I stilled, unnerved by the sudden hush and the crowd which had gathered. Then a tall, lean soldier I had never seen before clapped, the sound breaking the daze. Shuxiao cheered as Liwei stepped forward, lifting me up by my waist and spinning me around.
“Liwei, put me down,” I hissed, conscious of the watchful stares. For some reason, I found it hard to catch my breath, my pulse leaping in an erratic rhythm.
He laughed as he set me upon the ground, and with a parting grin, headed back to the sword fighting station.
The soldiers dispersed but General Jianyun remained, studying me for a moment. “Have you given any thought to your future? When you’re no longer the Crown Prince’s companion?” he finally asked.
His blunt question struck me. I had not imagined that my position would end, but Liwei would soon assume his court duties. His lessons would decrease and then, what would I do? Become his attendant, serving his meals and tea? The idea seared me like a hot coal.
General Jianyun continued, oblivious to my unease, “Your archery is unmatched. According to Teacher Daoming, your magic is strong. I think you would do very well in the army and your future could be brighter than the sun.”
My mind whirled with the possibilities. My father was a soldier; it had been his path to glory, to slaying the sunbirds and saving the world. A great honor, a terrible burden. His reward had been the elixir which turned my mother and me immortal, though it parted us from him, too.
Snapping out of my stupor, I asked, “General Jianyun, how does one advance in the army?”
“Fighting for our kingdom. Performing each task to the best of one’s abilities. Protecting your fellow soldiers. Hard work, obedience, loyalty throughout the years. What greater honor is there than to serve our kingdom and Their Celestial Majesties?” Pride rang in his voice.
A curt refusal sprang to my tongue which I quashed out of respect to the general, though I could not stop my lip from curling.
He did not seem to notice, adding as an afterthought, “Some also dream of winning the Crimson Lion Talisman, though such a thing is rare.”
“Crimson Lion Talisman?” I had never heard of it before.
“It is the highest honor of the Celestial Army, awarded by the emperor himself. Its bearer is granted a royal favor.”
A wild hope fluttered in my chest. “How is this talisman won?” I cursed the tremor in my voice, hoping he did not hear my eagerness.
“Through exceptional acts of valor, courage, or sacrifice, in service to the Celestial Kingdom.” He frowned. “However, this is not something to pin your hopes upon. In my lifetime, the talisman has been awarded less than a handful of times.”
General Jianyun must be hundreds of years old. A thousand? How could I surpass the mighty warriors here, when I had barely grasped my powers a couple of years ago? No, I could not allow myself to think so, I could not admit defeat before I tried. Among all the mortals across the centuries, it was my father who had caught the emperor’s attention to win the Elixir of Immortality. I would strive for no less.
Yet something reined in my surging excitement. If I joined the Celestial Army, I would have to leave the Courtyard of Eternal Tranquility. I was safe there. As happy as I could be, away from my mother. Ah, I was becoming muddled inside. I could never forget why I was here—that I had been torn from my home, and that I had come to the Jade Palace to find my way back. General Jianyun’s talk of honor and service did not move me. This was not my home; I had no loyalty to this place. I even bore a grudge against Their Celestial Majesties, which I was willing to swallow for my own ends. And yet, this offer gave me a glimpse into a future where I could advance through my own merit, a chance to grasp at my mother’s freedom. Better by far than my wild fantasies of soaring to the moon and shattering the enchantment which bound her there. What life would await us after that? An eternity of being hunted and living in fear.
General Jianyun cleared his throat, perhaps wondering at my prolonged silence.
I cupped my hands as I bowed to him. “Thank you for your confidence in me, General Jianyun. I promise to consider it.” His offer tempted me more than I cared to admit. I was already inclined to accept, though I could not do so before speaking to Liwei.
Over our meal that night, Liwei asked, “What did you and General Jianyun talk about? It seemed to be a serious conversation.”
Surprised that he had noticed, I lifted my chopsticks to stuff a lump of rice into my mouth. For some reason, I was reluctant to tell him about the general’s offer. A few excuses drifted through my mind, but I had only lied to him once before and that had been out of necessity.