Naamah's Kiss - Jacqueline Carey [199]
Master Lo bowed his head. "Yes."
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CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
A moment of silence followed Master Lo's revelation. Emperor Zhu broke it by swearing, crashing his fist into his other hand. "So, old friend. Leaving aside the matter of Black Sleeve's paternity, how do we get the dragon out of my most treasured daughter?"
HOME!
I winced at the sudden joyous thunder of the dragon's voice in my thoughts and echoed the word. "Home."
Bao gave me a curious look. Master Lo inclined his head. "My pupil is correct. Snow Tiger must journey to White Jade Mountain, where the dragon resides. Only in the lake where the snow-capped peak is reflected can she disgorge the pearl."
Home…
It was a more wistful tone. In my head, I saw a dizzying aerial image of a white mountain-top reflected in the pristine waters far, far below. "You see yourself," I murmured. "That's why it's important to you. It's part of what you are. That's why it maddens you to see and not be seen, not to see yourself reflected."
Yes, the dragon agreed. It is better not to see at all.
"Are you talking to it?" Bao asked me suspiciously.
"Aye."
He shook his head. "You get stranger and stranger every day."
The Emperor was pacing, yellow robes swirling. Helpless attendants trailed in his wake. Behind the bars, Snow Tiger stood with her head tilted, concentrating on listening. "White Jade Mountain is deep within Lord Jiang's territory," the Emperor mused. "But surely he will call off this war once he knows what Black Sleeve has done, and that it is no demon my daughter houses." He gave a decisive nod, beckoning to an attendant. "I will send word to him at once."
"Unless…" Master Lo said softly.
"What?" Emperor Zhu turned on him.
"Unless he already knows, Celestial Majesty." My mentor met the Emperor's gaze fearlessly. "We do not know that Black Sleeve acted without Lord Jiang's blessing."
The Emperor recoiled. "You suggest that Jiang Quan would sacrifice his own son?"
"He has three sons, Celestial Majesty." Master Lo lowered his head in deference. "It would be a terrible thing to do. And yet…" He gestured at Snow Tiger. "What befell your daughter gave him cause to challenge the Mandate of Heaven."
"Also, he tried very hard to stop us from coming here," Bao added. "I do not think he wishes the Noble Princess to be saved."
My skin still prickled, and there was a strange pressure rising in the courtyard that had nothing to do with the issues being debated. Come, the dragon crooned in my thoughts. Here, now. I glanced over at Snow Tiger and took a few steps toward her, compelled by the force of it. Her body was rigid, hands still locked on the bars. The pulse in the hollow of her throat beat visibly.
"What are you doing to her?" I whispered fiercely. "Why?"
"… simply cannot believe…" the Emperor's voice trailed away in the ringing that filled my head.
I am making amends, the dragon said simply. I understand now. I caused her mate to be killed. I have chosen you to replace him.
A short, horrified laugh escaped me. "You can't!"
You see me. There is no one else.
Snow Tiger's tense, blindfolded face swung my way. "Can you make it stop?"
It wasn't hurting her. It was untwining the strands of horror and desire, trying to separate them and spin something pure and bright and joyous out of it, a rising spiral of yearning born out of the dregs of panic and terror. Now that it had found a way to communicate with her through me, it was trying to make up for the terrible loss it had caused her. But it was too much, too powerful—a dragon's understanding of desire, filled with thunder and lightning.
And she was fighting it.
"Stop," I said to the dragon. "You have to stop! She's only human!"
I cannot. There was regret in its tone—and truth. I have chosen you. Once a dragon's mating is begun, nothing under Heaven can halt it.
"… if you are wrong, Celestial Majesty, we tip our hands," Master Lo was saying. "Is it not better to preserve an element of surprise?"
"Is it not worth the effort to avert a war?" Emperor Zhu shook his head.