“Wolves?” Pao’s dark brows slanted into a frown. “Wolves have not been spotted near Iro in years.”
“They attacked on the hill, not far from the western edge of the river’s mouth.”
Hasege laughed. “You think even wolves are Yuji’s assassins now, Takkan? They’re only beasts, and you escaped intact. You trulyhavelost your senses.”
I watched Takkan, wondering whether he’d noticed that smallest wolf. The one with the cuff on his foreleg…
Takkan’s eyes were stony. “We cannot rule out the possibility that Lord Yuji sent them. It is possible he has given up on finding Shiori’anma, but he remains a traitor. A dangerous one.”
“Hasege and I will ride out to investigate,” Pao said quickly. He nudged Hasege. “Come.”
“No,” replied Hasege. “I’ll go alone. You escort the women inside.”
There was no need. Lady Bushian was already at the gate, running toward her daughter.
“Mama!” Megari cried. “It was my idea. I wanted to see the plum blossoms, and—”
“Not another word,” said Lady Bushian. She cast me a glare that would have made even the wolves whimper.
I trudged numbly back to my room. My robes were torn and my skirts were soaked, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the wolves’ attack and how the plum blossoms had withered. I could hardly see straight. Too late I realized my footsteps had led me toward Zairena’s room instead of my own.
“Hasege has returned, have you heard?” her maid was telling her. “Will you greet him? He’s talking with Takkan outside—”
“Hasege can wait.”
Zairena spied me at the door and opened it wide. “Have you come to say goodbye, Lina?”
Goodbye?
“You think you can put Megari in danger and remain in Lady Bushian’s good graces?” Zairena laughed. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she asks you to leave.”
My jaw tightened. I kept walking, but Zairena blockedme.
“Where are you running off to? There’s no need to hide, not when you have that bowl on your head.” She clasped the sides of the bowl, trying to pull it off.
I twisted out of her grip, inwardly cursing the fortress’s narrow hallways. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with her. My robes were drenched, my fingers in dire need of rebandaging.
Zairena stepped aside. “Ah, I’ve struck a nerve, haven’t I?” She tilted her head, touching the mole on her cheek. “Whatareyou keeping under that bowl, Lina? I so hope it’s something worth all the trouble.”
I shouldered past her.Troublewas an understatement.
I stopped attending meals in the castle. I even skipped my lessons with Chiruan. He had promised to cook sevenspice tofu and crab in silken egg custard—two dishes that had become my favorites. But since my trip to see the plum blossoms, I had no heart to learn.
Despair welled up in me, and I buried my face in my hands. Countless nights of wielding enchanted nettles with knife-sharp leaves and scorching thorns hadn’t made me utter a sound, but in one fleeting moment with Megari and Takkan, I had almost ruined everything.
I had nearly gotten my brothers killed.
When I grew tired of pacing my chambers and moping alone by the window, I wandered the fortress. Eventually I found a pavilion cloistered in the gardens, and I took solace on its veranda, warm and secluded. With all this unrest and talk about war with A’landi, the pavilion looked like it had been forgotten, the stone steps leading to the doors piled high with snow. I started a fire in the brazier and huddled beside it, watching the lanterns sway from the frost-touched eaves.
To pass the time, I folded cranes. Tiny ones, a fraction of Kiki’s size, since paper was precious.
You haven’t moped about like this in ages, Shiori.Kiki flapped her wings, depositing snow onto my nose.Nothing happened. No one was hurt. Why so sad?
I didn’t look up.
Cheer up. Sing that silly song of yours. You can’t languish about all day. You have a curse to break.
My starstroke net was the last thing I wanted to think about. When I waved Kiki away, she grunted and flew off. After half an hour, I grew worried and started to put away my paper birds to go look for her. Then, out of nowhere, Kiki came diving toward me, ducking into the basket. At the same time, a familiar figure rounded the corner.
