Mei Li frowned at the list again and took a healthier bite of her cookie.
That was all well and fine for the future, but what about now? “I know you’ve been searching for Master and I, and the missing tomes, but did you try anything else?”
“In other words, was I foolish enough to just search for you and not try to find other solutions?” Shunlei scoffed at the idea, tossing the idea aside with the flick of his hand as if discarding such rubbish. “Stars and sky forbid we be that stupid. No, the best and brightest magical minds are already studying the most problematic issues, the ones we don’t have books for. Historians who knew something of Wu Xing are assisting them. Hopefully they can figure out how the seals worked and be able to duplicate them. If not, we have a battle on our hands.”
She studied him thoughtfully. For all that he looked and spoke as a scholar, it was easy to forget he was a warrior king in his own right. He’d subdued more than a few beings by brute force in his time. “Shunlei, does anything scare you? I mean, you’ve lived through so much. Is there anything that really poses a danger to you?”
“Is there any living thing that does not fear?” he countered. A sad, reminiscent expression crossed over his face, like a cloud on a sunny day. His body closed in, shoulders pulling together and for a moment, he looked every day of his five thousand years. “Wounds to the heart are bitter and often harder to heal from than those to flesh and blood.”
Mei Li mentally kicked herself. There were days she’d be better off as mute. “Sorry. That was an insensitive question.”
“I don’t mind your curiosity,” he assured her gently.
Which of course made her feel worse. Mei Li kicked herself a few more times. “Getting back to the original question, you don’t know of any other copies of these books either?”
“I’m afraid not.”
Mei Li flopped to the side, groaning in a manner that was more heartfelt than theatrical. “Just kill me now.”
“It can’t be that bad.”
She levered up enough to open one eye and glare at him. “Yes. Yes, it can. Shunlei, you realize it’s not just a matter of us figuring it out, right? The mages you’ve set on this task won’t understand what they’re looking at. Wu Xing magic doesn’t work on the same principles of Evocation. It’ll be like handing someone a book in an ancient foreign language and expecting them to somehow figure it out.”
His brow creased as he met her eyes. “I knew the magics were different, but that much?”
“Yes. And worse, each Tomes has a different approach on solving a problem. Sometimes they did really wacky things. I can’t look at it and just guess either. We have records for good reason. Going after these problems without instructions means we’ll have to tackle it like you did, thousands of years ago, with little idea of what we’re doing. How does that sound to you?”
He did a full body flinch. “Wind and stars, no! We lost hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people defeating this all the first time.”
“Unless you remember well enough what the mages were doing to subdue everything that’s due for renewal in the next ten years?”
He shook his head helplessly.
“I thought not. Then we’re as screwed as a sea turtle in the desert. If those records are really, truly lost, we’re going to have to assume a worst-case scenario. Personally, I prefer to explore the possibility that someone, somewhere, has a record of what to do. A copy, a hand-me-down oral tradition, something.”
Shunlei blew out an aggrieved breath before drinking deeply of his tea. He was clearly thinking hard. “After we’ve seen to the most immediate problems, I propose going to one of the study sites. Perhaps you can offer some insight. With you there to interpret what you can see, surely some progress can be made. If nothing else, we can see where we stand at the moment. I’ve asked for monthly reports, but that means I’m a month out of date at times.”
That sounded somewhat feasible and it did lift a bit of the strain off her shoulders. “Yes, alright.”
“For now, sleep,” he encouraged her with another of those soft smiles. “You’ve had a very long day. I don’t think we’ll be able to leave in the morning. I wish to construct something to carry you with, something with more substance and protection than the net you used with Hui. But the day after, I believe, is feasible.”
The sooner they could leave, the better. “Then I’ll say goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
Mei Li didn’t go directly to bed. She wasn’t a guest here, not really, and it was time she did a few domestic things instead of leaving it all to Shunlei. She gathered up the tray and tidied it as well as the kitchen before going to her own room. For a guest room, it was quite nice. Thick carpets covered the floors here, overlapping with each other to keep the stone’s cold trapped below. There was, of course, mounds of pillows to be found in every possible place, most of them of rich colors and soft to the touch. A theme of purples, golds, and creams threaded itself throughout the fabrics in the room, even in the painting of a sunset that hung over the mantle. The canopy bed encouraged heat to stay in, with its heavy drapes, and there was another low fire in the grate already set for her. Shunlei’s work, no doubt. Mei Li had been in his house for over four hours now and she still had seen no hint of any servants. Did the man do everything himself?
For that matter, how was such a powerful man unattached? Mei Li knew he’d been married long ago, and she assumed the ring he wore now was his wedding ring, but there was clearly no other woman in this house. He had obliquely referenced such a loss earlier. ‘Wounds of the heart’ could be a mate loved and lost. Had he not remarried, remaining a widower?
Mei Li settled in front of the fireplace, combing through her still damp hair, and frowned absently into the dancing flames. For all that she knew of Shunlei before this, it was by reputation. She knew nothing of the man’s history. That needed to be rectified, now that she was family to him. Although she’d have to use a more subtle approach, to avoid putting both her feet in her mouth like she had earlier.
And somehow she’d have to wrap her mind around the fact she was now considered family to him. Or at the very least, a ward of his. Mei Li didn’t know what the human equivalent would really be. Dragon society worked quite differently in some ways. But she needed to figure it out and respond accordingly. Shunlei had been extremely generous with her and she had no desire to hurt that gentle-natured man by saying the wrong thing or coming off as ungrateful. Even if it was breaking her brain to think of herself as a family member to the Master of All Dragons.
She decided to sleep on it, see if that helped and carefully climbed out of her nice new clothes and into a voluminous white nightgown left for her on the bed. The bed sheets were a tad cool, but the room was comfortable. Mei Li barely got situated with her head on the pillow before she fell straight into dreamland.
The next morning Mei Li was up at a decent hour and in the kitchen. Shunlei was already gone, working on the transportation arrangements. Mei Li had her hands in soapy water, doing breakfast dishes and wondering what to do about luggage. She only had the one outfit, and it would certainly be easier to fly her with no additional weight, but it was bound to be problematic when she actually did land. She’d be going from one magical problem to another, after all. It wouldn’t leave her any time for shopping.
A knock sounded on the front door. She quickly dried her hands and scurried through the kitchen and dining room in order to answer it. The snowstorm had died down overnight, leaving the skies clear once more and a good six inches of snow cover. Opening the door let in a gust of cold air and she shivered.
“It’s me, Rone,” the woman at the door quickly introduced.
Mei Li was glad for the self-introduction. She would not have been able to recognize her in human form. “Rone. Hello, come in, quickly.”
“Thank you. Too cold out there.” Rone stepped in. Her human form was that of a slender adult, her skin a violet color, setting off the pearl on
her forehead. Her hair was a darker hue, more a royal purple, and wound around her head in a charming rope braid. She wore white, in much the same fashion as Mei Li, so the style must be popular with the dragons, a thick fur coat over the top of that. In her hands was a large bundle wrapped in cloth.
Mei Li shut the door behind her and escorted her into the sitting room so they could spread things about. “What brings you by this morning? And how is Hui?”
“Hui’s staying with his broodmother’s friend’s sister at the moment. Only place to stay stretched out in while that sprained wing heals. He’s doing well, though, and is very pleased with himself that he was the one who brought you in. We’ve promised him a better position, so he won’t be returning to that region after he heals.” Rone set the bundle down on one of the tables and gave her an arch look. “Even if he did miss that you were under his nose for two years.”
Ah. Busted. “In his defense, I understand he was actually away from his post the week of my shipwreck. He was dealing with a village sacrifice, settling her in with another village. So he missed the initial shipwreck, and by the time he was back it had been mostly swept to sea. And they barely let me out of the valley. And he never flew near the village for fear of causing trouble.”
“Still, he should have checked a shipwreck in his area. Ah well. He did do the right thing bringing you in immediately, and hopefully he has learned from this experience to ask more questions. Now.” Rone untied her bundle with deft hands as she explained, “I know you have nothing on you. I’ve brought a few things that might fit.”
“Yes, please, I was wondering what to do about that. Although wouldn’t the additional weight be hard for Shunlei?”
“Why would it be…?” Rone trailed off while giving her an odd look. For the first time, she seemed to really look at Mei Li, and her golden eyes studied her in a head to toe sweep before traveling up again. “Did he give you that outfit to wear?”
“Well, yes. I did wonder where he got it from. It’s a perfect fit.” Not from Rone, that was clear. And what did that expression on the woman’s face mean? It was a mix of surprise, realization, and bewilderment. Also a touch of dawning hope? Was she reading that right? “Rone?”
“I was with him when he bought that outfit, six years ago,” Rone relayed slowly. “He’d bought it with his wife in mind.”
Mei Li froze and squeaked out, “I’m wearing his wife’s clothes?!”
“What? Oh, no, no, no,” Rone hastily corrected herself, hands splayed in a stopping motion. “No, I’m sorry, I’m confusing you. Many, many years ago Shunlei was married to a human woman. I never met her. They were married while he was still Shunlei the Red, just as he settled the dragons into the orderly clan it is today. There’re a great many stories about her. By all accounts, she was an incredible woman. Intelligent, brave, and his perfect match. But he wasn’t able to keep her long with him. She left alone on some mission and never returned.”
If he was still Shunlei the Red, then…this was over five thousand years ago. Five thousand years, and he still missed his wife? Still bought things that reminded him of her? The thought was beyond heartbreaking. The ring on his hand, then, that really was his wedding ring. “So this outfit was…?”
“Just for him, I think. Something she would have liked. Mei Li, I’m…” Rone passed a hand over her face, still perplexed and nearly swaying from it. “I’m honestly delighted to see you in that outfit. It suggests he’s no longer as attached to the past. He did tell me this morning he took you under his wing, and let me tell you, I about faceplanted in the snow. But I’m sure that’s for more practical reasons. He was very, very upset when both you and Abe of Tomes went missing. It’s worried all of us, of course, but him most of all. I think because he understands firsthand the dangers this world will face without you.”
That entirely made sense and put another piece of the puzzle into place for her. “I did wonder why he so instantly brought me in under his protection. He’s been planning this for two years, hasn’t he?”
“He hasn’t confided that much to me, although it wouldn’t surprise me. But that outfit,” Rone gestured to her from head to toe, “also tells me this isn’t impersonal political maneuvering for him. He actually means it when he says you’re now under his wing. Take heart in that, Mei Li. I know it’s probably a strange concept for a human to wrap their head around, but think of him as a doting big brother. Or maybe favorite uncle? I’m not sure what would equate.”
Mei Li was just as confused but nodded in understanding. “I’ll try to. Rone…he said something to me when he first made the offer. That he wasn’t offering out of any sort of noblesse oblige, but that he was personally invested in my welfare. Do you know what he meant by that?”
Rone blinked, expression blank for a moment before she turned shrewd. “No, I’ve no idea. For all that we’re long-term friends, he can be frustratingly cryptic. But Mei Li, this I am sure of. If he told you that, he meant every word. Shunlei’s not the type to dissemble. He’s been very anxious to have you settled. Even these clothes were something he asked me to gather for you, as he thought there would be things only another woman would think to get.”
Well, he was likely right on that. While it didn’t answer her question, it did put Mei Li’s nerves to rest on this topic. Whatever Shunlei’s reasons, she’d figure them out eventually. “Alright. Thank you.”
“Good. Now, let’s go through these clothes. If what you’re wearing is a perfect fit, then I think everything here is too short, and I know that was tailored to be longer in the sleeves and skirt. But maybe we can be creative and add some lace or another layer and make it look respectable.”
They set about the task, going through everything she’d brought, and indeed it was all too short. But they also thought of solutions and Rone darted out again, bringing back extra fabric and lace to help with the alterations.
It was incredibly nice to sit and talk with another educated woman who knew the state of the world and was able to discuss it. Mei Li felt half-starved for real conversation and fell to sewing and talking with a delighted smile.
Somewhere around mid-day, the door opened again and Shunlei stepped through. He held in his hands two stacked lacquered boxes, and the delightful aroma wafting about them suggested lunch had arrived.
Mei Li had no idea where he kept getting this food. She assumed there was a restaurant somewhere in Dragon’s Peak, although she’d not seen enough of the place to even guess where. It only made sense there was—Dragon’s Peak was a country in its own right, if a very small one.
“I see we’re making progress,” Shunlei stated as he strode through. “I’ve brought lunch. Steam buns, noodle soup, and tea.”
Mei Li quickly put the sewing aside and darted after him, intent on getting the table set with dishes. She helped him set lunch out as Rone joined them at the table.
As they settled to eat, Shunlei looked toward his friend and inquired, “Rone, have you decided?”
“I’ll go with you,” she answered with a firm nod. “I think this is too much for you to handle on your own. And logistically, it makes no sense. Mei Li has caught me up on a few matters. If the seals do need to be redone from scratch, that means flying in the necessary experts and mages in order to do so. You can hardly be expected to fly in all of those people. I will go with you.”
Shunlei looked openly relieved at this. “Thank you. I believe I have found a good method to carry passengers. It’s much like your design, Mei Li, but I made it with leather and covered the interior with fur. It will strap upright to my neck and down my chest. There should be enough room for you to lay inside and shift, but please come with me after lunch and test the dimensions. I do not want to put the final stitches in until we’re certain it will work.”
“Of course,” Mei Li answered. Mentally, she cheered that Rone was going too. She really didn’t like the idea of Shunlei flying alone, not over such a long distance. What if they flew into a sto
rm, like she had with Hui? What then? Besides, she liked the older woman. The more the merrier in situations like these.
She mentally prayed to any deity listening that the flight to Tanguay would go smoothly. Or at least safely.
Mei Li still had hemming to do, and Shunlei had his hands full with the leather as he worked it into a carrier she could use. They were in their respective chairs that evening after dinner, working on their individual projects, and Mei Li found her eyes gravitating to his hands time and again. He moved with such efficiency and confidence, as if he’d done this very work thousands of times before. For all she knew, he had.
The atmosphere was quiet, but not stifling. Instead, it felt like she had the opening to perhaps know this man better. Determined, she threw out an opening gambit, “You’ve worked with leather before.”
“Oh yes, many times.” Shunlei shifted it a bit, giving himself more leather cord as he did a double saddle stitch. “Over the years, I’ve been asked to carry passengers more times than I can count. I learned the hard way to use a carrier. Any other method was hard on both me and my passenger.”
“I admit it’s a little hard for me to imagine you flying anyone about. You’ve got such a grand reputation as being this aloof king.”
Shunlei snorted, dancing blue eyes flicking up to hers in amusement. “You’ll soon discover how wrong that is. I’m not a king. I never wanted to be. I just wanted to live in a world that was peaceful. I wanted to be able to walk into town without being automatically hunted. I was stubborn enough in that desire to browbeat anyone who disagreed with me.”
Mei Li’s hands dropped in her lap, her sewing temporarily forgotten. Come to think of it, Shunlei had been a Red then. As young as Hui—possibly as young as she herself. He’d been barely an adult, fresh and untested. The realization floored her all over again. He’d done all of that, changed the world, as a young adult? “Was it really that simple?”
“The desire was, yes. Following through on it was much harder. But the humans encouraged me. They, too, wanted peace with the dragons. Their encouragement and support helped me a great deal. The younger dragons, the ones who had lost family and parents and siblings, they were more amiable to peace as well. It was the older ones, the stubborn ones who insisted on pride, who were the main source of my troubles.” He got to a corner and bent over it, his stitching coming slower as he worked the cord through the same hole multiple times to keep the pattern going. “But you know all of this.”
Tomes Apprentice Page 6