Naamah's Kiss - Jacqueline Carey [205]
"Strange," the princess mused when I had finished. "Why would your bear-goddess send you so very far away to aid me?"
I cleared my throat. "With all respect, my lady, I believe there is more at stake than the fate of you and your dragon. There is a war pending. Black Sleeve has created weapons, terrible weapons, weapons that Master Lo and others have prayed no one would ever discover. Weapons that spit fire and roar like thunder, hurling deadly projectiles with greater force than any catapult. Had we not opened the Thousand-Cloud Bag and fled, they would have sunk our greatship with ease. If he is not stopped, I think… I think the world will suffer greatly for it."
Quick as a flash, Snow Tiger moved. Dragon-strong hands gripped my shoulders as she stooped before me. "You think there is some purpose in all of this," she breathed. "Some greater purpose."
"I do." I gazed at her lovely face, lit anew with fierce hope. "I'd lose my wits if I didn't."
"I did not know about the weapons." She released me and rose to pace the room. "I suspect my father concealed the truth from me, fearing it was more than I could bear. He blames himself. He does not want me to do the same."
"Nor should you," I murmured. "You are innocent; and the dragon, too."
Yes.
For the first time, the princess looked at me, truly looked at me, as though she was pleased by my presence. She inclined her head with grace. "I owe you a great debt, Moirin of the Maghuin Dhonn."
"Not so very great," I said. "Not yet. We are a long way from succeeding, my lady."
"Still, you have given me hope, and that is a powerful gift." Snow Tiger touched the mirror's surface, gazing at the dragon's undulating coils. "We are grateful for it."
Yes.
"Thank you," I said simply to both of them. "And, ah… I hope you will forgive me for speaking out of turn earlier."
"I do." She turned back toward me, looking uncommonly young once more, an unexpected look of girlish curiosity on her face. "You spoke of love and desire. What of the handsome young man with the irritable aspect? Master Lo Feng's apprentice? I caught a glimpse of him fighting my father's guards, and I heard him speak to you later. He seemed to have a great care for your safety, and you for his concern."
"Bao?" I flushed.
"Is that his name? Yes."
"Oh…" I shrugged. "I don't know. Neither of us do. We enjoy one another. Betimes I think it is only circumstance that flung us together. And yet… I am beginning to find it hard to imagine his absence."
Snow Tiger smiled, sinking to sit cross-legged with fluid elegance, keeping one eye on the mirror. "Perhaps you are more like this queen of whom you spoke than you know. Quick to love and desire, fearless with your heart."
"Mayhap," I murmured.
"I am also a person with feelings," she remarked. "And if you are to be my inconvenient necessity, then I am fortunate that you are capable of great loyalty as well as great passion, no matter how strange."
In the mirror, the dragon's shimmering coils twisted and flowed, turning over and over, an endless intertwining. We both watched it, more at ease in one another's presence than we had been.
"My father is a great man," Snow Tiger said presently. "But doubt has made him fearful, and he is reluctant to further risk the Mandate of Heaven. Depending on the outcome of his delegation to Lord Jiang, I may have to defy him and seek a way to White Jade Mountain."
I roused myself. "I know."
"That goes against all I have been taught."
"I know," I repeated.
She glanced at me. "I cannot do it alone, and your magic is the only thing that calms the dragon. May I count on your aid?"
"I meant what I said the other night, my lady," I replied. "If I may serve you in any way, I will."
The princess inclined her head. "Thank you."
We sat in silence awhile longer, breathing in the twilight, until the dragon's