by Jeff Wheeler
She kept her gaze fixed on Kunmia, not wanting to give herself away if she hadn’t already.
Kunmia reached the base of the dais. The two chained leopards lifted their heads. One growled at her, earning a pointed kick from the king’s foot.
“May we speak in private, King Budai?” Kunmia asked.
Budai looked at Guanjia, who frowned and shook his head.
“I would hear your explanation now,” the king said. “These are all my trusted servants. What do you fear, Master Kunmia?”
“I fear causing a panic,” she replied. “We did as you asked.”
“But did you succeed?” he said. It was impossible to smell him over the awful presence of Echion in the room, but Bingmei could see that doubts had been planted in his mind. Bingmei squeezed her eyes shut, realizing the danger they were in.
“We did,” Kunmia said.
Guanjia smirked.
“And what evidence have you brought with you?” Budai said in a feverish tone.
Bingmei couldn’t take the suspense any longer. She walked directly toward the throne, keeping the imposter in her peripheral vision, her gaze fixed on the king and Kunmia. After reaching the dais, she knelt before the king. Kunmia had a reproving look on her face, but the interruption could not be helped.
King Budai looked down at Bingmei with equal wariness.
“Wangfujing is in danger,” Bingmei said softly. “Your palace is overrun.”
“W-What?” Budai said with an astonished chuckle.
“You are already overrun,” Bingmei said. The message wasn’t truly for the king. It was for Kunmia. Bingmei prayed in her heart that her meaning would be understood.
“You speak nonsense, child,” Budai said, his mouth twisting with offense. “Wangfujing has never been more powerful. My guards are loyal. I had hoped both of you were loyal as well.”
Kunmia narrowed her gaze. “Can we not speak in private, my lord?”
The king sighed. “Very well. We will retreat to my private chamber. Just the two of you, though. And Captain Heise.”
A jolt of fear shot through Bingmei. “Not him,” she whispered.
“I’ve paid him very well for his loyalty,” Budai countered. “This is all so highly suspicious. You claim you’ve been to the Summer Palace, but did you bring anything from it to prove your words?”
Kunmia straightened. “When there is trust, no proof is necessary. When there is none, no proof is possible.”
Budai pursed his lips and glanced at Guanjia. The steward still looked skeptical.
Bingmei saw a shadow on the floor touch them. Looking up, she saw Echion standing at the base of the dais in his new body. “Is everything all right, my lord?” he asked with concern. Although his man at the gate had a thick accent, he did not have one at all.
The hairs on Bingmei’s arms stood on end. A shudder went through her, and she leaned away from the man.
Budai shifted uncomfortably on his throne. “Can you excuse us . . . Captain?” he said, tilting his head. He looked as if indigestion were wreaking havoc on him.
“Of course, my lord,” said the captain. He backed away.
“On second thought,” Budai said. “Take your men and patrol the perimeter of the palace. Secure the walls.”
“As you command,” said the captain, bowing in reverence. He shot Bingmei a weighing look.
When they departed, Bingmei started breathing again.
“Is it the captain?” Kunmia asked as soon as the hired guards were gone.
“Yes,” Bingmei said emphatically.
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Budai asked in confusion.
“Echion,” said Kunmia. “The Dragon of Night is real, my lord, and we have awakened him.”
“Now you are talking of superstitions,” Guanjia said disdainfully.
“They are,” Kunmia said, turning on him. “And the Dragon of Night is here in your palace, just as the leader of the attack on Wangfujing prophesied. How long has Captain Heise been here?”
“He arrived shortly after you left,” Budai said. “With all his warriors.”
“How many?” Kunmia demanded.
“Two hundred. Why?”
“It’s more than that,” Guanjia said.
The king turned on him. “Explain yourself.”
Guanjia’s face lost color, his manner changing. His smell of self-satisfaction faded. “The washerwomen, the ones who clean the uniforms, told me there are at least three hundred. More keep coming in.”
Budai’s look turned fearful. “More keep coming? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wasn’t sure at first. But haven’t you noticed a change in Heise since he came, my lord? Of late, his suggestions have been more . . . useful. Wiser. As if he were a different man. I hadn’t thought much of it until now. I’ve also heard that he frequently absents himself from the palace and doesn’t return promptly. He’s the one who warned me that Kunmia Suun might try to steal the treasure of Fusang for herself.”
Sweat had appeared on Budai’s face. “He has grown more useful. You’re right. When he first came, he was taciturn and quiet. I thought he was stupid at first.”
“When did he change?” Bingmei asked.
The king and advisor exchanged a look. “Within a few days of his arrival,” Budai said.
Kunmia nodded. “That was when we freed him. Echion has been reborn, my lord. He comes to reclaim his lost empire.”
“But what do we do?” Budai implored. He mopped his sweating forehead with a silk kerchief.
Damanhur and Rowen approached the dais.
“What’s going on?” Damanhur said worriedly.
Bingmei turned to him. “He’s here. Echion. He’s taken possession of Captain Heise.”
Damanhur’s brow furrowed. “You’re certain?”
There was no mistaking that stench, which had left the chamber as soon as he’d gone. Bingmei nodded quickly.
To her astonishment, they believed her. She smelled it, saw it in their faces.
“We can’t stay here,” Rowen said, glancing at the door.
“But where can we go?” Budai said.
Kunmia folded her arms. “Sajinau. We must warn King Shulian. Wangfujing is already lost.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
When Ravens Flee
The king’s face became ashen, and he struggled to control his emotions. Bingmei smelled them simmering beneath his perpetual greed. He was afraid, but he was also unwilling to part with the wealth and artifacts he had accumulated. With a sidelong glance at his steward, he shook his head no and leaned back. Then he rose and gestured for them to follow him out of the throne room.
When they reached the corridor, he kept his voice low. “I cannot walk away from my . . . people,” he said hesitantly. “And I’m not as vulnerable as you likely think. Am I to abandon Wangfujing without a fight?”
Kunmia kept in stride with him. “You do not understand. None of us truly know what we are up against. This being, this ancient king, possesses magic we cannot hope to defeat.”
“But I have magic artifacts too,” Budai said, his tone growing angry. The mixture of fear, anger, and greed stung Bingmei’s nose. “One that protects me. Others I haven’t dared use. Perhaps one of my artifacts can defeat him? Damanhur . . . you are brave. Do you agree with Kunmia’s plan to run away?”
Bingmei bristled at his choice of words and shot Damanhur a look.
The warrior frowned and cocked his eyebrow. “Think of it this way, Budai. If Echion unites the Qiangdao, he will destroy everyone. All they have lacked is a strong leader. I agree that we must warn King Shulian at once.”
“Of course we must,” Budai said. “But send a messenger. Why not defend Wangfujing first? You are both capable masters with strong reputations. I cannot abandon my people.” He shook his head. “I will not.”
“Be sensible,” Kunmia said. “Although the city is highly defensible from outside attack, Echion has three hundred men inside your city walls
. If you come with us, we have a better likelihood of convincing Shulian of the truth. You do not care about your people as much as you pretend to.”
Budai’s eyes flashed with anger. “Are you chastising me, Kunmia Suun?”
“I am speaking the truth when you most need to hear it. Abandon your treasures. They are not worth losing your life.”
Bingmei felt a prickle of awareness go down her spine. She sensed the approach of the unseen presence she’d felt before. The dragon. It was approaching the corridor.
“Be still,” Bingmei warned. She looked around the space, taking in its expensive decorations and artifacts. “He’s coming.”
“I thought you commanded him to secure the walls?” Guanjia said.
The invisible presence entered the room. Nervous warning thrummed inside her. She couldn’t see the dragon, nor did she understand how it could fit in such a tight space, but she could nonetheless sense its blackness, the inky shadows of its wings. She felt unmistakably that it was watching them.
Kunmia watched Bingmei’s face. “No one speak,” she said.
The flesh on Bingmei’s neck prickled as if something were about to touch her. Fear churned in her heart at the unseen enemy who was among them. She felt the raw terror of a helpless animal in the presence of a predator.
Then, in an instant, she felt a spark of savagery flare in her chest. Magic burst out of her fingers and toes, chasing the black feeling out of the room.
She had no idea what was happening to her, but it felt like she had somehow driven away their unseen enemy.
“It’s gone,” Bingmei whispered.
“This is utter madness,” Budai exclaimed. “Kunmia Suun, you are being deceived. This girl has convinced you of some whimsy.”
“Hardly so, my lord,” Kunmia answered. “Just because we cannot feel the danger she does, it doesn’t mean the danger is not real. Come with us to Sajinau.”
“No!” Budai said. “I will defend what is mine. You work for me, Kunmia, not Shulian. I order you to stay and defend Wangfujing. I will command Captain Heise to step down and take his soldiers away. What you’ve told me is preposterous. I won’t abandon what I’ve won on the word of one small girl.”
Kunmia’s mouth turned down. “I will not obey this order, my lord.”
Budai’s eyes flashed with arrogance and anger. “Then you will not be paid. None of you will.” He shot Rowen a vengeful look, then faced Damanhur. “Will you obey my commands?”
Damanhur clenched his jaw. “You owe us payment for our efforts.”
“What for? You brought me nothing of value,” Budai said curtly. “In fact, you owe me for your stay. Obey me, and I will clear the debt.”
“I will not be part of this any longer,” Kunmia announced. “You’ve lost your honor, Budai. Your greed has finally consumed you.”
“Well, Damanhur?” Budai said, glaring up at him. “What will it be?”
“You’re a fool,” Damanhur said. He looked to Kunmia and nodded. “Shall we go, Master?”
Budai’s face went black with rage. “You will regret those words. And your choice.”
“Perhaps,” Damanhur said. “But I doubt it.”
“Guanjia, secure the treasury. Then order Captain Heise to see me alone. I want twenty of my own trusted guards at the ready. Alone, Guanjia. See to it.”
“Y-yes, my lord,” Guanjia answered nervously.
“We go to Sajinau,” Kunmia said.
As Bingmei turned, she saw that the fisherman, Keyi, was already gone.
Kunmia led the way toward one of the opulent palace’s back exits. Torches lit the halls as there were no windows. Bingmei did not smell or feel the presence of Echion. The desire to escape made her walk quickly.
“That went about as poorly as I could have guessed,” Marenqo grumbled.
“I suspect Keyi has gone back to his boat,” Quion said.
“You think?” Marenqo chuckled. “He wants what he was promised more than anything. He’ll not take us to Sajinau.”
“I know other merchants who will,” Kunmia said.
As they reached the door that would lead to the rear gardens of the palace, a voice called out to them.
“Master, wait!”
It was Guanjia.
Kunmia turned and gave the steward a dismissive look. “More threats? Does the king intend to waylay us?”
“No,” the steward said, hurrying to catch up with them. “I believe you.”
Bingmei smelled that he wasn’t lying. He was loyal to his master, but despite the cool welcome he’d given them, he’d realized the error of his ways. The error of Budai’s ways. The conflict roiled within him, giving off fumes.
“Will you come with us?” Kunmia asked pointedly.
Guanjia rubbed his brow and shook his head no. “I cannot abandon my master. But don’t go yet. I will try to persuade him to go with you.”
“We cannot delay,” Kunmia said firmly. “The situation is urgent.”
“Please! I implore you. I know of a merchant ship preparing to sail tonight for Sajinau. Its cargo finished loading yesterday, and the crew lingered to enjoy one last day among the pleasures of Wangfujing before setting sail. Captain Guoduan.”
“I know him from Sajinau,” Damanhur said. “He’s a good man.”
Guanjia nodded excitedly. “He is! And trusted. King Budai gives him certain artifacts to sell to interested customers.”
“I can secure passage without your help, Guanjia,” Kunmia said. “Budai broke my trust.”
“Please,” the man begged. “Your words unsettled him too much. Give him time to come around. Wait until nightfall, at the least. You can hardly call that a delay. I will ensure, Master Kunmia, that payment for your services is sent to your quonsuun immediately. I am empowered to discharge Budai’s debts.”
Kunmia gripped the rune staff, her knuckles turning white. “I do not want his money. I will not accept it unless he begs my pardon. You and I both know he will not.”
Guanjia bowed his head. “I beg it on his behalf, Master Kunmia. Give me time to help him reconsider. Sunset is all I ask.”
Bingmei couldn’t feel any deception in Guanjia’s words. But she doubted the steward could convince Budai to change his mind so quickly. Kunmia glanced at Bingmei, her brow wrinkling slightly.
It was an implied question. Was Guanjia being truthful? Could he be trusted in this?
Sighing, Bingmei nodded.
“Sunset,” Kunmia said. Then she turned and walked away.
“Captain Guoduan’s ship is a junk with two masts. The sails are black. The ship is called the Raven.”
They exited the palace, finding two of Budai’s guards standing outside. The men nodded, however, and let them leave without question. The rear garden featured a huge boulder that had been dredged from a faraway river. Running water had worn holes through it in various places. It was surrounded by trees and a little fence to prevent people from touching the smooth stone. The dappled daylight was pleasant, but Bingmei’s nerves were taut. Quion looked worried too, and kept glancing back to see if they were being followed.
So far, they were not.
After passing the pleasant garden, they reached the eastern gate of the palace compound and found the black-silk guards blocking the way. Twenty of them stood at attention, holding pikes and swords.
As they approached, one of the mercenaries stepped in front of the others. “No one is to leave,” he said curtly.
Kunmia did not slow. “We are not staying.”
“Captain Heise has ordered everyone to remain within the palace.” He gestured with his chin to the other mercenaries, who sidled up near him, forming a wall of flesh before the wall of stone.
Kunmia stopped when she reached the man. “Open the door,” she said, nodding to it.
“Captain Heise—”
She swung her staff into his gut, making him bend double, and then cracked it over his skull, dropping him to the ground. The combined ensigns charged the mercenar
ies. One of the black-shirts tried to escape, and Bingmei used her cricket charm to fling herself after him. She landed on his back, knocking him down, and delivered a punch to his kidneys. He groaned and then lay still as she straightened and looked back. The gate was no longer defended.
As she walked back to the others, Kunmia was gesturing for them to leave. A shout rose in the distance. Two patrolling black-shirts had just witnessed the ambush. They sounded the alarm and ran away, bellowing for other mercenaries to come.
But they weren’t about to wait around for an attack. The gate was unguarded, and they quickly left, entering the abandoned alley behind the palace. Soon Bingmei and the others were blending in with the sizeable crowd.
“Separate,” Kunmia instructed. “They’ll be looking for us as a group. Everyone meet at the Raven.”
Quion and Bingmei went together, as they’d done before, crossing the bridges and changing their course multiple times. Within an hour, the black-shirts’ pursuit had begun in earnest. Groups of six or more stormed past, carrying weapons in their hands, mostly sabers. They shoved aside anyone who didn’t clear away fast enough, and the mood in the market darkened with their hostility. Some passersby were randomly accosted and questioned, but the crowd was too vast for them to find the ensigns.
So far, Quion and Bingmei had managed to escape notice, but Quion smelled nervous and agitated. Every time a group of mercenaries passed, he would deliberately look away, trying not to be noticed.
“Stop that,” Bingmei said with exasperation after it happened for the third time.
“Stop what?”
“Looking away from them. It makes you look guilty. It draws attention.” Another group of mercenaries turned the corner, and Bingmei grabbed Quion’s arm and pointed to one of the merchant stalls. “Oooh, look at that jade carving! It’s beautiful! Buy it for me?”
He looked at her in confusion. “You want me to buy—?”
Bingmei tugged on his arm and approached the stall. “How much?” she demanded of the merchant.
“Fifty cowry shells,” the man grunted. “It comes from Dintai!”