“How do you know?”
Emperor Róng observes me carefully, a dark glint in his eyes. I can’t fathom what devious plot might be stirring in his mind. “I wish to propose a deal,” he says, ignoring my question.
“What sort of deal?”
“Head south and find this huntress. Seek out my dragon and bring it to me. In return, you will receive my full pardon.”
My heart beats too quickly for me to distinguish each individual pulse. Has the emperor gone mad? I can’t deny the possibility of the creature’s existence now that I’ve seen its magic at work with my own two eyes, but—
“I’m no scout,” I insist. “And I don’t mean that to be humble, Your Imperial Highness. I have a lousy sense of direction.”
“Would you prefer death?”
I stare up at him, still on my hands and knees. No argument there. “How long would I be away?”
“However long it takes you.”
“But I’m free thereafter?”
“You have my word. I will even grant you a boon.”
“A boon?”
“Find my dragon,” he says, “and I will allow you to harvest as many scales as you should require from it to heal your dear mother.”
My guts are tied up in impossible knots, the precariousness ofthe situation coating my tongue with something sour. Of course I want my mother’s health to improve, but while I like to play the part, I’m no fool. When the emperor makes a request of you, it’s only ever a command. There is no denying him. My answer is predestined.
“What do you want with it?” I ask hesitantly. “This dragon.”
“That is none of your concern, boy. Answer me now: Do we have a deal?”
I take a deep breath. “As His Imperial Highness ordains.”
He nods just once and pockets my vial. “Excellent. You shall embark immediately.”
Concern jolts through me. “But I must inform my mother. She requires the last of her medicine, or else—”
Captain Tian slams his scabbard against the bars once more, cutting me off. “The emperor has spoken.”
5
Captain Tian and I ridethrough the night, keeping to the main road. He has me on the saddle behind him, my wrists bound by a length of rope that he’s attached to his waist so I don’t make a run for it. It’s near pitch-black, save for the moonlight and the glimmer of stars across the sky. Captain Tian has a paper lantern balanced on the end of a stick, held just in front of his steed on a bracket attached to his saddle. We make good time at a consistent trot. The serpentine mountain pass that separates North from South slowly but surely approaches, growing larger and larger until the rocky formations loom overhead like giants.
At the foot of the mountain, I spot an encampment roughly five thousand men strong—only a fraction of the Imperial Army. The military base of Shéyan—Snake Eye, named for the way it sits at the head of the snaking mountain pass.
Canvas tents are arranged row upon row, sprawling out from the center of the camp, where a massive fire pit sits for warmth and light. There is a surprising amount of activity at this late hour. Soldiers are already dressed in full suits of armor, some busy sharpening their blades, while others kneel in quiet corners of the camp with their hands pressed together in prayer.
Captain Tian tugs on the reins, bidding his steed come to a halt. He removes the rope from around his middle before throwing a leg over to hop off the saddle. I jump down, too, though my landing lacks any semblance of grace. I grit my teeth together and groan. My thighs are chafed and sore.
The captain tugs at the knot locking my wrists together, freeing me after several long, uncomfortable hours. “With me,” he snaps.
He all but shoves me toward a makeshift forge near the edge of the encampment. It’s far larger than the rest of the structures, the protective canopy above it a deep red. Within is a treasure trove of armor and weaponry. I daresay I have never come face-to-face with this much gleaming metal.
A team of forgemasters flit about their workstation, all sporting a thick layer of sweat and grime on their haggard faces. They work with the utmost diligence, stoking the fire with a shovelful of fresh coal. They appear to be working on several blades at once, a few placed into the flames to soften their steel, while a handful of others hang just off to the side for sharpening. A nearby blacksmith is in the middle of quenching a red-hot blade in a bucket of cold water when he spots us.
“What do you want?” he snaps.
Captain Tian gives me a good push forward. “A new recruit. See to it that he’s fitted with a set of armor and a blade.”
