“But what about the child?” Xisi asked. “The prophecy says there will be one. What if she conceives despite all expectations and bears the phoenix’s daughter? Your ancient enemy reborn. The empress in the flesh.”
“There is no child now. There cannot be a child for months. Perhaps years! And I will do what I must. We know it will be a girl. Lest she try to hide her, every daughter born will be destroyed. It will be a curse to have a female. Mothers will weep at the ill luck of conceiving one. I will make it an Iron Rule for a season.”
“My, my, aren’t you barbaric?” Xisi said with all the chill of a reptile.
Bingmei was horrified to hear it. What effect would it have on the future if so many daughters were executed? She had to stop it from happening. The thought of so many innocent babies being ruthlessly killed horrified her.
“But do you allow it?” Echion demanded. “It is your power that protects the offspring of our people. You must consent.”
Would Xisi oppose him? Bingmei hoped she would. How could a woman agree to such a thing? But then, she’d seen ample evidence that neither had any compassion in their hearts.
“It will mean fewer consorts for you in the near future. That sounds promising.”
“And yet, I will be sated. It’s just for a season or two.”
A dark smile curled Xisi’s lip. “You are a monster, Husband. Yet I think your plan can succeed. I permit this slaughter. It will be an Iron Rule. For now.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t reject it just to spite me.”
“I do spite you, Husband. I’d turn into my dragon and spit my freezing breath on you if I thought it would hurt you. But I dread the thought of the Reckoning even more.”
“It will come, but not until the end of times. We will reign until this world crumbles to dust. If somehow Bingmei succeeds in ushering in a child, we still have time to destroy the girl before she comes of age. Or prepare to fight the great battle. Again. I will not surrender my empire. And if I come to believe the phoenix might win, I will unleash the killing fog and destroy every mortal who believes she is their savior. The world belongs to me and no one else.”
“It is our world, remember. And I agree on what must be done. But we must conquer Sihui and the remaining kingdoms quickly. Or else there will be a haven for young women to come of age.”
“I do not doubt Tzu will come for me,” Echion said with a smug look. “The taste of victory is too intoxicating. A man is easily drunk on it.”
“You should know,” she scoffed. “What of the two members of Bingmei’s ensign that were captured and arrived here yesterday? I would like the girl, although she is dangerously pretty.”
Bingmei’s bird host swayed back and forth on her perch, affected by her own joy. Mieshi. Bingmei had feared she and Marenqo were both dead.
“Was she? I hadn’t noticed,” Echion answered, his tone aloof.
“You lie, Husband. You don’t even know what is truth anymore. Yes, I would like to keep her, if only to deprive you of her beauty. You can have the man. Or kill him. I don’t really care.”
“If he is useful, he will live. I’ll have a taste and see if there are any memories that might benefit us.”
“Good, Husband. Good. He may know something about General Tzu that is useful.”
He glowered at her. “We need no help with the general. He is running out of time,” he said. “With the season of the Dragon of Night approaching, he’ll act soon. He won’t want to wait.”
The bird’s tiny heart quickened in its breast as Bingmei watched them from the cage. Could she warn General Tzu and King Zhumu? She knew she had to try. She felt another thread from a bird outside in the gardens. And then another, and another. It would take time, but she would make her way to Sihui.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Speechless as a Bird
It took time to travel from bird to bird across the lands. Sometimes it was on an eagle’s wings. Sometimes a seagull’s. Bingmei sensed her body, but it was enshrouded in magic, as if she were barred from returning to it. So she traveled across the lands, seeing the mountains, some with snow still clinging to the highest peaks, as well as the ocean waves crashing against the rocks. She saw pine trees and spruces and colorful vegetation stretch out beneath her.
She crossed the space, just her consciousness, like a speck of light sailing along the threads made by the birds. In the waters, she saw ships of varying sizes sailing westward. And she could see the huge shape of whales as they swam in pods along the coastlines. Depending upon which bird hosted her—some were more sharp-eyed than others—she could even observe the black fins of ni-ji-jing.
It took a long time to reach Sihui, but she sailed in on the wings of a gull. She was horrified at the devastation she beheld. When she had last been there, the river had been barricaded with fortified bridges. They were all demolished, save one. The river was choked with junks and fishing vessels of all sizes.
By the looks of things, Sihui had indeed survived the onslaught.
She saw people in the streets wearing fashions from different lands and recognized that other kingdoms had joined together to unite under King Zhumu. Some of the buildings had burned down, and she saw people sweeping up the rubble. Some were working at saws and hammers to rebuild what had been lost. Guards patrolled the streets wearing the uniforms of King Zhumu with the eagle crest.
She joined a crowd of tiny blackbirds who flew together toward the palace. As they
