Naamah's Kiss - Jacqueline Carey [200]
NO!
"Let me stay." The words fell out of my mouth. I drew a deep breath, shuddering all over. "Forgive me, Celestial Majesty. But let me stay."
"Noble Daughter?" The Emperor sounded doubtful.
She was silent a moment. "The dragon within wishes it so."
Master Lo folded in his sleeves and bowed. "My pupil Moirin is of royal blood from two lands, Celestial Majesty. She has attended a queen before."
I wondered if he had any idea.
Bao made a choked noise.
He knew.
And yet I could not choose otherwise. I stood to one side as a tall court eunuch with an impressive chain of office came forward to unlock the princess' cage. Snow Tiger retreated to the doorway of her living quarters, a slight and still figure glowing in the fading light, the crimson scarf bound over her eyes.
I entered her cage.
The iron gate clanged shut behind me. I was alone with the princess and the dragon.
On the far side of the bars, Master Lo regarded me with a worried gaze. But it was Bao who came forward, strong, brown fingers lacing around the bars.
"You're sure?" he asked. I nodded, unable to speak. "Stupid girl." He breathed the words in the tongue he had taught me himself, one hand reaching through the bars to caress my cheek. "Try not to get killed."
Tears stung my eyes. "I'll try."
And then they left, and we were truly alone. Unsure what to do, I followed the princess as she turned and entered her quarters, keeping a respectful distance behind her.
It was growing dark inside her rooms. I busied myself by lighting a dusty taper from a smoldering brazier, then kindling the lamps with their red silk lanterns. They cast a warm glow that should have been comforting.
It wasn't.
Snow Tiger paced like a caged… well, like a tiger. The air around her quivered with fury and urgency. The spiral of desire was rising— higher and higher, tighter and tighter. "You cannot make it stop?"
I shook my head, forgetting she couldn't see. "He says he cannot. I do not think he lies, my lady."
"Of course he doesn't lie!" She whirled on me. "He's a dragon!" Not knowing what to say, I was silent. She wrapped her arms around herself as though to keep herself from shivering apart under the rising pressure. With a visible effort, she forced herself to speak evenly. "Forgive me. Your magic. What is it? What does it do?"
I made a helpless gesture. "It's… difficult to explain. My people, the Maghuin Dhonn, we were great magicians once. We could see many paths into the future. We could take the shape of the Great Bear Herself. No longer. This gift is all that is left to us." I shrugged. "When I was younger, I was told it was a way to conceal ourselves, to hide. Now I think it is something more. It is a way of taking half a step into the spirit world beyond. Strange things happen there."
Her arms tightened. "You took me into the spirit world?"
"Halfway."
"I see."
"We call it summoning the twilight." I breathed the Breath of Trees Growing, remembering green Alba where my mother had first taught me, and found a calm point within myself. I called the twilight and breathed it out softly, wrapping it around the entire room. The world glimmered, the glow of the red lanterns turning silvery.
Yes! Come, here, now!
Snow Tiger's head snapped up. She was breathing hard and fast, fingers gripping her arms so hard I thought they would leave bruises. Still, her will didn't waver. "It is not safe for you to be here. I should not have let you stay."
"Mayhap." Swallowing hard, I crossed the room and untied her blindfold. "But I fear it is already too late for me to leave, my lady."
The dragon roared in exultation. I saw it reflected in her eyes, as it saw itself in mine. Her hands dropped to her sides, fists trembling. She lifted her chin.
"I want…" she said in a low voice. "I need. . ."
"I know," I whispered.
And then her hands