A Future, Forged

by Aiki Flinthart

  Was she making the right choice? She couldn’t think. Her head felt fuzzy. The stairwell was hot and stuffy. She shivered, her arms goosepimpling.

  Dallan lay on the stairs, inched upward, paused, then withdrew. He raised two fingers. Two weishi, then.

  Teya grabbed Ying’s hand and advanced.

  Ying whispered, ‘Remember—be calm. Open your heart.’

  Teya waved her to silence but did draw a long slow breath to try and settle her racing pulse. When she rounded the last corner, the two weishi straightened.

  ‘Who—’

  She inserted an image of two gold-glad xintou women into their thoughts and demanded entrance. Bowing, the weishi shuffled aside without question.

  ‘That’s so scary,’ Ying whispered.

  ‘Shut up,’ Teya replied. ‘I’m concentrating.’ Cold sleeted across her skin and she struggled to lift heavy feet to the next riser.

  Dallan appeared beside her and leapt past on silent feet. She rendered him invisible. He thrust his knife into the nearest weishi’s inner thigh, cutting the leg’s main artery. Then he smothered the man’s cries and eased him to the ground until he stopped struggling. Teya focussed on the second, blanking Dallan and the wounded weishi from his mind. He stood, unmoved and unmoving, while Dallan scored the knife across his throat.

  Blood pooled, forming thin, scarlet waterfalls over the steps.

  Ying whimpered and scurried aside, lifting her robe hem. ‘You didn’t have to kill them!’

  ‘Hush!’ Teya snapped.

  Dallan wiped his blade on a fallen weishi’s black and copper uniform. ‘They were Han’s men, Ying. Not Jenna’s. Anyone allowed this close to Han is complicit in his plans.’

  Ying’s eyes were huge, but she nodded.

  Teya felt nothing. She was past compassion for anyone close to Han. She’d seen the lengths Han’s weishi would go to for him. They deserved no mercy and no guilt.

  Squaring her shoulders, she prepared the next illusion. And the steel hammer that would smash Han’s wards. This time she would not hesitate. This time she would be ready for him.

  This time she would set Perrin free and get the diyu out.

  Dallan thrust the door open.

  ‘Ah! There you are.’ A voice broke the bedroom’s silence. ‘I was wondering when you’d arrive.’

  Teya froze, burning inside. That smooth, sarcastic tone was unmistakable.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  TEYA

  Han rose from a chair by the fireplace and tied a dark blue house robe tight around his lean frame. On the huge, silver-curtained bed, Jenna lay, still clothed in her black-and-silver wedding gown, her eyes staring blankly at the canopy above.

  Teya’s knees weakened. Had he murdered her, already?

  Dallan swore and hauled out his steel sword, setting himself before Teya and Ying.

  ‘Wait.’ Teya growled. ‘I can do this.’

  Gritting her teeth, she formed the hammer and struck at Han’s wards. But her blow was weak; his wards strong. They held firm. Hatred raged black in her blood. She could gouri-well do this! He deserved to die.

  Han held out his hand toward the second armchair, which faced the fire.

  Teya tensed and struck his wards again. A tiny crack appeared. Hot triumph washed through her body, lending false strength. One more would do it.

  This time it would work. She would be free of him forever.

  ‘Teya!’ A small, blond boy leapt from the armchair and limped across the room. Teya gasped, her concentration broken. Perrin hurled himself at her and she dropped to her knees with her arms wide. She gathered his slim body to her and held him close, trembling, savouring his warmth. His arms twined around her and he buried his face in the curve of her neck.

  ‘I thought you were dead,’ he sobbed. ‘I thought I’d never see you again. I was in prison, then the cells with lots of people and it was awful and stinky and you didn’t come for me.’ He sniffled and wiped at his nose. ‘Why didn’t you come for me?’

  Guilt gnawed at her, leaving a gaping hole in her chest. ‘I tried. I was hurt and then I couldn’t get into the prison.’ She stroked hair from his face. ‘But I’m here now.’

  ‘Then,’ Perrin said, smiling, ‘this nice man came and got me out of the cells and guess who he gave me to, Tey. You’ll never guess. It was our mam. He found our mam for us. Isn’t that great? An we gotta baby brother. He’s little, but we can be a family again, like I always wanted.’

  She heaved herself upright, swaying. Perrin wrapped his arms around her hips.

  Teya looked at Han.

  With a whimper, she clutched Perrin closer. Four weishi held Dallan prisoner, swords at his collar. Gen-kin held Ying at dagger-point. Yet another weishi rested a sword tip on the Jun First’s breast. She didn’t react. Her eyelids closed and reopened, but she didn’t seem to see where she was.

  ‘Teya?’ Perrin tugged at her tunic.

  She didn’t reply, just stared at Han, who smiled coolly and said, ‘So, girl, what’s next?’

  ‘Can we stay, Teya?’ Perrin begged.

  She held Perrin close. Her heart swelled and closed her throat. She couldn’t lose him again. Not now.

  ‘You said you’d let us go if Dallan was killed,’ she said. ‘You have him now. Let us go.’

  #

  DALLAN

  Dallan sighed. He couldn’t blame her. This was a no-win situation. There were too many strong-minded people here and she was unwell. She swayed on her feet and her skin was waxen. No way could she break through Han’s wards and hold strong illusions for him and six weishi at once.

  He opened his mouth to reassure her, but two blades pricked against his collarbones. Han sent him an amused look and Dallan held his tongue, helpless. He’d been a zift. Three times he’d underestimated Han and this time would get them all killed. Oh, Han would gloat a little. It was his way. But the steel in his gaze said he had no intention of letting Dallan live.

  A sick sense of inevitability settled like cold mud in his gut. And Shana—wherever she was—couldn’t possibly let Ying go free, either. So his stupid, childish belief that enough people, working together, could do good would cause the death of two young women with their whole lives ahead of them.

  And Perrin? Dallan examined the boy who was Teya’s heart and saw why she was so desperate to save him. The lad looked at his sister with such open, worshipful adoration and uncomplicated love that Dallan’s chest ached. She had suffered so much. Lost so much. To have one person who cared for her unconditionally and to lose him would break her.

  Was there a way to convince Han to let her and Perrin go? If so, he couldn’t think of the words. Nor would Han care to hear them from him.

  Bitter regret brought bile to his throat. If he’d been less harsh all those years ago in Weishi House… if he hadn’t rejected Han so contemptuously, with the judgemental arrogance of youth… perhaps they wouldn’t have come to this.

  Ying wailed Teya’s name and tried to yank free of Gen-kin’s meaty grasp.

  Teya’s attention flickered to the young xintou. ‘Let her go, too? We’ll all leave. Quietly. You’ll never see us again, I promise.’

  Han’s mouth pulled sideways into scorn. ‘You can’t be that naïve, child. I can’t let her go. And your freedom was conditional on you killing Dallan. But you were too soft, weren’t you? Or did his all-for-one-and-one-for-all romantic ravings about helping the masses get to you?’ He chuckled. ‘He’s always been an idealist. Now you know his cause is hopeless. The people he’s been trying to rally—the ones with power and wealth—are also the ones with the most to lose if I don’t control the jundom. Introducing unpaid labour helps them. Tell you what.’ He tilted his head. ‘I’ll give you a second chance.’

  He moved to a low table near his chair. On it lay a collection of small blades: a kpinga, a karambit, several daggers. He lifted one. Light slipped sleekly along the steel blade and Dallan tensed.

  The weishi around Dallan hadn’t bothered dis
arming him. After all, there were four of them. His sword still hung at his side. And Han now brandished the matching dagger, dangling it like a lure, tempting him to attack. Dallan held himself in check.

  Han held it out to Teya. ‘Take this and run him through, girl. Then I’ll let you and your brother go free. But I’ll have witnesses to the fact you murdered a first-family member in cold blood. So if you ever break your word and speak out against me, you’ll both die.’

  ‘I don’t believe you,’ Teya said, but hope and doubt warred on her face. Dallan held in a groan.

  Han shrugged. ‘I know you don’t, but think about it. I don’t need either of you. Never did. You’re both useless to me.’

  Teya blanched so pale Dallan thought she might faint. But her eyes narrowed, assessing Han. What was she thinking?

  Perrin clutched at his sister’s leg. ‘Teya?’ His voice was shrill. ‘What’s going on? I don’t understand.’

  She crouched and pulled him into a hug. ‘It’s alright, Perrin.’ She kissed his forehead. ‘It’ll be alright.’ Her voice cracked.

  ‘Don’t!’ Ying shouted. ‘Don’t do it, Teya. You’re not like that. You can’t.’

  Gen-kin held the young xintou firm.

  Han laughed. ‘Of course she is. She knows very well that everyone is out for themselves. She’s smart. She’ll do what she must to survive.’ He held the knife out. ‘Won’t she?’

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  TEYA

  Teya put Perrin aside and told him to stay against the wall, in the corner. She sucked a breath, holding in a cough. Then she closed the gap between her and Han, her skin crawling at the thought of being so close to him. But there was no other way. He was right. She would do what it took to survive and to protect Perrin. Especially if Han believed them both to be useless. That made getting Perrin away even more important.

  And herself.

  If he knew she was xintou, he’d never let her free.

  She accepted the blade, hefting it. The handle was still warm from his touch, and a little too big for her hand. The steel gleamed, lethal.

  On unsteady legs, she walked over to Dallan. The four weishi parted, letting her close without taking their blades from his body.

  She swallowed and squared her shoulders. ‘I’m sorry. Truly.’

  His shoulders slumped. ‘I understand. You have to do what’s right for you and the boy.’ A warped smile etched his eyes in sadness. ‘Maybe I was naïve to think I could get people to do what was best for the whole jundom. Coming from my privileged background, I forgot how desperate people in your situation are. And how greedy are the ones who already have enough.’

  Teya tightened her hold on the dagger, her arm shaking. She looked away from his honest empathy and fixed on his chest. All she had to do was stick this blade into him and she and Perrin were free. They could go anywhere. Get out of this city. Go to Jadid, maybe, and start again.

  Get away from the slavery coming to Mamalakah.

  But would Jadid be far enough?

  Dallan gently covered her hand where it cradled the knife. The weishi around him tensed.

  ‘It’s alright, Teya,’ he said. His gaze flicked to Han. ‘I know you’re not well, but you can do it. Remember what Ying said and be calm. Be open. Trust.’

  It took a moment for the message in his words to filter through the drubbing of blood in her ears. Teya stilled. He wasn’t accepting his fate so she could survive. He was asking her to use her gift. To try and cast illusions into the minds of seven people, one of them strongly-warded.

  She should have known. No-one was that altruistic.

  If she tried, and failed Han would kill her and keep Perrin as a slave.

  If she killed Dallan she would be free.

  But that would condemn thousands of children like Perrin to slavery.

  Surely they could leave, too? She couldn’t be responsible for the whole jundom. It wasn’t fair.

  ‘Teya?’ Perrin’s querulous voice made her look around. His confused adoration slowly segued into fear. ‘What are you doing to him?’

  Gouri. She switched back to Dallan and clenched her teeth. She would get one shot at this.

  Behind Han, a door opened in a wall painted with landscapes both beautiful and exotic with blue skies and green trees. The door closed again and Mistress Shana strode over and stood beside Han, smiling condescendingly at Teya.

  ‘Well,’ she said, folding her fingers across her stomach, ‘so you’ve come home have you, girl?’ She pointed at Dallan. ‘And brought your father a gift, I see. Good girl! Go on, then. Kill him.’

  Teya choked, the knife falling to clank on the timber floor.

  #

  DALLAN

  Dallan’s lungs stopped working. Father? Of course she was Han’s daughter. He was a fool to have missed it. The auburn hair, the strong jawline. He’d assumed Teya’s father was Helva’s first hunlin.

  Gouri! Kin-child or not, that made Teya Han’s true Jun-Heir, not Helva Connor’s toddler. What the diyu was going on? Why had Han hidden her away?

  Then the worst of the situation dawned on him. Shana was here. No way could Teya break through the wards of a trained xintou and insert an illusion without being felt. And that would give away what Teya was.

  Right now, Han and Shana didn’t know the girl was xintou. If they found out… If Teya revealed what she could do and failed to kill Han, then the jun would never let her go. He would keep her and hold Perrin as hostage. Use her xintou gifts to further his own ambitions. To control his followers. Why have one xintou when you could have two?

  Dallan wanted to howl in frustration but controlled himself. He should never have brought her here. He had to find a way of shielding her. Had to try. For Teya’s sake. He might not be able to save the jundom, but perhaps he could save her and Perrin and Ying.

  ‘Enough games, Han,’ he said. ‘What do you want?’

  ‘Why, nothing but your death, my dear old friend.’ Han collected a wine bottle. He poured a glass of the light purple liquid and held it to the glow of the electric bulbs overhead. ‘I have everything else, now. The Jun First’s throne is in my control. I have an heir for the Jun Fourth title.’ His scrutiny travelled over Teya and Perrin and his lip curled. ‘A male heir who is whole in body and mind this time.’ He sipped his wine, some secret glee lifting the corners of his mouth.

  Whole in body and mind? Dallan studied young Perrin. Was the boy’s intelligence or stability in question? He seemed bright enough.

  Han gestured with the half-full wine glass. ‘And now I have a young hunlinna who adores me and will do everything I ask without question.’ His eyes gleamed. ‘And I mean…everything. And anything. It’s quite refreshing how eager to please she is. Though I daresay I’ll tire of it. But by that time the slavery laws will be enacted and I can have my pick of nubile young things.’ His grin widened. ‘Won’t that be nice?’

  Near the servants’ door, Teya made an inarticulate noise and retreated toward Perrin.

  Dallan inspected Jenna’s inert form on the bed. The young Jun First’s chest lifted and fell. A faint, dreamy smile curved her lips.

  ‘What have you done to Jenna?’

  ‘Me?’ Han pointed to himself. ‘Nothing at all. Well, nothing she didn’t enjoy.’

  Dallan reigned in the urge to lunge at the man and said through gritted teeth, ‘You know what I mean. Have you drugged her?’

  Mistress Shana’s deep-throated laugh shook her shoulders and breasts. ‘You weishi-trained types are far too straightforward in your thinking.’ She threw a sneer at Jenna. ‘The girl is happy. Look at her. She was miserable before. Unsure of herself. Afraid to rule. She needed us. The jundom needed us.’

  Across the room, Ying shoved her veil onto her forehead. ‘You…you’re controlling her! How could you do that?’ Her fists clenched at her sides. ‘You’re a Bonded Xintou. You’re supposed to stand for everything that’s good for the jundom. What’s true and honorable. I didn’t believe Teya when sh
e told me what horrible things you’d done. But you have turned against the House, haven’t you?’

  Shana snorted. ‘Don’t be silly, girl. Xintou are the House Mistress’s puppets. She says jump and we’re supposed to mindlessly jump? Mistress Rua is old and out of touch with what the jundom needs. The House needs new blood. Mamlakah needs new blood. The Zah-Hill family has become weak-minded. Without Han, the jundom would be crushed by debt and absorbed into Melcor within ten years. I am doing what’s good for the jundom. You’re too young to understand.’

  Ying said nothing, but her lips were thin, her eyes blazing.

  ‘Enough, Shana,’ Han said. ‘You’ll get your chance to convert her to our cause, later.’ He gestured to his weishi, who collected Dallan’s dagger from the floor and tossed it to the jun.

  Han pointed the dagger at Teya. ‘Come, girl. Finish the job and you can go free. Kill him. My word is good. Remember? I promised your mother a good life. She has it.’

  Teya’s head snapped up. ‘You gave my mother no choice.’

  ‘Of course I did. She had the choice of coming to live in my house in luxury and producing my heir, or continuing to live in poverty after I burned her house to the ground.’

  ‘With us in it! You told Gen-kin to burn us alive because we weren’t good enough to be your heirs. A girl and a cripple.’

  Sickened, Dallan could only groan. That explained so much. Han had always been a stickler for perfection in his lovers. He hated deformity of any kind and thought women inferior. Of course he wouldn’t want a girl, or a boy with a twisted leg, as heir. But to burn them alive in their own house...

  Han heaved an exaggerated sigh. ‘Enough histrionics, girl. Decide.’ He held out the dagger. ‘Kill Dallan and go free, or don’t and die. I don’t care, either way.’

  Enough. Dallan gathered his strength. He might not be able to save the whole jundom; he might not have an entire army at his disposal, but he could jiche-well save the life of three children here and now.