“The ambassador spoke about ice fishing,” she says. “He mentioned there were warming huts by a lake. I think he meant this lake.”
Mikail and Euyn exchange glances. I catch Royo staring my way. I suppress a smile and pretend like I didn’t see.
“Was it a clue or a trap?” Euyn asks, stroking his beard.
“It’s hard to say,” Mikail replies. Then he stares out the window. “We’re about to find out—someone is walking out on the lake.”
All of us move, grasping at weapons—even Sora picks up a dagger and brandishes it with skill. Euyn joins Mikail at the window, his bow loaded.
My stomach twists as we wait. Is it Khitanese guards? Did Seok follow us?
“It’s a priest,” Euyn says. “Or at least it is someone in gray robes.”
I stand on the bench, peering over the heads of the others, but I can barely make out a man because the sky is also gray. I squint and look for movement. Mikail is right—someone is walking out toward the ice. I wonder how he’ll get into the temple, but that’s what we’re waiting to find out.
We’re all crowding the window except for Sora, who sat down to continue warming her feet. I think her boots were even less useful than mine. She may lose those toes, but I don’t think she cares.
“We need to follow,” Mikail says. “Euyn, keep him in your sights. Royo, for the Kingdom of Stars, step quieter.”
Royo gestures at himself with his palms out.
“Put the outside of your foot down first and roll your step instead of bringing your sole flat,” I say. “It’ll help.”
Royo seems puzzled, but he nods.
Euyn hands us dry socks from a rucksack, and Sora and I slip them on, and then our boots. Mine are still damp, but it’s better than before with the thick socks.
Well, until we get outside. Snow immediately falls into my boot again. I sigh. I’ll have to buy winter boots after this.
Euyn takes the lead, and we follow behind him in a single line on the shore. We’re a good distance from the priest—fifty yards or more. I’d worry about us being spotted, but we are all wearing white fur against white hills, and it is still snowing. So long as we stay far enough away from him, the storm will hide us.
Euyn waves an arm for us to step onto the ice, I assume because the priest has gone farther in. I’m not sure how Euyn can even see him, but he does have exceptional vision.
Royo has a hard time stepping on the lake, his feet skidding.
“Just slide your feet,” I whisper.
He nods and tries. It’s better.
It’s strange to walk on water. I keep thinking we will break through and fall into the lake, but the surface holds. For now.
Sora has a hard time in her fancy boots, and Royo can’t seem to walk without stomp-sliding, but still, we make progress. We follow behind the priest, shuffling along the ice until Euyn suddenly throws himself down and lies flat. We all get down and do the same. The priest must have stopped or spotted us.
As I lie on the frozen lake, I keep my head up, and I finally see the priest. He has red hair with a bald patch. His robes billow in the wind. I think for a moment that he saw us, but he doesn’t turn around. Instead, he disappears.
I blink. He just disappeared.
“Ten Hells, what the fuck?” Royo whispers.
My thoughts exactly.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Mikail
Lake Cerome, Khitan
Well, that was interesting.
