Chen Yong kneeled beside her, steadied her arm and worked to unclasp the clawed hand. Ai Ling flung her spirit toward him in panic—it was the only way she could be sure. She felt the familiar tightness within her navel, the snap as she entered his being. She saw herself through his eyes, stricken and pale, felt her slick trembling hand in his own firm grip. Concern mingled with relief within him. His stoic expression concealed the gallop of his heart, the furor surging through his limbs. Thank the Goddess of Mercy, she’s safe.
She pulled back, the relief so overwhelming she wanted to throw her arms around him. Instead she struggled unsteadily to her feet.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
He seemed to ask that often.
Ai Ling willed her wobbling knees not to cave. She drew a ragged breath. “How . . .” She didn’t know what to ask.
“I left the city the next day. That night, I made camp in the open. When I finally slept, I was plagued with horrific dreams.” He still clasped her with a strong hand, and she regretted it when he let go. “I woke in the morning and knew something had been near. I could feel it moving away. I followed it.”
Chen Yong looked down at the decapitated head, split in the middle, each half’s mouth pulled in a grotesque grin. He considered it with horrified disgust. “Is that what I look like?”
Ai Ling wiped a sleeve over her face. “Why is this happening?”
“Let’s move away from here—this thing. Do you need help?” he asked.
She nodded, wanting his touch. He sheathed his sword and offered his arm. Ai Ling rested her fingers on the crook of his elbow, feeling self-conscious and grateful.
“Your necklace was glowing,” Chen Yong said.
She looked down at the jade pendant. It still held a wan light, so dim she thought she imagined it. “I think it protects me,” she said.
He studied the pendant, dull now, his face betraying nothing.
They walked at a slow but steady pace. Neither spoke for a long time. She waited for her fingers to stop trembling, for her heart to stop fluttering against her throat. Chen Yong, in turn, scanned the horizon, often stopping to listen to the drone of insects and the rustle of grass and leaves.
Ai Ling concentrated on the steady feel of Chen Yong’s arm beneath her hand. She forced her thoughts toward the mundane, pruning the plum tree in their courtyard, reciting poetry with her father. She suddenly remembered the bundle of letters she carried.
“I met with Master Tan again today. He wanted to apologize and—”
They turned at the same time toward the sound of galloping hooves approaching. It was near dark, and she could not clearly see the figure sitting astride the tall horse. Chen Yong stepped protectively in front of her, his sword raised. Her hand gripped the hilt of her dagger, her pulse racing. What now? She fought the panic that threatened to deluge her, the scent of it trickling from her pores, making her nostrils flare.
“Old brother!” A young man reined in the animal and smoothed its mane in an attempt to calm it.
“Li Rong?” Chen Yong asked, his dark brows drawn together, a hint of mistrust shadowing his face. His sword remained raised.
“Goddess of Mercy, did you pass the dead man on the road?” the young man asked. “Feng nearly threw me off in his fright.”
“It was no man. But it used my image,” Chen Yong said.
The young man dismounted in one fluid motion. He held the reins in one hand with the other arm thrown out wide. Chen Yong hesitated, but Li Rong stepped forward to clasp him in a hug, ignoring the raised sword.
“What happened?” Li Rong asked. The horse snorted, and Ai Ling approached to stroke its neck. It nickered, seemed to calm under her touch.
“The gates of the underworld have been flung open, it seems,” Chen Yong said. His voice was grim when he finished his tale.
“It’s the stuff of ghost tales and nightmares,” Li Rong said. He paused to pull something from his travel satchel. He lit a small gilded lantern as the stars began to glimmer in the sky.
“Is it truly you, little brother?”
“Could this world possibly endure two of me?” Li Rong grinned. Ai Ling guessed him to be her age—seventeen years. He stood slightly taller than she did and was attired in dark gray riding clothes, the long-sleeved tunic hugging his chest with billowing trouser legs below. The lantern illuminated his mischievous expression as he cocked his head at his brother.
“Won’t you introduce me to your beautiful travel companion?” Li Rong lifted the lantern and studied her with an open flirtation that made her ears burn. He was nothing like Chen Yong.
“This is Ai Ling. Ai Ling, my younger brother, Li Rong,” Chen Yong said.
“Ai Ling.” Li Rong swept his free arm with a flourish and bowed. His horse pranced. “If we were in distant kingdoms, I would kiss the back of your hand.” He drew a step closer. It was obvious he enjoyed making her blush. “Father tells me that is the custom in the foreign courts, old brother. You should try it. I bet it’d work, what with your exotic good looks and all.” He winked at Ai Ling as he nudged his brother in the ribs with one elbow.
Was he truly flirting with her after just passing a slain demon on the road?
“You fool.” Chen Yong thumped Li Rong in the shoulder with an open palm. “What’re you doing here? It’s a long way from home.” Chen Yong’s hand remained clasped on his brother’s shoulder.
“I’ve been trying to catch up to you ever since you left.” He led his horse to a sparse patch of grass on the side of the road and released the reins. “It’s fortunate you told me of Master Tan in Jiu Gong or else I’d never have found you. You travel too fast.”
“Mother let you out to chase after me?”
Li Rong dusted off his sleeve with one hand, obviously avoiding eye contact with Chen Yong. “Not exactly. I told her I was going into the capital for my imperial exams.”
“You lied to her?” Chen Yong thumped his brother on the shoulder again in reprimand. “She’ll have your hide when she finds out.”
“Don’t make me feel guilty now that I’ve finally found you! I was worried. I thought someone should be with you. And after your recent encounter, you definitely need my protection.”
Chen Yong opened his mouth as if to retort, but laughed instead. “You’ve always been too impulsive. Journey with us; you’ve come this far already. Then Mother can have my hide as well when we get home.”
“I take full responsibility, old brother.” He rocked back on his heels, his smile wide.
Li Rong offered Ai Ling his horse. He helped her to mount, then led the dark brown steed down the road. Chen Yong walked beside him. Ai Ling had never ridden a horse, but she was relieved to be off her feet and fell into the horse’s rhythm with ease.
“Have you discovered anything about your birth parents?” Li Rong asked.
“My father is a foreigner from Jiang Dao—”
“Jiang Dao! Where ice pellets fall from the sky and the people are as pale as mare’s milk?” Li Rong interjected. “Don’t they hunt spiked rats as big as piglets to eat?”
Ai Ling laughed despite herself.
“Don’t encourage him,” Chen Yong said, turning back to grin at her.
“And your mother?” Li Rong asked.
His brother allowed the question to hang in the warm summer air, long enough that Ai Ling wondered if Chen Yong had heard it.
“She was a concubine to the Emperor,” Chen Yong finally replied in a quiet voice.
“Wah! Who would have thought my older brother was born in the Palace?” He shook his head in wonder, his topknot swaying. Then the revelation hit him. “Your mother betrayed the Emperor? The heavens help her. Did she live?”
“I don’t know,” Chen Yong said. “The Palace is where Ai Ling is headed to find her father. And it’s where I’m headed now. It would seem our goals have merged after a chance meeting.”