A girl, passing through the courtyard, halted and bowed to me. In her hands was a tray of pastries, the kind which flaked and crumbled when you bit into them to get to the sweet bean filling. When she looked up, I recognized her at once.
“Minyi, it’s me!” I laughed. “Why are you being so formal?”
Two dimples appeared in her round cheeks. “Who hasn’t heard of the First Archer’s accomplishments over the past year?” she said, coming to sit beside me. “Did you really strike down twenty spirits during your last battle?”
My lips twitched, remembering her fondness for gossip. “Twelve. They fly fast.”
“What of the Bone Devil? What did it look like?”
I shuddered at the remembrance of the malevolent creature that had broken free from the Celestial prison. “Hair and pupils so pale, they were almost translucent. Powdery skin stretched as taut as a drum.”
She clutched my sleeve. “How did you kill it?”
A memory flashed across my mind: Wenzhi’s sword arcing through the air, sinking into the creature’s neck. Its jaws—crammed with silver needles for teeth—had snapped at him viciously. As Wenzhi evaded its attack, the monster’s claws flashed above his neck, toward the throbbing vein where his lifeblood flowed. Gripped by fear, I had released an arrow that plunged into its skull. Thick, white liquid oozed from the wound, a piercing shriek stabbing the air. Its claws had clutched the shaft once before they fell away, as it collapsed onto the ground. Gone were those days when my heart had twinged with pity, though their faces haunted me still.
“Captain Wenzhi and I fought it together,” I told her.
At the mention of his name, Minyi sat straighter, her eyes brightening as whenever she scented a new tale.
To forestall her next question, I hastily asked, “What news do you have of the palace? How is His Highness?” Too late, did I bite my tongue. Last night’s wine must have addled my senses, to have spoken of him aloud.
Someone approached from behind me. Had the roar from the waterfall muffled the footsteps? A throat was cleared and just from that sound, I could tell who he was before I turned. Beside me, Minyi leapt to her feet and bowed. Without another word, she grabbed her tray and hurried away, leaving me alone with the intruder. Except he was no intruder; he had every right to be here. It was I who did not belong.
“Please forgive the trespass, Your Highness. I will leave at once.” Formality was a shield I clung to against my own weakness.
“Why don’t you ask me how I am yourself?” There was a warmth to his tone which I had not heard for a long time.
I would have left then, but he moved into my path. As I looked up at him, I could not deny it was there still—that ache in my heart, that thread which tugged at it whenever he was near . . . no matter how I wished it did not. A soft breeze blew through the courtyard, sweeping a lock of my hair against his cheek. He caught it between his fingers, his eyes as inscrutable as pools of night.
“Have you been well?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Why are you here?”
“Curiosity. I wanted to meet my replacement,” I said with a flippancy which fell flat.
“Who could have taken your place?”
His tone, his words, affected me still. But I wrenched myself away to leave.
“Are we not friends anymore? Since the Eastern Sea, I’ve seen you less than a handful of times and each time you run away.” He gestured toward the stools. “Why don’t you sit down? Let’s talk as we used to. Unless you’re afraid?” A note of challenge rang in his voice.
My sense warred with my pride. The latter won as I sat back down, goaded by his taunt. “I can’t stay long. My training—”
“Yes, the valiant First Archer,” he interjected cuttingly. “Who else would protect the Celestial Kingdom? Still ‘First Archer’ after all your accomplishments though. An honorable title but without rank or power. Why not seek a command of your own instead of trailing in Captain Wenzhi’s shadow?”
I clenched my teeth. “That’s my choice. I want the freedom to take on the campaigns I wish. I have no desire to climb higher for ambition’s sake alone.”
He stared at me like he was searching for something. “Or is there more behind your relationship? There are many rumors about the young captain and the gifted archer he favors. The two brightest stars in the Celestial Army. It’s fortunate you don’t hold an official position in the army, otherwise this would be most improper.”