Li Wei catches me swiping at the dirt on my face. I can feel it and have to stop myself from wiping it off.
I look ridiculous , I remark to him.
He turns to me, touching my chin softly, the ghost of a smile on his lips. You’re as beautiful as ever. When this is over, we’ll find a reason for you to wear the red dress again.
I shake my head, feeling a tangle of emotions in my chest. I still can’t believe you’re here. You were captured because of me. . . .
Fei, I was captured because you were brave enough to return here. To save our village. You think it’s your artistic skill that’s your greatest strength? It’s not. It’s your courage. There is something in his eyes as he says this, something powerful and heated that reaches to my heart.
The elders give their blessings for our journey, and with that, we are finally on our way. Li Wei and I, along with our small cohort, traipse back out through the darkened tunnel, down to where Jin Luan still stands guard. She looks understandably startled to see all of us, more so when she finds out we’re leaving.
You’re going back out there? she exclaims. You’re crazy!
Possibly , I agree.
But her job is to stop people from getting in, not prevent them from leaving. She steps aside so that we can pass, and she surprises me with the first genuine smile I’ve ever received from her. Good luck, Fei.
Li Wei goes first, climbing up the ladder that leads into the woods and peering around to ascertain no guards are present. When he deems it safe, he beckons for the rest of us to follow. There are seven of us in total, and as we all gather there in the woods behind the school, I notice it is quieter. Earlier, when Li Wei and I had made our frantic trip here, I’d still been able to hear screams and destruction. I wonder if that means the soldiers have rounded up most of the village.
Now , begins Li Wei, I think our best plan is—
Not yet , I interrupt.
He looks at me in astonishment. What? We have to join the other prisoners.
We will , I say. But first we’re making a detour.
I know Li Wei well enough to recognize his frustration, but he stays composed in front of these onlookers. What detour is that, exactly?
We’re not doing anything until we find my sister , I say.
CHAPTER 18
LI WEI CONSIDERS THIS and shakes his head, his expression compassionate despite his obvious impatience. I would like to find her too, but we don’t have time to search the village. We need to enact this plan.
I know where she is , I tell him. I’m only half lying. It won’t take us that far out of our way.
After a little more coaxing, he agrees, and our small group sets out. We move covertly, keeping off the main roads of the village and concealing ourselves in the trees. Around us, we see signs of the army’s destruction, and smoke fills the air from the fires they’ve set. Most of the villagers seem to have been rounded up, but we still occasionally spot roaming bands of soldiers, and my hearing is able to alert us each time before we’re spotted.
Soon we make it to the opposite side of the village, to the path that runs near the cliffside. We approach the lone cypress tree where my parents’ ashes were scattered, and at first I think I am wrong. Then a slight form shifts, and I see Zhang Jing sitting against the tree, dangerously close to the cliff. The path shows the signs of many booted feet having gone by recently, but they apparently didn’t notice her concealed by the tree. I breathe a sigh of relief, glad to know my hunch was correct. That in a time of great danger, this is the place she would seek out for solace.
I touch her arm gently, and she flinches, at first not recognizing me with my strange clothes and dirty face. Then joy fills her tear-stained features. She leaps to her feet and throws her arms around me. Fei! she says when we have broken apart. I didn’t know what happened to you. Everything got so confusing. What is going on? Who are those people?
They are the king’s soldiers , I say. Now that we know the truth, they have come to try to enslave us. We have a plan to save ourselves, but first I wanted to make sure you’re safe. I glance back at the assembled apprentices and servants who have come with Li Wei and me. Someone will take you back to the Peacock Court’s underground storage rooms, where you can wait safely.
Zhang Jing shakes her head adamantly. No. Wherever you’re going, I’m coming with you.
I hesitate. While I’m quick to run into danger on my own, I’m less willing to get her involved. She is still my sister, still the one I protect, and I’d rather see her safely hidden away with the elders. But there is a fire in her eyes, and something tells me she is not going to go so easily.
I mean it, Fei , she says. Let me come with you. Whatever it is, I’m not afraid.
We can use her help , Li Wei notes. I can tell he is anxious about the delay. Plus, we won’t diminish our numbers this way.
I am part of this village , Zhang Jing adds fiercely. This is my fight too.
I can’t stand against both of them, and reluctantly, I agree. There’s at least a small comfort in having her within my sight.
We backtrack toward the village, still moving covertly. Li Wei scouts ahead, searching for roaming bands of soldiers. We want them to catch us, but walking right up to them is out of the question. Our capture has to look as “natural” as possible, raising little suspicion.
Li Wei comes hurrying back, his face a mix of nerves and excitement. Up ahead , he says. There are three soldiers patrolling.
We move in on the soldiers’ position, walking clumsily through the trees so as to make a lot of noise. The ruse works, and moments later we find ourselves surrounded by the three soldiers, who unwittingly think they’ve captured a group of hapless villagers trying to flee. We act appropriately frightened as they raise their swords—really, there’s not much acting required for that—and Li Wei makes it look as though he is about to run. This earns him a blow to the head that makes me wince, but it convinces the soldiers there is nothing special about our particular group. With swords still drawn, they surround us and march us back in the direction of the mines. I exchange a glance with Li Wei as we walk, and although he is careful to keep his expression appropriately cowed, I see a fierceness in his eyes as our plan begins to unfold.