Meanwhile, the sentinels had advanced, drawing their swords and swinging at my brothers. Benkai and Andahai gave up, their anguished cries deafening in my ears. But Hasho stayed, his feathers broken and wings scraped by arrows. He was so close I could see there were tears in his eyes.
Go,I pleaded, turning away to hide my own tears.
At my feet, the paper birds were burning, their basket already in ashes. The charm Megari had tied to the basket was nearly gone too, along with its words of strength and protection. As I lurched to save it, the last birds withered in the bright red flames, and with them my last hopes.
You should go, too,I thought to Kiki.Go. While you stillcan.
When you die, I die,my bird replied.If you’re not afraid, I won’t be either. I’ll stay with you to the end, Shiori.
I hugged her, tucking her under my bowl. I didn’t need a thousand birds, not when I had Kiki.
The wood sizzled, my balance wobbling as the fire grew in strength and size. Smoke filled my lungs, the heat overwhelming me. I squeezed my eyes shut, willing myself to be calm.
I thought of stealing honeyed sweet potatoes from the Summer Festival, of brewing fish soup with floating radishes for Takkan, of grilling cakes with Mama. Maybe she’d be there in heaven to make them with me, and I could finally get the recipe straight and hear her sing again.
Kiki twitched.Shiori,she breathed.Look. Look!
I forced my eyes open, but the smoke was too thick….I saw a flicker of blue, and a glint of steel. But that was all.
Then I heard him.
“Lina!” Takkan shouted. His blade flashed high, and I could see his figure, blurred through the flames, coming for me. A hundred steps from the stake, Hasege intercepted him. Their swords engaged, locked in a deadly duel.
At my side, Pao was shoveling snow into the fire. One by one, the other sentinels began to help, but the flames showed no sign of weakening.
I lifted my head skyward, trying not to cough from the smoke. The demonfire lashed at my back, seeping into my skin. Guiya hadn’t lied; it didn’t hurt. My skin didn’t even char or blacken—instead the fire went straight for my blood. I could feel my heart flare….
We built kites every summer, the seven of us,I murmured to myself. I wished I could build another kite—with my brothers, with Takkan. I wished I could read the letters he’d sent me.
“Lina!” Takkan shouted again. Fear for my life gave him a sudden strength, and he overpowered his cousin, striking him in the back of his neck. As Hasege collapsed, Takkan charged toward the fire.
Die, Shiori,the flames hissed in Guiya’s voice.Or he willtoo.
The priestess skirted the edge of the forest, overlooking the fire. She had a bow raised, the arrow aimed straight at Takkan’s heart.
Fire roared all around me, consuming my senses. “Takkan!” I screamed. “Watch out!”
The shock that rippled across his face was the last thing I saw before the bowl on my head shattered. And the fire swallowed me whole.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
I woke covered in embers, my clothing scorched and blackened. The starstroke net glittered on my lap, illuminating plumes of smoke. The air was so thick and the world so dark that I wondered whether I was still on earth at all—until I started to pick out shapes in the ashes. There was the string of paper birds Megari had made for me, and what remained of her protection charm. I rolled over for the charm, then coughed, unable to prevent my lungs from gasping.
Praise the gods,Kiki cried with relief as she wove through the smoke and landed on my stomach.It was so dark I thought we’d died!
I sat up, my entire body trembling as I kicked off the starstroke net. The two broken halves of my walnut bowl lay beside me, and my fingers leapt to the top of my head. For the first time in months, I touched hair—thick and coarse sheets of hair—instead of the bowl.
My hands, still shaking, moved to my throat next. Demons take me, I had spoken! I sprang to my feet, fear leaping in my chest.
Your brothers are alive,said Kiki, reading my thoughts.But they’re still cranes. You must have broken only your part of the curse.
She was right. I picked up a piece of the wooden bowl. I’d become so used to its weight on my head that I felt strangely light without it.
It wasn’t meant to be a curse,I whispered silently as the bowl crumbled into dust in my hands.It was a shield. One to hide my magic from the world, and…to protect me from it at the same time.
Kiki landed on my arm.Protect you from your own magic?
I nodded.My own and others’. The bowl broke to save me from Guiya’s demonfire. Otherwise, I would be a pile of ashes by now.
