Page 107 of Immortal

“Then leave as soon as you can. I will meet you afterward, away from here.”

“There is a bridge east of the nearest town that I’ll mark with a lantern. Cross it, and I’ll find you in the forest. If you don’t come by nightfall, I’ll return here for you.”

He spoke like it was a simple matter, like there wasn’t the entire force of the Wuxin Army between us.

I uncorked the bottle Aunt Shou had given me, then rubbed a few drops of the scent over Zhangwei’s wrists and neck—then over myself too, as a precaution. “This should shield you from the void birds,” I explained. “In any case, stay out of their path.”

He touched my white lock of hair, curling the ends around his finger. “Being mortal has made you worry more. I can handle a few birds.”

“I’ve always worried about you,” I told him honestly as I strode to the door. “And now I know all the things that can go wrong.”

39

My life depended on my lies.

A sobering thought as an attendant showed me to the hall where Lord Dalian was, the last place I wanted to be. Tall windows flanked the chamber, opening to the skies beyond, the void birds circling in the distance. The floor was covered with thick carpets edged in silver, intricate wooden carvings of flowers hanging from the walls. Rosewood lanterns swung from the ceiling, gleaming in the afternoon light.

A trio of dancers swayed in the center of the hall. Their outstretched palms bore flames that curved to their movements, flaring higher as they spun gracefully. Those bronze bells hung from their waists, eerily silent. Musicians accompanied them, one strumming a lute, another playing a bamboo flute. The guests were seated at low tables, each one set with jars of wine, though only small servings of food: jellyfish, pickled cucumbers, pastries the size of coins. The Wuxin picked idly at them, their hungry gaze darting around the room. Some were gaunt, almost ashen. I would have thought them ill if they were mortal. As a thin woman raised a cup to her lips, her fingers seemed almost translucent. They were weakening, fading . . . starving? I smothered a flicker of pity. Maybe they weren’t wholly evil, yet they’d chosen their survival at the cost of my people’s.

Lord Dalian and Aunt Shou were seated upon the dais. His gilded throne was so wide it could have sat two across, while his mother’s chair was smaller, crafted of precious zitan wood. I strode toward them, stifling a burst of anger that he wore Chengyin’s face so brazenly, twisting his features with spite.

As I approached, Lord Dalian’s eyes thinned. He raised his hand seemingly in greeting, yet light darted from his fingers through a window. A void bird with a saffron plume soared into the hall, its body the span of my arms spread wide. As its wing caught a low table, porcelain cups were swept onto the floor. I stumbled back, instinctively reaching for a weapon I didn’t have. Yet the Wuxin remained calm, some glaring at the bird like it was a petty nuisance rather than the monster it was.

It wouldn’t hurt them, just outsiders like me. As the bird cocked its head at me, studying me with its beady eyes, my pulse stuttered unevenly. At last, it turned away as though bored. Lord Dalian flicked his hand toward the window again, the bird spreading its wings to fly out once more. I released a deep breath, silently thanking Aunt Shou for the fragrance.

“Welcome,” Lord Dalian said at last. “Our newest member of the family.”

I tilted my head to the windows, letting the sunlight catch my eyes, hoping the coppery illusion shone through. “Did I pass your test, Lord Dalian?” I smiled to blunt the edge in my tone, concealing my fear. “If you’d like to call another of your pets in, maybe we should move the tables away from the windows.”

He returned my smile, though there was no warmth in it. “More an affirmation than a test. Best to clear up any doubts before things get complicated.”

“Enough with the games, Dalian,” Aunt Shou said. “I told you last night, everything went according to plan. Her transformation was secured the moment she entered the Temple of the Crimson Moon. Now it’s best to deal openly with the Lady of Tianxia.”

“Is she still that?” he scoffed.

“Yes,” I replied with emphasis. “I don’t relinquish my duty to my people that easily. You would understand, wouldn’t you, Lord Dalian?”

As an uncomfortable silence fell, I looked around the room. “Am I interrupting a celebration?”

“You are welcome here.” Lord Dalian lifted a cup toward me in a toast, though he did not drink from it. “We would have invited you earlier, except Mother mentioned you needed rest. Her advice was sound; you look refreshed.”

I fought back a laugh. They could never imagine what I’d done last night. “I am grateful for your consideration.”

“Are you grateful for the honor bestowed on you as well?” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “It is a great gift to become one of us. Eternity lies before you, power and glory.”

He was trying to place me in the position of a supplicant; the better for him when he made his demands. Yet all I wanted was to stab him for trying to take away my choice. “I was confused at first—uncertain,” I said. “But I now have a new appreciation of my abilities.”

His eyes gleamed. “Yes, I sense your magic. Can you use it?”

A dangerous question. My magic was of Water, rare among the immortals who grew up in the Golden Desert. Lord Dalian believed that part of my life was extinguished; I couldn’t admit to remembering my past training. Yet I had to be of some use so he wouldn’t hurt Chengyin. What if I could use this to foil his plans?

“Only a little,” I said, furrowing my brow. “I might need more training—”

“No training is needed for your task,” Lord Dalian cut me off. “I believe Mother has explained it to you?”

Before I could reply, his gaze shifted to the back of the hall. A stout, bearded Wuxin warrior wearing an ornate helmet strode forward and bowed to the throne. “Lord Dalian, I bring a message from the Winged Devils trapped in Tianxia. They are unable to return home because the immortals are hunting them.”

“What do they want, General Fang?” Lord Dalian asked, leaning back against his throne.