Page 71 of For Ever More

I sleep for hours, waking rested. Through the window, the skies are cloudy, I’m guessing it’s sometime in the afternoon. After washing my face, I pull on a green robe, then tie my hair up. A plate of steamed buns is left on the table. Taking one, I bite into the pillowy bread stuffed with chunks of pork and egg, then wash it down with a drink of water.

Footsteps approach. I fly from my chair, flinging the door open. Dian is here, dressed in soldier’s armor. Even with the helmet that covers her head, I’d recognize her anywhere. The Sun Dragon is slung to her back, concealed beneath her cloak.

I pull my sister into my room, hugging her. “Have you been well? Did they look after you on the shore?”

She looks around my cramped room, at the small window and plain furniture. “Better than here. We are housed comfortably and fed well. Why are you staying in the guards’ quarters?”

“Here, we have more freedom,” I explain. “What did you do with the soldier whose armor you’re wearing?”

“She was too trusting, not questioning the draught we gave her.” Dian grimaces. “We’ve left her someplace safe with food and water. She’ll sleep a day or two, and when she awakens we’ll be gone.”

Dian gently unfastens the dragon, my heart sinking at how frail he’s grown after these few days away, lying as still as stone. “We must get to the waterfall soon. There isn’t much time.”

“What about our other soldiers on the shore?” I ask.

“Shenming instructed them to prepare to leave tonight. Once the dragon is restored, we will send a messenger for the signal to depart—a firefly from Captain Hong.”

Jin and Shenming join us, both hauling a large bag that clinks. “We found where they keep the guards’ spare armor, to disguise ourselves. We should go soon, to catch the change of shift in the evening, the best time to lose ourselves in the crowd,” Jin says.

As we dress quickly, I share what I learned from the maps in Lady Shufang’s residence. I pull on a black robe, then strap on the silver breastplate, lighter than it appears. The pants fall to my ankles, while the helmet conceals most of my face, a sword slung over my back. Once ready, we head to the main entrance, weaving among the troops. With the cloud-riddled skies above, the bridge gleams like the ribs of some ancient creature, the dark waters rippling beneath.

We walk with assurance, following the directions gleaned from the maps. The soldiers don’t stop us, most in a hurry to reach their posts or return to their rooms to rest. I count the diversions along the bridge, taking the third one, a long, narrow path that leads to an island at the end. Its shore is ringed by coconut trees, the buildings deeper inland. We keep to the remote areas, not daring to stop. More houses lie on the other side of the island, a few boats dragged upon the shore.

My head has been hurting again the farther we go, the ringing worsening between my ears. Jin helps mask some of the discomfort, leaving enough to allow me to sense our way.

I gesture at the boat at the far end of the shore. “Let’s take this one.”

“Why?” Shenming asks. “It’s in worse condition than the rest.”

“I’d trust Yining on which boat to steal,” Jin informs him.

“The house closest to it—there are no shoes outside or prints in the sand,” I explain. “It’s likely unoccupied or its owner is away. The boat won’t be missed.”

We climb into the vessel, Jin taking the oars. Dian holds the unconscious dragon carefully, his head grazing my lap, his closed eyes like curved moons. Silently, Jin rows us toward the island, as I offer directions to adjust his path, though it’s becoming harder to untangle the disquiet in my mind. My ring is beginning to sear, the gold burning through the green dye.

“Does it hurt?” Dian asks, squeezing my hand.

“At least this way I can sense where to go.”

Dusk falls, we’ve been traveling a long way. “We’re almost there.” Shenming points to the island with thirteen trees ahead of us, those Jin had marked. “You are stronger than expected, Lord Jin-Yong. Not once did you grumble or give me the oars.”

“Nor did you offer,” Jin retorts.

“I was loath to disrupt your steady rhythm,” Shenming replies with a grin.

Ahead on the shore, the gnarled branches of the trees are splayed like arms, the shadow of the hills falling over them.

“This island appears abandoned,” Dian observes. “No houses. Not even a pier.”

“General Suilan said those that are too far from the bridges are often left uninhabited,” Shenming says.

“General Suilan?” Dian asks curiously.

“The warrior from the Pearl Ocean whom you turned to stone,” I remind her.

“I wish you hadn’t done that,” Shenming tells Dian tersely.

“She was a nuisance,” Dian replies without remorse. “Her soldiers attacked my tower in the swamp—now I recall, they wore this armor.” She taps her breastplate as she peers at Shenming. “Do you like this general?”