At the sound of her voice, recognition flooded through me. My intuition wasn’t wrong. The woman was indeed a soldier, or at least had been dressed like one the first time we met. Perhaps she was an exception to the rule.
I bowed my head in respect, hiding my discomfort. Of all people, I had to run into an officer of the Wen militia. The gods were unusually rude today.
“Were you able to locate your corpse in time?” the woman asked, stopping a respectable distance away. She couldn’t have been more than five years older than me, her left cheekbone marked by a faint scar.
“Yes,” I said, resisting the urge to turn and check on the apothecary. “I must thank you for your warning.”
The woman nodded. “Did you already deliver him to his family?”
“Not yet.”
“Is he your only assignment, or are there others?”
“He is the only one at the moment.”
“Where are you bringing him?”
I studied the soldier, not bothering to hide my suspicion. “Why the curiosity in a ganshi priestess’s job? Most people like to know as little as possible about death’s business.”
“I’m not most people.” Then, matter-of-factly, she added,“I’m looking for a fugitive, one who was reported to have headed toward Ninghe County. Since we crossed paths there, I wondered if you’d come across anyone unusual around that time. Or if any of your corpses aren’t corpses at all.”
My eyebrow twitched. “Are you accusing me of unlawful activity?”
“I’m merely asking a question.”
“I know nothing of any fugitive,” I said, tone level. “I just guide the dead.”
“May I ask whom you came to guide?”
I shrugged. “A common soldier. Certainly no one of import to you.”
“I’d like to determine that myself. May I see this soldier?”
“I don’t think—”
Just then the apothecary returned, saving me from having to finish.
“That’ll be fifteen silvers, miss,” he informed me while bundling my purchases together in a linen cloth. As I brought out my purse, he added, “My daughter makes her own perfumes. Would you like to purchase one?”
Normally, I would’ve said no, thinking it a waste of money. But at that moment, I was eager to avoid my exchange with the soldier. Besides, I could give the perfume to my sister as a gift. Lilan loved pretty things.
“How much?” I asked.
“Ten silvers.”
“Very well,” I said, ignoring the soldier’s presence. “Just pack it with my other items.”
“Of course, miss. Thank you for your patronage.”
I finished paying and gestured vaguely at the soldier. “I’m sorry for holding up your other customers. Have a good day.”
The soldier opened her mouth but was interrupted by the apothecary’s friendly “Welcome! How may I help you, miss?”
Taking advantage of her distraction, I hurried to the exit with the pack of medicine hugged to my chest.
The moment I stepped outside, my eyes sought Ren’s hooded figure. To my relief, he remained in the street musician’s audience, enthralled by the performer plucking at his guzheng’s strings. Ren didn’t notice me until I tugged on his sleeve and whispered, “We must leave now.”
“The song’s almost over,” he said, his previous anger forgotten. “Listen, mistress. It’s important to enjoy a bit of music every once in a while. Recharge your soul and savor a moment of peace.”
