I shook my head in denial. How did he know so much?
He sighed dramatically. “Well, then come on to the palace. We’ll be waiting.” There was a pause like the advisor was pondering something. “I wonder if we have time to make this a public execution. That would bring great embarrassment to her, would it not? Perhaps have her mutilated body greet you at the door. That would get you all the more riled up.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” I spat. “Her family will rise up in anger.”
“Oh, really? Then I guess I’ll need to dispatch some imperial soldiers to restrain them. Killing your grandfather would be a good start. He’s been quietly plotting against us for a while now. In fact, we might need to execute the entire Zhangjunen family. Saying they were behind Luoyangei’s assassination would be more than enough justification.”
“But they had nothing to do with this,” I protested.
“Oh, really? The report I received was that a young woman from the Zhangjunen family went into Lord Luoyangei’s chambers alone. And later, when the staff checked on him, they found him dead with some type of ceremonial knife in his throat. And no sign of that young woman.”
“But Jiaying’s body...”
“There was no second body reported.” I could hear the smile. “And we have no knowledge of this one called Jiaying.”
With a sinking heart, realization struck me. I had been manipulated. Played right into his hands. I had not just lured Lord Luoyangei to his death, but I had given the emperor an excuse to execute all of the Zhangjunen family. Those lords aligned with my family were all that kept the emperor from moving against us. But with this overwhelming evidence, none of those lords would be able to raise a finger to help, lest they too fall under the sword.
I frowned, a growing pit of frustration in my stomach. I hated my father, but I also realized he could not have set this up. Someone else must have moved all the pieces on the board.
It had to be Yonge.
“So you see, my dear. You were supposed to be killed with Lord Luoyangei. A tragedy of the lord killing his attacker as he defended himself. When that failed, you were supposed to be killed on your way here by my humble servants. But you survived that too. Which brings us to now. There really is only one outcome.” He paused. “You have to die. If you give up this madness, I will give you a quick and quiet death.” He chuckled. “I warned your grandfather many years ago that he would pay for opposing us. And while it’s been a struggle, I always get my way.”
I stared at the butterfly and considered my options. Surrender quietly, or have my revenge and get the entire Zhangjunen family executed. Neither was much of a choice. I had been outmaneuvered. There was only one move left on the board.
The butterfly continued. “Who knows, your family may still be able to salvage something from this. Your sister is of age, and with the right marriage, your family might be able to regain a little of their prestige. I hear the new Lord Longwei is looking for a bride.”
I frowned. I had killed the senior Longwei two years ago. He had been a cruel and despicable man. I had shed no tears for him. But his successor was by far much worse. He had tortured his last wife to death for spilling his tea.
“Of course,” Yonge continued. “I might be able to recommend someone of higher status if you don’t continue to dirty your family’s name.” He chuckled. “So you see, my dear. You have no choice but to surrender. Just give your sword to Master Xiao, and I’ll let you walk to your very public execution where you will die in disgrace. I will even spare the rest of your family since the spectacle will make them lose credibility. None of the other lords will trust them again.” He paused, the butterfly wings calmly going back and forth.
I was frozen in place. My heart pounded loud in my head. Yonge had arranged everything so carefully.
My hands tightened on my sword and began to shake. To die, or to cause the death of those I cared about. The choices were clear.
For some strange reason, I thought back to when Jiaying and I had fought at the sorting. It had been a similar choice. My friend or me. And just like then—
I chose neither.
Yonge continued. “So what say you...”
With one quick swing of my sword, I sliced the butterfly in two, its severed pieces flying across the room.
Master Xiao stared at me in horror. “What are you doing? Advisor Yonge always gets his way.”
I stared at him. “Not this time, he doesn’t.”
I turned and walked away. My mind was already racing ahead. I couldn’t beat Yonge. He was too strong a player, and he held all the pieces in this game against my family. But he forgot one vital thing.
I didn’t have to play by his rules.
Concealing myself using the early morning shadows and making sure no one saw me, I ran to my grandfather’s house. I slipped inside, finding him sitting on a back porch overlooking the small garden. I had not seen him in many years, and I was startled at how old he looked.
When I appeared in front of him, blood-spattered and dirty, he seemed surprised. He was drinking tea, but I smelled a more potent beverage from the empty mug beside him. He barked a command and dismissed all the servants. Eyeing my sword, they scurried out of sight.
Grandfather took a sip of his tea while looking off into the distance. “So are you here to kill me too? I’ve heard you’ve created quite the stir. You’ve no doubt been a helpless pawn, but your actions have doomed our family.”
I knelt beside him and laid my sword at his feet. “No, Grandfather. I have come for a different reason. I bring salvation.”
He looked at me skeptically. “And how so? I fear we are far beyond that.”
I shook my head and began to speak. The words just poured out of me. I told him all about the Emperor’s Butterflies, about Advisor Yonge’s intentions, the location of Master Xiao’s house, how to determine what really killed Lord Luoyangei, and where to find Jiaying’s body. He listened carefully the whole time, unmoving, and digesting everything I said.
When I ran out of things to say, the sun had moved an hour’s breadth toward the horizon. I felt drained—empty. All the aches from my recent fights began to pain me.
“And what, Granddaughter, should I do with this information? How will it save us?” I think he already knew, but he wanted to be sure of my intentions.
“Reveal the existence of the Emperor’s Butterflies to the other lords. Show them the tattoo on Jiaying’s body and the training grounds at Master Xiao’s house. This will arouse the other lords, and Yonge will be revealed for what he is. Then show them how Lord Luoyangei really died. Point to the poison in his system and then lead them to Master Xiao’s house, where you will find an ample supply of the same poison and several more marked with the same tattoo. They will all recognize the work of the emperor’s tattooist. Once all is revealed, Yonge will lose the backing of the other lords. He may be all-powerful, but he is nothing should they decide not to follow. They will demand his butterflies be disbanded, robbing him of one of his primary tools. He will not dare make a move against you for fear of further angering the lords. He will have no choice but to vindicate our family.”
Grandfather nodded. He called one of his servants over to him and issued quick instructions. The man’s eyes widened as he listened, and he left at a run.
The elder looked at me sadly. “And what of you, granddaughter? Yonge will not forget this betrayal. And I do not have the forces to protect you. You will be cleaned out with the rest of the assassins.”
I stood, my head down and my fists clenched. I honestly hadn’t thought that far. My first impulse had been to protect my family... and my mother.
He leaned slowly out of his chair and picked up my sword. He inspected its dark blade and then held it out for me. “You could take the warrior’s way,” he offered.
Ritual suicide. It was the only path of honor. And it would be the easiest road.
I took the sword from him and looked at it. I had killed so many. I had even led my
first love to his death and killed my only friend. My soul was so tainted it was black.
As I gazed at the sword, it seemed to talk to me in Jiaying’s voice. “Death isn’t good enough for you,” it seemed to say.
I had to pay. I had to atone.
I slowly shook my head. “No,” I said, my voice cracking. “I am not worthy.”
He nodded. “Then you must leave at once. And you can never return. I’m sure Yonge will put a price on your head.”
I nodded and turned away. I had not taken two steps when he spoke to my back. “I will make sure your mother is kept safe.”
I blinked back a tear.
It’s the best I could hope for. And I swore I would atone for my sins. Somewhere in this world, there had to be someone that I could do good for.
Someone that would give me a chance and wouldn’t hate me.
I jerked as I came out of the memory. Fumiko had not moved away, but now she wore the expression of resignation like she was waiting for the ax to fall.
“What happened next?” I asked.
She blinked in surprise at my question. She had obviously expected me to say something else. “I... I left the empire. I had a few more encounters with Advisor Yonge’s henchmen, but nothing I couldn’t handle. Then from there, I traveled aimlessly, doing odd jobs here and there to earn a meal or perhaps a bed. I was in shock.” She smiled warmly. “It was in the fall of that year, in a city far from here that I ran into Master Tormaigh. I had taken to disguising myself as a boy since it avoided unwanted advances. Not that they could beat me, but I got tired of the hassle. And he really was shouting at the top of his lungs for someone to help him. Unfortunately, it was in Ellish, and no one could understand him.” She sighed, and I felt her breath caress my cheek. “When I revealed I could speak Ellish, he hired me on the spot.” She thought for a moment. “Although I don’t believe he ever paid me anything.”
I chuckled. “Sounds like something Spraggel would do.”
“It does.” She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and gazed at me. She seemed to be waiting for something. But I didn’t know what to say. “Thank you for sharing your secrets with me,” I finally said. “I feel better armed against Yonge now.”
She looked puzzled. “Why don’t you hate me? I expected you to draw away, or at least be uncomfortable around me, but you haven’t. Why not?”
I chuckled. “Well, I can’t say I approve of what you’ve done, but you’ve saved my life several times. That has to count for something.” I took her hand and squeezed it. “Listen, I can’t give you forgiveness for everything you’ve done. That’s between you and the Creator. But I realize you were under duress when that happened. And you’re definitely trying to be a better person. Regardless, I still count you as a friend.”
Her lower lip began to tremble. She pulled me into a tight hug. “Thank you. I swear to you I will atone for what I have done. You have been so kind to me. You and Zofie both.”
She continued to hold me, and when she didn’t immediately let go, I became a little uncomfortable. “Ah, Fumiko.”
She pulled back. “Sorry. I was being selfish.”
We looked at each other a moment more. “I better get back to Zofie. Is it all right to leave?”
She smiled. “Yes, but we have an audience.”
“Audience?”
Fumiko pointed over my shoulder. I turned to see a scowling Cabrina next to the bed. “You are cheating on her.”
I shook my head. “Fumiko and I were just resting...”
Cabrina crossed her arms. “Uh-huh. Are you feeling rested now?” She sighed. “Well, don’t let me stop you. Go ahead and kiss her.”
“What?”
Cabrina rolled her eyes as only a young girl can. “Spraggel said that if I caught you again, I should remind you that you have to kiss them after having sex.”
“But...”
Fumiko had her mouth covered and was trying her hardest not to laugh out loud.
I was going to have to have a talk with that man.
The next day was similar to the first. The servants brought us an excellent breakfast and bathed us again. Then after some conversation, they served us a splendid lunch. I asked if we could take a stroll in the garden, but was politely refused, saying there were security concerns. However, I suspected they didn’t want us wandering.
So we napped, and Cabrina soundly beat me in two more games. I said it was because she had an Avenyts helping, but Spraggel disagreed. He said I was just that bad.
Evening rolled around, and they had brought in a delightful smelling dinner for us. We were just being served when a heavily armored guard stomped abruptly into the room. He stood in the center for a moment and then motioned us to follow.
Yanmei, her smile suddenly frozen on her face, immediately dropped what she was doing and bowed deeply to the guard before turning to us.
“Imperial Advisor Yonge will see you now,” she said.
We had just been seated, so why now? It could be a simple timing thing, but based on what I had learned from Fumiko, it was more a reminder of who was in control.
We looked at one another. I shrugged, took Zofie’s hand, and moved toward the door. But when Fumiko attempted to follow, the guard extended a restraining hand. “The young lady will remain here,” he said in a booming voice. “She is a threat.”
I froze on the spot. They were singling out Fumiko, and I was afraid of what they might do to her if they had her alone. That was something I couldn’t afford to have happen. I glanced at Zofie standing beside me—her face expressionless as it had been for the last few days. I desperately wanted to see her smile again. Yonge knew it too and would take advantage of that to get what he wanted. I looked to the guard and then back to Zofie. What would she do in this situation? How would she deal with these types of games? I smiled.
I looked to the guard. “Fumiko is a trusted advisor and one of Princess Zophia’s royal council. We require that she accompany us to ensure there are no misunderstandings. She is pledged to us now, and I guarantee she will not be a threat.”
“No,” he said flatly.
Fumiko leaned close and whispered. “This is not wise. You should not taunt him.”
I gave her a confident smile and then addressed the guard. “We’re not going without her. Please inform your master of our requirements.”
The guard did not reply, and we all stood waiting with no one moving for several heartbeats. The awkward silence stretched on for a full minute. I became afraid I had overplayed my hand.
The guard abruptly turned and headed out the door. “Come,” he said.
When we didn’t immediately follow, he stopped just outside and motioned us forward. But he made no further attempt to exclude Fumiko.
We were led down a corridor, then outside under a covered walkway and into a massive building. Two more of the huge guards seemed to come out of nowhere and took their place as our rear guard. I couldn’t help but notice that their strides were strangely in lockstep. I originally thought it must speak to the guard’s discipline, but something in the back of my mind didn’t agree.
We eventually arrived at a set of thick doors covered in ornate carvings and painted a brilliant white enamel. Two more of the identically armored guards opened the doors as we approached. Our escort led us forward without even breaking stride.
Inside we found an unusual room with a perfectly round raised floor of polished marble. On it was a couch, heavily cushioned and sitting much higher than I had ever seen before. The platform plus the couch had the effect of raising the couch’s occupant to just above head height for those entering.
Reclining on it was a painfully thin man dressed in fine robes. An elegantly decorated blanket lay across his lap and legs. As we entered, he was facing a large window which took up the entire wall on our left and provided a clear view of the setting sun. I couldn’t help but notice the window was covered in clear glass. While the wealthy would sometimes use glass instead of shutters
, it was the window’s size that caught my attention. Such a large and clear piece of glass must have been quite expensive and difficult to make. It just reinforced my opinion that the empire spared no expense.
To my surprise, the platform began to slowly rotate, bringing the reclining man around to face us. He raised two fingers on his right hand in greeting as it slowly stopped.
Although I shouldn’t have been, I was surprised at his appearance. He had previously mentioned that his health prevented him from traveling, but I didn’t expect it to be this bad. Healers could normally treat sickness and restore injuries, but even with myst healing, there were limits to what could be done.
“Welcome, my guests from the Kingdom of Brethnach. Princess Zophia Xernow, Sir Coren Hart, Scholar Spraggel van Deviante, and Cabrina Bryst, it is an honor to finally meet you in person. I am Imperial Advisor Tusita Yonge.”
His voice sounded clear and strong. Considering his obviously weakened state, I briefly wondered how—his mouth barely moved. Then I saw the jewel at his throat and realized he had some type of myst amplification.
He had also not acknowledged Fumiko. In diplomatic circles, this would be considered a grave insult. I opened my mouth to correct him when Fumiko touched my hand. I glanced her way, and she subtly gave her head a quick shake. I frowned. She didn’t want me to antagonize our host. Including her in our conversation had been risky, but to push it more would be rubbing his nose in it. And based on what I had seen, this could come back to haunt us.
I pasted on a smile. “It is an honor to finally meet you in person,” I said. I bowed, and those with me followed my example—except Fumiko. I guess she felt she should at least return the slight.
Advisor Yonge chose not to notice. “Now you can see the reason I could not travel to you. This body of mine has an inherited wasting disease and requires significant maintenance to keep me alive. It is unfortunately close to its end.” He managed a weak smile. “Without my myst tools, I would be completely at a loss.”
“I understand,” I said. I wondered about protocol, but I really wanted to get these bracelets off. I hope he didn’t think I was rude. But he beat me to it.
Assassin of Curses: (The Coren Hart Chronicles Book 3) Page 31