“We all do what needs to be done, Stormdancer,” Kaori snapped. “You included. We will all turn the waters red when we bathe once this is finished. The lotus must burn.”
Yukiko looked to Daichi, waiting for him to weigh in, but the old man was staring at his hands, uncharacteristically silent.
“I wanted to check with you all before I did anything final.” Yukiko wiped sweat-soaked palms on her hakama legs. “It’s safe to bring her here. Kin assured me there’s no way for the Guild to track her out of her skin.”
“And you trust him?” Maro scoffed.
“Of course I trust him.” Yukiko’s voice was cold as winter morning. “He saved my life. I trust him more than I trust you.”
“Be it made of scales or brass, a snake who sheds his skin is still a snake.”
“There is no steel in that boy,” Kaori said. “No fire. Only treachery.”
“How can you say that?” Yukiko felt heat in her cheeks, memories of his lips rushing beneath her skin. “He gave up everything to be here with us.”
“He gave up everything to be here with you,” Kaori said. “He cares nothing for the revolution. If you left us, he’d be gone tomorrow. You are the reason he is here, Stormdancer. Open your eyes.”
Yukiko drew breath to reply, but found no words.
“You’re the reason. The first and only reason.”
“This is not about the boy.” Sensei Ryusaki’s low growl cut through the tension. “This is about the Guildsman, and what we do with it.”
“Kill it,” Maro said flatly. “Their kind are poison. The lotus must burn.”
“I agree,” Yukiko nodded. “We’d be fools to trust it.”
She looked amongst the council, noted the surprise on their faces.
“Look, I know that might make me a bitch, but at least I’m not a stupid bitch.”
“What if this girl speaks the truth?” Daichi’s voice cut the air like a knife. “What if there are more like her in the Guild?”
“Impossible,” Kaori said.
“Arashitora were impossible too, a few months ago.” Daichi’s voice was rough as bluestone gravel. “Now look at the magnificence outside this room.”
The council looked out through the open doorway at the thunder tiger sprawled upon the deck. Buruu was stretched out in the rain, idly tearing up talonfuls of planking. His yawn sent tremors through the floor.
TELL THEM IT IS RUDE TO STARE. EVEN AT MAGNIFICENCE.
Hush! Gods, you’re too loud. Go back to sleep.
She felt the thunder tiger trying to hold himself back, aware of her pain, allowing only a sliver of himself to creep across the bond between them. And though his thoughts were tinged with bright, crackling feedback, at least the volume receded to a tolerable level.
HOW CAN I SLEEP WITH YOUR MIND SO FULL OF NOISE?
I suppose you want to venture an opinion on all this?
YES. BUT I AM STILL BASKING IN THE “MAGNIFICENT” COMMENT. GIVE ME A MOMENT …
“Father, you cannot mean to trust it.” Kaori placed her hand on the old man’s knee.
Daichi sipped his tea, cleared his throat. “All I say is consider if she speaks truth. Think of what it would gain us to start a rebellion within the Guild. Think of the damage we could do. This girl could be the secret to bringing down the chi-mongers once and for all.”
Yukiko met the old man’s gaze. “I don’t think we can trust her.”
“Can we not, Stormdancer? Yet in the same breath, you would tell us to treat your Kin as one of our own?”
AH, THERE IT IS.
Yukiko winced, turned her head aside as if from an incoming slap.
Too loud!
Buruu pulled himself back again, curling inward until only a splinter remained.
I AM SORRY. I NEED NOT SHARE MY THOUGHTS WHEN THIS OLD MAN SPEAKS THEM FOR ME. I WILL REMAIN MAGNIFICENTLY SILENT.
“I wish you wouldn’t call me that.” Yukiko folded her arms, ignoring Buruu’s smug, self-satisfied warmth.
“Stormdancer?” Daichi’s eyebrows were raised over the rim of his teacup.
“It’s not my name.”
“It is what you are.”
“The way you all look at me … it’s like you expect to see lightning coming out of my hands, or flowers blooming wherever I walk. I haven’t done anything yet, and you act like I’ve saved the world.”
“You have given people hope,” Daichi said. “That is a precious thing.”
“It’s a dangerous thing.”
“No more dangerous than executing this girl for the sin of what she used to be.”
“Gods, Daichi, when we first came here you were willing to murder Kin on exactly the same suspicion. You were willing to kill me over a tattoo.”
“Perhaps I have learned a few lessons since then. From a new sensei.” Daichi smiled. “And you say you haven’t done anything yet.”