“Because being crushed to death is a terrible way to go,” I answer honestly. And then, after a deep breath, “And no one deserves that. Not even you.”
I’m keenly aware of how his body language changes, melting into something slightly more comfortable. There’s a flash behind his eyes. Not admiration—I wouldn’t expect that of him—but there’s an undeniable inkling of respect.
“Well, I guess I owe you,” Wen mumbles. “If you hadn’t saved me, I would’ve left my wife and kids all by their lonesome.”
I gape. “You havespawn?”
“Is that really so hard to believe?”
“Yes.”
Wen sighs, hands on hips. “Sooah says the same thing. ‘Really lucked out.’?”
“Because your wife agreed?”
“?’Cause the man she was supposed to marry disappeared the day before the wedding.” He shakes his head. “Ling and I were best mates since we were tots. I’ve loved her since forever. And she, me. Problem was I come from nothing. Piss-poor family. A few crooks in my line, you see. There wasn’t any hope of her parents giving me their blessing. So they wanted to marry her off to some wealthy bastard. A jewel merchant. He could probably take care of her alright, but there were rumors.”
I lean in, intrigued by his story. “What rumors?”
Wen’s face darkens. “Word around the teahouse was that he was a mean drunk, and just as mean sober. The type to talk with his fists. Ling would’ve been his second wife.”
“Do I dare ask what happened to the first?”
He kicks at a loose pebble next to his shoe. “Authorities found her dead in the canal a few moons before he and Ling were arranged. Shrugged it off as an accident. Reckoned she must’ve slipped and drowned. But I happened to be passing by when they fished her out of the water.” Wen looks me directly in the eye, so stone-cold and serious it sends a shiver down my spine. “Drowning don’t leave bruises like that.”
“What wound up happening to this merchant?” I ask.
“Haven’t the faintest,” Wen admits. “Ling asked me to run away with her right before the wedding. It would’ve been easy to load up the carriage and make off, but then the news broke. The merchant went missing overnight. Not a trace left, except for one of his silver rings. Ling wasn’t too heartbroken about it, if you can imagine, but…”
“They suspected you,” I say knowingly.
“Course they did. Wasn’t exactly a secret that I was willing to do anything for her. They would’ve had my head, were it not for the captain.”
“What does the captain have to do with any of this?”
“He’d been chasing after something. A demon known for prowling our little corner of Longhao. He vouched for my innocence and saved my neck. Helped me prove I was out drinking away my sorrows at the teahouse. Got into a fight that night. It’s how I wound up with this.” Wen holds up his right hand, displaying the slight tremor he carries with him. “Broke my arm in four places. Doctor didn’t set it right.”
“Why would you choose the bow, of all things?”
“Not strong enough to lift a sword. Can’t fight with my fists. The cap’n knew I’d have trouble finding work after, so he asked me to join him. Had me practicing day in and day out. I ain’t that bad of a shot.”
“He did the same thing for Sooah,” I realize with a light laugh. “Always playing hero.”
“Not playing,” Wen says sternly. “I owe the cap’n a debt. If he hadn’t come along… I made an oath to him that day. He protected my life, so I’ll protect his.”
I’m silent for a moment, allowing Wen’s words to sink in. There’s something endearing about the concept of human loyalty. Wen could have easily thanked Sonam for his kindness and been done with it. Why he feels the need to go above and beyond baffles me, in fact.
But it’s surprisingly nice, how they’ve banded together. A banished prince, a pauper, and a servant girl. Such an unlikely trio. Throw me into the mix, and I could be their rabid pet.
I quickly push the thought away. How ridiculous. Once we leave this place, that’s it. I don’t suspect we’ll remain in eachother’s company. We’ll write this whole experience off as the terrible misadventure it was. I’ll run back to the jungle until the next time I need to feed, and Sonam, Wen, and Sooah will return to their sport of hunting me down. It’s the natural order of things.
I glance at Sonam over my shoulder, and an awful tightness burdens my chest. What a shame. I think I’ve rather come to tolerate him.
“I would ask something of you,” I say quietly.
Wen frowns, mildly suspicious. “What is it?”
I take a deep breath and sigh. “That captain of yours is too noble for his own good. When the time comes, and I’m sure it will—don’t let him do anything foolish.”
