Girls of Storm and Shadow (Girls of Paper and Fire, #2)(7)

Lei-zhi.

It hits me like a slap to the face. The last time I heard my old title was from the King’s lips as he pressed me to the ground in the gardens of the Floating Hall, seconds before Zelle came to save me, embedding her knife in his eye.

The last time I heard it, I thought I was about to die.

“We don’t use that title anymore, Father,” Wren says sharply.

Ketai’s eyes glitter. “Of course not. Forgive me, Lei. I’m so accustomed to courtly pomp and ritual. I forget that much of the time, titles can be as cutting as weapons—and employed as such.”

There’s a cough behind us.

His eyes slide over my head. “Nitta, Bo. Good to see the two of you again.”

“Missed you, too, Lord K,” Bo says with a grin. Then he lifts his arms, showing off our catch with a flourish. “Impeccable timing as always. How do you fancy goat butt for dinner?”





THREE



KETAI HANNO’S DARK EYES GLIMMER AS we walk down the temple’s tall corridors, our footsteps echoing off the stone. His arm is clamped around my shoulders. His smile doesn’t falter as he looks down the length of his slim nose at me, observing me with the keen, almost knowing look of someone who can see right through your skin and flesh to the murky core of you where your darkest secrets and desires hide. “My second-in-command and I just arrived,” he tells me. “It’s ferocious out there, is it not? The snow came earlier this year. We’re lucky we made it before nightfall. You’ve been out there for hours, you must be freezing. Let’s get you warmed up and fed. I brought plenty of treats from my palace. Are you a fan of salted fish, Lei? In Ang-Khen, we serve it with fresh dipping honey. Dear gods, it’s so delicious it’ll bring tears to your eyes.”

He talks easily, smiling all the while. I nod noncommittally, aware of the murmur of Wren and the siblings behind us—Wren, who pushed me away the instant she realized her father was coming. I’d thought maybe she’d told him about us when she was back with her family before the Moon Ball. Evidently not. Moreover, she doesn’t seem keen to tell him.

My stomach squirms. I hope it’s only meeting-the-parents nerves, and not anything more… complicated.

“Tell me, Lei,” Ketai Hanno asks, switching subjects with ease, “how are your wounds from the night of the Moon Ball faring? Hiro is excellent with healing daos, isn’t he? I trust you’re making a speedy recovery.”

“I’m doing well, Lord Hanno.” Then I press eagerly, “Please, do you have news of my father and Tien? Wren promised me your clan would be looking after them, but—”

“Don’t worry, Lei.” He squeezes my shoulders, his smile warm. “They are both well and safe. We are looking after them in my palace in Ang-Khen.”

It’s news I’ve been waiting to hear for a long time. I sag, tears rushing to my eyes. “Thank you,” I gasp. “Thank you.”

Ketai tosses his head to dislodge the long sweeps of hair grazing his eyes. He lifts a hand to my cheek. “You know, I can see your father in you. You have his quiet strength. The same guarded look in your eyes. And that charming lynx-aunt of yours! She’s a feisty one, isn’t she? Already has half my kitchen staff cowering. She was rather unimpressed by our food, so I let her take on some work there.”

I let out a happy sob. “Sounds like Tien.”

“Both of them are being protected at all hours by some of my finest guards,” the Clan Lord continues. “And while I hope to reunite the three of you soon, I’m afraid it could be a while. There is much work we have to do first. Important work. I hope to have your support.”

Before I can ask more, we turn the corner into the large hall we’ve used as our living quarters since arriving. Late-afternoon light gleams in from the far side of the room, which opens to look out over the frozen lake. The fire we were eating lunch around earlier is still going, and by its flames sit Merrin and Hiro, along with another tall Paper man I’ve never seen.

Ketai leads me forward as the man gets to his feet. “Lei, meet Master Caen. Or Shifu Caen, if you will. I take it Wren told you about him?”

The man’s slate-gray wool cloak is as plain and threadbare as Ketai’s is fine. A few years younger than Ketai Hanno, he’s built like an ox, the lines of his body and face strong and rugged like weathered stone. Muscles bulge beneath his robes. His long hair is tied back into a ponytail. A plaited beard streaked with white winds down to his chest.

I bow. “Shifu Caen.”

He sweeps his cloak over his shoulder and returns my bow. “It’s an honor to meet you, Lei.” His voice rings out smooth and deep and clear, like water beneath the frozen surface of a lake. “What you did at the Moon Ball was truly impressive. You really have had no formal martial arts training?”

“I… had a lot of help.” A jab twists my gut as Zelle’s beautiful face comes to mind; the whip-crack sound of her neck snapping. Swallowing, I add, “And I had a few last-minute lessons.”

Shifu Caen glances to where Wren is standing off to the side, his gaze affectionate. “Your teacher must have been very good.”

“Oh, very.”

He smiles. “Then her teacher must be excellent.”

Ketai claps me on the back. “Take a seat by the fire, Lei. Merrin—put another pot of tea on to boil. It’s time to get to business.”