Naamah's Kiss - Jacqueline Carey [230]
"You knew we could not outpace them," Master Lo reminded her. "Do you wish to take the risk of revealing yourself and seeking their escort?"
She hesitated, then shook her head. "No. No, I dare not."
"Then we continue."
We passed into territory nominally under the control of Lord Jiang's forces, now abandoned as they withdrew to make their stand at White Jade Mountain. Many of the towns had been plundered for supplies and left lawless. The Emperor's well-stocked ships sailed serenely past. Carrying as few stores as we did, we didn't have that luxury. When we put ashore, it grew harder and harder to buy food, let alone beg for it.
The farther we went, the worse it got.
We tried to shelter the princess from the knowledge, but it was impossible. Although she and I stayed prudently close to the boat whenever we moored at a village, guarded by at least two of the stick-fighters, Snow Tiger was keenly observant. Even without sight, she could hear the rising tenor of anger the farther south we travelled, voices in the marketplaces taking on a hard, desperate edge.
It troubled her.
In one town, a riot broke out. We beat a hasty retreat, begging bowls and food-sacks empty. Back on the river, the princess was silent and withdrawn.
"What you are witnessing is the face of war a great ruler seldom sees, my lady," Master Lo Feng said to her. Her veiled face turned his way, listening. "No matter how righteous the cause, no matter who wins, the commonfolk suffer. Without plenty, the wealthy lack compassion for the poor, hoarding without sharing. Without law, the strong bully the weak, stealing by force. People will go hungry. Some will starve. Men and women will be forced to choose between feeding their parents and their children."
"You did not counsel against this war," she said in a low voice.
Master Lo inclined his head. "Only because I believed it too late to be averted. If there had been a better way, I would have counseled it. Since you are here, I would have you understand what war truly entails. It is a lesson few rulers are given to grasp."
"I think it is also a reason that followers of the Path of Dharma believe that to live is to suffer," Ten Tigers Dai murmured unexpectedly. "For many of us, it is—or at least it has been."
The others, including Bao, nodded.
The princess' back straightened as she squared her shoulders firmly. "Then it is a lesson I will take to heart."
Gods know, it was true. Two days later, we moored overnight at a village reputed to have a functioning market. Tortoise and Kang rose before dawn to stake out a place in the square, awaiting the arrival of the farmers with goods to sell. The rest of us lingered near the boat.
I was eying fish swimming in the shallow edges of the river, thinking that I could easily summon the twilight and catch a few given a discreet opportunity, when Tortoise and Kang came hurrying back with half-filled sacks over their shoulders.
"Another riot!" Tortoise called out, huffing as he ran. Complicated emotions flitted over his homely face. "They're taking everything. Stick-fighters, wouldn't you know?"
Bao swore in a distinctly un-monkish fashion and began untying the mooring line. "Time to go!"
"No." Snow Tiger fingered her sword. "We will confront them."
He gaped at her. "Are you crazy?"
She tilted her veiled head. "Are you afraid?"
"Heh." His battle-grin appeared. He dropped the rope and seized his staff. "No."
Ten Tigers Dai whooped.
"Noble Princess—" Master Lo began.
It was too late; not even his calm wisdom could dissuade her. And the dragon within her was exuberant, happy with any course of action. In a daze, I watched her set out for the square, swift and unerring despite her inability to see, flanked by Bao and Dai; then I shook myself and swore, scrambling aboard the boat to retrieve my bow and quiver.
The boat, loosed from its mooring, began to drift.
"Oh, gods bedamned!" I caught the line in one hand and splashed through the shallows, towing it back to shore, holding my bow high with the other hand so as not to wet the string. "Tortoise!