Page 29 of The Wind Dancer
“You always said that justice wasn’t a word. It was an action. And I swear to you that I will find those who took your life. I will find out who is behind this, and they will answer for what they have done.”
I clenched my fists, feeling my heart blaze with anger, and ache with sorrow.
“I don’t know how long it will take. I don’t know how much blood will have to be spilled. But I won’t stop until I find the truth.”
I bowed again, deeper this time. When I finally got up, the room was quiet, and only the incense smoke still hung in the air.
“Rest well, Teacher. Your work is not done, and I will continue it.”
I paused for a moment, looking at the plaque and the lotus.
Where should I start?
Someone was in my house. Yes, they cared a lot about my mentor, but I didn’t know who they were or if they’d prove to be helpful.
I put out the candle and left the room.
I prepared to head out, pulling on a worn leather vest and light boots that were easy to move in, and wondered whereto go next. As usual, when I mulled things over, my hands automatically moved to the places where I hid my daggers. I knew I couldn’t waste time. I still felt like I was one step behind everything and desperately needed to catch up.
Once I left the house, the cool air wrapped around me. The wind seemed to tell me that I wasn’t alone, that it would be with me through everything. The streets of the Lower City were springing to life. Merchants shouted, coins clinked, and the revelers laughed and chattered. Paper lanterns hung above the alleys, shooing away the nightfall, and the air was already filled with the smell of fried meat, heavy spices, and spilled alcohol.
I headed to the alley where the Moonface Tong usually kept watch. My mentor had paid them to keep an eye on our house at all times, and I needed to confirm that arrangement.
One of the Tong members was standing near a wall, a tall young man with sharp features and a tattoo of a crescent moon on his forehead. He was smoking a pipe, but when he saw me, he immediately straightened.
“Brother Lao,” he nodded, puffing out smoke. “Just in time. We have information for you.”
“Go ahead.” I stopped near him, glancing around the alley.
He flipped his pipe and knocked out the ashes on the sole of his boot, clearly gathering his thoughts.
“Some strangers tried to break into your house over the past several days. They clearly weren’t local. We scared them off, but it doesn’t look like they’re planning to give up.”
I frowned.
“Describe them.”
“They were well dressed, but the cut wasn’t the kind that’s usually worn here. The elders told me that style is worn on the islands. Judging by how they moved, they clearly knew how to fight, but weren’t used to streets like ours. One of them was tall, had a face like an official, the other was stocky, with a scar over his eye. As soon as they realized they were being followed, they disappeared.”
Who were these people? The islands used to be a part of the Zhou principality, but they had separated from the Empire two centuries ago after a series of bloody wars. Why were they trying to break into my house? I had yet another mystery on my hands.
I took a silver liang out of my pocket and gave it to him.
“My mentor is dead, but I’m extending the agreement with the Tong.”
He took the coin, felt its weight for a moment, and immediately put it in his pocket.
“I will inform the elders that the contract has been extended. Brother Lao, there’s one more thing I should report...” he seemed hesitant.
“Tell me.”
“About ten minutes ago, a young woman came up to me and said she would be waiting for you in a nearby tea house. She was very beautiful.”
“What did she look like?”
He recalled for a moment, scratching his chin.
“She was tall and quite slender. Her hair was black and braided in a complicated style. Her eyes were dark, but there was a strange, cold shine to them. And her clothes were made from very fine silk, embroidered with silver, but...” he chuckled, “she had a dagger in her belt. Not as decoration, a real one. And the way she carried herself, I feel like she knew how to use it.”
