“It grows on the top of Mount Rayuna, in the middle of the Taijin Sea,” my brother went on, ignoring my troubled look. “No one has ever been able to get near it, let alone touch it—not without magic.”
I glanced at my other brothers, who were all gazing at the ground. We were thinking the same thing. Countless fools had tried in the past to gather starstroke, but its leaves were sharp as knives, and the mere touch of its thorns was said to be like a stab of fire. Yet the greater danger was the Dragon King himself, who was known to guard Mount Rayuna. Anyone caught gathering the nettles would be at his terrible mercy.
“But we can fly,” said Andahai, “and you…Raikama said you have magic in your blood.”
At the mention of our stepmother, I looked up in bewilderment.
“She wasn’t lying about that, was she?” Yotan asked.
I grimaced.No.But I wasn’t sure how that would help us here.
“Then you should be able to use this.” Benkai held out a straw satchel, worn and box-shaped, with a sturdy strap and two wooden buckles. Plain and unremarkable, it looked like any old bag a poor villager might carry. But when I lifted the flap, I saw that it was lined with strips of dark wood. Walnut, if I were to guess.
“The enchanter gave it to us. He said its depths are boundless, and that only someone with magic can see its contents. It will help you contain the starstroke’s power while you weave the net.”
I threw the satchel to the side.
He just happened to have this in his possession? Who is this enchanter, anyway?
“Master Tsring is a famous seer in A’landi.” Benkai paused, returning the satchel to my lap. “He’s the one who found us and helped us. We were hoping he could locate you.” His gaze fell on the bowl resting atop my head. “But he said your magic was blocked.”
An accurate statement, but I still didn’t like or trust this Master Tsring.
What does he want in return? The pearl, once we’re finished with it?
“He wants the net,” replied Hasho. “It’ll be of no use to us after we break our curse. It’s a fair trade.”
Hardly.I crossed my arms. From a glance at Reiji, my least trusting brother, I could tell they had already argued over this point.
“Let us worry about the enchanter later,” Andahai said firmly. “For now we focus on the starstroke net. Are you up for the task, Shiori?”
What choice did I have?
I am.I threaded my arm through the strap of the satchel.Of course I am.
“Wait.” Wandei exhaled, reminding us all that he was the only one who had not spoken. “You never told us, Sister, why it is that you must not speak.”
I closed my eyes, wishing he hadn’t asked.
Using the dagger to point at my throat then at my brothers, I mouthed:
Because you’ll die. For every word I utter, every sound I make—one of you will die.
My brothers’ faces went ashen, and they looked at each other, passing something unsaid. The most telltale sign that they were hiding something from me was the frown Andahai wore. He elbowed Benkai, shaking his head.
What was going on?
“Perhaps we are asking too much of you, Shiori,” said Andahai slowly. “Weaving the net will be painful; it will cause you much agony. I would not wish to multiply your burden.”
I sprang to my feet.My burden?I gestured wildly.Every morning, your bodies are ripped apart as you turn into cranes.I had watched Hasho try to hold in a scream as Raikama’s enchantment consumed him. I had seen Yotan’s face blanch as the colors of dawn began to paint the sky.
And me? For all my complaining, all I had to do was wear a silly bowl on my head and hold in my voice.
My curse was easy compared to theirs, and I would gladly take on any burden if it gave them relief.
“Let’s wait until tomorrow,” said Hasho. “We aren’t in any rush to break the curse.”
Not in any rush?My head jerked up, certain that was a lie. I glowered at Hasho. My youngest brother used to be the one who keptmysecrets. What was he concealing now?
