Naamah's Kiss - Jacqueline Carey [221]
"Enough to make all the birds in the sky sing at once?" She sounded amused.
I flushed. "You did ask, my lady. I take no comfort in being mocked. Strange though it may seem to you, I did love her very much. And in her own way, my lady Jehanne showed me great kindness."
"I did not intend mockery." Her head tilted, considering. "Nor have I shown you much kindness, have I?"
"Not always," I murmured. "But you have more pressing matters at hand."
"Yes." Snow Tiger paused. Behind her veil, it seemed as though she were frowning in thought. "That does not make it just. I think… I think perhaps you are doing your best to be a friend to me, Moirin. If I do not always accept it with grace, it is because I have never had a friend before," she said simply. "Servants, tutors, companions at arms, yes. Never a friend."
My eyes stung. There was no trace of self-pity in her words, but there was an unspoken ache of loneliness. "I will try to be a worthy one if you let me, my lady."
Whatever the princess meant to say was drowned out by the sound of approaching hoofbeats, riders coming hard and swift on the road behind us. Her hand closed on my upper arm, fingertips digging in hard enough to bruise.
I glanced out the window.
Riders—Imperial riders.
Two of them raced past our company, not even deigning to give it a second glance. They were not looking for monks. The third hesitated, drawing rein. His impatient mount danced, the Imperial banner affixed to the back of his saddle fluttering. I took a deep breath, yearning to summon the twilight. Suddenly, our meager disguises seemed foolish and inadequate. All he had to do was bid us lift our veils. My green eyes and the half-D'Angeline cast of my features would give me away in an instant, and Snow Tiger… ah, gods. I could sense the dragon within her beginning to panic at the prospect. I feared it would end in blood, a great deal of it.
It seemed impossible that he would not suspect us.
And yet he didn't.
The rider's gaze skated over us, quickly dismissing the contents of the carriage. Two veiled country women in modest attire, one clutching the other. It was quite simply beyond his ability to imagine that the daughter of the Son of Heaven would ever lower herself to travel thusly.
"Honored Brother!" he shouted at Master Lo. "Have you heard the news? His Celestial Majesty's daughter has vanished. Have you seen aught to report?"
"I have not." Master Lo raised his begging bowl with serene composure. "Alms for a pilgrim's blessing?"
Coins rattled into his bowl. "Wish us luck!"
Master Lo bowed. "Of course."
The rider heeled his mount and raced onward. The dragon's alarm ceased to rise. Snow Tiger released her death-grip on my arm. I rubbed it, wincing. "He looked right past us, didn't he?" she marveled. "We were right here, and he looked right past us!"
"So he did," I agreed, dizzy with relief.
"How very curious," she said thoughtfully. "I was not entirely convinced this plan of yours would work. But not expecting to see me thus, the courier was quite thoroughly incapable of doing so. It is a lesson to remember. If I am ever to serve…" Her voice trailed off.
"Has Ch'in ever been ruled by a woman?" I asked.
"Oh, yes." It brought her faint smile back. "Yes—and no. There have been a number of powerful women who have risen to rule in deed, if not in name. But until my father, no Emperor has ever dared appoint a female child his heir."
"It is a brave and honorable thing his Celestial Majesty does," I offered.
The princess' head tilted into her considering pose. "There is one benefit to your frequent insolence," she commented. "When you tell me something I wish to hear, I have no doubt that you are speaking your mind in truth. Perhaps that is a hallmark of friendship I must learn to value."
I laughed.
Snow Tiger leaned against the backrest of the carriage, and I had the sense that she had closed her eyes behind her thick veil. "Tell me another story, Moirin. Tell me tales of your shapeshifting bear folk and your scandalous D'Angelines."
Clearing my throat, I obliged.
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