CHAPTER TWO

SIGHTSEEING

Despite the illusion of safety the presence of the Shadows gave me, I didn’t find the energy to do anything but rest for the remainder of the night. Phurywa weighed on my mind more than it had any right to. I had known Khine’s mother for only a few days, but the sorrow of her passing filled me with as much sorrow as if she were family. Later that evening, I asked Nor to purchase two black candles, and we took Khine and Cho to the beach to light them for her. Cho looked torn, managing only to grunt his gratitude for the gesture, eyebrows drawn together in a seemingly permanent scowl. He still wanted so badly to hate me, and I couldn’t blame him. After everything that had happened since I landed on these shores, I hated myself, too.

Khine didn’t say anything. He hadn’t spoken since we left Phurywa. He hadn’t cried at all since that first day, either. He had taken to Inzali’s request that he accompany me as simply as if she’d told him the sun was in the sky.

“It’s not like you knew her all that well,” Lo Bahn told me over lunch the next day: fried rice with sweet garlic shrimp, seaweed salad, jellyfish, slivers of pig ears braised with cashews, and thick, dark mushrooms cooked in duck fat, washed down with a thick, dark ale imported from Gaspar. “She wasn’t even your mother, for spirits’ sake. Not like you’re fucking Lamang on the side, either, so I don’t see why you’d feel the need to do anything about it.”

I reached over to his plate and stabbed one of his pig ears with a chopstick. He rolled his eyes as he set his rice bowl down. “Like that means anything. I think if you wanted to kill me, I’d be dead now.”

“Maybe you need to start keeping your opinions to yourself,” I said.

“You know damn well I don’t work that way.”

I sniffed as I pulled the ear onto my own plate. “I’ve never seen him upset before. This…is all new. Grief I’ve seen in others, but Khine—”

“That boy,” he said with a sigh. “I’m still not sure why the gods have cursed me with him. Thought I had my hands full. And then you came along.”

“You ever wonder if it’s because of all your sins?”

“I’m hardly the worst scum the streets of Shang Azi have produced. And yet I’m the only one stuck with the two of you.”

“You’ve known Khine a very long time, then.”

“Too long,” he sniffed. “Knew him since he was a whelp running around with Reng Hzi and his group of pissants with lofty ideals, freshly arrived in Shang Azi with not a penny to his name. That first day, my men found him sleeping on the street all torn up and bloody, his pockets picked clean by thieves. They took pity on the boy and took him back home, and I gave him shelter for two days.”

He held two fingers up. “Two days, Queen Talyien. Pay attention. By the end of those two days, I learned that three bodies were found floating in the river. Known robbers, of course. Were they the same ones Lamang encountered? I don’t know, but he packed his things that same evening and told me he had found lodging. There was a look in his eyes that was different from when he came in—something that told me this boy could be useful to me if I put him on the right track. I offered him work, but he refused. That whole physician thing, like it’s some sort of noble pursuit.” He frowned at the thought.

“You’re convinced he killed those men?”

“I don’t know if killed is the right word. He maintained that he had nothing to do with it. But I later heard that one of the bridges had fallen, and that was how those men fell into the river in the first place. And the bridge was tampered with. He used himself as bait. Risked his life for revenge. He was younger than Cho.”

“I think that shows courage.”

“Courage! Pah!” Lo Bahn chuckled. “You would think so. I suppose my warning is just going to fall on deaf ears, then. But I’ll give it, anyway. You take Lamang with you back to Jin-Sayeng the way he is now—who knows what he’ll become? He’s even more irresponsible than you are, hard as that may be to believe. Did he think he was doing me a favour by finally allowing himself to fall under my employ? I was doing him a favour. If you’d seen how he was when he lost both that woman of his and his beloved Reng Hzi’s approval…”

I had to pause to consider what he was trying to say. “I’m sorry, Lord Han, I’m not sure I heard right. You actually care about him? You?”

“Wipe that disbelief off your face, woman. I care about a lot of people in Shang Azi, Lamang included. Maybe even you.” Lo Bahn snorted. “Back there, all we had was each other. Maybe that’s hard to believe for a queen. You’ve seen how little respect the likes of Qun have for the people around me. Even Zheshan wasn’t without his faults. We made it our business to pay attention to people in the neighbourhood, including the more inconvenient ones.”

“Which Khine was, I suppose.”

“You have no idea. I don’t think I’ve met anyone who could cause as much trouble as he can—until I met you, that is.” He gave me a scrutinizing glare. “What piece do you think he’ll play in your little game of Hanza? He’s not a pawn, I can tell you that much. A soldier, then? Do you see him bowing to you out of loyalty? I can’t even ask him to open a door without at least a grumble and an argument.” He slammed a fist on the table. “If you want him to do work for you, it’s simple. Give him a challenge. He’ll latch on to it, if only to get his mind out of his grief.”

“That seems manipulative.”

He snorted. “And that’s a problem for you?”

“It’s easy enough with men like you, Lo Bahn.”

“You’re a heartless woman. You don’t even try to hide it.” He got up, pushing his empty plates out of the way. “Meet me at the An Mozhi government office in an hour or two. Maybe we’ll find something Lamang can’t refuse.”

“I feel like you’re going to betray me again,” I said.

“Even if I’m not, it’s nice to know I’ve found a way to curl your toes somehow.” He laughed before walking away.

Back at my room in the inn, I watched Nor peer through the windows to view Lahei’s men below. “They’re still trying to straighten things out at the harbour master’s office,” she said. “Three weeks. What a joke. So much for Kaggawa’s show of power.”

“It’s still more than I have now,” I replied.

“What do you know about Dai Kaggawa, Beloved Queen?”

“Well, his family…”

“Which family? Kaggawa is an old name from Akki, one of the more influential families on the island back in the day. I believe this one’s grandfather had assisted Reshiro Ikessar in his time. His grandmother is a royal—an aron dar Seran, I believe.” She cleared her throat. “Old history. The important thing is that the Kaggawas became bankrupt a little less than half a century ago. Dai Kaggawa’s resources are coming from elsewhere. His mother married into the Shoho clan, a rather important farming family in the Sougen. His younger half-brother defers to him. And his aunt married a Dageian lord, a powerful merchant in his own right. She has a daughter with the man, from what I recall—this woman is his heir. What does this tell you?”

“I don’t know, Nor.”

She gave me an impatient look. “Without Magister Arro here to guide you, you need to start putting yourself in his shoes. Think about what this means. You’re not running around like a vagrant in Anzhao anymore, Beloved Queen. We may not be home yet, but you’re with our people again—everything you do will be remembered in history.”

“I hate that.”

“What does it mean that Kaggawa has all of this, without any of it truly belonging to him? This is a man who knows how to wedge himself between cracks to get exactly to where he wants. This isn’t a spoiled brat flaunting his riches to impress a queen. You said you’ve met him before?”

“He saved me and Rai from a dragon. He said he tracked it from the Sougen.”

“They have plenty of dragons in the Sougen. Why would he track that one, specifically, all the way to Oka Shto?”

“You think he brought it with him? It was a dragon, Nor, not a lapdog you can just carry around.”

“Your brothers were killed by a dragon from a box. This Dai’s dragon doesn’t seem like it’s even a quarter of the size of that one. I believe you’re being used, Beloved Queen.”

“I think I’m aware of that,” I said. “With any luck, all I’ll do is disappoint him. What use is a powerless queen?”

The sound of knocking interrupted us. Nor slid the door to the side, revealing Agos in the hallway. “Let’s head out,” he said, stepping through the frame.

“To where?” Nor asked. She blocked him at the door.

Agos didn’t look at her. “Could you just tell her not to get in my damn face all the time?”

“It’s my job to get in the damn face of anyone I deem a risk to the queen,” she said in a low voice. “Do you want my knife in your throat?”

“I thought we were getting along,” he finally said, turning to her.

“That was before I learned you’ve been conspiring with Kaggawa.”

“Listen to yourself. I haven’t been conspiring with anyone. They tracked me in Anzhao!”

“And where exactly are you headed?” Nor turned to me. She didn’t even try to hide the scowl on her face.

“The governor’s office,” I said. “You know how dearly we love visiting these Zarojo politicians.”

“You’re not going without me.”

“I am. I need you to stay here and keep an eye on Kaggawa and her men. Unless you’d rather I leave Agos behind instead?”

It was clear she didn’t want that, either. She swore. “And what are you hoping to find up there, anyway?”

“Maybe nothing,” I said. “But maybe I’ll find a way for us to get back home and have Lahei Kaggawa in our debt. Let’s go, Agos.” Without really waiting to see if Captain Nor had agreed to the arrangement, I strode through the door. A few moments later, I heard Agos stomping behind me, without Nor in sight.

We walked in silence through the streets. With both me and Agos in commoner’s clothing, and Agos freshly shaved, we could pass for a couple who had just gotten lost during a stroll. There were enough of those out that afternoon that no one even gave us a second glance.

“What do you think Lo Bahn’s got up his sleeve?” Agos asked, looking slightly unsettled with my arm hooked around his. His hair, cropped short at the top, ruffled slightly with the breeze.

“Qun’s men,” I said, leaning close to him as casually as if he had just asked me if my shoes were too tight. “I heard there’s an entire group of soldiers from Anzhao waiting in the barracks. They’re obviously looking for us.”

“So he’s leading you to them?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he just wants to show them to me.”

“Sometimes I tell myself you really can’t be this trusting of people, and yet time and time again you prove me wrong.”

“Just be quiet,” I said. “Follow my lead.”

“This sounds suspiciously like when we were kids.”

“You see? When was the last time I got us killed?”

“If you want to count all the near-misses…”

“Now, that would be cheating.”

“Still got us into trouble more times than I can count.” He sighed. “Which way?”

We passed the markets and made our way towards one of the long stairs that wound around the cliff towards upper An Mozhi. Partway up the flight, I belatedly caught sight of the lifts that would’ve gotten us there faster. They were suspended on thick chains, swaying with the wind as they hung between the cliff ledges. Going all the way to the top meant a good four or five trips, depending on which platform you started on.

Agos must’ve noticed my look of longing, because he burst out laughing. “Are you kidding me? You need the exercise!” He was sweating rivulets.

“Because getting chased by mad suitors and dolls from hell isn’t exercise enough,” I said. But to make a point, I sprang ahead of him, taking two steps at a time. I had always been faster than him. I used to joke that since we were always together, it was all I needed to ensure my survival. The wooden stairs creaked under the strain.

“I’ve missed this,” Agos blurted out loud when I reached the next landing.

I paused, running a hand over my damp forehead. “I’m not sure I know what you mean.”

He gestured. “This. You, like this. That whole queen business never sat well with you, you know? It used to be easier. You had your responsibilities, but you left the hard part to the regents, left ruling to the old fucks who don’t have much left to look forward to. If an Ikessar looked at you the wrong way, you told them to fuck off. But then coronation day loomed closer, and you…changed. Hell, I think you changed the day you got married to him.”

Agos now had the same look on his face as he had on my wedding day. I tried to push the memory away from my mind. “You make it sound like the worst thing in the world,” I said, starting back up the steps. A hot wind sweltered past us, drifting towards the sea where it was greeted by a symphony of seagulls.

“Watching a wolf slink into a falcon’s cage and slamming the door shut herself, and then learning how to live like an Ikessar, as if it wasn’t bad enough you had to share your bed with one.”

“It’s not like I dropped everything to embrace their customs.”

“No, but you entertained the bastards and the sticks up their asses. Maybe you didn’t bend all the way, maybe you grumbled under your breath the whole time, but you bared your neck, you let them get close enough to hurt you. You were trying so hard to turn into an Ikessar queen instead of doing things your way. Going to the Kibouri temples, letting their priests tell you what to do…you even let them dictate how Thanh was raised. No, Tali—you forced yourself to be this queen who looked nothing like the woman you used to be. And I don’t know what for, considering he wasn’t even there for the entirety of your rule.”

I tried to consider his words without getting angry. “It’s more complicated than that, you know,” I managed to whisper.

“I suppose,” Agos grumbled. “Told you I don’t know much about politics. They tried to teach me—heavens know they did. I know you, though. Know you’re trying to break loose, even when you don’t realize the chains bringing you down. The bastard Rayyel, for one thing.”

“You’re wrong.” I paused with one hand on the rail and turned around to look at him. The sun was casting directly over us, which had the effect of darkening his face, deepening the scowl on it. “I know about the chain. I’ve known it all my life.”

“Then why tolerate it?” There was a snarl underneath his voice.

“Because I will not court civil war to indulge my whims.”

“There you go again. That queen talk,” Agos said smugly, as if he’d just proven a point.

I bit back the retort in my head. We reached the third landing, and I paused to stretch my legs. He caught up to me.

“So that’s your lifetime excuse. You force Rayyel into your life because you have to, you have to love him, it’s your duty and your father wouldn’t have allowed it any other way. Don’t know if you’ve been paying attention, but that ship sailed a long time ago. You’re dancing the dance, but the music’s stopped. I don’t even know who you’re trying to impress. Yeshin’s dead.”

I placed a finger on his lips, silencing him. We had reached a small street. I could see the barracks in the distance, an enormous walled keep within the city that stood across from the governor’s office. Banners from the towers streamed with the wind. There were soldiers on the rooftop deck, marching to drumbeat as they practiced for a parade. Lo Bahn had wanted to meet on this very street, but he was nowhere in sight. Not that I expected him to show up. I was surprised that an army wasn’t waiting for us.

I sniffed the air. “Well, I suppose this is the part where we pretend to be tourists.”

“I’m not a royal, in case you’ve forgotten. My Zirano is horrible,” Agos grumbled.

“As is your acting, so just close your mouth and nod along.” Without waiting for his assent, I dragged him towards the gates.

Calling Rayyel a chain wasn’t fair. He couldn’t help that he was raised by people who believed you could find virtue by not talking to anyone for months on end, who were convinced that you could find the meaning of the universe if you stared at a flower long enough. But I was aware of what Agos meant. Striding up straight to the enemy’s lair after all we had just been through was a thing I did, the sort of thing Rai’s people frowned upon.

Growing up, I had the run of Oka Shto without even really knowing it. My father took great pains to ensure I was sufficiently disciplined, that nothing was ever easy for me, but we both took for granted that I was still in an environment that bent itself around my actions. Foolhardy was a word Rayyel liked to use. I took chances when it was wiser—sometimes even when it was easier—not to, because I was used to things going my way and I wasn’t the sort of person who liked to sit around and wait for things to happen. I was told such rashness was not appropriate behaviour for a leader, so after we got married I tried to step back, tried to act strong and decisive like they said my father was, but also demure and proper and dutiful like a wife ought to be.

I’ve had horses who fought like demons when you put on one rope too many. They are fine with one, but the perception of being trapped by another drives them on edge. I felt like that more these days than ever before. Too many ropes, too many handlers. But if I ever broke free, where do I run to? This was the only world I knew.

“Hey,” a guard called out to us before we could even step past the threshold. “You lost?”

I looked around. “I don’t think so,” I said. “This is the way to the barracks, yes?”

The guard walked towards us, his spear leaning over his shoulder. “We don’t usually let civilians in.”

“Oh, I know that,” I said, waving a hand over my nose. “Don’t we, Aggie dear?” I glanced up at Agos, who grunted.

“Then what—”

“We came here to sightsee. I was told An Mozhi was quite the city, and of course, everything is absolutely magnificent, but one thing I couldn’t get off my mind was how you kept the peace and order. In Anzhao City, for example—that’s where we came from, Anzhao—it’s so chaotic you can’t even turn a corner without getting your pockets cleaned out by thieves. Isn’t that right, Aggie?” I elbowed Agos.

The guard looked bemused. “I don’t believe I’ve ever heard Anzhao being described in such a way. If anything, An Mozhi could stand to learn from Anzhao’s city watch.”

“No!” I said, loud enough that the guard looked almost embarrassed for having said anything. “That’s—why, we were at the docks all day, and not once, not once did I ever feel unsafe. Are you telling me this is out of the ordinary? But I have heard such good things about An Mozhi. Are you saying you let, even invite, tourists up here while deliberately letting thieves run rampant through your streets?”

“That’s not…”

“Despicable,” I said in a low voice. “Absolutely despicable. I demand a word with your superior.”

“You really should go.”

“No. No, I won’t. You just told me that An Mozhi lacks proper measures to address thieves. We paid good money to travel here, which included some very heavy taxes on your city’s part. If you can’t take me to someone, then I need your name at least so I know what to tell the governor’s office when I file a complaint.”

The guard gave me the look of someone keenly aware of having placed his head on the chopping block. I had been counting on it. Perspiration dotted his face, and not just because it was hot. Very few people knew how to respond to an unexpected figure of authority; the usual reaction was complete avoidance. In this case, the faster he transferred us to the next higher up, the better.

“I’ll…see what I can do,” he mumbled. “Wait here.” He gestured at another guard, who was watching us from the gatehouse with an expression that bordered on both terrified and amused, before walking away.

I glanced at Agos. “You…” he started.

“I just want this trip to go well,” I said out loud, patting his cheek. “Of course it’s worth the fuss. I want this all to be perfect.”

“Bit too much,” he grumbled. I wondered if he meant my acting, or if he was trying to play along himself. It was hard to tell.

The guard eventually arrived with someone in a crisper uniform. The guard saluted once before returning to his post. I craned my head at the new arrival, judging him to be an officer of some sort. “I’m told you have concerns about the city’s security,” the man said, making a sweeping half bow.

I felt at ease at once. The man was being polite, and I could use polite. “My husband here was just telling me I might be overreacting. Your guard says the city watch in Anzhao City is more efficient than your system here, which I find hard to believe because we just came from Anzhao. Did you know they have an entire neighbourhood of thieves? Dar Aso, I believe it was called. I couldn’t believe it when I heard it.”

“You’re referring to the massacre a few weeks back?”

I pretended to shudder. “To think that the Anzhao city watch would have let a whole neighbourhood become overrun like that. I’m glad they got the people, don’t get me wrong, but the very thought that it got that far still sends shivers down my spine. I get nightmares about it.”

The officer’s lips quirked into a smile. “I’m sure.”

“I do,” I insisted, stomping my foot. “So you can see why such a blatant admission from one of your guards, of all people, would send me into panic. I thought An Mozhi was safe!”

The officer held out a hand. “Rest assured, madam, it is. I do believe what you’re referring to was localized to a particular problematic neighbourhood, and it’s been taken care of, to my knowledge. Our own city watch may not be as rigid as Anzhao’s, but we do our best. In fact, we have some of Anzhao’s finest with us here right now. I believe they are giving us pointers on how we can improve our system here.”

I blinked at him. “That’s not very impressive. If you have to take pointers from Anzhao—I knew it, Aggie, dear.” I made a big show of tugging at Agos’s arm. “We should’ve gone to Kyan Jang. I don’t want to be murdered in my sleep.”

“Kyan Jang is worse, to be honest,” the officer mumbled helpfully. “Madam, rest assured, An Mozhi is no less safe than any port city this side of the empire. Keep your wits about you and you’ll be fine.”

“You said Anzhao’s city watch is here.”

“I believe so.”

“Since when?”

“A few weeks.”

“How long are they staying?”

He scratched his head. “I’m not exactly sure, madam. I’m not in a high enough position to be told—”

“Because I’m wondering what they’re doing here if they’re supposed to be keeping Anzhao safe,” I said. “You said they’re helping you improve your own watch?”

“Among other things.”

“Ah.” I crossed my arms. “I see.”

“I’m sorry?”

“I may inquire with the governor’s office, after all. It doesn’t look good when an officer can’t even tell a tourist what’s happening in his jurisdiction.”

It was now the officer’s turn to sweat. Rayyel would’ve probably pointed out how shameful it was that I was manipulating innocent people just carrying out their duties, but I rather enjoyed seeing the effect of rank without the title to back it up. My father liked to say that all you needed to do sometimes was to act like you belonged, like you were in charge, and most people will naturally follow. “I’m not really that high up,” the officer blurted out. “If you want, I can call my superior, but I’m not sure what he can tell you that I haven’t already said. If you think you really want to complain at the governor’s office, I can’t stop you, but…”

He trailed off at the sound of commotion in the street ahead. I narrowed my eyes and felt a rush of panic when I noticed Anzhao City’s flag perched on top of a covered litter in the distance. It was carried by servants dressed in Anzhao government livery.

“Make way for Governor Qun!”

I felt Agos grab my shoulder just as the guards stepped aside and the officer rushed forward to help pull the gates wide open. I heard the rustle of the servants’ footsteps, but couldn’t see them because Agos drew me in for a kiss.

“Agos—” I began, trying to shove him aside. I stopped when I realized what he was doing. With his head over mine, he was blocking my face from Qun’s view. His eyebrows quirked up as he pushed me back to the wall, hand on my cheek. I stiffened, aware of nothing but my racing heart. And then I caught the shuffle of movement in the corner of my eyes and saw that the litter had stopped at the main door. Qun got out and clambered up the steps, the servants crowding behind him.

I pulled away from Agos to catch my breath. The kiss left me feeling light-headed and confused. I knew it was expected after nearly six years of being apart from my husband, but I couldn’t stop feeling guilty over how easily I responded to his touch. I struggled for words. “That was sudden,” I managed to whisper.

“You said act,” Agos hissed back, with the faintest shadow of a smile on his face.

“That wasn’t acting. And warn me next time.”

“So you want a next time?”

I shoved his shoulder and pointed. Qun’s arrival had distracted the officer from earlier, but another guard was making his way towards us, and he didn’t look very happy. I didn’t want to wait around to find out what he wanted. Together, we darted around the corner, hoping to lose him before he called for an alarm.