Naamah's Kiss - Jacqueline Carey [247]
"Yes." Emperor Zhu's hand tightened on his daughter's slender shoulder. He frowned at it, only just now realizing that it was the first time since her wedding night that he had dared to touch her—or that she had allowed herself to be touched by him. "White Jade Mountain will not be easily gained. Jiang's men are guarding the passes."
"Then we have a strategy to plan," Snow Tiger said quietly. "Do we not?"
"Yes." The Emperor gave a brusque nod, removing his hand from her shoulder. "Yes, we do."
Well into the small hours of the night, we laid our plans, poring over maps in the Emperor's luxurious silk pavilion. There were no good options, but there was one bad one.
General Tsieh traced the route for us with a fingertip. "If you circle to the south, the approach to White Jade Mountain is guarded by the Stone Forest," he said. "It is a maze of limestone. Although they will have posted sentries, there is no way Jiang Quan's men can guard it effectively." He gave me a wary glance, months upon his ship having rendered me no less strange to him. "If the foreign witch possesses the gift of concealment you claim, it is your best chance for slipping through unseen."
"Her name is Moirin," the princess remarked. "Moirin mac Fainche of the Maghuin Dhonn. And she is descended from royalty."
He inclined his head. "Lady Moirin, then. My apologies."
I studied the map, eyes bleary for lack of sleep. "I can only do it for a while. Can we get there unseen?"
"No." His voice was heavy. "I fear not."
Details, details. For long hours, they debated details. What route to take, how many men to accompany us. How the Imperial army might give cover to our movements. I was tired enough that my head swam. At some point, Bao positioned himself behind me, angling his shoulder so that I might lean against him, letting myself relax against the strength of his corded muscles and breathing in the familiar hot metal scent of his skin.
The dragon grumbled.
"Be quiet." I said, sleepy and irritable. "Am I not deserving of comfort?"
Yes. His voice was small. I am sorry.
Everyone stared.
"The dragon speaks to Moirin," Snow Tiger said. "Be very, very grateful that he listens, too."
They didn't understand. How could they? I didn't blame them. It was a strange and peculiar intimacy that bound us together, the princess and the dragon and I. But I was grateful to her for giving voice to it.
In the end, it was decided that a small company had a better chance of gaining the Stone Forest on the southern slopes of White Jade Mountain than a large one. In the morning, the Imperial army would stretch its southern flank to ward our progress, and we would set out behind their ranks to circle the mountain, our escape route guarded by an elite squadron of Imperial archers.
I roused myself. "Would it not be better to travel at night?"
"The terrain is too harsh to travel without the benefit of torches or lanterns, and there are sentries watching our every move," General Tsieh said soberly. "I fear this is a risk we must take at the outset."
"You can see in the dark when you call your magic, can you not?" Snow Tiger asked me. I nodded. She cocked her head. "Perhaps it is best if the two of us go alone under the cover of darkness."
"I do not think that is wise," Master Lo Feng said in a gentle tone. "Moirin's strength is not boundless, nor is her control over her magic perfect. One slip, and you would be exposed and vulnerable in open terrain."
I held my tongue, knowing he was right. My diadh-anam flickered in agreement, warning me of my own mortal limitations.
"But in the darkness—" the princess began.
"No." The Emperor raised one hand, silencing her. His voice was adamant. "I will not allow it. There is only so much trust I am willing to place in the magic of one weary foreign sorceress. Noble Daughter, you will go by day with your worthy companions and a squadron of Imperial archers to defend your passage, or you will not go at all."
She bowed her head in acquiescence.