Page 114

“They will need a firm reason to turn against him. He guards their favor well, ensuring all their appetites are met,” she said.

“It won’t be easy. It will be dangerous,” I told her.

“Is anything worthwhile not?”

“How can we help each other?” I asked carefully, thinking that even as I’d been hoping she might be of use to us—she’d been doing the same of me.

“We want what you want; we want the gateway to remain closed. We don’t want this war.” Before I could protest, she continued: “I saw your face when he asked you to open the gateway. You’re only doing this for the mortal Lord Dalian holds captive.”

I didn’t reply; wary of committing myself. “Is it true keeping mortal form makes him vulnerable?” I asked instead. “When he captured me the first time, I was surprised I could hurt him.”

“It does, and he was already weakened from opening the crack in the gateway. Sustaining it drains his strength—as did sending the void birds across to seal the skies.” She added then, “I don’t know how he was able to do all this.”

A thought surfaced, something the mirror in the temple had told me about the Wangchuan River: Before one attempts to restore it, one should learn the cause.

“What if he’s using the river’s power for this?” I asked slowly.

Her eyes blazed with fury. “It would be a grave betrayal—but not an impossible one.”

A brief silence fell over us. “Don’t open the gateway,” she said flatly. “We’ll create a diversion so you can escape back to Tianxia, you and the mortal. Once you’re through, summon the immortals for aid. Seal the gateway again. Put an end to Lord Dalian’s ambitions.”

I kept a smile on my face as a guard walked past us. “If you help me, what happens to you afterward? Won’t Lord Dalian unleash his anger on you?”

Her eyes glinted. “Maybe he won’t be in power for much longer.”

Did she intend to kill him? Before I could ask more, Dalian himself stalked around the corner, his guards following close behind.

“Where have you been?” he demanded of me.

I was glad for Lin’s warning. “I visited the town. Was I not meant to?”

His gaze flicked to Lin, then back to me. “You seem friendly with my personal guard.”

Lin bowed, interjecting smoothly, “Lord Dalian, we met by chance in the town. She was lost and I showed her the way back.” She added in a low voice, “It was preferable to having her wander unaccompanied.”

As he nodded, she quickly moved behind him, out of sight.

“Why were you looking for me?” I asked, to divert his attention.

“The fleet has assembled. The gateway must be opened tonight,” he said.

Inside, I was winter and ice. It was too soon; how could I get word to Zhangwei? “Why tonight?” I studied his pallor, recalling what Lin had told me. Was he strained from sustaining the gateway? Eager to gorge on the mortals to restore himself? I’d never let that happen.

“The enchantment over the skies is waning.” He raised his voice, letting it carry to the soldiers nearby. “We must strike quickly to secure a foothold in the Mortal Realm before the immortals descend.”

He meant Tianxia; what else lay on the other side of the gateway? Dalian’s promises were worthless. His forces would descend upon my home like locusts, devouring everything in sight.

“Come with me,” he ordered.

My mind spun, grasping at excuses—but he was not asking, he was commanding me. If I refused, he’d drag me there anyway. Any protest would raise his suspicions, and I had to remain his ally for now. I followed him along the path that led to the pier, my breath struck from my lungs at the sight before us.

The river curled around the mountain like a sleeping serpent, streaked with those glowing bands of green. Hundreds of pale boats were moored along the riverbank, gleaming like the shards of a shattered reflection. An endless stream of soldiers boarded the vessels, armored in red and gold, weapons glinting from their hands. They moved with swift purpose as the void birds circled above, the skies rife with the promise of violence.

I had fallen into a war and ended up on the wrong side.

“Tomorrow, the sun will rise on a new order. The strong will rule, the weak will yield. Such is the way of life.” Dalian’s eyes bored into mine. “Will you do as I ask?”

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Captain Rao approaching, his hand on his sword.