Fear washed over her again. ‘I understand that you cannot forgive me,’ she said as Yang stirred.
The prince looked at him before running his hand over his hair. He looked about, perhaps for the maid, then walked to the kettle on the end of the table. He poured himself a cup and sat down. She watched him closely, unsure of why he was here and what he might do.
She had a vague memory of him the day before, the overwhelming pain of his presence, and she put her hand to her stomach.
‘Does it hurt you?’ he asked, his voice level and his eyes kind.
She shook her head. ‘I feel much better this morning,’ she said.
‘As you do most mornings,’ Yang murmured, ‘before you undo all I do.’
Yang leaned back against the wall, his eyes still closed and his hand reaching out for her. She smiled at him and leaned back beside him. ‘You have to let me go,’ she whispered, reaching out for his hand.
‘You are determined to die?’ the prince asked.
She nodded without opening her eyes. ‘I have nothing left.’
‘You have your position, your duty.’
She heard Wei-Song laugh, but when Lis opened her eyes she was gone.
‘How will you appear as an emperor,’ she asked him gently, ‘when you can’t even look at me? Would you have me hidden away forever?’
He shook his head.
‘There are other expectations of this duty, one of which is producing your heir.’ She sighed and closed her eyes again. He might return to the very old custom of concubines. She nodded slowly to herself at the idea. He could find a way to make her live this pain every day.
‘What do you see?’ he asked, too close, and she opened her eyes to find him before her again.
‘A way for you to have what you want.’
He sat slowly on the edge of the bed, and the healer blinked opened sleepy eyes. ‘You work too hard,’ she said, squeezing his hand. ‘Sleep.’
He nodded and drifted away again. She felt so clear this morning; he had given her too much.
The prince looked at her hand and then back to her face. ‘Tell me,’ he murmured, ‘will you have another man’s child and sell it as mine?’
She looked at him closely for a moment, confused at where his words had come from. ‘You would take another. The emperors of old would take concubines to ensure their line would continue. You could not take a child of mine to be heir.’
‘What?’ he stammered.
‘Magic,’ she whispered, leaning forward. ‘You could not risk what it might do.’
His face set in an angry scowl, and she pulled back from him.
He called for the guard. The noise jolted Yang awake, and Lis regretted the move when she looked at his tired eyes.
The hunter appeared carrying a sword, and Lis wished she could disappear back into the wall.
‘Prepare a group,’ he said. ‘We travel to the baths.’
The hunter looked at her with narrowed eyes. ‘She will hide,’ he sneered.
‘I can’t,’ she threw back.
He sucked in an angry breath but left the house to do as he was bid.
‘Are you to drown me?’ she asked.
‘I want to help you,’ he snapped, standing up, and Yang looked between them.
‘It could help,’ he murmured as he looked at her more closely, his hand on her cheek. ‘You look a little better.’
‘You did too much for me,’ she said, leaning into him.
‘Now,’ the prince called from the door.
Lis moved to the edge of the bed and stood. She felt a little less wobbly than she had the previous day, but Yang was quickly beneath her arm, holding her up.
‘Prepare fresh clothes,’ the prince called into the darkness. Lis wondered if Wei-Song was there or already hiding. ‘Come,’ he said, motioning towards the door, and Lis wondered what he had planned.
The journey was hard on her body, with the sedan chair jolting her back and forth. She worried for Yang; he had pushed too much of his own energy on her. She was carried through the gate and the litter put down.
She stepped out onto the gravel path and winced, for she hadn’t any shoes. The prince had her up in his arms, pressed against his body, and she tensed. When he carried her through to the royal baths, she was surprised that she was still able to use them. But as they neared the deep pool, the fear that he would drown her overwhelmed her, and she fought his hold.
‘You give the impression you want to die,’ he murmured as he put her down carefully. She stepped away from him, the tiles slippery beneath her feet. ‘But you don’t.’
‘You don’t know me,’ she murmured.
‘No,’ he said, with a real sadness, ‘but I want to help you.’
Lis could only stare.
‘Now get in the water.’
She looked between the water and him, unsure how or what she should do next. She looked back towards the door and longed for Yang to help her.
‘Get in the water,’ he said, his voice firmer as he stepped towards her.
She stepped back but slipped, and he caught her easily.
‘This is not right,’ she murmured. ‘People will talk.’
He laughed, and she relaxed a little at the sound. ‘I have already seen you, and you sound like my mother. No one knows we are here. No one will say anything.’
Lis looked back to the door. The hunter might, she thought.
She nodded slowly and started to remove her clothing, but the sash was tight, and her fingers wouldn’t work as they should. He stepped forward and helped. She stood before him with her arms by her sides and wondered at the fast beat of her heart. She had been annoyed the last time that he hadn’t really looked at her. Now he stared openly.
‘You are so thin,’ he murmured, running his hand across the hollow at her shoulder. She tried not to shiver under his touch as she wondered what else he would do to torture her. For he seemed to be doing so much better at it than she had done to herself. He reached for her stomach, and she glanced down at the black mark that spread its wispy fingers across her flesh. The wound was still evident at the centre of it, although not as deep as it had been.
Yang had worked hard to try and heal her. But she had allowed the rot to take hold. If she survived this, she doubted children would be possible. She blinked back sudden tears.
‘What have you done?’ he whispered.
‘You are the one who pushed a sword into me,’ she said, standing taller. ‘You are the one who wants me dead. Why do you all try so hard to prevent it—or is that part of the game?’
He shook his head slowly and took her arm to guide her towards the water.
She moved carefully down the steps and then stepped off into the middle. She allowed the water to cover her head, and the warmth surrounded her. She floated for a moment before breaking the surface.
When she looked up, he watched her with serious eyes. Yang stood beside him looking concerned. She turned her back on them both and sat upon a step.
She rested her head against the tile and then sat up. She could only think of the magic man who had attacked her on her first visit, and it was as though she was waiting for the same fate. She stood again and made to climb out, but Yang smiled when she looked up.
‘It looks better,’ he said.
She scowled and continued to climb.
‘What are you doing?’ the prince asked.
‘You wanted me in the water. I have been in the water.’
‘I thought you might relax.’
‘I cannot,’ she said. ‘Why do you do this?’ she asked, suddenly unable to prevent the anger washing over her. She stood naked before her crown prince. ‘Do you hate me so much that I must suffer for the rest of my days? If you cannot do as you must, perhaps I should talk with the emperor so he can do what you can’t.’
‘What do you think—’
‘Please, just kill me,’ she blurted, frustrated that her voice wobbled as it did. ‘I am not strong enough to bear t
he torture.’
He shook his head slowly, and she stepped back into the middle of the pool. She sank a little, but she had to work at staying under. Her body betrayed her, trying to rise to the surface, and then there was movement before her in the dark water as strong hands pulled her up.
‘Don’t do this to me,’ Yang admonished. ‘I am getting a bad reputation as a healer, and if you die, it will be ruined.’
He was fully dressed and struggling, starting to sink. A strong hand grabbed him from behind. The prince stood on the steps, wet to his knees as he tried to lift the sodden healer out. Once out beside the pool, Yang started to shiver.
‘What have you done?’ Lis asked.
‘What I am trained to do.’
‘Can you even swim?’
‘You are the worst friend I have,’ he whispered, and the tears flowed before she could stop them.
Wei-Song appeared and stopped for a moment before rushing forward with a large towel, which she draped around Lis’s shoulders. ‘I’ll get another,’ she murmured, then raced back out of the room.
‘You would think the royal family would be prepared,’ Lis muttered, looking about the space before pulling at the blanket around her. She leaned over her friend, but the prince put his arms around her to stop her movement.
‘The maid will bring more,’ he said.
‘But he needs it now.’
‘Not as much as you do,’ he said, still holding her tight.
Yang lifted himself onto an elbow and nodded. ‘He is right,’ he said with a sigh, the shiver still working over his body. The water was warm and the room was warm, but he continued to shiver.
‘You were too tired for this,’ she murmured. ‘Did you spend the night trying to heal me again?’
‘I will not have you talk of this anymore,’ the prince said, his voice angry. As he let her go and stepped away, he too shivered a little, and she realised just how wet he was.
‘Why am I here?’ she asked.
‘I thought it would help.’
‘Help what?’ She stood and pulled the blanket around her.
‘Your mind,’ he snapped.
‘As though you could heal the magic?’ she asked, wondering if such a thing were possible and why they hadn’t tried it before the killing started.
He sighed. ‘I cannot let you die,’ he murmured, looking at the ground as though acknowledging defeat. ‘I couldn’t kill you, and I can’t watch you let my confusion and hatred consume you.’
She blinked in the face of his honesty, vaguely aware of Wei-Song wrapping the healer in a blanket.
‘You do hate me,’ she said, then covered her mouth. She bowed a little. ‘As you should.’
‘I don’t hate you,’ he said. ‘I…’
‘You are scared of me,’ she said, looking down. ‘I would never harm you.’
‘I know that, but you do when you allow yourself to… when you try to…’
Lis sighed and knelt carefully on the tiles. She held her hands out to the prince, trying to hide her body from him. ‘What do you want me to do?’
‘Allow the healer to heal,’ he said. ‘And…’
She waited, her hands still outstretched as he knelt before her.
‘Where has the strong woman gone?’
‘Which one?’ Lis asked, pulling her arms in close to her chest.
‘The one who would laugh with me over breakfast. The one who dreamt of fire.’
Wei-Song stepped forward. ‘I will watch over her,’ she said, getting between them and helping Lis to her feet.
‘I shall send for Mu-Phi,’ he said.
Lis nodded once, and the princess with her arms around her guided her back to the door. ‘I will watch over her,’ she repeated.
Chapter 3
The empress swept into the room, holding her hands out to Wei-Song just as Lis caught her eye and shook her head.
She clapped them together instead and smiled at Lis, who had sticks in her hand and food raised to her mouth. ‘You look much better,’ she said, then glanced at Mu-Phi, who was kneeling by the table to ensure enough food was placed in her bowl.
‘She has strict instructions,’ Lis said.
‘So it seems,’ the empress mused, sitting slowly opposite her at the small table. ‘Remi assures me this is a safe place,’ she added, looking around the small space.
Lis nodded as she stuffed food into her mouth. She was actually much hungrier than she’d realised. Had it been so long since she had eaten properly? Once she had allowed the healing to take hold, it had not taken long for her body to happily accept her decision and the food she shovelled into it.
Yang still sat close, watching her more closely than the prince, who had visited again that morning but still could not quite look her in the eye.
‘He helps,’ the empress said, indicating the healer with a tip of her head. ‘The Imperial Healer has concerns with his ability, but I see you are stronger.’
Lis nodded again. ‘He does too much,’ she said, before pushing another mouthful in.
‘I had a plan for the day, but I’m not sure it is the best idea.’ The empress glanced at Yang, but Lis knew it was for Mu-Phi’s sake. She was a spy and they all knew it. ‘I would much rather we just sit together.’
‘Have they found you somewhere suitable?’ Lis asked.
The empress nodded absently. ‘Although the world looks different with the residence gone.’
‘I can imagine,’ Lis said.
‘You have been moved too often,’ the empress added.
‘Always by necessity,’ Lis said. ‘I’m not sure what I imagined for my time here at the Palace Isle, but this isn’t it.’
The empress smiled and reached across to take her hand. Lis noticed Wei-Song shift uncomfortably in the far corner of the room.
‘Perhaps now that the prince has sent Mu-Phi to watch over me, Wei-Song could return to you?’ Lis offered.
The empress smiled, but Wei-Song shook her head. ‘She thinks you are in greater need,’ the empress said, her voice a little sad.
‘We will cope. There are people everywhere, in case something were to happen.’
‘Do you think you are in danger?’ The empress leaned forward, concern heavy on her voice.
‘I think the prince still worries he is in danger.’
‘That is not the case,’ Mu-Phi said sharply.
‘Really?’ the empress asked, her previous relaxed demeanour evaporating. ‘You know my son’s mind so well?’
‘He is only worried for the safety of the princess,’ Mu-Phi said without blinking, and the empress turned to Lis and raised her eyebrows.
‘They are friends,’ Lis whispered loudly across the table. ‘She knows the mind of the prince better than most; far better than I could presume to know,’ she added, wondering if he’d spent his night wrapped around her, and an odd thought arose.
‘What is it?’ the empress asked.
Lis shook her head. The previous morning, she had woken feeling heat and energy flow through her, but not just from the healer. The prince had imparted something on her as well, and she wondered if he’d done it willingly or if his magic had leaked in some way, aware of the void in her. She had been well aware of the magic, but it was only now dawning on her just what it might mean.
Wei-Song stepped forward from the shadows.
There was much the empress was aware of and more she would willingly protect them from. But Lis was hesitant to share what she suspected of the empress’s son. And Mu-Phi’s presence wasn’t the only reason.
‘There are some things I would like to discuss with you,’ the empress said. ‘Do you think we could dismiss the staff for an afternoon?’
‘Do I have the power to do such a thing?’
Mu-Phi opened her mouth to complain, but then she stepped back, bowed and left.
Wei-Song took the chance to step forward and take her mother’s hand before she followed. Lis looked to Yang, wondering if he would find an excuse to stay. He s
miled and bowed to them both. ‘It would appear too strange if we did not all go. I will take the opportunity to visit with the healers.’
Lis smiled and allowed him to leave.
‘There is something you are not telling me,’ the empress said softly. ‘I know this has been more difficult than it should be. I know what you are and the risk to you. I also know my son had concerns that you had not shared with him that you were a hunter; and yet I understand what he is now willing to do to protect you.’
Lis gave her a small smile. ‘He is unsure of me,’ she said. ‘He may understand better than you think what I really am.’
‘He cares for you,’ the empress said, leaning across the table and taking her hands. ‘Even if he discovered the truth, he wouldn’t hurt you.’
Lis shook her head.
‘He has risked much for you and ensures you are safe.’
‘I can’t let my guard down with Mu-Phi.’
‘She has protected you before.’
‘She didn’t know what I was then.’
‘And now she does?’ the empress asked, the concern etched deeply across her face.
Lis opened her mouth to say something and then closed it again. ‘He must trust her very deeply,’ she whispered, more hurt by the idea than she had been by the sword he pushed into her.
‘I want to see what you can do,’ the empress whispered across the table, a childish grin on her face, any concern gone.
Lis shook her head.
‘I know you have something very special in you, and I think the prophecy might be right.’
Lis looked around her, worried who might hear her and what that might mean for the empress herself. ‘I don’t have the strength,’ she whispered.
‘For the magic or what is to come? I know you have the latter. It is why I chose you.’
Her voice carried a strength that made Lis smile, to know that someone had such faith in her. And yet it caused a sharp, unexpected pain in her chest.
‘I thought the priestess guided you.’
‘I can’t believe she would have selected you just so we would kill you. If such a vision had been granted to her, she could have ensured you returned silently to your little island and we would have heard no more. By putting you here, you have been exposed to magic you would not have been otherwise. You have the opportunity to train.’
The Magics of Rei-Een Box Set Page 30