Chapter 218: A Song Of The Past [11] (1/2)
”I know. I am tempted to wait for the Watch, as I should have done back at the ship. I'll be a long time regretting that.” Her voice broke, but she plowed on. ”There are some questions I need answered. Cerest has the knowledge, and I think he'll give me what I want.”
”I'll go with you,” Ju Feng said, ”in case he proves reluctant.”
”Thank you,” Chang Chang said. ”I know it's more than I deserve, after the way I've used you.”
”Don't,” Ju Feng said tersely. ”You don't owe me anything.”
”I never should have kissed you,” Chang Chang said. ”I made you feel my death, and you weren't ready for that. It was a very unromantic gesture.” She put her head on Fa Mu's chest. It took several breaths, but when she was strong enough, she looked up at Ju Feng. ”How long have you known? You said you'd never touched me—”
”I haven't,” Ju Feng said. ”I only suspected. It was Saragui who confirmed it. He has a power to sense those touched by the spellplague, and how badly they've been afflicted.”
Chang Chang nodded, accepting it. ”I hope Cerest can tell me that too—why I'm dying.”
”You don't have to rush to your demise so soon,” Ju Feng said, his voice harsh. ”You might have years yet, if you stop using magic now.”
”But I have to use it, if I'm ever to be free of him,” Chang Chang said. ”One last time, that's all I need.”
”No. We'll do it another way.”
”You think you can change fate?” Chang Chang said.
He looked away. ”Just yours.”
”That's not true. You wouldn't have brought Zu Ruo with us if you didn't believe you could change things. I saw you touch her hands in the haven. You wanted her out of there, and not just to be my bodyguard. You knew her death waited in that place.”
”She's stubborn enough I wonder if anything can kill her,” Ju Feng muttered, but he didn't deny her words.
”You can't protect me by yourself,” Chang Chang said. ”Without your ring, we'll need my magic.”
Ju Feng started and looked at his hand, as if he'd forgotten it was bare. He looked at Fa Mu, at the ring keeping him alive. Defeated, he dropped his hand to his side and clenched a fist. ”Is your raft still intact?” Chang Chang asked.
”Enough to get us out to the Haven,” Ju Feng answered. He looked at Zu Ruo, and a spark of black humor lit his eyes. ”What'll it be, Ruo? Should I tell the people you were too frightened to take on the fair folk, golden locks and all?”
”You won't be telling any tales when I have your head underwater for the sharks to nip at,” the dwarf said, smiling sweetly. ”But I'll go to the Haven, and gladly.”
”You don't have to do this, Zu Ruo,” Chang Chang said.
The dwarf nodded curtly. ”I do, but not for you, so don't let your conscience prickle you. After Tarvin led you off the Isle, we got word from the guards that Saragui's dead.”
Chang Chang was shocked. ”How?”
”How do you think? It was the elf. The survivors said he had a pair of pretty elf princesses with him.” Zu Ruo looked at Ju Feng. ”Might be you were onto something about my death waiting in the Haven. I owe you thanks for letting me live long enough to get my revenge on the pretties. But in the meantime, do we leave the butcher here?”
Chang Chang didn't know what to do. The thought of leaving Fa Mu alone on the walkway was a physical pain. He would be vulnerable to any attack until the Watch arrived.
”I have to protect him,” she said to Ju Feng, half in defense, half in apology.
The spell had gone awry the first time she'd used it. For once, that would work to her advantage.
She put a hand in her pouch, grasping the cameo as she'd done in the Haven. She pictured the woman's face in her mind, the blue curve of her cheek, carved forever in stone. Letting the image float in her consciousness, she wove the spell.
Mist slid off her hands and coiled in the air. It took on the shape and substance of the woman in lace. She stood before Chang Chang in her vaporous gown, her face impassive.
Chang Chang didn't know exactly what to do. The last time, the servant had automatically gone where her mind willed it. She remembered that she'd been mentally screaming for something to aid Ju Feng.
”Can you understand me?” she asked the strange apparition.
The woman didn't answer. Her expression didn't change. ”She has no consciousness,” Ju Feng said. ”There's nothing in her eyes.”
”So she only has life when Chang Chang pulls her strings?” Zu Ruo asked. ”Tell her to play guard dog, then.”