“Want me to cover for you?” Nitta asked as they made their way to the main hub of the camp. “I could say you’ve got pre-battle nerves and haven’t left the toilet all morning? I doubt even Ketai would want to confront you while you’re, you know…”
“I wouldn’t put it past him,” Wren replied, making Nitta snort.
“Or I could tell him you’re having a very amorous reunion with Lei.”
If only that were the case.
Sensing her mood, Nitta said kindly, “You looked amorous enough to me back in the forest. In fact, in many provinces a public display like that would get you arrested.”
Wren’s smile disappeared the moment she heard her father.
He was at the center of a large group, Hanno clan members and warriors from their newly arrived allies gathering to greet the Clan Lord. Wren hung back, freshly anxious at the thought of facing her father after their confrontation in Marazi. Then another voice boomed from her right.
“Lady Wren!” Commander Chang pushed toward her. “What a surprise to see you. I worried we may arrive to news you’d been taken captive at the Hidden Palace.”
“Sweet Samsi,” Nitta groaned. “Do you ever shut up?”
Chang’s cheeks reddened. “I suppose I should expect little manners coming from a common Cat like you. Not even wanted by your own clan—and one held in such low regard as the Amala—”
In a flash, Wren had a blade pressed to the underside of the Commander’s chin and Nitta moved right up to him so the wheel of her chair pinned one of his booted feet in place.
Chang whimpered, attempting to free his foot while wary of Wren’s sword.
“Careful, Lady Wren,” he spluttered, and despite his precarious situation there was a knowing curl of confidence in his tone. “Fraternizing with outcasts seems to have rubbed off on you, and we both know your father values loyalty above all else. Indeed, he demands it.”
“You want to be careful, Commander,” Wren said smoothly. “Tomorrow, we fight alongside each other. We both know which of us is the stronger warrior. Should it come to a moment where you need my help, you might regret having accused me of disloyalty. I may decide to agree with you.” She jerked her head. “Come on, Nitta.”
As she strode away, she heard Chang’s relieved welp as Nitta rolled off his foot.
The gathering around Ketai jostled, clamoring for his attention, yet when he spotted Wren her father stilled. He held up a hand. “Dear friends, I’m afraid I must ask you for a little more patience. My daughter is here, and there are things I must discuss with her. When I get back, I will answer every one of your questions.”
“But, Lord Hanno—”
“My Lord—”
“Just one minute—”
Ignoring their pleas, Ketai walked over and slung an arm around Wren’s shoulders. He led her to his private tent, set up close to the camp. Wren steeled herself for the berating that was surely to come. Yet when they stepped through the navy curtain, she was surprised to find others already in the tent.
At first, she thought something was terribly wrong. The figures were huddled together, sobbing and talking in stuttering sentences. Then she heard the joy in their voices. Saw that their tears were ones of happiness, not sorrow.
Her heart leaped.
Lei, Lei’s father, and Tien. Reunited at last.
It felt as though she were intruding on something deeply intimate. Perhaps her father felt similarly, because neither of them spoke, waiting patiently for Lei and her family to realize they had an audience. When they did, Lei sat back where she was kneeling on the rug and beamed up at Wren, while both Jinn and Tien got to their feet.
Tien bundled Wren into so tight a hug it took her breath away. “Thank you, sweet child,” she said. “Thank you.”
Past her shoulder, Jinn gave her such a genuine, loving smile that it crushed something in Wren’s chest. “Eight thousand times, thank you,” he croaked, hoarse from crying. “How can we ever repay you for what you have done?”
The words should have warmed Wren. Instead, they chilled her. Lei’s father might be grateful for whatever role she’d played in getting Lei out of the palace—which was essentially nothing, since Lei had freed herself—but what would other families say if they ever discovered what Wren had done to their families? What would Aoki say once she knew the truth about her own? All the other raids the Hannos framed on the King?
Wren extricated herself from Tien. “Thank you for your kind words, Jinn, Tien-ayi. You are too generous. I did nothing—Lei saved herself and Kenzo and the girls without my help.”
“But I did have help,” Lei corrected, her smile wavering a little. “We only escaped because of the shamans, and Mistress Azami, and Chenna, and the rest of our allies in the palace.”
“Still,” Jinn said. “Wren, we owe you and your father so much. We hardly dared to dream this moment would come, and you have been a part of making it so. Please, accept our gratitude.”
Wren inclined her head, though she still felt uncomfortable.
Ketai came forward. “Jinn, Tien—will you please give Lei, Wren, and me a moment? Once we’re done you may spend as much time together as you like. Tonight is cause for celebration on many fronts. Our chefs are preparing a fine banquet—in part, to honor your wonderful daughter, Jinn, and the bravery she continues to show. Tien, perhaps you’d like to keep an eye on the kitchen? I know my chefs haven’t been quite up to your perfecting standards.”
The lynx-woman laughed. “As we say in Xienzo, No dish is better than one born from love. Nothing will ever beat home cooking, Lord Hanno. No matter how many fancy chefs you employ.”
Wren’s father smiled graciously. “Perhaps one day I can tempt you to join their ranks.”
“Too much work,” Tien said, with a dismissive wave of her hand.
“That’s what you always said about me and Baba,” Lei pointed out.
“Why are you using past tense, little nuisance?” Tien retorted, and she, Jinn, and Lei laughed, a beautiful sound that Wren could have listened to forever.
Lei was happy. She was with her family, who loved her. She deserved every moment of her life to be like this.
Before they left, Lei sprung to her feet. “Baba, Tien,” she said, clutching their wrists, her face serious now. “Promise me you’ll think about what I said. I couldn’t bear to lose either of you. Especially now.”
Tien lifted herself high, though she was hardly taller than Lei herself. “You’re forgetting my prowess with a gutting knife,” she said, only half jokingly.
Lei’s father’s eyes were wet. “My dear, we should be fighting alongside you. It’s only right.”
Lei stared them down. “I had plenty of training with Shifu Caen and in all the fights I’ve been in since. Neither of you have battle experience. Please. I need you both.”
“Let’s talk later,” Tien conceded.
Jinn pressed a kiss to his daughter’s forehead. “Later then, my brave girl,” he said.