Naamah's Kiss - Jacqueline Carey [193]
My hands moved smoothly and precisely. I unslung the bow from my shoulder, the yew-wood bow my uncle Mabon had made for me. I was Moirin mac Fainche of the Maghuin Dhonn, and I'd been shooting for the pot since I was ten years old. With unerring speed, I drew an arrow from my quiver, fitting it to the string. I pulled the string taut against my cheek, and loosed it.
The soldier clutched his chest and looked at me in surprise before reeling over backward in the saddle.
I smiled grimly and nocked another arrow. "Who's next?"
As if to echo my question, a volley of arrows fell from above. There were archers atop the high walls behind us, shooting into the courtyard, driving Lord Jiang's forces back toward the outer gates. Some fled, some stayed and fought, no longer caring who they killed.
The outer gates crashed shut, trapping those who stayed.
Bao was on his feet, cursing a blue streak, putting himself between Master Lo and me and Jiang's men, his staff a blur, battering away arrows in midflight. I don't know how many times he saved our lives that night.
And then it was over.
Ten of our men were dead. Three dozen or more of Lord Jiang's soldiers had been slain. I dismounted on shaky legs and stooped to pick up my fallen satchel, settling its weight on my shoulder. Blossom gave a weary whicker and nuzzled my hair.
"Is this victory?" I asked Bao.
He leaned on his staff, looking unspeakably tired. "Don't know."
I looked up. "Master Lo?"
Slumped in the saddle, he roused himself. "No. Victory… no. A brief reprieve in what promises to be a long battle."
The inner gates of the courtyard opened with a crash. Torchlight spilled into the square, silhouetting a stocky fellow who beamed at us, flanked by a hundred men in armor. The Imperial flag waved above them.
"Forgive me, esteemed friends!" he cried cheerfully. "We had to be certain you were who you claimed to be." He clasped his hands together and bowed, low and deep. "I am Governor Po. Welcome to Ludong City."
* * *
CHAPTER SIXTY
We spent the night in Ludong. Governor Po had a warm-hearted wife and seven lively daughters delighted to be awakened by the excitement of our arrival, and I found myself whisked away in their company. Despite the lateness of the hour, they took me to a bathing chamber, the daughters crowding around to watch and assist as I washed away salt-spray, sweat, and grime, feeling truly clean for the first time in long months.
"Tell us about the barbarian lands!" one of the middle daughters pleaded.
"Tell us of Master Lo Feng!" begged one with a scholar's dreamy gaze.
"No, no!" The eldest daughter giggled. "Tell us about his handsome ruffian apprentice!"
Tired as I was, it made me smile. "You think he's handsome?"
Amid much more giggling, all but one of the older girls agreed that Bao was handsome; the scholarly daughter proclaimed with a sniff that he had Tatar eyes and looked ill-mannered. And then Madame Po, vexed at their chatter, scolded them for wearying me and drove them from the chamber.
"Poor child," she said sympathetically, folding me into a clean cotton robe. "So far from home! You should not be travelling alone with men, even a man such as Master Lo Feng."
"There were other women on the ship," I said, wondering if Suyin and Mei and the others had escaped unharmed. I hoped so.
Madame Po made a clucking sound and shook her head. "Unsuitable women. Have you no parents? What must they think!"
"Oh." I smiled sadly. '"'Tis a complicated matter, my lady. But if my mother were here, she would thank you for showing her daughter kindness," I added, an unexpected swell of longing tightening my throat.
"Poor child," Madame Po repeated in a murmur, combing out the tangles in my wet, wind-whipped hair. I swallowed against the lump in my throat, hearing the universal love of mothers for their daughters in her gentle tone. "Poor little jade-eyed girl."
I wondered if I'd ever see my mother again, hear her call me Moirin mine in that same tone.
I hoped so, very, very much.
Afterward, a servant