Naamah's Kiss (65 page)

We were going.

I glanced behind me only once. The royal party was still standing in the open gate, watching us go. Jehanne stood close to King Daniel, taking shelter beneath his arm. She had one hand pressed to her belly. I wished I could have stayed long enough to see her child born. Her face looked very pale. My father raised one hand in salute, his crimson robes flickering around him.

I waved once in reply, then turned to face forward.

We rode in silence until the white walls of the City of Elua were only a wan smear in the distance; then Master Lo Feng spoke without preamble.

"Empty yourself of everything," he said. "Let your mind rest at peace. Ten thousand things rise and fall while the self watches. They grow and flourish and return to the source. Returning to the source is stillness, which is the way of nature. The way of nature is unchanging. Practice your breathing and think upon this, Moirin."

My heart and mind were too full. "I don't think I can, Master. Not today."

Bao snorted.

"Today more than ever." Master Lo Feng was unperturbed. "Breathe, and let go. Watch."

I did my best.

At first I just breathed. I breathed the Breath of Earth's Pulse until I felt it deep in my body, felt it echoed in the slow, staccato beats of Blossom's hooves beneath me. I breathed Ocean's Rolling Waves into the pit of my belly, in through my nostrils and out through my mouth. I remembered Jehanne's mouth on me, my back arching, waves of pleasure surging through my flesh. I tried to let go of the memory. Ten thousand things rise and fall.

I watched.

I breathed the Breath of Trees Growing, and thought about how all things returned to the source. This air I breathed deep into my lungs fed my body and limbs, fed the blood circulating in them. This air I expelled, the trees and plants drank.

I listened to their songs.

I listened to the faint, scintillant song of the Camaeline snowdrop bulbs nestled in pots in Master Lo's transport wagons, awaiting my care.

The cycle was eternal.

The cycle was unchanging.

I found a point of stillness I didn't want to leave.

"Enough." Master Lo Feng leaned over in the saddle to touch my arm. We were approaching a town and it was late, later than I would have guessed. The sun was dwindling on the horizon. "Fire and Air can wait. You are a good student, Moirin."

"For a stupid girl," Bao added.

"Bao!" Master Lo chided him in Ch'in; Bao retorted in aggrieved tones. I wavered in the saddle, wanting only to sleep now. We entered the town and accommodations were arranged. Our escort would camp on the outskirts, while I was to have a room of my own at the inn, as were Master Lo Feng and Bao.

We ate lamb stew spiced with mint in the common room together. It was very good and I was hungrier than I knew. The serving lass kept stealing curious glances at us. To be sure, we made a peculiar trio.

"Why she stare?" Bao complained. "I grow two heads?"

"Maybe she likes you," I suggested wearily.

"You think?" He looked interested.

"No," I said. "I think she stares because she's never seen anything quite like the three of us before."

His face darkened. "You think no stupid D'Angeline girl can like me?"

"No!" I sighed. "I didn't mean it like that. Actually" A memory flashed behind my eyes, and I felt myself flush. I'd pictured Bao's face when Raphael made love to me the night of the first summoning largely against my wishes. Of course, I'd pictured Jehanne's tooand the spirit Valac's. But Bao's had been the last. "Ah it might help if you'd stop referring to us as stupid girls."

Bao looked smug. "Why you turn red? You like me?"

"Not at the moment," I muttered.

He laughed. "Uh-huh! I save your life. Big hero. You wait, you fall in love. Forget all about the White Queen."

"Aren't you some sort of monk in training?" I asked. "I thought you took a vow of celibacy."

"Vow of what?"

"No" Unsure of his vocabulary, I made a lewd gesture he'd used long ago.

"No!" Bao's eyes widened. "Where you get that idea? I am Master Lo's magpie. No monk."

"Oh." I felt foolish.

"Stu"

"Bao." Master Lo Feng raised one finger. "In meditation, go deep into the heart. In dealing with others, be gentle and kind. In speech, be true."

"Yes, Master." He accepted the reprimand. "D'Angeline people too proud for they own good," he said eventually. "They think they better than everyone. They not see Master Lo is great man. I think is stupid. Maybe you not so much that way. You make some stupid choices, though, and say some stupid things. But maybe you not so stupid, really."

"You're too kind," I commented.

He shrugged. "True or not?"

"True," I said ruefully. "But if you'd care to be gentle and kind, I'd thank you for not making me think this was one of my more stupid choices." I extended my hand across the table to him. "Can we not agree to be friends for the duration of this journey?"

"Friends." Bao echoed the word, looking dubious.

I nodded.

"All right, sure." Bao clasped my hand, his grip strong, sinewy, and callused. He frowned briefly at our clasped hands, then looked unexpectedly cheerful, grinning at me. "Until you fall crazy in love with me, not-so-stupid girl."

I laughed. "We'll see."

It lightened my heart a little, and Master Lo Feng seemed to approve. But alone in my bedchamber, I felt the weight and enormity of the decision I'd made come back to rest on my shoulders. My chamber was stark and barren. For the first time in a long while, I felt restless and confined behind walls of man-made stone.

I missed my enchanted bower.

I missed Jehanne.

I fished her gift out of my purse and opened the silk pouch to find a small, stoppered bottle of cut crystal. I laughed softly to myself and pulled out the stopper. The scent of Jehanne's intoxicating perfume filled the air. It wasn't the same as when she wore itbut it was still nice, so nice.

I tilted the bottle and wetted one fingertip, then touched it to the hollow of my throat. There, the scent breathed outward, whispering of night-blooming flowers and a pale, delicate marque limned on pale skin. I stoppered the bottle carefully and returned it to its pouch, tucking it back into my purse before I disrobed and lay down for the night.

At peace, I slept.

Some days later, we reached Marsilikos. It was a large, sprawling harbor city dominated by a palace with a golden dome, so big it loomed almost like a second sun. I have to own, I gaped at it. None of the Ch'in folk seemed overly impressed. When we drew in sight of the harbor, I saw why.

The Ch'in ship was enormous. It dwarfed all the other ships in the harbor, at least three times larger than the second largest. It had five masts adorned with vivid red sails shaped unlike any other ship's sails, and towered several stories high, the sides of its upper deck adorned with ornate scrollwork. My mouth fell open at the sight of it.

"Careful," Bao said. "You catch flies."

I closed my mouth. "Master Lo I mean no disrespect. But all this just to fetch you home?"

"Emperor Zhu loves his daughter very much." He looked troubled. "Too much, perhaps. He would spare no effort to save her life."

I'd been too caught up in my own concerns to give much thought to the Emperor's daughter. "But you said it wasn't a mortal illness."

"No." He hesitated. "The matter is complicated. I would speak of it later unless it may change your thoughts on accompanying us. I wish to be fair."

I shook my head. "No."

"Later, then."

We proceeded to the quay. At least I wasn't alone; there were D'Angelines and trader-folk of other nations gathered to stare at the greatship, still a novelty after many days. They stared at us, too, and I heard murmurs among the D'Angelines. A few covert fingers pointed and I heard my name whispered. We'd made good time, but we hadn't outpaced gossip.

If there were any question about it, it was confirmed by the arrival of the harbor-master, striding down the dock with a handful of armed guards. His gaze went straight to me. "Moirin mac Fainche?"

"Aye." I wondered what in the world he wanted.

There was nothing friendly in his expression. "Her grace the Duchese de Mereliot wishes an audience with you. Yon floating castle's going nowhere until she gets it."

The Lady of Marsilikos.

Raphael's sister.

I'd managed to avoid thinking about that fact, having avoided thinking about Raphael altogether.

"This lady look for a concubine, too?" Bao asked insolently.

"No," I murmured. "She's Raphael de Mereliot's sister. I think I'd best see what she wants. I don't want to cause any trouble here."

Bao conferred with Master Lo Feng. "I go with you."

I eyed the guards. "All right."

It felt reassuring to have Bao at my side as we accompanied the harbor-master to the palace. The guards regarded him with disdain, but I'd seen him whip his staff around with lightning speed, driving back Focalor without a trace of fear. If there was trouble, I had a feeling Master Lo's magpie was a handy person to have around.

The palace steward escorted us into a beautifully appointed salon. A young woman awaited us in a high-backed chair, surrounded by peers and attendants, none of whom looked friendly. She sat very upright, arms stiff along the chair-arms. I would have known her anywhere as Raphael's sister. Her hair was darker than his, but she had the same storm-grey eyes, the same lips, the same jawline sculpted by a more delicate hand.

Right now, those eyes were staring at me and filled with contempt.

"So you're Moirin," she said in a venomous tone. "I wanted to see the bitch that ruined my brother."

"Your stupid brother ruin his own damn self, lady," Bao retorted.

Her gaze shifted to him. "What is this and why is it speaking?"

I sighed. "Bao, will you keep a civil tongue for once? My lady" I dredged her name out of memory. "My lady Eleanore, I'm sorry about what passed between your brother and I, but I'll not accept sole blame for it."

Eleanore de Mereliot's voice rose. "You made him a laughingstock! And now nigh onto a traitor!"

I stood my ground. "How well do you know your brother, my lady?"