“I can’t tell if your family would be proud or horrified.”
I twist around to find Nari leaning against the door.
“I’m sure they would be proud you’ve gotten your voice back,” she says, “but somehow I can’t imagine they’d be pleased about your engagement.”
Last Nari saw me, I was on my way to get back my soul from Shin. Now I’m to marry him. She must be wondering what happened during the time we were apart. I could tell her the truth, but I don’t want to endanger her. Even I can admit there are perilous politics astir among the gods and houses.
“Have you seen Shin? I need to speak with him. It’s urgent.”
Nari raises a brow but allows the change in subject. “He went with Lord Kirin to Tiger House.”
Shin must suspect Lord Tiger is behind the attempted theft of my soul. “When will he return?”
“Not until tonight.”
But that will be too late, a whole day wasted. Now that I have my soul back, I need to return to the Sea God. The dream reminded me—the answers I seek lie with him.
“Nari, I can’t explain it, but there’s somewhere I need to go. Will you help me?”
“I’m sorry, Mina,” she says, her expression apologetic, “but I have orders. You’re free to go anywhere you’d like, as long as it’s within the grounds of Lotus House.”
I stare at her in shock. Shin lied to me! He promised me that he wouldn’t keep me from my task.
“Mina—” she begins.
I sweep past her out the door.
She follows me down the stairs. “You don’t understand. It’s for your own safety. You’re human. Your body is weaker in this world.”
Turning, I grab her hands. “Nari, you have to help me get to the Sea God’s palace.”
“The Sea God—” Her eyes widen, but then she slowly shakes her head. “I can’t disobey a direct order from Lord Shin. He is the master of this house. I am sworn to him.”
“Say I escaped! You helped me last night.”
“Ah, Nari,” a low voice drawls from the shadows beneath the stairs. “Is that why you wanted to play cards with me?” Namgi steps away from the wall he was leaning against. “And here I thought we were finally getting along.”
I move in front of Nari, but though his words are for her, his eyes are on me.
“Breaking oaths, sneaking into places where you don’t belong,” he says. “You ask a lot of your friends.”
I hesitate, then say, “I’d ask the same of my foes.”
He raises a brow at the echo of yesterday’s words. Are you a friend or are you a foe?
“There will be no escaping,” Namgi says. “I’ll take you myself.”
13
Namgi and I leave on foot through the main gate, where the night before I’d seen party guests arriving. The guards on duty nod at him as we pass, only sparing me a cursory glance. I can tell Shin’s location by the Red String of Fate. Right now it stretches behind me, indicating Shin is somewhere to the south. If I can stay north of him, he won’t discover that I’ve left the grounds of Lotus House, at least for a little while.
Though it’s early in the morning, the city is already bustling with activity, spirits purchasing fresh produce and flowers from makeshift markets set up on either side of the street. Even the canal is crowded with vendors on boats, their cargo on display as they shout out to the people on the shore. I watch as a young woman throws a tin coin into the hull of a boat with one hand, only to catch a wrapped fish with the other, pitched to her by the vendor.
“What would you like to do first?” Namgi asks, walking with his hands on the back of his head. “Shopping? Sightseeing? There’s a wonderful teahouse in the market district that serves a variety of wine-spirits.”
“Take me to the Sea God’s palace.”
I can see its winged rooftop in the distance, beneath the shadow of a great white cloud.
“The gate to the palace won’t be open, you know. Not until a year from now, with the arrival of the next Sea God’s bride.”
I frown. That does present an obstacle, but I can’t lose this opportunity. “I’ll deal with that problem when I get there.”
Namgi shrugs, gesturing for me to follow him. We set off down the street. As we walk, I study Namgi out of the corner of my eye. Like yesterday, he wears form-fitting black robes and a dagger at his waist, his hair swept back with a jade clip. People call out to him as we pass, most friendly-like, though I notice some spirits shy away at his approach. It reminds me of the party the night before, when the guests scattered in fear as the snake-men entered the pavilion.