Page 30 of Song of the Crimson Flower

They looked at each other, flustered, as Commander Wei studied them with a small smile playing about his lips. But the next moment, hisposture went rigid and he sheathed his blade, muttering something about checking the food supply before striding off.

Lady Yen appeared beside Lan, holding food wrapped in a cloth. “Have you had anything to eat, Bao? I brought you dried meat and fruit.”

“Thank you,” Bao said, surprised, not having thought she would deem him worthy of her attention. But she gave him a gracious smile and took the spot vacated by the Commander.

“When is your wedding?” Lan asked her.

“The day after I arrive at Lord Nguyen’s estate. It’s an unconventional wedding, without much ceremony, since it’s an affair of state. Empress Jade and my parents made the match to help strengthen the Great Forest’s relations with the Sacred Grasslands.”

“Will Lord Nguyen bring the betrothal gifts to your parents’ home, as is tradition?”

“He sent them by wagon,” Lady Yen said, her smile a bit forced. “Nine wagons, in fact, full of gifts and cakes and a roast pig. It pleased my father, who didn’t expect such a generous offering for a bride as old as I am. My sisters were half my age when they were wed.”

“Well,” Lan said politely, “I hear it is an arrangement that pleases all parties.”

“It will please the parties that matter most,” Lady Yen said quietly.

All around them, the soldiers got up and dusted themselves off. Commander Wei came over, looking at Lan and Bao as he spoke. “We depart in five minutes. Leave nothing behind. We have about a week’s journey ahead of us, as long as we make good time.”

“Surely we can wait a bit longer?” Lady Yen asked, gesturing to the half-eaten food in Bao’s hands. “This young man hasn’t finished his meal yet.”

“He can eat while we ride,” the Commander said curtly, avoiding her eyes.

“What an uncomfortable practice.” Lady Yen grimaced as she rose, looking as stiff as Bao felt. None of them were used to riding so much, except, of course, Wren and the soldiers.

“Perhaps we should have taken Her Majesty’s suggestion and brought you a palanquin, then,” Commander Wei said tartly. “You would certainly sleep better in it than you will tonight.”

Lady Yen shrugged, unperturbed by his cold manner. “I’ve never had trouble sleeping, and I don’t intend to start now,” she said, smiling up at him. “In fact, I think all of this riding will help. So let’s not mention the palanquin yet again,ifthat is acceptable to you, Commander.”

Commander Wei’s mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. At last, he gave a single nod and brought out his dagger, sharpening it as though his life depended upon it. Bao didn’t have the heart to remind him that he had already honed the blade just moments ago.

He saw Lan watching the exchange, too, looking amused. If they had been friends, they might have discussed it and perhaps laughed at the folly of an attachment between the Commander and averybetrothed noblewoman who would never be free—laughed and shed a tear or two. Bao wasn’t one to judge a man who loved someone he ought not to.

But he and Lan were not friends—not quite yet, not when he was obligated to her, dependent on her, and utterly unsure how to treat her—and so they each mounted their respective horses and did not speak much for the rest of the day.

13

After Lan sent a message to her parents to tell them she was safe, she had allowed herself to give in to the excitement of her quest, but the exhilaration of adventuring was wearing off quickly. She was wearing her maid’s shoes, she was riding a horse—something her mother wouldneverallow—and she was far from home, all of which made her feel like a different person, the type of free-spirited, courageous girl she had once dreamed of being.

But as the first day of traveling went on, Lan had to admit that that adventures weren’t as comfortable as she had imagined them to be. Her backside ached from riding, her hair was matted upon her forehead, and her stomach hurt from the dried meat that apparently passed for good food among the soldiers. But despite these inconveniences, Lan vowed not to utter a single complaint, not wanting Bao to think that she regretted helping him. Deep down, she knew he was grateful to her, but it was hard to remember that whenever he snapped at her or ignored her, as he did now. He had been riding up near the Commander all afternoon.

“I think Wei is warming up to your friend,” Wren commented.

“We aren’t friends, really. We just grew up together,” Lan told her.

Lady Yen, who was riding between them, raised an eyebrow at Lan. “Not even friends, yet you’re the only one who can break his spell?”

“I haven’t broken the spell. I just help ward off its effects.”

Lan caught them exchanging a knowing look and turned her attention back to the road, her face hot. She knew that was the other thorn in Bao’s side: the fact that he still cared about her. Whatever lingering feelings he had for her was why Lan could affect his curse at all.

Her eyes found his tall, lanky frame at the front of the procession. He rode between the Commander and another soldier, looking comfortable and confident in the saddle, his head swiveling between the two men as they talked. He was gesturing emphatically as he spoke, with none of the shy awkwardness he had around Lan. It was difficult to reconcile his quiet, red-faced self with the boatman who had come to her on the river, his flute singing her love songs over the sound of crickets, but she supposed the distance between his boat and her window had given him the confidence he lacked.

He hadn’t been Tam, but he had beenthere. He had given her all he had and had cared enough for her to overcome his painful shyness. Perhaps that was part of the reason why she insisted on helping him: because he reminded her that she was worthy of love.

“Have you ever met Lord Nguyen?” Wren was asking Lady Yen.

“Once, many years ago. He’s a widower much older than I am, but he seemed kind,” Yen said. “He’s a distant relation of my mother. Her family is from the Grasslands and as proud of it as my father’s family is of being from the Great Forest. It was inevitable that one of my sisters or I would make a political marriage.”

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