have a point there. She grinned at him and ducked her head in thanks. “I do know. Thank you. Rone and Huan, as well as Gen and Bai once they’re released by the doctor, can fly down and meet us at Zaffi. I don’t wish to leave here again before we have proper help, but I think Shunlei and I can go down and deal with Ghost General’s Sword.”
“Ah, right,” Shunlei said reminiscently. “Kiyo was the one who sealed it the first time. You watched her.”
“I did. And took mental notes. I mean, I gave suggestions, but she was the one who tied it all together and had the priests at the temple help her so that they would know what to do. I think we can duplicate her method precisely, and it should last another five thousand years.” To the others, she added, “It’ll mean that we have to take a quick flight down there to deal with it. But we should be there and back within four, five days. I’ll send out messages before we leave so that people have the time to respond or come here. Huan, can you help Teoh while I’m gone?”
“Yes, of course.” Huan looked between them curiously. “You really think the two of you can do it alone?”
“Well, Shunlei was the one who subdued the sword to begin with.” Mei Li gave him an arch look. “As a Red, no less. I think at this age, the sword will have even less sway over you.”
Shunlei just snorted. Which was the sum of his opinion about that.
As expected. His reaction amused her, and she shrugged.
“And I’m not actually doing all that much. The priests are the ones who will do the spell itself; I’ll just instruct and guide them. It’s best that way, as they’ll know what to do in case something happens.”
“Fair enough.” Rone looked at the other two, found they had no argument, and gave a nod. “We’ll take care of everyone here while you attend to that. But Mei Li, I must ask, why Ghost General’s Sword next?”
“It’s timing,” she answered forthrightly. “We have people coming in to help deal with Zaffi, but it will take at least seven days for them all to arrive. Quite possibly longer. I might as well go down, deal with Ghost General’s Sword, and then fly back up to handle Zaffi. I’ve seen what happens when I try to tackle anything without enough magical support on hand.”
“Considering what happened with Jingfei…” Huan trailed off on a sigh. “Probably the wisest decision. Alright. We’ll plan for that.”
Mei Li gave her a nod. “I’ll go write and disperse my messages. Feel free to tell everyone who asks that I’m back.”
Shunlei followed her up and out of the room. After he’d closed the door behind them, he leaned in next to her ear to murmur, “It’s not a coincidence that you’re taking me alone to the very temple that we got married in, is it?”
Mei Li hadn’t actually thought of it in terms of romance until he said it. She’d truly just been thinking along the lines of logistics and timelines. And regrets—she had plenty of those her mind liked to linger on. They’d lost two good people while battling Zaffi, and to her, that was recent. The ache in her heart hadn’t healed yet; it was too raw and new. Romance was very much the last thing on her mind just then. But the hopeful tilt of his voice brought her back into the present. It helped recenter her in the here and now.
And in that moment, she realized she needed that too. A way to bridge past to present. He wasn’t the only one intrigued by the idea, and she made a new plan on the fly.
Tilting her head back, she blinked at him innocently. “I think we can steal two days for a second honeymoon, don’t you?”
The joy on his face was absolutely radiant. “Can we get married again in this time?”
“I don’t see why not. Practically speaking, it’ll be easier, as I’m sure the record of our marriage is long gone. But I missed having everyone there, too. It’ll give people a chance to celebrate with us in this time.” She popped up on tiptoes to kiss him, quick and chaste. “Let’s put the world to rights first.”
Shunlei was the picture of happiness as he walked with her back to their room. “I’m planning something elaborate this time. Brace yourself.”
It was only then that she really considered what it might mean, to marry again in this time. After all, they both knew a great many people. Country leaders, mages, dragons, friends, family, colleagues—oh dear. Their marriage ceremony might well be massive if everyone chose to attend. And she had a feeling most would.
“Ah…Shun. Maybe consider that smaller could be better?”
“We did small last time,” he replied, a bounce in his stride. He was already excited about this. “Everyone gets to meet my wife this time.”
And. Well. What could she possibly say to that?
Mei Li sent messages to every person she could think of, then reached out to people who might know other people. That took her several hours, and her hand was cramping by the end of it.
She poked her head in to check on Leah and found that Teoh was still at her side. The two not-quite identical twins looked very different in white hospital clothes instead of the splint armor and furs they normally wore. More vulnerable, somehow. Even though Teoh wasn’t injured, she’d apparently opted for the same clothes after several days in the hospital.
“Hello, all,” Mei Li greeted as she popped in.
“Oh, you’re back!” Teoh sat up immediately, putting the book she’d been reading aside. “How did it go?”
“Very well. Not at all what I expected, but well. I got the answers we need. How are you doing, Leah?”
“The prognosis looks good,” she answered with a smile on her face. “My skin is knitting back together as it should be. I’ll get full range of motion back—the doctors here have promised it.”
Mei Li heaved a sigh of relief. “That is good news.”
Teoh warned, “But she is definitely not up for battling anything in the near future. And I’m not leaving her side until she’s up.”
Which was more than fair. In her shoes, Mei Li would make the same decision. “I won’t ask it of you, I promise. But can you help me from here? I need to send a great many messages out, and my Evocation has not improved since we last spoke.”
“Oh! Yes, of course. I’d love to help. Leah can help too, her magic is fine.”
Leah seemed eager to do something that didn’t require lying around resting and looking pretty. She was already stuffing a pillow behind her to help prop herself up better on the bed.
Well. Fair enough. Mei Li would be just as stir-crazy in their shoes. She promptly sat and made use of them, chatting to while away the time as they waited for responses. It was good to reconnect with them and see that Leah was in good spirits as she mended.
Once Mei Li had her answers—and seeing that Leah was fading fas
t and needed a nap—she politely excused herself and left the room to check in properly with everyone. Maybe have dinner with them, as it was about that time.
It didn’t actually feel that way, but that was what the clocks and the sky said. Mei Li hoped this feeling of being disjointed in time would fade away over the next day or so. It had when she went into the past. Sort of. But surely the transition back into the present would be easier.
She found Shunlei sitting with Gen and Bai, both of them still with bandages wrapped around their burn injuries. Shunlei had fared better than both of them, his dragon skin far tougher and less vulnerable. But she remembered a time when he hadn’t been that tough. A dragon’s skin firmed a little as they aged, the scales hardening into tougher armor. Shunlei the Red’s skin had been more like fine skin in comparison. Back then, it had been easy to injure him, and she’d had to dress his wounds on numerous occasions. It was a relief that he could withstand attacks better now.
But her heart still hurt for Gen and Bai’s sakes.
Gen was still in blue dragon form, unable to shift with his damaged wing. His body was stretched out, his hurt wing propped up on pillows and his large head resting next to Bai’s thigh. His golden eyes stayed trained on a chess board, with Bai carefully moving pieces around with one delicate finger, apparently moving the game forward for the both of them. Bai looked luminescent under the candlelight, his white skin and hair reflecting light in all directions, red eyes intent on the board.
Shunlei sat cross-legged nearby, speaking to them in calm tones, but his head came around automatically as she entered the room.
Dragon noses. Not to be underestimated.
“There you are,” he greeted with a smile. “Messages done?”
“And sent, thanks to Teoh’s help.” Mei Li gave a sympathetic smile to Bai and Gen. “How are you both?”
“Healing,” Bai assured her, perking up visibly. “Really, we’re both much better. The doctors here won’t take the bandages off, said it would undo all the hard work our bodies have done over the past week, but they think we’ll be back in the skies in another four or five days.”
Master of Tomes Page 3