Chapter 51
An Improvised Imparting
T am stood with his back pressed against the stones as festivalgoers drifted by on the other side of the wall he hid behind. It was hard keeping to the shadows when the street was so brightly lit with paper lanterns strung between the houses. Still, the crowds would help him disappear, and any sounds he might make would be swallowed up by the music that played over the frothing chatter.
As Tam listened to said music, he found himself feeling his heart start to hammer a bit harder.
There was a twang to the instrument that was being plucked and reverberating as a solo, but it was the occasional thud of a drum that made the mood intensify.
Giving his head a shake, Tam tuned this out to the best of his ability and resumed creeping along the wall.
Earlier that day, after a quick debrief from Jeong and Bong on the plan to force Lord Guk into a public episode of acting outlandishly, Tam had changed the method they were going to use to minimize the risk for Jeong and Bong.
Instead of letting the brothers get anywhere near the poison and risking discovery by imperial soldiers, they would simply give Lord Guk a particular drink. It had only just started to become popular in Daxaria, but its effects were not well known in Zinfera.
Espresso.
A potent beverage made from coffee grounds that could jolt the human body into wakefulness.
Tam had been a part of its development, and thanks to Lord Kim owning a teahouse, he had access to the tools and coffee grounds he required to create it.
For this particular night, Tam recommended doubling the serving. With the drugs he had already integrated into Lord Guk’s daily life, the man would already be jittery and nervous. Tam would only need to fire one more little pellet dosed with drugs to launch the man into a spectacular scene.
Lord Yangban was a whole other issue, but Tam had an idea on how best to deal with him without resorting to murder.
Despite Eli having casually suggested it to him, Tam confessed he wasn’t much on the idea of assassination. Killing in self-defense was one thing, but making a point of going out to kill someone was another entirely.
Tam’s mind briefly grazed on these varying thoughts as he moved painstakingly slowly along the wall. Technically he was passing through people’s front yards, but the majority of the population was attending the festival; in addition, most front yards had tall clay barrels of fermenting pastes and beans that Tam could duck behind as he made his way to the seaside, where the wealthier lords were preparing to climb aboard their boats for the fireworks show. It would begin when the crescent moon hit the peak of the starry night sky.
The window of time to act was small, but the real concern was rushing back to Lord Kim’s house while remaining unseen, so they could make their escape from Junya—a detail Eli had emphasized as she worked with Lord Kim to get everything ready.
At long last, Tam reached the final house in the stretch of road. There, wedged in the corner behind a walnut tree, beside a tall clay pot and a broken statue of a frog, Tam crouched waiting for Jeong and Bong’s signal.
And the cough followed by a low whistle came much sooner than he expected. He had barely arrived in time.
“Lord Guk! You must try this! It is a new beverage from Daxaria and— Oh.”
The hesitation in Jeong’s speech made Tam’s ears perk up. Should he risk a glance over the wall before he shot at the nobleman?
Then Lord Guk’s frenzied voice sailed over the wall. “Have you heard about the dragon? You know, the dragon in Gondol? Is it the monster attacking ships? Could it be my ships? Do you think—” The harried, paranoid stream of questions was stopped by another speaker.
“Lord Guk, do you perhaps think you should cease imbibing for tonight and go to bed?” The voice was smooth and authoritative.
Without even hearing a name, Tam guessed this person was Lord Yangban.
The hairs on the back of Tam’s neck prickled, and his body became restless. Particularly when he reminded himself this was the man who’d been instrumental in selling Eli off.
“Ah! Lord Yangban! This beverage my brother is offering for you to try is not alcoholic. In fact, some people find it speeds up the processing of alcohol.”
There was Bong, helping things along, and even taking on a more formal tone with the Zinferan nobleman.
Tam couldn’t resist: He lifted himself slightly and glimpsed the back of a head. The man Tam was guessing to be Lord Yangban had a patchy, receding hairline that had already retreated past the middle of his head; what hair did remain was black and sheared short. He wore a long teal coat, with loose black pants that Tam could only make out thanks to the lanterns.
Lord Yangban stood under a raised canopy beside Lord Guk while facing Jeong and Bong.
And during that quick glimpse, Tam understood what had startled Jeong. Lord Guk’s hair looked greasy, and the long sides stuck straight out as though he had been pulling on it. His customary light-green coat was untied, revealing a rumpled shirt underneath. The man’s eyes were wide and shifty, while a patch of red, scratched skin on his neck had been clawed at until it bled.
Tam saw this thanks to Lord Guk’s profile being turned to stare wildly at Lord Yangban. This drastic change in appearance made Tam wonder if the lord had begun partaking in drugs that had nothing to do with his own intervention, but most definitely had not helped.
“Would you mind if I had a sip of this drink you are offering?” Lord Yangban’s careful question made Tam duck down again.
“Of course not, my lord!” Jeong retorted cheerily.
Tam waited with bated breath to see what would be said. “Mm. It is quite bitter and sharp on the tongue, but I agree, it does seem as though it might help Lord Guk feel… more like himself again.”
Tam inwardly celebrated and waited. Rustling sounds and the clinks of porcelain changing hands could be heard.
“I don’t like it! It tastes like acid mud! It… It… Oh, I’ve finished it. At least it is over quickly. Do you think the dragon will be summoned by the fireworks?”
Tam heard Lord Yangban sigh.
“You know, I recently heard that the devil is here in Junya!” Bong interrupted quickly. “Which is why Her Highness, Soo Hebin, has increased the imperial soldiers’ presence. What do you make of this?”
Lord Yangban took his time answering, but Tam was happy to find after another quick cursory peek that the lord’s attention was fully affixed to Jeong and Bong.
“There is some speculation about that, but of course the concern lies mostly in catching whoever is responsible for killing Her Highness’s men and a member of the Coven of Giong. I’m sure they will be apprehended soon, so pay it no mind. We have more important matters regarding rumors that the disgraced princess Elisara Taejo has been seen once more.”
Rage overcame Tam so instantaneously, he struggled not to vault over the wall and beat Lord Yangban to a pulp.
“Disgraced? I thought she was simply missing?” Bong speculated loudly, his tone light.
Tam was willing to bet money that Jeong was feeling relatively violent himself.
“Why, yes. She ran off with a servant boy to get married, but it seems she wants to stake a claim on the throne now that she has had her fun.”
“What a strange rumor. I’ve heard nothing like it… In fact, I thought I’d heard that she was somewhere in Troivack.” Jeong’s voice was tense, and as much as Tam appreciated him for trying to find a way to defend Eli, he also knew saying such a thing was making them seem suspicious.
“Oh? Where did you learn of such a thing?” Lord Yangban’s inquiry may have sounded mild, but there was a frostiness in his voice that Tam could identify even without seeing his face.
“Not sure, to be honest. Where is it you happened to hear that Princess Elisara ran off with a servant boy? It would certainly seem less likely given the kidnappings that have taken place around—”
“Forgive my brother, Lord Yangban, he gets too nosy for his own good,” Bong cut in swiftly.
Meanwhile Tam had a new plan in mind as he pulled free the slingshot and counted the number of pellets in the slender glass vial he had withdrawn from his pocket.
Standing up slowly, Tam took aim…
And fired at Lord Yangban.
“Such questions are fine when shared between us. But I do recommend that your brother mind himself elsewhere. As Her Highness’s cousin, I happen to know a little bit more accurately what goes on behind palace walls. Unlike whatever sailor or drunkard your brother may cross paths with.”
Tam knew he’d hit Lord Yangban, but the man gave no sign of it.
Tam felt a tight grin lift his mouth. That was for the better. He stood one more time and with a quick creak of wood by his ear hit Lord Guk, though he momentarily noticed Bong’s eyes flit to his and his eyebrows twitch in question. The look was so brief, though, that Tam didn’t even bother trying to linger.
“BUGS! BUGS AGAIN! WILL THEY NOT STOP?” Lord Guk burst out, slapping a hand to the back of his neck just in time for Tam to hide himself once more and, without wasting a breath, start shuffling carefully down the wall.
He knew Bong and Jeong would meet him seven houses down. He could tell them then the change to the plan he had just made.
Though he didn’t celebrate yet.
He knew better. His mother had taught him that things can go especially wrong right when you grow confident that everything is over.
And so he waited in the yard of the seventh house until he heard a particular pattern of coughs. He then eased up slowly in the shadows of two plum trees, though he didn’t allow himself to stand to his full height.
Jeong and Bong stood face-to-face, feigning a discussion that would make their responses to Tam appear natural.
“Why did you shoot Lord Yangban?” Bong asked immediately upon Tam’s head clearing the wall.
“Remember how I suggested we start more rumors about him to discredit his influence?”
“Yes?”
“We could simply tie him to Lord Guk. The madness he is experiencing? It’s contagious.”
Bong and Jeong fell silent. “That is brilliant, though what will we do? We are all leaving, and one instance of madness is not enough to—”
“We leave it to Lord Kim, who happens to run the most influential teahouse in Junya. We give his staff some of the drugs and, well, soon Lord Yangban’s position could become… uncertain.”
“I must caution you again about putting so much stock in Lord Kim.” Bong didn’t mask his concern in his tone.
“He made a deal with Eli. And remember how you said he was adamantly against Soo Hebin’s rise to power? Don’t trust that he will help out of the goodness of his heart. Trust that he is doing it out of self-interest.”
“That is a very risky thing to bet on,” Bong persisted.
“Also remember that as a devout follower of the religion of Acker, he will be more inclined to think highly of me as a witch. But all that aside, he already has the power to destroy all of us. He knows almost everything. He knows who I am. He knows who Eli is. We’re already beholden to him. May as well see it through.”
“Handing him drugs to distribute is another matter entirely,” Bong pointed out bluntly.
“Do you have a better idea?” Tam countered.
Bong fell silent.
“I will give him the opportunity, and if he wants to say no, he can, but if there is any chance he will agree and help weaken the group that’s trafficking humans and trying to destroy Eli’s reputation through gossip? I want to take it.”
At this reminder of Lord Yangban’s horrific offenses as well as his new plan to discredit Eli and stop her from gaining any kind of power, Bong acquiesced. “Alright,” he said. “We will start the rumors in the crowd tonight. You go back. I do believe that this is now our goodbye. I thought we would get to say our final farewells with Luca and Eli, but with us needing to spread the new rumor that changes things.” Bong sighed.
Tam lowered his chin in respectful regard. “I hope we cross paths again. Thank you for everything, Bong. I know we have not seen eye to eye at all times, but you are a wise friend.”
“Tam, I’ll catch up with you and Eli later,” Jeong said with a serious nod to Tam, who gave a half smile of appreciation.
“May I make a request for the next time we see each other?” Bong asked, his mood seeming to lighten.
“Yes?”
“Can we have a lot more fun next time? I sincerely think you, Eli, and Luca could all spend some time being less serious.”
Tam grinned more openly. “I think I could be persuaded—though you’re on your own when it comes to sledding down desert dunes.”
Bong’s shoulders slumped forward. “That’s a pity. Well… Until next time. And Tam?”
The future duke raised his eyebrows expectantly.
Bong grinned. “Good luck with your new family. I think you two will be quite happy together.”
Tam’s smile broadened. “I certainly hope so, though I’ll miss your guidance when I inevitably mess things up.”
“Don’t worry! I’ll be there!” Jeong reminded happily.
Tam chuckled. “Well… I’d best be off. Take care, Bong.”
The Zinferan bowed his head with a subtle smile, then turned to melt back into the festival crowds with Jeong at his side.
Tam watched them disappear, and despite the seriousness of what was still happening, he made sure to take a moment to appreciate the wonderful Ryu brothers, and how lucky he had been to have them at his back during the most bizarre time in his life.