“Where did you hear such things?”
“My mother, I suppose. I always had trouble sleeping as a boy. Too hyper an imagination. She told me all manner of stories to help me doze off.”
Her lips press into a thin line, her jaw tensing. “There’s some truth in fiction, I suppose.”
“Is that where you’re from? The east?”
Jyn nods slowly. “Yes, but I left a very long time ago.”
“And Qing Long, the azure dragon of old… Was he real?”
“My great-great-grandfather.”
My eyes widen in delighted surprise. “Really? How did he end up in the stars?”
Jyn shakes her head. “It’s said that he wanted to see how high he could fly… and got stuck there.”
“Oh, that.” Laughter rises out of me. No matter how hard I try to swallow it down, it bursts forth with twice as much force. “Howterrible.”
Miraculously, Jyn begins to giggle too. It’s a quiet sound, but marvelous all the same. The corners of her eyes crinkle as she smiles, and I can’t help but stare at her bashful delight. So sweet, so joyful. Eventually, though, her hard mask slips back into place, the sound of her laughter ceases.
“Come,” she says, serious as ever. “Let’s not waste moonlight.”
“Lead the way, my lady.”
Traveling across the sand dunes at night proves an ingenious decision on my part, if I do say so myself. It’s far easier to traverse the Western Wastelands this way; without the sun baking us from the outside in, Jyn and I are able to keep a good pace.
Every now and then, I see her tongue flick out. It’s a discreet movement, very much a quick lick of her lips, but I notice it all the same.
“This way,” she says. “There’s a small body of water nearby.”
“How can you tell?” I ask.
“I can smell it.”
“With yourtongue?” I back away with a grin when she shootsme an irritated glare. “I’m only curious. Can you fault me for wanting to know more about you?”
“Yes,” she grumbles, continuing forward with a sharp huff. Her long braid swings back and forth as she walks, silky locks pulled up high and secured with an ornate silver pin.
It appears to be the only extravagance on her person. I study it with great interest as we walk, the craftsmanship of the pin unlike anything I have ever seen. Flowers are carved into it, bits of silver expertly twisted to resemble delicate petals. No gems, but I think that fitting. Anything more would clash with her natural elegance. The longer I stare at it, the more fascinated I become. For some reason, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve seen it somewhere before.
A vision flashes before my eyes.
I’m surrounded by a lush bamboo forest, sunlight filtering in through the light green leaves. A woman sits before me, and I’m combing my fingers through her long black hair. I’m the one who sets the pin in place, carefully weaving braids in her hair as the noonday sun climbs higher. She turns, and although the details of her face are out of focus, there’s no denying that brilliant smile.
A gift for you, my love.
I will treasure it forever.
It’s all real, and yet it’s not. Am I dreaming this somehow?
“Sai?”
The sound of Jyn’s voice snaps me out of my trance. She’s a few paces ahead of me now, looking back with a furrowed brow.
“Apologies,” I murmur, quick to catch up. “I was lost in—”
The loud, grating sound of a bird’s screech interrupts us.
