Naamah's Kiss - Jacqueline Carey [177]
I ignored him. "What happened?"
Master Lo's gaze returned. "Before I left, a marriage was arranged for her to the son and heir of a feudal lord in the south. All agreed it was a good match and would bring greater peace to the Celestial Empire." He sighed. "According to General Tsieh, the marriage took place as planned eight months ago. That day, the Empire celebrated. That night, Xue Hu went mad and tore her bridegroom limb from limb in the bridal chamber."
My mouth fell open. I closed it before Bao could mock me. "Truly?"
"I fear so." His gaze was somber. "A demon-spirit took possession of her. Every effort was made to drive it out."
"Pao and mirrors?"
Master Lo Feng smiled sadly. "Oh, yes. And many more. Lord Jiang, the bridegroom's father, lent his own great physician to the effort, Li Xiu."
"Black Sleeve," Bao murmured. "Not only physician. Sorcerer. Not so nice."
My mentor nodded with a troubled look. "But he knows much of the spirit world and much of alchemy. When Black Sleeve's efforts failed, Lord Jiang called for Snow Tiger's execution, threatening rebellion in the southern provinces if she were not put to death to avenge his son's murder. That is when Emperor Zhu sent for me. That is all I know."
I exhaled. "Do you reckon she lives?"
"I hope it may be so," Master Lo said. "General Tsieh says the Emperor had a special chamber with iron bars built to hold her." His brow furrowed. "The madness comes upon her when she beholds her reflection, even in another's eyes. When it comes, she knows only unnatural strength and rage. Snow Tiger suffers herself to be blindfolded willingly and grieves over her deed. Blind, she knows herself."
"Oh," I whispered.
It was a terrible tale. My heart went out to the young woman at the center of it and the young bridegroom slain. Stone and sea! "How, Master?" I asked. "How and why? Did she court such a fate like Raphael?"
His shoulders lifted in a faint shrug. "I cannot think the child I knew would do such a thing. And yet I cannot say. Perhaps it is a jealous ghost that haunts her. The Empress ever resented Snow Tiger, and she died some years ago." He looked unwontedly perplexed. "And yet how could Black Sleeve miss such a thing?"
"Lord Jiang's sorcerer no friend to her," Bao muttered.
"There is goodness and wisdom in him," Master Lo Feng admonished him. "Never say there is not. It is present in all of us."
Bao inclined his head, but his eyes glittered.
"Enough." Master Lo struggled to rise, his knees creaking. Bao was on his feet in a flash, helping his mentor upright, tender and solicitous.
"You rest now, Master," he murmured.
"Yes," Master Lo agreed, leaning on Bao. His gaze rested on me. "So. Now you know what we face, Moirin."
"Aye."
I sat in contemplation for an untold period of time. The ship's decks rose and fell, riding the swelling waves. I breathed the Breath of Ocean's Rolling Waves into the pit of my belly and out through my mouth, trying not to think. Bao returned to join me, sitting cross-legged on the mats. He closed his eyes and breathed the Breath of Embers Glowing. In and out we breathed, complementing one another. His knee brushed mine in a companionable manner.
"Snow Tiger," I said.
"Uh-huh." His face was tranquil. "I do not think she is meant to live behind bars."
I didn't think so, either. "So we do… ?"
Bao opened his eyes. "We do what we need to. We do whatever Master Lo say."
"You said if the spirit Focalor had taken possession of Raphael, it might have been impossible to drive him out," I reminded him. "How is this different?"
He shrugged. "Not a foreign spirit. I don't know. You ask too many questions!"
"I'm just trying to understand," I said reasonably. "Which reminds me… Bao, do you think you could teach me to speak Ch'in?"
"Which one?"
I blinked. "What do you mean which one?"
Bao looked smug. "Many different language in the Celestial Empire. Which one you want to learn?"
"Whichever is most common." That, I thought, would resolve the matter.
"Different in different places."
"Whatever you speak!"