his scraped knuckles dulled the aching desire inside him. He stood, breathing hard, sweat trickling down his chest. He’d call off this rendezvous before he made a further fool of himself.
Zhong Ye scooped the last of the scallion flatbread into his mouth, chewing but not tasting. “Listen to this. ‘Beware of the Poison Eagle. He has the cry of an infant and guards the life-giving root, on the mountain filled with precious metals.’ I think it’s referring to the empress root,” he said. They had skimmed the passage before but had somehow missed its significance.
Zhong Ye read on. “‘Once the root is unearthed, the man-eater will be drawn to the root’s scent. It will attack and devour the person carrying the root. It is the reason for the beast’s ever-lasting life.’ This must be it!” He tapped the book with one finger.
“Does it give any additional clues to the location of the mountain?” Yokan asked.
Zhong Ye scanned the page quickly. “Nothing exceptto say that the weather is always mild. Perhaps it’s somewhere in the southwest province.”
“Yes, I think we’re close. Some more details, and we may be able to pinpoint the location.” Yokan placed his quill on the stand and flexed his hand. “I’m stiff from so many hours of transcribing. Let’s retire early tonight.”
“I’ll bring the book with me to study,” Zhong Ye said as he collected his belongings.
Yokan smiled and headed for the door. “Sometimes a moment to rest the mind can also help,” he said. “You’ve been reading and analyzing all day.” The foreigner’s every step was punctuated by the tinkling of the charms on his belt.
“Do those charms carry meaning?” Zhong Ye asked.
Yokan glanced down and cradled one with a pale hand. “These are tokens, given by my king for valor or sacrifice. Nothing great can ever be gained without either.” He lifted his gaze. “You understand the necessity of sacrifice, don’t you?”
Thinking of what he had given up to be within the palace gates, Zhong Ye almost smirked. “I do.”
“The time will come when you’ll need both valor and sacrifice for what we want to accomplish. I can depend on you?” Yokan’s voice dropped as he spoke, his accent almost unnoticeable.
“Yes, master.” Zhong Ye bowed as Yokan stepped from the study. When Zhong Ye finally followed Yokan outside and the frigid evening air enveloped them, Zhong Ye couldn’t help wondering exactly what Yokan referred to. He still knew very little about the foreigner. Yokan was using him, but Zhong Ye was doing the same; it made for the best of court relations.
He turned the corner, and was startled by the full moon hovering above the sloped roofline. He paused to admire it, something tickling him like a fly on a horse’s ear. Wait for the extra moon and dark again. An extra moon, an extra full moon within the same month! It happened once every few years. Could this be the meaning of the riddle? Zhong Ye hurried now to his quarters, excitement animating his steps.
He stopped short, alarmed by the lantern light that filtered through the carved panels. His entire hall was lit. He felt for the dagger he kept at his waist, before sliding the door open. Silver Phoenix sat in one of the carved chairs, her hands folded in her lap. She wore a flowing emerald dress, its skirt pooling at her feet. Zhong Ye swallowed the knot of surprise in his throat.
“What are you doing here?” He sounded more brusque than he had intended.
“You asked me to dine with you. I waited for you toescort me but couldn’t wait any longer.” Her voice was calm, but he could detect an edge beneath the calmness.
“Didn’t you receive the message I sent? I had to retract my invitation.” He dumped the large books he carried onto the closest table. “I’m too busy with work.”
“No, I didn’t receive your message.” She stood with fluid grace and raised one hand to touch her coiled braid. She had placed jeweled combs in
Zhong Ye scooped the last of the scallion flatbread into his mouth, chewing but not tasting. “Listen to this. ‘Beware of the Poison Eagle. He has the cry of an infant and guards the life-giving root, on the mountain filled with precious metals.’ I think it’s referring to the empress root,” he said. They had skimmed the passage before but had somehow missed its significance.
Zhong Ye read on. “‘Once the root is unearthed, the man-eater will be drawn to the root’s scent. It will attack and devour the person carrying the root. It is the reason for the beast’s ever-lasting life.’ This must be it!” He tapped the book with one finger.
“Does it give any additional clues to the location of the mountain?” Yokan asked.
Zhong Ye scanned the page quickly. “Nothing exceptto say that the weather is always mild. Perhaps it’s somewhere in the southwest province.”
“Yes, I think we’re close. Some more details, and we may be able to pinpoint the location.” Yokan placed his quill on the stand and flexed his hand. “I’m stiff from so many hours of transcribing. Let’s retire early tonight.”
“I’ll bring the book with me to study,” Zhong Ye said as he collected his belongings.
Yokan smiled and headed for the door. “Sometimes a moment to rest the mind can also help,” he said. “You’ve been reading and analyzing all day.” The foreigner’s every step was punctuated by the tinkling of the charms on his belt.
“Do those charms carry meaning?” Zhong Ye asked.
Yokan glanced down and cradled one with a pale hand. “These are tokens, given by my king for valor or sacrifice. Nothing great can ever be gained without either.” He lifted his gaze. “You understand the necessity of sacrifice, don’t you?”
Thinking of what he had given up to be within the palace gates, Zhong Ye almost smirked. “I do.”
“The time will come when you’ll need both valor and sacrifice for what we want to accomplish. I can depend on you?” Yokan’s voice dropped as he spoke, his accent almost unnoticeable.
“Yes, master.” Zhong Ye bowed as Yokan stepped from the study. When Zhong Ye finally followed Yokan outside and the frigid evening air enveloped them, Zhong Ye couldn’t help wondering exactly what Yokan referred to. He still knew very little about the foreigner. Yokan was using him, but Zhong Ye was doing the same; it made for the best of court relations.
He turned the corner, and was startled by the full moon hovering above the sloped roofline. He paused to admire it, something tickling him like a fly on a horse’s ear. Wait for the extra moon and dark again. An extra moon, an extra full moon within the same month! It happened once every few years. Could this be the meaning of the riddle? Zhong Ye hurried now to his quarters, excitement animating his steps.
He stopped short, alarmed by the lantern light that filtered through the carved panels. His entire hall was lit. He felt for the dagger he kept at his waist, before sliding the door open. Silver Phoenix sat in one of the carved chairs, her hands folded in her lap. She wore a flowing emerald dress, its skirt pooling at her feet. Zhong Ye swallowed the knot of surprise in his throat.
“What are you doing here?” He sounded more brusque than he had intended.
“You asked me to dine with you. I waited for you toescort me but couldn’t wait any longer.” Her voice was calm, but he could detect an edge beneath the calmness.
“Didn’t you receive the message I sent? I had to retract my invitation.” He dumped the large books he carried onto the closest table. “I’m too busy with work.”
“No, I didn’t receive your message.” She stood with fluid grace and raised one hand to touch her coiled braid. She had placed jeweled combs in
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