“Welcome, dear travelers,” he says, his voice low and warm. “My! Yet another set of bowls to put out for dinner tonight. I can’t remember the last time we had so many visitors!”
“Are we not the first?” I ask.
“A young woman from the Southern Kingdom arrived not three days ago,” he explains. “She has not given us the courtesy of her name—she’s rather strange—so we villagers have been referring to her as the hunt—”
“Hey, Leaf Water!” Feng shouts. She stomps over, her hair wild and lip curled in a triumphant sneer. “IknewI’d find ye here.”
Despite the tightness of my painfully dry skin, I manage to put on a weak smile. “Oh… what a pleasure, Feng. I’m so glad to see you again.”
“Bet yer ass yer glad to see me! I’ve been looking for ye everywhere.”
“Were you worried about me, dear huntress?”
“Yer dumb ass was hauled off by my dragon,” she says under her breath through clenched teeth. “Of course I was worried.”
“But how did you know to look for me here?”
“Blasted creature set off west. Not even a dragon can last in the Wastelands. I found this oasis, ye see, but it looked abandoned. And I saw signs of some sort of struggle. Lots of blood an’ all that, along with a few torn scales. I figured the dragon must’ve gotten hurt and kept on going west. The next best place would be the Moonstar Isles. Made a straight shot fer it on horseback. Had plenty of water t’ keep us both goin’ day an’ night. Probably how I beat ye here.”
“How very impressive,” I murmur dryly.
“Who’sshe?” Feng snaps.
“Oh, uh…” I turn to give Jyn the most discreet of glances. My guts tie themselves up into knots. What will happen if Feng learns the truth? Can she handle such a secret?
My instincts tell me no.
Jyn cautiously grips the back of my tunic. I can feel her wariness tugging at our connection. It’s for this reason that I say nothing about the matter and keep my mouth shut.
The kind village elder looks among the three of us, his bushy white brows raised in surprise. “Ah, you know each other, do you? How fortuitous to be among friends.”
“Fortuitous indeed,” I say dryly.
“How long do you and your wife intend to stay?”
Jyn’s cheeks turn bright crimson. “We are not—”
“She’s not my wife,” I say around the lump in my throat.
“Ah, well, if that’s the case, I will see to it that you are given two of our spare tents rather than one. Chyou, my dear, would you show our guests the way?”
Chyou carefully hands her baby girl to her husband. “It would be my pleasure.”
“Stay as long as you like, dear friends,” the village elder says. “We have been blessed with a bountiful harvest and another successful hunt. There’s more than enough to go around. Tonight, weshall have a feast in your honor. I look forward to hearing the tales of your travels.”
Jyn is quick to follow Chyou, stiff and uncomfortable. “Thank you for your kindness, sir.”
Chyou guides us through the maze of tents until we reach our own on the outskirts of the village. The edge of the bamboo forest sits directly behind them. Chyou pulls one of the flaps open. The inside of the tent is surprisingly spacious, filled with soft cushions and knitted blankets.
“This one’s for you, Sai,” she says cheerfully. “And this one over here is for you,jiejie.”Big sister. “The village feast will be soon, but there should be some fresh fruit waiting for you inside. Let us know if there’s anything you need.”
I bow my head. “Your hospitality is much appreciated.”
Chyou giggles. “No need for such formalities. Rest. I’ll retrieve you when it’s time to eat.”
The woman skips off, leaving me and Jyn alone together for the first time since our escape from the Lost Library. We stare at each other, the tension thick. The question I asked her by the oasis is an ax lingering over our heads, waiting to fall, though her silence has said plenty. I may not have the whole truth, the finer details missing, but its outline is undeniable.
All I need is for Jyn to confirm or deny.
