Mei Li hoped that at some point they’d get on better terms. It might take a while. In the meantime, inventory. She opened the bag and pulled things out, stacking them in neat rows along the quilt. Two sets of clothes that she would bet her eye teeth would fit perfectly. A sleeping roll, but no pillow. That made her neck twinge just thinking about it. She had the basics for creating talismans, some money, and sure enough her ink stone was cracked right in half. Good thing she’d bought a new one with Melchior—
That thought twinged for some reason. The last time she’d gone shopping, it hadn’t been with a man she barely knew. It had been with Shunlei. And the time before that Leah and Teoh. In a time that was her own, not this place she didn’t really know.
Mei Li abruptly sat down, her butt on the floor, and stared sightlessly out the window. The realization of where and when she was washed over her, and this time, all the emotions hit with it. She felt overwhelmed. More than overwhelmed. Tears tried to leak out of her eyes, and she let them fall. When she’d made the decision to step into the past, she’d thought she understood the decision and its consequences.
A few weeks didn’t begin to compare to ten years.
She wasn’t ready for this. In no way was she prepared. Not mentally. Certainly not emotionally. Mei Li felt lost in a way she’d never experienced before, not even while shipwrecked in a village that served as her jail. What was she supposed to do, here? Just ride with them and help solve magical problems until she finally stumbled across the ones she actually needed?
That sounded simple, but it meant ten years of that. With a people and in a time not her own. Frankly, Mei Li found it a little horrifying.
Shunlei’s words from the future floated back through her mind in his gentle, calm tone. “Ask for me. I will help you. Be honest as much as you can about your goals, and I will work with you to achieve them.”
Wiping her eyes, Mei Li tried to get hold of herself. Aloud, she muttered, “I’m holding you to that, Shunlei.”
Still, she needed a few more minutes to process. She could give herself that. Deities knew Mei Li would be on the move soon enough. So, for a few more minutes, she’d give herself time to absorb the drastic cleft point fate had just handed her.
Her mind drifted, thinking only random things that had no connection to each other. Mei Li had no idea how much time had passed when Kiyo stalked back in. Without acknowledging her, she put her dirty clothes into her pack, crawled into bed, and snuffed the lantern out, pitching the room into darkness. Mei Li was stuck on the floor, in the dark, with her bed still full of things.
Well. This was an auspicious beginning.
They got an early start in the morning. Mei Li’s gelding was a gentle giant someone named Peanut—probably because of his palomino coloring—and he plodded along with everyone else without giving her a hint of trouble. Mei Li had a feeling they’d get along fine.
The sky was clear, not a cloud to be found, the weather perfect with a slight breeze to take the edge of heat off. It was a good day for riding, and she was determined to enjoy it while it lasted. It was spring, after all. It wouldn’t last—the rains would hit them sooner rather than later.
Melchior rode alongside her and explained things as they rode. “The Prince of Horvath is very generous with his funds, but he can’t always anticipate where we’ll be. We move about as rumors and emergencies demand, and it sometimes causes cash flow problems. The towns we help will often assist as they can—by offering food and board most of the time. We do take on side projects, though, in order to earn a little cash.”
“That makes a great deal of sense.” Mei Li actually knew all of this but knew better than to give the game away. “Do you go year-round?”
“No, we stop in late fall and pick up again early spring. Impossible to travel in the winter months, after all, and we have families and homes to visit. Everyone needs to rest by that point.”
Good for them, but poor for her. It meant Mei Li would have to find somewhere to stay every winter. Since she would apparently be stuck here for years. “How did this group get together?”
“It was Hawes, really, who got us started. He tackled three different problems in Horvath, got the Prince’s attention. When asked if he’d assume responsibility for all magical problems in the world—at least as a stop-gap measure until our esteemed leaders figured out a better solution—Hawes immediately agreed. Then volunteered me to help him.”
Hawes could hear this conversation, as he cast back over his shoulder, “I wouldn’t dream of having all this fun without you!”
Melchior rolled his eyes. “I could stand to have less fun. You crazy man. Anyway, it was the two of us for a bit, but then we ran into Kiyo and Nord about two months in—we stopped to help, found that we worked well together, and Hawes invited them to join us. So really, this group hasn’t been together long.”
That also helped Mei Li grasp precisely where she was in the timeline. “I see. And there’s no possibility of us working in the winter?”
“Only if absolutely necessary. We’ll try to get things solved by fall so we’re not slogging through snow.”
Mei Li appreciated this attitude even though she knew it wouldn’t work out that way. Not always, at least.
Kiyo dropped back to ride at her left side. “If we’re to work with each other for a while, I wish to know more about you. You know Wu Xing, obviously, but anything else?”
“The basics of I Xing, but I’ve rarely used it.”
“Hooo?” Hawes’ bushy eyebrows rose. “You’re more well-rounded then most mages if you know both, even if it is just the basics.”
Kiyo sniffed in disapproval. “I don’t care for I Xing. It’s too simple. I know it’s the foundation of most magical principles, but it’s not handily applied to practical problems.”
Mei Li gathered the impression that she’d just fallen a little further in Kiyo’s estimations by admitting to this. Oh well. “Yes, well, as I said, I don’t really use it. But it’s good to know if you’re trying to blend magics with another mage who does use it. Hence why I was taught it.”
“I still—” Hawes started.
“Dragon,” Nord announced calmly.
Mei Li lifted a hand to shield her eyes. Indeed, there was, coming straight for them. From the hue of red and the general shape, it looked to be Shunlei. He was far enough out that she readied a talisman just in case that assumption was wrong. But the dragon glided to the road and settled there, landing on three legs to accommodate the bag he carried, shaking his wings once before he shifted over to humanoid form in a smooth transition. It had to be Shunlei.
He walked toward them steadily, a large pack stuffed to the gills over one shoulder that he carted along without seeming to really notice the weight. As he came closer, the horses startled, their noses telling them a dragon was there, even if they couldn’t see one. Shunlei stopped uncertainly and stared back at them, sharing the unease.
Mei Li blew out the scenting stick in the flag boot on her saddle. She patted her horse on the neck, soothing it, and called out, “It’s alright, come on. You made good time.”
“Thank you for your patience,” Shunlei answered, still eyeing Hawes’ stallion uneasily as he sidled past it. The horse stared right back, mostly in challenge. “The broodmother was glad to hear of your mission and offered her own thanks. I’ve roasted deer in my sack to share with you.” He hesitated, looking up at Mei Li. “Is this something humans eat?”
“Yes, we eat venison quite often,” she assured him. Strange that he was so lost on human eating habits. He really was inexperienced with humanity, wasn’t he? “And I’m thankful for the food. We’ll be hunting part of the time, I think, as we travel.”
His expression cleared, and he smiled up at her. “Excellent. And I will help you hunt, of course. I’ve also collected two skins of pure water, a change of clothes, and some furs. I didn’t know what else to bring.”
“That’s fine.” Mei Li wanted to pinch his cheeks. Why was
he so cute like this? “Here, tie that to the back of the saddle with my pack.”
He did so promptly, then stared up uncertainly. “Ah…how do I mount…?”
Mei Li kicked a foot free of the stirrup and held out a hand. “Put a foot in there. Good, now take my arm and boost yourself up behind me. One, two, three.”
It was awkward, Shunlei nearly toppling her in the process, but he got up. With him semi-settled, she re-seated herself and claimed the stirrup back. Shunlei didn’t seem to know what to do with his hands, so she pulled one toward her hip. “Hold on there. Or you can let your hands relax on your own legs. But definitely hold on if we move faster than a walk.”
He settled with an almost audible sound. “Thank you.”
Hawes checked them over with a critical eye. “I think you’ll do. Alright, let’s move again. Shunlei, we may or may not make the next town. You alright sharing a tent with one of us?”
“Yes, of course, that’s fine. On clear nights, I should probably sleep outside in dragon form, however.” Humor in his voice, he tacked on, “Few would molest a campsite with a dragon curled around it.”
Snorting, Hawes agreed, “True enough. Alright. We’re still playing catch-up with Lady Mei about what all she knows and what she can do. Turns out she knows two different types of magics, so we’re doubly blessed to have her.”
“There are two different types of human magic?” Shunlei asked in interest.
Kiyo’s head jerked back, aghast. “You don’t know about human magic?”
“No, indeed, few humans have been willing to converse with me. I’ve mostly learned your language by hiding and eavesdropping. Lady Kiyo, if you wish to instruct me, I’ll be most grateful to learn.”
Kiyo launched into a rather elaborate explanation of magical theory. She did seem a little too pleased to have a captive audience, but Shunlei was very much the attentive student. He didn’t just listen, but asked intelligent questions. Kiyo didn’t cover in detail how to create spells or talismans—she was only discussing magic in generalities—but no one seemed to think Shunlei would be able to grasp it.
Mei Li had to bite the inside of her cheek to hold back a chuckle when the dragon quietly proved their assumption dead wrong. She wasn’t in the slightest bit surprised. She knew how intelligent this man was, after all.
As they rode, the conversation turned from magical theory to the problems they’d tackled. It gave Mei Li an even better sense of timeline, and she became increasingly sure she was in the spring of 1236. Jingfei, the demoness they had so much trouble sealing in the future, wouldn’t even awaken until 1246. Likewise, the volcano demon Zaffi wouldn’t awaken until that year either. So, not only was she five thousand years in the past, she would have to wait ten years before she even got where she needed to be!
Mei Li was very much of two minds on that account. She knew the spell would bring her back into the future at roughly the same time she left it. All other accounts of time travelers said that while they might spend months or years in the past, only a few days would pass in the future. She might miss her friends and Shunlei from her own time, but no time at all would really pass for them. It gave her mixed feelings.
Was she relieved about that? Sad? There was a hollow ache in her chest, and it brought her hand up there several times, patting it as if she needed to reassure herself that her heart was still there. Mei Li didn’t know how to feel at this. She’d left without saying goodbye to anyone—and yet it would be strange, from their perspective, if she had. But she felt the need to do so, even still. And she couldn’t even talk to anyone about this now, or reveal too much of herself, for fear of disrupting the timeline.
It left her feeling very, very alone, even when surrounded by good people. It was not a comfortable sensation, and Mei Li could only hope it would pass with time. She had no other remedy to offer.
Being here as she was now, she finally understood Shunlei as she hadn’t before. No wonder he’d so instantly latched onto her when Hui brought her to Dragon’s Peak. No wonder he’d already been invested in her. He was reconnecting with a woman he’d known well and missed. Mei Li was already forming a connection with Shunlei the Red—she knew it would develop into a very strong bond eventually. The man was completely adorable, so of course it would, and part of her looked forward to that. The other part of her looked forward to regaining the future, because then she could respond to Shunlei the Black in the same way he had toward her.
Mei Li would have to watch her words, though. Their roles were rather reversed at the moment. She now knew more about Shunlei than she should, just as the future Shunlei had known too much about her. He’d confused her badly because of how he’d acted. Mei Li was determined not to do that to younger Shunlei.
In a practical sense, she needed to be alert for her personal safety as well. Just because she was from the future didn’t mean she was safe in the past. Or immune from somehow altering it.
She’d have to be very, very careful moving forward.
Oooh, actually, she was in the right time to meet Shunlei’s bride. She’d always been intensely curious about the woman. Shunlei had spoken of his wife with such fondness and pride, it would make anyone curious. Mei Li couldn’t wait to meet her, whoever it was. And it should happen in the near future. Shunlei was about this age when he married.
Rats, but she really had to keep that behind her teeth. She couldn’t even tease him about it.
Being a know-it-all did have its downsides.
They rode steadily, only breaking for lunch, and Mei Li’s thighs cramped from the atypical physical activity. It was uncomfortable, but she had a feeling she’d get used to it. No other choice with all the riding in her future.
As the bright, sunny day slowly faded into sunset colors, Hawes called a halt on the road. They were surrounded by fields on their right and a sparse copse of trees on their left.
“I was afraid we wouldn’t make a town, and looks like I was right,” Hawes stated, scratching at his beard. “The map I’ve got isn’t exactly accurate. Alright, let’s find a likely spot and make camp for the night.”
Shunlei pointed off into the woods. “If you’ll go a little further in, there’s a small stream nearby. I can smell the water.”
“Oh? Then lead the way.”
Mei Li turned Peanut’s head in the direction he indicated, and they plodded carefully between the evergreens until even the humans could hear the bubbling of a brook and smell flowing water. Without warning, they broke through the underbrush into a small clearing, the brook wrapping partway around the clearing before disappearing into the trees again.
Hawes looked around for a moment and nodded. “Yes, this is perfect. Good nose, Shunlei. Let’s settle here for the night. Lady Mei, Shunlei, we’ve got the tasks broken down like so: Kiyo cooks, Nord takes care of the horses, Melchior and I set up tents. Melchior and I also take turns hunting, if we see something in the area. Lady Mei, are you comfortable helping Nord with the horses?”
“I am.”
“Good. Shunlei, perhaps gather some firewood? And then help Kiyo.”
“With pleasure.” Shunlei beamed a bone-melting smile at the mage in question.
Even Kiyo’s stiff attitude melted a few degrees under the force of that smile.
They dismounted and set to their tasks. Mei Li unsaddled the horses and helped rub them down while Nord set up feed bags and took them to the brook to drink. They had the horses hobbled and settled for the night before the three tents were fully up. Kiyo had plenty of firewood, and she chose to make vegetable skewers to go along with the venison Shunlei had brought them.
It was a comfortable, if silent, dinner. Everyone chose to eat rather than talk. Mei Li helped wash dishes afterward and was about to retire for a while to the tent she was sharing with Kiyo when something caught her attention. Shunlei lay sprawled along the edge of the clearing. He’d shifted over to dragon form already, wings stretched out, and was nudging at one with a disgruntled series of grumbles. I
t didn’t take a genius to guess that his wings were bothering him.
Knowing how painful that was, she couldn’t let it be. Mei Li hesitated for a split second before making a decision and going back into the woods. She found a suitable branch and broke it off, then took a knife and honed it down to something smoother, with a thin end. Only when she was satisfied that it had the right size and texture did she gather up her courage and go to where Shunlei lay.
Unlike the first time she’d done this, she wasn’t family to Shunlei. He didn’t have the same reasons to trust her. But the need was there, and she knew what she was doing. All she had to do was convince him. Easy, right?
Stopping in front of him, she let the handmade dowel hang at her side and cleared her throat. “Shunlei.”
He turned his head and regarded her, blinking. “Yes?”
“I can help you preen, if you’d like.” She lifted the dowel in illustration, a hopeful arch to her brows. “I know it’s something dragons view as a more personal thing, but…I know how.”
Head cocking, he repeated somewhat incredulously, “You know how. As in, you’ve been close enough to a dragon before to help them?”
“Yes.” She left it at that because she could hardly say, It was you, actually.
Flabbergasted, he stared at her for a long moment before managing to find words again. “Well. I won’t turn down experienced help. Thank you.”
“Stretch out and relax,” she encouraged as she stepped around to his tail.
Shunlei craned his neck to watch her go but obediently stretched out both wings. A mix of astonishment and mystification warred across his face as he watched her slide the dowel under and smoothly lift the coverts out of the way. Mei Li was not oblivious to the attention from the rest of the camp, either, but she strove to ignore it. Let them watch and learn as well.
The first look brought a hiss of horror from her lips. As bad as it had been the first time she’d seen Shunlei’s matted down feathers, this was so much worse. The down was just greyish pink clumps that pulled painfully at the skin underneath. In a few spots the skin was bleeding. Unlike in her present, she could hardly scold him for the self-neglect. In this day and age, Shunlei had few he could trust to turn to.
First of Tomes (The Tomes of Kaleria Book 2) Page 4