The hallway was dark, with shadows cast down the stone walls in claw-like stretches. Commander Wuji strode quickly through the palace, his jaw tightly clenched. Since he had viewed the blood in Prince Lei Yǔlín's rooms, the sense of discomfort had not left him.
Could it be her? The assassin? He hesitated just before the prince's quarters, his fists clenched at his sides. Yǔlín's actions had grown unpredictable of late. There were too many secrets, too much lying.
Wuji took a deep breath and stepped inside.
Prince Yǔlín was seated at the window, his eyes looking at the dark sky. Su Shu reclined on the floor against the wall. She narrowed her eyes upon seeing Wuji.
"Your Highness," Wuji said in a stiff bow. He glanced at Su Shu before continuing. "I'd like to have a word?"
Yǔlín's eyes were still on the horizon. "Speak
Wuji swallowed hard. "I have come to inquire about the assassin. The one who got into the palace."
Yǔlín's glance moved to Su Shu. She stared back stubbornly, unwilling to back down.
"What of it?" Yǔlín inquired in her deceitfully placid
"Why are you defending her? She's dangerous."
"Is she?" Yǔlín's voice stayed level. "Or are you underestimating me?"
Wuji's face grew taut. "If the king learns—"
The king will not discover it," Yǔlín said at last looking into Wuji's eyes. "Nor will anybody else. You will remain silent about it, Commander."
Wuji's eyes flamed with irritation but he said nothing further. He bowed rigidly and turned to go. Before he moved out of the room, he had one final cautionary glance at Su Shu.
Once the door was closed behind her, Su Shu's shoulders slumped with relief. But as she glanced at Yǔlín, he was still gazing out of the window, face unreadable.
"Why didn't you tell him?" she asked, voice tight.
Yǔlín's eyes stayed on the sky. "Tell him what? That you're the assassin? That I'm keeping you in secret?" He finally looked at her, his golden eyes cold. "I informed you before. You know too much to leave here alive."
Su Shu's fists closed. "So why haven't you done it yet?"
Yǔlín's face softened, the ghost of a smile tugging at his mouth. "Well, perhaps people are right about me." He shot to his feet and traversed the room to the door. "Or perhaps not."
He left her alone and fuming.
However,
In another area of the palace, meanwhile, Commander Xiéyàn conferred with the mysterious figure who had read his letter. The figure showed his respects with an inclined head and face veiled by a hood.
The North is prepared," said the figure in low, raspy tones. "We await your command."
Xiéyàn's eyes sparkled with dark pleasure. "Good. Bring in the recruits. The king is oblivious to what's right in front of his nose."
"What about the assassin?" the woman inquired. "She may have knowledge we can't afford to have out."
Xiéyàn's mouth curled in a sneer. "She's either dead by now or taken. If she does know anything at all, she'll be silenced in due course."
The figure nodded and faded back into the darkness, allowing Xiéyàn to think about his next action.
Thunderstorm
In the throne room, King Lei Moyao walked back and forth, his dark eyes full of suspicion. "How did an assassin get into the palace so easily?" he thundered.
Supreme General Kǒngyún moved forward and low-bowed. "Your Majesty, the blame must be placed on the security team of Commander Wuji. They did not watch the corridors well enough."
Moyao's jaw was set. "Double the guards. Double the surveillance. If another assassin gets through, heads will roll."
Kǒngyún bowed again, his eyes having a sly twinkle in them. "As it pleases you, Your Majesty
But as he exited the throne room, Kǒngyún's face darkened. Things were falling into place. Within days, the king's paranoia would be useful to them, and the palace would be ready to be seized.
In the room outside Yǔlín's quarters, Wuji paced silently, his hands tightly clenched at his sides. Within, Su Shu slumped in the wall's shadow, her heart thudding as Yǔlín's last words replayed in her mind. Or perhaps they are wrong.