“Balance is a requirement for the phoenix just as it is for the dragon. She cannot use her full powers as the phoenix-chosen unless she shares a bond with a counterpart. With you. And you’re not leaving Fusang. She cannot defeat me. It is impossible. She will run and flee, but I will hunt her until she’s found, and then I will devour her in a hideous manner. I will rule again, and this time my kingdom will not fail.”
Rowen started to rise, but Echion kicked him down again.
“Kneel, worm!”
Rowen’s brow furrowed with pain. He remained on his knees, panting.
Echion took a step closer. “And while I am at Sihui, I will find your sister, for my spies have revealed that she is there with that accursed man Jidi Majia, and I will bring her back here. Her life is in your hands, princeling. Believe me, the life of a concubine is too good for her. There are torments so much worse than those you have endured. Mock me again, and she will suffer for your sins.”
“I understand, grand one,” Rowen said, head bowed meekly.
Hope burned in Bingmei’s breast. She knew where Echion was going. If she could get there first, she could warn General Tzu to prepare for his attack. Would meiwood arrows pierce dragon scales?
Excitement thrummed inside her. If she succeeded in mortally wounding or killing Echion, then the only remaining hurdle keeping her from Shixian would be Xisi.
Echion had his spy at Sihui, but she felt sure she could ferret the person out.
The emperor turned and walked toward the door. As he reached it, he dissolved into shadows, vanishing as surely as if he were using the meiwood spider.
Rowen lifted his head, a grim smile on his mouth as he glanced in the direction Echion had left. “Who is the blind one now?” he murmured to himself.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Return to the Eagle Palace
It was an anguishing choice to make. Bingmei wanted to rescue her son before she left for Sihui. But if she tried to search the palace herself, it was only a matter of time before the alarm was raised and every soldier and dragon within the area started hunting her. Yet leaving Shixian behind to be nursed by one of Echion’s concubines was not a choice she relished.
In the end, the siskin helped her make her choice. She impressed upon it that she was looking for her baby, the phoenix reborn, and asked the bird to find him within the palace. Her little helper took off at once, carrying her on its wings. But the palace was large, and it would take time.
Go, she heard the voice within her urge. I will be found by the bird you sent. They are all my creatures, and not one of them falls without me noticing. They have watched over me while you cannot.
As the thought touched her mind, she felt a gentle peace spread through her, as if the phoenix had engulfed her in its soft wings. On their own, birds were small, almost powerless, but together? The phoenix was aware of every sparrow, every raven, every snow owl, every eagle. It saw everything, and its mortal form would be protected by those same birds. The basket that Quion had woven out of river reeds was Shixian’s nest. Her heart burned with longing for her child, yet she knew what she had to do. So Bingmei returned to her body at the pagoda.
As she rose, she inhaled the scent of the pine trees and noticed all the little finches that had gathered around her as she’d sat still in her meditative pose. Bingmei’s rising didn’t alarm them. None fled from her. In fact, she felt their desire to serve her.
She left the pagoda and performed the ritual of the phoenix form, drawing energy from it. Magic seeped into her legs, spreading up her hips and down to her fingertips. Her body felt stronger when it was done, her mind more alert. Grabbing the meiwood staff, she did another form, one that Kunmia had taught her. By the time she had finished her practice, she was invigorated from head to toe. She stood panting, feeling the sweat trickle down her ribs, and enjoyed the feeling of confidence it gave her. Then, still holding the staff, she unfurled her wings and flew.
As Bingmei soared through the mountains, she connected her senses with the eagles. Soon, several joined her flight, coming up to glide with her through the canyons and passes. Sometimes the wind shifted direction and blew against her, but she changed her course and found another breeze willing to carry her on. She remembered all the times she’d traveled on slow, cumbersome boats. Many of those journeys had been with Rowen.
It hurt to think of all Rowen had endured in his captivity. Echion had probably killed him multiple times and brought him back, just as he’d done with her, except for him, the torture had gone on much longer. He’d always been fascinated by the legends of the Dragon of Night. Now that he had endured the man’s teachings firsthand, she imagined he no longer respected him. She had changed too, and she longed to tell him that her heart had opened to him—that she wished to be with him, and only him, and raise their child together.
Her heart clung to one thought: if Rowen had lied to protect knowledge of her whereabouts from Echion, then he still cared for her. She had known that he must—she’d visited him in the future, at a time when they were married, but her heart had quailed at Echion’s hideous lies. Also, a part of her feared that perhaps the future she’d seen was but one possible future, and that the decisions and choices they made now might change it or prevent it from coming to pass.
Which made it all the more important that she beat Echion to their destination. She hoped he was prideful enough
