Naamah's Kiss - Jacqueline Carey [254]
Her face tilted toward the snow-covered mountain peak. The dragon caroled in happiness. Despite the half-healed sword cut on one cheek, her face looked peaceful and lovely. "Then I will continue alone from here."
"My lady," I protested. "You can't!"
She met my gaze fearlessly in the twilight. "Yes, I can. Once I turn my back to you, I do not think there is anything left between here and there to madden him. Nothing to reflect his absence. At last, I can see with my own eyes. And I can travel more swiftly alone. You have travelled far enough and more, Moirin mac Fainche. You have been a friend to me. Let me be one in turn. Stay, hide yourself, and let our noble companions guard you. Let me make an end to this."
NO! the dragon roared.
My diadh-anam flared in agreement.
I winced, letting go of Bao's hand and clutching my head. "You need me," I gasped through the pain. "Or the dragon does. Did you not hear him? I don't know how. And I don't know why. I do not mean to be a burden. I only know I need to go with you. Please, my lady, I am begging you. Do not deny me."
Snow Tiger looked uncertain. "I heard, yes. But the dragon is ever reluctant to be sundered from your presence." She took a deep breath. "You're sure? All of you? For it would ease my heart to know you were safe."
Yes, the dragon murmured with sorrow. I am sure.
The Maghuin Dhonn Herself paced through my thoughts with ponderous grace and unspeakable presence, looking at me with Her grave, grave, sorrowful eyes. Once again, I felt Her warm breath on my brow. Beyond the stone doorway, oceans glittered, so many oceans. She had claimed me for Her own. She had laid a destiny upon me. And I had not travelled so very, very far to fail Her. I gritted my teeth against the pain and choked out my reply. "Yes, my lady. Very, very sure."
The princess bowed her head, consulting with her own gods. "My necessary inconvenience," she murmured. "If you say it is so, I believe. And dragons do not lie. I have come too far to doubt." She lifted her head. "So be it. Come with me."
Grateful, I went.
* * *
CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE
Before the princess and I set out for White Jade Mountain, I released the twilight and said good-bye to Bao and Ten Tigers Dai, unsure whether or not I would see them again.
Dai was easy.
"There is a thing you should know," I said to him, clearing my throat. It was not my place to say it, but I felt it needed to be said nonetheless. "Bao… that is, Shangun, as you call him. He did not refuse to teach you because he thought you were unworthy. He, um… he realized that if you paid the price he demanded, he would have become the thing he despised. That is why he fled."
The two men exchanged a glance.
"I know," Dai said gently. "I have known that for some time. Maybe I always knew it."
"Oh." I felt foolish.
"Moirin…" Bao wrapped his arms around me. I clung to him, burying my face against his throat, inhaling the hot metal and forge scent of his skin and ignoring the dragon's displeasure. "Just… don't die, huh?"
I laughed through tears. "That's all?"
"Yes." He let me go with reluctance, putting his hands on my shoulders, fingertips flexing hard and digging into my flesh as he gazed down at me. "Afterward, we will talk. Because there will be an afterward."
He said it with such conviction, I believed him. "Stupid boy." Wiping my eyes, I offered him the same parting words he had given me more than once. "Try not to get yourself killed," I said, adding confession to it. "I do love you, you know."
Bao gave me a crooked smile, his dark eyes gleaming. "I know."
It was so very like him, I couldn't decide whether I wanted to kiss him or throttle him; and it was the only response I could have endured without feeling as though my heart were breaking. So I kissed him once, soft and lingering, then pulled away with an effort. Collecting myself, I turned toward the princess. "Are you ready, my lady?"
"Yes." Blindfolded once more, Snow Tiger