Chapter 5 #4
“Although it’s possible for me to sneak out, I have about nine guards on me at all times.
I’m not able to move around easily and even though I would prefer to do it all on my own, it’s too risky.
My guards are also wary of me and are extremely strict—I’m not allowed any movement, especially after I used magic all those months ago and got locked away in the towers.
Since then, security around me has tightened.
You, meanwhile, have one or two guards on you at all times, and your guards don’t take you seriously.
And neither does the emperor or any of his men. ”
It made sense, but a small, niggling thought in the back of her mind told her that there was one person who seemed to see her as a threat.
She could still feel Nikator’s warm breath against her face, his dagger pressing against her throat.
Her fingers slid up to the pinprick scab that was already forming where he had poked her.
“You didn’t tell me why you’re able to use magic,” she said slowly.
“This.” He came to his feet, twisting a ring off his finger, and crossed the distance between them. He held it out to her. “This negates the wards and allows me to use magic.”
It was a simple ring with a thick, gold band and a small, perfectly circular stone in the center that glittered a deep blue color. Almost the same color of Nikator’s eyes, but whereas that brute’s eyes were a shade richer, similar to sapphire, this one was a dull blue.
“This is a magic crystal,” he said. “Try it.”
Biyu hesitantly took it from him and held it up in the candlelight.
She could feel the soft thrum of magic pulsing from it, but it was faint and not at all powerful like she’d thought it would be.
“Why not attack the emperor with this?” she asked quietly, still not willing to use the word kill. “If you can use magic—”
“That ring is almost used up.” He blew out a breath and raked a hand through his loose hair, which fell down to his shoulders neatly.
“It can’t handle any complex spells that I would need and I can’t find a replacement magic crystal for it.
They’re hard to come by, and my network …
well, they don’t really have money for that sort of thing.
And even if I did find a replacement crystal, with how small it would need to be, I would likely only be able to use one powerful spell before the magic inside of it is depleted. So we need to destroy the wards.”
“I’m not really sure if this is a good idea,” Biyu found herself saying, despite her racing heart telling her otherwise. “Why not use this ring to escape the palace? You can be free that way.”
Yat-sen’s lips curled back in distaste and he turned his face so he wasn’t looking at her anymore.
Maybe he couldn’t bear to see her after such a comment, but it was true.
Why not just leave this place? He didn’t seem like the type of person to covet a position of power, so why?
Unless he did think like that; she had to remind herself that she didn’t actually know her half-brother, and this was the longest conversation they had ever had.
“We could escape, but then what? Be on the run for the rest of our lives? Should we flee to another empire, another kingdom, and leave behind everything we have ever known? I don’t wish that kind of life, Biyu.
I wish to be completely free. I wish to be among our people.
And … and I can’t flee, because then what will happen to my mother and her whole side of the family?
Do you really think the emperor will spare them?
Your mother is dead, so you may not understand, but everyone connected to me will be murdered if I decide to run. ”
She had almost forgotten that his mother was still alive; she was the only woman among the emperor’s concubines, consorts, and the empress, who hadn’t been murdered the night the throne was usurped.
Yat-sen was right; unlike him, Biyu didn’t have anyone to worry about.
She could leave and … and then what? Be chased for the rest of her life?
She was a woman, so it would be even harder for her to “make it” in the outside world.
She hadn’t worked a single day in her life, and any skills that she did have—reading, writing, magic—would be suspicious and she would be caught.
She would have to marry someone inconspicuous and rely on him so she wasn’t living off the streets, but even that wasn’t safe because her royal mark would stand out too much.
No matter how she looked at it, she couldn’t live a life in this empire if she ran away.
She would have to flee to another country, and that had its own issues.
Her head began to throb and she rubbed her temples, the information practically bursting form the seams of her mind. Her decision was becoming clearer, even as the cowardly part of her tried to hide away from the truth. But she couldn’t deny it.
She thought of the guard who had been pleasuring himself while stroking her foot, she thought of the guards who laughed at her as they tugged her toward them, she thought of the nobles who gave her pitying looks or glares, and she thought of Nikator.
His blade to her throat, his bright eyes fastened on her.
You have everyone fooled, don’t you? Playing the part of a vulnerable, unassuming princess who can’t do anything, and yet you have fangs, claws, and fire in your soul.
She wanted to be that person so badly. Someone who had fangs, claws and fire. Someone who wanted her freedom more than anything else.
“I’ll help you,” Biyu whispered before she could take it back. She held the ring out for him. “Let’s … let’s beat the emperor.”
Yat-sen stilled, his eyes widening, and then he bobbed his head fervently.
“Ah, really? Oh, good. Good. We might actually stand a chance, then. We—” He cleared his throat, his excitement nearly palpable, strumming off his body as he tried to stand still.
“Well, first things first, we need to find some books and scrolls to see if there’s anything we can use. ”
“All right.” She waved the ring. “Here, take this.”
“No. Keep it.” He folded her fingers over the ring and pushed it toward her. “You’ll be the one sneaking in and out of places, so you need it. You do know how to use stealth magic, yes?”
She shook her head. “I only know some basic spells.”
Yat-sen reached into one of the pockets of his tunic and produced a small scroll about the size of his hand, and placed it on her nightstand.
“I’ve written down a few helpful spells to learn.
Be careful not to use up too much energy practicing the spells, because that ring doesn’t have that much magic left inside of it.
It should be enough to last at least six months if used conservatively.
Maybe three if you’re more liberal with it. ”
Biyu slipped the ring onto her thumb, but it was still a bit loose. “How should I contact you?”
“Jade. Your cat.” He waved to Jade, who had gone back to napping on the bed, her ears twitching at the sound of her name. She lazily peeled her eyes open to give him a half-lidded stare. “She visits me almost every evening around dinner time.”
Biyu lifted an eyebrow as Jade lazily stretched her arms and got into a better sleeping position. She’d had no idea Jade went to visit her half-brother. It made things easier this way.
“I’ll contact you through other methods,” he said, heading toward the door. “Wait for my next move. I have much to plan now that you’ve agreed to this.”
“How will you sneak back into your room if you have nine guards on you?” She strode to where he was by her door and pulled the ring off her thumb. “Please, take this with you, Yat-sen. You can find another way to get it back to me.”
“No, keep it.” He smiled at her and it was the first genuine smile she had seen from him; he usually looked so gloomy and hesitant that seeing him look at her like that—with hope—filled her with a sense of sadness. She didn’t want to disappoint him. “I can find my way back. Trust me.”
And like that, he left.